Crime

Soldier stabbed.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 1943.

William H. Vick survived this knife attack and lived till 1963.

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  • Willie Ruffin
  • William H. Vick

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Rufus Neal, 66, gardener; wife Hattie B., 55; children David L., 17, tobacco warehouse trucker, Joseph, 16, tobacco warehouse trucker, and Viola, 12; granddaughter Essie Ray Lucas, 7; and lodger William H. Vick, 22, tobacco factory cooper.

In 1940, William Henry Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 1 May 1917 in Nash County, North Carolina; lived at 608 Daniel Street; his contact was friend Sam Clark, same address; and he worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sam Clark, 45, nightwatchman at tobacco redrying plant; William H. Vick, 32, repacker at tobacco warehouse; and Luther Walker, 26, “ships out” at tobacco warehouse.

William Henry Vick died 27 January 1963 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Durham, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in Rocky Mount, N.C., to Will Vick and Bessie Cook; was never married; lived at 707 West Walnut Street, Wilson; was an odd jobs laborer for James I. Miller; was a veteran of World War II; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

Mother and accomplices believed to have kidnapped boy.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1937.

When 16 year-old John Lane was snatched from one of U.H. Cozart’s fields in May 1937, authorities blamed his mother. Seven years earlier, she had allowed a family named Williams to adopt the boy, and she migrated to Washington, D.C. A radio bulletin went out seeking three men and a women traveling in older model Paige automobile with D.C. tags.

I saw they had my gin.

The Black Dispatch (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 31 August 1940.

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African-American newspapers like The Black Dispatch were not above mocking the mishaps and peccadilloes of Black people, especially as related to alcohol. And solecisms.

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  • Rev. Paul Bunch

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Mack Bunch, 55; wife Cailinie, 44; children Hairiet, 25, Clara, 23, George A., 22, Fannie, 19, Joseph, 17, Jarvish, 15, Paul, 14, Jamess, 12, Manda, 8, Laura, 6, Stella, 4, and Earvin, 5; grandsons Dabert, 1, and Sidney, 3; and mother Hannah Bunch, 80.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Paul Bunch, 28, and wife Nina, 22.

In 1918, Paul Bunch registered for the World War I draft in Wayne County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 March 1884; lived in Fremont, Wayne County; was a tenant farmer for W.F. Yelverton; and his nearest relative was Nina Bunch.

In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer

In the 1930 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Paul Bunch, 45; wife Nina, 42; and children Hezekiah, 19, Glenny, 18, Mack, 16, Ellenor, 15, Cora, 9, Nora, 8, Mary, 6, Paul Jr., 5, Nina, 2, and Rachel, 1.

In the 1940 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Paul Bunch, 56; wife Nina, 53; children Cora, 19, Nora, 17, Mary, 16, Paul, 15, Nina, 12, Rachel, 11, DeCris, 9, and Caesar, 4; and grandchildren Ralph, 2, and Rathus, 1.

In the 1950 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Paul Bunch, 65; wife Nina, 63; children Nora, 29, Nina R., 22, Rachel, 21, and Decrist, 19; and grandchildren Ralph Sauls, 13, Caesar Harris, 12, Raiford A., 10, and Solomon C. Artis, 7, Brantley [Bradley] Henderson, 3, and Emanuel Bunch, newborn.

Paul Bunch Sr. died 6 November 1954 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 15 March 1885 in Wayne County to Mack Bunch; was married; was a minister; and was buried in Best Cemetery, Wayne County. Nina Bunch was informant.

  • John Hines

Possibly: in 1940, John Hines registered for the World War II draft in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 17 October 1913 in Nash County, N.C.; his contact was mother Laura Hines, Stantonsburg; and he worked for Stantonsburg Lumber Company.

  • Ben Cunningham

In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg, Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, Ben Cunningham, 41, railroad laborer.

In 1940, Ben Cunningham registered for the World War II draft in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 December 1909 in Georgia; lived in Stantonsburg; his contact was neighbor Zelma Sherrod; and he was unemployed.

Murder, then suicide in county jail.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1950.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: street laborer George Bryant, 42; wife Jane, 32; and children George, 14, Walter, 11, Floyd, 7, Luther, 4, Rosa Vell, 2, and Nathaniel, 3 months.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer George Briant, 52; wife Jane, 42; and children Floyd, 17, Luther, 15, Sister, 11, Nathaniel, 9, and Willie, 6.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer George Bryant, 61; wife Jane, 51; and children Luther, 24, Nathaniel, 18, and Eugene, 8.

In the 1940 census of Glisson township, Duplin County, N.C.: farm laborer Nathan Bryant, 30, and wife Eula Mae, 25.

Nathaniel Bryant registered for the World War II draft in Duplin County, N.C., in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1910 in Wilson County; his contact was wife Eula Mae Bryant, Mount Olive, Duplin County, N.C.; and he worked for farmer Lizzie Herring.

Eula Mae Bryant died 3 March 1950 at her home at 1002 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 December 1913 in Duplin County, N.C., to Rose(?) Everett and Virginia Branch; was married; and worked in farming. The cause of her death: “hemorrhage (massive) due to 5 1/2 inch knife wound to lower left abdomen.”

Nathaniel Bryant died 7 March 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 February 1910 in Wilson to George Bryant and Janie Lucas; was a widower; lived at 1002 Wainwright Avenue; worked as a laborer for the City of Wilson; and was buried in Granite Point Cemetery.

Rountree defends sister, threatens principal.

As printed in the 26 March 1915 edition of the Wilson Daily Times:

Julius Rountree Threatened Life of Principal Reid and Bound Over Under a Peace Bond.

There was only one case before Mayor Dickinson this morning, that of Julius Rountree, who threatened the life of J.D. Reid, principal of the colored graded school, telling him he would kill him if he put his foot on the ground.

Rountree went in the class room where he was making his threats, and witnesses heard him.

The trouble was over the principal whipping one of his pupils, a girl about 17 and sister of Rountree. Rountree was placed under a peace bond of $250 to keep the peace for six months. This was done at Reid’s request who stated he didn’t want to see Rountree go to the roads.

The evidence presented showed that Reid whipped the girl with a small switch and not unmercifully.

It seems the trouble started on the account of the misbehavior of the girl who shook her fist at Reid when reprimanded and the switching followed.

The girl resented this and struck Reid in the face and he put her out of the building. Then followed the entry of Julius into the trouble.

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Julius Rountree was almost 20 years when he confronted J.D. Reid. The sister he defended was most likely Cora Rountree (sister Daisy Rountree had died the year before.) Three years after this incident, J.D. Reid was involved in the incident that led to the teacher strike and parent boycott of the Colored Graded School.

Young woman fatally stabbed by ex-boyfriend.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 February 1949.

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  • Charlie Bennette — In 1942, Charlie Bennette registered for the World War II draft in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 30 May 1903 in New Zion, South Carolina; lived at 113 S. (A.C.L) Railroad Street, Wilson; his contact was Adeline Fleming, New Zion, N.C.; and he worked at Marine Barracks, Jacksonville, N.C. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 654 Wiggins Street, tobacco factory machine operator Charlie Bennett, 48, widower, and lodger Annie M. Williams, 19, maid.
  • Irene Sethem — Irene Sessoms died 23 February 1949 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 November 1925 in Johnston County, N.C., to Z.S. Sessoms and Louella Williams; lived at 113 Pettigrew Street, Wilson; was not married; and worked as a laborer. She died of hemorrhage and shock after a knife wound to her right carotid artery.

Ben Reid survived; Nolia Reid did not.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 May 1921.

This brief report fails to name Nolia Reid as the murdered woman or to state the first name of the man — her husband — who killed her. He was Ben Reid.

Nolia Reid died 1 May 1921 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 19 years old; was born in Wilson to George Best and Louisa Farmer; worked as a laundress; lived on Nash Street; and was married to Ben Reid. She died of “homicide–stab wound.” Her uncle Thomas Farmer was informant. She was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]