gun violence

An inquest into the shooting death of five year-old John Mercer.

In 1908, when an eight-year-old boy shot and killed another young boy, a Wilson County coroner’s jury recommended that he be bound to someone (for supervision and work) rather than charged with murder.

State of North Carolina, Wilson County }

We, the undersigned Coroner’s Jury, find that the deceased, Jno. Mercer, came to his death by a pistol shot in the hands of Nathaniel James (or Smith). The jury is of the opinion, however, that Nathaniel James should be bound out to some reliable person, and we recommend that the Clerk of the Court bind him out at once. The child not being old enough know the enormity of the crime, is the reason why we recommend the above.

/s/ J.F. Nadal, William Walls, E.L. Daughtridge, E.G. Barnes, J.A. Cutchins, J.C. Winstead Jurors, Henry B. Best, Coroner of County

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North Carolina, Wilson County }

The examination of Caroline Mercer, Mattie Pool, Mary Harriss, and Erdora James, taken before the undersigned, coroner of the county, this 25th day of May, 1908, near the house of Caroline mercer, upon the body Jno. Mercer then and there lying dead, to wit:

Caroline Mercer, being duly sworn, says: Jno. Mercer is my son and is five years old. El Nollia Smith and Dellzell Smith were out here playing, and I saw Nathaniel Smith come up with a gun in his hand, and he fired it. He was two feet from Jno. Mercer when he fired gun. Didn’t speak after he was shot. Nathaniel Smith is between nine and ten years old. My son’s back was to me and Nathaniel’s face was to me. My house is thirty yards from where shooting occurred. Is not in habit of playing with my children. Hasn’t had any fuss before. Boy wasn’t excited after he shot Jno. Didn’t run away. Doesn’t work any where. Don’t know where pistol is now, nor where he got it. Walked right up and shot him, Didn’t shoot butane. My children were playing and he came up and shot. Didn’t see pistol until he fired. He is considered a boy of good sense. He lives with his grandmother, mother being dead. He is a fussy boy, but never has had any trouble with my children before. May 25th, 1908.  Caroline (X) Mercer

Mattie Pool, being duly sworn, says: Looked out window from my house, thirty feet from where shooting occurred, and saw Nathaniel when he shot boy. Never heard boy who did shooting say anything. He ran away when he shot. Jno. Screamed when he got shot. Nathaniel was about three or four feet from Jno. when he shot. I got to Jno. first. Never spoke at all. Nathaniel is about eight years old. He, Nathaniel, is always running up and down street trying to pick a fuss with other children. Never has had any fuss with Caroline Mercer’s children. Was attended by Drs. Dickerson & [Frank S.] Hargrove, and died about half hour after being shot. Didn’t see pistol after he shot boy. I think he shot Jno. Mercer intentionally.  May 25th, 1908. Mattie (X) Pool

Mary Harriss, being duly sworn, says: I was talking to Mrs. Mercer and looked around and saw him falling. Looked around because I heard pistol fire. Never heard any fuss or talking before the accident. Saw Caroline’s children before. Never saw pistol after firing, nor boy that did shooting. Nathaniel is considered a bad boy by the neighbors. May 25th 1908. Mary (X) Harriss

Erdora James, being duly sworn, says: Nathaniel stays with grandmother. Pistol is kept in top bureau drawer of my aunt’s. Would know pistol if I saw it again. Heard pistol shoot, and ran out. Saw Mattie Pool & Lillie Taylor standing where accident occurred. My brother was eight years old, going on nine. Never heard him make any threats. Never saw brother before policeman got him. He stays all over streets in day time. Is wild and bad to manage. May 25th 1908    Erdora (X) James

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  • Caroline Mercer and son John Mercer

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Street, oil mill laborer Meadie Mercer, 35; wife Caroline, 29; and children Octavos, 8, and Mae, 2.

  • Mattie Pool

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Poole, 50; wife Mattie, 45; and boarder Mozella McCann, 22, tobacco factory laborers.

  • Mary Harriss
  • Nathaniel James and sister Erdora James

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Florence James, 30, tobacco stemmery day laborer; children Earty, 6, and Nathaniel, 2; and boarder Israel Whitaker, 25, day laborer.

  • El Nolia and Delzell Smith
  • Lillie Taylor

Coroner’s Inquest (1908), Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

An inquiry into the death of Will Brown.

We read of the murder of Will Brown here. Below, the conclusion and transcripts of the coroner’s inquest. 

Frank Tart shot Brown near the railroad near Stantonsburg. Witnesses to the crime included five black and three white men. Two years earlier, Otto King, who was found to be an accessory after the fact to Brown’s killing, and his brother Lum King had been involved in a non-fatal shooting that also involved gambling, and Otto King himself was murdered in 1924.

Bob Hall, being duly sworn says I was up the RR on Saturday afternoon near sunset. While up the road I saw Will Brown, Frank Tart, Otto King, Will Edwards, Josh Fleming, gambling playing skin. I saw standing around the gambling crowd. Columbus King & Hagans. I staid there not over 15 minutes. Will Edwards owed me $2.00 and I went for that. As soon as I could get it, I left. While I was there, Will Brown seem to be winning the money. I saw Frank Tart change his pistol from his hip pocket and put it into his side pants pocket. Did not hear pistol shot as I had left before the shooting occurred. /s/ Bob Hall

Peter Ward, being sworn says that Frank Tart and Otto King came to my house Saturday night about 8 o’clock. Staid there until about 9:30 and on leaving told me told me that they were going to Gray Tart. Otto King come to Stantonsburg with me said that he wanted to see Josh Fleming. That Josh had his pistol. I come to Stantonsburg, and Otto come with me. I do not know that he got out of the buggy. [Illegible] Lum told me that Frank Tart shot a man. I told him [illegible] Lum that Frank Tart was at my house. Peter (X) Ward

Josh Fleming, being sworn says that “at or about the time of the killing I was about 150 years from the scene of the homicide at the time. I heard the pistol shot. I saw Columbus King and Otto King come running from the direction of the place of the homicide and from the direction I heard the pistol shot. I asked Otto King who it was shot and Otto King said that Frank Tart had shot a fellow Will, but did not know what Will. Columbus King and Otto King both come to the stable where Frank Tart’s horse was, got the horse and buggy and drove off. I came back to Stantonsburg after the policeman Mr. Stancill. I went back with the crowd to the scene of the homicide. I saw a man shot by the name of Will Brown. /s/ Josh (X) Fleming

Josh Fleming, called to the stand later, says that previous to the shooting was in the woods with Frank Tart, Will Edwards, Otto King, Will Brown gambling. Louis Hagans, Columbus King was there but did not see them gamble. Will Brown was principal winner. I saw Will Brown have as much as twenty-two dollars. Josh (X) Fleming

Richard Stancil, being duly sworn says that Josh Fleming came for me and said that Frank Tart had shot a man down the Rail Road and I hurried as quickly as I could and when I got to the place where the shooting occurred I found no one there but the shot man Will Brown. He was lying near the Rail Road track. He was not dead at the time and I had him carried to the doctors office. /s/ Richard Stancil

Will Edwards being duly sworn says he was with Josh Fleming, Frank Tart, Otto King and William Brown gambling playing skin. Will Brown beat the boys out of the money and he got up and started towards the R.R. He had I know twenty dollars when Brown left the game busted. Mr. Ernest Hartley (white), Bob Hall, Louis Hagans, and Columbus King were on the grounds while the gambling was going on but did not gamble any. I was about 100 yards from the scene of the shooting. Heard the shot. Did not see any pistols. Do not know who shot Will Brown. When I heard the shot I was on R.R. in the woods going  towards home when the shot was fired, but left immediately for home. Will (X) Edwards

Ernest Hartley, being duly sworn says at the time of the shooting I was in the E Road about 30 years from the scene of the shooting. Did not know any one there except Will Brown the shot man. I was out hunting and come up to a crowd. They moved towards the R.R. and stopped and seemed to talking together. I saw one low chunky dark man take hold of Will Brown. About that time heard pistol shot. The pistol was in the hands of a tall yellow negro. Immediately after the pistol fired, saw the black negro bending over Will Brown as if her was searching Will Brown pockets. The crowd dispersed and I left for home. I was near Sunset when it occurred as well as I remember. I work with Mr. Ben Paschall at saw mill so did Will Brown. I think Brown was paid off Saturday afternoon. He had I think $7.00 or $8.00. I think he had some money on his person before being paid off.  /s/ Ernest Hartley

Columbus King, being duly sworn says I was down the Rail Road about 20 yards from the scene of the homicide. Heard the pistol shot. My brother Otto King came running towards me and said, “Let’s us go, Frank Tart has shot a man.” I asked my brother where Frank was — and my brother Otto say, “come on, I know where he is.” Me and my brother got Frank Tart’s horse and buggy and drove off towards Saratoga but when we got as far as Toisnot Swamp, Frank Tart came out of the woods and got on the buggy and put me out. They went on towards home, and I got in with George Edwards and rode home with him. I saw in the crowd when the shooting occurred Josh Fleming, Frank Tart, Otto King. I saw one white man at the scene of the shooting. Think he had on a brown hat.  Columbus (X) King

Dr. H.H. Powell, being duly sworn says that he came in his office about 7:30 Saturday February 14 1914. Found a man who was shot, and the bystanders said his name was Will Brown. He had a bullet wound in forehead. Penetrated the skull from which wound the brain was discharging. He was thus in a dying [illegible.] Died about 8:30. /s/ H.H. Powell

Punctuation added for clarity. Coroner’s Inquest (1914), Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Farmer shoots boys in watermelon patch.

Wilson Times, 30 July 1918.

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In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Henry Dudley, 55; wife Fannie, 34; and children Maggie, 24, William L., 20, Rosa, 18, William H., 15, Jacob A., 13, Naoma, 11, Leroy, 8, Dorena, 5, and Bessie M., 2.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Henry Dudley, 63; wife Fannie, 43; and children Leroy, 17, Darlena, 15, Bessie, 11, Franny B., 9, and Ernest, 6.

Walter had Pete by the collar and had a gun in his hand.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 May 1923.

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  • Walter Bethea

In the 1910 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Raddie D. Betha, 40; wife Mary A., 38; and children Samuel D., 19, Mary C., 18, Herbert, 14, Walter H., 11, Lilly V., 6, James E., 4, and Clifton L., 2 months.

On 9 March 1919, Walter Bethea, 18, of Crossroads township, son of R.D. and Mary Bethea, married Mattie Westley, 16, of Crossroads township, daughter of John Anne Westley, in Wilson County. Herbert Bethea applied for the license, and A.M.E. minister J.F. McNair performed the ceremony at the A.M.E. church in Lucama in the presence of R.D. Bethea, Will Hines, and James Bunn.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Walter Bailey, 19, and wife Mattie W., 17.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Raddie Bethea, 50; wife Mary R., 45; and children Lillie, 15, James A., 11, Clifton, 9, Vastrie, 6, and Herbert, 22.

Walter Bethea died 29 July 1929 in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Dillon, S.C., to R.D. Bethea and Mary C. Wright; was married; lived at 333 Matthew; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson County.

  • Pete Fields

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 68; wife Julia, 70; grandson Peter J., 18; and granddaughters Julia A., 14, and Mary Lilly, 9.

On 1 February 1914, Pete Fields, 22, of Crossroads township, married Verrona Mayo, 18, of Crossroads township, in Lucama, Wilson County.

Peter Fields died 5 May 1923, Cross Roads township, Wilson County; single; about 33 years old; worked as a tenant farmer for W.J. Scott; born Wilson County to Daniel Hodge and Chritchania Allen; buried in Lamm Cemetery. “Murdered by Walter Bethea. Death was instantly.”

  • James Stevenson
  • Queen Ella Mae McDonald
  • Eddie Mitchell

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farm laborer Laurence Michel, 29; wife Easter, 24; and children Alonza, 8, Nettie, 6, Eddie, 4, and Babe, 1.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Lawrence Mitchell, 40; wife Easter, 36; and children Alonzo, 19, Nellie, 17, Eddie, 13, Jesse, 11, Bettie, 7, Coy S., 5, Mattie, 3, and an infant, 11 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 43, chips blocks at Wilson Veneer; wife Pattie, 33, hangs tobacco at redrying plant; and children Willie, 16, fills order at woodyard, and Lawrence, 14.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 58; wife Pattie, 48; and son Lawrence, 22, tobacco factory laborer.

  • Lester Harris
  • Ed Lewis
  • John Richardson

Probably, in the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John E. Richardson, 26; wife Jessie, 19; and son-in-law [brother-in-law?] Johnnie Hines, 17.

John Eli Richardson died 19 November 1933 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1893 in Wayne County, N.C., to John M. Richardson and Susan Bunn; was married to Vonia Richardson; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County.

Blood Red River.

Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram, 8 September 1945.

At the 1945 trial of William Wesley Gardner for the murder of A.J. Sanders, South Carolina-born Oscar Brown testified that he had not witnessed the shooting because he had been sitting in a back room playing Josh White’s blue tune “Blood Red River” on his guitar.

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  • William Wesley Gardner — William Wesley Gardner registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 17 April 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; lived at 606 South Dew Street, Wilson; his contact was George Gardner, 518 South Lodge; and his employer was M.A. Tyson, Saratoga.
  • A.J. Sanders — Anthony Sanders Jr. died 25 August 1945 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 December 1900 in Florence, South Carolina, to Anthony Sanders Sr. and Katy Manuel; worked as a machinist; was married to Georgia E. Sanders; lived at 612 Bank; and died of a gunshot wound to the thigh.
  • Oscar Brown — Oscar Brown registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1905 in Beaufort, South Carolina; and his contact was his employer Jim Garriss’ farm.

Cause of death unclear for Johnson.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 November 1950.

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In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 312 South East Street, Allie Cannon, 45; son James D. Cannon, 8; son-in-law Ernest Johnson, 33, cement mixer at concrete block company; wife Brownie M., 27; and daughter Helen R. Kirby, 10.

Earnest Johnson Jr. died 20 November 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 June 1917 in Plymouth, N.C., to Earnest Johnson Sr. and Mary Rose; lived at 312 East Street; and was married. He was buried in Plymouth Cemetery, Washington County, N.C.

Dobson kills wife over skirt.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 May 1928.

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  • Charley Dobson

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dobson Charles (c) firemn First Natl Bk Bldg h 707 E Vance

On 23 December 1936, Charlie Dobson, 58, of Wilson, son of George and Betsy Dobson, married Sue Ellis, 37, of Wilson, daughter of Robert and Lula Ellis, at the home of A.M.E. Zion minister John A. Barnes in Wilson. John A. Barnes Jr., Frank W. Barnes, and Wade Barnes were witnesses.

Charlie Dobson died 5 October 1953 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 69 years old; was born in Duplin County, N.C., to George Dobson and Bessie Savage; worked in farming; was divorced; and was buried in Duplin County.

  • Hannah Dobson

Hannah Dobson died 26 May 1928 at “Wilson Col. Hospital.” Per her death certificate, she was 26 years old; was born in Onslow County, N.C., to Thomas Rhodes and Sarah E. Lee; was married to Charlie Dobson; and was buried in Shepherds Cemetery, Onslow County. Willie Rhodes of Verona, N.C., was informant.

The death of Henry Ray.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1945.

I don’t know Henry Ray or his frame of mind, but I am suspicious of this quick conclusion about his manner of death. His death certificate underscores the cursory nature of any investigation into his shooting, listing his cause of death as “probably suicide gun shot wound in chest” (emphasis added.)

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In 1942, Henry Ray registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was lived in Sharpsburg, Wilson County; was born 23 October 1923 in Nash County, N.C.; his contact was H.P. Massengill, Sharpsburg; and he worked on the Claud Albritton farm, Sharpsburg, Nash County, N.C.

Henry Ray died 5 October 1945 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was single; was 20 years old; was born in Nash County to Coley Ray of Nash County and Ida Barnes of Wilson County; he worked in farming; and he was buried in Sharpsburg.