The Black Dispatch (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 20 January 1927.
Fifteen years after he made the News & Observer with 19 children, an Oklahoma newspaper reported that Adolphus Saunders had 37.
Saunders
The likely fatal shooting of Charles Coley.
We first read here of the shooting of Charles Coley by Joe Saunders, and Coley’s subsequent placement in a boxcar to languish from his wounds. I have not been able to find a death certificate for Coley, or the outcome of a trial.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 June 1913.
The victim lies in a boxcar.
News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 8 June 1913.
Joe Saunders was arrested for shooting Charles Coley at a house at 114 Wiggins Street. Wilson Hospital and Tubercular Home (later known as Mercy) did not open until 1914. Other hospitals in town would not admit African-Americans, so Coley was carried to a boxcar to die or recuperate.
Teck got shot.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1911.
The “red light district.” Goldie shot Teck at the entry to Vick’s Alley, marked with an X. Sanborn fire insurance map, 1908.
- Ed Walker, known as “Texas” or “Teck”
- Herbert Horton, known as “Goldie”
- Dr. Mitchner — William A. Mitchner.
- Mandy Bishop — in the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Spring Street, factory laborer Manda Bishop, 33; daughter Mary B., 16; and lodgers William Lucas, 49, and Eliza Walker, 21.
- Eli Saunders
The Saunders brothers.
The family of Bennie and Nathaniel Saunders paid tribute to them in Calvary Presbyterian Church‘s centennial anniversary booklet.
Bennie Saunders (1894-1980).
Nathaniel Saunders (1914-1991).
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In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: fireman Branch Saunders, 41; wife Polly, 24, washerwoman; and sons Isah, 8, Bennie, 5, and Paul B., 1.
In the 1910 census of Dry Well township, Nash County, North Carolina: lumber mill laborer Branch Sanders, 50; wife Polly, 38; sons Isaah 17, and Benjamin, 16, both Lumber mill laborers, Paul B., 11, Marcus H., 9, and Richard T., 6; plus five boarders, all lumber mill laborers.
In the 1920 census of Dry Well township, Nash County: on Opossum Road, lumber mill engineer Branch Sanders, 60; wife Polly, 42; and sons Bennie, 24, and Mark, 18, both lumber mill laborers, Richard, 16, and Nathaniel, 6.
On 30 October 1927, Bennie Sanders, 30, of Wilson, son of Branch and Pollie Sanders, married Nannie Farmer, 36, of Wilson, daughter of Tom and Senora Farmer. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the service in the presence of Vicia Thompson, Lula Bunn and Janie Diamonds, all of Wilson.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 916 Washington Street, owned and valued at $2500, body plant laborer Benjamin Saunders, 36; wife Mamie, 43; father Branch, 71; and brother Nathaniel, 16.
In 1940, Nathaniel Saunders registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 2 December 1914 in Middlesex, North Carolina; resided at 102 North East Street, Wilson; his contact was Mrs. Nathaniel Saunders; and he worked for T.A. Loving Company, Goldsboro, North Carolina.
A bolt of lightning struck the store.
Wilson Advance, 2 May 1882.
He be damned if she do anybody else any.
State of North Carolina, Wilson County }
The examination of Pharo Saunders, Col, Wm Howell, Col, and Lear Rice (Col) taken before the undersigned, Coroner of said County, this the 4th day of Dec. 1900 in the town of Toisnot upon the dead body of Willie Bell Saunders (Col), then and there lying dead, to wit:
Pharo Sanders duly sworn says: I was at my mother’s house Willie Bell Saunders about 8 1/2 o’clock last night Dec 3rd. John Taylor came in and said to mother “Willie I have come” and shot her with a pistol in the head. She fell and died in a few minutes. He only shot one time. Soon after shooting he ran out of house. John has been Living with my Mother several years as his wife. Knew of no difficulty between them before. I guess at time when I say 8 1/2 o’clock. Pharo /s/ Saunders
William Howell sworn says: John Taylor was at my house last Saturday and said he was in trouble, that Willie Saunders was giving him so much trouble he intended going away soon and that he was going to kill Willie before he left. Willie Saunders and John Taylor have been living together about 6 years and I never knew of trouble between them before nor do I know what this trouble was about. William (X) Howell
Lear Rice Col Sworn says: John Taylor & Willie Bell Saunders have been living together as man & wife several years. I heard of no trouble between them until recently. Sunday morning she told me he was jealous of her and said he intended to kill her. Sunday I heard him say if she didnt do him any good he be damned if she should do any body else any. He be damned if he didn’t kill her. I live in about 20 yards of her. Lear (X) Rice
State of North Carolina, Wilson County }
Be it remembered that on this the 4th day of Dec. 1900, I, John K. Ruffin, Coroner of the County of Wilson, attended by a jury of good and lawful men Viz W.H. Pridgen, Eli Felton, Jerome Bowen, P.H. Braswell, W.J.T. Beland, J.R. Winstead, by me summoned for that purpose according to law, after being by me duly sworn & empaneled at the Town of Toisnot in the County aforesaid, did hold and inquest over the dead body of Willie Bell Saunders: and after examination of the facts and circumstances of the death of the deceased form a view of the corpse, and all the testimony to be procured, the said jury find as follows, that is to say,
That the deceased, Willie Bell Saunders (col), came to her death by a pistol shot wound feloniously inflicted by the hands of John Taylor (Col) on the night of Dec 3rd 1900, and we advise that he be bound over to the next Court and imprisoned without bail. /s/ Eli Felton, P.H. Braswell, W.H. Pridgen. W.J.T. Beland, J.R. Winstead, Jerome Bowen.
Inquest had, and signed & sealed in the presence of John K. Ruffin, Coroner of Wilson County.
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In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Wilson & Thompson, cook Leaher Rice, 43, and her children John, 18, a railroad laborer, Frank, 16, a brickyard worker, Bettie, 14, a “nurse” [nursemaid], and Annie, 12.
Despite Leah’s testimony about the proximity of her house to Willie Bell and John’s, they do not appear in the 1900 census.
Coroner’s Records, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Happy father of 19.
Raleigh News & Observer, 24 July 1912.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on New Creek Road, farmer Adolphus Sanders, 51; wife Penny, 52 (who reported that 10 of her 14 children were living; daughters Lucy Jane, 22, and Rosabella, 20; daughter Annabella Bird, 20, and her husband David Bird, 21; son Walter, 14; daughters Casilla, 13, Vizetteora, 11, and Liewgenia, 10; son George L., 7; and granddaughter Annabella, 4 months; plus hired woman Alice Whitley, 45. Next door: Adolphus and Penny’s son Milton Sanders, 28, and family.
Johnston County native Adolphus Sanders died 24 February 1929, aged 67.
