Wilson Daily Times, 21 May 1911.
Well into the twentieth century, mayors presided over what we would think of as magistrate court, handling minor criminal and civil matters.
- Jesse Rountree
- Mary Eliza Artis
- Nellie Walker
Walker
Fatal auto crashes.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 December 1929.
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- Clarence Rogers — Rogers died 15 December 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 24 years old; was born in Wake County, N.C., to James C. Rogers and Martha Perry; was married to Mary Rogers; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wake County. Millard Rogers, Wilson, was informant.
“Coronary Embolus auto accident. Not at R.R. crossing occurred at place of death”
- Eddie Walker — in the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farm laborer Eddie Walker, 20; wife Pecolia, 24; and daughter Dallas, 9 months; also farm laborer Augustus Mitchel, 29; wife Cora, 24; and children Earnest L., 6, and Farman, 2.
- Agelene Rountree — per her death certificate, Arger Lee Rountree of 120 Manchester Street died 15 December 1929 in Wilson. She was born 8 April 1921 in Wilson County to Wiley Rountree and Mary Barnes and was a student.
“Run down by Automobile while crossing the street, killed almost instantly. Was dead when Doctor reached there.”
- James Artis
Tattoos.
When Algiers Augustus Walker, a Watson Warehouse employee boarding with Rev. R. Buxton Taylor, registered for the World War II draft in Wilson, the registrar reported “tattooing” as “obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification.”
Nothing compares to the loss.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1923.
Incredibly, Augusta Walker dropped by the Daily Times office a few days after her infant son Leroy Wanamaker was burned to death in a house fire. She wanted to explain the circumstances of the tragedy.
Per his death certificate, Leroy was six months old; was born in Wilson County to James Wanamaker of South Carolina and Augusta Walker of Durham, N.C.; and died in Saratoga township, Wilson County.
No other trace of Augusta Walker is readily found in Wilson County records. She may have only recently arrived when she gave birth in Wilson County and may have had no family with which to leave her son while she worked.
Sent to the roads.
Wilson Times, 17 November 1911.
In this follow-up to “Teck got shot,” we get a close look at the way justice was administered (and reported upon) in 1911.
First, the Times flatly pronounced Herbert “Goldie” Horton guilty of shooting Ed Walker. The trial, however, had been on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon. The “trial for shooting … Walker will be deferred until Ed. recovers or dies.” On the basis of testimony from Jake Tucker, Annie Lewis and Elijah Saunders — testimony that sounds much more relevant to the shooting than mere concealed carry — Wilson’s mayor convicted Horton and sentenced him to four months on a road gang.
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- Herbert Horton
- Edward Walker
- Jake Tucker — Jacob Tucker was also a key witness in the inquest into the homicide of James A. Hunt and the robbery of Neverson Green‘s grocery.
- Annie Lewis — perhaps, in the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 555 Spruce Street, Ed Lewis, 49, odd jobs laborer; wife Nancy, 37, private family cook; sister Sue, 19, factory laborer; and daughter Annie, 16, private family cook.
- Elijah Saunders
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
Child burned to death.
Wilson Daily Times, 13 March 1923.
- Augusta Walker