Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-01-30
HOMICIDE In WILM'TON
Wilmington Lawyer Meets
Death Tuesday Morning
of Last Week. Hal Led
better, Jr., of Rockingham,
a Witness at Coroner's In.
quest in Wilmington Mon
day.

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day.
On Tuesday morning of last
week, the body of Walter p.
Gafford, a lawyer, was found in
the office of Justice of Peace
Furlong in Wilmington. The
clothing had been burned, but a
dent in the mans head indicated
that possibly foul play might
have caused his death. 1t was
known that he had been in a
drinking party the night before,
and so it was deemed advisable
to hold a coroner's inquest over
the remains. The hearing was
set for the next day, Wednesday,
Jan. 22nd.
Hal Ledbetter, Jr., of Rocking
ham. was in Wilmington Mon
day night; he was in the office of
Furlong with a number of others,
but, according to his testimony
as appended below, he left the
party by ten o'clock and went to
his hotel to bed. He was in Will
mington all the next day, and
that night returned to Rocking
ham. He did not know he was
wanted as a witness for the in
quest until he saw it published
in a daily paper that his testi-
Emony was wanted. He wrote the
solicitor at once and told him
he would gladly come there
whenever he so desired and
testify. Accordingly he and
his father went to Wilmington
last Monday morning, accom-
panied by exjudge Walter Neal,
Iof Laurinburg, and testified be-
fore the coroner's jury Monday
and convinced that body that he
knew nothing about the tragic
death of Gafford. He and his
father returned home Tuesday
morning.
The Post-Dispatch is copying
herewith the following from
Tuesdays Wilmington Star,
which goes more into detail with
the affair:
"Hal Ledbetter, Jr., of Rockingham,
who was member of the party in JUS
tice Furlong's office on the night prior
to the finding of the dead body of Walter
P. Gafford, well known lawyer of the
city in the office last Tuesday morning,
appe AIRED before the coroner's jury in
vestigating the death yesterday after
noon and told straightforward story
of his knowledge of the affair, and con-
WINGED them that he knew nothing of the
tragic death of MIR. Gafford.
Recorder George Harriss, who is fore
man of the coroner's jury investigating
the case, said last night with reference
to the appearance of young Mr.. Ledbet.
ter: THE examination of Mr.. Ledbetter
was very complete in every particular.
After the most severe examination, his
explanations were full and complete and
entirely satisfactory to the jury" Mr..
Harriss said that he had no hesitancy in
saying that he did not believe the absence
of MIR. Ledbetter was in any way due to
desire on his part to shirk any respon.
sibility or duty. His statements were
full and complete and the jury seems
thoroughly satisfied that he had no part
or parcel IN the unfortunate death OF
MIR. Gaford.
j The story told by MIR. Ledbetter was
mostly coroboration of testimony
given previously by other witnesses. He
was with the company in Mr.. Furlong's
office the night before the finding of the
body, but left before 10 o'clock and went
to his room at local hotel and retired
He had just been discharged from the
naval reserve here, and at the suggestion
of Ben Jackson, who. he said, was one Of
the few men that he knew in the city
went with the party to the Furlmg Office
early in the evening to celebrate" his
discharge from the service. While there
he met Gaffcrd for the first time. Hi
waited II the Office while other member:
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