The log cabin Democrat., 1920-09-01
ALMOST BEHEADS
 NEGRO IN FIGHT
JOHN HOLLAND ATTACKED
Charlie Davis Cuts Great Wound on Hollands Neck-Victim Has
 Chance to Recover

John Holland, a negro employed for the past 35 years or more at the s. ] G. Smith store, was almost beheaded i last night when Charlie Davis, negro working on the l.. B. Addison river farm, attacked him at the "Un- 1 known Tongue" or sanctified church in the northeastern part of the city. The wound laid open on Hollands neck was an immense one and required 42 stitches before it was completely clos ed. Holland bled profusely and is in much weakened condition, although having chance for recovery. Davis was arrested by Deputy Sheriff J. I. Summers and Deputy Constable J. A. King soon after the affair, and was placed in the county jail. The trouble took place about 9 o'clock, and was witnessed by several white people as well as negroes at the church. Davis, who is also known as Gears. admitted the attack after he had been arrested by the officers. However, he claimed that the gash was made with small knife and that a razor was not used. No great amount of credence is given his claims, as the wound was long and deep and smoothly cut, probably with razor. Mir. Sum- mers said that no search was made of rooms occupied by Davis and his wife at the Brown boarding house on Center street, where the arrest was made, as people in that section were much disturbed and he wished to get the negro away and to jail as quickly as possible. The officer also said that Davis was so badly scared as any negro he had ever seen.
 According to accounts of the affair, Davis and other negroes were at the front of the church creating a distur- bance, which Holland requested they stop. Holland came out to the crowd once and then returned to the church, coming out a second time, it is said, when the noise was renewed. He is said to have asked all of them to make less noise and probably placed his hands upon some of the crowd to
 
 point that Davis is alleged to have made his assault, springing at Holland and inflicting the wound quickly. Davis and his wife then left the church and went to the Brown house without waiting to see how badly Holland was wounded.
 After the wound had been inflicted, Holland is said to have kept on his feet for some time. It was probably 30 minutes before medical attention was had, the victim being brought to town in car and his wound treated at the office of Dr. George s. Brown
 He was bleeding profusely at the time. From Dr. Browns office, he was taken home and today is said to be resting well.
 In a statement to MT. Summers, Davis is said to have claimed that Holland attacked his wife and was choking her when the assault was made. Other reports of the affair do not support his claim, it was said, the general belief being that Holland was merely attempting to cneck dlstur- bance which was interfering with the congregation.
 Last nights affair at the tongue" church is the second disturbance this week, it was said today. Sunday night white man is alleged to have led the congregation and to have aroused a number of white people, who broke up his service with a shower of rocks, eggs and other missiles, one striking the exhorter and knocking him to the floor. He was removed from Conway the following morning, it was said. When his service was stopped, he had freely used the terms brother" and sister" when speak ing to his negro hearers, according to reports.