The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-03-04
LEWARK MURDER CASE
AT CURRITUCK TUESDAY
Guards Held for the Murder of Durwood Gallon
Near Poplar Branch on Nov. rs Will Be
Tried Next Week ~'....

A hard fought legal battle will
be waged at Currituck, C. H.
next week when St. Clair Le-
wark and John Wicker, late
guards of the Pine Island Shoot
ing Club Of that county go on
trial for the murder of Derwood
Gallop, young Currituckian,
who was shot to death while in
the vicinity of the Pine Island
club grounds on the evening of
Thursday, Nov. Is, 1920.
The men who are being held for the
murder are in Jail here in Elizabeth
City, having been brought here for safe
keeping when they were arrested short
ly after the murder. Sentiment was
strong against them in Currituck at the
time of their arrest and to forestal any
possibility of violence the sheriff of Cur
rituck has kept his prisoners in the
Pasquotank county Jail in this city.
st. Clair Lewark is A years old ard
is a man of family. John Wicker is 81
years old and has a wife and five chill
dren. At least one witness has declared
that Lewark shot and killed Derwood
Gallop. But both Lewark and Wicker
are held for the murder since both are
alleged to have been together at the
time of the shooting; both guards were
in the employ of the club.
The Pine Island Club, located near
Poplar Branch on Currtuck Sound is
a domain of thousands of acres owned
by northern sportsmen who use it dur
Ing the open season for wild ducks and
geese. The property is one of seven
similar clubs in that county and is al
ways under the protection of guardsmen
who carry Winchester rifles and who
know how to use them. Clashes between
armed guards in the employ of the
northern clubmen and natives who re-
sent the private ownership of hunting
grounds have been frequent and in the
past many shots have been exchanged
between these hostile groups
Derwood Gallop, age "A years, was
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Gallop
living near Powells Point, several miles
from the Pine Island club grounds. On
Thursday, Nov. 25, young Gallop left
his home in company with a young man
named John Shannon for the purpose
of hunting geese. They carried COM
plete equipment including decoys.
After their days sport and night ap-
preaching, they found themselves off
against the property of the Pine Island
Club. One version of the story says
they were trespassing on the property.
John Shannon has said that he and
GaIlop were hailed by the Pine Island
guards and that one of these guards in
stantly opened fire with an automatic
rife, firing 12 or 16 shots into the boat.
Gallop and Shannon dropped below the
gunwales of their little craft, but one
of the bullets plowing it's way thru the
thin planking of the boat buried itself
IN Gallop's abdomen. He died a few
hours later. Shannon is positive Le-
wark did the shooting. Lewark stoutly
)roclaims his innocence and will endea
7or to prove that he was not in the
7icinity of the shooting at the time it
occurred.
Able counsel will appear on both sides
# the case when it comes up for trial
Tuesday. The defendants will be rep
esented by Aydlett & Simpson and
Ieekins & Mcmillan, of Elizabeth City.
solicitor J. c.. B. Ehringhaus for the
state will be assisted by Congressman
lect H. S. Ward, of Washington, N.
). The resources of the clubmen are
n the side of the defendants. The
rejudices of native gunners are against
he guards. It may be hard to pick
Try of unbiased mortals in Currituck
l this most aggravating case.