The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-04-03
WILLIAMSON ENRAGED
OVER DAMNABLE CRIME
Citizens Protest Brutal Mutilation of Young
Needleman; Official Neglect of Sheriff
Cited; Five Arrested

able outrage to have occurred
in a civilized community, ar
one that has stirred all eastern
North Carolina was perpte-,
trated Sunday morning at 2:W
o'clock when Joe Needlemafi,
a 2l-ycar-old tobacco salesman
formerly Of Philadelphia, now
of kinston, was taken from the
Martin County Jail at Wllixl.
ston, and castrated by a mob
OF enraged men. 4 SO r.
p Unusual and unprintabls cir
cumstances are said to surround tho
occurrence. Needleman was hetd
in the Williamson jail, @ charge
of assault preferred against hfn
by Efrie Griffin, a 17.year-old mirs
girl, who alleged that he AssiultAd
her at the point Of a gun, bat, did
not bring charges until more Thin
u week after the alleged act Oc-
cured. Needleman expressed sur.
prise at the charges and, denies
guilt.
On Sunday afternoon after the
mob had mutilated Needieman,
the Griffin girl married Eefnte
W. Sparrow of Kiuston. Spur
row with four others is being
held without bond. charged with tha
crime, and Solicitor Don Gllliaan,Of
Tarboro is working up the Gasc
against others. - (
Sheriff Is Blamed For Act
According to all accounts, Sheriff
III. r. Robertson of Martin County
deserves Il like fate. When Needle
MN was arrested, he feared for his
life in Il Ku Klux stronghold Ike
Martin County, and knowing tho
Ku Klux antipathy for Jews. he
begged the sheriff to take him to Jail
in another town for safe keeping.
The sheriff gave him no anGwer.
and later ignored NeedlemaRssplsa
for guard around the jail. -
And then the mob appeared at the
home Of Sheriff Robertson in the
early morning hours Of Sunday,
March 90, and demanded the keys
of the Sheriff. The Sheriff did not
give up the keys, and when advised
by X. j. Peel, Clerk Of Martin
Superior Court, to turn Ia Q fire
alarm and call out q, trowd, Che
sheriff is said to have gone back to
bed. -
Public opinion associated the
Sheritf's attitude. with the faa that
he was originally from the same
community as the girl, and war
strongly in sympathy with her.
Joe Needleman's Misfortune
Young Needleman who is now l.,
the Washington Hospital at Wasb
ington, is expected to recover, tho
not out Of danger, according, to:'a
wire received by this newepaUey
from DR.. u. T. Tayloe yesterday.
NeedlemaG is well known IN ,HdeA-
ton and Elizabeth City, an& bas
many friends here, who attest his
gentility, fricndliness, and reSpAat-
ability. He made this territory
regularly, selling Old VGG1llia
Cheroots and tobacco. He Is said
to be the son of a prominent and
wealthy Philadelphia family. He
are In Kinston. where
he landcI several months ago, aud
where H. and his brother bear d
very good name, according to adj
vices from kinstOD. '7asss-
II was generally understood about
KiDston that Needleman's pNcHa
were wealthy. Needleman MAS we'll
known and liked about town. IIe
knew Fcrnie W. Sparrow. Sparrow
had been going with Effis Griffin,
the WilIiamston sales girl for sine
time. Wiliiamston people made
much talk about it, and sotne look
cd Oh the couple as betrothed. :
On Friday, March 20, FerHie, ~.
Sparrow. supposed to be the bs.
trothed of Efric Griffin. ran up with
Ncedlcman in Williamson. He
took NePdlemun out to the home
of the Griffin girl and introduced
them. Needleman made an engage.
mcnt TO take Miss Griffin to Q show
in Washington. The couple had
% miles Of hardsurface Toad to
travel on. but they didn't get back.
until two o'clock jim the morning, II
is said.
Necd.cman went on about his
business, returning to Willi4msfon
almost a week later. He had no
time to spend with the Griffin girl,
he heard no charges against him.
His business finished, he went to
Edcnton. IT was there that Officer
Pratt served a warrant on him,
based on the testimony Of the girl,
who alleged he forced her at the
point of a pistol to submit to him.
NeedIenan was taken back to
Williamson, and jailed. He Beg.
ged for protection. Others asked
the sheriff to protect him. At 2 80