Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1947-07-18
Coroner's Jury Finds
Triple Deaths Due To
negro S Reckless Driving

rem who We're killed in an auto
mobile accident on July l, found
W. E. Shipman, colored, driver
of the car which stuck the Cox
vehicle, guilty of ''reckless and
caeleSs driving which rssRlted in
an avoidable accident"
The jury recommended that
Shipman be held for further in
veStigation. Shipman was return
ed to the Conway Jail where Cor
oner John S. Dix said he would
be held until the October court
session unless he was able to meet
his bond. As of press time, no
word was received Of an establish
ed bond nor Shipman's release.
The jury. composed of Lloyd
Bell, foreman, \ Ian Bruton,
Brooks Wilmington, Clyde Floyd,
Marion Benton and Richard
Cartrette, heard the cross-exami-
nation of witnesses by District
Solicitor Ruben Long and Defense
attorney R. D. Epps.
State Highway Patrolman R.
". Crawford told the jury the ac-
cident occurred late Tuesday ev-
ening, July l, a few minutes af-
ter the Cox truck. carrying ten
members of the family, turned
westward into route 9 headed for
LoriS. The Cox family had been
working in tobacco and were on
sheir way home.
Shelton Granger, LoriS, an eye
witness, said he was driving to
the beach with some friends when
he saw Shipman's car hit the Cox
truck. After the collision, Grazing
er said, the Cox truck careened
behind his car and Shipman's We
hicle shot across the road in
front of the Granger car. Both
cars in the accident left the road;
Shipman's convertible plunged 80
yards into the woods.
Granger also said Shipman
made no attempt to pass the Cox
truck and said he was unable to
comment on Attorney Epps' sug-
yestion that there was not enough
room to allow Shipman's passage
between the Cox truck and Grain,
gers oncoming car.
Granger testified that Shipman's
car raced toward him rather
fast" 1t was opined that Ship
man drove at 80 miles per hour.
Sitting in corner, Shipman
hook his head vehemently at this
remark. Shipman was not called
% testify.
Burroughs Cox, driver Of the
strip-down and father OF Roger
Cox, one of the victims OF the
crash. testified that no car was
in sight when he turned his truck
nto the highway. He estimated
hat a slow curve in the road:
about a quarter of a mile east OF
he point of the collision, would
have provided ample opportunity
for him to see any car approach
ing at normal speed and to make
room for it to pass. had 1t not
been advancing too fast.
Grover Prince. last witness TO
face the jury, said he was standing
IT the gasoline station at the
;unction of the highway and the
dirt raod leading into the bush
where the Coxes had been work
ing. -.
Prince said he did not see the
actual collision. but was the flrSt
10 arrive at the scene. He ldentl-
fled a bottle of whiskey which ne
had given to Patrolman Crawford
The Jury took Is minutes 10
reach it's decision. 1t was READ 10
the crowd who attended the m
quest by Coroner Dix:
The three persons killed IN the
crash were Hettie L. Cox L.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. WI,
Tliam F. Cox; Roger Cox /"
months son of Mr.. and Mrs. Bur
ronpbs Cox; and William DAVIS
cox II, son Of Mr.. and Mrs l.
J. Cox. mo.
Injured and now recovering
,.s,s MIR Norma Cox and her one
vaar-old son, Larry; Burrooghs
D Cox and his wife, Beulah' Mel,
Ia Cox, |, Grady Cox D. anu
Ouida Cox, IL.