Roanoke Rapids Herald

Four Under Heavy Bonds In Warrenton Death Case

Warrenton, June 7 (Special)- A coroner's jury has ruled here that Willie Thomas Jones, young Warrenton resident, "came to his death from blows on the head inflicted with an automobile pump and crank handle" and, as a result of the verdict, four other men are in the Warren County jail under heavy bonds.

Gilbert (Sprig) Faulkner and Grady (Boots) Faulkner of Henderson were bound over to Superior Court under $5000 bond and Joseph Champion and Phillip Lynch were held under $2000 bond, the Warren County sheriff's office reported.

Authorities said Jones' death resulted from a drunken brawl here early Saturday morning between the two Faulkner boys and Jones, Lynch and Champion.

Testimony brought out at the inquest was substantially that Jones, Champion and Lynch stopped at Clark's Garage on the Macon highway, on their way home in North Warrenton after taking two girls to their home on the Macon highway.

There they met the two Faulkner boys and began discussing their girl friends.

According to the testimony, Jones made a statement which Gilbert Faulkner thought offensive and an argument started.

The argument got so heated, Champion, Lynch and Jones drove off in the direction of Vaughan and when they returned the two Faulkner boys pulled out in front of them at the garage and continued down the road until they came to a country road.

They drove into this road for a short distance and the others followed and then they had a few other words. Before leaving, however, they shook hands and apologized. Champion and the other two then drove over to a drive-in at Norlina but the place was closed so they decided to go home for the night.

When they came under the underpass at Norlina they saw the Faulkners stopped fixing a flat tire. They stopped and asked if they could be of assistance. Gilbert Faulkner said no, but Grady said "Yes, come on and help me pump up this tire."

Then, the testimony continued, Champion drove his car off the highway and the three got out to help.

Here Grady Faulkner stated that when Jones came up to his car he had an automobile crank

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FOUR UNDER BONDS
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in his hand and that he started arguing with Gilbert again. Jones, said Grady, raised the crank to hit Gilbert and Grady raised the pump he was using, hitting the crank and knocking it from Jones' hand. Champion and Lynch then ran and he started after them, but they got to the car and got away. Grady said he then returned to his car and, being scared about what the other boys would do, he and Gilbert drove over to a cafe that was open in Norlina.
Deny Striking Jones
Both men denied ever hitting Jones and said they did not see him after Grady knocked the crank from his hand. They said that Gilbert was never out of the car.
Champion stated that after they had driven off for a short distance, they returned to pick up Jones and couldn't find him. Thinking that maybe he had hid in a nearby field, they began to look there and found him unconscious. They shook him, but couldn't revive him, so they took him to his home in North Warrenton.
Then, Champion and Lynch testified, they called a doctor and had his wife pour cold water on him to see if he could be revived. When he didn't, they got alarmed and decided they would go for a doctor. Doctor Hunter of Warrenton stated it was 3:10 A. M. by the clock in Jones' house when he got there. That was a short time after he had been called. He said Jones had been dead about an hour when he arrived.
Make Arrests
Doctor Hunter called the law enforcement officers and Deputy Sheriff Bottoms was the first to arrive. He took Champion and Lynch into custody and went to Norlina and arrested the two Faulkner boys at the cafe. Lodged in the Warren County jail, the men all denied hitting Jones at any time, but admitted they had been drinking beer, officers said.
Wife, Son Survive
Jones' survivors include his wife, the former Cora Smith, one five-month old son, Paul, his mother and father, Al and Etta Jones of Warrenton, one brother, Albert; and one sister, Mrs. Drucie Tucker of Norlina.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at four o'clock from the Warrenton Baptist Church.