In August of 1904 21-year-old Blanche Parker and her husband George moved into a home 1 mile east of Clarkton, North Carolina. George worked at a logging camp 6 miles from their home and when he was gone 17-year-old Sam Russ, a cousin of Blanche stayed with her.
On the morning of September 3, 1904, Blanche sent Sam out to dig potatoes about a mile away. When he returned around an hour later Blanche wasn't in the home and the kitchen was a mess. The pie she was baking was also on the floor. This raised alarms with Sam and he went to get help. It was obvious there was a struggle through the cornfield and pieces of clothing were found. Blanche's body would soon be found in a wooded area. She had been brutally raped and murdered.
It was believed that 34-year-old Dave Brown and 34-year-old Neil Sellers had attacked Blanche in her home. They forced her out of the home and dragged her through a cornfield and to the woods. Her clothes were torn off and she fought with her attackers greatly. Evidence showed she had gotten away once but was recaptured by them. She would be brutally raped.
They had brought a knife, but it was too dull to slice her neck and had beaten her with a fence rail. her head had been beaten in and she was also mutilated in such a way as to try to hide the sexual assault. She would be found lying face down with her feet towards the cornfield and her head in a stump hole.
The two would-be soon suspected and arrested for the murder. One of the men stated that they made a deal to attack the woman, but the other had finished and killed her. This confession was done right after their arrest. Articles had stated that both men had done this, so I'm unsure which one made this statement.
To avoid the two being lynched they were taken to Wilmington jail to avoid Lynchers. The men would be found guilty of the murder and set to hang on November 16, 1904. Both would remain adamant of being innocent of the crime. They were calm on the scaffolds and told the crowd they were innocent. Both were hanged until dead.
SOURCES:
Wilmington Morning Star September 9, 1904
The Semi-Weekly Messenger November 18, 1904
The Semi-Weekly Messenger November 18, 1904
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