Byrd, D. James - 1903 - New Hanover County, NC - Obits. --- Submitter: Natasha Miles EMAIL: bittersweet3@yahoo.com DATE: Sep 03 1999 The Wilmington Morning Star Wilmington, NC Wednesday, April 29, 1903 Disappeared From Home: James Byrd, White, Member of the Street Force, Has been Missing Since Last Saturday -- Mystery As completely as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up, James Byrd, aged about 50 years and a member of the street force of the city, has disappeared from his home on Wright, between Second and Third streets. His family is very much distressed over his absence as members of the household say they cannot remember when he ever spent a night from home before. They are certain that foul play is the result of his staying away and are making every effort to find him. Mr. Byrd left home about 8 o'clock Saturday night, accompanied by his little daughter. He went to a market on Castle street, bought some beef and sent it home by the little girl. That was the last seen or heard of him and as he has been absent three days and nights the people in the community are at a loss to know of his whereabouts. Mr. Byrd's wife died a few years ago and since that time he has lived with two grown daughters and a number of smaller children. The police are working on the case and hope to fathom the mystery in a day or two. The Wilmington Morning Star Wilmington, NC Saturday, May 2, 1903 Where Is This Man?: Mystery Surrounding the Disappearance of D. James Byrd is Still Unsolved. The Police Looking For Him: Family Much Distressed and Are Eager for Information as to His Whereabouts - Came to Wilmington from Farmers' Turn-Out. The mysterious disappearance of D. James Byrd from his home on Third and Wright streets is becoming the talk of the town in circles where he was known and strenuous effort is being put forth to find the man, both by friends and officers of the law. They are entirely at sea as to his whereabouts and any information as to his presence will be thankfully received by the family, who are much distressed over his continued absence. Deputy Sheriff W. Harvey Cox and Policeman H. W. Howell spent the entire day yesterday trying to find Mr. Byrd, but although their search was very thorough, it revealed nothing. Other officers and friends will continue the search today. If the man has not met with foul play, it is believed that he has been drowned in the river. Mr. Byrd came here a few years ago from near Farmer's turnout, on the W. C. & A. railroad, and was first employed in the Wilmington Cotton Mills. He is quiet and retiring in his disposition and is not inclined to be quarrelsome. He is 47 years of age, 5 foot 10 inches tall, has dark complexion, light gray eyes and hair very gray for a man of his age. Mr. Byrd was last employed on the city street force and left home last Saturday night about 8 o'clock accompanied by his little daughter. He visited a meat market and sent some beef home by the little girl. That was the last time any member of the family saw him, but about 12 o'clock the same night he was seen by other persons in the vicinity of Fourth and Church streets. Policeman D. W. Willis also saw him Sunday afternoon following at Sixth and Castle streets, but no one has been able to trace his movements further. Mr. Byrd has eight children: one married daughter, two others nearly grown, five small boys and girls. Their mother died five years ago, which leaves the children in very distressing circumstances. Any information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Byrd will be thankfully received by a sorrowing mother and fatherless and motherless children. Wilmington Morning Star Wilmington, NC Thursday, May 28, 1903 A Mystery Cleared: Finding of Body Explains Disappearance from Home of D. James Byrd Drowned in the River: Remains Found Floating in the Water by Negro Fisherman Yesterday at Noon. No Evidence of Foul Play -- Buried at Oak Grove. The body of D. James Byrd, the white man employed by the city as a member of the street force and who so mysteriously disappeared from his home, at Third and Wright streets, four weeks ago last Saturday night, was found yesterday at noon, floating in the river opposite Point Peter, above Wilmington, by two colored boys engaged in fishing in the stream. The boys were horrified at the sight of the object and ran to inform some colored men at work near the spot. The men came to the river's edge and towed the body ashore. Dr. O. D. Bell, the coroner, was notified of the find and upon his arrival the body, which had not hitherto been identified, was found to be that of the missing man. A pass book was found on the corpse, bearing the name of D. James Byrd, and several of Byrd's fellow employees on the street force corroborated the fact from a view of the body, although it was badly decomposed. A purse was found on the person and identified. It contained $3.52 in silver. Dr. Bell found no evidence of foul play; the skull and all other bones were perfectly intact and therefore no inquest was held. The finding of the money disposed conclusively of the theory that the man had been robbed and thrown overboard. Byrd's family having removed from the city and the remains having required immediate burial, they were turned over to County Undertaker King at once and interred in Oak Grove cemetery. The family consists of eight children, three of whom are grown and five others small. A married sister lives in WIlmington, but the others, being without any support, found it necessary soon after the disappearance of their father to move to the country. They could not be reached in time to get to Wilmington yesterday. Thei mother died five years ago. The deceased was 47 years of age and moved with his family to Wilmington about four years ago from Farmer's Turnout. He had just been paid off the night he disappeared and was accompanied to the market by one of his little daughters by whom he sent home some provisions. About 1 o'clock Sunday morning he was seen on the streets and the presumption is that he fell overboard from some of the city docks in the southern part of the city and that his body was carried up the river by the tied. When found the body was dressed in a tight fitting black suit and a new pair of shoes, evidently purchased with a part of the money which he had been paid Saturday night. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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