Wilkes County NcArchives Obituaries.....Horton, William Eagles March 31, 1978
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Bunny Horton phinhorton@bellsouth.net March 23, 2007, 10:21 am

Newspaper Article
ONE KILLED, 2 HURT
IN AUTO COLLISION

   William E. Horton, prominent Ferguson community citizen was killed Tuesday 
afternoon (sic) when the pickup truck he was driving through Wilkeson was hit 
by a car driven by Arthur Barnes, Burwind, W. Va., Negro who was fleeing from 
a highway patrolman.
   The crash occurred at the intersection of Main and Cherry streets when the 
car driven by Barnes ran through a red light and crashed into the side of Mr. 
Horton's pickup.
   With Mr. Horton was his wife, who was badly injured.  At the Wilkes General 
Hospital her injuries we ere described as internal and serious.  Barne was 
also badly hurt and had a punctured lung.
   Highway Patrolman R. C. Blalock investigated the accident and charged 
Barnes with manslaughter, two counts of reckless driving, speeding over 80 
miles per hour and failure to stop for a siren.
   Highway Patrolman J. M. Taylor of Taylorsville had chased Barnes 15 miles 
over highway 16 north to Wilkesboro.  Barnes was alleged to have driven away 
from a service station near Taylorsville without paying for gasoline put into 
his car.
   Patrolman Taylor told Patrolman Blalock that he chased Barnes at speeds 
over 80 miles per hour but had never been able to overtake and stop Barnes.  
Witnesses said Barnes was traveling rapidly when the crash occurred.
  Mr. Horton had been looking after business matters in the Wilkesboros 
Tuesday and was en route home when the accident occurred.  He was traveling 
west on highway 268 and the car driven by Barnes was entering the Main street 
intersection from the Moravian Falls road.
  The car struck Mr. Horton's pickup directly in the middle of the left side 
between the front and rear wheels and demolished the pickup, which driven by 
the impact of the crash several feet north on Cherry street out of the 
intersection.  The pickup was smashed in to a "U" shape in the collision.
   Mr. Horton died of a broken neck shortly after arriving at the hospital.
   Mr. Horton was 56 years of age.  he was born July 25, 1896, a son of Rufus 
D. and Mattie Horton.
   Mr. Horton for many years was engaged in farming and over a long period of 
time was a justice of the peace.  He had taken an active interest in community 
and county affairs.
   Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Hattie McNeil Horton, one daughter, Miss 
Christine Horton of Ferguson; two sons, Warren Horton of Ferguson and Joe 
Horton of Winston-Salem.
   Funeral services were held today at Elk Creek Baptist church.  Dr. R. L. 
Isbell of Lenoir, the Rev. Ed O. Miller and the Rev. Walter Duke officiated.  
Burial was in the church cemetery.

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