Isle of Wight-Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Homicide, 1946 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 188, Mon., Nov. 4, 1946, p. 3 SET TRIAL DATE FOR SAUNDERS To Hear Murder Charge Nov. 12 P.W. [sic; T.W.] Saunders, owner-operator of the White Oaks Tavern in Nansemond County on route 460, near the Isle of Wight County line, charged with feloniously shooting Clarence Rhodes Saturday night in an altercation at the tavern, will be given a preliminary hearing November 12 in Nansemond Trial Justice Court. Saunders is now out on $7,000 bail. Deputy sheriffs I.H. Luke and N.H. Byrd, who investigated, said Saunders told them Rhodes, with two companions, Ray and Ernest Hedgepeth of Isle of Wight County, came in his place and became noisy and disorderly in an argument between themselves. He ordered them out, but they refused to leave and he put them out. He said that when outside they broke windows and threw things in the tavern. Then Saunders went outside, accompanied by his brother, with a loaded gun in his pocket. The tavern keeper told the officers that the three men attacked him, threw him to the ground and in the struggle the gun discharged. The trio left the place, Saunders said, and a little later the body of Clarence Rhodes was found, shot through the chest near the tavern. Then the tavern owner summoned county officials and was arrested. The body of young Rhodes was viewed by the coroner, Dr. Joyner, of Suffolk, and turned over to the W.J.M. Holland Funeral Home, Franklin. Rhodes was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rhodes, of Windsor, and besides his parents is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Howard Bowden and Miss Katherine Louise Rhodes, of Windsor; two brothers, Russell Emory and Gibson Earl Rhodes, of Windsor. He was a member of Antioch Christian Church. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 195, Tues., Nov. 12, 1946, p. 3 CONTINUE CASE OF SAUNDERS Delay Hearing Until Nov. 22 Case of P.W. [sic; T.W.] Saunders, charged with the murder of Clarence Rhodes, was ordered continued until November 22 when a preliminary hearing in Nansemond Trial Justice Court will be held. Saunders, owner-operator of White Oaks Tavern in Nansemond County on route 460 about three miles from Windsor accidentally shot Rhodes in an altercation Nov. 2 at the tavern, he told deputy sheriffs I.H. Luke and N.H. Byrd, who investigated. He is now out on $7,000 bail. Luke and Byrd said Saunders claimed Rhodes and two companions, Ray and Ernest Hedgebeth of Isle of Wight County, became disorderly in his place, refused to leave and when be ejected them, began to break windows. He went outside with gun in pocket, accompanied by his brother, and said the trio attacked him, threw him to the ground and in the scuffle the gun discharged. The three left his tavern, Saunders said, and a little later the body of Clarence Rhodes shot through the chest, was found near the tavern. The tavern owner summoned county officials and was arrested. ****************************************************************************** "Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 29, No. 25, Wed., Nov. 13, 1946, p. 1 I-WIGHT COUNTY MAN SHOT AT TAVERN NEAR SUFFOLK; DIES QUICKLY FROM WOUNDS Chas. H. Rhodes, 21, Of Windsor, Victim, Buried On Nov. 4th Clarence Hardy Rhodes, white, aged 21, native of Isle of Wight County, was shot and killed Saturday night, November 2nd, about midnight in an altercation at White [Oaks] Tavern, on the Windsor Highway near the Isle of Wight County line, and P. [sic; T.] W. Saunders, owner and operator of the tavern, was arrested charged with the fatal shooting, was released on $7,000 bail. According to the account given to Deputy Sheriff I.H. Luke and Deputy Sheriff N.H. Byrd of Nansemond County, by Saunders, Rhodes, with two companions, Ray and Ernest Hedgebeth of Isle of Wight County, came in his place and started an argument between themselves and became noisy and disorderly. He ordered them out of the place, they refused to leave and he put them out. He stated that when outside they broke windows and threw things in the tavern, and he went outside, accompanied by his brother with a loaded gun in his pocket. Saunders told the officers that the three men attacked him and threw him to the ground and that in the struggle the gun discharged. He stated that they left the place and a little later the body of Clarence Hardy Rhodes was found shot through the chest near the tavern. He stated that he summoned county officials and was arrested. The body of young Rhodes was viewed by the coroner Dr. G. Richardson Joyner of Suffolk and turned over to the W.J.M. Holland Funeral Home, Franklin. Rhodes was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rhodes of Windsor, and besides his parents is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Howard Bowden and Miss Katherine Louise Rhodes of Windsor; two brothers, Russell Emory and Gibson Earl Rhodes of Windsor. He was a member of Antioch Christian Church. Funeral services were conducted Monday at 3 PM at the Holland Funeral Home in Franklin by the Rev. T. Fred Wright. Burial was in Colosse Church Cemetery. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 204, Fri., Nov. 22, 1946, p. 3 Again Postpone Saunders Case CASE of P.W. Saunders, charged with the murder of Clarence Rhodes, was again ordered continued until Dec. 12 when a preliminary hearing in Nansemond Trial Justice Court will be held. Saunders accidently shot Rhodes in an altercation Nov. 2 at White [Oaks] Tavern, he told deputy sheriffs I.H. Luke and N.H. Byrd, who investigated. The tavern, of which he is owner-operator, is located in Nansemond county on route 460 about three miles from Windsor. [...] ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 218, Tues., Dec. 10, 1946, p. 3 SEND SAUNDERS TO GRAND JURY Charged With Rhodes Murder T.W. Saunders, charged with the murder of Clarence Rhodes, was ordered held for January term of Nansemond County Grand Jury in preliminary hearing before Judge N.T. Gray in Nansemond Trial Justice Court today. Saunders, now out on $7,000 bail, claimed he shot in self-defense on the night of Nov. 2 when attacked by Rhodes and Ernest and Ray Hedgebeth after an altercation at White Oaks Tavern, which he owns, about three miles from Windsor on the Suffolk-Windsor highway. Also ordered held for the Grand Jury were cases of three Norfolk men, Raymond L. McClenny, R.A. Wall and George D. Asbell, charged with maliciously throwing stones at milk delivery truck operated by Turned Ward, Negro, and owned by McClenny Dairies, of Franklin. Ordered held for the Grand Jury was Randolph Ridley, Negro, charged with stealing a diamond ring valued at $2500 from the home of A.B. Cramer. Cases against Ernest and Ray Hedgebeth, involving 4 charges of cursing, abusing, assaulting and striking T.W. Saunders were ordered continued to Feb. 1. Leon Bailey, Negro, was sentenced to 12 months on the road for assaulting P.C. Holland and fined $10 for drunkenness. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 82, Wed., June 25, 1947, p. 1 MURDER TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY Saunders Enters 'Not Guilty' Plea T.W. Saunders entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder of Clarence Rhodes before a 12-man jury this morning in Nansemond County Circuit Court. Saunders, owner-operator of the White Oaks Tavern in Nansemond County on Route 460 near the Isle of White County line was charged with the felonious shooting of Rhodes Nov. 2 in an altercation at the tavern by the prosecuting attorneys, Commonwealth's Attorney Charles B. Godwin and A.E.S. Stephens. He was defended by Paul Everett and Thomas L. Woodward. Although Saunders was not expected to take the stand until this afternoon, Deputy Sheriffs I.H. Luke and N.H. Byrd told the court, presided over by Judge John K. Hutton, of their investigations on the night of the shooting. THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS were called to the tavern to quell a disturbance there, they testified. On arrival, things had quieted down, but Saunders, his wife and brother and bystanders related that Rhodes, with two companions, Ray and Ernest Hedgebeth, came into his place of business, became noisy and disorderly. He ordered them out, but they refused to leave and he put them out, Luke and Byrd said Saunders explained. The deputies in further relating the story of the trouble, as told to them, said the trio allegedly threw a shuffleboard quoit they took outside with them when ejected at one of the tavern windows whereupon Saunders went out to remonstrate with them, with a loaded pistol in his pocket. SAUNDERS TOLD the officers, they said, that the three men attacked him and threw him to the ground and that in the ensuing struggle the gun discharged. The trio ran away, but Saunders wanted warrants issued for their arrest. The officers said this would be done and left. A little later they received a call to return to the White Oaks Tavern. The body of Rhodes was found, shot through the chest, near the tavern, and Saunders was placed under arrest. Saunders had telephoned the county police as soon as Rhodes' body was found, Luke and Byrd said. The quoit allegedly used by one of the trio and Saunders' pistol from which the fatal bullet was fired, as well as his broken spectacles, were exhibited. The 12-man jury was composed of J.S. Kirk, C.C. Baker, W.G. Copeland, John Goodman Arthur, R.H. Brinkley, Floyd R. Umphhett, H.O. Byrd, S.B. Hazelwood, Rudolph Badger, J.E. Edwards, Jr., J.S. Powell and K.E. Brinkley. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 83, Thurs., June 26, 1947, p. 3 Saunders on Stand in Tavern Slaying T.W. Saunders, charged with the murder of Clarence Rhodes, took the stand in his own defense today in Nansemond County Circuit Court as a 12-man jury, expected to return a verdict late this afternoon in the trial which began yesterday morning and paraded many witsnesses to the stand during the two-day proceedings presided over by Judge John K. Hutton. Paul L. Everett and Thomas L. Woodward served as defense counsel while Commonwealth's Attorney Charles B. Godwin and Senator A.E.S. Stephens prosecuted the case against Saunders. Saunders, who worked for his brother, H.L. Saunders, owner-operator of White Oaks Tavern on Route 460 in Nansemond County near the Isle of Wight County line, pleaded not guilty to the charge of feloniously shooting Rhodes Nov. 2 in an altercation at the tavern. SAUNDERS AND his brother testified they ordered Rhodes and his companions, Ray and Ernest Hedgebeth, from the tavern when they became noisy and disorderly, and when the trio refused to leave, forcibly ejected them. But when outside, instead of vacating the premises, the trio continued to create a disturbance, including the throwing of a lead shuffleboard quoit - one of three taken from the game table inside and used during the eviction and subsequent proceedings - at one of the tavern windows, the Saunders brothers said. The accused stated he went out, with a loaded pistol in his pocket, to order the trio on down the road, whereupon they attacked him. In groping for his weapon to defend himself, it was prematurely discharged during the scuffle, he said. On arrival of his brother, the trio fled and the county police were called. Some time later the body of Rhodes shot through the chest, was found some 50 yards from the tavern. RAY and ERNEST Hedgebeth testified they were evicted without cause and maliciously beaten by the Saunders brothers. Both were vague as to the firing of the fatal shot which felled Rhodes, as were witnesses who followed them on the stand. The 12-man jury was composed of J.S. Kirk, C.C. Baker, W.G. Copeland, John Goodman Arthur, R.H. Brinkley, Floyd R. Umphlette, H.O. Byrd, S.B. Hazelwood, Rudolph Badger, J.E. Edwards, Jr., J.S. Powell and K.E. Brinkley. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 24, No. 84, Fri., June 27, 1947, p. 1 JURY ACQUITS T. H. [sic; T. W.] SAUNDERS Freed in Death Of Rhodes Man Deliberating only 2 minutes, a 12-man Nansemond County Circuit Court jury last night acquitted T.H. Saunders in the White Oaks Tavern slaying of Clarence Rhodes last Nov. 2. The verdict, brought in at 7:15 p.m., closed the two days' proceedings presided over by Judge John K. Hutton. The prosecution had sought to show that Saunders maliciously shot Rhodes without due cause in an altercation at the tavern on Route 460 near the Isle of Wight line. The defense tried to prove that although the fatal bullet was prematurely fired, the accused was justified in using his weapon when attacked by Rhodes and two companions outside the tavern after he had ordered them to leave the premises. NUMEROUS WITNESSES took the stand for both sides, but the principals in the case, Ray and Ernest Hedgebeth, companions of Rhodes, and T.W. Saunders and his brother, H.L. Saunders, who owned and operated the tavern, gave the chief testimony. Ray and Ernest Hedgeheth testified they and Rhodes were maliciously beaten without cause inside the tavern, forcibly ejected therefrom and followed outside and again beaten. Ray claimed the accused fired the fatal bullet at Rhodes as the latter tried to get away. The Saunders brothers testified they ordered Rhodes and his companions from the tavern when they became noisy and disorderly and evicted them when they refused to leave. When the trio, instead of leaving the premises, continued to create a disturbance outside, including the throwing of a lead shufflebdard quoit - one of three claimed taken from the game table inside and used during the eviction and subsequent proceedings - at one of the tavern windows, the accused said he fired a rifle through the window to scare them off. WHEN THEY STILL refused to leave and went around the back for unknown design, he said he went outside, with a loaded pistol in his pocket, to order them away. They pretended to leave, but as he turned his back to re-enter the tavern jumped on him and began to beat him with the lead quoits in their hands, be said. In groping for his weapon to defend himself, it was prematurely discharged during the scuffle, he stated. On arrival of his brother, the trio fled and the county police were called. Some time later the body of Rhodes, shot through the chest, was found some 50 yards from the tavern. Thomas L. Woodward and Paul L. Everett, Suffolk attorneys, defended Saunders while Commonwealth's Attorney Charles B. Godwin was assisted in the prosecution by State Senator A.E.S. Stephens. The 12-man jury was composed of J.S. Kirk, C.C. Baker, W.O. Copeland, John Goodman Arthur, R.H. Brinkley, Floyd R. Umphlette, H.O. Byrd, S.B. Hazelwood, Rudolph Badger, J.B. Edwards, Jr., J.S. Powell and K.E. Brinkley. ****************************************************************************** Additional information: Clarence Hardy RHODES, farmer, b. 18 Feb 1925, Isle of Wight Co., shot 2 Nov 1946, Nansemond Co., interred in Colosse Baptist Church Cemetery*, Collosse, 4 Nov 1946 *Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #44: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html A photo of his gravestone - added by Ron Stewart - is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #82328794. His parents are also buried there. D.Cert. 24561 (Chuckatuck #3) gives Charles Hardy RHODES, son of Charles E. & Gertie Belle (HOLLAND) RHODES. ****************************************************************************** Thomas Washington SAUNDERS, co-owner/operator of White Oaks Tavern, Army veteran of WW-II, b. 9 Jun 1910, Nansemond Co., d. 20 Jan 1963, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block G, Lot 4*), Suffolk *Additional information: Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_s.txt Photos of his gravestone - added by Jack Gray - are posted with Find a Grave Memorial #123050231. His parents, Hobday Lee & "Maggie" A. (HOLLAND WILKINS) SAUNDERS, are buried the same lot. D.Cert. 2666 (Chuckatuck #17) His mother d. 25 Oct 1946 - 8 days before the shooting. Her obit ("Suffolk News-Herald," Oct. 25, 1946, p. 3) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/s536m6ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/news/19461113st.txt