The Case of the
Misidentiiied Husband
Л
wife ought to know the man she
had lived with for eight years, but
the jury said no.
The arrest and trial of J. Bynum
Reid, alias J. Bunyan Rawls, on May 1,
1923, for bigamy and nonsupport of
his children, came to its first climax
in Warrcnton, North Carolina, where,
after the jury convicted the man, Judge
Frank Daniels set the verdict aside
and ordered a new trial and trans¬
ferred the case to Vance County be¬
cause of so much notoriety created by
the trial in Warren County.
People came from Warren County
like devoted pilgrims and augmented
by local interests in Vance, danger¬
ously crowded the old courthouse
in Henderson beyond its capacity. So
the drama was set again for this now
celebrated trial amid much of the same
scenes but on a different stage, with
the distinguished Jurist, Judge Henry- A.
Grady, presiding, having been assigned
by the Governor to hold that court.
Anyone present at this trial must
retain still a vivid recollection of the
fortitude and self-control with which
the man made his stand against the
law; and yet there were objects around
him quite sufficient to unnerve the
boldest heart — a devoted wife and
little children, these little ones crawl¬
ing around and amusing themselves
under the lawyers' tables. But the man,
not dismayed, appeared unconscious
of their presence. Every faculty of his
soul was on the alert to prove to
everyone that he was not a man to
be convicted without a struggle.
J. Bynum Reid was a carpenter, as
were his father and brothers; they all
lived near Littleton, North Carolina.
He was known to his family and
friends as Bynum Reid and will be
known by that name in this narration
of the case.
When the Solicitor called the case
and asked him by the name of Reid
whether he was guilty or not guilty,
he appeared not to notice the ruse and
answered, "not guilty" and looked
steadily to his challenger, his face a
study in immobility, and so remained
even when the evidence was rushing
at full tide against him.
J. Bynum Reid had married a
woman about his own age, and. at
the time he left Littleton, he had three
children. He worked on the Vance
Hotel in Henderson when it was being
built, and was well acquainted with
many of its citizens, among whom was
Mr. T. T. Hicks, a prominent lawyer.
This should be remembered for its
connection with later developments.
Among his hobbies was the game of
horseshoes, similar to the old game
of quoits. He and his brothers used
to gather at week-ends and play this
game in the yard.
At some time during his youth, he
suffered an accident which left a scar
on his left leg above the ankle. This
scar was of a permanent character.
It was a habit with Bynum Reid,
on Saturdays, to give his wife certain
sums of money and then to go to town
to the barber shop for a clean-up.
There was no evidence of any do¬
mestic unhappiness in the Reid family.
On a certain Saturday afternoon, some
time in 1915, Bynum Reid came home
from work, gave his wife $10 and told
her that he was going to the barber
shop and would be back home in time
for supper. He left, and never returned
— unless the defendant was J. Bynum
Reid.
His father and his brothers and his
own family continued to live near
Littleton. His oldest child, a girl, was
Ihc accompanying aillclc U from "Z»b4 Black
Baby.” a hUlory of Vance County, by S. T. Peace,
and h reproduced by tpccial permlxlon.
about 7 years old when he left home.
Seven or eight years thereafter, a
woman who knew the Reids well was
living in Rockingham and noticed a
man working on a house, whom she
recognized as Bynum Reid. She noti¬
fied Mrs. Reid in Littleton, and a war¬
rant was issued for him by the proper
authorities; the man was arrested and
brought to Littleton, the home town
of J. Bynum Reid.
This man had a wife and two chil¬
dren living with him in Rockingham
at the time of his arrest. He was taken
before a Justice of the Peace in Little¬
ton where he declared that his name
was John Bunyan Rawls (note the
identical initials: J.B.R.). He was con¬
fronted with the father, sisters,
brothers, wife and children of J. By¬
num Reid but he denied that he had
ever known any of them. He was in¬
dicted in Warren County for bigamy
and nonsupport.
This man had employed Mr. Fred
Bynum of Rockingham and Mr. Tasker
Polk of Warrcnton to defend him, but
when the case was removed to Vance
County, he was advised that it would
be necessary for him to have the aid
of local lawyers. Having given bond for
his appearance, he and Mr. Bynum
went to Henderson, knocked at the
door of Mr. T. T. Hicks’s home and
when Mr. Hicks came to the door he
appeared to recognize the defendant
and spoke to him as Mr. Reid.
Mr. Hicks and Judge Pittman of
Henderson, Mr. Polk of Warrcnton,
and Mr. Fred Bynum of Rockingham
appeared for the defendant. Hon. Gar¬
land E. Midgctt of Jackson, who later
became Judge of the Superior Court,
prosecuted, with the help of Mr.
Joseph P. Pippcn and Mr. John M.
Picot of Littleton, and Mr. Joe Kittrcll
of Henderson.
Mrs. Bynum Reid and many other
witnesses, seventeen or more, testified
positively that the defendant was By¬
num Reid. It was shown in evidence
that Bynum Reid worked on the Hotel
Vance in Henderson, had suffered an
accident in his youth, which left a scar
on his ankle, was fond of playing horse¬
shoes; a photograph was offered in
evidence, one taken before Reid left
home. Seven years, or more, had made
some changes. Mrs. Reid testified to
many other material facts, his giving
her money, leaving home without no-
( Continued on page 36)
2
THE STATE. JULY 12. 1958
