1867
May 1st, 1867: lots were sold all around a newly established station on the North Carolina Railroad, and the town existed because of the railroad.
about 0:07:56The story
Selma is a small town in Johnston County in east central North Carolina, about 35 minutes from Raleigh, with a population of 6,317. It began on May 1st, 1867, when lots were sold around a new station on the North Carolina Railroad, and was officially chartered in 1873. Electric lights and a water system arrived around 1913, and the town grew on cotton and then tobacco. By the time of this story its median household income was $25,421 against a national figure of about $70,000, and the median home cost $245,100.
Leland Grice, 69, was a retired carpenter who lived in a mobile home on Route 2, off rural paved road 1934, with his wife Ruby, also 69. The couple had two sons, William and Leland Jr, two daughters, Carol and Sharon, 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Leland had been sergeant at arms of the local American Legion branch in 1949.
On the night of May 1st, 1989, severe storm warnings were broadcast. Ruby was frightened of storms, so at about 8.20pm she left her husband at home and drove less than a mile to her daughter Carol Daniels's trailer. She came back at about 11.20pm, expecting the back door to be locked. Inside, papers and the contents of drawers were scattered across the floor, the television was turned up loud, and Leland lay face down in the living room with a hole in the back of his head. A .22 cartridge case lay by his right side and his wallet rested on his back.
They asked Horton to drive them that night, and he agreed. When they returned he could smell lacquer thinner on them. They were sniffing it and wanted a driver so they could keep going.
The next day Tommy Ray told Horton what had happened and drove him past the Grice trailer. On June 18th, 1989, Horton met Detective Tommy Beesley of the Johnston County Sheriff's Department at his sister's home and told the whole story. His truck was inventoried and searched, and the rifle and the Grice tape player were found.
The judge allowed both men to be prosecuted capitally.
At the 1991 trials Horton was the main witness.