His skull was shockingly fractured.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

Attempt to Murder. – On Monday evening last, the citizens of the very heart of our town were alarmed by loud cries of Murder! On repairing to the spot, it was found that a coloured man named Ephraim Hammond, had been struck on the head with a brick, by which his skull was shockingly fractured. Suspicion having attached to two white men, named Frederick Jones and Allen Rowell, they were taken up, and after examination, fully committed for trial. There is little or no hope of Hammond’s surviving the injury.  Fayetteville Observer.

Tarboro’ Press, 2 February 1838.