James Barbour, 12, Attempts Suicide to Avoid School, March 30, 1926

Young Boy Tries to End His Life. . . Attempts Suicide Because He Did Not Want to Go to School

Just because he did not want to go to school, it is said, James Barbour, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Barbour of Bentonville township, attempted suicide Wednesday by tying a rope around his neck and jumping from a tree which he had climbed.

“I ain’t going to school,” he is said to have declared, and when his parents asserted that he would go, he went out and endeavored to end his life. He climbed the tree, according to our information, and swung off, but missed calculation and was only somewhat strangled. He swung back and though pale and weak from the effort jumped again. This time his mother watched him helplessly as he dangled from a rope 15 feet above until he was black in the face. He swung from the limb until Miss Pauline George, a school teacher, climbed the tree, grasped the tree with one arm and held the boy with the other until someone climbed up and cut the rope.

Medical aid was summoned immediately, but for 24 hours he lay unconscious. He has, however, recovered sufficiently to be up now.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, March 30, 1926

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Two Banks Merge to Form Bank of Kenly, March 30, 1926

The Two Banks in Kenly Merge. . . Merged Institution to be Known as Bank of Kenly—Better Banking Facilities

The town of Kenly now has one bank, known at the Bank of Kenly. Recently the Farmers Bank of that city has been merged into the Bank of Kenly, thereby making a stronger institution. The officers of the merged institutions are as follows: president, G.W. Whitson; vice-president, J.T. Edgerton; cashier, E.V. Neighbors. This is the second merging to take place in Johnston County in the last few months, the two Clayton banks having consolidated some time ago.

The officials of both Kenly banks, said a Kenly citizen, had but one object in view in the merging of the two banks, and that was to afford better banking facilities for the town and community. The resources of both together make it one of the strongest banks in that section.

The Bank of Kely was the first established in that town and has been serving that community for about 20 years. It has made a fine reputation among the people of that vicinity, and its depositors are numbered by the hundreds.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

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Commencement for Negro Schools to be Held April 2, 1926

Lieut. L.A. Oxley to Address Negroes April 2

The last group commencement of the negro schools of Johnston County will be held in Princeton on Friday, April 2. It will be held at the school building and prominent speakers will be present. The outstanding address will be made by Lieut. Laurence A. Oxley of Raleigh, state director of welfare work among negroes, at 12:30 o’clock. W.S. King, principal of the Morehead City graded schools, will also make an address. The program for the day is as follows:

9:30—Grand Parade: School “Boost Song”. Each school grouped around its banner.

10—Opening Song, America.

Invocation—Rev. J.W. Brown, pastor of A.M.E. Church, Princeton.

Chorus—“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” (Negro National Anthem).

Word Recognition Contest—Grades, Primer and First Reader, One contestant from each school.

Spelling Contest (written privately)—3, 4, 5, and 6 grades, winning contestants to appear in the auditorium.

Story Telling contest—First and second grades. One contestant from each school.

Arithmetic Contest—4, 5, 6 grades. One grade selection from each school.

Commencement Address—W.S. King, principal of Morehead City Graded School.

Address by Lieutenant Laurence A. Oxley, state director of welfare work among negroes.

Speaking Contest—One contestant from each school.

Oral Language Contest—One contestant from each school. Selected from grades 4, 5 and 6.

Exhibits examined.

Remarks by Mr. M.P. Young and others.

Report of the Judges, Presentation of prizes.

Dinner at 2:45 p.m.

Note—All perfect attendance certificates to be given at the County Commencement on April 9, 1926.

Schools and Teachers in Group

Princeton—Mrs. Florence Whitley, Misses M. Jeffrys, M. Robinson, L. Hamilton.

Kenly—Mr. J.H. Skinner, Mrs. M.L. Feffrys, Miss Adamson.

Southern Grove—Mrs. Joyce McNeeley.

Pine Level—Mrs. Rosa B. Vinson, Miss C.B. Whitaker.

Micro—Misses Beatrice Wolfe and Frances E. Grissom.

Cedar Grove—Miss Lunada Clarke.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

Did you notice that sixth grade was the final grade in Johnston County's Negro schools?

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Prof. Vermont Will Speak on "Trip to Paris," March 30, 1926

Prof. Vermont to Deliver Address Here

Prof. A. Vermont, former superintendent of the schools of this city, now professor of Romance languages at Converse College, Spartanburg, S.C., will deliver a lecture on a “Trip to Paris” in the courthouse here Friday night at 8 o’clock, which will be illustrated by colored slides of Paris and other places in France.

An admission fee within the reach of all will be charged, for the benefit of the hospital.

Mr. Vermont gave a lecture at Kenly last night. He will be in Selma tonight and in Princeton tomorrow night. He comes to Smithfield under the auspices of the Business and Professional Woman’s Club.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

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P.L. Godwin, 80, Has Died, March 30, 1926

Mr. P.L. Godwin Dead

Cleveland township lost an aged and respected citizen when Mr. P.L. Godwin passed away at his home last Saturday night. The deceased was 80 years old. He was thrice married, the last time to Miss Martha Wallace, who together with six children survive him. His children are: Mrs. Stephenson of the Shiloh section; Mr. Ernest Godwin and Mrs. Fonzer Honeycutt of Baptist Center; Mrs. J.W. Jones and Mrs. Pell Benson of the Polenta section; and Mr. JL. Godwin of Clayton.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon and interment was made at Baptist Center Church. The service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Jenkins of the Baptist church and Rev. M.Y. Self, pastor of the Methodist church of Clayton.

From page 2 of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

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Mrs. R.E. Massengill, 37, Died, Leaving Husband, 6 Children, March 30, 1926

Mrs. R.E. Massengill Dead

A sad death occurred at the Johnston Couty hospital at Smithfield Friday afternoon when Mrs. R.E. Massengill of Cleveland township passed away after a brief illness. The deceased was 37 years old. She leaves her husband and six children.

The funeral was conducted Saturday afternoon by Rev. Chester Alexander, pastor of the Presbyterian church, and Elder Jesse Barnes of Smithfield. Interment was made in the cemetery at Oakland church.

She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church at Four Oaks. She was a good woman and will be missed not only by her family but by her friends and neighbors.

From page 2 of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, March 30, 1926

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Trial of N.C.Cranford, Charged with Murder of Two Men on Chain Gang, Delayed until March 30, 1926

Trial of Cranford Will be Started Tuesday Morning. . . State Was Not Ready to Proceed with Trial of N.C. Cranford in Albemarle Court Today. . . Murcer Charge Against Cranford. . . Former “Convict Boss” of Stanly County is Charged with Deaths of Two Convicts

Albemarle, March 29 (AP)—The State was not ready today to proceed with the trial of N.C. Cranford, former “convict boss” of Stanly county, charged with first degree murder in connection with the deaths of two convicts, and the case will not begin before tomorrow.

This was announced by Solicitor Don Phillips shortly before the noon recess.

A large crowd had surrounded the court house here, and at 9 o’clock, an hour before court was scheduled to convene, many persons had already taken seats.

An imposing array of counsel faced each other for the trial, led by Solicitor Don Phillips for the prosecution, while J.R. Price, R.L. Smith, G.D.B. Reynolds, H.C. Turner and the firm of Brown & Sikes represented the defendant.

Albemarle, N.C., March 29 (AP)—N.C. Cranford, “convict boss,” went on trial here today in Stanly County superior court, charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of two negro convicts.

Cranford’s trial grew out of the deaths of James Terry and James Howell, who died while serving on his chaingang crew in 1918.

It is charged that the men were beaten unmercifully by Cranford, who at the time was superintendent of the Stanly county convict system.

Court was convened by Judge A.M. Stack at 10 o’clock. Calling a venire was the first matter before the court, and indications were that he defense would press for a jury from another county.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 29, 1926

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