Arthur and Oscar Pettit, Louis Whitmore in Jail; Inquest on Jesse Masters' Death Sept. 5, 1926

Three Men Are Held as Result of Killing. . . Held in Connection with Death of Jesse Masters in Transylvania. . . Hold Inquest Today

Asheville, Sept. 3—Arthur and Oscar Pettit, brothers, and Louis Whitmore,all young white men, are being held in the Transylvania county jail as a result of the finding of the decapitated body of Jesse Masters in a remote spot in the mountains late yesterday.

The coroner’s inquest is slated to be held tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock and before that time Sheriff J. B. Sitton promises he will have others behind the bars in connection with the affair.

Masters disappeared on August 15 and no trace of him was found until Thursday when persons in the woods came upon the body in a badly decomposed condition, with the head severed and lying several feet away. Other wounds were in evidence upon the body, Sheriff Sitton stated.

Young men held in connection with the affair are said to have been seen with Masters shortly before he disappeared. The group is said to have been seen drinking rather heavily about that time. Any other connection with the affair that warrants holding the young men the sheriff is keeping to himself.

Interest in Transylvania county is running high as a result of the affair and numerous citizens are reported to be aiding the sheriff and his deputies in the attempt to get at the bottom of the slaying.

The coroner’s jury tomorrow is expected to make an attempt to decide just what caused the death of Masters. There was some evidence that he had been stabbed, although the condition of the body made it impossible to establish this fact for certain. It is also said that his throat was cut at a time prior to the severing of the head from the body.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Sept. 4, 1926

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Adolph Hunnicut,32, N.C. State Professor, Drowned Sept. 3, 1926

State College Professor Drowns on Fishing Trip

Durham, Sept. 3—Adolph Hunnicut, aged 32, a professor at the State college, was drowned early today while on a fishing trip in the eastern part of the state, it was learned tonight. No particulars in connection with the accident were available tonight. Mr. Hunnicutt was a resident of Raleigh.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Sept. 4, 1926

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John Davis Innocent; He Wasn't Driving Car, Sept. 3, 1926

Not Guilty for the Death of His Nurse. . . Testimony Shows that Mrs. Hollingsworth Was Driving Car. . . Davis Was Not Drinking

Statesville, Sept. 3—“Not guilty” was the decision announced late this afternoon by Magistrate G. R. Anderson in the case against John L. Davis, Statesvlle attorney, charge with responsibility for the deathof Mrs. e. T. Hollingsworth, trained nurse, in an automobile wreck occurring on te Statesvlle Charlotte highway near the town of Troutman, six miles south of Statesvlle, July 30.

The investigation lasted for two hours. The prosecution was in charge of Solicitor Zeb V. Long, while the defendant was represented by attorneys Grier and Grier, and J. R. Glover Jr. large number of state’s witnesses were put on stand. Solicitor Long, endeavoring to show that the defendant, David, was driving a car under the influence of liquor on the night of the fatal collision, thus being responsible for death of the young woman with him.

The defense showed by testimony of good citizens that Mr. Davis was not only not intoxicated on the night of the tragedy, but that he was not driving the car, the evidence going to show that Mrs. Hollingsworth was at the steering wheel when the wreck occurred.

Mr. Davis himself went on the witness stand and testified that he was not drinking and that he was no driving at the time of the collision which resulted in the woman’s death in a hospital a few hours later. He stated that Mrs. Hollingsworth had been a nurse in the Greensboro hospital where he had been a patient and that he was accompanying her to the home of her parents in Charlotte.

His testimony as to drinking and driving the car was corroborated by other witnesses.

The verdict of the magistrate was quickly announced at the conclusion of the hearing.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Sept. 4, 1926

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Old Time Fiddlers' Convention Nov. 19, 1926

Attention Fiddlers and Lovers of Stringed Music

There will be a regular old time fiddlers’ convention at the Mars Hill High School on te afternoon and evening of Nov. 19th. Anyone residing in either Buncombe, Madison, or Yancey counties will be eligible to enter. Attractive prizes will be awarded for the following:

Best violinist, best banjo, and guitar pickers; best duet and trio of stringed instruments. The second best in any of the above named events will also receive prizes.

This will be the first convention of this type to be held in Mars Hill in several years, and the school officials hope to make it anannual affair. It will be ?? on for the benefit of the school and the grounds will ?? to the betterment of the building, campus and athletics. The publis is invited to attend and be entertained by the best artists in this section of North Carolina.

There will also be a football game in the afternoon between Weaverville High and Mars Hill High. This will add much to the attraction of the occasion as these two teams battled to a scoreless tie earlier in the season.

Invitations are being sent to some possible entrants, but as there are a number of likely candidates unknown to the officials, information concerning some will be greatly appreciated. Address inquiries or information to Mars Hill school,Mars Hill, N.C., and watch this paper for further information.

From the front page of the News-Record, Marshall, N.C., Friday, November 5, 1926. The Only Newspaper Published in Madison County

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District 14 Educational Rally Success, Nov. 5, 1926

District No. 14 Educational Rally a Success. . . Mr. Dillard’s Speech Well Taken; Music and Stunts Enjoyed by Large Crowd; First Assembly in New Building; Steps Taken for Real Community Growth

It can no longer be said that the people of Petersburg, East and West Forks are unmindful of Educational growth. The rally held in the new school building last Friday evening showed that the people were wide-awake and desirous of better educational facilities. A fine spirit of cooperation was shown by the large number present.

A string band composed of Dr. Tilson, Dr. Listenbee and Mr. Metcalf delighted the audience by playing several familiar selections at the beginning of the program. Later in the evening, Mr. Lee Tweed expressed our thoughts by saying that this band was the best of its kind in this section of the state.

Each of the seven grades was represented in the form of a stunt. Since the boys andgirls were allowed only a few times in which to practice, they deserve much praise. The firstand second grades, under the capable leadership of Miss Eva Rice, gave the famous “Tough Luck auto,” and the ridiculous “Railway Station” stunts.

The third, fourth and fifth grades, under the supervision of Miss Viola Pinner, presented in a very pleasing manner, a number of songs, also a sham ball game, which was of a very entertaining nature.

The sixth and seventh grades presented only local talent. Geber Metcalf sang “Whistlin’ Reubin,” followed by a surprise stunt, entitled “Mary had a little Lamb.”

Following the stunts, Supt. Dillard spoke with force and enthusiasm on the program and problems of the 14th district, touching, of course, on county issues also as he delivered his inspiring message. The main thought of Mr. Dillard’s talk seemed to be Community Cooperation, and Progress. Some may say that Mr. Dillard is not a forceful speaker—well, maybe he isn’t, but—

Immediately following his speech steps were taken and plans perfected to complete our new building. Not by donation of money, but by free labor. A Parent-Teachers Association was organized. Mr. Metcalf was elected president; Mrs. Lee Tweed, vice president; and Mr. Buckner, secretary-treasurer. Committees were appointed, and one could not but see that the new organizations began to work then and there. In addition to all this, a committee was appointed to make plans for the extension of light lines to the new building. Wake up you larger districts! We are stepping on your heels, and if you don’t watch out, we’ll pass you.

From the front page of the News-Record, Marshall, N.C., Friday, November 5, 1926. The Only Newspaper Published in Madison County

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Jack Joyce Reflects on Success, Nov. 5, 1926

Reflections of a Mountain School Teacher

By Jack V. Joyce

By what standards do we judge a man’s success? Is a man a success because he has accumulated a vast amount of material wealth? These are questions which I have been thinking about this week.

So many of us I believe judge a man’s success in this world by his earthly wealth. If we do not judge a man’s success by this standard then how are we to judge his success. Is getting our names in the newspaper in glaring headlines as doing something great, is that being a success? If so then successes are few and far between. I believe a man’s success depends entirely upon the motives he has in mind when he does something. Do you do things just for the mere recognition of the fact that you have done something, or because it was your duty to have done so? If so, your actions are not a sign of success, but do things because you love to do them and because you love the object of your action, then you are really much more on your way to success than otherwise.

To be a success a man does not merely have to have man’s recognition, but he surely must have God’s recognition for his life. If you have gone through this life and when you die this work is the same as when you came into it, what has your life counted for anyway? Is anybody in this life benefited by the fact that you have lived? I f not then what good has our life been? That is the standard by which I believe success is this life should be judged, whether or not a man’s life has counted for anything int his world for the betterment of it or any occupant of it.

From the front page of the News-Record, Marshall, N.C., Friday, November 5, 1926. The Only Newspaper Published in Madison County

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J.D. Beasley Takes Miss Mary Kate Ramsey as Wife, Nov. 5, 1926

Beasley-Ramsey

Mr. J. D. Beasley and Miss Mary Kate Ramsey were quietly married last Friday morning, October 22nd, at 11 o’clock in the Court House at Newport, Tenn. Mr. Beasley is the son of Mrs. D. F. Beasley of Clayton, Alabama. Mrs. Beasley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerr Ramsey of Marshall Route 1.

The groom is employed by the Copenhaver & Foster Construction Co.

The bride wore a handsome dress of claret red satin. She will resume her studies at the Marshall High School. They spent Friday night at Newport, Saturday night at Hot Springs. They are now at home in Marshall.

From page 2 of the News-Record, Marshall, N.C., Friday, November 5, 1926.

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