Jess Tuck in Jail for Murder of His Son Wesley, Feb. 6, 1926

Negro Kills His Son

Statesville, Feb. 5—Wesley Tuck, negro delivery boy for a local grocery store, died this morning about 9 o’clock as a result of a blow on the head inflicted by his father, Jess Tuck, meat cutter in a local market. The difficulty started over a trivial matter at their home in a negro settlement in North Statesville. The boy’s death followed a few hours later. Jess Tuck was placed in jail on a charge of murder.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1926

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Moonshine from Carolina Swamps in Bottles of Popular Scotch and Irish Whiskeys, Feb. 6, 1926

Moonshiners Send Goods to Bermudas. . . There It is Doctored and Sent Back to America as “Real Stuff”

Raleigh, Feb. 16 (AP)—Moonshiners in eastern North Carolina are doing a big export business to the Bermudas and Bahamas, according to information Hamilton Jones, U.S. commissioner, states he has received from reliable sources.

Corn whiskey manufactured in huge stills hidden in Carolina swamps is slipped to British-owned islands where it is “doctored” to resemble popular brands of Scotch and Irish whiskeys, says Mr. Jones. It is then poured into bottles bearing old familiar labels and shipped back to the United States as the “real stuff.”

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1926

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State Prison Needs Jobs for More Prisoners, Feb. 16, 1926

Over 1,400 at State Prison. . . Population Has Increased 709 in Five Years; Will Establish Floral Shop

Raleigh, Feb. 11—State prison directors, meeting in their regular session Tuesday, found a large number of unemployed prisoners for whose services the state has sought every bid and for the upkeep of which idlers the commonwealth continues to pay a stiff price.

The state has found difficulty in getting employment for the men. The road contractors have not been anxious for this class of services because prisoners without the monetary incentive to work do not turn out so much or so good a product as free labor does. The directors are calling on the state department of labor for help in placing these men. But the directors are diversifying their work. They will install shortly a floral house. And according to John W. Brewer, member of the board, who gave the statement to the papers today, the directors have other industries under advisement now. In Mr. Brewer’s statement he says:

“Reports were received from the various officials dealing with the many phases of prison management.

“Superintendent Pou again called to the attention of the board the continual increase in population of the prison, the increase for January being 23, making a total of 1,438 inmates in the state’s prison compared with 729 prisoners on March 1, 1921, being an increase of 709 prisoners in that period. If the population of the prison today was the same as in 1921 or years prior thereto, the prison would today be on a a self-supporting basis. However, with the practically 100 per cent increase in population, it has not been possible to secure employment for all prisoners. The governor, the superintendent and the board of directors have given continuous and wide publicity to their desire to find work for the idle prisoners but so far without success. The monthly average of idle prisoners for the year 1925 was about 300. The maintenance of these 300 prisoners cost the state’s prison in excess of $100,000 during the year.

“The public should also keep in mind that prisoners’ working on highways and in quarries are of course not paid except for the actual number of days worked. If the prisoners are sick or the weather is inclement so that the prisoners cannot be worked, the prison receives no money, yet the same expense for maintenance continues. As an example, I will state that prisoners on highways and in the quarries during the month of November earned $24,573.42, which was a normal month. The same prisoners earned only $14,717.36 in the month of January, due to the loss of 4,548 working days. This represents a loss of revenue for the month of $9,85605, such loss of time being in the main due to rain, now and cold, over which the board has no control.

“The board passed a resolution requesting Frank Grist, commissioner of labor and printing, to sue every effort to assist the superintendent and board of directors in finding labor for the increasing idle prisoners at the prison. The board is confident Commissioner Grist will lend his full cooperation.

. . . .

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, 1926

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Did New Brick School Help Raise Acre Lots from $200 to $8,000? Feb. 16, 1926

What Is a Good School Worth?

The man that thinks school tax is always going out and never coming in should take notice of what happened in Meadow township Friday when without any flair of brass band or song of a trained auction company three acres of land were sold at auction ringing between $8,000 and $9,000, according to information from Mr. A.S. Glenn, principal of the Meadow High School, who was in the city Saturday. This land, which is a part of the Seth Lee land, was owned by Mr. Jasper Lee, who cut the three acres up into building lots and put on the auction sale. The land is in sight of the new consolidated Meadow High School, a splendid brick structure with 15 teachers, right in the heart of a purely agricultural section six miles from a railroad. Two years ago, before the erection of this school, we venture to say that $200 per acre would have been considered an unusually good price for this land.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, 1926

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In Recorder's Court This Week, Feb. 16, 1926

Heavy Docket in Recorder’s Court. . . Tuesday and Thursday Required to Dispose of Large Number of Cases

A heavy docket and a busy day characterized last Tuesday’s session of the Recorder’s Court. There were several cases that could not be handled on Tuesday, so the court was again in session here Thursday. The following cases were disposed of:

--Ronald Sanders entered a plea of guilty for carrying a concealed weapon. The court imposed a $50 fine and a 30-day sentence, the jail sentence to be suspended during good behavior.

--Gilbert Lambert, white man of Bentonville township was fined $10 and costs for allowing stock to run at large.

--E.S. Mitchell was found guilty of disposing of mortgaged property.

--Bill Blackman was charged with an assault with a car. He was found guilty and dined $25 and costs.

--Ben Agy Bass was tried for the unlawful cutting of timber. The State failed to convict and defendant was discharged.

--S.W. Moore Whiter Caudle, and Paul Moore were charged with violating prohibition laws and the commission of a nuisance. Each of the defendants were found guilty of operating a car while under the influence of whiskey. He was sent to jail on this charge for a period of 60 days to be discharged upon payment of $50 fine and costs.

--C.B. Willis and Stith Williams were adjudged to be guilty of an affray. Williams’ assault was simple and he got off by payment of costs and a continued prayer for judgment. Willis used a deadly weapon and the court sentenced him to manual labor at county home for a term of 90 days.

--Seba Batten was fined $25 and costs upon a conviction of a charge of assault.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, 1926

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Plain Spoken for Man to Work Steve Wiggins Place, Feb. 16, 1925

Plain Spoken Advertisement

I want a man to work on my farm. I don’t give dancing lessons. I have no piano. I can’t serve plank steak three times a day. I do give three square meals, a real bed, fair wages. If any man who knows a cow from a talking machine, can hear an alarm clock, and get up at 5 a.m. wants the job, I will agree not to treat him like one of the family, but a darn sight better.

Apply at the Steve Wiggins Place, Interval Road.

--Advertisement in a Western County paper.

From page 7 of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, 1926

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News Briefs from Sanders Chapel in Smithfield Herald, Feb. 16, 1926

Sanders Chapel

Rev. Mr. Dodd of Four Oaks preached a very interesting and instructive sermon to a crowded house at the Methodist church here Sunday afternoon. His sermon received many favorable comments.

Miss Minnie Lee Garrison met Pomona club at Mrs. Z.L. Talton’s Tuesday, Feb. 9. Those present were Mrs. Arthur Creech, Mrs. Tom Creech, Mrs. mary Graham, Mrs. Will Creech, Miss Nellie Hill, Mrs. Percy Barnes, Mrs. Leonard Woodard, Mrs. Bob Hill, Mrs. Rufus Creech, Mrs. Calvin Creech, Mrs. Connie Lassiter, Mrs. Johnnie Talton, Mrs. Robert Hill, Mrs. Z.L. Talton, Mrs. J.E. Woodall, Miss Minnie Lee Garrison, Miss Sarah Hill, Mrs. B.H. Watson and Mrs. Henry Meacham. A delicious luch was served in the dining room in picnic style about 1 o’clock. Immediately after dinner, everybody went in the parlor where several club sons were sung. Miss Sarah Hill played the piano. Dressmaking and pattern adjusting with the principal subjects for discussion in the afternoon. Later a business session was held, Mrs. J. Rufus Creech was elected president; Mrs. J.E. Woodall vice president; Miss Sarah Hill, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Robert Hill recording secretary. The next meeting will be held with Mrs. J.E. Woodall on March 16.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Ransom Creech and daughter, Miss Mildred, Miss Anna Kemple, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Creech, Miss Nancy Creech, Miss Edridge Creech, and Miss Beulah Creech of Brogden section attended church here Sunday.

Miss Melva Fitzherald and Miss Esther Alford of Smithfield visited Miss Gladys Powell Sunday and attended church here.

Mrs. Jim Hines and Mrs. M.C. Collins of Goldsboro were visitors in this community Sunday.

Mrs. K.G. Olive of Brogden attended church here Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Pharoah Kornegay and son, Alton, of Progress section spent the week end with Mrs. Kornegay’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Hamilton.

Mr. Willie Howell and sister, Miss Mae Howell of Selma, and Miss Helen Brown of Wilmington visited friends in this community Sunday.

Mr. F.R. Poole of Hopewell section has recently moved his family to the old homeplace of John K. Sanders.

Miss Hattie Eason has returned from a two weeks visit to relatives in the Johnson school section.

Mr. B.H. Watson returned home Sunday after spending several weeks in Florida.

Mrs. Jim Storey of Ahoskie visited Mrs. Calvin Creech last week.

Mrs. Grover Phillips of Kenley attended her grandfather’s birthday celebration here Friday night.

Misses Iva and Esther Creech and Mr. William Creech of Four Oaks visited friends here Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Rotha Stanley and children of Johnson school section spent Sunday with family of Mr. J.J. Eason.

Mr. and Mrs. Randen Hilland children spent Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. Felder Baker near Four Oaks.

Misses Lucile Henderson and Mattie Goer of Goldsboro, Miss Elva Mae Whitley of Yelverton’s Grove, and Messrs. William Sutton and Elbert Park of Selma were visitors at Mr. J.J. Eason’s Sunday morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Jodie Hill spent Sunday night with Mrs. Hill’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Baker, of near Four Oaks.

Messrs. William and Edgar Creech of near Benson visited friends in this community Sunday afternoon.

Messrs. J.J. Eason and Z.B. Hill made a business trip to Goldsboro Thursday. On their return they stopped at Princeton to see ex-Sheriff Massey who for several days has been suffering from injuries caused by a mule kicking him on the chest.

Mr. Sidney Barbour of Benson spent a few hours with friends here Sunday afternoon.

Misses Mabel and Mary Parnell of Selma were week end visitors of their aunt, Mrs. Henry Capps.

Mr. Will Hamilton went to Smithfield Tuesday and bought a nice young mule.

Mr. D. Hooper Sanders is beautifying his front yards. We hope this move will get others interested in doing likewise.

From page 2 of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, 1926

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