William Davis, Held in Slaying of Mrs. Burgess, Released March 12, 1926

William Davis Ordered Freed. . . Evidence Insufficient in Death of Asheville Widow

Asheville, March 12—William (Bill) Davis, who has been held in the Buncombe County jail here for more than 40 days in connection with the mysterious slaying of Mrs. Annie May Brugess, pretty 23-year-old widow, in January, was ordered freed by Judge P.A. McElroy shortly before the special criminal term of Buncombe County Superior Court adjourned late today.

Mrs. Burgess was slain under the bright rays of an arc light on one of the principal residential streets of the city between 10 and 10:30 o’clock at night. The young woman was struck on the head with a blunt instrument, her assailant then carrying her body to a nearby parcel of woods and throwing it down an embankment to conceal it. Because of the brutality of the deed and the element of mystery attached to the slaying, must interest has been aroused in Asheville as to the outcome.

Davis was held in connection with the crime, but Judge McElroy ordered his release when the court found there was not sufficient evidence to hold Davis.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, March 13, 1926

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3- and 6-Year Old Children Die in House Fire March 11, 1926

Two Little Negroes Are Burned to Death. . . Children Aged 3 and 6 Perish When Home at Badin Burns—Mother Had Gone Down Town

Albemarle, March 11—Two negro children, ages 3 and 6, were burned to death this morning about 9 o’clock at Badin when the home of Lewis Gerry was destroyed by fire. Gerry’s wife, the mother of the children, was down town at the time making purchases for the midday meal, and the father himself was at work in the Aluminum plant and did not know of the tragedy until it was all over.

A nearby neighbor discovered the fire in time to rescue two of Gerry’s children and got a third nearly to the door but was unable to get it further, with the result that it perished in the burning building. No one seems to know how the building caught fire nor why the children did not get out of their own accord.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, March 12, 1926

Notice the difference in expectations shown in the final sentence of this article. The children were 3 and 6 years old. The conclusion is "No one seems to know. . . why the children did not get out of their own accord."

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Bootlegger, Parolled After Serving only 2 Months, Violates Law Again and Is Back in Jail, March 15, 1926

Notorious Retailer Again Behind Bars. . . Bud Lippard, Notorious Law-Breaker of Catawba, Arrested at Salisbury

Newton, March 13—Bud Lippard, Catawba’s notorious bootlegger, is again in the Newton jail, having been arrested in Salisbury. Sheriff Bost, upon being notified of his arrest, sent Deputy W.C. Curlee to Salisbury after him. Lippard was sentenced to the county jail for 18 months for violating the prohibition law, but was later pardoned by Governor Morrison. After he was paroled, he again violated the prohibition laws and the Governor revoked the parole. Since that time he has been dodging officers. Caposes had been sent to all nearby towns. At the time Lippard was convicted in the Catawba Superior Court, he was crippled, walking on crutches, and the judge sentenced him to the county jail instead of the chain gang. He had served only two months of the19-month sentence when he was granted a parole.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, March 15, 1926

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Shoeless Burglar Flees When Francis Bauermaum Shoots at Him, March 13, 1926

Burglar at Salisbury Flees from House When Fired Upon

Salisbury, March 12—A burglar visiting the Buerbaum home on South Main Street about 5 o’clock this morning escaped as he was fired upon by Francis Bauermaum who discovered him in his room. The visitor had taken off his shoes on the first floor in order to move about in the house with less noise, and the shoes were left behind as he made a hasty exit. Nothing was missed from the home.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, March 13, 1926

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Salisbury Asphalt Plant Burned March 13, 1926

Asphalt Plant Burns in City of Salisbury

Salisbury, March 13—The asphalt plant of Lassiter Company, in the western part of the city, was burned this afternoon, together with a quantity of asphalt. While answering the alarm two of the city fire trucks got stuck in the mud and after three hours were liberated by the use of a caterpillar tractor.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, March 15, 1926

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Gold Discovered in Yancey County, March 13, 1926

Gold Discovered in Yancey County, Says Press Report

Asheville, March 12—Great excitement has been caused in this section by the reported discovery of gold in Yancy County, near Burnsville, about 40 miles northeast of Asheville. A number of Geologists, option buyers and those interested in mining in other states have appeared on the ground and samples of the ore found show the presence of gold in considerable quantities, according to C.W. Valentine, newspaper correspondent who is informed on the subject.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, March 13, 1926

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Chadbourn Planning Strawberry Festival, May 12, 1926

Chadbourn to Stage Strawberry Festival

By Mrs. J. A. Brown

The time is drawing near for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of the strawberry industry in Columbus county. The Berry Growers of Chadbourn and the adjacent territory are planning a big Berry Show to be staged May 12th at what promises to be the height of the season. This is an event that should appeal to the interest of the county and the entire state.

Prior to the outbreak of the World War, Chadbourn and this vicinity enjoyed the distinction of producing and shipping more strawberries than any other point in the world. This industry was the principal factor in the rapid development of the county financially, educationally and socially. In fact, it may well be claimed that the strawberry put Columbus county on the map. Prior to the introduction of this industry, there was not a banking institution in the county, not a decent school house, and none of them more than two rooms, with a public school term of 60 days. Commerce was dormant, agriculture lagged. The success of the strawberry industry gave an impetus to all agriculture in the county, and today Columbus is rated among the largest tobacco producing counties of the state.

The car panic of1909, the advent of the strawberry weevil (which, happily, has been conquered), the demoralizing effect of labor, caused an alarming decrease in the production, but with the passing of these handicaps, the strawberry is coming into her own again, and the industry now bids fair to attain, and even surpass its former proportions.

While it is true that the price of labor and the cost of production has increased, it is also true that the increase in the price of the product has more than offset this. The past 30 years’ experience in growing the strawberry has proven that it is one of the most stable crops ever produced in the county, having paid a small profit even in the most unfavorable years, and three years out of four paying a handsome profit. Last year the average price was higher than ever before in the history of the business. Those who buy and handle the crop from this section are agreed that the finest Klondike berries produced in the county are shipped from the Chadbourn territory.

Thousands of people in the state have no conception of the magnitude of this industry, and it was a happy conception that induced Chadbourn to put on this Berry Festival, and invite the state to come help celebrate the anniversary of an industry that has meant so much to the county.

From the front page of the Carolina Fruit and Truckers Journal, Chadbourn, N.C., March 15, 1926

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