Large Building Housing Men at Hospital for Insane Is on Fire, April 10, 1926

Hospital for Insane at Raleigh Burned . . Half of the Main Building Was in Flames, Which Were Spreading at 1:30 o’clock

Raleigh, April 10—Fire of undetermined origin raged through the State hospital for insane here shortly after noon today.

Failure of the water supply about 1 o’clock appeared to make the fighting hopeless and the firemen were forced to stand by with only one or two streams playing upon the building while the interior became a seething furnace. Hundreds of the occupants had been marched out early during the fire to safety while others had been brought out on stretchers. It was undetermined at 1:30 o’clock whether any of the patients had been caught in the flames.

More than one-half of the main building, an enormous structure, was in flames which were slowly spreading. The Durham fire department was called to the scene, and the adjutant general was appealed to call out the national guard to handle the situation. Efforts were being made to get hose connected to a nearby reservoir.

Shortly before 2 o’clock, firemen connected their hose with the reservoir of the asylum and began to play several streams on the blaze.

One patient was reported to have perished in the flames, guards at the institution reporting that they had seen him on the upper floor. His name was not known.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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Governor McLean Says He Trusts H. Hoyle Sink, His Commissioner of Pardons, April 10, 1926

Implicit Confidence in Commissioner Sink. . . Is Expressed by Governor McLean in Letter Just Made Public

Raleigh, April 10—Implicit confidence in H. Hoyle Sink, commissioner of pardons, and condemnation of the author of the insinuations and innuendos against his character and integrity are expressed by Governor A. W. McLean in a letter addressed to Attorney General D.G. Brummitt, just made public.

“Notwithstanding the gratuitous and unjust efforts which have been made to discredit him, Isay unreservedly that I believe Mr. Sink’s character above reproach and my confidence in him is unshaken,” the governor concludes, after reviewing the entire matter.

This letter, coupled with the recent dismissal from the State service of Rev. W.S. Shacklette, prison chaplain, from whom the accusations directed at George Ross Pou, prison superintendent, J.H. Norman, warden, and Mr. Sink, provides proof conclusive that the men now stand completely exonerated in the eyes of their superiors.

The same feeling is practically unanimous in Raleigh and, as far as can be ascertained, is general over the state.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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Who Set Fire at Midland Bank, Attacked Cashier? April 11, 1926

New Developments Lacking in Bank of Midland Case. . . Officials of County and State Work on the Few Clues Developed in Bank Burning Mystery. . . Scott Present to Get Facts. . . State Deputy Commissioner Spent Several Hours at Midland with Sheriff Caldwell

New developments in the Bank of Midland case are lacking.

County officers, State bank examiners and Deputy Commissioner Scott of the State Insurance Department, are working on all available clues, yet who fired the bank building and who made the reported attack and who made the reported attack on the cashier, C.T. Blakeney, and has devoted attention to the several rumors offered as solutions to the mystery.

Mr. Blakeney was still confined to his bed Friday, it was said. He complained of a severe pain in the back of his head and his neck. He also said that several of his ribs were sore, it is reported.

Sheriff Caldwell states that during the day he was advised that several persons who “aroused suspicion” were seen in Midland within the past week. He is working on all available clues, he states.

The money found in the safe of the bank, which was opened Thursday afternoon, has been deposited in a Charlotte bank, it is said. Records of the bank that were not burned have been turned over to the auditors representing Frederick B. Hill & Co., who are engaged as state bank examiners and who had started an examination of the bank’s books the afternoon before the fire.

It is understood that the records have been taken to Charlotte, where the resident manager of the company, W.S. Coursew, has his headquarters. It is not known now, it is said, how much time will be required to complete the check to determine whether any funds were stolen.

Commissioner Scott and Sheriff Caldwell conferred Friday over the few clues offered, but they had nothing definite to report at the conclusion of their conference.

Midland was back to normalcy Friday. A few strangers dropped in to see the ruins of the bank and discuss with residents of the Cabarrus town its most sensational event but otherwise everything was running about as usual.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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Wattie Williamson Confesses to Attack, April 10, 1926

Confesses to Attack on Girl. . . Negro Will be Given Preliminary at Greensboro Today

Greensboro, April 9—Wattie Williamson, young negro man, charged with attacking a young white woman with intent to commit criminal assault, has confessed, officers say, but just how far the confession goes or what it amounts to is not known. The negro will get a hearing in municipal court here tomorrow.

The black is said to have confessed that he caught hold of the girl, making confession to Detectives B.B. High and Lee Wrenn and Jailer Sample Huffine. He is charged with beating, wounding and ill treating the girl with intent to commit an immoral act. If the case goes against him tomorrow, he will be bound over to the Guilford superior court grand jury. Penalty upon conviction is 5 to 15 years in the state prison.

It is charged that last Friday night the negro accosted the young woman while on her way from work in an overall factory on the road near the edge of the city, but was frightened away before he could harm her.

His alleged confession may be repudiated at the preliminary hearing, but the girl has identified him as the negro who caught hold of her and told her not to cry out or he would kill her. It is understood that witnesses have been found who will say that the negro for several evenings followed the girl a short distance.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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Milas Van Hoy Commits Suicide, Despondent Over Daughter's Health, April 10, 1926

Dejected Father Ends His Own Life. . . Milas Van Hoy of Iredell Was Despondent Over Illness of Daughter

Statesville, April 8--Funeral Services for Mr. Milas Van Hoy of Union Grove township were held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Union Grove Methodist Church and the interment was in the church cemetery.

Mr. Van Hoy committed suicide early Tuesday morning by shooting himself through the head. His body was found about 12:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon in the yard of an unoccupied dwelling house, about one-fourth of a mile from his home. Mr. Van Hoy left home Tuesday morning between 3 and 4 o’clock, it us understood. Members of his family are said to have heard him leave the house, but attached no importance to the incident until he failed to return and it was discovered that he had taken his shotgun with him. Search was instituted and his body was found shortly afternoon Tuesday.

The position of the body, near the porch of the house, indicated that Mr. Van Hoy was standing on the porch at the time he shot himself, his body apparently having fallen from the porch. His gun was found under the body. The load from the gun had entered the right side of his head, toward the back, and the top of his head was blown off.

From page 2 of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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How to Add 5 Years to Your Life by J.W. Denny, April 10, 1926

What Would You “Give for Five More Years of Life?

By J.W. Denny, Director

Department of Physical Education of Y.M.C.A.

What would you give for five more years of life? Five more years to play the game—to see more dreams realized—to make good your promises—to reach the coveted goal—to fulfill your desires?

Five more years of life—of the glory of the sun, tang of sea and wind, of work, of happiness, of joy, of laughter, of love!

What would you give for them? Money cannot buy them—nor lack of money keep them away!

Strong, vigorous, active, five more years of life promise much in the day of accomplishment. But what of your strength and vigor?

Are you burning the candle at both ends? Are you letting your health get away through lack of care? Are you robbing yourself of five or more years of life?

You can make them a present to yourself! Only you can do it. No one else can help you. Shoulders back, head erect, resolve reborn to listen to Nature again and snatch from the swiftly sifting sands of time a few more years of life—live as you want it to be.

Make the five more years of life yours! Do your share. Give Nature a chance to build your future with your hearty co-operation.

Take care what you eat. Exercise carefully. Sleep enough. Use your Y.M.C.A. gymnasium and join in with the rest of the fellows in the stride for continued good health.

Your Y.M.C.A. conducts an up-to-the-minute physical department for your benefit, for the benefit of every one desiring to further interest in stronger bodies, keener minds, better spirit.

The busier you are these days, the more chances old man Sickness has of visiting you with a smack between the eyes, unless you take a few minutes to exercise each day.

Afternoon or evening, all through the summer. How about a cooling shower bath at the Y? When it’s 90 degrees in the shade, how about a cool shower bath, a delightful swim in the big pool, and the rest of the day feel like a king?

Youngsters should begin to think about getting in on the summer joys for “Y” boys.

Your silent partner commands you to stop and think why your energy, strength and ambition seem to be fading a little. Your silent partner commands you to stop and think about why your energy, strength and ambition seem to be fading a little. Your silent partner is your health. Heed him now, take an interest in your health. A few minutes given over to careful exercise and proper recreation will put you back in your old-time form and keep you there.

From page 2 of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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Fire in Arrowood and McKnight's Davidson Dorm Room, April 10, 1926

Students’ Trunks Burn in Davidson Dormitory

Davidson, April 9—Fire was discovered at 10:30 o’clock Thursday night in a room occupied by H.M. Arrowood and J.P. McKnight, resulting in two trunks and contents and incidentals being destroyed. The room was in Watts dormitory, which is fireproof, and the flames were thus confined to the one room.

It is believed that the fire was caused by a cigarette being laid on the table, later falling into a trash basket, which was close to the two trunks. Arrowood was at his home in Shelby, while McKnight had left about 20 minutes before the fire was discovered for Charlotte.

From page 3 of The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, April 10, 1926

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