Roscoe Pitts, 14, Eugene Whitener, 13, Plead Guilty to Criminal Assault of 9-Year-Old Girl, April 30, 1926

Youths Admit Assault of 9-Year-Old Girl

Newton, April 29—Roscoe Pitts, aged 14, and Eugene Whitener, 13, were tried before Judge J.C. Rudisill, juvenile judge, this afternoon on the charge of criminal assault on a little 9-year-old girl. The assault is alleged to have taken place near the home of the prosecutrix in Brookford Tuesday afternoon about 5 o’clock.

Both boys admitted the assault and were ordered by Judge Rudisill confined in the juvenile quarters of the jail until Saturday, when the case will be disposed of.

From the front page 4 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 30, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-30/ed-1/seq-4/

Rowan Police Dealing with Two Mysteries, April 30, 1926

Rowan Cops Wrestle with Two Mysteries. . . White Woman Beaten by Negroes and Wearing Apparel Found in Cemetery.

Salisbury, April 29—Salisbury police department has been concerned today about two cases that were more or less mysterious. In one, a white woman, Miss Zelda Martin was reported to have been bound and caged by two negro men at her rooming house in East Council street while Mrs. Theo Plyler with home she lives, was away from home.

The negroes were said to have entered the home last night and secured $20 belonging to Mrs. Plyler. They then bound and caged Miss Martin, according to her story when Mr. and Mrs. Plyler returned home and found her tied up.

The other case concerned the finding of a number of articles of men’s clothing near a negro cemetery, evidence apparently pointing to a tragedy. Enough could be learned from papers in the clothing to indicate that they belonged to Jack Mitchell, 55 years old, and there were instructions to notify some Mitchells in case of death or injury, but this instruction was blurred. Officers probed in a mound of freshly turned up dirt nearby but found nothing.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 30, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-30/ed-1/seq-1/

William Tyzzle, 14, Dies of Rabies, April 30, 1926

Charlotte Boy Victim of Hydrophobia

Charlotte, April 30 (AP)—A case diagnosed as hydrophobia today claimed the life of William Tyzzle, 14, here. The youth became ill last night.

Physicians said that it was the first death in years in this vicinity from such a cause.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 30, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-30/ed-1/seq-1/

Supreme Court Gives John Whitener New Trial, April 29, 1926

Whitener Is Given New Chance for Life. . . Man Who Killed High Point Officer Given a New Trial

Raleigh, April 29 (AP)—John Whitener, once convicted of murder of a High Point police officer, yesterday was given a new chance for life by the State Supreme Court, when he was granted a new trial on his appeal from the judgment of the Guilford County Superior Court.

The Supreme Court’s decision, written by Chief Justice Stacy, was that Judge Schenck, trial judge, had erred in refusing to allow the defendant to testify on the admissibility of the confession he was alleged to have made and it was on those grounds that a new trial was granted.

Whitener was accused of having killed Officer Fred G. Claywell in High Point on June 9, 1925, when the policeman, with others, had attempted to break up a gambling game in Whitener’s house. Whitener was wounded in the same gun battle in which the officer was killed and for several weeks lay in the hospital under heavy guard.

It was while a helpless prisoner that Whitener made the confession introduced against him, and he later contended that he made it under duress and that his statement of his own guilt was false.

During the trial, his counsel offered to place him on the stand, in the absence of the jury, to testify to facts which, it was claimed, would prove the falsity of the confession. Judge Schenck states that “the evidence of the prisoner, he had he been allowed to testify and had he been believed, would have rendered the alleged confession inadmissible.”

In the case of J.H. Bolick vs. the City of Charlotte, the judgement of the trial judge in Mecklenburg Superior Court, overruling the defendant’s demurrer, was affirmed and the case must proceed. The court did not pass upon what it terms “other interesting questions involving the sufficiency of notices,” but merely upheld the overruling of the demurrer, which it terms a “speaking demurrer.”

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 29, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-29/ed-2/seq-1/

A Friendly Scuffle, Gun Goes Off, and Eugene Barton Kills Bill Bolden, April 29, 1926

Accident Takes Life of Youth. . . Eugene Barton Kills Bill Bolden in Friendly Scuffle at Thomasville

Thomasville, April 28—Last night at 8 o’clock Bill Bolden’s gun was accidentally discharged while scuffling across the counter with Eugene Barton, the 25 automatic ball entering Barton’s breast and killing him almost instantly. The accident took place at W.S. Long’s store, in the east side of the city, the boys were nearly the same age, being 19 years. It was said to have been a friendly scuffle between them, the pistol being in Bolden’s belt when it went off.

Barton is said to have spoken after he was shot, saying: “You hurt me, but you couldn’t help it.”

County Coroner Dr. F.L. Mock was called from his home at Reeds and arrived at 10 o’clock. The body had been removed to the Russell funeral home. A jury of six men was called, but their report had ot been made tonight.

Young Barton was a son of George Barton in the eastern part of the town.

Arrangements have not been definitely made, but the funeral probably will be held at Unity chapel at some hour Thursday.

From page 4 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 29, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-29/ed-2/seq-4/

Cline Miller Injured Breaking Up "Canned Heat" Party, April 29, 1926

Badin Policeman Stabbed by Drunken Negro Woman

Stanly News-Herald

R. Cline Miller, member of the Badin police force, is in the Badin Hospital suffering from knife wounds received at the hands of a negro woman Saturday night.

From the best information to be obtained here, a “canned heat” party ended rather unpleasantly, with the negro woman cutting up a negro man who was also a member of the party. Policeman Miller, who was on duty at that time, attempted to arrest the woman. She met Miller with a nine-inch knife and attempted to stab him, succeeding in making just a slight wound above his heart. Miller then resorted to the use of his club, probably knocking her down, but was not able to disarm her before she had inflicted several painful cuts about his hip and ankle.

Mr. Miller is well known in this county and is a son of Mr. John S. Miller, formerly of this county. He is expected to be able to leave the hospital in a short time, but will probably not be able to resume his duties for some time.

From page 4 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 29, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-29/ed-2/seq-4/

I wasn't familiar with a "canned heat" party, but AI said the poisonous alcohol from Sterno, used for cooking and heating in the 1920s, was filtered and drunk during prohibition. Since the alcohol was poisonous, people suffered disorientation, delirium, hallucinations, severe mood swings, loss of impulse control, paranoil, sudden agitation or rage. Canned heat intoxication was more like poisoning than regular intoxication.

John G. Campbell Folk School Begun in Brasstown, April 29, 1926

Something New in North Carolina. . . A John G. Campbell Folk School Started in Cherokee and Clay Counties

Raleigh, April 29 (AP)—the Brasstown community of Cherokee and Clay counties, in the far southwestern end of the state, is the scene of something new in North Carolina education and co-operation, according to staff members of the State department of agriculture, recently returned from a study of what is occurring in the Brasstown community.

In that locality has been established what is known as the John C. Campbell Folk School, modeled after the folk high school of Denmark, which is characterized as an “experiment in adult education.”

“Education is not a process to be measured by academic grades and degrees,” according to the Danish conception. “The humbler tasks of farms, shop, and home have a cultural value more fundamental than that of books. Education should not discredit such labor, but should give it meaning, breadth and depth.

Brasstown was selected for this experiment, in the words of a department of agriculture agent, because it is “a section poor but capable of agricultural development, a natural center for an area of some 50 square miles. It is on a good highway, within 8 ½ miles of Murphy, the terminus of two railroads, and is about 100 miles from the markets of Asheville, Knoxville and Atlanta. “Its greatest asset is its citizenship, a strong group of small farmers with a high reputation for integrity. Ninety-seven per cent are landowners.

“their desire for a school which will help the country is partially indicated by the following pledges made by 116 citizens: Over $800 in cash; locust posts; telephone poles; building logs; building stone; firewood and native shrubs, trees and bulbs. A total of 1,495 days of labor, 397 with teams, is likewise pledged during the first three years of the school. Three hundred eighty-eight days of labor, yearly, without time limit, has also been pledged. In addition, 30 acres of land as a site has been offered the school.”

As one of the initial steps in this “enterprise in co-operation,” it is said, a savings and loan association has been organized in the community. Sixteen men and women joined the association at the initial meeting, and subscribed 18 shares of stock. This is the first savings and loan association to be organized in this section of North Carolina.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Friday, April 29, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-04-29/ed-2/seq-1/