Murder Trial of Nevin Crawford Delayed, June 7, 1926

May Continue Cranford Case

Albemarle, N.C., June 7 (AP)—Indications were today with the convening of Stanly County Superior Court that the trial of Nevin C. Cranford, former “convict boss” charged with murder, would not be heard at this term of court.

While the State has not asked continuance, Solicitor Don Phillips has indicated that he would do so.

Cranford is charged with whipping and threatening three negros so “cruelly” that they died as the result. The case, called several months ago, was continued upon the state’s request.

Editor’s Note: Nevin Cranford was in charge of prisoners in a road crew chain gang. He’s accused of whipping and treating these prisoners so cruelly that they died.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, June 7, 1926

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Mrs. H.J. Fenton, 37, Died of Ptomaine Poisoning, June 7, 1926

Salisbury Woman Dies of Ptomaine Poisoning

Salisbury, June 5—Mrs. H.J. Fenton, aged 37, of South Long street, died early Friday, death being caused by ptomaine poison. Surviving is the husband and five small children.

The funeral took place from Sacred Heart Catholic church Saturday morning at 9 o’clock, and the body will be taken on the afternoon train to North Philadelphia for interment. Mr. Fenton and family were preparing to move to Philadelphia and were to have left for that place Friday.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, June 7, 1926

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Cause of Accident, Occupants, Mystery in Cleveland County, June 7, 1926

Auto Plunges Over Brushy Creek Bridge

A Chevrolet coupe plunged 19 feet or more from the temporary bridge at Brushy Creek Sunday afternoon about 5 o’clock, and reports had it that the occupants were seriously injured and rushed to the local hospital for treatment, but no patients arrived there from this accident.

It could not be learned how the accident happened, but the car broke through the siderails and landed on its radiator in the sand 18 feet below, being badly damaged. A small child was the only witness, and she did not know the names of the occupants. Ne report had it that the car was knocked form the bridge by a jitney, but this is denied at the bus headquarters.

If the occupants were injured, their injuries were not serious enough to take them to the hospital, but their escape from death was nothing short of a miracle.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 7, 1926

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H.F. Harrill's Buick Stolen June 5, 1926

Thieves Make Away with Harrill Car

Some fellows rode out ahead of all the candidates Saturday.

Mr. H.F. Harrill, local realty agent, left his Buick touring car parked I front of the Central Methodist church about 5 o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, and returned later to find it gone.

Such was the confusion and bustle about the court square where the voting was being carried on that no one noticed the car when it was driven away.

Mr. Harrill says that a man came up to him and had hi point out a highway route and it is thought that while this was being done the man’s accomplice was getting the car a the attention of the owner was diverted.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 7, 1926

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Central High School Graduates Largest Class Yet, June 7, 1926

Shelby’s Largest Graduating Class Goes On Stage and Off. . . Gray-Gowed Seniors, In Farewell Exercises, Establish Record for Town, Medals and Awards

A long line of gray-gowned and capped boys and girls marched on the state at Central High School last Friday night and then marched off forever, leaving behind them the record of being Shelby’s largest graduating class and one of the largest in the state.

It was a great evening for Selby. Tears crept in the eyes and hearts beat faster in the bodies of parents and friends of the 80 youths mounting the highest pinnacle in youth, only to move on again as relentless time carried them from youth into the world where greater things await all dependent on their own initiative and the training with which they were credited during the evening.

A vast crowd packed the auditorium, many just to get a glimpse of the long line of seniors, as they marched on the stage, while hundreds of others remained to see the high awards given and to shower the graduates with gifts and praise as they marched down to give way to the rising class of seniors.

Considering the vast size of the crowd, it was unusually behaved, mayhaps because it was impressed by the ceremony and the triumphant youth, a little sad even in their triumphs. Favorites winning awards broke the spell and gave opportunity for rousing cheers as boys and girls moved forward to receive honors that for the moment they would not trade for crowns.

Over 100 Diplomas

In all over 100 diplomas were given, establishing a record that surpasses by far that of any previous year. There were 80 high school graduates, six commercial graduates and 23 teacher training department graduates.

The Awards

Heading the list of awards was the presentation of a diploma testimonial to Prof. J.H. Griff, retiring principal, and with it a handsome Masonic watch charm given by the faculty and students of the school, who regretted to give him up to become county educational superintendent.

The C.C. Blanton scholarships, awarded to one boy and one girl to further their education, were given to Miss Charlotte Tedder and William Hughes, their work making them deserving of the honor.

The Max Washburn cup for the best all-round boy went to Melvin Peeler, star athlete and popular student, while the Cleveland Hardware cup for the best all-around girl was awarded Miss Dorothy McKnight, who also won the Hamrick spelling medal.

Milan Bridges won the eighth grade LeGrange debater’s medal, and Charlie Mae Laughride was the winner of the Max Gardner junior debater’s medal. The triangular debating medals were awarded Dorothy McKnight, Vernon Grigg, Virginia Hoey and Jennie Mae Callahan.

The Dover Bible medal was awarded Miss Charlotte Tedder, and the Bible and Testament were won by Viola Helms and Pressly Wilson.

Whitlaw Kendall was the winner of the coveted scholarship improvement medal given by Wm. Lineberger, and Miss Clara Sperling won the Lee B. Weathers Essay medal. The Hamrick prizes of stop clock for seniors were won by Melvin Peeler, who received a watch and Jessie Wiggins, who received a diamond ring.

The Diploma Winners

Students receiving certificates from the commercial department were:

Nina Cabiness

Ruth Gladden

Pearl Morris

Alex Sain

Louise Honeycutt

Ruby Rhinehardt

Graduates of the teacher training department were:

Mozelle Anthony

Letha Blalock

Piccola Blalock

Evan Borders

Eddie Lee Canipe

Pauline Dedmo

Zora Devine

Pauline Freeman

Dovielennie Glascoe

Lallage Hoyle

Sarah Grace King

Madge McCoy

Ella Mae Mauney

Vangie Mauney

Melba Metcalf

Verie Randle

Fay Ross

Lela Ross

Elva Sneed

Verna Mae Tiddy

Mary Turner

Jessie Pearl Wall

Clara Williams

Lea Williams

The 80 boys and girls, the record class graduating from the high school and receiving diplomas, were:

Mattie Sue Allen

Margaret Allen

Carl Anthony

Ruth Arrowood

Heywood Austell

Gussie Ray Beam

Selma Boggs

Bernice Borders

Herbert Branton

Dennis Byers

Adelaide Cabaniss

Frances Caldwell

Jennie Mae Callahan

Gene Clendenin

Vetus Costner

Myrtle Crawford

Henry Davis

Ola Mae Devine

Katherine Dover

Blanche Dudley

Attie Mae Eskridge

Frances Farmer

Hesnia Fandel

Beryl Ford

Ruth Gladden

Austel Graham

Vernoa Grigg

Kate Griff

Roland Hamrick

William Harris

Viola Helms

Virginia Hoey

Alton Hopper

Lela Hoyle

Jack Hoyle

Chevious Hoyle

Lois Hudson

William Hughes

Mary Hull

Whitelaw Kendall

Bloomfield Kendall

Louise Ledford

Flay Ledford

Madge Mauney

Hunter McSwain

Franes Mcurry

Lucile Moorehead

Dorothy McKnight

Pearl Morris

Agatha Morton

Harvey Nicholas

Melvin Peeler

Grace Putnam

Mildred Ramsey

Louise Roberts

Louis Roberts

Mary Roberts

Roberta Royster

Mary Suttle

Susan Sellers

Olive Singleton

Mattie Short

Elizabeth Spangler

Clara Spurling

Grace Surrat

Lula Moore Suttle

Charlotte Tedder

Claude Hoke Thompson

Julian Thompson

Harding Thompson

Lilly Webber

Jossie Wiggins

Margaret Williams

Alice Wilson

Pressley Wilson

John Phil Wilson

Clarence Wright

Marshall Wright

Stephen Woodson

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 7, 1926

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J.C. Newton Learning Ropes of Secretary of Chamber of Commerce Position, June 7, 1926

Shelby Secretary Sees Hendersonville

Hendersonville, June 5—J.C. Newton of Shelby, former superintendent of schools of Cleveland County, but now secretary of Shelby’s new Chamber of Commerce and who began his duties in the latter capacity June 1, was the guest of J.E. Stubbs, secretary of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, spending a major part of the day here with Mr. Stubbs, getting a slant on secretarial duties in chamber of commerce work.

When the new trade body was recently organized in Shelby, O. Max Gardner was elected president. With the committee still at work, Mr. Newton reported that $7,000 had already been raised for the new chamber of commerce.

Shelby’s chamber will at once become affiliated with the Western North Carolina Federated Chambers of Commerce, and Mr. Newton will join the state secretaries’ organization.

Mr. Newton was shown the high spots in Henderson and was given as much “dope” on his new job as was possible for Mr. Stubbs to “pour” into him.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 7, 1926

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A.R. and C.D. Kistler Honored by Atlanta Southern Dental College, June 7, 1926

Kistler Boys Honored at Dental College

Cleveland county has four students in the Atlanta Southern Dental college; A.R. Kistler, Frank Hicks, C.D. Kistler, and a young Mr. Hamrick in the freshman class. The school closed last week, and Dr. Hicks was graduated.

There was a class of 88 students and the 10 highest won distinction that they are justly proud of. They were admitted to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon fraternity, being two out of the 10 in the class to receive this high honor.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 7, 1926

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