Hooded KKK Members to Parade Through Shelby June 17, 1926

Klan Bodies Meet Here on Thursday. . . Hooded Members of Invisible Empire to Parade Through Shelby by the Hundreds

Shelby is to witness one its most colorful events Thursday night, June 17, if plans announced by local Ku Klux Klan members are carried through successfully.

On that evening robbed and hooded klansmen from about 15 towns and cities in North and South Carolina will parade the streets of Shelby in full regalia. Coinciding with the mammoth parade of the invisible empire will be a public speaking at the courthouse and a K.K.K. film at the Princess Theatre.

History Revived

The program as related by klan officials will push back the hand on the clock of Time in Shelby and bring back colorful memories of the old South, as is said. Years ago Tom Dixon, famous author, made the old klan immortal through his stories of their workings—stories that were based about the historic court square of Shelby in the days when the white-robed knights of old assembled there. And around that square Thursday night several hundred klansmen will march and later enter the building for a public speech by a klan speaker.

The klan here has issued an announcement saying that a picture, “The Toll of Justice,” telling of the workings of the klan, will be on from 2 in the afternoon until 11:30 at night at the Princess Theatre. At 8 o’clock in the evening, J.W. Alford of Wilmington will speak in the courthouse and the public generally is invited to attend. Although it cannot be definitely learned it is reported the robed parade will start from the city park at 8 o’clock and will follow a line of march around the court square and main business section of the town.

Two Carolinas In

A klan official of Shelby states that the parade should be one of the largest ever staged in the two Carolinas. Invitations, he says, have been mailed out to klans over both states and indications are that representatives from all klans will take part in the ceremonies and march. Some of the towns and cities listed to send delegations are:

Marion, Rutherfordton, Asheville, Hendersonville, Forest City, Morganton, Hickory, Newton, Gaffney, Lincolnton, Kings Mountain, Blacksburg and Spartanburg.

The last klan parade staged in Shelby attracted throngs to the court square vicinity of Shelby and the gathering was considered one of the largest ever assembled in the town. With the likelihood of a still great parade Thursday night, an equally large crowd is expected to witness the unusual event.

From the front page of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/

Asheville Thieves Taking Parts of Cars, June 14, 1926

Asheville Thieves Quite Ingenious

Asheville, June 12—For some time the wave of automobile accessory thieves has been increasing in Asheville, but what appears to have been the boldest and strangest case of all was reported to police Friday.

George N. Adams parked his car on Battery Park Hill for about 30 minutes. When he returned he got in and started to drive off, but the car refused to budge. On investigation he found that the rear fender of the car had been jacked up and both rear wheels stolen. Another man reported that he had been the victim of gasoline thieves three times within the week.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/

Paper Blames Fred Bynum's Loss on Bill Cole, June 14, 1926

What They Think of Cole at Home

Union Republican

They must not think much of Bill Cole, the wealthy cotton mill manufacturer of Richmond County, who killed Bill Ormond, wounded ex-serviceman in Rockingham last summer. ‘Tis true he was acquitted but by an imported jury from Union County who disregarded the instructions of the presiding judge. Fred W. Bynum, Cole’s right hand man, was a candidate for the senate in Richmond County in the primary Saturday and received 874 votes. His opponent, J. Chester Sedberry, was one of the attorneys that helped to prosecute Cole and he received 2,372 votes. Had Cole been tried by a Richmond County jury instead of that amazing jury from Union, possibly he would have gotten just deserts and been convicted.

From page 5 of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-5/

Mecklenburg TB Sanatorium Just Waiting for Enough Water to Open, June 14, 1926

Mecklenburg Sanatorium Is to Open in July. . . Trouble Being Encountered in Securing Adequate Water

Huntersville, June 13—The Mecklenburg County Tuberculosis Sanitorium will open about the middle of July. It is understood here after a survey of the plant by R. Neal Hood, chairman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners this week.

The hospital is practically ready for occupancy now, it was explained by Mr. Hood, but because of the inadequacy thus far of the water supply the opening will necessarily be postponed until water is secured. Already three drilled wells have failed to provide enough water, and the fourth is being drilled. All four it is planned will be hooked together, and it is thought that they will furnish approximately 30 gallons a minute.

A carload of furniture from a Wisconsin manufacturer arrived here this week and it has been placed in the hospital. It is of metallic construction throughout and is especially designed for hospital use.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/

Rev. Thompson Collapses in Pulpit, June 14, 1926

Rev. J.E. Thompson Falls in Pulpit. . . Aged Minister, Related Here, Has Sudden Attack During Sermon. . . Father of Mrs. Gidney

Shelby people will hear with regret of the illness of Rev. J. Ed Thompson of Salisbury. Ev. Mr. Thompson, one of the oldest ministers in active service in the state, is the father of Mrs. Lamar C. Gidney and is well known in Shelby, having preached here years ago. The account of the attack in news dispatches from Salisbury says:

Rev. J. Ed Thompson, pastor of Main Street Methodist Church is in the Salisbury hospital following an attack of weakness he experienced while conducting service at his church this morning. Realizing that he could not go on with the service, Mr. Thompson was pronouncing the benediction to dismiss his congregation when he fell backwards and struck his head on the floor. He was rendered unconscious and remained so for a couple of hours. But this evening he is reported to be showing improvement.

Mr. Thompson is one of the oldest ministers in active work in the conference and has served a number of churches in this section of the state.

From the front page of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/

Girls Hitchhiked Home from Boone to Kannapolis, June 14, 1926

Four Girls Hiked from Boone to Kannapolis

Misses Bertha Cook and Sadie Harris with their friends Misses Jessie Williamson and Nell Jenkins of Pageland, S.C., hiked to their home in Kannapolis from the Boone summer school Saturday, which is about 140 miles.

They left boon at 1:45 o’clock and arrived in Kannapolis at 8:30 o’clock. They just stepped out on the highway when a man came by and brought the almost to Lenoir. Then they rode with different people until they got six miles this side of Lenoir, when a Mr. Ash came by and brought them into Statesville. Then they road again with different parties until they came into Kannapolis counting 12 different parties in all.

The girls seemed to have enjoyed their trip down here but don’t know how they are coming out on their hike back.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/

Local News Briefs in Cleveland Star, June 14, 1926

Little Stars

--Birth—Born to Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Pearce, Saturday morning, a daughter, Leslie Kathleen.

--Birth—Born to Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Keever on Suttle Street, June 14, a fine daughter.

--With Plumbing Firm—Miss Kathleen Dorsey of Forest City has accepted a position with the Shelby Plumbing Company here.

--Masonic Notice—Cleveland lodge No. 202 will meet in called communication Tuesday afternoon June 15th for work in third degree at 5 p.m. Adjournment will be about 6 o’clock and meeting will be called again at 8 p.m.

--Gets License—Mr. Craig Runyans, who has been employed with local undertakers for some time, recently passed the state board of examiners and has received his license as an embalmer. Mr. Runyans is with the Palmer Funeral home.

--Annuals Here—High school annuals, published by the graduating class of this year, have arrived and will be on sale for the next few days at Alexander’s jewelry store. All who have paid for their copies, and all who wish to secure one, are asked to call for their copy at once.

--Making Good—Shelby people will hear with pleasure of the success of a former Shelby boy in state banking circles. Mr. Ben Roberts, son of Mrs. Eliza Roberts, of Shelby, now assistant cashier of the National Bank of Rocky Mount, goes to Dallas, Texas, July 9, representing his bank at the meeting of the American Bankers Association.

--Off for Chapel Hill—H.C. Thompson, son of Z.J. Thopson was off Saturday for Chapel Hill for a summer course of study. Young Thompson is planning preliminary studies looking to a medical degree. Last winter he was principal of the Henrietta-Caroleen school. Formerly, he attended Duke University. He says it will require four years of further college work to secure an M.D.

--Open Office Here—The Happy Valley Lake Estates has opened headquarters I Shelby, with Messrs. E.J. Tillman and S.E. Powers in charge. This development is located between Lenoir and Blowing Rock, comprising according to Mr. Tillman, some 6,000 acres. P. L. Wright, who developed Druid Hills at Hendersonville, is president of the new company formed this spring.

--How’s This?—“Too wet to plow this morning,” was the statement of Ed Dixon of Belwood—which is something rather unusual for Cleveland County of recent weeks. A heavy rain fell about 4 o’clock in the afternoon in the Belwood section on over in Lincoln County and Monday morning the ground was too wet for plowing in certain sections of upper Cleveland. Farmers in that section estimate that the downfall was worth thousands of dollars to the crop.

--Shelby to Attend—the following from the Statesville Daily about the horse show there will be of local interest: The race track for the horse show, which will be held on Monday, July 5, is being completed today. It is a quarter-mile track located at the end of Woodlawn Drive on the Taylorsville road, on the Wilson farm. Mr. C.A. Stearns, who was in Asheville this week, reports that many people from the mountain metropolis will be in Statesville for the show Little, big horse dealer from Camden, S.C., Dr. J.S. Dorton and Messrs. Charles Doggett of Shelby were in Statesville yesterday making arrangements for entries in the show. “We expect at least 5,000 people here for the show,” said Mr. C.A. Stearns today.

From page 5 of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-5/