Clarence Lane Killed in Gambling Game, Police Looking for Wharton Brothers, June 2, 1926

Killed in Gambling Game

Greensboro, June 1—Ed Wharton, charged with the fatal shooting here early this morning of Clarence Lane during a gambling game, and Wharton’s brother, Clarence Wharton, who is alleged to have handed Ed the pistol, are being sought by the police. All the parties are negroes.

It is alleged that during a “skin game” Lane reached for the pot of $6 before his hand had been played, when Clarence Wharton is alleged to have handed Ed the pistol and Ed, according to the police, shot Lane through the heart. Both negroes escaped in an automobile.

Editor’s Note: A “skin game” in a 1926 newspaper means a crooked gambling game designed to cheat one or more of the players. It was a very common term in the early 1900s, especially in the rural South, and everyone reading that article in 1926 would have understood it instantly. That’s what Copilot says, but I thought it would be good to explain the term here, because I didn’t know what it meant in 2026.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 2, 1926

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Federal Prohibition Raid in South Mountains, Burke County, Yields Still and Arrests of Three Men, June 2, 1926

Officers Make Raid in South Mountains

Gastonia, June 1—Federal prohibition agent Evon L. Houser, assisted by Steve Stroup and J.R. Putnam, made a raid in the South Mountain section of Burke county, 12 miles south of Morganton, Sunday and captured a 65-gallon still, 1,000 gallons of beer and a small quantity of liquor.

The operators of the still were absent. Just as the officers were leaving they noticed a car nearby. On searching it, they found three gallons of liquor and arrested J.L. Wilson, J.F. Cline and B.O. Teague Jr., said to be from Granite Falls.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., June 2, 1926

Editor’s Note: The beer found with a still producing liquor was not the kind of beer we drink today. It was produced in the distilling process and was meant to be turned into liquor, not sold as beer.

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Could Man Sentenced to Electric Chair Be Insane? June 2, 1926

Mr. Sink Investigates Rowan County Murder

Raleigh, June 1—H. Hoyle Sink, commissioner of pardons, has just returned from a trip to the Piedmont section of the state where he made investigations regarding Fred Jones, negro, under sentence of death for murder, whose case has been formally presented for executive clemency.

Jones was convicted of the murder of a laundry man in Winton-Salem and has been denied a new trial by the supreme court. His attorney’s plea is that the negro is insane.

Mr. Sink secured considerable information in Rowan county, where Jones at one time served on the chain gang, the pardon commissioner said. No decision has yet been reached.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 2, 1926

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High Winds Drove Fires at J.G.Mauney Residence, Lilly Mill, June 2,1926

Two Serious Fires in Shelby Tuesday. . . Residence of J.G. Mauney completely Destroyed and Cotton at Lily Mill Damaged

Two fires occurred in Shelby during the high wind of Tuesday morning, both of which owing to the weather condition, carried serious threats of extensive damage.

One of the fires virtually consumed the J.G. Mauney residence on Grover street. The other was at the Lilly Mill, where a quantity of highly priced cotton was consumed, the effects of which were serious enough to cause the mill to shut down for at least a day or two.

The Mauney house caught fire at about 12 o’clock, while the family wa eating dinner. They were seated at the table when a neighbor came running in and announced the roof was ablaze.

It was.

And it was blazing so intensely that by the time the fire department reached the scene the house was virtually burned down. The high winds fanned the flames to such an extent that from the first there was little hope of saving the home. Some of the furniture was dragged out.

In connection with this disaster, it is recalled that recently the Mauney family suffered the death of a child. And a week or so later a pine tree fell upon the family car, partially demolishing it. Fred Mauney, the oldest son, at the wheel, had a narrow escape from being crushed.

The Lily fire occurred during the mid-morning of Tuesday. The blaze caught in the picker room. In addition to other damage, a quantity of 37-percent cotton was burned.

The management stated Tuesday afternoon that the mill would resume work in a day or two.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., June 2, 1926

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Commencement Exercises for Roxboro High School, June 2, 1926

Closing Exercises of Roxboro High School. . . One of the Most Successful Years in the History of the School. . . 20 Received Diplomas

The boys and girls of Roxboro and surrounding section have held sway here this week, it being the Commencement Exercises of the Roxboro High School. Sunday morning Rev. Hugh A. Ellis of Henderson preached the sermon in the First Baptist church. He was greeted by an overflow audience and those who were fortunate enough to get in the house were doubly repaid for their trouble, for Mr. Ellis delivered one of the most forcible and instructive sermons heard here in some time.

Monday night in the high school auditorium the graduating exercises took place. Prizes were awarded to the following:

Music Appreciation: Rachael Bradsher and Edwin Long.

Religious Essay: Julian Underwood Connally and Texie Elizabeth Barnette.

Edgar Long Scholarship Medal: Champ Winstead Jr.

Research Club English Prize: May Jane Barker.

Woman’s Club Loving Cup: Texie Elizabeth Barnette.

Medal for best all-round student in High School: James Benjamine Stalvey.

After these prizes were awarded, the speaker, Hon. S. Porter Graves of Mt. Airy, delivered the address, which contained much of great value to the young graduates.

The following received diplomas:

Miss Mary Jane Barker

Henry Vance Barnette

Miss Texie Elizabeth Barnett

Miss Janie Ruth Blalock

Miss Edith Lea Bowles

Miss Ellen Merritt Bradsher

Miss Alice Lungworth Cole

Julian Underwood Connally

Miss Mary Marshall Dunlap

John Hopkins Eberman

Miss Elizabeth Alma Harris

Miss Kathrine Hatchett

Baxter Erlis Hopgood

Miss Kate Purcell Lipford

Miss Vertie Norfleet Moore

Miss Rebecca Elizabeth Morris

James Benjamin Stalvey

Miss Cornelia Ruth Thompson

James Carroll Walker

Champ Winstead Jr.

From the front page of The Roxboro Courier, June 2, 1926

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Martin Calls Off All Other Scheduled Debates. . . Gives No Reason for Cancelling Atheist Anti-Evolution Debates in the State

Charlotte, N.C., June 2 (AP)—Debates scheduled in North Carolina between the Anti-Evolution League and the Society for the Advancement of Atheism in America have been cancelled, Dr. T.T. Martin, field secretary of the former organization, announced her today.

Dr. Martin and Howell S. England, Detroit biologist and lawyer, met here last night in the second of their debates. A very small assemblage listened to them. No reason for the cancelling of the scheduled debates in the state was given.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 2, 1926

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Meredith College Awards Honors to Bernice Hamrick, Mary Burns, June 2, 1926

Cleveland Girls Get School Honors

Two Cleveland county girls have been highly honored at Meredith college, according to reports received in Shelby.

Miss Bernice Hamrick of Shelby has been awarded the Astro Society essay medal, and Miss Mary Burns of Lawndale was given the Elizabeth Collins medal for the best contribution to the college magazine for 1925-1926.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., June 2, 1926

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