Rual Barton's Death Ruled Accident by Coroner D.W. Biggs, Oct. 21, 1926

Indian Falls Out Door and Dies at Wakulla. . . Suspicion of Foul Play in Connection with Death of Rual Barton Dispelled When Coroner Finds Bruise on Head Not Sufficient to Cause Death

Suspicion of foul play in connection with the death of Rual Barton, Indian, which occurred at the home of Pennie Harris, Indian, at Wakulla yesterday morning, was dispelled when Coroner D. W. Biggs went to Wakulla and made an examination of the bruised spot on Barton’s head and found that it was not sufficient to cause his death.

Barton spent Tuesday night at the home of Pennie Harris, a mile from his own home. He slept out in the hall, it seems. Yesterday morning when members of the household when tout, they found that he had fallen out the back door and was unconscious. They thought he was ill and sent for members of this own family, who upon their arrival discovered that he was dead. No inquest was considered necessary.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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Hattie McNair in Cell for Insane for Killing Her Husband After He Said He Would Kill Her, Oct 21, 1926

Colored Woman Kills Husband with Axe. . . Hattie McNair of Elrod in Cell for Insane at County Home—Murdered Tom McNair as He Lay Asleep—She Appears Helpless. . . Husband Threatened to Kill Her with Same Axe, She Says

Tom McNair, colored, of Elrod was brutally murdered by his wife, Hattie McNair, early yesterday morning, the woman using an axe to accomplish the deed. A coroner’s jury summoned by Coroner D. W. Biggs yesterday held Hattie responsible for the killing and recommended that she be held in custody until inquiry can be made into her sanity.

In accordance with the recommendation, she was brought to Lumberton and placed in the cell for the insane at the county home.

The woman is in a helpless condition, and it is hardly conceivable that she could use the axe with such force. She admits the crime, however, stating that her husband came in with the axe and told her he would give her 15 more minutes to live and that when he fell across the bed and went to sleep, she killed him. She is unable to sit up, and witnesses at the inquest testified that she had not sat up in three weeks. She told neighbors right after the tragedy that she did not intend to kill the man.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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"Hog Slops" Liquor and Other Cases in Recorder's Court, Oct. 21, 1926

“Hog Slops” Gets Negro in Trouble. . . Henry Archie Goes to Roads for 4 Months Because He is Caught with 3 Quarts of Liquor and Stuff Called “Hog Slops. . . Many Other Liquor Cases in Recorder’s Court

“Hog slops” of most too strong a taste and 3 quarters of liquor found in the possession of Henry Archie, colored, proved his undoing, and he was sentenced to the roads of Robeson county by Recorder P. S. Kornegay for 60 days on a charge of possessing intoxicating liquor and 60 days for possessing materials for the manufacture of whiskey.

Joe Blackman entered a plea of nolo contendere on charges of being drunk, transporting and possessing whiskey and using profane language on the highway and was fined $25 and costs on the first charge, $10 and costs for transporting and using profane language. His car was ordered confiscated.

J. McKay, colored, was at first sentenced to 60 days on the roads for possessing materials for the manufacture of whiskey, he having 5 gallons of beer, but the sentence was changed to a $50 fine and costs on account of the fact that the defendant’s wife was dead and he had four small children.

The prosecutor had to pay the costs in a case against Foil Britt, charged with assault.

Lee Andrew Gavin pleaded guilty of being drunk and was fined $25 and costs or sentenced to 30 days on the roads. In another case, Gavin was sentenced to 60 days on the roads for malicious and willful trespass on personal property.

Prayer for judgment was suspended upon the payment of the costs as to Tommie Lowry, Indian, charged with assault. He is to refrain from striking or whipping his wife for a period of two years, and if he fails to do this, a four-months road sentence will immediately take effect.

Willis Key, colored, was taxed with the costs for speeding.

C.S. McFarland pleaded guilty of being drunk and was fined $25 and costs.

Barnum Rison was taxed with costs for disorderly conduct.

Clarence Gamble, colored, pleaded guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and was fined $50 and costs and his car confiscated.

Editor’s Note: A nolo contendere plea — also called a no contest plea — is a criminal plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt but also does not dispute the charges, and instead accepts the court’s conviction and punishment as if he had pled guilty.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1926-10-21/ed-1/seq-1/ From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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Depositors Whose Accounts Were Frozen When Lumberton Bank Failed, Still Waiting for Some Payout, Oct. 21, 1926

Notice Will be Given When Dividend Is Ready

Many people are inquiring when another dividend will be paid depositors of the defunct First National Bank of Lumberton. Mr. T. L. Johnson, attorney for the receiver, states that no dividend may be expected for at least 60 days, and that Receiver McConihe will give public notice when another dividend is ready to be paid.

Editor’s Note: In the 1920s when a bank failed, depositors money was frozen and they couldn’t withdraw their savings. Today, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000, but FDIC didn’t come into existence until 1933. Under the law in 1926, a bank that went under and shut its doors went to a receiver. The receiver’s duties were to sell off the bank’s assets—loans, buildings, furniture, securities. The money was distributed to depositors in installments. Those installments were called dividends to depositors. It wasn’t a profit-sharing dividend or interest or a bonus. It was partial repayment of frozen deposits. In summary, in 1926 depositors became creditors when a bank failed. Repayments to them were called dividends. And the receiver was the liquidator of the bank’s assets. Stocks in a failed bank become worthless; a failed bank can only pay dividends to stockholders if there’s money left over after the receiver has repaid every penny to every creditor—a rare occurrence. Sometimes wealthy bank officers who had committed some sort of fraud were given the opportunity to avoid jail time by restoring lost funds to the bank, but most did not take advantage of this.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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Joseph Ivey, 29, Electrocuted at Work for Southern Power Company, Oct. 21, 1926

Mr. Joseph B. Ivey Killed by Live Wire. . . Body Brought to Lumberton This Morning from Great Falls, S.C.—Funeral and Interment Here Tomorrow

Mr. Joseph B. Ivey, 29, son of Mr. W.R. Ivey of Lumberton, was electrocuted by a live wire at the substation of the Southern Power Co. at Great Falls, S.C., yesterday as he was doing repair work, and his body was brought this morning to Lumberton, where interment will be made tomorrow.

Mr. Ivey had been with the Southern Power Co. for 15 months. Previous to that time he was at North Wilkesboro for a short time. Before going to North Wilkesboro he was at Maxton as clerk of the hotel there for a number of years.

When the body arrived in Lumberton on the morning train, it was taken to the home of Mr. Ivey’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Prevatte where the funeral will be conducted tomorrow morning at 10:30 by Dr. C. H. Durham, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Interment will be made in Meadowbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Ivey was the youngest son of Mr. W. R. Ivey of Lumberton by his first wife. He is survived by his father, by three brothers—Mr. Roy Ivey, Lumberton; Mr. B. C. Ivey, Hopewell, Va.; and Mr. Harry N. Ivey, New York; by three sisters—Mrs. A. H. Prevatte, Lumberton; Mrs. A. R. Pittman, Fairmont; and Mrs. J. P. Lec, Fayetteville; and by one half-brother and one half-sister, both of Lumberton—Mr. Sam ivey and Miss Blanche Ivey.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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Wright Leggett Died Suddenly Oct. 21, 1926

Wright Leggett Died Suddenly This A.M. . . . Well-Known Farmer Succumbs to Heart Disease at Home Near Fairmont

Fairmont, Oct. 21—Mr. Wright Leggett, a prosperous farmer who lives about 5 miles from Fairmont on R. 2, died suddenly this morning at 8 o’clock with heart disease. He had been in declining health for three years but was in his usual health, going to a sale at the home of Mrs. Haywood Faulk yesterday.

Mr. Leggett is survived by his wife, one daughter and four sons.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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Prize-Winning Booths at Robeson County Fair Announced, Oct. 20, 1926

Biggest Robeson County Fair in History Now at Full Blast. . . Takes on Aspect of State Fair with its Large Number of Booths and Vast number of Entries of Farm Products and Cattle. . . 25 Booths of Artistic and Educational Appeal . . Free Acts Every Afternoon and Fireworks at Night Draw Big Crowd. . . Much Interest in Baby Conest. . . Friday is School Day

Featuring the largest number of booths, the greatest midway, free acts and fireworks and the most entries of farm and manufactured products, as well as livestock, the 12th annual Robeson County Fair swung into full action Tuesday night after a rather slow beginning earlier in the day. Of all the fairs held in Robeson County the one for 1926 is larger in every respect except the entries of chickens.

Taking over the dates formerly used by the State Fair, the Robeson County Fair this year rivals the State Fair in size and in the large number of booths and in the entries of agricultural and manufactured products and cattle. Visitors from other counties are loud in their praise of what Robeson has done in this respect.

Twenty-Five Booths

Twenty-five booths, representing practically all the communities of the county, are arranged on the main floor of the exhibition hall, with both an educational and artistic appeal. Competition among the home economics booths is keen, with Rowland, Maxton, Long Branch, Parkton, Lumber Bridge and Rex-Rennert entered.

Maxton

One of the most artistically arranged and attractive booths at the fair is that from Maxton, every article in it being made by the people of Maxton. It includes a tea cart, a console table with mirror and lights, flower stand, center table, hat tree, hassock, flower basket, four hand-painted pictures, telephone stand, book ends, 4 wool rugs, electric light shades, jardiniere, hand-painted and hand-made trays, fish jar, shopping bag, toys, 2 books written by Maxton people, and a mirror frame. The booth is decorated with red and blue on a yellow background, and its appearance is winning the admiration of a large number of those attending the fair. The judges yesterday awarded it first place.

Rex-Rennert

Especially good for its educational value is the water system of the Rex-Rennert community. It is a duplicate of the system now in use by Mr. A. W. Adcox of Rex, who installed it at a cost of approximately $18. It is a home-built affair which furnishes water for the kitchen, for the shower bath, the garden and for washing. The purpose of the booth is to show that a water system is within the reach of every home. Instructive posters explain that the average family carries 20 tons of water 40 miles per day and that this method of furnishing water for the home will save the average housewife 30 8-hour days a year.

Rowland

Reading for the farm home is shown in the Rowland booth. All the different magazines are placed there with the prices and points why they are thought to be valuable. Books are also included, a public library having been recently started in Rowland and particular interest being taken in it.

Parkton

The Parkton booth shows how attractive house dresses and aprons maybe made of good material in a short time and that they may be easily laundered. Posters show the time necessary to make the dresses and the cost of each.

Long Branch

Long Branch has the largest assortment of any home economics booth. It is a community exhibit with a map of the district with the names of the people displayed in the background. Everything raised by the people of that community is included, seeds of some products being used where it is impossible to supply the product itself. The booth is unique in that it includes everything from squashes to a hen’s nest. It was winner of second prize.

Lumber Bridge

The Lumber Bridge exhibit represents winter bouquets and cakes. It is one of the most attractive of all the booths. The ladies of the community come to Lumberton every day and change the flowers, keeping fresh ones on display all the time.

School Booths

The Cherokee Indian Normal College and McDonald are the only contestants for school booths. The Indian Normal exhibit shows the work done at the institution in the home economics department. Especially interesting is the slumber robe of various colors made of yard thread, the threat alone costing $20. Another thing out of the ordinary is a half pint of pomegranate juice. Many canned goods and garments made in the school are also in the exhibit. It was selected as first prize winner by the judges.

McDonald

The McDonald school exhibit deals with a hot school lunch. It has all the equipment needed to serve hot lunches to 50 pupils with recipes of what to use. It also illustrates good and poorly-packed lunches. A demonstration will be given Friday. It was awarded second prize.

Community Booth

The colored home demonstration clubs have the only so-called community booth at the fair. All the colored communities of the county cooperated in the undertaking, and their exhibit is neatly arranged and presents an attractive appearance. Hilly Branch and Lumberton have more representation in the booth than any of the others. It includes everything for the home.

Individual

Miss Ruth Edmund’s booth is the first to greet the eye when entering the right of the main building. It consists of fancy work and art. Further back on the same side is Mr. and Mrs. B. Sam Edwards, who have had an exhibit in the fair every year since it was organized. His consists of home and farm products. Further back still is Miss Julia Wessel, who demonstrates live at home She is making an effort to show that the road to prospertity lies in pecans, dairying and poultry. Everything made by the farm for home consumption is in her exhibit. To the left of Miss Wessel is Mrs. Bertha Singletary, who ha cotton a ng when supported by home-grown food. Miss Wssel was awarded first prize, Mrs. Singletary, second prize, Mr. and Mrs. B. Sam Edwards, third prize.

Agricultural

Chief among the agricultural exhibits is ta from the Cherokee Indian Normal College of Pembroke. Mr. A. F. Corbin, agricultural teacher there, is at the booth to explain to people anything they might want to know about it. He has on display some winter garden vegetables taken from his own garden, a variety of soybeans, legumes, ham and eggs, grasses, grains, corn including the yellow and white crossed, peas, eggplants, sweet pepper, cotton, tobacco, cane, rhubarb, garden huckleberries, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, okra, cream, and in fact everything that goes to make up probably the biggest assortment yet seen here in an agricultural exhibit. This booth won first prize.

Others having agricultural exhibits are Mr. W. G. Tyson and Mrs. Shelton West, both of Lumberton R.F.D., and Mr. O.O. Dukes, county farm agent. Mr. Tyson won second prize.

Commercial

Artistically-arranged commercial booths add greatly to the appearance of the exhibit hall. Among these are L. H. ‘Caldwell’s, featuring Frigidaire refrigerators and Estate heatrolers; Stephens and Barns’, furniture; Kirkman-Wicker Co.’s, Coleman heaters and Air-O-Gas stoves, and Heath-Milligan paints and Lacq; John F. French & Co.’s, Purina Chows; the Carolina Rubber Co., Salisbury, Clover Leaf automobile tires; Mascot Limestone, lime for all crops; and Armours Big Crop fertilizers.

Unnamed Fish

Drawing crowds both day and night is a red fish entered by Malcolm McQueen, colored, of Lumberton. McQueen caught the fis in Lumber River. It is too large for a gold fish and yet it resembles one closely. No one yet has been able to name it.

Judges were busy all day yesterday awarding prizes. Theiy were confronted with more livestock than ever has been at a Robeson county fair and a larger entry of farm products. A list of their awards will be pushed in a later issue of The Robesonian.

The free acts, rides, concessions, and all the midway have been highly entertaining and have been well attended. Wednesday night the fireworks were used for the first time and proved all they were represented to be. Great interest has been manifested in the baby contest.

Friday is school day, and the school children will be admitted free between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. A number of schools will give a half holiday to allow the children to attend. A large representation is expected.

Editor’s Note: Cherokee Indian Normal College was founded by the state legislature in 1887 to give Native American students a college education. The first year it was a two-story building with 15 students. In 1926, the Cherokee Indian Normal School in Pembroke, North Carolina, was in the midst of expanding its teacher training program. That year, the school instituted a two year postsecondary teacher training program, marking a significant step in its evolution from a small normal school into a more formalized college-level institution. Today it is the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

From the front page of the Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 21, 1926

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