Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things, April 9, 1919

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 9, 1919

N.C. State News. . . A Digest of Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things

With the distinctly novel plea that an angel had left 16 pints of monkey rum and a gallon jug of the same on her front porch, together with a note telling her to sell the liquor and make herself some money, Mrs. Eddie Hoyle of Dunn, 64 years old, tried in vain to evade arrest by prohibition agents last week. The officers refused to believe that the “spirits” were left by spirits from heaven.

--The State Supreme Court has rendered a ruling in conformity with the Juvenile Court Act, to the effect that children under 14 years of age are no longer indictable as criminals. The judgment was rendered in consideration of an appeal from Bertie county in the case of Lonnie and Ernest Bennett, 10-year-old negro boys charged with the murder of Lydelle Hyman in that county several months ago. The two young alleged murderers will therefore be dealt with by the juvenile court of Bertie.

--The cities of Ahoskie and Windsor are soon to have their own municipal lighting and water plants, according to recent news reports. Work on the Windsor plant has already begun, although Windsor started agitation for these city improvements several months later than Ahoskie.

--Cecil B. Vestal, prominent young man of Winston-Salem, is confined at the Raleigh jail on a charge of impersonating an United States Department of Justice official in various cities of the State, and cashing worthless checks. He was only recently paroled on a sentence of two years for desertion from the navy.

--Guilford county’s new court house, which has been in process of construction for nearly two years, and which has cost approximately $750,000, has at length been opened to the public. The new structure is described as magnificent in every detail, and with every modern convenience.

--For failure to properly report births, Dr. D.T. Tayloe, head of a Washington, N.C., hospital which handles many maternity cases, has been fined $10 and costs following prosecution by the State Board of Health. This is the second conviction of Dr. Tayloe, who is one of the leading physicians of the State.

--The population of Tarboro under the 1920 census is given as 4,568, an increase of 439 or 10.6 per cent over the census figures of 1910.

--Miss Annie Lee Singletary, eight years old, of Winston-Salem, is the winner of the first price and Garland Midyette of Jackson of the second prize in Class “C” of the Col. A.V.P. Anderson army essay contest on the subject, “What are the benefits of an enlistment in the United States Army?” which was carried on throughout the State during the past few months. The two prize winners were awarded $10 and $5 respectively.

--Democratic county conventions in Guilford, Durham, Wake, Buncombe and Sampson last week elected a total of 52 women delegates to the State Democratic convention. Guilford leads the list with a delegation of 25 women.

--The Lexington post of the American Legion last week went on record as endorsing the additional compensation bill now before Congress. A telegram was mailed to Representative Claud Kitchin, asking him to use his influence toward the passage of the bill.

--A stock company is in process of formation at Charlotte which has as its aim the erection of a million-dollar hotel in that city. Much of the stock has already been sold, and it is believed that the proposed magnificent ultra modern commercial and tourists’ hostelry will be in process of construction within a short time.

--The Right Honorable Sir Robert Baird Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, and Lady Borden are now spending a month’s vacation at Asheville. They have but recently returned from a visit to London, where Sir Robert was in conference with the King of England concerning the present problems of Canada.

--Contracts have been let for new dormitories and other additions for State College at Raleigh and North Carolina College for Women at Greensboro, the total cost of which will approximate $400,000. Work will begin immediately under the direction of State Architect J.A. Salter, and it is hoped to have the new buildings ready for occupancy by the opening of the fall terms.

--The lines of the Southern Railway and other roads operating in western North Carolina have suffered great damage during the storm of the past week. Landslides and washouts have occurred in a number of places, and railroad service is seriously crippled as a result. There has likewise been considerable property damage in that section.

--A fight over two inches of real estate in Wilson is responsible for the suspension of work on the handsome Planters’ Bank building in that city, now in process of construction. The Bank property, belonging to R.J. Grantham and W.E. Smith adjoins the holdings of J.F. Eason, and the dispute is over the boundary line between the two properties. A new survey of the land in question has been ordered.

--Legislation that is better and more specific in governing the care of the juvenile delinquents of the State is being sought by the Public Safety Officials’ Association of North Carolina. In the recent convention at Raleigh, resolutions were adopted in respect to the State juvenile law which are expected to relieve certain conditions resulting from the enforcement of the present legislation.

--Following an inspection by col. C.C. Kinney of the Army Inspector General Department conditions existing at Oteen army hospital near Asheville, which demand correction, will be taken care of in the immediate future, according to a report recently made public by the War Department. Improvements were begun soon after the investigation was started at the written request of patients of the institution to their senators and congressmen.

--The awarding of a contract for the paving of the proposed Universal boulevard between Durham and Chapel Hill is being help up on account of a serious shortage of concrete roadbuilding material, contractors refusing to offer bids on the project for that reason. While Chairman Page of the State Highway Commission is urging the immediate building of the boulevard, it is not indicated that he has explained how the necessary concrete is to be obtained.

--Aubrey L. Brooks, Democrat of Greensboro, has announced himself as a candidate for the United States Senate from North Carolina, in opposition to Senator Lee S. Overman, whose present term expires this year. Brooks is advocating Woman Suffrage, and it is declared that he is banking his hopes for election upon the ratification of the Suffrage amendment to the United States Constitution. Senator Overman is a candidate for re-election.