Digest of Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things, May 30, 1919

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 30, 1919

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

—Following an examination of the child by physicians, O.L. Godley 35-year-old carpenter of Smithfield, was arrested and placed in State prison on a charge of criminal assault on Mamie Beasley, 9 years old. On the day that the crime is alleged to have been committed, Godley picked up the little girl on her way home, and took her for an automobile ride. The warrant was sworn out by the child’s father, and mob violence being threatened, Godley was later placed in State prison for safe keeping. Godley denies all knowledge of the crime.

—Alexander Sprunt and Son, noted cotton exporters of Wilmington, for 54 years a partnership, have recently filed a $3,000,000 charter of incorporation with the Secretary of State.

—Wake Forest College has just closed its most successful year with respect to its debating teams. For the first time in the history of the institution three successive inter-collegiate debates have been won, and without a defeat Wake Forest presents a record unrivalled among the colleges of the State, for the past year.

—After a first successful attempt, and with the aid of a blanket ladder, four prisoners in the Fayetteville jail made good their escape. Bloodhounds trailed the fleeing prisoners without success.

--The new “Coast to Capital” highway, which will begin at Columbia in Tyrrell county, will pass through the cities of Plymouth, Jamesville, Williamston, Robersonville, Bethel, Tarboro, Rocky Mount, Nashville, Spring Hope and Raleigh. It is expected that the proposed highway will bring a new era of commercial and industrial prosperity to this section of the State.

--The shippers of North Carolina are much interested in the big freight rate fight which is now being waged in the Federal court at Raleigh between the railroads and the U.S. Railroad Administration on the one side, and the North Carolina Corporation Commission and 12 Chambers of Commerce on the other. The case affects every man in the State who ships or receives shipments of goods. At present the freight rate from New York to Raleigh is practically double the rate from New York to Richmond, despite the comparative mileages. In the same way it costs no more to ship to South Carolina than to North Carolina from New York, and in some cases even less, and it is on account of this apparent rate discrimination that the case is being fought in the Raleigh court.

--The new State revaluation act is being favorably received all over the State. Governor Bickett says: “This act should be entitled ‘an act to make the tax books speak the truth’ whereas under the old policy all the people were permitted to engage in a monumental lie.”

--Following an attack on the constitutionality of the taxing clause of the new State Warehouse Act, requiring the payment of a tax of 25 cents on each bale of cotton ginned in North Carolina in the two years ending June 30, 1921, the Supreme Court has rendered a decision that the clause is constitutional.

--Harry L. Montgomery, Charlotte business man, was murdered last Friday night while out motoring with his financee, Miss Lorine Owens, 17 years old. The latter declares that Montgomery was killed by a negro. No motive for the crime has been unearthed, nor has any definite clue to the slayer been found.

--Miss Beatrice White of the Winston-Salem high school, is the winner of the $10 prize offered by the State Bureau of Infant Hygiene, for the best essay on diarrheal diseases of infants. Fully 500 essays from 350 schools of the State entered the competition.

--Farmers who plan to build silos during the months of June, July and August should write to the Animal Industry Divisions of the Department of Agriculture, Raleigh. J.H. Helton has been secured by the Department to render assistance and give advice in the construction of silos.

--If any grower or shipper has not received copies of the regulations and grades according to which all graded potatoes must be graded that are offered for sale in North Carolina, they may obtain copies by applying to the office of the Division of Markets of the Department of Agriculture, Raleigh, N.C., also copies of Federal inspection offices were are located upon leading consuming markets. Last year graded potatoes brought from 50 cents to a $1.50 a barrel more than ungraded. This would have made a gain of $500,000 to $1,000,000 to growers and shippers if all had graded their potatoes according to United States Standard last year.

--The North Carolina Methodist conference has exceeded its quota of $1,608,455 in the centenary drive by $22,259.65, it was announced Monday by the conference campaign manager D.W. Newsom of Durham. Pledges secured $1,630,714.65. Belated returned are expected to give a still greater surplus.

--Senator F.M. Simmons of North Carolina has placed himself on record as unequivocally opposed to the repeal of the wartime prohibition act, in answer to questions as to his attitude on this issue.

--Harnett, Chatham, Lee and Moore counties will cooperate in staging a big Fourth of July celebration of welcome for their returning soldiers. A feature of the day will be a camion tribute to the boys of these counties who died in the service.

--The indictment against Harvey Johnson, returned soldier charged with manslaughter in the Raleigh courts, was amended to a charge of homicide in Monday’s session of the court. Johnson, under the influence of liquor, was out auto riding April 27 with Thelma Johnson, a 10-year-old girl. The automobile was overturned, and Miss Johnson was fatally injured. Other persons in the car were unhurt. Johnson stated that he got his liquor in Richmond at the time of his discharge from the army.