Greenville Kiwanis Club Invites White Children to Enter Essay Contest, Sept. 30, 1921

Kiwanis Club Offers Prizes to Children. . . Every School Boy or girl Eligible to Enter Contest

The Greenville Kiwanis Club, realizing the benefit to be derived from the Pitt County Fair, has offered two prizes--$7.50 for first prize and $2.50 for second, for the best composition on the following subject: “What, to your mind is the chief benefit of the Pitt County Fair?”

The rules governing this contest follow: all white children in Pitt Conty, under and including 16, are eligible; minimum length of 300 words and maximum length of 500 words. Contestants must submit their names with their compositions, but using a separate sheet of paper, as the compositions will go to the judges numbered—each name given a special number. This method used, the judges will go absolutely by merit alone. Compositions must reach the secretary’s office not later than Friday, October 7th. All contestants forward papers to H.L. Smith, Secretary of the Greenville Kiwanis Club, care of Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, Greenville. The judges will be named and announced just as early as possible after Friday. Also each contestant will be required to write the following and affix their signatures. Letting same accompany composition: “I have prepared this composition without the direct aid of anyone. As I understand it, I have been privileged to refer to all literary helps and to ask questions of parents or teacher, but that the actual composition, arrangement, etc., was expected to be original. Signed--.

Greenville Kiwanians are anxious to do all in their power to help make their slogan, “We Build,” a thing in fact and not in name only. Supporting the Pitt County Fair is carrying out the Kiwanis motto. Nothing brings greater joy to the heart of a true Kiwanian than to be conscious that something has been started that means for the betterment of this community. It will ever be the desire of the Greenville Kiwanis Club to back all movements that tend toward a better community in which to live.

From the Farmville Enterprise, Sept. 30, 1921

Sion Lynam Submits Words for Elon College Song, Sept. 30, 1921

Gentlemen:

I am submitting to you, for approval by the students, “Under ‘neath Maroon and Gold.” This was written to answer the numerous requests I have received for words suitable for a college song.

Music for this poem is in the hands of the college orchestra leader, and will be furnished if these words meet with the approval of the students.

Yours very truly,

Sion M. Lynam, ‘24

(Maroon and Gold is printing the words handed in by Mr. Lynam for the approval of the students. While the song is not a snappy one, such as some few schools have for athletic events, it is a beautiful song, expressing in language which belongs only to the poet, the beautiful sentiment of our college, and will, we believe live in the hearts and minds of Elon’s sons and daughters as the expression of their love for their college and classmates.)

UNDER ‘NEATH MAROON AND GOLD

Never college gave to mankind

Fairer women, braver men;

Never did their hearts beat truer

Than did hearts of Elon, when

On the field for college glory

Fellows that are clean and bold

Give their best and fight their hardest

Under ‘neath Maroon and Gold.

Through the four long years of college,

Through the brighter, darker days,

Men and women work together

Learning each some gentler ways--

Learning too, of love’s best meaning,

As the years of life unfold,

Till, perchance, two lives be blended

Under ‘neath Maroon and Gold.

When the snows of many winters

Leave their whiteness in our hair,

We will sit and talk together--

And she’ll be so young and fair

To the eyes that learned to love her

In the days then growing old,

That we’ll whisper, “Lo! I found you

Under ‘neath Maroon and Gold.”

--Sion M. Lynam

From the editorial page of Maroon and Gold, Elon College, N.C., Sept. 30, 1921. Sion Lynam was a poet and a minister. To read his obituary and read another of his poems, see Rev Sion Milton Lynam (1898-1989) - Find A Grave Memorial.

Elon College Enjoys Visit by Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Sellars, Sept. 30, 1921

Northern Visitors Again on Elon Campus. . . Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Sellars, Visiting Daughter and Son-In-Law, Speak of South

Those who like a handshake that is real and hearty have certainly been satisfied in Mr. H.C. Sellars, who is again a visitor at Elon.

Mr. Sellars and his wife are visiting their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. F.B. Corboy. Mr. Sellars is a great favorite with the students. Despite his years, which do not appear to be half what he says they are, he was readily accepted last year, when he came down on a similar visit as “one of the fellows.”

Mr. Sellars is from Pittsburgh and never came South until last fall. He liked it so well, he says, “I couldn’t very well wait for my second visit to come due.” He is elated over Southern cooking, Southern customs, and Southern hospitality. Sometimes he is seen coming in from the country resembling very much Charlie Chaplin, camouflaged as a tree in “Shoulder Arms.” But his camouflage is simply a collection of herbs and shrubbery ranging from cotton to long leaf pine, which he takes back home as souvenirs. In regard to his stay here, he has the following to say:

“Boy, it’s good to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big Northern city and spend a few weeks in a quiet Southern town.”

From the front page of Maroon and Gold, Elon College, N.C., Sept. 30, 1921

Doings In Farmville Society, Sept. 30, 1921

Doings In Society

Mrs. W.M. Willis Entertains Merry Matrons

The members of the Merry Matrons Club were delightfully entertained on last Friday at the home of Mrs. W.M. Willis.

The contest, which was a Picture Puzzle, was won by Mrs. Jasper Shakleford, the prize being a box of stationery. An iced course was served.

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Mrs. G.A. Jones Entertains Afternoon Bridge Club

Mrs. G.A. Jones entertained the members of the Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club and a few invited guests Tuesday afternoon. The highest score was made by Mrs. Jack P. Lang, who was presented with two Crepe de Chene handkerchief. After the game, delicious refreshments consisting of sandwiches and iced tea were served. The next meeting will be with Miss Bee Donkle.

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Miss Vivian Case Entertains

Miss Vivian Case entertained the members of the Young People’s Missionary Society, inviting their husbands, sweethearts and friends.

Upon arriving the guests were served fruit punch. Miss Emma Dale and Mr. Alfred Moore presided over the punch bowl.

Progressive Rook and Zip were played, Miss Lula Joyner and Mr. Earl Forbes receiving the prize for the best players.

The “Movie Star” contest was won by Mrs. J.W. Parker and her partner, Mrs. W.M. Willis, the prize being movie tickets. An iced course was served.

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Lawn Party Given by Mrs. Fox

Mrs. O.E. Fox delightfully entertained in honor of the teachers on Tuesday afternoon.

Punch was served by Misses Martha Carr and Alice McCargo. The guests were presented with an interesting and useful contest on wood.

After this each was given a card entitled, “How to Keep a Good Teacher.” Miss Annie Perkins solved the problem in rhyme and was awarded the prize, a hand-made handkerchief. An iced course was served. About 30 guests were present.

From the Farmville Enterprise, Sept. 30, 1921

Winston-Salem Father Charged With Neglect of Sons in Reformatory, Sept. 29, 1921

Parent Prosecuted for Neglect of Sons. . . Two in Reformatory; Six Others at Home; Warned of Obligation by Court

Thru the efforts of the public welfare department, a father, residing in Winston-Salem, was carried before the municipal court this morning on the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a small son. The son was adjudged a delinquent a few days ago by the judge of the juvenile court and was sent to the reformatory. Another son of the defendant in the case this morning has been in the reformatory for some time.

Probation Officer Watts related heart-rendering circumstances in connection with the case. The boy in question, he said, has been roaming the streets for months, sleeping in alleys and in the municipal building when found by officers late at night. Mr. Watts stated that the mother actually said she did not want the boy any more, as it is impossible for her to control him. The father stated this morning that his son has been away from home for two weeks at a time and that he did not know where he was staying. He also said that he had eight boys, two in the reformatory and six at home.

The judge allowed the defendant to go upon payment of costs. However, he administered a lecture to the father, telling him that another occurrence of this kind will mean a road sentence if the case comes up for trial.

The indictment was brought under section 19, chapter 97, public laws of 1919, which reads as follows:

“A parent, guardian or other person having the custody of a child who omits to exercise reasonable diligence in the care, protection or control of such child, causing it to be adjudged delinquent, neglected, or in need of the care, protection or discipline of the state, as provided in this act or who permits such child to associate with vicious, immoral or criminal persons, or to bed or solicit alms, or to be an habitual truant from school, or to enter any place where gambling is carried on, or to enter any house of prostitution or assignation, or to enter any place which may be injurious to the morals, health, or general welfare of such child, and any such person who knowingly or willfully is responsible for, encourages, aids, causes or connives at or who knowingly or willfully does any act to produce, promote or contribute to the condition which caused such child to be adjudged delinquent, neglected, or in need of the care, protection or discipline of the state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”

From the Twin-City Sentinel, as reprinted on the front page of The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921

Consent to Marriage Or I'll Elope With Your 13-Year-Old Daughter, Says 43-Year-Old, Sept. 29, 1921

Kentuckian, 43, Weds a 13-Year-Old Girl

Sergent, Ky., Sept. 21--”That love laughs at locksmiths” is proven in the marriage at Neally, a little hamlet below here in Perry County, a day or so ago by James Harrison Caskey, aged 43, a former Virginian to Miss Lillian Fletcher barely 13 years old, a winsome school girl whom he met a few days before. At first parents of the school girl made a bitter protest, but when the “man at the helm” declared he would elope with the girl if parents would not give her up, they consented. The mother, it is said accompanied the groom-to-be to Hazard, the county seat, to obtain a license the day before the ceremony was performed. Invited guests came from every quarter to witness the unique ceremony and a fine dinner was served. All partook. This was a remarkable wedding according to witnesses.

The bride “tips the beam” at less than 90 pounds. She is winsome, sweet and lovable, a disposition that takes among her friends who are legion. It is said the mother of the child bride is but 27 and she is 14 years older than her daughter, who has just been married. The groom came to this state from Virginia some years ago and since which time he has been employed at a diversity of work in the coal fields. They will go to First Creek to reside, where he has employment with one of the coal companies there.

From the front page of The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921

Dr. H.R. Hege Adds X-Ray Machine to His Dental Practice, Sept. 29, 1921

X-Ray Machine Installed

Dr. H.R. Hege has recently installed the latest and most improved model Ritter X-Ray machine in his dental offices in this city. By the use of this machine Dr. Hege will be more enabled to determine the disease or defect at the root of a tooth, as it makes a clear and distinct picture within a very short time, which will show the slightest trouble hidden at the root of the tooth from human eyes.

Even the layman not versed in the knowledge of dentistry can, from the pictures of the teeth as made by this machine, himself see the defect, they being so plain and so perfected to that point of showing the circulation in the tooth and jaw bone.

In the making of these pictures there is not the slightest pain or unpleasant sensation experienced by the patient, and the machine has been so nearly perfected as to make it as safe as the every day camera.

With this addition to his already modernly equipped office, Dr. Hege can now boast of one of the most completely equipped dental parlors in the state.

From The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921

J.S. Bray Bringing Ice Making Plant to Mount Airy, Sept. 29, 1921

New Ice Plant

The Granite City Mills of this city has purchased a modern 15-ton ice making plant, which will be installed and run in connection with the mill, the power being furnished by the city electrical power plant.

The new ice plant will assure the city an ample supply of ice and will be in operation by March 1, 1922.

The plant was purchased from the Southern Construction and Supply Company of Atlanta, Ga., and is manufactured by the York Manufacturing Company, York, Pa. It is a modern plant and under the management of our genial townsman J.S. Bray, who is president of the company. The new enterprise will no doubt be successful.

From The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921

Make Housework Easy With Electric Washer, Electric Vacuum Cleaner, 1921 Advertisement

Alec Smith, John Shepard Bait Fish Hooks With Corn, Sept. 29, 1921

Caught Carp With Corn. . . Rockingham Fisherman Found Good Bait to Catch Big Fish

Alec Smith and John Shepard of Midway have caught a large number of fine carp in Pee Dee River in the past few days. They use trout lines, four in number on each of which are about 100 hooks. Five grains of corn are used on each hook as bait, the corn first being boiled slightly to become pliable for putting on the hook. A deep pool below the Blewett ferry is used by them as a fishing ground. During the five days ending Monday, 42 carp had been caught in this way, each carp averaging about nine pounds. One caught weighed 14 pounds. They sell for $1 to $1.50, depending on the size.

A carp is a soft-finned, physistomous fish. It feeds chiefly on vegetable matter and attains a great age and large side. Its mouth resembles that of a sucker, small and round. Hence the ease with which these Midway fellows caught them with grains of corn. The carp is exceedingly prolific and tenacious of life. It came originally from Asia where it is esteemed as a food. In many ponds the carp has proved a nuisance, destroying the natural growth of water plants and increasing to such an extent that other and more valuable fish cannot exist.

Smith and Shepard say they are going to try a new method of catching them, using corn meal baked just long enough to prevent dissolving.

From the Rockingham Dispatch, as reprinted on the front page of The Mount Airy News, Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921

Mary Hobbs Hall, Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C.

Mary Hobbs Hall History

By Morgan Myers, Guilford College, 2013

Mary Hobbs Hall has been part of Guilford College for over a century. It has gone through many physical and social changes throughout this time. In 1907, Mary Hobbs Hall was built due to the fundraising of the Girls’ Aid Committee. This was a committee dedicated to raising money for the education of girls. Mary Mendenhall Hobbs provided the backbone to the idea, fundraising activities, and structure of Mary Hobbs Hall. Upon construction, the building was named New Garden Hall. Following the death of Mary Mendenhall Hobbs, the name was changed to Mary Hobbs Hall in 1933.

Initially the building housed fifty girls with two in each room. This building was designed to help women who struggled with finances, to be able to attend school, by living in a cooperative dorm. This meant the girls had to perform daily chores like cooking and cleaning, and in return the living cost was lower. The establishment of a co-op dorm was essential to enhancing the education of women, which was the heart of Mary M. Hobbs legacy. Different classes were taught in Mary Hobbs to help women with these tasks such as cooking and sewing classes. For about ninety-three years Mary Hobbs remained a cooperative dorm creating a strong community of women, like no other dorm on campus.

For the rest of this store, go to Mary Hobbs Hall history :: Textiles, Teachers, and Troops - Greensboro 1880-1945 (uncg.edu). The photo is from Wikipedia. The photo of Mary Hobbs Hall is from Guilford College - Magellan College Counseling (magellancounseling.com).

Doctor of Literature Degree Conferred Upon Mary M. Hobbs, 1921

University of N.C. Honors Mrs. Hobbs. . . Doctor of Literature Degree Conferred at Last Commencement

The readers of the Guilfordian will rejoice with the many other friends of Mary M. Hobbs that she honored the University of N.C. by giving it the opportunity of conferring the doctorate literature upon her as the Greensboro Daily News puts it--”that she did not win this distinction by any one line of work or thought, though more than one of these might have deserved it. She is more than these—she is a light shining that men may see the truth. Her personality and the conscious influence of her noble character and high purposes have opened the way for the recognition which her genius for good deeds and her willingness to work incognito, entitles her to have. She has not only been doing things but has been growing by doing them. She has not labored to make a career but has fitted into the place which she has so efficiently filled.”

At the Commencement exercises of June, 1921, said University conferred on Mary Mendenhall Hobbs the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature in the following words:

“Mary Mendenhall Hobbs was born at Jamestown. She learned and laid deep foundations of liberal culture first under the tutelage of her father at New Garden Boarding School an later on at the Howland School in New York.

Deeply imbued with faith in the widening destiny of women, for more than decades she has stood forth in the light, immeasurably courageous in advocacy of complete and full-orbed education, whether under church or state, for youth and maid alike. Whether advancing the noble cause of higher education; widening the channels of religious influence in the Society of Friends, both locally and nationally; or vitalizing the consciousness;--it has been with the spirit and the pen of the literary artist that she has kindled the emotions of her generation. In recognition of this contribution in our mental and spiritual life, the University of North Carolina will now confer upon her the degree of Doctor of Literature.”

It may not be out of place to say here that Mary M. Hobbs, by her strong intellect, her clear reasoning and her sympathetic nature has labored earnestly in season and out of season on the things that came to her hands.

From girlhood she has had an abiding faith and interest in the Society of Friends of which she was a birthright member and has had responsible positions in the local, Yearly and Five Years Meetings. She is at the present time a member of the Executive Committee of the Five Years Meeting.

She is widely known throughout our State through her carefully laid plans and enthusiastic efforts for education, both in her church and state.

She was a strong advocate for the Normal and Industrial School in Greensboro, both by pen and voice, speaking for it whenever opportunity offered. The University also has had her championship. The development and disenfranchisement of women has, for years, received her constant efforts.

In her own church she has done much for education in all its phases and particularly in giving the girls a chance to help themselves in this line. New Garden Hall stands as a monument to her untiring efforts for the girls of N.C. Yearly Meeting in particular and for the girls of the State in general.

From the front page of The Guilfordian, Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C., Sept. 28, 1921

Enrollment's Up at Guilford College, Many More Students Have High School Educations, Sept. 28, 1921

Enrollment Shows Gain. . . Largest Number Students in Dozen Years and Largest Number of High School Graduates in History of College. . . Promise Banner Year

At the end of the second week of the college 229 students have registered. This is the greatest number for the second Saturday since 1908m when the total registration figures for the whole year was 275. The following gives an interesting comparison with registration figures during the last dozen years.

Students Registered During the First 12 Days Each Year Since 1908

1908 234

1909 227

1910 226

1911 209

1912 220

1913 226

1914 223

1915 199

1916 204

1917 159

1918 132

1919 202

1920 214

1921 229

A more striking fact revealed by the registration figures is the change in the ratios of new to told students and the ratio of new students who are high school graduates to the total number of new students. The figures for this year show that 135, 59 per cent of the total enrollment, are old students. And in 1914 the ratio was 56 per cent, in 1920 it was 50 per cent. In 1919, due to the large number of old students who had their education interrupted during the war period and were seizing the first opportunity to return to their Alma Mater, the ratio was almost identical to this year. More significant is the increasing number of new students who are high school graduates. Of the new students who had registered at this time in 1914 only 30.6 per cent held high school diplomas. In 1919 the ratio was 40.2 per cent, while this year the figure has taken the sudden bound to 62.8 per cent. This more than any other single fact augurs well for the future of Guildford College. With an increasing number of well prepared students the mortality in the Freshman Class should be very materially reduced and the consequent larger enrollment in the upper classes will soon solve the problem of filling the dormitories.

The average age of the students is almost the same as last year, 18.4 years. The number of students under 17 is only eight owing largely to the action of the faculty last spring abolishing the more elementary courses in the preparatory department.

The records of church affiliations indicate that almost half of the students enrolled this year are members of the Society of Friends. Almost half of the remainder belong to one or the other of the Methodist churches.

The distribution by counties is very similar to last year, Guilford far in the lead with Randolph and Alamance following in order.

The Enrollment by Counties

Guilford, 69

Randolph, 23

Alamance, 21

Forsyth, 11

Stokes, 11

Yadkin, 10

Perquimans, 9

Rockingham, 8

Northampton, 6

Wayne, 6

Caswell, 5

Davie, 5

Surry, 5

Davidson, 3

Duplin, 3

Alexander, 2

Chatham, 2

Iredell, 2

Moore, 2

Montgomery, 2

Scotland, 2

Other Counties, 11

Other States, 11

The Enrollment by Denominations

Society of Friends, 106

Methodist Episcopal, 52

Methodist Protestant, 5

Presbyterian, 15

Baptist, 13

Moravian, 3

Others, 5

No Affiliation, 30

Total, 229

From The Guilfordian, Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C., Sept. 28, 1921

W.M. Jones Drives Off In A.W. Lane's Ford With Misses Elsie and Estelle Lamb, Leaving Behind Bad Checks, Unpaid Bills, Wife and Two Children, Sept. 27, 1921

Deserts Wife and Family; Police Are on Trail

W.M. Jones, an automobile mechanic and proprietor of a repair shop on the corner of Road and Matthews street, has disappeared from the city, taking with him a Ford automobile belonging to A.W. Lane, taking with him also the Misses Elsie and Estelle Lamb, and leaving numerous bad checks and unpaid bills. He boarded at the Southern hotel with his wife and two children and leaves a hotel bill of nearly $100.

Jones disappeared from Elizabeth City one night last week and has been traced to Fayetteville, N.C. In fact, the Misses Lamb write to their mother in this city from Fayetteville, saying they were there on a visit to a friend in a hospital. But when the Fayetteville police were put on the case, Jones had departed and is believed to be somewhere in the vicinity of Charlotte. E.H. Spence, proprietor of the Southern hotel, is sure Jones will be apprehended and brought back to Elizabeth City if he doesn’t get in worse trouble elsewhere.

Before beating his board bill, stealing A.W. Lane’s Ford, deserting his wife and two children and taking two other women from town with him, Jones had cashed numerous worthless checks and left many bills unpaid. Geo. C. Culpepper, one of the innocent victims, figures that he is out $175 in cash and is still on an appearance bond of $50 for Jones in the Superior court.

From the Elizabeth City Independent, as reprinted on the front page of The Enterprise, Williamston, N.C., Monday, Sept. 27, 1921

James Thomas, Plumber, Killed While Boarding Train to Williamston, Sept. 25, 1921

Young Man Killed by A.C.L. Passenger Train

Wilson, Sept. 25—While attempting to board a moving southbound A.C.L. passenger train here this afternoon, James Thomas, a Wilson plumber, fell under the train and was instantly killed. He was hurrying to get to Williamston to finish a rush job. He was an ex-service man, a member of Company K of this city, and a son of Gray Thomas.

This young man had been working in Williamston for several months and was liked by those who knew him. The young man stepped on the bottom steps of the car platform and some one who had boarded the train came down the steps to get off, and Thomas swung around to permit him to pass, when he lost his hold and fell between the cars, his head striking the rail and before he could be pulled out the slowly moving train had cut his head off.

From the front page of The Enterprise, Williamston, N.C., Monday, Sept. 27, 1921

Scotland Neck PTA Committees Named, Sept. 27, 1921

Various PTA Committees Approved

Monday afternoon the Executive Board of The Parent Teachers Association met at the Graded School for the purpose of forming Committees for work to be done under this organization.

The Committees are as follows:

Program and Entertainment Committee: Mrs. Ernest Leggett, Chairman; Mrs. T.B. Wheeler, Vice; Misses Rille Harris, Bessie Futrell, Eugenia Thomas Annie Dunn and Mrs. N.A. Riddick.

Playground Committee: Mrs. C.H. Anderson, Chairman; Mrs. R.A. Phillips, Vice; Misses Collier, Reaves, Draper, Ernestine Cherry, Mrs. E.T. Whitehead, Mrs. B.G. Neblett, Mrs. Jno. Grey, Mrs. Bernard Allsbrook, Mrs. Walter Hancock, Mrs. Huggins.

Sanitation and Medical Inspection: Mrs. Robert Josey Jr., Chairman; Mrs. Lynn Harrell, Vice; Mrs. G.C. Weeks, Mrs. W.A. Lawrence, Mrs. R.F. Coleman, Mrs. O.F. Smith, Mrs. R.L. Hardy.

School Beautification Committee: Miss Lena Smith, Chairman; Mrs. A. McDowell, Vice; Mrs. R.D. Harrell, Mrs. Sam Hanff, Mrs. Frank Burroughs, Misses Whitley, Lewis, McIntyre, Ward, Kitchen, Bone, Stilley, Doswell, Mattie Josey, Mrs. Maude Johnson.

Visiting Committee: Mrs. Stuart Smith, Chairman; Mrs. A.C. Livermon, Vice; Mrs. W.E. Smith, Mrs. J.A. Pittman, Mrs. R.P. Byrd.

The constitution provides that the Executive Board appoint four men as Advisory Board to serve for one year.

They are as follows:

Messrs. L.M. Pittman, Norfleet Smith, Hugh Johnson and R.L. Hardy.

The Chairman of each committee is requested by the President to call a meeting of her committee in her own home Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of forming plans for immediate work. Report results to Mrs. R.C. Josey Sr., as she wishes a meeting of each Chairman the last of this week.

--Minnie Morris, Secretary

From the Front page of The Commonwealth, Scotland Neck, N.C., Monday, Sept. 27, 1921

Oscar Bridges Held on Moonshining Laws, Sept. 26, 1921

Liquor Found At Bridges’ Home

Oscar Bridges, who has been in court before charged with violation of the prohibition laws, was arrested at his home on the Statesville Road last night by Rural Policemen Louis Johnston and C.G. Brown. Three gallons of liquor were found on the premises and were brought in by the officers.

The defendant is to be tried at 4 o’clock this afternoon before Magistrate J.W. Cobb at the courthouse. A few weeks ago Bridges took out a warrant against Louis Johnston, one of the rural policemen who arrested him last night, charging Johnston with assault. He charged that Johnston stopped him on the highway near Bridges’ homeand searched his car for liquor. The warrant was duly served and the hearing held before Justice of the Peace F.B. Alexander, who held the policeman for the higher court.

From The Charlotte News, Monday, September 26, 1921

Instead of Denying Unfit Right To Marry, Correct the Problems, Says Rudolph Binder,Sept. 26, 1921

Make the Unfit Fit

New York, Sept. 28—A eugenic law forbidding the unfit to marry would breed revolution, Professor Rudolph M. Binder of New York University told the second International Congress of Eugenics today. A better course to pursue, he said, would be to make the unfit fit. He also disputed the assertion that men of genius usually are weaklings. According to the findings of the draft records during the World War, Professor Binder said “nearly 50 per cent of the men examined were found to be unfit for military duty, and a fair percentage had to be made fit by special exercise and diet. Who would dare deny marriage to the unfit fifty percent?”

“Again, if we read that, out of 20 million school children in our country, 15 million suffer from defects which are partially or completely remediable. What are we going to do? Telling them when they have grown up and are presumably worse, that they must not marry would produce a revolution.”

From The Charlotte News, Monday, September 26, 1921

Those Who Know Him Defend Rev. Livingston T. Mays, October, 1921

A copy of a booklet which defended Rev. Livingston T. Mays against attacks on his character by lawyers defending J.T. Harris was published in October of 1921, following the execution of Harris for the murder of F.W. Monnish. The entire booklet, with a very nice photo of Rev. Mays, can be seen online at: MS615_Mays_Livingston_T_access.pdf (wfu.edu)

Thief Trades Life of Crime for Work as Police Janitor, September 25, 1921

Was Too Bad to Be Any Worse So Misch “Joined” The Force. . . Knight of the Broom at Police Headquarters Had His Past Writ Up for Public Consumption and Private Preservation—Has Run the Category of Crime

By Brock Barkley

“Misch” Brown, being now in the sixth year of his life as Knight of the broom of Police headquarters and a bona fide member in good standing of the upper or social strata of this town’s population, is highly desirous of having “writ up” for public consumption and private preservation a record of that eventful portion of his career, covering a period of 27 years, in which he was one of the most dashing figures of the local underworld.

“Misch” in his day has done everything the law said he musn’t do, from purloining a five-cent peace to the sale of the cold body of a negro woman to a bunch of medical students for $12. He has served 20 years on the chain gang and estimates the number of times he has been arrested at 300. And it all took place in Charlotte.

“Misch” used to day, back in the old days, that the only reason for hiring Jim Johnson and Mack Earnhardt, Charlotte’s veteran sleuths of 10 years ago, was to hunt him. Every time he saw a policeman he would run, urged on by a guilty conscience. Whenever business was dull about headquarters and officers had no arrests to their credit that day, they went in search of “Misch,” satisfied that he was guilty of something. “And he admits that he always was.

HAS HAD ONE JOB

“Misch” estimates that he has handled in stolen goods about $10,000. He never held but one job in his life, outside of a chain gang job, and that is the one he now possesses. He started to work six years ago for $3 a week.

“Don’t say how much I’m getting now, but it’s a considerable increase,” he advised Saturday afternoon, after obtaining acquiescence from the reporter to duly record his life after the deletion of some of the things he had done which he ought not to have done.

The night preceding the day “Misch” reported for work at the police station he made a raid on the late Stone and Barringer Book Store and carried away two pocketsful of fountain pens. These were in his overcoat pocket when he went to work next morning but en route to dinner that day he threw them into a sewer and holding his right hand high in the air, swore: “Never again.”

And he’s lived straight since; a reformed bad man; a bold bad man, “Misch” used to consider himself, because he never ran from anything but a cop. He’s in entire agreement with this effort to record his history, not because he’s proud of his career, but because he’s proud of the past six years in view of that career.

RECALLS SOME EVILS

It would be impossible to recall all the unlawful things he has done, Brown explained, but several “stuck out” clear in his mind. He will never forget the day he “went wrong.” He was about six. His mother sent him to an uptown grocer to buy a nickel’s worth of baking powder. His mother never got that baking powder, but he got a licking.

A week later he purloined a supply of meal from the back porch of a house now standing at Trade and Graham streets. He sold the meal to a grocer and spent the money in riotous living. He was caught and licked.

He first became acquainted with the chain gang when he threw a rock through the big bass drum of the Charlotte Drum Corps while a lively march was in order. The rock went through both sides of the drum and landed on the head of a musician standing nearby. “Misch” went to Captain Little’s camp for 10 days.

“Ah nevah did hard labor on the roads but foah yeahs of de 20,” Brown boasted. “When ah first started going out ah was watah boy, and when ah got grown ah developed into a first class wagon driver and a town boy.”

SOLD DEAD BODY

Captain Little and the guards soon became well acquainted with “Misch” after his 10-day visit. He remained in town only a few days before he went back. Brown’s job regularly, after he became a veteran, was to haul persons who had died in camp or at the county home to town and bury them. He brought the dead body of a woman here once and, being in need of money, sold it to medical students at the old Charlotte Medical College for $12. He put the pine coffin in for good measure.

The policemen about the station who were on the job in Brown’s day will tell you that he was the slickest thief in the game. He was wiser than most of the bad men, and he was harder to catch. That's the reason he got away with a lot of things that he did.

“If I’d got caught every time I stole anything, I never woulder got off de chain gang,” he explained.

Once Brown was caught with 12 bolts of silk valued at $600. In court, he swore and got by with it, that he won the silks in a gambling game with unknown parties in High Point. He had sold them here to another negro and the cops had arrested that negro. When Brown came clear, the court returned the silks to him, and he sold them over again. He confessed many years later that they came from a local department store during stock-taking season and he had pulled the marks off, making identification impossible.

TOOK 32 HATS

He walked into Ed Mellon’s in broad daylight once and walked out with 32 panama hats while the clerks were busily engaged waiting on customers. He sold hats all over town. In fact, it looked as if half the negro population were wearing panama hats. But it took months to trace the theft down to “Misch.”

On another occasion, he broke into the old Chambers-Moody Company and stole over $700 in cash and checks. A rat terrier dog was kept in the store to warn a sleeper upstairs should burglars break in. Brown wrung the dog’s neck, made his haul and was a free man for 18 months. Detective Jim Johnson had a dull day and picked Brown up on suspicion. He had failed to take an 18-months-old check from his pocket and Detective Johnson thereby solved the mystery of the Chambers-Moody robbery. “Misch” revisited Captain Little’s camp for a stay of two years.

Brown worked as a youth for the family of the late W.W. Ward. This family practically raised him, he said. In his eagerness to see a circus unload one day when he was about 10 years old, his head came into collision with a freight engine. The railroad was sued and Brown got $3,000.

This money with interest was turned over to him when he reached 21. It took him three years to spend it, and he remembered that his last nickel went for a lunch in the East Trade Street Restaurant. But he lived high those three years, visiting all the big cities, drinking good liquor and riding within, rather than underneath, railway trains.

“Misch” was so successful in his chosen profession that he never found it necessary to obtain a job, which is saying a good deal for bad men around this town. He never had a desire to work in any line other than the one he chose early in life.

The cops kept getting “Misch” so frequently that they considered that day on which they failed to arrest him a “perfect day.” Every effort was made to get him on the chain gang for life, satisfied that this plan alone would solve half the town’s big robberies and relieve the law of much burden and expense.

WAS MADE JANITOR

Former Police Chief Horace Moore reformed “Misch.” The last time he came into court, the ex-chief called him aside, told him that he was so darned crooked that he could not get worse; consequently, he considered it possible that he might grow better. He offered him a job as police janitor, a position which would keep him constantly under the eyes of the police and make a long haul unnecessary in the event it should again fall to the lot of officers to bring him to the lock-up.

Not a man on the force believed that “Misch” would reform. He admits himself that the morning he reported for work he carried in two pockets a load of fountain pens. He fought the battle of his life that first morning on the job, endeavoring to decide whether to give up the fascinating, profitable profession of burglarizing and sneak-thieving and settle down and live the cut-and-dried life of a law-abiding citizen, or vice versa.

When he went home to dinner, he emptied his final collection of booty in a sewer and has followed the straight and narrow path since. He has proved of inestimable value to the policemen. He knows every negro crook in town, knows which crook did a particular job by the manner in which the job was performed, and knows the hang-out of many of the crooks.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday, September 25, 1921

Governor Morrison Will Not Commute J.T. Harris' Death Sentence, Sept. 25, 1921

Governor Will Not Interfere in Harris Case. . . Ridgecrest Merchant Must Pay Extreme Penalty of the Law. . . Decision Is a Shock. . . Friends of Harris Stunned; Governor Finds No Flaw in Record

By Jule B. Warren

Raleigh, Sept. 24—Governor Cameron Morrison this afternoon refused to interfere with the judgment of the court in the petition of J.T. Harris, Ridgecrest merchant, who on September 3, 1920, waylaid and killed W.H. Monnish, wealthy tourist and philanthropic Baptist layman of Alabama, for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment.

Unless there is further executive interference, which is not likely, Harris will pay the extreme penalty for his crime on October 20.

The Governor announced his decision immediately after the attorneys for the two sides had finished, dictating a statement giving his reasons for refusing to interfere with the judgment of the court.

The statement declared that evidence had been produced which caused him to doubt any f the testimony offered by the Rev. Livingston Mays, corresponding secretary and manager of the Baptist assembly grounds at Ridgecrest, but that with all of this evidence taken out of the record, there wuld still have been sufficient evidence left to have justified the verdict of first degree murder.

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT

The statement of the Governor follows:

“I think, gentlemen, that you have done all you can do to save this man’s life. I feel that I am as ready now as I will be at any later time to meet my duty in respect to it. It is true that under the constitution of the State I have the power to stay the execution of the judgment of the superior Court of Buncombe County, affirmed by the Supreme Court of the State, but I do not think that such new evidence has been brought to my attention, or such evidence of the character and manner of the trial in the courts has been made known to me as would warrant me in staying the processes of the court, and commuting the death sentence of the prisoner to imprisonment.

“The two dissenting judges upon the Supreme |Court did not say that the prisoner ought not to die, or express any opinion indicating that either of them thought him innocent of murder in the first degree. They dissented from the majority judgment of the Court upon certain exceptions assigned as errors by the prisoner in his case on appeal. Upon these exceptions I do not agree with the legal position taken by the dissenting judges, and think the majority opinion of the Court the correct law, but if error was committed in the respect pointed out by these two dissenting judges, the errors would not go to a substantial determination of the cause. Error may have been committed in the respect stated by the two dissenting judges, and yet this would not warrant me in forever determining that the prisoner should not suffer for the crime of murder in the first degree.

DISCARDS MAYS EVIDENCE

“As to the evidence of the witness Mays, evidence has been produced before me which would cause me to be highly doubtful of the truth of any statement made by this witness, but his testimony can be utterly excluded upon the case, and yet, in my judgment upon the evidence as disclosed in the record, the jury was not only warranted in convicting the defendant, but if they had not done so with the testimony of Mays excluded, they would have failed in their duty, and returned a verdict clearly against the evidence in the case.

“There is no evidence before me which I thinks warrants an interference with the judgment of the court, and I, therefore, deny the petition of the prisoner, and will permit the judgment of the court to be duly executed.

CAME AS A SURPRISE

While the announcement of the Governor was a shock to the attorneys for Harris and to others who interested themselves in the case, a glance back over the hearing would have indicated that those who watched it should not have been surprised at the decision of the Governor. He intimated that htre evidence offered by Judge Carter as to the testimony of Preacher Mays, completely destroyed the value of that evidence, but the attorneys had not been able to overcome the statement of Mark Brown that excluding the testimony of the preacher, there were 14 others who testified that the man was sane on the day of the shooting, and that there were just a few who thought he acted queerly, or showed any signs of insanity. The evidence of Dr. Highsmith, eminent physician, whom the Governor knew personally, that Harris was all right on the day of the murder, could not be eradicated by the speeches of the attorneys for the prisoner.

CRAIG MAKES FINAL PLEA

Governor Locke Craig made the final plea for the commutation of the death sentence before Governor Morrison on Saturday morning, and following some questioning of various attorneys by the Governor as to certain details of evidence, Governor Morrison took the matter under consideration.

Governor Craig kept his seat while speaking, and although very feeble as to physical condition, spoke with his old time power and fire. It was one of the most powerful appeals made in this famous case. It did not carry the invective and denunciatory eloquence of Judge Frank Carter on the first day of the hearing, but as an appeal for the life of the prisoner on the ground that every act in connection with the murder lacked evidence of deliberation and premeditation it was a powerful appeal backed up with sound reasoning and logic.

The former Governor called attention to the fact that this murder was committed in the open, and that no effort was made to conceal it. That, in itself, was evidence of the lack of premeditation and deliberation. The prosecution itself, Governor Craig pointed out, was driven to this conclusion, and knew that it could not account for such an act by a sane man unless it could supply the motive for the killing. The motive supplied through the testimony of Rev. Livingston Mays, who claimed to have heard Monnish with his dying breath whisper the word “Moonshiners,” thereby connecting Harris with the fight Monnish was supposed to have been making against the illicit whiskey makers in the Ridgecrest section of the mountains. It was Mays who supplied the evidence of deliberation and premeditation when he stooped over the prisoner in the back seat of the train which was carrying him to Asheville to surrender to the authorities, and claims that Harris told him that he did not take a drink of whiskey before the murder because he wanted to be “in his right mind” for an act of that kind.

There is no dispute, said Governor Craig, about the testimony of any witness save Mays and itwas Mays who supplied the testimony of premeditation and deliberation.

Governor Craig thought that if the evidence was as unreliable and as unworthy as the life behind it, Harris’ life should be spared. He closed with an effective description of the heredity of Harris and declared that the curse of the blood was in Harris, that he was suffering from some sins of his fathers.

From the front page of the Charlotte News, Saturday, Sept. 24, 1921. Rev. Mays last name was spelled Mayes in yesterday's article about this case. I don't know which is correct.

Charlie Barton Shoots at Henry Sims, Sept. 24, 1921

Rowan Negro Shoots at Man With His Wife

Salisbury, Sept. 24—Poor marksmanship on the part of Charlie Barton, negro, saved the life of Henry Sims, another negro, when Barton fired a 45-calibre pistol three times point-blank at Sims, whom he caught walking up one of the city’s main streets with Barton’s wife.

From the front page of the Charlotte News, Sunday, Sept. 25, 1921

30-Gallon Still Shut Down in Ingrams Township, Sept. 17, 1921

Blockade Still Captured

On Saturday morning, September 17th, Messrs. Atkin Wood, W.V. Massengil and Nogah Wood captured a 30-gallon whiskey still complete in Ingrams township about five miles south of Four Oaks. They turned out about two barrels of beer. The blockaders rushed away from the still, which was running, but they are known to the officers.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Friday, Sept. 23, 1921

Saying Rev. Livingston Mayes Not Man of Good Character, Governor Asked to Commute Death Sentence Against J.T. Harris, Sept. 24, 1921

State’s Star Witness Under Serious Charge. . . Attorneys in Harris Case Dig Into Record of Preacher Mayes. . . Seek Commutation. . . Charge That Principal Witness for the State Is Unworthy of Belief

By Jule B. Warren

Raleigh, Sept. 24—Sensational evidence impeaching the character of Rev. Livingston T. Mayes, corresponding secretary of the Southern Baptist convention and in partial charge of the Assembly work at Ridgecrest, Buncombe County, was developed and presented to the Governor by Judge Frank Carter, attorney, seeking a commutation of the sentence of J.T. Harris, Ridgecrest merchant, who is under death sentence for killing W.H. Monnish, wealthy Baptist philanthropist and summer tourist on September 3, 1920. The minister was the star witness in the case against Harris, and according to the contention of Judge Carter, Ex-Governor Locke Craige and Judge Thomas A. Jones, attorneys for Harris, furnished the evidence without which the jury would never have decided Harris was guilty of first degree murder.

The contention of the attorneys for Harris is that, in the light of newly discovered evidence about the star witness, his evidence is not worthy of belief, and that without this evidence it would not have been possible to have convicted their client.

The hearing started at 11 o’clock and Judge Carter spoke until 1:30, the remainder of the time before recess for lunch being taken up with questioning by the Governor, and the presentation of the executive views of the case. Judge Carter briefly told of the killing, showing that Harris killed the man and then came out of the cornfield from which he had shot, and turning his gun over to someone said:

“I have killed him, I have killed him.”

He told of the trial, going very briefly into details, until he came to the evidence of the Baptist minister, who testified of four essential points, which colored the whole trial and which testimony was used by the attorneys against Harris to secure the conviction.

FOUR POINTS

The four points made by the witness Mayes which were not corroborated by any other witness were as follows:

--Mayes reached Monnish five minutes after he was shot, and testified that during one conscious moment, he whispered in his ear the one word, “moonshine,” tending to show that Monnish died because of his enmity to the moonshiners, to whom it was intimated that Harris was selling supplies.

--That the shots fired at Monnish ranged upwards, tending to show that Harris fired at him after he was down and that there were various sized bullets.

--That Harris told told the preacher while on the train going to Asheville to surrender that he did not take a drink of whiskey before he shot Monnish “because he wanted to be himself for such an act,” but that he did take a little drink after he killed the man, tending to show premeditation and sanity.

--That Harris told him (Mayes) that he was going to depend on “Paul” his son, Paul Harris, to furnish the evidence which would clear him.

HARD TO TRACE

Judge Carter read the stenographic reports of the speech made by Mark Brown, attorney for the prosecution, showing the stress he laid upon this testimony of this “holy man of God” calling the attention of the Governor to the fact that indicated that prosecution itself felt this a crucial part of the testimony.

Then Judge Carter launched into his impeachment of this witness. He admitted that his associates in the trial did not believe all the preacher was testifying to in the court, but that they had no way at that time to impeach the testimony. He was a minister and had influence with the good country people on the jury, who looked up to him. He had not lived in North Carolina very long, and it was impossible to get evidence proving his character was other than what a minister’s should be.

After the trial Judge Carter said that he unexpectedly ran across some evidence which confirmed his belief that Mayes could not be relied on. He made an effort to find out something about the man, and discovered that he was born in Texas, and had one time been consul to some Canadian point, but had later been allowed to resign, according to information obtained in Washington. In an effort to get at the story of Mayes, Judge carter had gone to New York, looked into the secret archives of the Department of Justice in Washington, had gone to Thomasville, Georgia, where Mayes had been pastor, had secured affidavits from New Decatur, Alabama, where he had held another pastorate, from Little Rock, where he had lived awhile and from Ocean Grove, California, where a former personnel officer of the War Y, who knew Mayes, is now living.

ALL SAY UNRELIABLE

From all of these sources Judge Carter had secured affidavits and letters which declared that the star witness against Harris was utterly unreliable. From Thomasville, Georgia, where Mayes had been pastor of the First Baptist Church, came an affidavit from a deacon of the church which declared that Mayes got out of Thomasville because of his improper attention to the women members of his own congregation and his visits to houses of lewd women. This affidavit declared that Mayes ought not to be believed on his oath.

From New Decatur, Alabama, where Mayes next held a pastorate, came letters telling of his seditious utterances against the government, his circulation of letters saying Germany was justified in sinking the Lusitania and in using poison gas because France used it first, and of his general opposition to all war work, and to everything which President Wilson did.

From the secret archives of the secret service in Washington came evidence which Judge Carter was not allowed to disclose, except to the Governor, but which he declared related to complaints about his treasonable utterances and obstructions of recruiting work in Decatur. And the War Department also had some record of this man, for when he was run out of New Decatur, according to Judge Carter, Mayes tried to join the War Y workers, and was kicked out of this service because of his seditious utterances and work among the soldiers at Camp Pike.

Ocean Grove, California, furnished a letter from J.H. Kirkpatrick, former personnel officer for the Y., who made an investigation of Mayes’ record during the war, and found that he was dismissed because of “defective character,” and who said his investigation showed him that Mayes was a notorious liar, dishonest in money matters, and immoral. And there were also a host of affidavits from Eldorado, Arizona, where the man had held a pastorate, which also told of his bad character and of the trouble he had with the congregation before he resigned.

MONNISH NOT TEE-TOTLER

In addition to these affidavits Judge Carter presented two which he said he regretted the necessity of presenting, for they related to the character of the dead man. The suggestion going through the whole trial was that Monnish had died a martyr to his fight against moonshiners, that he was unutterably and unalterably opposed to whiskey in any form.

One of the affidavits came from L.E. Sigman of Black Mountain, who said that he had been invited to Mr. Monnish’s summer home for a drink of whiskey on several occasions. He knew that Monnish was not the enemy of whiskey the minister indicated in his testimony at the trial. the other affidavit was to the same effect. It came from C.M. Gilbert of Black Mountain, who said that Monnish had taken a number of drinks of whiskey with him, and that on one or more occasions he had seen Monnish “tanked or tight.”

Monnish had told him one time that he thought he would move to the mountains for the remainder of his life “because he liked to drink, and he believed he could get it longer in the mountains than in any other place.”

There was no attack on the character of Mr. Monnish, but only the introduction of these affidavits to break down the suggestion of Mayes that he was a tee-totler.

SEE JUDGE LONG

Following the close of the impassioned argument by Judge Carter, Governor Morrison indicated that he did not believe the evidence that one witness was a liar—and he thought the judge had made out a pretty good case against Mayes—was sufficient reason for changing the judgment of the court, especially when the judge who tried the case, Judge Ben F. Long, and the solicitor, Ed Swain, had made no recommendation. He suggested that the attorneys present this newly discovered evidence to the judge and solicitor and see what they thought about it.

Governor Morrison believed the presumption should be that the courts were right, and the fact that there were dissenting opinions did not change the legal record of the case. The jury had found the man guilty, and he was not yet inclined to believe that it would not have found him guilty if the testimony of Mayes had been eliminated. He could not get around the fact that Harris had shot the man down in the road in a manner that almost amounted to an assassination and had never made any explanation of the killing.

Hearing of the case is being continued.

From the front page of the Charlotte News, Saturday, Sept. 24, 1921

Fordson Tractor Demonstration at J.W. Stephenson's Farm, Sept. 27, 1921

Fordson Demonstration

Next Tuesday, Sept. 27, the Sanders Motor Company will conduct a Fordson Tractor demonstration on the farm of Mr. J.W. Stephenson, near town. Stiff, bottom land rendered harder by the dry summer will be the scene of operations, everybody being invited to be on hand and witness the remarkable work which a Fordson tractor can do.

Representatives of the Ford Motor Company will be present, as will also leading plow and implement manufacturers. The day will be given over to showing what power farming can do. The demonstration will being at 9:30 o’clock.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Friday, Sept. 23, 1921. To demonstrate the ease of operation, tractor companies would demonstrate tractors driven by women.

In Smithfield Court This Week, Sept. 23, 1921

Recorder’s Court Proceedings

The Recorder court in Smithfield was in session Tuesday and Wednesday. The cases tried are mentioned below:

State vs. Leonard Capps, charged with having an excess quantity of whiskey, resulted in conviction, he being sent to the roads for four months.

State vs. Aaron Lee and Bill Blackman, cursing on the highway, judgments suspended on payment of cost.

Juddie Conner charged with assault, judgment suspended on payment of cost and he to appear before the court for two years and show good conduct.

S. Muns, charged with assault with intent to commit rape, bound over to appear in Superior court. Bond $1,000.

Quince Capps and Herman Capps, violating prohibition laws, six months each on the roads.

Minger Alford Holder, abandonment, to pay costs and prayer for judgment continued for two years.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Friday, Sept. 23, 1921

Engineer J.H. Furman Climbs Down onto Cowcatcher to Grab 3-Year-Old Just Before Train Ran Over Her, Sept. 23, 1921

Engineer Furman Snatches Child From Great Peril. . . Driver of Norfolk Southern Locomotive Excels Movies in His Daring Deed

He has been often in the moving pictures—the handsome engineer who from his cabin on a speeding locomotive sees a sweet baby girl toddling along the track ahead, jambs on his emergency brakes, staggering but not halting the heavy train sweeping down a grade, climbs out of his cabin, down to the cowcatcher in front, and scoops up the infant to safety, with just a scant fraction of a second to spare.

Yesterday it happened in real life, not 50 miles from Raleigh, and with more thrills than any moving picture ever had the imagination to put into it. Engineer J.H. Furman was the man; Gertrude Collins, aged 3, was the little girl; the Norfolk Southern was the road; Smith’s water tank, two miles beyond Kipling, toward Fayetteville, was the place; and 3:05 was the time. And he had never had time to practice the feat, with a sack full of straw instead of a real, live, dimple-faced little girl.

Engineer Furman was taking 25 loaded freight cars to Fayetteville, and running at about the usual speed of freight trains. Rounding a sharp curve and going down grade toward the Cape Fear River and Lillington, he saw the little girl walking along and unsteadily down the track. Her back was toward him. With one hand Furman yanked the whistle-cord and with the other the emergency brake lever. The child was 75 yards away.

The speed of the train was slackened but the weight of the cars behind thrust it on. Furman saw that it could not stop before it ground the child to bits. Without an instant of hesitation, he ran forward on the running board, climbed down on the pilot. The locomotive was then within a few feet of the still unheeding child. He reached down and grasped her by the arm and pulled her up to safety. Her worst injury was a slight bruise on the head and scratched foot. The train was then moving at 10 miles an hour.

At home half a mile way the child’s mother had not missed her. She had wandered off toward the railroad, clambered down the steep embankment and onto the track. Furman stopped the train and began inquiry as to whom the child belonged. With modesty as becoming of a brave man he retreated before the demonstration of parental joy. Then he went back to write the casual, matter-of-fact reports that railroads keep, and went on Fayetteville-wards.

Furman is 30, married, lives in Boylan Heights, Raleigh, and Norfolk Southern officials say the coolest engineer in their employ. When younger he went off to the navy and served out an enlistment period. Then he came home and went to work with the Norfolk Southern as a fireman. Three years of that and he moved over to the other side of the cabin, and has been an engineer since.

From The News and Observer, as reprinted on the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Friday, Sept. 23, 1921

Thomas Allen Sells Load of Bacon to W.M. Sanders for $657, Sept. 23, 1921

A Wagon Load of Meat

Mr. Thomas G. Allen, who lives on the capital highway three miles south of Four Oaks, was here Wednesday with a two-horse wagon load of bacon, which he sold to Mr. W.M. Sanders. It was probably the largest lot of meat brought here by any one man this year. Mr. Allen weighed it before leaving home—2,379 pounds. There were 39 hams, which he sold at 39 cents per pound. There were 47 shoulders and 50 sides, which brought an average price of 24 cents per pound. The load of meat amounted to $657.33 in cash. The meat was in perfect condition and as pretty a lot of bacon as we have ever seen delivered here.

From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Friday, Sept. 23, 1921

Home Demonstration Club Photos, Orange County, N.C.

Orange County Home Demonstration Club Members, photo taken in the 1940s.

Club Members Learned Safe Home Canning Methods, photo taken in the 1970s.

Club Members Made "Babies" for Dementia Patients, photo taken in 1990s.

Club Members Collect and Distribute Needed Items, photo taken in the 1990s.

Club Members Work on Sewing Project, photo taken 2002.

Photos supplied by the Cooperative Extension Center, Orange County, N.C.

Alfred R. Wilson Buys Selma Drug Store, Sept. 20, 1921

Alfred R. Wilson Buys Drug Store in Selma. . . Dunn Young Man Quits Road to Become Pill Roller in Johnston

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred R. Wilson left yesterday for Selma where Saturday Mr. Wilson assumed charge of the drug store established several years ago by the Richardson Drug Company. He will devote his entire attention to the business in future.

Mr. Wilson has been traveling for a wholesale drug concern since he quit the real estate business here a year ago. He is a brother of C.L. Wilson, druggist, J.W. Wilson, lawyer, and Mrs. A.L. Newberry of Dunn. He was engaged in the drug business in Columbus county for several years before coming to Dunn nearly two years ago.

The Dunn Dispatch, Sept. 20, 1921

Major and Mrs. Parker Visit Duncan J. Parker, Sept. 20, 1921

Major Parker Visits Relatives in Harnett

Major John A. Parker, United States Army, and Mrs. Parker, arrived here last night from Washington to visit the major’s father, Duncan J. Parker, whose big plantation is a short distance from town. Major Parker will leave today for Savannah on a mission from the judge advocate general’s office.

Major Parker was residing in Charlotte, where he was president of the Greater Charlotte Club, before North Carolina troops were sent to the Mexican border. He entered that service as captain of a Charlotte company. During the World War he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, but resigned at the end of hostilities to enter business in New York. Last year he was offered a commission as major in the regular army and accepted.

The Dunn Dispatch, Sept. 20, 1921

Fire Destroys Warehouse and Cotton in Goldsboro, Sept. 20, 1921

Warehouse and Cotton Burned at Goldsboro

Goldsboro, Sept. 19—Fire here this afternoon destroyed a large storage house owned by Royal and Broden, in which several hundred bales of cotton were stored. The loss is estimated at $15,000, fully covered by insurance.

The Dunn Dispatch, Sept. 20, 1921

Because of Recession, Wake Forest College Has 75 Fewer Students, Sept. 20, 1921

Wake Forest Has 480 Registrants. . . 75 Students Less This Year Than Last Owing to Financial Stringency

Wake Forest, Sept. 18—Four hundred and eighty registrants was the (two lines obscured) of registration. This number represents about 75 students less than the registration at the same time for the 1920-21 session at Wake Forest and is only second in total enrollment to last year in the history of the college. The next week or two will witness the registration of some 20 more students, which will approximate a total of about 500 students.

Taking into consideration the financial depression of the South this enrollment is regarded as most encouraging, and exceeds the expectations of college authorities. Little or no trouble was experienced in accommodating the large enrollment since the Wake Forest hotel and the Wilkerson building, lately equipped as a dormitory, are able to house about 200 men.

College politics lost no time in organizing after the opening of college and the Senior Class was the first to complete its election of officers. The members of that class who were chosen for the graduating year are: R.S. Averitt of Clayton, president; O.H. Hauser of Dundy, Neb., vice-president; W.B. Boone of Davie county, secretary; E.F. Holman of Wilkesboro, historian; A.L. Goodrich of Johnson county, prophet; J.F. Hodge of Beckley, W.Va., testator; R.B. Dawes of Elm City, orator; Nelson Harte of Oxford, treasurer; C.B. Howard of Sampson county, honor committeeman, and J.R. Nelson of Vance county, poet.

Dr. C.E. Maddry, State secretary of the Baptist denomination, is conducting a series of sermons here in the Baptist church of the College. Dr. Maddry began this morning and will deliver a sermon each night during the coming week.

The Dunn Dispatch, Sept. 20, 1921

Charlotte Is Confusing Visitors; Guideposts to be Put on Streets, Sept. 19, 1921

Guideposts Will Be Put on Streets Guideposts Will Be Put on Streets

Signs directing motorists through the city will be placed on Charlotte streets by the Standard Oil Company under the auspices of the Charlotte Automotive Trades Association. Road signs, designating directions and distances between Charlotte and other cities, also will be placed under direction of the association on highways of the county.

Permission to place the signs in the city was given the association Monday by the board of commissioners. The county highway commission recently approved the proposal of placing signs in the county.

The guide posts to be placed on city streets are enameled panels set between two-inch steel pipes. The pipes will be set in concrete. Their purpose will be to direct the tourist on the streets leading out of Charlotte to main highways. The county highway signs will be the regular four-feet square sign of the Standard Oil Company.

H.D. Horton is in charge of arrangements being made by the automobile association for placing the signs. He said guide posts of this character are badly needed in Charlotte. Most other cities have them. It is difficult for a tourist to find his way out of the city undirected, Mr. Horton said.

From The Charlotte News, Monday, Sept. 19, 1921

Claude Ellis Shot and Killed by Hunter, Sept. 22, 1921

Negro Boy Killed

A number of huntsmen around Halifax went out after deer and as usual placed the various hunters on stand. The dogs jumped a deer and R.T. Nethery, prominent farmer, noticing a disturbance in the bushes near his stand, and thinking it a deer. To his horror he heard the groans of a human being, and rushing forward found the body of Claude Ellis, colored, with a buckshot would through the heart. This unfortunate incident cast a gloom over the entire community, and serves to impress upon hunters the necessity of always being careful when taking part in a hunt.

From The Roanoke News, Weldon, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

Reports from North Carolina A.M.E. Zion Churches, September 1921

Reviewing the Field of Action

Zion Hill Church

By R.B.C. Richardson

A few words about the rally at Zion Hill Church, Concord, N.C., and our loving pastor, Dr. P.A. McCorkle. Dr. McCorkle put on a $600 rally and in about five weeks we raised $652.40. Great is Dr. McCorkle. We love and reverence him, and we know he is a Christian gentleman. We hope to give the full details of the rally at an early date.

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Statesville Notes

By Prof. J.A. Gamble

Mr. Jess Houser passed away on the 5th. Brother Houser was a native of Yadkin County but for 20 years has been in Iredell County. He was a loyal citizen of Iredell County, having been in the employ of Adam and Powell Tobacco Company for 24 years. He was 64 years of age and leaves a wife, Mrs. Blanche Houser, two sons and four daughters to mourn his loss. Funeral services took place at the Shiloh A.M.E. Zion Church by Rev. Musgraves. The pall bearers were Ewan Burnett, J.A. Gamble, Romie Williams, A. Nicholson, Allen Morgan and Arch Weaver.

Among the many who went on the excursion to Washington, D.C., were Miss Hattie May and Miss Ann B. Bailey.

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Splendid Revival at East Bend N.C.

By Rev. H.H. Jackson, A.B.

Rev. H. Maberry is a coming young man. It was my good fortune to be with this young man and preach for him on Monday night, Aug. 15th, at the opening and on Friday night, Aug. 19th, at the close. Rev. C.T. Bryant preached the other three nights. Thirty persons were happily converted, and 24 joined our church. The work is in fine condition, and we feel sure that Rev. Maberry will make a full report when the conference meets.

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King’s Mountain, N.C.

By Geo. W.E. Dixon

Rev. F.B. Falls has just closed a grand revival at Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church on Friday night last. Many souls were added.

The revival at Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion Church began the third Sunday of this month. Rev. H.A. Keaton of A.M.E. Zion Church of Shelby, N.C., will assist our pastor, Rev. P.B. Falls, in his meeting at the above named church.

We the members of Zion Grove Church have just completed a recess to our church size 14 by 10 by 4 feet deep.

The Divine Healer will preach at Kellows Chapel M.E. Church of Bessemer City at 11 a.m.

At 2 p.m. Sept. 11th, the members of Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion Church gave a birth reception in honor of Mrs. Mary A. Hart, mother of Rev. Geo. W. Dixon Sr., on Saturday, Sept. 11th, at the home of Rev. G.W. Dixon. Her grand daughter, Mrs. Daisy E. Sharp of 204 Jefferson Street, Danville, Va., arrived on Sept. 9th to witness the 78th birthday of Mrs. Hart, who at this time is the mother of seven children, 32 grand children and 29 great-grandchildren. The choir of Zion Grove A.M.E. Zion Church sang for the occasion.

Mrs. Sadie F. Dixon, President of the Buds, will give an entertainment in the near future.

Mrs. Minnie Cathcart, President of the W.H. and F.M. Society, is making splendid progress.

We are sad to mention the death of Mr. Milton Harris, who departed this life some few days ago. Peace to his ashes.

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Syloon Quarterly Conference

By Rev. G.G. Houston

The Syloon Quarterly Conference was called together by Rev. G.G. Houston, September 3rd, with the brothers of the Board in their places, who made a round report of their earnest work during the Quarter. I found the brothers in a good shape and they seem to be moving on nicely and well pleased with their beloved pastor, Rev. White. The brothers and sisters of the Syloon Board promised that they would help the Rev. White to make a round report. We had a fine meeting all day Sunday and the presence of the Holy Spirit was with us. We rounded up Sunday evening and raised in this quarter, a quarter composed of about 35 members, for all purposes $31.99. The members tell me they are willing to help push this great Zion to the top by sacrificing their time and money. The following are the names of the members who gave so loyally: Rev. G.G. Houston, $1; Sister Eva Patterson, $1; Sister Lula Steele, $1; Sister Hager Myers, $1; Brother Rainie Patterson, 75 cents; Kinley Steel, 50 cents; Lizea Sumers, 50 cents; Rosie Dolton, 50 cents; Mandie Patteron, 50 cents. God bless the people of the Syloon Zion Hill District.

--Troutman, N.C.

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Williamston Circuit

By Rev. C.C. Hunter

The pastor and members of Williams Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church made no mistake when we secured the services of Rev. Mrs. Ida Burrell of Richmond, Va., to run us a 10-nights' revival service, the greatest ever held here, it is said by both young and old. We had about 65 conversions and 52 out of that number were added to our church.

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Center Street A.M.E. Zion Church, Statesville

By E.O. Cowen, Pastor

Center Street Church has been blessed with a revival of religion that has placed the church in a high water mark spiritually. Rev. D.D. Moore of Asheville, N.C., was with us four nights and preached to large crowds each evening. Four were happily converted—while scores of others were revived and the whole city as well as the church much helped by the meeting.

Presiding Elder S.T. Hawkins, D.D., held his fourth quarterly conference on Friday night, September the 9th. The reports of the several departments showed that over $3,000 had been raised and 36 members had been added to the church.

The Missionary Women led by Mrs. Annie Robinson, District President, Mrs. Ida Littlejohn, Miss Hattie Mae Bailey and Mrs. Etta Moss, have outdone themselves in service for the Master—not only by raising money, but also by praying and administering to the needs of the sick and unfortunate of our city. Brother R.D. Bailey, the grandest Roman of them all, and Brother John Sherill, chairman of the Trustee Board, Brother Thomas Griffin, chairman of the Stewards, Mrs. Alice Peay, chairman of the Stewardess Board, Mrs. Annie Stockman, President of Daughters of the Conference, Mrs. Katie Golden, President of the Ladies Aid, Mrs. Maggie Young, President of King’s Daughters, Miss Flora Morrison, President of Junior Stewardess Board, Brother Boger Kerr, President Ushers Board, and the whole membership (we wish it were possible to name each one of them) have all done yeoman service for the Master this conference years.

And we would not forget the Junior church with 55 children on roll, which was started by that far-sighted minister Dr. W.O. Carrington—who left it to the present pastor as a rich legacy. They are showing today the wisdom of his act—by rendering valuable service to God’s church and an inspiration to all who enter Center Street Church on Sunday morning.

All have contributed their bit toward making this a successful year. They were thoughtful of their pastor and voted him a vacation which he intends spending with his mother in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Presiding Elder Hawkins preached three soul stirring sermons on Sunday, September 11th, and the fire fell. He was indeed at his best on this day. One splendid young man joined the church. Ninety partook of the Lord’s supper, and $103 was raised during the day.

Long will this happy day linger in our memory. Thus ended a glorious quarterly meeting.

--Statesville, N.C.

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A Musical Entertainment

By Rev. R.T. Mitchell, A.B., B.D.

It is with price that the writer wishes to mention through The Star a great musical entertainment which was given at St. Stephen’s A.M.E. Zion Church, Aug. 30th, 1921, by Mrs. Dorphenia Wingfield Hall, (wife of Rev. G.F. Hall, A.B., pastor of the A.M.E. Zion Church, Norwood, N.C.), who appeared in a piano recital interspersed with vocal classical numbers and rendered the following program:

Opening Song

Invocation, Rev. G.F. Hall

Remarks, Master of Ceremonies

“Melodie”, Moskoskie

“Harp Eoline,” Sidney Smith, Mrs. Hall

“Selection,” Rex Quartette

“Nightingale,” Listz

Fra Diavoto, Sidney Smith

Dorphene, composed by Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Hall

Vocal Solo. (A) “Who Knows,” Dunbar; (B) “In the hush of the Twilight Hours,” Adam Geibel, Rev. R.T. Mitchell

Aeolus, Gwimke

Improvisation, La Forge

Whirlwind, Tittan

Mrs. Hall is indeed a great pianist, one of whom the Negro Race needs be proud. Her graceful deportment and magnificent touch while performing at the instrument is rarely if ever surpassed.

She certainly made a hit in Gastonia.

You may secure her services by writer her or Rev. G.F. Hall, A.B., Norwood, N.C.

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The Cleveland Revival

By Dr. T.H. Jones

I accepted an invitation to preach five nights in the revival services at the A.M.E. Zion Church, Cleveland, N.C., of which Rev. C.V. Ramseur is the pastor.

It is a pleasure to be associated with this congenial, whole hearted clergyman; always lively and witty.

He is a thoughtful preacher, careful, painstaking and successful pastor.

Cleveland is an old fashioned town, limited in progress but exceedingly quiet.

The colored people, for the most part, own property within the town but vocationally they are farmers.

The revival services were largely attended, increasing each evening until one or more congregations remained outside because all seats were taken and a scarcity of standing space. Several precious souls were converted and the church revived.

Large crowds of white people flocked to the services. It gave us an opportunity to directly labor for the salvation of two races in the town of Cleveland. The Presbyterian and Zion are the only churches in the town; and they work together harmoniously and in love as members of one family.

The Woods, Halls, Houstons and Bridges are among the leading families of the church.

The pastor is endeared in the hearts of the people of Cleveland and is making steady and substantial progress.

We were the

special guests of Sisters Bridges and Wood, but were entertained in the homes of a few other citizens. Zion in Cleveland, N.C., can be made a station when the sun is a little higher.

--Gastonia, N.C.

From The Star of Zion, Greensboro, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

Club News From Weldon, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

Club News From Weldon

Womans’ Club, Book Club

On Friday evening at the School Auditorium from 8:30 to 10 o’clock the Womans’ Club and the Book Club will entertain complimentary to the Faculty, the School Board, the Senior Class and the patrons of the Weldon High School.

The Weldon band will furnish music for the occasion and five-minute talks will be made by the pastors of the churches and representatives of the School Board and Clubs.

The above-mentioned persons and members of the club are cordially invited to be present. At the conclusion of the program there will be a social hour during which refreshments will be served.

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Thursday Afternoon Club

The members of the Thursday Afternoon Club were entertained Thursday, September 15th, by Mrs. C.S. Vinson at her home on Washington Avenue. As this was the first regular meeting for the new year, the program was somewhat of an introduction to the course to be studied for the year, ‘A study course in modern drama.’ The first paper, “What Is Drama,” was read by Mrs. L.W. Murphrey. The next, “Ihsheri’s Life and Words,” by Miss Ruth Clark. Then a voice selection, “They Needed a Song Bird in Heaven,” was very sweetly rendered by Mrs. R.T. Daniel, which concluded the program for the afternoon.

The hostess was assisted in serving by Mrs. W.L. Scott and little Miss Virginia Vinson.

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American Legion

The William Shaw Post American Legion met Thursday evening, Sept. 15th, for the election of officers for the Post for the coming year. The officers elected were:

Commander—Dr. W.G. Suiter

Vice-Commander—Wiliam Josephson

Finance Officer—Paul Joyner

Adjutant—W.K. Gray

The new officers were installed immediately and a call issued for a meeting Monday night.

The meeting Monday night was well attended and more real wide-awake interest and enthusiasm shown than any meeting the Post has ever had. A number of interesting plans for the future were discussed, notably, the ones of the 1921 Armistice Celebration, to be held in Weldon.

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The Woman’s Club

The September meeting of the Child Welfare Department of the Woman’s Club was held in the beautiful new home of Mrs. N.S. Barnes. The meeting was largely attended and full of interest.

After the transaction of routine business, Miss Saucer, the County Health Nurse, delivered a most practical lecture on the “Proper Nourishment of the Growing Child.”

The interest she aroused was evidenced by the Department voting to put on a health campaign in the school. Scales will be placed in the building for weighing the pupils and charts in every room on which a record of the physical condition of each one will be kept. At intervals during the session the pupils will have an opportunity to hear lectures on the care of the body.

Physical defects found will be reported to their parents, and it is hoped by their co-operation in having these removed that not only will their physical condition be improved but their mental efficiency greatly increased.

If you are interested in this work you are cordially invited to join the Child Welfare Department of the Woman’s Club on the 12th of October. The meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. R.T. Daniel.

From The Roanoke News, Weldon, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

Jury Awards 1 Cent for Compensatory Damages, 1 Cent for Punitive and Vindictive Damages, Sept. 22, 1921

Rowan Woman Gets Two Cents Damage

Salisbury, Sept. 22—Compensatory damages, 1 cent; punitive and vindictive damages, 1 cent. This is the amount given by a Rowan County jury to Mrs. Woodington for sufferings and other damages she sustained on account of W.A. Roseman, a local merchant, selling her husband extracts that caused intoxication. She sued Roseman for $10,000 for alienating her husband’s affections and the case consumed two days in Superior Court. After deliberation for two hours the jury answered all issues in favor of the plaintiff, deciding that Roseman sold Woodington extracts and intoxicating liquids, that they produced intoxication and that Mrs. Woodington as a consequence suffered injury in personal and property rights, and that she was entitled to one cent compensatory damage and one cent punitive and vindictive damage.

From the Front page of The Charlotte News, Thursday, Sept. 22, 1921

People Just Aren't Willing to Work Anymore, Sept. 22, 1921

Unwilling to Work

Perhaps the one great reason we have recovered from the war so slowly is because so many have been unwilling to work. The workers who refuse to work for a peace time wage will argue that they are willing to work, but – not for less money than they got when war inflated wages and the cost of living.

There was a time when farmers had to pay big wages to get the necessary help in the absence of their sons at the front. In fact, help was not to be had at any price. The farmers learned to get along somehow. Now help is plentiful, that is, plenty of men are out of work, but they refuse the wages offered by the farmers. And again the farmers are doing their own work. Rather than put from two to three dollars a day clear money in their pockets, men in the cities and towns are in idleness, with nobody willing to pay their price.

Rather than accept lower wages in the factories and on the transportation lines, men have gone out in idleness and used up their savings, only to find that no other work was to be had until they were willing to work for less than war wages.

The farmers have gone right on with their farming, but it has meant long hours for all the family because they have been short of help. Not that help was scarce but the wage was not right. Many a business concern has gone on at a loss in order to keep the plant running, mostly to give needy men employment, while waiting for labor to be willing to work for a wage that employers can afford to pay at this time.

City employers have no difficulty getting men. They know a drop must come or the cost of living and prices in general can not get to a peace-time basis. They are standing pat just as the farmers are, and getting along as best they can until labor is willing to go to work. The farmers who thinks he is the only one who is having business troubles can learn a lot by talking to business men in the cities, many of whom have been sweating blood the last few months, if they have survived at all.

From Successful Farming magazine, as reprinted on the front page of the Roanoke-Chowan Times, Rich Square, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

Winfred Garriss, 7, Has Died, Sept. 22, 1921

WINFRED GARRISS

David Winfred Garris was born December 4, 1913, and died September 6, 1921. He was not with us long but those of us who knew him loved him. He was never absent from Sunday school on Sunday morning and even tho he was a little fellow he always joined in the singing. His voice could often be heard above any others. On Sunday morning after he was taken sick he asked of his little brothers and sisters who had been to Sunday school whether they had brought him a book, and was very much disappointed when he learned that they had not.

He was always an obedient child in the home. It is very hard to give him up, but we must realize that God knows best. Sometime we’ll understand why our loved ones must be taken from us, tho it seems hard now. God had a purpose in sending him to live with us and this purpose was not in vain, for we feel that our lives are made richer by having known Winfred. In this sad hour may his loved ones be comforted, realizing that our loss is Heaven’s gain.

--A Friend, Margarettsville, N.C.

From the front page of the Roanoke-Chowan Times, Rich Square, N.C., Sept. 22, 1921

After 12 Years, Katsen, Gets Wife, Children Out of Russia, Sept. 21, 1921

Met Wife After 12 Years Apart. . . Mrs. Phillip Katsen and Children of Russia Join Husband Here

To have met wife face to face without recognition on either side was the experience of Philip Katzen, shoemaker of East Trade Street. Katzen had not seen his wife and two children for 12 years until a day or so ago.

The story had its roots in a small town near Riga, Russia, 12 years ago. At that time Katzen struggled against the hardships of the world there in Russia to support his young wife and two small children. It was hard to get along, and soon he saw that he was fighting a losing battle.

And so he decided to come to America. Not having money enough to bring his small family, he left his wife and children in Russia with the promise that he would send for them as soon as he could save money enough to do so. Then he caught the boat.

ARRIVES IN CHARLOTTE

Eventually he arrived in Charlotte. Here he engaged in what work he could pick up, saving every penny possible. Day in and day out he raked and scraped in vain for money enough to send for his family. With all his might and main he fought with fate.

And persistence won. Not against fate, however. At last, Katzen accumulated the necessary cash for the transportation of his wife and children. Just as he was on the point of sending for them, the great war broke out—and his hopes were dashed to the ground.

In vain he endeavored to get in touch with his wife, but for some reason every letter he wrote was returned, undelivered. He received letters frequently from his wife, but not one of his own ever reached her. A long exasperating year of the conflict slipped past without signs of cessation. Then another tedious year went by. And another. Not once did he get a letter to his wife. Katzen’s life was fast beginning to look black to him. His hopes and ambition began to gradually die.

Finally the war came to an end. Surely he would hear that his letters would be delivered now, he thought. But such was not the case. One by one they were returned.

STOOD BY AMERICA

By this time Katzen had saved up money enough to buy himself a home and a store. He bought Liberty bonds during the war to the limit of his purse and stood behind America to the utmost in her victorious struggle against the Germans.

Suddenly a thought struck him. Perhaps the country which he had adopted and helped might be of assistance to him. Accordingly, he went to see D.B. Paul, Charlotte attorney, and explained his predicament. Mr. Paul immediately got in touch with officials in Washington, and in a few months the way was paved for the transportation of Katzen’s wife and children. As Katzen had become a citizen of the United States, he was allowed to send for his wife. The proper papers for her extradition were taken out, and at last word came that she was on her way.

It was at the Southern station Sunday night at 8:45 o’clock that the train bringing his small and hungry family arrived in Charlotte. The scene which followed brought tears to the eyes of many. From the train stepped a woman bent with trials and tribulations. A boy and a girl helped her from the platform. They, too, were lean and bent as if from famine. Katzen glanced at then and then past them. Not a sign of his wife could he see. All the passengers who were to get off at Charlotte had descended and still no sign of her.

SPAKE FAMILIAR TONGUE

Suddenly he overheard the woman speak to the boy at her side in Russian. What was that name she called him? That must be his wife!

So it was. With tears in his eyes and compassion in his tone he took her in his arms. She had not even recognized him until this moment. The boy and girl clapped their hands in glee as they rushed to the father whom they had almost forgotten.

“I have got the home ready,” exclaimed Katzen. “It won’t be long before you will look like a different woman here. From now on we will think no more of Russia, that land of desolation. We will all live the rest of our lives right here in Charlotte where the sun always shines upon happiness.”

From The Charlotte News, Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21, 1921. The newspaper headline spelled his first name Phillip and the story spelled it Philip. I don’t know which is correct.

Body of Maurice Lay, Dirigible Airman, Returned to Greensboro, Sept. 21, 1921

Body of Airman Brought Home

Greensboro, Sept. 21—The body of Maurice Lay, Greensboro man who died when the ZR-2, monster dirigible, fell into the Humber River at Hull, England, will arrive in Greensboro tonight, according to a telegram received yesterday by Mrs. Lay. The body will, on its arrival in the city, be taken to the home of his widow, 403 Blandwood Avenue, where the funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Rev. W.O. Goode will conduct the services at the grave in Green Hill cemetery.

Mr. Lay, who was 31 years of age, was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but had considered Greensboro his home for the past several years, having been married to Miss Mabel Ridge of this city in March, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Lay lived at Pensacola, Fla., where Mr. Lay joined the party of American naval fliers who went to England for instruction in handling dirigibles preparatory to bringing to the United States the monster ship built for the United States Navy by England. Mrs. Lay has lived with her mother, Mrs. W.J. Ridge, 403 Blandwood Avenue, since her husband’s departure for England.

Rigger Lay was a chief aviation rigger, the highest non-commissioned rating in the navy, had served in the navy for 14 1/2 years. During that time he had seen service in various parts of the world and made an exceptionally good record. He was with the Atlantic fleet when the trip around the world was made in 1908-09. Four years ago he was transferred at his request to the aviation branch of the naval service and since that time had been in that service. He had had much experience in handling of balloons and as a consequence of his experience and of his record while in the navy was the second man selected as a member of the crew of the ill-fated ZR-2. Had he served for 1 ½ years longer he would have been transferred to the fleet reserve. He had planned to make his home in Greensboro when transferred to the reserve.

Surviving besides his widow are two brothers, H.E. Lay and W.M. Lay, both of Birmingham, Alabama.

From The Charlotte News, Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21, 1921