Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Local Briefs from Lumberton Area, Aug. 31, 1922

Items of Local News

--The three local banks will be closed next Monday, Labor Day.

--Born, Tuesday night, to Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Bruton, a daughter—Lola Mae.

--Lest you forget, it was 36 years ago tonight that the “Charleston” earthquake occurred.

--Mr. B.F. McMillan Jr. is placing material on his lot, North Pine street, for erecting a six-room bungalow.

--Mr. W.H. Graham, a Confederate veteran of Rowland, is among the out-of-town people here to attend the funeral of Mr. M.G. McKenzie this afternoon.

--Miss Josephine Breece returned yesterday from a visit to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, where she purchased fall and winter stock for her millinery store.

--Miss Lillian Proctor arrived home this morning from a three-months’ trip to Europe. She visited England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Germany while in Europe and reports a most delightful trip.

--Mr. Sam Ashley, who formerly held a position with the Fairmont Garage Co., Fairmonth, has accepted a position as mechanic in the H.A. Page garage here. He began work Tuesday.

--The Robeson county road board has opened a regular office in the grand jury’s room on the second floor of the court house. Mr. L.R. Stephens, secretary to the board, is in charge of the office.

--Mrs. C.F. Hayes has left the Thompson hospital and returned to her home on R. 2 from Lumberton after undergoing an operation there for appendicitis. Mr. Hayes was a Lumberton visitor yesterday.

--Mrs. Cynthia Britt of Wilmington is having erected a five-room bungalow on North Pine street. Mrs. Britt expects to move to Lumberton when the building is completed. She formerly lived on R. 4 from Lumberton and is well known here.

--Miss Amelia Linkhauer returned yesterday from New York, where she spent 10 days buying fall and winter millinery for the Style shop, of which she is proprietress. Miss Johnnie Robinson, who has been trimmer in the Style shop for several seasons, also arrived yesterday from Atlanta, Ga.

--Fire of unknown origin destroyed a small store building across the river from town on the Fairmont road at 7:30 o’clock last evening. The building was owned by Ran Evans, colored, and was occupied by a colored seamstress named Fibbie Graves. The loss is estimated at $400, partly covered by insurance.

--Mr. W.I. Linkhaw returned last evening from Charlotte where he spent two days with his son-in-law, Mr. J.M. McCallum, who is a patient at the Charlotte sanatorium. Mr. McCallum’s condition is fast improving. Mr. Linkhaw was accompanied to Charlotte by Mrs. McCallum. She will probably return home tonight.

--Mr. G.B. McCallum of Greensboro was a Lumberton visitor of his brother, former Auditor Jesse McCallum, who has been under treatment of specialists in Charlotte for some time, is very much improved and is now more favorable than it has been at any other time during the past six months.

--As stated in Monday’s Robesonian, a feature of the Lumberton curb market Saturday of this week will be the special sale of fresh eggs and home-grown chickens brought in by the Lumber Bridge Poultry association. Members of the association have assured Miss Martha Flax Andrews, home demonstration agent, that they will have a large supply of both eggs and chickens here Saturday morning. The market opens at 9 a.m.

--Ever seen a grape 1 ¾-inches in diameter? Mr. P.S. Kornegay plucked one that size yesterday from his vines at his home on Eighth street. It looks like a small apple. Mr. Kornegay’s vines are from a vine he brought some years ago from his father’s home in Duplin county, and the grape is a special kind known as Kornegay’s. It is an early-bearing large black grape, with white specks, and of most delightful flavor.

--Rev. I.E. Wishart and son, Master Lowell Strong, left Monday evening for their home at Buffalo, Oklahoma, after spending six weeks in and around Lumberton visiting relatives. Mr. Wishart expects to return to is native county in a few weeks with his family. He and Mrs. Wishart will teach the Long Branch public school during the next term and Mr. Wishart expects to take up pastoral work in the county. He is the son of Mr. A.S. Wishart of R. 3, Lumberton, and is well-known throughout this section.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 1922

Dr. Peacock, In Prison for Killing Chief of Police, Escapes After Sawing Through Iron Bars, Aug. 31, 1922

Dr. Peacock Escapes From State Prison

Raleigh, Aug. 30—Sawing through the iron bars of his cell window and sliding down the prison wall on a rope of bed clothing, Dr. J.W. Peacock, slayer of Chief of Police Taylor of Thomasville, made his escape from the state prison before daybreak this morning and tonight is somewhere out in the free world.

All he left to greet the insane ward’s keeper when he made his first round at 6 a.m. was a new hack-saw and a note expressing his “regrets” at the hasty departure.

Dr. Peacock worked a clever scheme. If he was insane, he was one of those smart fellows. At any rate, he must have had help from both the inside and the outside.

--Brock Barkley in Wilmington Star

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 1922

M.G. McKenzie Died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1922

M.G. McKenzie Answers Final Call. . . Prominent Citizen of Robeson Died Here Tuesday. . . Well-Known and Beloved Citizen Died Yesterday—Funeral Here and Interment in Maxton This Afternoon—Confederate Soldier, Former County Treasurer and Active in Good Works.

Mr. M.G. McKenzie, well-known Lumberton citizen, died Tuesday evening at his home, North Elm street, of the infirmities of old age. Deceased had been in ill health for several months, confined to his room for about 4 months, and death was not unexpected. His widow, who before her marriage with Miss Lenora McKinnon of Montgomery county, and six children survive. The surviving children are: two daughters—Mrs. W.O. Brewer of Romeo, Fla., and Miss Ida McKenzie of Lumberton—and four sons—Messrs. J.S. of Wilmington, W.B. of Wimauma, Fla., G.S. of Newport News, Va., and L.M. of Lumberton. All of the children living out-of-town except Mr. G.S. McKenzie of Newport News, who is unable to leave home on account of the serious illness of his wife, are here for the funeral.

The funeral is going to be conducted from the Presbyterian church, here, at the time of going to press and the remains will be carried to Maxton for interment immediately following the service here.

Story of His Life

Murdock Gaston McKenzie was born in Moore county on June 5, 1844, and was therefore in his 79th year. He moved to Maxton in the year 1888 and was editor of the Scottish Chief for a number of years. He was appointed county treasurer in the year 1906 to fill out the unexpired term of the late A.A. McLean, who died while holding this office. Mr. McKenzie held the office continuously until it was abolished by the Legislature in 1916. The large vote he received each election year showed something of the esteem in which he was held by the voters of the county.

Confederate Soldier

Deceased served in the Confederate army during the War Between the States and was defending Fort Fisher when it fell to the enemy. Returning home at the close of the conflict, he took an active part in the political fights that followed. He was a strong Democrat and was ever ready to battle the principals of his party. The first political office with which he was honored was that of Mayor of his home town, Manley, Moore county. After moving to Maxton he served two or three terms as town commissioner there. He was a justice of the peace from early manhood until the time of his death and officiated at more than 400 marriages.

Active in Church Work

Mr. McKenzie was a ruling elder of the Lumberton Presbyterian church at the time of his death and was also honorary superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school. He served as active superintendent of the school from a short time after he moved to Lumberton until a few years ago, when his health forbade his active services longer. He loved his church and the last time he left his home was to attend a church service early in April. He was an elder in the Maxton Presbyterian church while living there.

Gave Freely in Service to Others

It can be truly said of the subject of this sketch that he was a friend of man. He spent much of his time in looking after the interest of the poor and needy. For many years he saw to it that the inmates of Robeson county home were provided with a bountiful dinner on Thanksgiving Day. He also was for a number of years active head of the local associated charities organization. He was a member of Camp Willis H. Pope, Confederate veterans, and served as commander of the camp for a number of years. He never lost an opportunity to serve his fellow followers of Lee and Jackson.

Mr. McKenzie was indeed a prominent figure in the business, religious and political life of Robeson county for 34 years and in his passing his adopted county loses one of its oldest and most valued citizens.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Aug. 31, 1922. There’s a photo of Mr. McKenzie in the newspaper but the quality of the reproduction is poor.

Large Crowds Attending Extension Poultry Meetings in Robeson County, Aug. 31, 1922

Large Crowds Attending Poultry Meetings

Large crowds are attending the (meetings?) conducted throughout the county this week. The meetings were arranged by Miss Martha Flax Andrews, home demonstration agent, and Mr. Allen G. Oliver, poultry specialist from the State Department of Agriculture, (who?) is conducting culling demonstrations. Mr. Oliver is pleased with the flocks of Robeson poultry raisers. An account of the various demonstrations has been promised The Robesonian for publication at an early date.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 1922. I added the words in parentheses to help the reader understand the story. They weren’t in the original article and do not represent obscured words.

Wrong Convict Guard Named, Aug. 31, 1922

Name of Convict Guard is R.H. Davis and Not J.W. Davis

Mr. J.W. Davis says that the news item in Monday’s Robesonian in regard to the escape of Elzie Hill from the chain gang was incorrect in so far as his name was concerned, that the name of the guard is R.H. Davis. Mr. J.W. Davis says that he has not served as guard since last April, that time he had had charge of that since that time he had charge of teams up to the 14th of this month, since which time he has not been connected with the camp in any capacity.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Aug. 31, 1922. Some of the wording in the second sentence is a little awkward, but the reader will be able to figure it out. I’ve typed it in as it was written.

Lumberton to Put Jennings and National Cotton Mills on Its Sewer System, Aug. 31, 1922

To Extend Intake Pipe Above Mills. . . Water for Local Reservoir Will be Pumped from Above Points Where Sewer Pipes of North and West Lumberton Empty Into River—Two Mills Will Pay $2,500 Each Toward Cost, Which Will Not Exceed $17,500

It was definitely decided to extend the intake pipe for the local filter plant to a point above the National and Jennings cotton mills and Jennings beach at a meeting of the mayor and town commissioners Monday evening. An engineer sent here recently by the State Board of Health to investigate the proposed change of the intake pipe recommended that the pipe be extended to a point above Jennings beach.

The meeting Monday evening was attended by a number of local citizens and the following expressed themselves as favoring the extension: Messrs. L.R. Varser, A.E. White, E.L. Hamilton, A.S. King, J.H. Wishart, Jas. D. Proctor, R.H. Crichton, L.T. Townsend, J.D. Norment, E.J. Britt, W.M. Burney and A.P. McAllister.

The National and Jennings cotton mill companies have agreed to pay $2,500 each towards paying the expense of the extension and it is estimated that the extension will eliminate the cost of around $7,500 to the town in putting in sewer lines in the north-western part of town, while it is estimated that the total cost of the extension will not exceed $17,500. With the extension of the pipe the owners of the two cotton mills mentioned above will not have to erect disposal plants in connection with their sewer lines in the mill villages, which means quite a saving to them. Members of the board of commissioners voting in favor of the extension were Dr. N.A. Thompson, Messrs. J.L. Stephens and L.C. Townsend, Mr. M.M. Rozier, commissioner from the second ward, did not vote, giving as his reason that he did not think the cotton mill companies had agreed to pay enough of the cost.

With this extension of the intake pipe, water pumped into the reservoir at the local filter plant will come from above the points where the sewer lines from the North and West Lumberton villages empty into the river.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Aug. 31, 1922

The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 1922

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

New Assignments for County Farm Agents Announced, Aug. 30, 1922

Changes in Farm Agents in State

Raleigh, Aug. 30—Various changes among farm demonstration agents throughout the State are recorded in the recent issue of Extension News Letter, Raleigh, as follows:

New agents in farm demonstration work have been appointed in several counties and changes in personnel have been made as follows, according to reports from C.R. Hudson, State agent.

CC. Proffitt, former county agent in Buncombe, is district agent for the mountain counties, with headquarters at Asheville.

C.E. Miller, former agent in Mecklenburg, succeeds Mr. Proffitt as county agent in Buncombe.

N.B. Stevens, with several years’ experience as county agent, succeeds S. Kirby, county agent in Johnson county. He is located at Smithfield, the county seat. Mr. Kirby is now assistant state agent.

W.L. Smarr is transferred from Pender to McDowell county with headquarters at Marion.

M.C. James, with several years’ experience in county agent work in Georgia, takes Mr. Smarr’s place at Burgaw, Pender county.

C.E. Littlejohn becomes county agent in Halifax, with headquarters at Scotland Neck. He has had several successful years in county agent work in South Carolina.

J.H. Blackwell is county agent at Oxford, Grandville county. He has had six years’ experience as county agent in Georgia.

A.H. Harris of Pamlico county is started county agent work in Carteret with headquarters at Beaufort. Mr. Harris is a farm-raised young man with a four-year course at N.C. State college.

From The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

Dr. Peacock Escapes From Insane Department of State Prison, Aug. 30, 1922

Peacock Escapes From State Prison

Raleigh, Aug. 30—Dr. J.W. Peacock, prominent physician of Thomasville, escaped from the criminal insane department of the State Prison today by sliding down a rope made of bed clothing, from his cell on the third floor of the prison. Peacock was tried for the murder of Police Chief J.E. Taylor, of Thomasville, and acquitted on the ground of insanity and was committed to the insane department of the prison following the trial.

Peacock left a note addressed to the keeper of the department of criminal insane, saying: “I hate to leave on my vacation without telling you good-bye.”

Superintendent Pou immediately offered a reward of $400 for Peacock.

From the front page of The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

Matthews Baby Born With Two heads, Aug. 29, 1922

Baby With Two Heads

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Matthews have such an unusual baby that the announcement of its arrival almost forces a note in the press items of the day—it has two heads. The family live on a farm on the High Point road, and the curiosity has brought out a number of physicians as well as large members from the town and community to see a sight never witnessed here before. The doctors are doubtful of the child living.

--Thomasville Cor. Lexington Dispatch

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922

In Charlotte Courts, Aug. 30, 1922

Fined for Talking About Soldier Boys

Salisbury, Aug. 30—A young negro man in expressing his opinion of the soldiers on duty in Salisbury said they “looked like boy scouts and had no more training that a rabbit.” For this expression he was h

>s who were laying on the grass remarked to a friend that they looked like boy scouts. He was taken in charge and the case against him was later dismissed when he

apologized to Col. Don Scott and explained the circumstances under which he had made the statement.

From The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

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Will Try King in Murder Case. . . Farmer of County Will Be Arraigned on First Degree Charge Thursday

A venire of 50 men will report at the court house Thursday morning from which will be drawn a jury that will try

J.E. King, charged with the killing of Irwin Little, a Canadian who came through here last Summer and who had a quarrel with Little about timber rights on the Leon Potts farm south of the city.

Joe Si

ngleton, negro, who faced a trial of burglary in the first degree when court opened Wednesday morning, was sentenced to 12 months on the roads, after the warra

nt had been changed to burglary in the second degree. The defendant was represented by E.R. McCauley.

The defendan

t was arrested on the night of June 18, after a Mr. Freeland, who lives five miles from the city on the Lawyer’s Road, called the Charlotte police department and asked for immediate help because there was a burglar trying to get in his house. Chief of Police Orr and Officers Joe Paxton and Will McGrow answered the call and were witnesses in the trial of the case in court.

John Plyler, negro, was sentenced by Judge Webb to four months on the roads Wednesday morning after he had been found guilty of larceny.

Will Fesperman and John Caldwell, two negroes, were fined $50 and the costs for carrying concealed weapons.

Grover Stewart, negro, was being tried on a charge of assault when the forenoon session of the court adjourned. Connelly Robinson, attorney, represented him. A.B. Ensley and Grady Thomas, charged with forcible trespass, were fined $25 and the costs each.

Jim King, negro, was fined $25 and the costs after being found guilty of petit larceny.

From The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

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Brothers Quarrel Over an Old Mule

Ruth Palmer, a six-foot negro man, in spite of his feminine denomination, did not like the way in his brother, Allen Palmer, was maltreating the pet mule of the family, so he called him up about it and demanded that he stop “beatin’ dat mule.”

Allen, after the manner of brothers, did not like the ultimatum from the eldest born, and accordingly “lit in and cussed” Ruth for everything in the profane vocabulary with a few improvisation of his own. Ruth maintained the patience of Job, as long as he could, then he slapped Allen, the slap necessitating Ruth’s trial for an assault at Wednesday’s police court. Judge Jones said Ruth was not guilty, and instructed the brothers to compose their differences and treat the mule better.

E.A. Hurley entered a plea of guilty on the charge of having assaulted his wife, and prayer for judgment was continued. The assault was a technical one and committed while the defendant was under the influence of liquid dynamite in the form of corn whiskey.

Lem Russell, negro, was taxed with the expenses for driving an automobile by a street car while it was discharging passengers.

Josh Miller, negro, was fined $10 and the costs for operating an automobile in excess of the speed limit.

B.R. MacMahon was impoverished by $10 plus the costs of court for speeding on a motorcycle.

From The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

Buglars Stole 75 Pair Shoes From Newark Shoe Store, Aug. 30, 1922

Robbers Entered Newark Shoe Store. . . Approximately 75 Pairs of Shoes Were Taken Away

The Newark Shoe Store at 27 West Trade street was broken into by unknown persons between 3 o’clock Wednesday morning and daylight, and robbed of approximately 75 pairs of shoes valued at around $600.

The storebreakers forced an entrance at the rear door by cutting a small opening through the heavy steel wire, which covered the door, prying a plank therefrom and then, reaching through the aperture, removing the bar and unlocking the door. The burglars were evidently familiar with the store and knew exactly how to go about gaining entrance.

Manager Nash said that the robbers had taken particular pains to select shoes from recent shipments to supply the Fall demand, and as a result of this his stock had been badly impaired. He also said that it was his opinion that the marauders had some sort of conveyance because it would have been virtually impossible to have removed the merchandise without a vehicle.

The city detectives are investigating the robbery, but as yet have discovered nothing that might lead to the apprehension of the guilty parties. In the opinion of the police officials, the theft was committed by professional and expert criminals.

From The Charlotte News, Aug. 30, 1922

Construction Humming Along in Rockingham, Aug. 29, 1922

Business Hums In Old Rockingham. . . Leaksville-Spray-Draper Busy With Much Building

By Spray Arrow

Over $250,000 in contracts for public buildings and new homes for business concerns has been awarded in Leaksville township in the first six months of 1922. In addition to this, a big among of home building is going forward at a rate never before equaled, say old residents.

The decline in prices of building material and the abundance of labor have aided in starting the building sentiment. It is proving a great boon to the community for through the wages of the workmen, money is thrown into circulation, and trade is brisk. Another aid to better business conditions has been the water and sewer installation in Leaksville, for much of the money paid to the laborers has been used for purchasing supplies.

The greatest single building contract let was by the C.C. & W.M. Company to the Leaksville Lumber Company for the erection of a number of houses in all three towns. The contract totaled nearly $100,000. The houses with a total of 250 rooms are nearing completion.

The building of the school at Draper is another big job. Excavation is almost complete and it is thought certain that the contractor will not further delay, for he is penalized for every day after Dec. 1 in which the school is incomplete.

The school at New Leaksville, a $25,000 job by J.M. Hopper Construction Company, is a bit further advanced in that the concrete foundations have been poured, and further work waits only on arrival of brick.

One of the imposing new buildings is the home of the Twin-City Grocery Company on Boone road. The building of three stories is complete on the exterior, and work is being pushed to finish the whole job at an early date.

The garage of the Leaksville Motor Co., in process of erection on Henry street, Leaksville, is being pushed to completion. The Leaksville Lumber Company is in charge of the work.

On Washington street, Leaksville, ground has been leveled and space prepared for the magnificent new home of the recently created Leaksville Bank & Trust Co. This building of two stories will be the home office of the concern that has a branch on the Boulevard at Spray.

In Spray on Morgan street near the site of the Carolina Club House, destroyed by fire a few years ago, a handsome brick and reinforced concrete structure is being built for the millinery and retail store of Mrs. A.S. Hopper. The building will soon be completed.

One thing is hindering rapid execution of the work. That is the shortage of brick, due to the unprecedented demand. The local yard of J.M. Hopper has been unable to meet the demand, and the strike of the railroad shopmen has made shipments slow and uncertain.

The building of a big city seems well on its way, and contractors and business men look forward to a steady rush in the building business.

One very original and substantial house is worthy of special mention. J.M. Hopper Construction Company is erecting the $10,000 residence of J.W. Norman on Hamilton street. This residence is being made of the very best possible material. Mr. Norman states that he doesn’t expect the cost of upkeep for any year to exceed one per cent of the total cost of erection, and this of course is extraordinary.

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922

Teachers for Reidsville Public Schools Opening Sept. 11, 1922

Teachers Selected for City’s Schools

Following is the faculty of the Reidsville Graded Schools which open on September 11th:

P.H. Gwynn Jr., superintendent

High School

J. Minor Gwynn, principal

W.D. Lambeth, Brown Summit

Miss Janie Stacy, Reidsville

Miss Donie Counts, Laurens, S.C.

Miss Pauline Whitley, Zebulon

Miss Ethel Honaker, Wytheville

Miss Mary Wilson Brown, Yanceyville

Miss Ruth Winslow, Elizabeth City

Miss Mary McConnel, East Radford, Va.

Miss Bessie Holmes, Graham, 7th Grade

Franklin Street

Miss Bessie Bennett, Reidsville, 1st Grade

Miss Annie Hundley, Leaksville, 1st Grade

Miss Mabel B. Brooks, Goldsboro, 2nd Grade

Miss Hattie Fore, Pampln, Va., 2nd Grade

Miss Louise Baisley, Reidsville, 3rd Grade

Miss Lucile Buchanan, Lexington, 3rd Grade

Miss Ivey Paylor, Woodsdale, 4th Grade and Principal

Miss Mary Sheffield, Ruffin, 4th Grade

Miss Sara Wilkins, Rutherfordton, 5th Grade

Miss Alma Ruth Woodruff, Roanoke, Va., 6th Grade

Miss Julia Rust, Bridgewater, 6th Grade

Lawsonville Avenue

J.W. Bennett, Reidsville, Principal and 7th Grade

Mrs. R.R. Ratcliffe, Reidsville, 5th Grade

Miss Nell Frashure, Reidsville, 4th Grade

Miss Mary Griffin, Shelby, 3rd Grade

Miss Carolyn Burke, Richmond, Va., 2nd Grade

Miss Rosalie Wells, Elm City, 2nd Grade

Mrs. P.G. Gwaltney, Reidsville, 1st Grade

Mrs. Andrew G. Burnett, Hubbard, Ohio, 1st Grade

Supervisors

Miss F.B. Gardner, Grades 1 to 7

Mrs. Francis Womack, Music

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922

Rotarians See Need for TB Hospital for Rockingham County, Aug. 29, 1922

Rotarians Want a County Tuberculosis Hospital

The local Rotarians, at their last meeting, talked favorably of having a good delegation at the opening of Rockingham county’s cottage at the Jackson Training School for Boys, Concord, in October. It was stated that the officers in charge of this school desire that Rockingham county should be well represented on this occasion.

Some phase of Rockingham county’s activities is a subject of favorable comment at every meeting of the Rotary Club. It is either her system of good roads; the playgrounds, the Farm Life School now being constructed near Wentworth, the cottage at Jackson Training School, or some other progressive step worthy of mention that brings forth the assertion that Rockingham county is the best county in North Carolina.

It was at the last meeting of the club that a visitor was telling of the club that a visitor was telling of the county’s progress. The members present were delighted to hear their county’s praise sung by an outsider, but Durwood Mayberry expressed himself as not being satisfied with present conditions. He thinks that it is about time that we, as a county, began thinking of our unfortunate victims of T.B., and set about the work providing the county with a tubercular hospital. This suggestion brought cheers of approval from all members present. It was the unanimous opinion that the Reidsville Rotary Club should encourage any movement of this nature that may be started.

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922

Monday, August 29, 2022

Junior Order Elects State Officers; Commits to Build Orphanage in N.C., Aug. 29, 1922

J.M. Sharp State Junior Vice Councilor

Reidsville delegates who attended the Junior Order State meeting last week in Wilmington report a great time. They were especially pleased that a Reidsville man was elected to one of the State offices. The council will meet next year in Durham.

The officers elected are State Councilor, Judge A.S. Carlton, Salisbury; State Vice Councilor, J.M. Sharp, Reidsville; State Secretary, re-elected Sam F. Vance, Kernersville; State Assistant Secretary, re-elected, J.H. Gilley, Winston-Salem; State Treasurer, G.P. Hood, Elizabeth City; State Warden, J.P. Crouch, Winston-Salem; State Conductor, S.L. Pardue, North Wilkesboro; State Outside Sentinel, H.D. Bass, Statesville; State Inside Sentinel, re-elected, J.N. Nelson, Morganton; State Chaplain, Rev. C.A. G. Thomas, Rocky Mount.

The National representatives elected were Fred O. Sink, Lexington; L.D. Mendenhall, Greensboro; Grover Glenn, Raleigh; H.I. Sapp, Winston-Salem; Numa R. Reid of Wentroth, and Woodus Kellum of Wilmington were elected to the short-term national representatives’ places.

One of the most important matters brought before the State council was a resolution providing for the establishment of the National Orphans Home in North Carolina. With the approval of the National Orphans Home trustee at Tiffin, Ohio, it is proposed to have a branch orphan home in some suitable place in North Carolina, where the children of deceased members of the order may be cared for. The resolution was adopted, caried with it the assessment of each member 25 cents each quarter, or $1 per annum, and the order having 50,000 members in the State, this would raise $50,000 for the construction of the home.

The financial report showed that the State Council was in a splendid condition, having a balance in hand of $46,456.50. It was unanimously agreed to establish an official organ periodical to be issued monthly to the 50,000 members of the order at the expense of the State Council.

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1922. The Junior Order United American Mechanics National Orphans Home would be located in Lexington and consisted of five major buildings built between 1925 and 1932.

Percy Link Found Dead on Eve of His Marriage, Aug. 29, 1922

Youth Found Dead on Eve of His Marriage

A special from Lincolnton says the body of young Percy Link was found dead by the roadside two miles East of town at 7 o’clock this morning. A coroner’s jury was empaneled, and according to evidence given, the young man with several companions had been drinking more or less the night before, and it is thought perhaps they might have gotten hold of some new brandy and took too much with fatal results. The verdict of the jury was alcoholic poisoning.

One of the sad features connected with the tragedy was the fact that he was to be married next week.

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922

Comings and Goings in Rockingham County, Aug. 29, 1922

Movements of the Passing Throngs

Miss Earleene Mason visiting relatives in Madison.

P.H. Gwynn is spending a few days in West Virginia.

J.H. Bennett is buying tobacco on the Mullins, S.C., market.

Jas. S. Paschal of Durham spent the week-end here with friends.

Irvin M. Craig of Wilmington spent Sunday here with relatives.

Mrs. C.L. Firesheets and children are visiting relatives near Marion.

Mrs. Lucy Trotter has returned from a visit to relatives in Roxboro.

S.N. White is visiting relatives in Lynchburg and Waynesboro, Va.

D.K. Burton of Houston, Va., spent the week-end with relatives here.

A. Weinstein has returned from a buying trip for his firm, S. Heiner & Co.

Mrs. J.B. Balsley has returned from a visit to relatives in Baltimore.

Miss Margaret R. Womack has returned from a visit to Virginia resorts.

Mrs. T.H. Burton and daughter Margie visited relatives in Danville last week.

A.W. Bobbitt has returned to Farmville after spending several days here.

Master John Tuttle and sister, Martha, of Madison, are visiting relatives here.

Miss Annie Amos of Chatham, Va., is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Amos.

Margaret and Wilbur Amos have returned to Kinston after visiting relatives in and near town.

Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Pleasants and little daughter, of Greensboro, were guests of relatives here Sunday.

Wm. Young has returned home from a week’s visit to his daughter, Mrs. J.R. Thomas, near Greensboro.

Mrs. A.J. Ellington and Miss Kathrene Ellington have returned from a visit to relatives in Madison.

Mrs. G.L. Irvin, Mrs. R.L. Watt and George Irvin Jr. have returned form a motor trip to “The Land of the Sky.”

Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Blackwell and daughter have returned to Savannah, Ga., after a trip to relatives in Reidsville.

Mrs. Sam Fels has returned from Northern markets where she has been buying goods for Fels’ Department Store.

D.R. Allen, who is buying tobacco on one of the South Carolina markets, spent the week-end here with this family.

Robt. Hairston, who buys tobacco on one of the Eastern Carolina markets, spent the week-end here with his family.

Miss Pattie Gunn of Pelham and Miss Ethel Jones of Leaksville are the guests of Miss Florence Jones on Wyatt street.

Bob Loomis, premier pitcher on the Reidsville club, later with Hamlet, has been spending a few days here with friends.

Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Penn came in Sunday from New York. The former is convalescing after an illness lasting a couple of weeks.

Miss Lottie Spessard, formerly of Reidsville, now of Baltimore, was a visitor recently in the home of M.W. Pleasants, South Main street.

Rev. W.E. Goode is expected to return this week from his vacation and will preach at the First Baptist church Sunday morning and night.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jones of Greensboro and Robert Francis of Hendersonville spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Hubbard on Piedmont street.

Rev. E.N. Johnson and family of Dunn are visiting Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Richardson on Lindsey street. Rev. Mr. Johnson preached at the Baptist church here Sunday morning and night. Large crowds were out to hear this gifted preacher.

Dr. J.A. Williams will return this morning after an absence of two months, during which he toured places of interest in England and Europe. A.L. Brooks, who accompanied Dr. Williams, is spending some time in New York with relatives and will return about September 1. (Greensboro News)

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, Aug. 29, 1922. Kathreen? Earleene? That’s how the names were spelled in The Review.

Reidsville Review, Tuesday, August 29, 1922

Wachovia's New Burglar Alarm Frightens Bank Robbers, Aug. 29, 1922

Attempt to Rob Bank at Raleigh. . . Wachovia’s New Branch There Had Burglar Alarm Which Frightened Men Away

Raleigh, Aug. 29—An attempt to rob the large vault of the Wachovia Bank and Trust company, recently opened in this city, was frustrated shortly after midnight last night when the electric burglar alarm did its work on time and frightened off three men, who used a high powered automobile in fleeing the scene. Beyond three and four indentions around the combination lock of the vault, no damage was done inside or outside the bank.

The county officer trailed the three men he saw enter the automobile after coming from an alley at the bank, but he lost them about a mile from town.

The trio had their hats pulled down over their faces. One touch of the door to the vault was sufficient to start the electric burglar alarm on the outside of the building.

From the front page of the Twin City Sentinel, Winston-Salem, Aug. 29, 1922

Commissioner Watts Improves, Gov. Morrison Paroled Charles Hanna, Governor to Set Coal Prices During Shortage, Aug. 29, 1922

Watts Returns From Hospital Much Improved. . . Will Resume Management at Early Date; No Idea of Quitting. . . Parole to Man Who Held Up Bootlegger. . . Prices of Various Grades Coal for State to Be Announced Today

By Brock Barkley

Raleigh, Aug. 28—Revenue Commissioner A.D. Watts, back in Raleigh after undergoing hospital treatment in Richmond and Baltimore, is greatly improved in health. He expects to leave tomorrow for Statesville for further treatment under his physician, Dr. Isong.

While the health of the commissioner has been the cause of concern to his friends for some months, examinations at Richmond and Baltimore hospitals revealed that his ailment is temporary, and he expects to return from Statesville totally relieved of his trouble.

The commissioner was interested in the “report” of “reports” that he expected to quit. He was as much in the dark as to the point of origination of the report that he planned to retire as he was in the report that these reports were abroad. He has had no intention of resigning and his great improvement in health leads him to expect to take up actual management of his department at an early date, it as explained.

Paroles Young Man

Governor Morrison today paroled Charles M. Hanna, young wake county white man, sentenced 18 months ago to five years in the State’s prison for holding up a gang of alleged bootleggers and taking their cargo of whiskey.

“The young man’s record is not good, but I believe that taking this whiskey away from the blind tiger crowd, for which he has served already 18 months, is the only very serious charge against him,” the governor said in his statement as to his reasons for the parole.

The solicitor who prosecuted Hanna recommended his parole, as did the members of prominent Wake county people, including Mrs. Clarence Johnson, superintendent of public welfare for the State.

Hanna held up the gang of alleged bootleggers and took their whiskey. Charges of highway robbery were brought against him, and he was sentenced to five years. No statement is made as to what became of the bootleggers.

Working on Coal Prices

State Fuel Distributor R.O. Self was working today on the set of prices to be ordered for retail sales of coal in the State. He expects to announce tomorrow the prices on all the various grades of coal. All dealers must comply with these prices to get deliveries and it is impossible for them to get fuel except under an order of the fuel distributor. The prices which will be fixed will be fair and just to both consumer and dealer, Mr. Self said.

From the front page of the Winston-Salem Journal, Aug. 29, 1922

Armand De Rossett Myers Dies As Result of Car Accident, Aug. 29, 1922

Auto Accident Fatal to Armand Myers

Charlotte, Aug. 28—Armand De Rossett Myers, prominent young Charlotte man, died at the Charlotte sanitorium of injuries received Saturday night in Myers Park, this city, when he, Stephen Miller and Arthur Nord, two other prominent young men, were overturned in Myers’ car. Mr. Miller was severely but not seriously injured and is improving at St. Peters Hospital. Mr. Nord received only a few bruises.

Mr. Myers’ funeral Monday afternoon was largely attended.

From the front page of the Winston-Salem Journal, Aug. 29, 1922

Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt, Rev. Tom Jimison to Speak at Lexington Events, Aug. 29, 1922

Mrs. Vanderbilt Will Be Speaker. . . Davidson to Celebrate Centennial Occasion September 26. . . Is Interesting Program. . . Jimison to Be Labor Day Speaker

Lexington, Aug. 28—Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt of Biltmore, president of the North Carolina State Fair, will be speaker and guest of honor at the celebration of the centennial of Davidson County, which will be formally observed here September 26 in connection with the opening of the four day county fair. Mrs. Vanderbilt has just written Major Wade H. Phillips, chairman of the centennial committee, accepting the invitation extended her several days ago.

Preparations are being made to stage one of the most notable programs in the history of the county. A number of notable persons from this and other states are expected to be present. Invitations are being sent to many former Davidson County folks now living in other counties and states, urging them to come back for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the county from Rowan.

A centennial exposition is being arranged by the manufacturers of the county in which it is expected to display every manufactured product of the county. This will be staged in connection with the fair. Pageants representing various periods of the county will also be staged and the day will open with a parade that is expected to be a bumper. Davidson invites the whole State to be her guests on September 26.

Jimison to Speak

Rev. Tom P. Jimison of Spencer, who has figured so prominently in the rail strike situation there today accepted an invitation to deliver the principal address at the Labor Day celebration to be held at Willowmoore Springs, 10 miles east of Lexington. Preparations are being made at this new resort place for a gala day and it is expected that several thousand will attend. Mr. Jimison will select his own subject.

From the front page of the Winston-Salem Journal, Aug. 29, 1922

Winston-Salem's Three Newspapers, Aug. 29, 1922

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Percy Link, 20, Found Dead in Edwards Woods After Night of Drinking, Aug. 28, 1922

Young Man Found Dead in Woods

Last Friday morning about 8 o’clock, Percy Link, age 20, an employee of the Dixie Café in Lincolnton, was found dead in the Edwards woods in the edge of town at a point a short distance off the Lithia Inn road.

Sheriff Abernethy and Chief Fairies were notified and they visited the spot in company with a number of citizens, the news of the finding of the lifeless body having spread rapidly. Coroner Warlick was called, and an inquest held. The coroner’s jury was composed of W.H. Childs, H.A. Jonas, J.L. Thompson, R.J. Sifford, G.L. Heavner, and J.L. Harve. The premises were examined by the jury and coroner and the dead body was also examined by County physician Saine, and Dr. J.R. Gamble, following which the body was removed to the Warlick undertaking establishment where the inquest was continued. The coroner’s jury at 1 o’clock returned this verdict: “We find no evidence of foul play in connection with the death of Percy Lin; that his death was caused by congestion of the lungs.” The witnesses appearing before the coroner’s jury in connection with the death of this young man were C.H. Huffsteller, John A. Caldwell, Summey Bynum and Lee & Lawing, proprietors of the Dixie Café in whose employ Link was engaged.

The evidence of Bynum and Caldwell was that the unfortunate young man was drinking the night before death. He worked at the Café until 7:30 Thursday night and left the café in company with Summey Bynum. Later in the evening about 11 o’clock Link, who had gotten drunker than anticipated, engaged the service car of Huffsteller to carry him to the woods where the police could not get him, and in company with Bynum and Caldwell the driver went to the Edwards woods Inn section and near midnight at Link’s request put Link out of the car and left him in the woods on the side of the road. Caldwell stayed with Link until a late hour, and as he did not recover from his drunken stupor Caldwell left him and went home. Caldwell returned to Link early Friday morning and found him still in what was thought a drunken stupor. That was about 6 o’clock and he was breathing alright, Caldwell related. Caldwell, seeing that Link was in plain view of the public road, called another man who assisted him in moving Link further from the road, into an open field. About 8 o’clock Caldwell returned to the spot with others to look after Link and with intention of moving him in out of the rain and was horrified to find that he was not breathing, and was apparently dead.

Percy Link was a quiet, unassuming young man. Those who knew him best say they had not known of his drinking before and his untimely death brought sorrow to a host of friends and acquaintances. He had been employed at the Dixie Café for about three months, and was formerly with Charlotte Cafes, in which city he had made his home for a number of years.

The untimely death of this splendid young fellow is another terrible tragedy as a result of strong drink, and whether it does nor not, should serve as a warning to others.

Link was a son of Mr. Bob Link, who lives just over the Lincoln county line in Catawba Count, and who was in town Friday, broken hearted and dejected. Mr. Link said he had heard nothing but good reports from the conduct of his son in Lincolnton until his death was reported to him Friday at 9 o’clock. The father and other relatives and friends accompanied the body to the home of the parents Friday afternoon.

The funeral and burial services were conducted last Saturday at Centerview church in Catawba County, by Rev. J.A. Snow, his pastor, and the remains laid to rest in the church cemetery. One of the largest crowds ever attending a funeral at that church was present for the last said rites.

The deceased is survived by his grief stricken parents and four brothers, one of his brothers living in Michigan and did not reach home until Sunday, and two sisters, and a large number of other relatives and friends. He had a large number of friends in Lincolnton who frequented the Café where he was employed, and various patrons of the Café who had made his acquaintance during his short residence here, were impressed with the courteous, gentlemanly bearing of young Link, and with the manner in which he rendered service to Dixie patrons, and they could hardly realize it was he who was the principal in the tragedy.

The sympathy of this community goes out to the sadly bereaved mother, father, and sisters and brothers, all of whom are among our most highly respected citizens.

From the front page of the Lincoln County News, Lincolnton, N.C., Aug. 28, 1922.

'Cyclone Mack' McLendon Tells How He Turned to God at Revival, Aug. 28, 1922

McLendon Tells His Life Story. . . Last Friday Night Congregation Heard Cyclone Mack Tell Story of How Checkered Career Was Left Behind and How He Became a Child of God. . . The Story of My Life. . . Last Friday Night

Last Friday night at the McLendon tent meeting, Cyclone Mack’s subject was ”The Story of My Life.” A great crowd was present and heard Mr. McLendon tell how God lifted him from degradation to regeneration. His subject last Saturday night was “The New Birth” and another great congregation filled the big tent. The people were interested in every word of his life story last Friday night, as Mr. McLendon bared is life to public gaze.

The first chapter of the story was one filled with dripping blood, gambling dens, vivid with sordidness and aching with sin and shame. He flashed on the minds of his hearers pictures of grim-faced men around poker tables with the sky as the limit. He visualized dirty, ill-smelling beer stands and barroom that fairly reeked with the odor of stale beer and pungent whiskey.

The second chapter was one filled with aches and tears and heart-throbs. He brought before the people a pleading Christ that was begging for his life. He told of flinging away his dice, giving up his beloved bull dogs and game chickens, and finally yielding to the call to which he was born. The chapter reached a gripping climax as he stood on his chair and cried, “People, I am called to preach. If you ever want to see a man that was called to preach and called through 14 long dreary years, why just look at the man before you.”

The third chapter was filled with fine figures of speech. The preacher pictured the God that pulls down the rainbow, weaves it into a scarf and flings it on the shoulders of the retreating storm. He told how the stars sand and when he came out of the tent after accepting the call that had rung in his ears through all the odor and stench of the first chapter. He told how the trees bowed and said, “We are glad, Mack,” and finally ended the chapter with a stirring plea for a better Lincolnton, and a bigger and truer belief and acceptance of the Christ he preaches.

Many people left the tent with tears still in their eyes and men, big and stalwart men, walked down the aisles and wept as they took the preacher’s hand in a covenant for a better life and a belief in the Savior the evangelist held before the audience.

Mack got down to business Friday night. There was nothing sensational. He used no slang, and his new gestures only emphasized the point he was making. He described how the Lord called him to preach when he was a child 14 years old. He told of how he and his father drove 12 miles to the town of Bennettsville, and hear a marvelous sermon by Dr. Carrodine, who when he called for converts looked back in the rear of the tent and said, “You boys come up here and accept Christ, there are caskets of possibilities locked up in some of you, and no doubt will call some of you boys to preach, if you will yield, you will be a blessing to the world.”

Here Mack told how it dawned upon him that to this end he was born. He said the light flashed and dazzled and scintillated around him and he sat there bewildered with wonder, and amazed at the Great God that weaved the rainbow into the scarf and wrapped it around the shoulders of the dying storm; the God that threw out planets and fixed stars and controlled universes, the God that dipped his fingers in the might sea of eternity and shook out on this world oceans to drop and rivers to stream, had condescended to put his hand on a little insignificant illiterate boy and call him to preach.

Sat and Trembled

“I sat and trembled and shook like a leaf in the autumn wind. For days my meals remained untasted and my sleep left me, and I could see Dr. Carradine walking the rostrum and singing the Prince of Peace is now passing, the light of his face is upon me, and when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for me. I would walk the floor at night and wring my hands and beg God to take the call away from me. Very often at 2 o’clock in the morning I would go way out in an old dark orchard and get on my knees and put my head against an old peach tree that leaned towards the east and beg God to relieve me of the call of preaching.”

Then he told how he left home to get away from a religious atmosphere and a holy environment and deliberately went out into a life of sin to murder that monitor that was in his breast; to kill the footprints of deity, that was in his soul. Here he described how sin stabbed his conscience and although he went north and south and east and west, it made no difference. If he was on the Bowery in New York or five miles under a coal mine or in a saloon slinging stale beer while chips were rattling and dice a rolling and beer bottles popping and men swearing and blaspheming, God would speak and say, “Mack, you are throwing away your life. I have called you to preach.”

Psalm 66:16 “Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what He hath done for my soul.” I hadn’t been to a church or darkened the door of any means of grace in six years except one—I was in Wadesboro and on one occasion my wife, who was from Good Presbyterian stock, persuaded me to go to a little Presbyterian church, and I went to sleep on the pastor, much to her regret and humiliation and to my condemnation. I had gone down the sin line until my brain was clouded by dissipation; a moral derelict, on the mat ready to take the count, nothing more than a danger signal, hung up to warn the coming generation; home a hell, mother’s heart broken, father’s hopes blighted.

I think one of the first things that made me think was this: Brown, who managed my shop, passed by my father’s home and my mother called him in and asked him how I was getting along. I hadn’t been home for some time, and Brown told her that I was going at the same old gait, and he said she looked at him and the tears ran down her face and she sobbed and said: “Baxter, I believe, is gone; we have just about given him up and we have held on to God for him for years and it seems now that he has passed redemption.” She said there was going to be a revival in Bennettsville in a few days and if that didn’t reach me I was gone. Brown came on to the shop and told me the conversation he had with my mother, how she wept over my lost condition. I told him I had trouble of my own and never to mention to me anything that my people said about me. But when I thought of my old broken-hearted mother, with her tear-stained face, weeping over me my happiness, and what little joy I had was turned into wormwood.

. . . .

From the front page of the Lincoln County News, Lincolnton, N.C., Aug. 28, 1922. To read the rest of his story, go to newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068449/1922-08-28/ed-1/seq-4/.

Lincoln County News, Lincolnton, N.C., Aug. 28, 1922

Infidels Teaching Wayne County Students? Grand Jury Investigates and Finds None, Aug. 28, 1922

What Is an Infidel?

Now that Jerry Jerome has certified to the grand jury that there are no infidels teaching school in this county, and the Grand Jury has in turn reported it to the court and the public, we may all feel safe. Judicially the instructors of youth are orthodox.

Suppose some of them had been found who are not orthodox? We wonder if they would have had the nerve to take the punishment like old Socrates did when he was condemned to death as a corrupter of youth because he trifled with the gods of Greece and discoursed upon the doctrine of immortality. They hardly took the grand jury as seriously as that we may imagine, or rather, Mr. Jerome, speaking for them, must not have taken it so seriously. It has too long been known that orthodoxy is my doxy and heterodoxy is your doxy for anyone to take seriously an inquiry by a grand jury as to the religious belief of anyone.

But the serious part is, if there is anything serious about it, that this is a confusion of the function of a grand jury in this day and time. The business of a grand jury is to investigate law breaking and when it finds probable evidence of crime to present the same to the court for further action. Now, it is not unlawful to hold any kind of religious views in this country. In fact, the right to hold any kind of religious view is the basic rock of Americanism and the first principle of the constitution. Nobody can commit an unlawful offence by holding or not holding religious views, and no grand jury can lawfully inquire into such matters. The State cannot even pass a law to this effect, must less enforce an imaginary one. So firmly is the idea that no man shall be punished for his theoretical views on anything grounded in the American mind that a man cannot commit treason, even, except by an overt act.

It is generally believed that the writings of Tom Paine had a great effect in shaping the spirit of liberty which finally resulted in the declaration of independence, written by Jefferson, a man himself reputed to be what today people would perhaps term an infidel.

At this late day a discussion of this kind would be utterly out of date were it not for one fact. That fact is the proneness people have of confusing mere creed, or theoretical religious belief, with morals and duty. Before we can get very far in religious development, we must learn that religion is not creed. That morals are not creeds, that the duties of life have little relation to theories of the creation. Infidelity to a creed is no longer considered of great moment in the world. What is of great moment is infidelity to duty and life’s obligations. Infidelity, like treason, is an overt act. Men’s minds are constantly becoming more hazy on the theory of the original cause and the ultimate result of the universe, and more definite on the problems and duties of life. Christianity is becoming much more practical and helpful, wholesome and uplifting as the days go by. We are constantly coming more and more to approach the life of Jesus, and his teachings, as the essential thing in religion, and getting further and further away from the old beliefs which make up that huge bundle of writings and disputation which is known as orthodoxy and unorthodoxy. It seems to us that one who can get a clear understanding of this idea is putting himself in the way of much more happiness for himself and usefulness to others.

From the editorial page of the Goldsboro News, Aug. 28, 1922

Two Unidentified Negroes Killed, Four Injured When Passenger Train No. 1 Strikes Car, Aug. 28, 1922

Two Negroes Killed in Railroad Smash. . . Four Injured, Taken to Hamlet Hospital, Are Reported Seriously Hurt

Raleigh, Aug. 28—Two negro men were instantly killed and three other men and two women, also colored, were injured this morning at 6:50 o’clock when Seaboard Air Line passenger train No. 1, southbound, struck the automobile in which they were riding at a crossing between New Hill and Apex, about 17 miles from Raleigh. Four of the injured, who were taken to a hospital at Hamlet, are reported to be in a serious condition and two are not expected to live.

None of the negroes was identified except one, who gave his name as Morris McIver, 18, of Cummock, N.C. He escaped with slight injuries. McIver could not give the names of the other six occupants of the machine.

The bodies of the two negro men were turned over to the undertaking establishment at Sanford to await further efforts at identification.

The authorities have been unable to ascertain details of how the accident occurred. From the wreckage of the automobile, it appeared that the car also was headed southbound and was struck when it tried to cross ahead of the train. Fragments of what appeared to be fruit jars with an odor of liquor were found at the scene.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Aug. 28, 1922

Day After John Denning Appears Before Judge Allen for Gambling, He Is Arrested for Burglary When He Is Caught in Hotel Room, Aug. 28, 1922

Denning Is Jailed on Burglary Charge. . . Young Goldsboro Man is Found in Room at Kennon Occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Perce

Sounds of a struggle, punctuated by cries of “Help! Help!” attracted the attention of the Night Clerk Ward at the Kennon about midnight yesterday. Rushing to room No. 301, where the cries emanated, Mr. Ward found S.F. Perce, a guest, struggling with an intruder. When the man was quieted and the lights turned on, he was found to be John Denning, young Goldsboro man, who was one of the 13 poker players bailed before Judge Oliver H. Allen yesterday afternoon. He was jailed on a burglar charge, Officer J.G. Langston making the arrest.

With his wife, Mr. Perce arrived here on a late train yesterday evening. They had been asleep but a few minutes before Mr. Perce was awakened by the scraping of a belt buckle on the iron bedstead. He listened intensely for a few second. There was a repetition of the noise. His eyes having become accustomed to the darkness, Mr. Perce managed to make out the figure of a man bending over the foot of his bed. He made a lunge for the intruder.

Mrs. Perce, awakened by the struggle, lay terror stricken while her husband tussled with young Denning. When Night Clerk Ward arrived he found the pair almost exhausted by the struggle.

Upon the appearance of J.C. Vanstory, the proprietor of the hotel, and Officer Langston, a search of Mr. Perce’s pockets were made. Two dollars, later found under the bed, were found missing.

Denning denied touching any money, or that robbery was his motive. He had been drinking, he said, and “just wandered in the room.” In fact, he declared that he was too drunk to realize his predicament.

Mr. and Mrs. Perce are from Henderson.

Denning is married and the father of one or two children, it was stated this morning. He was not registered at the hotel, the presumption being that he gained the stairs to the third floor by walking boldly through the lobby. There are so many guests going and coming at this hour that egress in this manner is possible without detection. The door to Mr. Pearce’s room was not locked.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Aug. 28, 1922. The victim’s name was spelled Perce until the last sentence, when it was spelled Pearce. I don’t know which is correct.

Ernest Brown, 22, Promises Vengeance Against Duke Wagner and Lijah Parker, Who Aren't Worrying About It, Aug. 28, 1922

Gets 18-Year Sentence, Swears Vengeance on His Prosecutors

While they were taking Ernest Brown, colored, 22 years of age, back to jail yesterday after Judge Oliver H. Allen had passed an 18-year sentence on him for second-degree murder, he espied the two negroes, Duke Wagner and Lijah Parker, who were witnesses against him. He gave them a stern look and said in an awful voice: “Niggers, when I gits out I’s comin’ back and all I’s got say is you better be done and leff here. I’s comin’ back to git you!”

Duke and Lijah gave him the horse laugh, “Lord nigger,” said Lijah, “when you through servin’ 18 years you’ll have too many whiskers to git anybody. You’ll be too blamed glad to git out!”

“And anyway,” added Duke. “Us is got a long time to live. Ei-teen years. Whew! Lijay and me’ll have grandchildren before you git through with dem roads. But take care of yourself.”

“Yes, take good care of yourself, Arnest. Us’ll be plum glad to see you when you gits out.”

And Deputy Sheriff Rhodes and Officer Langston carried Earnest on.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Aug. 28, 1922. Yes, the N-word is in this story. But it was in the original story, and the purpose of this blog is to show what you would see and hear and have to live with 100 years ago.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Familiar Car Troubles in Aug. 27, 1922

From The Goldsboro News Aug. 27, 1922

Bringing Up Father Cartoon by George McManus, Aug. 27, 1922

Bringing Up Father

Jiggs and Maggie, Irish immigrants raising their thoroughly modern daughter Nora, a syndicated cartoon by George McManus, himself raised by Irish immigrants.

“Sufferin’ cats”

“I want you to go in and see the back of daughter’s dress! She’s got to change it."

“I’ll go look at it.”

“I had her change it.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“She had the front in the back!”

This particular strip was run in The Goldsboro News Aug. 27, 1922. The cartoon strip was begun in 1913 and was created by George McManus until his death in 1954. The daughter Nora was modeled after McManus’ wife, the former Florence Bergere. After McManus’ death, the cartoon was produced by Vernon Greene and Frank Fletcher. Sometimes it was published under the name Jiggs and Maggie, and other times Maggie and Jiggs.

The photo of George McManus was taken in 1952 for an advertisement for the By (Buy?) Pan American Coffee Bureau - page 140 Life magazine, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35168624

President Pease Names Charlotte Rotary Club Committee Members, Aug. 27, 1922

Rotary Committees Chosen for Year. . . President Pease Announces His Selection

President J. Narman Pease has announced the personnel of the standing committees of the Charlotte Rotary Club to serve until January 1st as follows:

Finance: Luther Snyder, Bill Hodges, Frank Matthews.

Club Correspondent: Ernest Dechant.

Song Committee: Ham Jones, Melvin O’Grady, Boots Andrews.

Public Affairs: Mel Murphy, Guy Myers, Bill Reynolds.

Publicity: Julian Miller, Jim Parham, Bill Arp Lowrance.

Program Rural Education: Paul Whitlock, Ham McKay, Rogers Davis, Perrin Quarles.

Entertainment: Bert Skelding, Buddy Horton, Myers Hunter, Henry Dockery, Stuart Gilchrist, Harry Franklin, Ed Heller.

Fellowship: Frank Moser, Ed Hook, Solon Hoggard, Sterling Graydon, Charles Nevitt.

Health and Happiness: Lawrence Miller, Brodie Nalle, Bill Williford, Louis Ratcliffe.

Parks and Playgrounds: Joe Garibaldi, David Probert, Frank Dowd.

Shop Talks: Dave Clark.

Boys’ Work: Cyril Smith, Fort McAfee, Sam Moore.

Attendance: Dennis Myers, Bill Pritchard, Wylie Obenshain.

From the Charlotte News, Sunday, Aug. 27, 1922

Jury Finds Howard Brown Not Guilty of Murder of Albert Besharra, Aug. 27, 1922

Mother Weeps and Thanks Jury When Son Is Acquitted. . . Young Brown Found Not Guilty and Demonstration Narrowly Avoided. . . More Eloquence in Both Sides of Case. . . Hard Fought Battle Which Attracted Widespread Attention Especially of Women in City, Came to End Yesterday Afternoon

A great feeling of relief swept over the hundreds of men and women packed in the court room clear up to the bar when the foreman of the jury yesterday pronounced the magic words, “Not Guilty!” and Howard Brown could again go out in the world a free youth. That was what they had come to see and that’s what they saw. There was rustle. They were about to make another demonstration, but Sheriff Grant, after yesterday’s tempestuous scene, was on the look out, lifted his hand, and shouted for order before it had begun.

But he could not prevent Mrs. Brown from bursting into tears, throwing both arms around her son, and in her joy rushing up and almost embracing the jurors. Perhaps neither he nor Judge Allen thought of preventing it. It was all over—the waiting, the anxiety, the storm, the eloquence, the hope, the fear, and all that had followed the trial through nearly three days of dramatic suspense, all were gone. So was Albert Beshara’s brother, who sat just behind the prosecution through the trial. He vanished in a moment and only the pleased citizenship who had come out to see Brown’s acquittal and who had shown where they stood from the first, remained to shake hands and to congratulate. Among them were many of Howard’s school chums.

And so ended a Wayne county murder trial that had gone through two and a half nerve-racking days for the public, and which had attracted more attention, and been favored with more public opinion, it is declared by responsible citizens, than any in years. A hundred women of the W.C.T.U. and the Women’s Federation have been in court throughout the two days and a half.

Events moved tensely yesterday. Judge W.S. O’B. Robinson spoke, Col J.D. Langston, and Solicitor Siler, Judge Allen charged the jury about noon,

the jury retired, and the court adjourned until 2 o’clock. It had been convened at 9 o’clock this morning, a half hour earlier than the preceding mornings.

Judge Allen Disagrees

In charging the jury Judge Oliver H. Allen disagreed with Solicitor Siler’s opinion on the influence of the fine oratory on the court and his disagreed with Judge Robinson’s interpretation of the law on manslaughter, which the latter had read to the jury in his speech. Judge Allen said he believed the eloquence of the bar had done as much to promote the spirit of liberty as any other thing he knew of. “Enough cannot be said about the love of the home, the protection of home and mother,” he declared, and while one should not be swayed, the effect was good, he added. He believed too, that there was no danger of tearing down the temple of justice by listening to such things as the prosecution had intimated, and advised the jury to render such a verdict as they thought proper under the circumstances.

Rehearses the Evidence

The substance of the evidence he said, was the prisoner found the deceased in his house, or his father’s house, heard or said he heard an outcry from his mother, went in the house and found her saying, “He’s taken advantage of me,” got his gun and pursued the deceased, or rather followed him. There was some kind of encounter at the store, according to the Judge’s recollection, where the prisoner shot the deceased, but he advised the jurors to take it “according to their recollection.”

Judge Allen then read the defendant’s complete statement published yesterday. He told the jurors that the law was that the defendant could testify in his own behalf, but that it was the jury’s duty to scrutinize his evidence closely to see if he was telling the truth, and if they believed he was, to accept his evidence as that of any other witness.

It was the contention of the state, said the judge, that the defendant got his gun and pursued the deceased for the purpose of killing him. It was their duty to find the facts from the evidence. “Did the prisoner pursue the deceased with the intention or purpose of killing him or only to get an explanation as he says? Did the deceased seize the prisoner and did the prisoner think he was in danger of great bodily harm?”

Four Possible Findings

“There are four phases in this case, murder, murder in the second degree, manslaughter, or you can find him not guilty,” Judge Allen told the jury. “If the state has satisfied you the killing was willful and malicious then it is murder in the first degree.” The use of a deadly weapon presumes malice when there are no other circumstances, Judge Allen charged the jury.

“Where the assailant provokes the difficulty and kills even to protect his own life, he is guilty of manslaughter,” he charged them. “The question for you to decide is whether the prisoner brought on the difficulty or was merely seeking an explanation.”

The law about husbands read to the jury by Judge Robinson, Judge Allen said did not apply to the child. He did believe under the law though the child, the prisoner, had the right to drive the deceased away but not to follow him up.

“But,” he concluded, “if the jury believed that he did follow to get an explanation from the deceased and was attacked by the deceased and was in fear of great bodily harm or death, he did have a right to shoot and to shoot to kill. In that case,” he declared, “the verdict would be ‘Not Guilty.’”

Judge Robinson Speaks

Judge Robinson opened the argument for the state when court convened. He argued that it was not a question of being a foreigner, that we were all foreigners at one time, that he himself was of Irish descent, but was as good an American as anybody. He took the law books and dwelt on the law of 1856 from the Supreme court, declaring that a man who kills another in the act of adultery with his wife is guilty of at least manslaughter. He further dwelt on the sacredness of the law as the accumulated wisdom of the ages.

At times Judge Robinson became aroused and full of fire. At others he spoke so low that only the jury could fully understand what he was saying although the court listened tensely, for the spectators wanted to hear all that was said by the man they believed the principal prosecutor.

Col. Langston’s Address

It remained for Col. J.D. Langston to bring back the elemental fire and enthusiasm of Major Matt Allen’s address of the preceding evening, in his illustration of the Oriental passion and debauchery of 2,000 years which he said Albert Beshara brought to this country in his veins.

He began quietly, sympathizing with the jury for having to sit so long. Soon he was after the law Judge Robinson had quoted. He said Judge Robinson had gone back to a decision of the Supreme court in 1856 and quoted a decision from a day when a man had a right under the law to whip h

is wife all he pleased if he did not use a switch larger than his finger.

“Judge Robinson has said he was guilty of murder, and yet the judge has said if Howard Brown had killed Beshara when he ran him out of the house all the gold between here and hell could not have gotten him to appear for him. There is, gentlemen, a stronger law than that on the books

and that it the law of stern necessity.”

“They tell us that all men are human, and that we should treat them accordingly. But there is no need in thinking that because we associate with one another, because people and races meet and mingle together in business, they are all the same. There are men and there are beasts. Beshara was a beast.

The Drama of Life

“Let me picture to you the great drama of life. Here we have the hard working woman and her devoted son. And we have got to have the villain. In this case it was Beshara. But it doesn’t make any difference whether it was Beshara, Ben Abou Hamid, or who. It is the same. But here we have Beshara! Representative of the Orient. Lustful, Passionate. Then men and women of America, and lawyers. They are the puppets. Lawyers come and go, but law, virtue, and sacredness stay.

“Go back 2,000 years to Asia Minor to those Turkish scenes of Oriental debauchery, their harems, their slave women, their lustfulness, their passion, and you have it. They have come down from 2,000 years of debauched womanhood They have seen the Turks do it, and it is in them. I have nothing against the individual who would lift up himself. But can you stifle the inheritance of 2,000 years? The Christian nations long since should have gone in and cleaned them up so America wouldn’t be the dumping ground of their Oriental morals and passions.

“Did you ever see a tree transplanted? Did you ever see a lemon tree transplanted from a tropical climate? It becomes a dwarf, but it is a lemon still. The acid is still there, only more intensified.

Southern Sentiment

“We have given 150 years of the best that is in us that we may have a South where the men love their women. And that’s where Beshara landed. That’s where Beshara was transplanted. In a citizenship where all look on their women as our fathers who fought at Gettysburg and where we will protect them with our lives. “And so the Drama moves on to Goldsboro.

“Who was Beshara? Go down the street with me and watch Beshara. Let’s watch that king of libertines. Sleek eyed, polished. Supposed to be a salesman. No! Don’t you see him watching the girls go by, a cunning smile on his face. Watching our girls, our American girls! With his lustful, Oriental passion. Can’t you see now? He turns to a companion, ‘Jabber, jabber, jabber, jabber, and then laugh!

“Did you ever stand close beside him and want to knock his block off? That’s Beshara. Beshara the libertine.”

And Col. Langston turned dramatically toward Beshara’s brother sitting behind the prosecution. “Quit your gazing, quit your feasting your glittering eyes on our women.

“To them, working women are a prey. Beshara saw this woman pass. What thoughts were in Beshara’s mind? What was he thinking as he followed this woman? What was he thinking as he went in her room and locked the door? Was he thinking of committing rape? I don’t think so. He probably didn’t think it would be necessary. He couldn’t see why he couldn’t go home with any woman. He didn’t understand us or our way.”

Refers to Judge Robinson

He paused here long enough to refer to Judge Robinson and the “Great Irish Spirit,” which rose up and, declared, “When you forget mother may God forget us.” And he plead with young Brown to go back home and “forget all the nonsense the prosecution had suggested about his mother for which they have not offered one particle of evidence.” He then went after the prosecution for wanting to put Mrs. Brown on the stand as marks for “their poison venom.”

From here he described the scene in the house and spoke touchingly of Howard coming home; then doing the best he could—a 17-year-old boy. Col. Langston talked of the difference between a boy and a man, declaring he or any other man would have killed Beshara on the spot, but how it was so natural for a boy to be baffled, amazed, puzzled and want an explanation.

He concluded by saying that if the jury convicted Brown on the evidence in the case then the medical profession needed to rewrite the books and to indicate they were men of milk and water that if they did what Judge Robinson advised them to do they were not red-blooded men like Judge Robinson.

Solicitor Siler Concluded

Solicitor Siler in concluding the evidence for the state made what was declared by many of his colleagues and brother attorneys one of his best speeches. He belittled Col. Langston’s Oriental illustrations; spoke of Syria and the place where he said the few remaining copies of the Bible were protected while they were all being destroyed in other parts of the world; and the East as being civilized while he and his opponent’s ancestors were wild cave men. He reviewed the evidence and spoke of the sacred rights of the state of North Carolina. And despite the fact the vast audience was out of sympathy with his case and believed he had a bad case. They tittered at his satire and clever epigrams.

The case was turned over to the jury at 1 o’clock and after a recess they returned a verdict at 2 o’clock.

From the Goldsboro News, August 27, 1922

Defense Claims Howard Brown Justified in Murder of Albert Beshara, Aug. 26, 1922

Court Demonstration at Attack on Syrian Morals. . . Allen Speech Looses Pent-Up Emotions of Brown’s Partisans. . . Jury Will Get Murder Case Against Youth by Noon Today. . . Judicial Exchanges One of Day’s Features

The second day’s trial of Howard Brown on a charge of murder came to a climax with tumultuous applause in the midst of Major Matt Allen’s speech last yesterday. All day the hundreds of women and men sat tensely through court dramatics waiting until the end when their long pent-up emotions burst in prolonged applause with the fire of an impassioned mob after the thunder of Major Allen’s voice spoke their sentiments. It took both judges and Sheriff Grant to quiet them. Judge W.S.O’B. Robinson, counsel for the state, seemed to think for a moment he himself was on the bench.

“Never saw anything like it in a court room before in my life,” said Judge Robinson with fire. “If you want to have the trial in an open meeting, all right then.”

“We are both,” said Judge Allen from the bench, “seeing things we have never seen before, Judge.” There was a tiny ripple of laughter through the courtroom, and Matt Allen went on with his argument. Until then he hadn’t referred personally to Judge Robinson. The Judge had interrupted him twice on procedure he had waived while Judge Allen was off the bench, and which Judge Allen had held in favor of the defense when he returned on the ground that Major Allen could argue to the jury as a historical fact even if it had not been offered as evidence that “Beshara came from a country of harems where homes were held cheap and women’s virtue was sold on the auction block.”

Judicial Pleasantry

“On the same grounds, I suppose, that Russia is Bolsheviki,” questioned Judge Robinson, “but is it? All we have is newspaper accounts.”

“Rather on the ground,” said Judge Allen, “that one can argue any general knowledge as historical fact. One would not have to prove that Assyria is on the other side of the ocean, that Beshara was an Assyrian, or that an Irishman will fight if you get him in a close place. That is general knowledge.” And Judge Robinson being an Irishman admitted it, and the tilt between the learned judges had ended in favor of the defense.

But Matt Allen did not push the advantage. “Oh, I’m willing to let it go at that.”

“All right then,” said Judge Robinson sitting down.

“But I have one thing to say. If you should have happened to have read history, gentlemen of the jury,” continued Allen, and the vast auditorium began to titter, “and should you happen to remember any of it I will not say anything about it. I guess you can remember all right without being told!” And the storm of applause broke forth spontaneously before anyone could prevent it. When order was finally restored, officers were placed throughout the court house by Sheriff Grant.

Goes After Prosecution

And here it was that Matt Allen went after the prosecution. He had already covered the evidence in the case behind his preceding colleagues and declared that there was not “one scintilla of evidence that Howard Brown suspected his mother of any wrong, that he could and should have killed Beshara when he chased him out of his house with a double-barrel gun; and he submitted that that was what he and any member of the jury would have done if they had been a young boy like Howard Brown.

“But it doesn’t matter whether or not Albert Beshara was an Assyrian or what his nationality was. He was a libertine. And what we need is more Howard Browns. That is the way to get rid of libertines; purify the home and stop indecency. If I were praying I would say Oh, Lord, give us more Howard Browns! I don’t know whether it is Assyrians, Russians, or what has come into undermine our country’s morality. But something is doing it. And what we need to do is get rid of all the libertines. And if we had more Howard Browns there wouldn’t be any libertines.”

What a Contract?

“But Judge Robinson would destroy him. Not satisfied with the learned solicitor he has gone out and brought in three special prosecutors to take that boy’s life. Oh, what a contract that must be! What a contract Judge Robinson must have to want to exchange lifeblood for gold. What is it they want? This boys’ lifeblood as a bloody trophy for Assyria. Oh, what a contract that must be! But I say give us more of them. I am glad I am appearing for him. I am proud of it. In the struggle there in the store he had a right to believe that if that man got the pistol away from him, he would kill him, and I ask you gentlemen of the jury to think what you would have done. And His Honor will charge you if you believe that he was reasonably sure his life was in danger he had a right to shoot and to shoot to kill.

“I know you will never take the life of a man who honorably protects his home, and the bedroom of his mother. I know you as men of Wayne county and I believe in you. I know you are not going to be hoodwinked and place a stigma on such a man. If I thought so I would catch a night train away from here.”

He concluded with the Biblical parable about Truth, Justice, and Mercy, and said that God made them elementally into each man and that it was their duty to give each.

Freeman Speaks

Col. George Freeman spoke first for the state, asking the jury to disregard the human element, and any question of nationality and render a verdict of murder. He said the evidence showed that Brown followed Beshara and killed him with premeditation. He claimed that the evidence did not show that Brown and Beshara were clenched when the gun was fired.

W.A. Finch of Wilson succeeded Col. Freeman and took up every statement and denied them in detail. He made a personal, eloquent appeal, sustaining his reputation of smoothness and emotional appeal to the jury. Howard Brown had two defenses he maintained, one the defense of his home and the other the defense of his life. He regretted that he could not remain to the end of the trial but told the jury he felt confident of the outcome.

Will Allen followed Mr. Finch and dwelt on the instinct in a man or a youth or in fact any human being to protect his home, and said that one could not repudiate Brown’s conduct unless he expected him to stand like a cur and do nothing.

Faison Thompson, arguing the case for the state, said that the killing was premeditated and therefore murder. He declared that if Brown had shot Beshara coming from his home it would have been manslaughter.

Major Allen followed Mr. Thompson.

Taylor Shows Coat

W. Frank Taylor at the outset of his plea for the defense declared that they too wanted the case decided upon experience and intelligence. He presented the coat evidence and maintained that it was impossible for a man to have fired a gun and shot Beshara at the various angles at which he was shot if they had not been clenched. He added the further evidence that the coat was found in a blaze.

The trial began yesterday with Brown on the stand. After his complete story he was subjected to a grueling cross-examination by Judge Robinson. The learned jurist asked him again and again how Beshara advanced on him. Finally Brown said, “He came up on his feet.”

Judge Robinson asked him another question, and Judge Allen held that that ground had been covered. Finally Brown stepped the whole argument about what he had said by saying he did not remember.

S.L. Rose, R.L. Thompson, Miss Alva Brown, and W.F. Cuttington were the other witnesses. Mr. Cuttington testified to seeing the print of teeth in Howard Brown’s shoulder. Mr. Rose testified to knowing the Browns for 30 years and declared that the character of Howard was good. Mr. Thompson and Miss Brown, who is not related to Howard Brown or any of his people she declared, said Howard’s character was good. She said she had known them and had been here a long time.

Won’t Tell Age

“How long did you say you have been here,” teased Judge Robinson.

“A very, very long time,” she laughed, “but I’m not going to tell you how old I am, so you needn’t ask it.”

Judge Robinson, Colonel Langston, and Solicitor Siler will speak the morning, the judge will charge the jury, and the case may go to the jury by 11 o’clock.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Aug. 26, 1922

Howard Brown Explains How He Killed Albert Besharra, Aug. 26, 1922

Brown’s Statement

The testimony of the defendant follows in full:

I didn’t go to school that day. I was sick, had a tumor on my neck and it was sore. I got up about 8 o’clock to go to school, but my neck was sore and I didn’t go to school. I laid back down and stayed in bed until about 11:30 and got up and dressed again to go outside. I went from home on down to the corner store on Daisy and Holly street to the North of my house. I stayed there, I guess, about three-quarters of an hour. I did not hear anyone at home. My mother was working at T??kel’s store. As I came back out of the store and started towards home I saw a laundry truck in front of Mrs. Hatch’s and Miss Pattie Hatch was sitting in it and Mr. King was on the right hand side of the truck and I spoke to Miss Hatch, but don’t suppose Mr. King saw me as he was on the opposite side of the truck from me.

I noticed a bicycle in front of my home standing against the gate and I came right across the drive way to the steps and thought I would go in the house—I decided some one was in the house and as I got to the door the door was locked. I opened the screen door but could not open the next door. I thought I heard scuffling and as I opened the screen door I heard a scuffle and a scream that appeared to come from inside the door right in mother’s bed room. I couldn’t tell whose voice it was—it sounded like a woman screaming; I thought it was mother but I didn’t know she had come home. I rushed around to the end window and put my head up to the shutters and couldn’t see in. I stopped there just a second and listened and I still heard the scuffling and screaming and I go around and jump over the fence, and my back window was open to my bed room and the back screen door was hooked and I climbed in the window, picked up my shot gun and rushed in the back porch, and just as I got to the hall door someone rushed out the front door and I followed, and just as I got in the hall Mother was standing there crying and holding her left hand and she said “He took advantage of me.” One of her fingers was skinned and dripping blood. It excited me so that I didn’t know half what happened, and just as I got to the side walk some one turned the corner on a bicycle and I went about half way to the corner and laid the shot gun down and rushed to the corner. I haven’t the least idea why I laid the shot gun down. I ran to the corner and just as I got there I see the man as he turns back, I see his face and know him.

I turned and came back to the house and put the shot gun inside the door and go and ask Mr. King to take me down town and he took me in front of the 414 N. John street, and I asked him to stop and this man was talking to a Syrian lady standing on the porch, and I motioned to the man to come there and he comes over and about the time he comes to the truck the lady in the porch calls the laundryman and Mr. King went to the porch to her and left me and Beshara at the truck. I said to him, “Will you go back home and make an explanation to me and mother why you were in the house?” and he said, “What do you mean?” And I said “Will you go?” and he said, “Sure I will go.”

Mr. King carried me back home on the truck and just as I got inside the house mother was still crying, tore all to pieces and frightened and I asked her what was the matter and she said he took advantage of her, and by that time this fellow rode up in front of the house on a bicycle and he stopped at the gate and I said, “What were you doing in the house?” and he cursed and said it was none of my ‘God damn business’ what he was doing in the house and I asked him again and he said it was none of my business and sneered. He was doing his shoulders like this and said it was none of my business and that he didn’t have to tell me anything. I walked back in the house and picked up the pistol out of papa’s trunk and as I got on the porch I kept asking him and he kept cursing me. He was cursing me all the time, some of it was English and some I didn’t know what he was saying and when I asked him again I had gotten off of the steps and he saw the pistol—I had it in my hand—He didn’t see the pistol until I got off the steps as he was looking at my face and when he saw the pistol it frightened him and he turned and ran down Daisy street to the corner and I ?? the street. I got on the bicycle then right behind him and he gained on me because I couldn’t hardly ride the bicycle with one hand and the pistol in the other, riding on the side walk. I turned the corner riding the bicycle with one hand and holding the pistol with the other. I rode up Beach going towards William street and he ran ahead of me. When he got to the corner he was 50 or 75 feet ahead of me and he turned going North and when I got to the side of the store I got off the bicycle and run to the corner and a lady was standing in front of the store and I said, “Where is he?” and she said there is not going to be any trouble” and I walked in the store. I asked her if she had any candy and she came in behind me and I heard a noise in the back of the store as I got about six feet inside and I saw this man, he walked out from the back partition into the front part. The lady walked out and left the store, and as he walked out I said, “Will you make an explanation to me and my Mother?” and he said “Sure,” and about that time he got even with me I turned to walk out with him and he grabbed me and was squeezing me up towards the counter. He had my left hand behind me and the right hand squeezed to my side. He was squeezing me up towards the counter and he had my back bent in so I couldn’t move and I said “Wait, wait” and he said “I will kill you, I will kill you.” I saw I couldn’t get loose and I pulled the trigger and shot and he turned me against the wall on the other side and he had me against that shelf against the wall and I couldn’t get loose, and this was done so quick, he rushed me to the door then and I couldn't get away from him no way. I tried to get away every way I could. One time I didn’t know what I was doing—I was hollering for him to turn me aloose. He bit me on the left shoulder and there was a large scar there. The print of his teeth stayed on there several days afterwards. My neck was still sore and when I turned my head it hurt and crushing me back it hurt still more and I didn’t know what to do, only to get him off, and it seemed he was almost killing me and I thought he was going to make out his threat when he kept right on. I don’t know when we got to the door, but anyway we went out the door and he pushed me clear across the side walk to the post and when I hit the post I shot again. He still had the hold on me and when he turned me aloose I jumped back out of the way from him and left. After I shot him the last time he fell and I went on home and it was just a short time before the police came after me.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Aug. 26, 1922. The story in the paper was printed a one very, very long paragraph. I’ve divided it to make it easier to read here. Also, I’ve used spelling from the original article, like aloose, side walk, some one, drive way, bed room, etc.

Friday, August 26, 2022

What Could You Buy for $1 at Gilmer's, Aug. 26, 1922

What could you buy for a dollar at Gilmer’s, “From Mills Direct to You”?

24 pound sack of flour

4 cans of slice pineapple

8 cans of Alaska pink salmon

12 cans of Old Dutch cleanser

7 rolls of toilet tissue

3 jars of jam

3-pound can of Lypton’s Yellow Label Coffee

10 packages of Lux

12 boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

8 Beachnut Ginger Ale

4 large jars of Beachnut Peanut Butter

5 2-pound cans of Libby’s corned Beef Hash

From The Asheville Citizen, Aug. 26, 1922