"Apex" Jackson Killed Trying to Escape Chain Gang, May 31, 1923

“Apex” Killed by Chain Gang Guard. . . Notorious Colored Boy Fatally Shot While Trying to Escape From Gang—Was Accused of Burning Hardison Garage—Sentenced to Roads for Stealing Car—Joe Little Escapes

Cleophus Jackson, better known locally as “Apex,” who was accused with good grounds of burning the Hardison garage, was killed early last Sunday morning by Mr. John McRae, a guard at the chain gang, while he was attempting to escape.

Sunday morning about 6 o’clock Apex and another negro, Joe Little, were detailed to carry slops from the convict camp to a point possibly 100 yards away. They were accompanied by Mr. McRae as guard, he being armed with a shot gun loaded with buckshot. Mr. McRae did not accompany the negroes all the way, and when they reached the point where the slops were to be dumped they broke and ran. Mr. McRae shouted to them to halt, but they kept running, and he fired in their direction one time, more with the intention of frightening them into stopping than of hitting them. However, they were perhaps 50 yards away when Mr. McRae fired, and the buckshot scattered considerably, one of them, and only one, hitting Apex in the back and passing near his heart. It was found later that another shot cut a limb at least seven feet above the ground. Apex kept running and it was not known until later that he was hit. Mr. McRae and some trustees went after the convicts thinking they might overtake them, but they did not do so, and when they were returning Apex was found in some bushes, possibly 50 yards from where he was shot. He was dead when found.

Little escaped and has not been heard of since. He was sent to the gang from Scotland county and has escaped a time or two before, being brought back each time. Coroner J.T. Watson summoned a jury and an inquest was held, the jury’s verdict being that Mr. McRae shot in the discharge of his duty and was blameless. The body was brought to Wadesboro and Sheriff Braswell communicated with Apex’s mother, Mozella Jackson, who lives at Apex, near Raleigh, and she had the body sent to her.

It will be remembered that the day after the night the Hardison garage was burned, Apex was captured at Rockingham with Mr. R.S. Beeman’s Ford, which had been taken out of the garage. At the April term of criminal court, Apex was found guilty of stealing the car. He was bound over to September court on the charge of arson.

Mr. McRae is a son of Mr. E.E. McRae of White Store township, and an excellent young man. No blame is attached to him in the shooting, it being his duty to prevent the escape of convicts.

Several months ago, Cleve Little and Lum Ross and Fred Perkins, the latter from Moore county, all colored, escaped from the gang and none of them has been re-captured.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Wadesboro High School Graduating 19 Students, May 31, 1923

Commencement Next Week. . . 15 Girls and 4 Boys Will Receive Diplomas—Rondthaler Will Deliver Commencement Address

As announced last week, the commencement of the Wadesboro High School will take place next week, beginning Sunday night with the commencement sermon by Dr. W.H. Fraser of Charlotte. Monday night the senior class exercises will take place, and on Wednesday night the commencement address will be delivered by Dr. Howard Rondthaler, and diplomas will be presented. Friday afternoon and night Miss Ashcraft’s music class will give recitals.

There are 19 members of the graduating class, 15 girls and 4 boys. They are:

Leona Leitch Edwards

Nancy Birdsong Burns

Lucy Flake Sullivan

Leslie John Huntley Jr.

Hugh McChesney Gray

Mary Lilly Huntley

Mary Alice Caudle

Annie Juanita Clark

Sara Gertrude Tarlton

Lena Covington

Henry Wall Little Jr.

Margaret Ashe Redfearn

Loma Evelyn Gamble

Bright Maness Sedberry

Mary Farrelly Parker

Annie Claire Knotts

Ila Rebecca Short

Myrtle Shepherd

Sara Katherine Huntley.

Marshals

The marshals, chosen on account of scholarship, are:

Wm. Marshall, chief; Fanny Dunlap, Thomas Coxe Jr., Dorothy Tice, Benjamin Crowder, Kathryn Via, Castelloe Bland, Mary Little, Inez Moore, James Dunlap, Georgia Gamble, Malcolm McLean.

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The Senior play, “The Melting Pot,” will be given next Monday night, June 4, at the new auditorium. The price of admission will be 50 and 25 cents. The stage properties will be used, and the play promises to be unusually successful.

The cast of characters is:

David Quixano—Wm. Marshall Jr.

Mendel Quixano—Leslie Huntley Jr.

Baron Revendal—Geo. Stanback Jr.

Quincy Davenport Jr.—Tom Coxe Jr.

Herr Poppelmeister—Hugh Gray

Vere Revendal—Gertrude Tarlton

Baroness Revendall—Juanita Clark

Frau Quixano—Farrelly Parker

Kathleen O’Reilly—Sallie Huntley

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Memorial Service for World War Dead, May 31, 1923

Memorial Services for World War Dead. . . Beautiful and Solemn Ceremony at Methodist Church Sunday Afternoon

Held Sunday afternoon, May 27th, at the Methodist church, presided over by Commander Dunlap of our local Legion Post. Beautiful decorations, Ascension lilies, roses, larkspur and small flags made a background for three small graves with poppies blowing over the crosses. One grave was open and into this the congregation as they filed by dropped their offering for “Overseas Graves Endowment Fund” and the amount, $36, will be sent from the Legion here. Chaplain Shelton read a memorial to Anson soldiers, and 18 gold stars on a flag represented the following names:

Lonnie Thomas

Lee Moore

Dock Williams

Callie Covington

Erasmus Deese

Ira Carpenter

Morgan

W.M. Luther

Charlie Jones

Julian Lewis

Alexander Morrison

Lonnie Diggs

Fisher Nance

J.B. Tomlinson

Eugene Ratliff

Fred Teal

Thomas Dees

Henry McRae

This is the list the War Mothers have been able to obtain so far. A most touching memorial to Mrs. Charlotte Bennett Dunlap, First vice War Mother, was read by Mrs. B.G. Covington, and a gold medal for the best paper on “World Peace” was offered to the high school pupils in loving memory of Mrs. Dunlap. This medal will be awarded next Armistice Day.

A number of ex-soldiers, among them many of his own men, listened with bowed heads and sad faces while Capt. K.M. Hardison spoke of the late Capt. Nugent B. Vairin Jr., who commanded our own Bickett Battery in France. Most touching letters from a number of his friends in and near New Orleans, his home, were read, and it is hoped that in the near future there will be some fitting memorial to him. A number of former members of Battery D, from Union County, attended these services.

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Anson County War Mothers wish to thank their friends throughout the county for their hearty co-operation with them in the sale of the 500 poppies which were sold on Memorial Day. A short memorial service was held in the Chautaqua tent and decorations were arranged for all the graves in the county so far as the War Mothers know them. The only colored solders’ graves known to the organization are those of Rob McCoy, Vann Gainey, Fred May and John Chambers, in France. Hereafter in case of extreme sickness or death the family of a soldier is requested to notify Mrs. C.C. Moore, corresponding secretary of the War Mothers.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

McFarlan Farmers Find Raising Hogs, Shipping Cream Profitable, May 31, 1923

Hogs Making Splendid Gains

A lot of 32 hogs which are being fed on the farm of U.B. & M.E. Blalock, McFarlan, N.C., were weighed on April 3rd. The 32 pigs at that time weighed a total of 1,362 pounds. On May 17th the 32 hogs were weighed again. They weighed a total of 3,371 pounds, making a gain of 2,009 pounds, an average gain per day of a little less than 1 ½ pounds. They consumed during this period 80 3/5 bushels of corn, 230 pounds of mill feed, 190 pounds fish meal and grazed on an alfalfa field. The average cost of grain per pound was less than five cents. A self feeder was used in feeding. Farmers Like to Ship Cream

Mr. E.A. Spencer and Mr. B.C. Moore of McFarlan have been shipping cream for several months. Mr. Spencer’s cream check averages about $100 per month. He is milking seven cows. Mr. Moore states that his cream check is from $40 to $50 per month, and he is milking four cows. These gentlemen said they have bought only a sack or two of feed for the cows during the last few months. They have been feeding velvet beans and pea vines along with other rough feeds, and a small amount of cotton seed meal per day, which they exchanged their cotton seed for.

At the present time there are between 15 and 20 farmers in the county who are selling either cream or whole milk. Farmers interested in this line of work should arrange now to produce a sufficient amount of legume and other hays for feed.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Anson Sanitorium News, May 31, 1923

Anson Sanatorium News

Born to Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Nance of Lilesville, a daughter, Tuesday, May 29th.

Mrs. M.P. Harris and baby boy left the hospital for their home at Polkton Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. R.M. Witherspoon of Cheraw, S.C., has been quite sick but is improving.

Mr. Luke Morris of Chesterfield, S.C., was brought to the hospital last Saturday in a critical condition. He died a few hours later.

Margaret Gardner from Mt. Gilead was well enough to go home the first of the week.

Thomas Marsh, who had his arm badly injured 10 days ago, left the hospital a few days ago.

The work of repairing the damage done to the colored hospital is well under way. The board of trustees were very grateful to the Thomas Wade Chapter of the D.A.R. for the very substantial gift donated for this work.

Miss Ella H. MacNichols, who has been superintendent of the hospital for the past 18 months, leaves June 1st to open the new hospital at Shelby. Miss Sarah Moore from Richmond, Va., will take charge. Miss Moore has had much experience and comes highly recommended.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Land of E.S. Marsh Auctioned Off for $14,404.50, May 31, 1923

Ad from the May 24, 1923 issue of the Messenger, Wadesboro, N.C.

Marsh Land Sold

The estate of the late E.S. Marsh, comprising a little more than 13 acres facing on the Camden and Chesterfield roads, was sold at auction yesterday by McAulay, Crosland & Tyson. There were 53 lots, and they brought a total of $14,404.50. The lot with the Marsh home on it was bought by Mr. R.J. Turner for $1,805, and he also bought the two adjoining lots. The store occupied by J.P. Gathings & Co. was bought by Mr. T. Benton Capel for a little more than $1,700. G.M. Hunsucker sold this land in 1897 to the late Mrs. Ada Marsh for $1,450.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Redpath Chautauqua Raising $150 to $200 for Red Cross, May 31, 1923

Ad for play from the May 24, 1923 issue of the Messenger, Wadesboro, N.C.

Chautauqua a Success

The Redpath Chautauqua began its five-day engagement here last Monday and will close Friday night. The organization this year is furnishing excellent entertainments, the play last night, “Cappy Ricks,” being considered the best play which has been presented here. The tent was packed last night, and the attendance all during the week has been good.

This year for the first time since the Chatauqua has been coming, there will be considerable surplus for the guarantors which, according to previous arrangements, goes to the Red Cross, who, it is expected, will receive from $150 to $200.

Tonight the feature will be a lecture by Elwood Tewksbury Bailey, and tomorrow night the Montague Light Opera Singers will give a concert, “Gretchen of Holland.”

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Donations to Mrs. Reynolds, May 31, 1923

Donations to Mrs. Reynolds

G.C. Berry, $1; P.B. Beachum, $1; J.P. Maxwell, $1; J.V. Capel, $1; L.A. Burr, $1; G.H. Huntley, $1; D.V. Mauney, $1; W.J. Diggs, $1; E. Bruce Shankle, $1; Toad Roberts, $.50; J.F. Turner, $1; Lewis Adams, $1; J.H. Covington, $1; C.H. White, $1; Cash, $1; Brown Huntley, $1; Jack Dean, $.50; F.W. Lewis, $.50; L.L. Williams, $.50.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923

Messenger-Intelligencier-Ansonian Newspaper, May 31, 1923

"Sleep, Comrades, Sleep and Rest" Decoration Day

Decoration Day came before Memorial Day. This poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, honoring those who died in the Civil War, was published in The Atlantic magazine.

Two Boys Killed, Father and Grandfather Not Expected to Make It After Train Strikes Car, May 30, 1923

Two Killed When Car Is Struck by Train. . . Passenger Train 35 Sweeps Down Upon Ford With Awful Results

Two children were instantly killed and three adults were seriously injured in Reidsville last night when the Southern’s fast passenger train 35 struck a new Ford automobile in which the five persons were riding.

The dead:

JAMES PILLOW, 13 years of age.

BERTIE PILLOW, 14 years of age.

The injured:

J.W. PILLOW, father of the dead children

I.C. PILLOW, father of J.W. Pillow.

MRS. TOM MITCHELL, daughter of J.W. Pillow.

The age of J.W. Pillow is 51 and that of his father, I.C. Pillow, is 75.

A message received today from the hospital stated that Mrs. Mitchell will live, but there is no hope for the two men.

The funeral services for the dead will be conducted from the residence at 4 o’clock by Rev. W.E. Goode and Rev. H.B. Worley. Interment will follow at Greenville cemetery.

The victims of the accident are survived by their parents, three sisters, Mrs. Charlie Carter, Mrs. Thomas Mitchell and Miss Emma Pillow, and one brother, Alcede Pillow, 8 years of age.

The Pillow family, who live in the northern part of the city, had gone to ride and were in the act of crossing the track jus tin front of J.L. Butler’s home when I.C. Pillow, driving, attempted, after the train was almost upon them, to either speed up or stop. The engine “choked” square on the grade crossing. A box car obstructed his view of the approaching passenger train. The automobile was tossed high in the air and it and its occupants fell to either side of the track. The two children were dead when eyewitnesses reached them. The two men were found unconscious and covered with bruises and cuts. Mrs. Mitchell seemed to be the least seriously injured.

A pathetic feature of the accident was the killing of a pet bird dog, which was riding in the car. When the bodies of the boy and girl were found, close to them was huddled the dead body of the dog.

All the injured were taken to Greensboro on 35 and were met at the station there by ambulances. They were carried immediately to St. Leo’s hospital. John Pillow has a fractures skull and is otherwise injured. His father, the elder Mr. Pillow, had a fractured skull, one arm was broken, and he had other injuries. Both were fearfully bruised and lacerated.

Mrs. Thomas Mitchell, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Pillow, was hurt less than any of the others, but is in serious condition, especially from shock. The car was smashed all to pieces. Neighbors sitting on porches some distance away heard the crash and saw the automobile thrown high in the air, above the height of the cars standing near. Mrs. S.O. Norman, a sister of Mrs. Pillow, saw the flying fragments, and rushed to the scene to give aid. Reaching the crossing she was horrified to see her sister’s two children lying beside the tracks dead.

The two children, dead when the first persons arrived, were lying close together, the boy, strangely enough, showing no mark of injury at first glance. Beside them lay their pet dog, which they had been carrying in the car. He, too, was dead.

The train was in charge of Conductor L.T. Royall and Engineer R.L. Pierce. The engineer declares he did not know that his engine struck the car until he was so informed after he had brought the train to a stop at the station. Immediately the train was backed to the scene. The injured were placed on the train and carried to a Greensboro hospital.

John Pillow, father of the dead children, is a carpenter, who has also been a farmer. He and his family came to this county from Chatham, Va. His wife, at the time of the accident, was at home caring for a sick child. She, also, was ill and is prostrated with grief at this time.

From the front page of the Reidsville Review, May 30, 1923

Local Reidsville News, May 30, 1923

Local News

The weather has warmed up some this week, much to the help of growing crops. About two-thirds of the tobacco crop has been planted and the farmers are waiting for rain to complete the plantings.

Brother Brown asks that everybody go to church tonight and Sunday.

Osborne Gregory, 13-year-old son of E.H. Gregory of Danville, was accidentally shot in the side yesterday afternoon at Park Springs by his young playmate, son of Judge C. Womack of Park Springts. After the shooting the lad was rushed to a Danville hospital where it was stated today that his condition is serious. The bullet from a .22-calibre rifle entered his right side.

Thieves entered the Liberty Tailors’ store on West Market street last night by smashing one of the show windows. Three suits of clothes and about a dozen pairs of pants were carried off. There are no clues to the guilty parties so far. This is the third or fourth time this store has been broken into during the last year or more. Manager King is undecided whether the burglars have a grouch against him or whether his suitings have a special attraction for the knights of the jimmy.

The North Carolina state highway commission has opened another five mile stretch of the concrete road which is being built between Reidsville and Stokesland making available a 15 mile pleasant drive on a wide even hard-surface road. The contractors who are also working from the Reidsville end hope to have the last stretch of concrete poured and thrown open so that Reidsville and Danville will be joined by a hard road by July 4th.

A movement is on foot among the garages and service stations in Reidsville to have only one station open on Sundays for sale of gasoline and oils. Motorists will be urged to supply their wants as far as possible during week days.

All members of Calvary local of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association are requested to meet at Calvary school house Friday night, June 1st, at 7:30 p.m. and bring all your P.C.’s or Co-op warehouse bills with you. –P.E. Wilson, president.

Father! Mother! Do you care what your child does with his time this vacation? What he reads or what his mind feasts on? They go in crowds to the library, but more books are needed and to get them it takes money. Will you help by coming to the recital Friday night? The pleasure will be yours, for a program of unusual merit awaits you.

The law requiring all motorists to come to a dead stop before crossing railroad tracks goes into effect July 1. But why wait a month to begin the practice? The awful accident here yesterday afternoon would not have occurred had this rule been followed.

The Ann Andrews Council (Business Women’s Club) will have a hike and picnic supper Thursday evening, May 31. All women and girls of the business and professional world are requested to be at the M.E. church at 5:30 o’clock promptly. Those who can not be there at that time will please come as early as possible and cars will be there to take them out to supper. Everybody be there to enjoy the good tme and lots of good eats.

Miss Laura Powell has moved her insurance office from the First National Bank building to the new C.A. Whitsett building where she has leased two large rooms for her growing business. Miss Powell represents some of the largest insurance companies of the country and by close attention to details of the business has built up quite a successful insurance agency here. The steady growth of her business has necessitated securing more office room.

There is to be a meeting in the rooms of the Reidsville C. & A. Association at 4 p.m. of the Rockingham County Playground Association to plan for the playground activities for this year. Invitations have been sent out to all representative members of various local organizations to attend and it is hoped their willb be a large attendance. Secretary Turner of the C. & A. especially requests that their be an enthusiastic attendance that the plans may be promulgated at once, as the playground is to open on June 9.

Former State Senator W.R. Walker and family, who left Spray last week to take up their residence in Greensboro after so many years of intimate and active life in this community, will certainly be missed in in Rockingham county by a large body of lifelong friends. Fore many years they have taken an active and helpful part in religious work, especially in the Presbyterian church and patriotic work. In fact there were few good causes in this community that did not have their cordial support for these many years. –Gazette.

One of the carts used by the Atlantic Bithuithic Company was backed into by a local freight at the second crossing north of the depot Tuesday at noon and the rear end of the cart smashed and the load of asphalt dumped out. The driver escaped injuries. This is the same crossing the Pillows’ car was wrecked by train 35 later in the day.

Twenty-eight of the 31 members of the Reidsville Rotary Club were the guests of the Danville Club at an inter-city luncheon and gathering at the Golf Club last night. Leaksville-Spray also was present with all but three of its members. Eugene Withers, Esq., delivered a magnificent address of welcome to the “Down Homers” and a number of those present were called on and made short talks. The dinner—a six-course appetizer—was prepared and faultlessly served by the Danville Rotary Anns. The Reidsville Rotarians declare they were royally entertained and are loud in their praises accorded them by their Virginian brethren. Born to Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Durham of Route 5 on May 27, a daughter.

Rev. and Mrs. W.E. Goode have recently moved into the handsome new Baptist parsonage on Piedmont street.

The Woman’s Missionary Society of Bethlehem church will meet with Mrs. J.I. Anderson Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock.

Mr. and Mrs. G.T. Roberts of Danville visited relatives here Sunday.

Miss Ola Roberts of Wentworth spent the week-end here with her people.

Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Sprinkle have returned from Winston-Salem where they attended the commencement exercises of Salem College from which their daughter, Miss Juanita Sprinkle, graduated.

Geo. W. Estes, former county road superintendent, has opened a new store on the Reidsville-Draper road near Glenn’s bridge, and will be glad to have his friends call to see him at his new store.

Schoolfield vs. Reidsville Saturday.

From page 5 of the Reidsville Review, May 30, 1923

Stop Stealing from Rural Folks, May 30, 1923

Remember This

We’ve always contended, and we’re going to keep right on contending, that the people who live out in the country have just as much right to come into Reidsville and enter your yard and break down your flowers and fences as you have to drive out to their homes and commit similar depredations. If a stranger stopped his auto in front of your home and climbed the fence and broke off the limbs of a favorite tree, or snapped off a handful of your prettiest flowers you couldn’t get hold of an officer quick enough. And you’d prosecute him to the last ditch.

That is as true as gospel. And yet in the face of it we hear frequent reports of someone from town stopping in the rural districts to break off limbs of trees, to break or dig up shrubbery or, as has been the case more than once, to enter some farmyard and carry away choice flowers. And just where there is any difference between town or country desecration of property, or just plain down-right stealing if you want the real definition, we are unable to determine. We can’t draw a line between he two, because it is just as criminal, just as despicable, in one case as it is in the other.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if everyone would pause for just a second and pledge himself or herself to treat other people’s property just as they wish their own to be treated. We’d have a better community, and a good deal prettier one, to say nothing of better and more pleasant relations between town and rural citizens. If you live in the town your property is your own and no one has any right to deface or destroy it. If you live in the country, the same thing is true. So try and be a better citizen by remembering this next time you see something you want that belongs to someone else.

Stop St From the editorial page of the Reidsville Review, May 30, 1923

Tobacco Leaf Production to be Decreased, May 30, 1923

Leaf Production to be Decreased

A very considerable decrease in the production of tobacco in the Old Belt of Virginia and North Carolina seems certain for 1923, according to crop reports sent in from 782 local units of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association to its Raleigh headquarters last week.

A very heavy cut in the tobacco crop of Virginia for 1923 is indicated by the fact that the figures from the signed statements of hundreds of local association secretaries show that 7 per cent of the total Virginia crop is already cut 25 million pounds short of the 1920 total and unless plant and weather conditions improve materially it may be short 50 million pounds in weight compared with 1922.

The Old Belt of North Carolina, according to the locals of the tobacco cooperative, reports decrease in acreage of 3.6 per cent over last year. From Raleigh west and north farmers report the most serious plant conditions they have ever known. Eastern North Carolina and the South Carolina Belt report a slight increase in average but uncertain weather conditions. The unprecedented shortage in farm labor and the continuous migration of negro tenants to the north will probably further decrease the production of tobacco in these counties for the coming year.

More than 90,000 tobacco farmers are now members of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, according to the county of contracts made last week in Raleigh headquarters and the association continues to hold its position as the largest of the American commodity cooperatives. Several new costumers are buying the redried tobacco of the association, which are finding a steady market at association prices.

Charlotte county, Va., which grows both bright and dark tobacco after a canvass of the situation reported on May 21 under the signature of C.R. Lacey, county secretary of the tobacco cooperative, that a 25 per cent reduction in acreage for the county would take place. Halifax and Pittsylvania, Virginia’s biggest bright tobacco counties, report that in spite of plans for increased acreage, plant shortage and the late season will reduce the crop far below that of 1922. The Sun-Cured Belt of Virginia reports that only 70 per cent of the 1922 acreage will be set out.

“Eastern North Carolina reports sufficient tobacco plants except in Nash, Halifax and the northern counties where a shortage similar to the Old Belt has reduced the acreage, while the southeastern counties report that dry winds have seriously damaged plants. The South Carolina belt is the only territory reporting any material increase in acreage, but here as well as in some of the Eastern Carolina counties, where increased production seemed probable, the unprecedented shortage of farm labor and the continuous migration of negro tenants to the north is proving a serious handicap to production.

There were 782 local units of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative which reported crop conditions on farms where 166,917 acres of tobacco were grown in 1922.

From the front page of the Reidsville Review, May 30, 1923

Reidsville Review, May 30, 1923

Memorial Day Postcard

Memorial Day Postcard, Ellen Clappsaddle, artist

Sister Kills Brother With "Unloaded" Gun, May 29, 1923

Sister Snaps Out Life of Brother at Mother’s Home. . . Vance Wentz Falls Victim to Unloaded Pistol in Hands of Mrs. Kluttz. . . Same Weapon Which Killed Mr. Chambers

Flourishing a pistol which she believed to be unloaded, and waving it in the face of her brother who was cautioning her of the danger, Mrs. Clara Belle Kluttz pulled the trigger and the brother, Vance Wentz, dropped dead with a bullet through his forehead.

The tragedy occurred at the home of the mother of the brother and sister, Mrs. Ida Wentz in Vance township Friday night at about 9:30. Mrs. Kluttz, prostrate from the shock, is now under bond of $2,000, awaiting a hearing of the case before the Recorder on June 8.

The pistol with which the shooting was done belonged to R.B. Kluttz, and is believed to be the same one with which his brother, Doc Kluttz, is charged with having shot and killed George Chambers, Matthews mail carrier, some wees ago, and for which Doc Kluttz is now in the Union county jail awaiting trial for his life. While there is reason to believe that the same gun did the deadly work in both cases, it is not meant to imply that R.B. Kluttz had anything to do with the killing of Chambers.

Mrs. Kluttz, in whose hands this .32 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol did its second execution within a few weeks, is only 18 years old and a bride of but two weeks. Two weeks ago she was married to Mr. Kluttz. On the night of the tragedy, she was at the home of her mother, where she had been spending some days. The pistol had been carried there when she went and it was in a drawer in the room. In the room at the time were Mrs. Wentz, her daughter, Mrs. Kluttz, the son, Vance Wentz, and Dewey Yandle and Mrs. Maggie Haywood Helms.

The company had been in a cheerful mood such as might obtain on such an occasion, and perhaps had been dancing. Mrs. Kluttz took the pistol from the drawer and took out the cartridges, supposing she had emptied the chambers. She began pointing it about the room and her mother remonstrated with her, saying that it was dangerous. She replied that she had taken out the shells. Her brother, Vance Wentz, 23 years old, waled toward her and holding up his hands as if to take the pistol, said, “Don’t, don’t, that’s dangerous.”

“Shut up,” replied Mrs. Kluttz, at the same time snapping the pistol in his face. To the horror of all, the gun fired and Vance dropped with a bullet through his forehead. He died within an hour.

Stunned as they were by the bloody tragedy, the parties quickly succeeded in communicating with Monroe for medical help. Dr. Mahoney went to the home and brought the young woman to the hospital. Sheriff Fowler was summoned and went to the home and gathered the facts about the affair as they were given at the time by the eyewitnesses. He put Mrs. Kluttz under the custody of Dr. Machoney until yesterday, when she gave bond and left the hospital.

The affair appears to have been one of those cases of the empty pistol. People at times have a mania for flourishing and pointing guns which they believe to be unloaded. The custom has been so widespread that years ago the legislature passed a law making it a misdemeanor to point toward anyone with an unloaded gun. Should any case be made against her it would probably be more stringent than a charge of unintentional manslaughter coupled with criminal negligence, though the warrant is for murder

Story by Correspondent

The Journal’s correspondent at Stouts sends the following story of the unhappy occurrence:

I visited the home on the morning after the fatal occurrence. The scene was most pitiable. From incoherent explanations I gathered the following story: Several young people were visiting in the Wentz home last Friday evening. Among those who were in the parlor when the touching event took place were Mrs. Margaret Helms, Mr. Dewey Yandle, Mrs. Wentz, Mrs. Kluttz, Miss Josephine Wentz and Vance. In a spirit of fun the loaded pistol was taken from the drawer by Mrs. Kluttz. She removed five of the cartridges thinking that was all. She playfully snapped it twice. Young Vance remonstrated with her on her recklessness. She then pointed the pistol at him. He became terrified and begged her to put it up. He was said to have cried, “Oh, please don’t,” just before she fired. The bullet took effect in his temple. He fell back and his expression remained unchanged. The occupants of the room became exceedingly alarmed by the disaster and immediately ran into the hall. Mrs. Margaret Helms is to be complimented on her nerve and forethought. She alone remained with the wounded boy. Mr. Raymond Thompson was the first outsider to reach the home. He, together with Mrs. Helms, placed Vance upon the bed. He was in an unconscious condition, and he never spoke during the two hours which he lived.

Mrs. Kluttz was prostrated. She became almost violent and was rushed to the Ellen Fitzgerald hospital. Her condition remains deplorable.

Vance was the second son of the late John Wentz and Mrs. Ida Wentz. He was 24 years of age. Besides his mother the following grief-stricken brothers and sisters survive: Mr. Duke Wentz of Indian Trail, Masters Paul, Wade and Ney, young boys living with their mother. The girls are: Mrs. Will McRorie, Mrs. Clayton Yandle, and Mrs. Reese Kluttz, who live in the immediate vicinity. There is also one unmarried daughter, Miss Josephine Wentz. Vance has grown up in this community and is well-known. He is not only eulogized in the event of his death, but often in the past it has been remarked that he was unusually good to his mother. His love for her was made up of reverence, affection, and respect. He will be terribly missed; not only in the home but among a host of friends whom he always met with a smile. His disposition was jovial. He did his duty by the family with unselfishness and cheerfulness. He was his mother’s pride. She had trained him up in the right way and was reaping the reward in her son’s noble character and ideal life. Her love was near idolatry. To see her go from room to room on the morning after the tragedy was heart-rending. She said that there was not a ?? where he was not missed.

The family is one of the most prominent in the community. Great compassion is felt throughout the county and state for these horror stricken people.

The funeral and interment was held at Bethel cemetery on Saturday afternoon. An unusually large crowd was present. Rev. A.B. Haywood conducted the services assisted by Rev. Raymond Thompson. Rev. Mr. Haywood was intimately acquainted with the boy, and his praise was highly commendable. He commented upon the virtues which were embodied in young Vance, laying due emphasis on the noblest virtue which he possessed, his pure love for his mother. Brother Haywood said that the intense love of one’s mother was the love of God. Brother Vance loved God and strived to keep His commandments. Rev. Mr. Thompson was a boyhood friend of Mr. Wentz. They have played together since childhood. He spoke of Vance in a wonderful manner, and the love of friendship was strongly manifested in his speech.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Lonnie Diggs Crushed Under Gravel Car, May 29, 1923

Young Man Crushed Under a Gravel Car

Mr. Lonnie Diggs, a well known young man of Lilesville township, was so badly hurt that he died within a few minutes shortly before noon last Saturday, when he fell under the last wheels of a gravel car at the new ballast pit of Hedrick & Wade in Lilesville town, says the Messenger and Intelligencer. The car was running down an incline, and Mr. Diggs was braking it, using a wooden stick which had picked up and standing either on the iron step or on the still at the front of the car. The stick broke, throwing Mr. Diggs off balance, and he fell in front of the wheels of the car, which passed over his hips, crushing them.

Those present rushed to his assistance, and Mr. E.E. Wade, manager of the pit, brought him to the Anson Sanatorium in his car, making a record breaking trip. They reached the hospital 15 minutes or less after the accident, but the stricken man died just as he got there. It is considered remarkable that he lived as long as he did.

From page 3 of The Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Archie King Writes Home From Jerusalem, May 29, 1923

Waxhaw Boy Writes Home From Jerusalem

Mrs. A.L. Haigler of Waxhaw has received a letter from her brother, Mr. Archie King, telling her of a visit he has lately made to Jerusalem. Mr. King is a printer and has a position in that capacity on the United States Steamship Pittsburg, these large ships carrying a complete printing outfit. The letter follows:

“U.S.S. Pittsburg

7:45 A.M., at sea

April 11, 1923

My Dear Sister:

After spending a couple of weeks at Alexander, Egypt, seeing Cairo, the sphinx, pyramids and tombs of the kings of Egypt we sailed for Haifa, Palestine, a near point of Jerusalem. We stayed in Haifa five days making sight seeing trips to Jerusalem, through the country in automobiles, a distance of about 100 miles. On our way we stopped at Nazareth, the home of Jesus, as a boy, seeing the carpenter shop where Jesus worked with his father, Joseph. A large church stands over the place, the shop being located underneath the altar inside the church. Also saw other places pertaining to Joseph and Mary there. Drove from Nazareth to the sea of Galilee, then back to Nazareth and on to Jerusalem. We arrived in Salem that afternoon (Saturday before Easter). We went to the Holy Sepulchre, the place, Calvary, where Jesus was laid in the tomb. The church which is built over the spot is a place of worship for all nationalities. It is a beautiful sight to see them all worshipping on Eastern morning.

About 8:30 we drove to Bethlehem, arriving in time to see the people worshipping in the large church that was built over the place where Jesus was born—after securing small candles to light our way, which is the custom in the grotto beneath the large altar. We contributed a coin to the priest near the entrance to the manger, and went down the steps into the grotto where the manger was. Some Catholics were holding mass, so we did not interrupt them, but when they were through, we were shown the manger by the priest. It was made of marble. It was so beautiful down in the grotto I shall never forget it.

We were next shown where Mary and Joseph made their home after the birth of Jesus, while they stayed in Bethlehem. I bought a collection of views of those same places I am telling you about.

Arrived back in Jerusalem and went to the Mount of Olives, where Christ ascended into Heaven, I took some interesting pictures there.

We drove back into Jerusalem after seeing the River Jordan. Left Jerusalem at 2 o’clock. A short ways out we came to Rachel’s tomb. Got back to Haifa at 8 o’clock in the evening. It was such a wonderful trip, wish you could have seen it with me. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to see the old world.

We left Haifa, Palestine, for Beyrouth, Syria. While at Beyrouth there was sight-seeing trips to Damascus, the oldest city in the world. Stayed there four days, left for Mercenia, stayed there one day, left for Adelia, which is in Asia. Stayed there about a day. Now we are about to drop anchor at Rhodes, a small island, think we will stay here a day or so and be given liberty.

We are soon to go and have target practice, then afterwards go back to Constantinople, Turkey.

It is said that we stay in Turkey a week or so, then to Italy. We will see Rome also.

Hoping all are well and happy as I myself am, I will close as am expecting mail today.

With my love to all.

Lovingly your brother

J. Archie King

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Approve Bond Issue for New Roads, It's the Wise Thing to Do, May 29, 1923

You Can Reduce Expenses If You Just Quit Work. . . That Is the Way Mr. Hinson Says That All Road Tax Can Be Saved. . . Many Other Citizens See Value of Roads

By L.E. Huggins

The scene took place in the room in Monroe of the Williams-Griffin Implement Co. A large number of farmers had gathered yesterday and were discussing the road bond election pro and con. Some favored the issue while others were mildly opposed to it. Finally the conversation dragged and Frank Williams opened his mouth and spake in a parable as follows:

“Well, boys, I want to find out what the farmers of the county who live on bad roads want—if they are willing to pay tax for others to have good roads but don’t want them for their own use, then I don’t want any more bonds, but if those who have no roads but are paying tax for the roads already built want good roads by their farms, I am willing to vote for them to have them.”

A Hand Out

Graham Hearon of Marshville is in favor of the proposed bond issue, but he says it looks like a hand-out to the townships that have no towns or corporations for Monroe, Marshville, Waxhaw and other towns and townships through which railroads, telephone and telegraph and electric wires pass to vote a bond issue upon themselves to help build roads in the other sections of the county. However, he realizes that those sections are paying tax for the roads that have already been built and he thinks they should also have roads.

J.E. Edwards, who works at the cotton platform in Monroe, lives a half mile from Altan and he wouldn’t do without his good road for several times his tax. However, he has to travel over a half mile of bad road to get to his farm and he states that he dreads that half mile more than the entire distance from Altan to Monroe. He is willing to vote bonds for the other fellow to have the same privilege he enjoys.

How to Reduce Expenses

H.J. Hinson says we can reduce farming expenses by quitting the job and that the road tax expense can be reduced in the same manner. However he realized there would be about as much common sense and logic in one as the other, because we must have roads and therefore we must pay some kind of road tax—either the cash in the form of taxes or we must pay a greater amount in mud tax, which is the most expensive taxation on record.

Emsley Moore of Sandy Ridge township says Union county has taken on new life and that she cannot afford to lock the wheels of progress by quitting the road-building program at this stage of the game.

Wants a Place to Walk at Least

Henry Thomas, who lives in that section of New Salem township where it is almost impossible for a goat to get along with any degree of satisfaction and where an automobile dares not go, is 64 years of age and has been paying taxes for a long time, but he is in favor of bonds and thinks the people in that section should have a road that they can at least walk over.

Johnnie Griffin, who lives one mile this side of Coble’s Mill, New Salem township, has no decent road nearer him than Tom Braswell’s, a distance of five miles, says that if Union County will not connect the Morgan’s Mill road with the road to Coble’s Mill and purchase half interest in the bridge, as Stanly has already done, there will be a direct route from Oakboro to Monroe and Marshville. He argues that it is a well-known fact that a large per cent of the Stanly cotton in that section ?? come to Union county towns if the connection could be made. Mr. Griffin is for bonds and he states that practically every citizen in his community is of the same opinion.

Lonnie Braswell of New Salem thinks the people of the county who have good roads should be willing to vote bonds for the construction of some roads in his township. There is perhaps more marketable timber in New Salem than in any other township of the county and is worth thousands of dollars, but roads must be had over which to get to the market.

Harvey Green, who lives three miles this side of the river on the Morgan Mill road, can tell something of the value of good roads in hauling lumber. He states that before the road was built he hauled 800 feet of lumber to Monroe at a load to find his mules almost exhausted. Now he brings 1,500 to 1,600 at a load. At a difference of 25 cents per hundred, the good road is worth $2 per day to Harvey Green. This, he argues, would in one week’s time pay his extra road tax for two years.

What holds good in Harvey Green’s case applies to many citizens of the county and to practically every one in a limited way.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

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Don’t Get Excited

There’s nothing in the proposed bond election for any one to get excited over or to call names about. This is simply a business proposition of a public nature about which there is bound to be a difference of opinion. Nobody is trying to rob the county and all this humpbacked patriotism is just so much fizzle.

It is generally conceded that former bond issues which took place in a time of excitement and inexperience resulted in some waste and that not as much mileage was obtained as could now be obtained when prices are lower. The same thing happened when street paving was being put down in Monroe. Some of it was put down at the peak of prices and cost perhaps twice as much as it would cost now. But there is no one who would have taken up now and do without it for what it cost.

If we are going to refuse to budge another inch because some mistakes were made under former road commissioners when every one was inexperienced, we will be acting contrary to what every sensible individual would do in his own business matters. If he makes a mistake and does not get the worth of his money, he does not shut up shop and quit. He goes right ahead in the light of his past experience.

The present road commissioners are conservative and cautious men and can be trusted to handle the funds at their disposal in the most economical way. If they can’t be trusted, who can? Monroe and Marshville, the main towns of the county, have already got all the roads that they expect. They are interesting in seeing those sections of the county which do not have roads get their part in order that these sections can better do business in these towns. That is a plain business matter and there is nothing to conceal about it. This ought to be a day when people act according to sensible reasons and not from whims.

If a man thinks that it is a good business proposition to stop road development and can make an argument to that effect, he has a right to do so, and his opinion is worthy of respect. There is no reason to call him a fool, any more than there is to call those on the other side fools.

There is not the slightest ground for the argument that former contracts will be revived. The road commissioners have stated emphatically that this cannot be done and their statement has been backed up by legal advice. The old contracts were terminated and closed and not one of these contractors would be so foolish as to expect to see them revived. This is simply another of those statements that haveno foundation in fact and which should no longer be repeated by sensible men.

There are sections in the county where the roads have not been worked. They could not be worked everywhere at first. These are the very sections that should naturally most favor more work in order that they may get their part. Those sections of the county where there are good roads as a general thing favor the bond issue in order to give the unworked sections their part. The people in these sections ought to have confidence in the road commissioners to believe what they say when they declare that they will be given their roads if the bonds are issued.

This, too, is a common sense proposition that should rest upon its merit and not upon the hare brained statement that the county would be bankrupted by having more roads.

There is another line of argument that cannot mean anything except that nothing will be done. That is the argument that all road work ought to be done without bonds and on the pay as you go plan, so that instead of paying interest, all the money could be applied upon the roads. Every private enterprise is started with so much capital paid in. This capital is either borrowed or interest paid upon it or furnished by parties who expect to get dividends. The money that is borrowed is simply the capital with which roads are built and the dividends come from the use of the roads. Of course if you count roads worth nothing, there is no reason to issue bonds. But even those who oppose bonds say that they want good roads. Yet bonds are the only present means of getting them, and it’s bonds and roads or no bonds and no roads.

The Journal has no more interest in bonds than any citizen. It simply believes this is the wise thing to do, and gives its reasons therefore.

From the editorial page of The Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Goose Creek Tails from C.W. Clontz, May 29, 1923

Goose Creek Gossip

By C.W. Clontz

Years ago when but a boy in old Goose Creek, prohibition had its struggles which came very nearly mking of it a prodigal son. For with so much fine fruit and corn and no market much for either, coupled with that long-established custom of making and having everything one’s heart could wish and brain devise from a home-made scything cradle and wheel barrow to rough roads and a mid-winter week’s drun, there was slow progress.

To hear the older people tell of how those white-covered wagons from the mountains and elsewhere were so warmly and cordially received; and how their arrival was met with watering lips; how the stopover or dump-off determined the location of the community centre, all makes one cease wondering why good roads talk wasn’t so want to be prevalent in those days.

Although the struggle is still on, there is not so much bold-front stuff offered to every youth of the township. Still it is hardly possible for one to perish from thirst in our great township. The vital point is: Educate a more “wet-proof” citizenship.

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A gander had mysteriously wandered or flown from the homeland flock in old Goose Creek and become missing. Later it was learned that he was sojourning in the haunts of southeastern Cabarrus county. This particular fowl had not given himself up entirely to fishing and commonplace, and though he is not as cunning as Old Sol, he is not a mere happy-go-lucky feathered fellow.

A trade had been in contemplation for a day or two. Now the bargaining was brought to a set of mutual banters.

“I’ll let you have the sow and pigs to fatten on halves, you furnishing the feed,” offered the native of Cabarrus.”

“It’s a trade,” said the gander.

Thereupon a chase was put on to catch the swine family for transfer to the new guardian’s premises, which of course, was co?? in a few minutes. They were discussing the merits of different methods of feeding and breeding when the value of the captives came up for consideration.

The owner had offered him at $20 and wouldn’t take a cent less.

“What will you take for your half and me pay it now?” quizzed the Gander.

“$10,” was the quick reply, at which the Gander, who is Mr. C.M. Polk, now of Concord, jumped, forking out the eagle with apparently an undiscernible air, to the former owner, Mr. Martin Furr, the Cabarrus man.

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Mr. E.E. Braswell, an enterprising farmer of South Goose Creek, believes in living and learning, though he is not young any more. Mr. Braswell was heard to say recently that there were two things he was going to teach himself to do—Milk a cow and drive a car.

From page 7 of The Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Indian Trail Route News, May 29, 1923

Indian Trail Route News

Indian Trail, Route 1, May 28—A large bunch of boys and girls attended the Primitive Baptist church at Watson from this community.

Miss Beulah Long, who is taking a business course in Charlotte, spent Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Dixon.

Mr. and Mrs. D.F. Furr and children of Monroe were recent visitors to relatives and friends here.

Mr. Ellis Sherrin of Matthews was a guest of Mr. George Rowell last week. Mr. Oscar Rowell is getting along as well as could be expected, his friends will be glad to know.

Mrs. J.M. Pusser was a Sunday visitor at Mr. J.M. Dixon’s.

Mr. W.L. Dixon and family of Charlotte were visitors in the neighborhood Sunday.

Rev. J.W. Strider will preach at Union Grove the first Sunday night in June at 8 o’clock.

Mr. and Mrs. Ike Keziah of Monroe have been visiting the later parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Rowell.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

News from Brief, N.C., May 29, 1923

Found the Crow and Came Near Being Shot

Brief, May 28—The regular correspondent has asked me to write the news for this issue, so if the readers of the Journal will excuse my mistakes, I will do so.

The people through this section of the county are worrying over the irregular stand of cotton. Some are thinking of planting over, while others are thinking of plowing up the worst and planting it in corn.

The stork visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Page on May 20, and left a nice boy.

Cora Lavinia, the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Burnette, is right sick at this writing.

Master John Henry Long, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Long, spent the week-end with relatives at Concord.

Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Austin and children of Monroe, Route 2, spent the week-end with Mrs. Austin’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Austin.

A good many Brief people attended the “foot washing” at Watson Sunday.

Brief lays claim to several championships, but the latest is that of the bee tree hunter. He is Mr. Will Almond, a tenant on Mr. B.J. Clontz’s farm. One day recently he found three within a hundred yards of each other. Can anyone beat it?

Boy’s let’s pull together and put out a good ball team this summer. With the material we have around here, together with some practice, we could have a winning team. Come on, let’s go!

The rare occurrence of chicken thieving by crows happened the other day on the farm of Mrs. C.F. Biggers. Mrs. Biggers had been missing some feathered-young a few days prior to the apprehension of the black cawing miscreant. However, the story originates with Mr. A.L. Hartsell, who as a lover of nature was strolling through the woods when he came upon Mr. Hoyle Biggers, who was imitating the call of the bird, trying to attract him within shooting distance. It was the call of Mr. Biggers which had attracted Mr. Hartsell, neither knowing the other was about.

As the attracted spectator drew nearer, the cawing cry came sighing in more and more plaintive tones until it had drawn Mr. Hartsell within 20 feet of Mr. Biggers. Mr. Hartsell was looking for a nest of young crows, and, twisting a twig between thumb and index finger, he posed a natural woodsman-hunter.

“You a crow hunting, too?” came from behind a large pine tree.

“Humph! I was about to shoot,” came the abrupt reply from Mr. Hartsell.

Be a booster like a rooster,

Crow it loud and long;

Make a high step with a quick step

Put a little “pepper” in your song.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Ministers Ask for Campaign for Temperance, May 29, 1923

To Make Campaign for Temperance, Law and Order

Owing to the widespread tendency of many of the people toward habits of intemperance and disregard of the laws of our country, the laws of God, the Ministerial Association of Union county in session in Monroe on May the 21, voted unanimously to ask every minister in the county to give one service each to each church in his charge during the month of June to the presentation of the claims of temperance and good citizenship. The ministers were also asked to give additional time outside the bound of their charges that teams of speakers might visit churches without pastors and school house communities desiring their service. Any such community wishing speakers for afternoon services will please report to any member of the undersigned committee. In their endeavor to encourage and recreate habits of sobriety among a spirit of reference for law and order and responsibility to Almighty we earnestly crave the sympathetic co-operation and prayer of all God-fearing people.

--R.J. McIlwaine, J.J. Edwards, C.C. Burris, Committee

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Social Workers Club Organized at Mineral Springs, May 29, 1923

Social Club Organized at Mineral Springs

Mineral Springs, May 28—The Social Workers Club was organized at the home of Mrs. W.L. Motes on the 26th. Miss Effie Alexander was elected president, Mrs. H.A. Helms, vice president; and Mrs. H.A. Carter, secretary. The following members were present: Mrs. E.H. Broom, Miss Effie Alexander, Mrs. H.A. Carter, Mrs. Vann Coan, Mrs. F.C. Doster, Mrs. Tom Griffin, Mrs. J.F. Goron, Mrs. H.A. Helms, Mrs. F.A. Krauss, Mrs. W.W. Laney, Mrs. J. Lee Polk, Mrs. B. Savage, Mrs. George T. Winchester, Mrs. M.M. Winchester and Mrs. Bud Secrest. Refreshments were served by Mrs. Broom and Mrs. Carter. The next meeting will be held with Miss Alexander.

Mrs. Irene Polk, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs. Beatrice Crowell for some time, has returned home.

Mrs. Holly S. Polk of Chattanooga, accompanied by her grandchildren, Masters Edmond and Hallan Krishboam, is visiting relatives and friends here and will go on to Wadesboro to see her mother.

Mr. and Mrs. Mims Belk were in town Sunday and Monday.

There was a lively debate in the auditorium of the graded school building Friday evening. The subject of discussion was whether or not the United States should join the league of nations. Messrs. E.H. Broom and W.L. Motes took the affirmative and Messrs. F.A. Krauss Sr. and F.A. Krauss Jr. took the negative.

Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Motes have received many invitations from former pupils to attend commencement exercises at Albemarle, Richmond, and New Berry, S.C., all of which they very much appreciate.

Mr. Burrell McManus was poisoned severely on the hands and face while putting out guano supposed to have been due to acid in the fertilizer. The road crew has done some much needed work on the roads here last week.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Prof. Allen Supterintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. Brooks President of State College, May 29, 1923

Prof. Allen, Brother-in-Law of Mr. Jas. H. Lee, to be Supt. of Public Instruction; Dr. Brooks to be President of State College

Some rapid changes in officialdom have taken place the last day or two. Following the appointment by Gov. Morrison of Mr. Heriott Clarkson of Charlotte to a place of State Supreme Court bench to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Walker, Dr. W.C. Riddick yesterday offered his resignation as president of the State College of Agriculture and Engineering, and the request that he be made dean fo the department of engineering. A dispatch from Raleigh this morning says that the trustee and Governor Morrison have agreed that Dr. E.C. Brooks, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will at once be elected president of the college, and will accept. Mr. Morrison will then immediately appoint Mr. A.T. Allen, who has been an assistant to Dr. Brooks, as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

This announcement is of peculiar interest to Monroe people. Dr. Brooks, who was appointed Superintendent by Governor Bickett to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Joyner, began his educational carrer as superintendent of the Monroe City School. He rose steadily in his profession and has become regarded as the strongest man in public work that the State has had in many years.

Mr. Allen is an Iredell county man and is a brother-in-law of Mr. James H. Lee of Monroe. He went from the superintendency of the Salisbury schools to the head of the department of teacher training under Dr. Brooks, and is regarded as another of the strong men of the State in public educational work.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, May 29, 1923

Monroe Journal, Union County, N.C., May 29, 1923

Kodak Camera, Ladies Home Journal Ad, May 1923

All Should Salute Flag and Support Our Injured Vets, Say American Legion Officials, May 28, 1923

Legion Officials Heard at Spray

Leaksville-Spray, May 26—J.A. Lockhart, state commander, and R.E. Denny, state adjutant of the American Legion delivered addresses here Wednesday, legion day at the community week exercises.

Mr. Denny told the folks he was a native of Rockingham county and there was something he felt he should speak about directly to them. During the parade he said he saw but two men salute the flag as it passed.

“It is the duty of every American citizen and boy,’ he said, “to take his hat off when Old Glory appears.”

State Commander Lockhart was then introduced by Mr. Denny. He declared the nation had neglected disabled soldiers and charged that the administration knows it, but does nothing to aid.

Mr. Lockhart commended Woodrow Wilson for maintaining peace so long as peace with honor was possible and then for going into the war when he did, with all the power possible to make this the last war. “We gave them 72,000 of our buddies in a war to end wars,” he said, “and after we had won, we saw our government refuse to cooperate with other nations of the world, and what we had fought for and won was lost by the acts of the so-called statesmen of the world—politicians.”

He made an attack on George Harvey, British ambassador, who said that Americans went into the war “laggardly.”

“During the time they were facing death in behalf of their homes and loved ones, George Harvey was sitting in an easy chair writing out his ‘bleathings’ and doing all in his power to hamper the administration and its fighting forces,” he said.

Mr. Lockhart criticized President Harding for playing golf “while many of our buddies die every day from neglect."

He also assailed the President’s surgeon general, Dr. Sawyer, who is alleged to have said that the government could not now build hospitals, that things would right themselves.

“Yes,” said Mr. Lockhart, “after the boys are dead.”

He maintained that the administration knew of the frightful conditions in army hospitals where ex-service men are neglected while disabled. “Under these conditions we are asked to keep our mouths shut. If we have no right to speak, who has?”

He said he was liable to prosecution if he was not speaking the truth, “but,” he said, “the administration knows that it is the truth.”

From the front page of The Reidsville Review, May 28, 1923

Help Send Rev. S.B. Brown to Baptist World Alliance Meeting, May 28, 1923

Loyal Friends Come to the Rescue of Rev. S.B. Brown

We, the members and officers of the First Baptist church (Col.) are planning to send our pastor, Rev. S.B. Brown, to the Baptist World Alliance at Stockholm July 21st to 27th. We are calling upon our white and colored friends to help us to send him to bring us a message from that meeting.

People in Europe say that they are glad to know that the negro Baptists of America are coming to Europe to be represented at the meeting. Several of their well-known representatives will have places on the program. And our pastor is one of them. This is why we the members and friends want to send our pastor. Our pastor received his credentials from the Northern Baptist Convention on May 14, 1923, from the corresponding secretary, Rev. W.C. Bitting, 5109 Waterman Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.A., and he has sent in for his passport and it is paid for, you see he is ready, all but the fare. This is why we are asking our white and colored friends to please help us. We need not to tell you what good he has done for the colored people here in Reidsville. For you, the white people, know we can not tell you about it, we write this through the paper so that you may know that we ask your cooperation with us in sending our pastor because we know it will be great for our town and people. Please help us.

Done by order of the First Baptist Church (Colored)

R.B. Adams, S.D. Penn, James Gillium, W.V. Corbett, Peter Cardwell, James Neal, deacons; Wm. R. Ellington, John Garland, Nat Lampkins, J.H. Whitsett, Wm. Rennix, trustees; Lillian B. King, clerk.

From page 7 of the Reidsville Review, Monday, May 28, 1923

Reidsville Local News, May 28, 1923

Local News

Estelle, the beloved wife of E.D. Foster, died from uremic poisoning Saturday afternoon. She was in her 24th year and is survived by her husband; also her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Wootten, and three sisters. She was married about three years ago. Mrs. Foster was a good Christian woman and had a wide circle of friends who sincerely mourn her untimely end and whose tender sympathies go out to the stricken young husband in his great loss. Funeral services were conducted from the resident of W.T. Wootten on North Scales street Sunday afternoon by Rev. M.F. Moores and interment followed in Greenville cemetery. The funeral and burial were attended by a large number of friends and relatives and the floral offerings were unusually large and beautiful.

Mrs. C.A. Penn and children came home from New York Saturday and will spend the summer here.

There will be a meeting of the Library Association Wednesday at 4 o’clock with Miss Emma M. Kinney. The association will give a high class musicale at the Franklin Street school on Friday night, June 1st, for the benefit of the children’s fund. Four artists from the Mt. Vernon Methodist church of Danvile, Va., are giving their services in helping the library to finance the need for more books for children. Messrs. Brower, organist and pianist; Samuel Sours, tenor, and Richard Penn, violinist, with Miss Margaret Womack, accompanist. Each one is an artist in his line. A real treat is in store for all who hear them.

Mr. and Mrs. James N. Simpson of Summerfield, N.C., announce the marriage of their daughter, Goldia Price, to Leland L. Noakes of Logansport, Ind., May 26, 1923.

V.C. Taylor of the State College at West Raleigh [N.C. State University today], has been engaged as agricultural teacher at the new consolidated schools near Wentworth. Mr. Taylor has assumed his duties.

An evidence of Brother Brown’s powerful exhortations is the fact that an agitated old sinner lost his set of false teeth at one of the services recently. The police now have the trophy on exhibition.

Regular meetings of Carolina Council No. 9 Jr. O.U.A.M. will be resumed Thursday night of this week. All new members who have been notified of their election should be present this Thursday night for enrollment.

Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Wray will attend the commencement exercises at the A. & E. College, Raleigh, tomorrow, where their son Thomas graduates this session. The latter has completed a special course in textiles and chemistry.

Married by Squire E.F. Hall the past week Homer Reece and Hazel Bullis of Greensboro; W.O. Chatmon and Margaret Smith of Reidsville; Vick Carr and Eliza Weddle of Martinsville, Va.; J.H. Brown and Pearl Frazier of Rocky Mount, Va.

Mr. Harry A. Stirling, second year student at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va., has accepted work for the summer months in connection with the work of the Episcopal Church at Leaksville and Spray with residents at Leaksville. –Gazette.

A new local of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Marketing Association has been formed at Double Springs school house in Wentworth township, composed of 25 enthusiastic members. The officers are R.D. Carter, president; W.T. Smith, vice president; H.E. McCollum, secretary; executive committee W.D. Madison, H.P. Dye and R.E. McCollum.

Advices received here from Yanceyville confirmed the report that several cases of smallpox have developed there and that the state board of health of North Carolina has taken prompt measures to prevent any further infection by wholesale vaccinations. There are about 12 cases of the malady in and about Yanceyville, only a few of them being severe cases. In several instances more than one member of the family has the malady and it is not true that the 12 cases are widely scattered. It is reported that fully 400 persons have been vaccinated during the past several days. During the past few days there have been no new cases and the belief is expressed that the epidemic is waning.

From page 5 of The Reidsville Review, May 28, 1923

Reidsville High School Graduating Class, 1923

Invitations have been issued reading as follows:

“The class of 1923, Reidsville high school, announces its commencement exercises Monday evening, June 4th, at 8 o’clock, high school auditorium.”

Members of the high school graduating class this year are as follows:

Helen Burnett Benson

William Reid Brande

Eugene Hastings Brooks

Nellie Beryl Bullard

Lawrence Lee Butler

Evelyn Virginia Butler

William T. Carter

John T. Chance

Julius Alwin Cooke

John W. Craddock

William Watt Daniel

Alton L. Gillikin

Robert Burton Gladstone

Lela Leone Johnson

Maie Johnson

Henry Ernest Link Jr.

Burch Roane Lively

Herbert spencer Mace

Samuel Egbert Miles

Mary Heston Mitchell

Blanche Nunnally Moore

Margaret Elizabeth Pettigrew

Doris Ellen Rogers

M. Estelle Sands

Lula Hariston Shelton

Mildred Anna Stokes

William Stamey Teachey

Mary Frances Turner

Mary Lee Ware

Thelma Anita Watlington

Berrie Sue Williams

From page 5 of The Reidsville Review, May 28, 1923

Reidsville Review, May 28, 1923

Glasgow-Hodges Wedding May 27, 1923

Glasgow-Hodges

Miss Thelma Glasgow, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Glasgow, and Mr. Irving Hodges were married Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock, Rev. W.C. Greer of the Christian Church officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgtes are well known in the community and have many friends who wish them a happy married life.

From page 4 of the Tri-City Daily Gazette, Leaksville, N.C., May 28, 1923

Miss Ruth Farrell Reports, May 28, 1923

Miss Ruth Farrell, Society Editor, Residence Phone 87, Gazette Phone No. 1

Mr. G.H. Clark and son, George, were in Reidsville yesterday visiting relatives.

Miss Elizabeth Sharp of the Leaksville Graded School spent the week end with her parents near Madison.

Mr. and Mrs. W.G. McCollum and daughter, Gertrude, spent Saturday in Greensboro.

Mr. H.E. Latham of Greensboro spent the past week end in town with friends.

Miss Louise Barbery of Claypso is visiting Miss Lydia Southerland at the Carolina Home for several days.

Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Easley are moving into their new home today. Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Golden will occupy the house the Easleys formerly lived in.

Miss Lillian Rhodenizer of the Carolina Home spent the past week end at her home near Leaksville.

Mr. H.G. McGinn of Greensboro spent the past week end in town with friends.

Mr. J.A. Flythe returns to Jackson today after spending several days with Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Fagge on Monroe Street.

Mr. V.C. Gunn of Greensboro spent the past week end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Gunn in the Highlands.

Mrs. S.J. Becker leaves today for High Point to attend a Missionary Conference.

Mr. and Mrs. Luther Hodges entertained at a 6 o’clock dinner Saturday, Dr. and Mrs. J.B. Ray and Mr. Gilbert Ivie, in honor of Miss Lockhart.

From page 2 of the Tri-City Daily Gazette, Leaksville, N.C., May 28, 1923

Tri-City Gazette, Leaksville, N.C., May 28, 1923

Smart Hats, Ladies Home Journal, May 1923

Sentence Speeders to 6 Months as Pedestrians, Suggests Brooklyn Eagle, May 27, 1923

From the editorial page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, May 27, 1923, W.N. Keener, Editor.

Police Seized 300 Quarts of Scotch Whiskey at Shriners Convention, May 27, 1923

Gastonia is likely to get a reputation as an inhospitable city. During the recent gathering of Shriners in that city unfeeling, unsympathetic, and discourteous policemen seized 300 quarts of Scotch whiskey. We wouldn’t blame the Shriners one bit if they blacklisted Gastonia as a convention city.

From the editorial page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, May 27, 1923, W.N. Keener, Editor.

Heriot Clarkson Named to State Supreme Court, May 27, 1923

Robert Heriot Clarkson served in the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1923 to 1942.

Selection of Clarkson as an Associate Justice Is No Surprise to Officials. . . His Selection Came as the Logical Result When Guthrie Withdraws. . . No Abashment. . . Both Men Are Close Friends of the Governor and Stand Well in State. . . Clarkson Equipped. . . Appointee Has Been Active in Legal and Legislative Life of North Carolina for 25 Years

Raleigh, May 26—Governor Morrison was spared the necessity for deciding between two of his staunchest friends in the matter of the Supreme Court Justiceship and, following the receipt of a telegram from T.C. Guthrie of Charlotte this morning stating that he could not accept the appointment if tendered, having given the position to Heriot Clarkson, well-known attorney of the Mecklenburg capital, campaign manager for Mr. Morrison in the 1923 primaries, former president of the State Anti-Saloon League and for seven years solicitor of the judicial district which includes Charlotte.

The new justice unquestionably was leading in the number of endorsements, especially among non-members of the legal profession. He is known throughout the State and it goes without saying that he has friends and admirers enough to ensure widespread gratification at his appointment.

Mr. Clarkson was born August 21, 1863, in upper South Carolina, the son of Major William and Mrs. Margaret Simons Clarkson. His father was a Confederate officer and in service at the time of his birth. He removed to Charlotte in early life and was educated at the Carolina Military Institute, where he received his academic training, and the University of North Carolina, from the law school of which he was graduated in 1884.

In the same year he began the practice of his profession at Charlotte, first being in the office of Jones & Johnston. Early interested in prohibition—although the movement did not at first aim at more than regulation of the liquor traffic—he came to the Legislature in 1899 largely as a result of his desire to do something to remedy the drink evil.

In 1904 he became solicitor and served until 1911. This and his one term as a member of the Legislature constitute his entire list of State offices held.

He was president of the Anti-Saloon League in 1908 when the State went dry, largely through his unceasing efforts. Since the coming of prohibition his chief interest outside the practice of law and the development of a mountain estate at Little Switzerland has been good roads. He was instrumental in getting the views of Governor Morrison and the State Good Roads association and the Legislature close enough together in 1921 to assure the success of the present construction program.

It might be interesting to note in connection with the new justice’s coming to Raleigh tha the isn’t the Presbyterian and Covenanter he is so generally thought to be, but an Episcopalian, giving that denomination two members of the court as against the Methodists’ three.

John E. Wilson of Asheville was today appointed by the Governor on the State Board of Accountancy to succeed Charles E. Goodno of Raleigh, resigned.

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Heriot Clarkson, prominent Charlotte attorney, was advised today by Governor Cameron Morrison of his appointment as an associate justice of the North Carolina supreme court to succeed the last Justice Platt D. Walker of Wilmington, who died last Tuesday at Raleigh.

Mr. Clarkson’s name, with that of T.C. Guthrie Sr. of Charlotte; Judge B.F. Long of Statesville, and others, had been placed before Governor Morrison, Mr. Guthrie this morning withdrawing his name from the governor’s consideration for the appointment in a telegram to the chief executive.

Mr. Clarkson stated this afternoon that he would be sworn in as an associate justice next Friday but did not expect to sit on the supreme court bench this session, as the court, he understood, was preparing to adjourn.

Heriot Clarkson, for more than 25 years, has been a leader, not only of the Charlotte bar, but in state and legislative affairs. He is a native of Kingsville, S.C., the descendant of the Heriots, Simons and Clarksons of revolutionary days. He was graduated with high honors from the University of North Carolina in the class of 1883 and immediately began the practice of law in Charlotte.

He was appointed solicitor by Governor Aycock in 1905, his appointment being later ratified for another term by popular vote. He was a leader in the passing of the mechanical college, and was chairman to frame the Turlington act in 1923, which makes the state prohibition laws conform to the Volstead act.

Mr. fathered the textile branch of the state agricultural and mechanical college (N.C. State University), and was chair of the judiciary committee which sponsored the present highway commission. He also, at the last general assembly, helped pass the present state municipal act.

In the last gubernatorial campaign Mr. Clarkson managed Governor Morrison’s campaign and has been a staunch friend and close adviser and counsellor of the governor during his administration. His legal attainments and honorable record of service to his state, in the opinion of his friends who presented his name to Governor Morrison for appointment, intitle him to the honor conferred upon him by the governor.

From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, May 27, 1923

Please Only Print the Truth, Says Colored Ministerial Association of Salisbury, May 27, 1923

Negroes Want Only True Stories Sent

By the Associated Press

Salisbury, N.C., May 26—“We do hope the editors will hesitate to publish such glaring stories until they have been verified,” is the closing sentence of a letter mailed today by the Colored Ministerial association of this city to the Afro-American” negro weekly published at Baltimore, denying that a lynching and other racial disturbances had taken place here last Wednesday, as reported in the columns of the weekly. The association’s letter declared that relations between the two races at Salisbury have been most friendly and that no trouble of any kind has occurred.

From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, May 27, 1923

Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, May 27, 1923

Updating Your Wardrobe for Spring, 1923

Why a Newspaper Offers Prizes to Subscribers, May 25, 1923

All for Elizabeth City

Without deceiving itself as to the many undesirable phases of a forced subscription campaign for a newspaper, The Independent is announcing a campaign for this newspaper this week. The equivalent of $2,000 in handsome prizes and cash commissions are to be paid by this newspaper to energetic subscription getters within the next few weeks. This campaign is being staged by this newspaper at an expense of time and money that will not be covered by the returns. But I am going into this campaign for new subscribers for the good of Elizabeth City.

A new era of trade possibilities is about to dawn in this live Northeastern North Carolina town. Elizabeth City stores are going to see their business doubled within the next six months, with the completion of several road projects closely knitting Elizabeth City with its great outlying trade territory. Elizabeth City is going to be the trade mart. It is to put The Independent into more homes in this outlying trade territory and to make more business for Elizabeth City that The Independent puts on this subscription campaign at this time. This newspaper’s facilities for printing and delivering its paper are greater even than the demands of its territory will exact for years to come. With press facilities for printing more than 3,000 complete papers an hour, and with rapid addressing machines to facilitate the dispatch of these papers, The Independent can serve 10,000 subscribers with little additional expense—aside from paper and ink. Ten thousand subscribers for this newspaper would mean more business for Elizabeth City stores than anything that could be done in or by Elizabeth City. And so I am making the sacrifice of paper and ink to give wider circulation to a newspaper that is already the best medium of publicity in Northeastern North Carolina. This campaign may not mean much in the way of direct financial returns to The Independent, but it is going to be a big thing for Elizabeth City—and anything that Helps Elizabeth City Helps The Independent.

From page 4, the editorial page, of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 25, 1923, William Saunders editor

Newspaper Subscription Contest for The Independent--Win a New Car, May 25, 1923

John Saliba's Idea for Pecan Avenue Is Excellent, May 25, 1923

A Pecan Avenue

Mr. John Saliba has been turning over in his philosophical mind an idea that should be worth more to Elizabeth City than a cotton mill or a university. Dr. Saliba’s idea is so simple that its materialization should be easily possible. His idea is that we plant 3,000 pecan trees at proper intervals on both sides of the thirteen and odd tenths miles of brick road between Elizabeth City and South Mills. These trees, planted at a cost of only a few thousand dollars would in a few years provide shade for tourists in summer and food and frolic for thousands thru the autumn and winter. Coupled with the fact that Elizabeth City is recognized by experts as offering the ideal combination of soil and climatic conditions of pecan culture, what greater monument to the good sense of a people, and what greater advertisement for the attraction of tourists could be offered than 13 miles of pecans for picking. Let’s get behind Dr. Saliba’s idea and make Pecan Avenue one of the biggest and most beautiful facts in Eastern North Carolina.

From page 4, the editorial page, of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 25, 1923, William Saunders editor

Farmers, Take Care of Your Woodlands, Says Editor, May 25, 1923

Have a Care to Your Trees

There is an interesting story on the front page of this newspaper this week about the timber resources and possibilities of North Carolina. While the country as a whole is using up and carelessly burning off its timber supply four times faster than it is reproducing new timber, there is still left on North Carolina farms alone something like 12 million acres of timber.

There are infinite possibilities in those 12 million acres of farm forests if properly conserved. We are told that they net the farmers of North Carolina an average of $2 an acre per annum as now carelessly handled. With a little intelligent care and shrewder methods of marketing, these lands would as readily net their owners as much as $5 per acre per annum. Visualize, if you can, a net revenue of $60 million a year from the timber on the farms of North Carolina! It beats tobacco, it beats cotton, it beats all the pigs and poultry.

Th extension Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture is going to help the farmer realize more from his neglected acres of woodland. One of the first steps will be to teach him the importance of cutting his big trees carefully, working up the small stuff and decayed trees intelligently and guarding his wooded acres against the ravages of fires.

A fact too little appreciated is that timber can be grown cheaper in Eastern North Carolina than anywhere else in the country because it has water transportation to the world’s largest markets right at its doors. They may grow timber a bit better in more Southern states, but freight rates eat up the profits. Have a care to the trees on your farm; a tree is worth as much as a cow or a pig, and while it take it longer to grow it doesn’t eat its head off to get its growth.

From page 4, the editorial page, of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 25, 1923, William Saunders editor

Stop Neglecting Elizabeth City's Second Ward, Says Editor, May 25, 1923

The Second Ward

Folks who live on Main Street have a way of forgetting all about the Second Ward of Elizabeth City until there is a bi-ennial election, and then every Main Streeter deplores the fact that Second ward folks show a vicious political disposition and invariably try to vote against the interests of the rest of the town. It doesn’t occur to the Main Streeter that the Second Ward man has a real grievance against the rest of the town. He is out of harmony with the rest of the town because the rest of the town has a way of forgetting him except on the occasion of bi-ennial election. He makes himself heard then by throwing discord into the ballot box. And I, for one, don’t blame him.

The Second Ward is the biggest and most populous political subdivision of Elizabeth city, has more acres and more votes than any ward in the city, and is woefully neglected in the apportionment of public improvements. It has more bad streets, more unpaved sidewalks, less street paving, less sewerage, less fire protection and less of everything than any other similar area in Elizabeth City.

The Second Ward is the home of a large population of working people, furnishing the bulk of the labor, both male and female, to many of the city’s most important industries. These working people do not come into much contact with the rest of the town and have a way of thinking that they are not welcome in other parts of the town. They have a habit of staying much to much to themselves and the rest of us have taken little pains to approach them. We have only begun to touch them in spots during the last few years thru the Red Cross and, more recently, thru the office of Public Welfare.

Elizabeth City should pay more attention to the needs of the Second Ward; something should be done for its streets; it should be given better sanitary service, better fire production and somewhere in that Ward the city should locate a park and playground as a rest and recreation center for the people. The way to make the Second Ward a desirable part of the town is to make the Second Ward a desirable part of the town.

From page 4, the editorial page, of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 25, 1923, William Saunders editor

Interesting News From Across North Carolina, May 25, 1923

The State News. . . A Digest of Things Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things

--G.B. Royster, prominent planter near Oxford, died in the Murphey Hospital at Baltimore. Mr. Royster was 68 years old and had been in bad health for some time.

--The North Carolina Baraca-Philathea convention will be held in Kinston, June 14-17, with a pageant “Spirit of Christ,” directed by Mrs. Walter Denmark of Goldsboro.

--Mrs. Henry Groves Connor Sr. of Wilson, who was reported critically ill, is much improved. Judge Connor, who was absent from the city, drove through the country to her bedside.

--The 100th anniversary of the consecration of the first Bishop of North Carolina, Right Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft, S.T.D., of Raleigh Episcopal dioceses was observed at Christ Church in Raleigh, Sunday.

--The Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in annual session at Goldsboro last week elected officers and selected Raleigh as the next meeting place, Sam B. Currin of Greenville was elected Grand Master.

--The fire loss in North Carolina for April this year was a quarter of a million dollars, less than for April last year but for the country at large the April 1923 loss is $32,638,150. This exceeds the April 1922 loss by nearly $2 million.

--John Roberts of Reddies River in Wilkes County is in a hospital in Winston-Salem in an unconscious condition as the result of a jump from a third story window at his boarding house. The young man has been given to walking in his sleep for some years.

--“Jack” Laws, a young white woman whose home is said to have been near Gastonia, died in a hospital at Hickory of injuries to her head caused when she fell or jumped from an automobile, according to a story told Chief of Police Lentz by Ruth Ennis, a Caldwell county girl.

--Mrs. W.A. Terry of Zebulon, N.C., was killed and Mrs. W.F. Lawrence of Atlanta, Ga., slightly injured when an automobile driven by the former went over a 10-foot ditch embankment at a curve on the Maxton road, about four miles from Red Springs.

--Shuford Bentley of Dallas identified the body of the young white woman who was fatally injured in an automobile accident near Hickory early Sunday as that of Alice Odom, his sister. She was the eighth wife, he said of Cleveland Odom of Wilkes County, and she, too, had been deserted by him.

--Only a freak of circumstances prevented the gaiety of the Shrine Ceremonial held in Washington, M.C., from being blighted by a terrible catastrophe when two spans of the great bridge across the Pamlico River collapsed beneath the weight of 3,000 spectators and sagged to within two feet of the water.

--Harbor front property valued at ?? has been tendered by the city of Wilmington to the State in the event that the State ship and water transportation commission recommends and the legislature approves the ship and ocean terminal enterprise embraced by Governor Morrison’s “Progress Program” for North Carolina.

--Defective flues and shingle roofs continue to be the primary cause of fire in North Carolina, according to the monthly report of the State Department of Insurance, giving this as the cause of 67 of the 180 fires reported in the month and entailing a loss of $587,946, which is considerably lower than the losses of the same month a year ago. (Wooden shingles used on homes were quite flammable.)

--North Carolina’s $40 million investment in modern school houses during the past 20 years make such a disaster as befell the school commencement near Camden, S.C., Thursday night almost impossible in this State, in the opinion of State Superintendent E.C. Brooks who was discussing the tragedy that cost 75 lives in a thinly settled rural community.

--Declaring that the inland waterways of eastern North Carolina are in many ways the most valuable in the world, Senator F.M. Simmons, speaking before the legislative ship commission in New Bern on the importance of developing these waterways, declared this generation would not discharge its obligation to the State and to the future if it failed to utilize them.

--The Civic Summer School of Music in Winston-Salem, N.C., probably the only one of the kind to be conducted in the entire country, will be opened on June 25th and will continue until August 4th. Th board of education of Winston-Salem recently voted $1,000 for the purchase of orchestral and band instruments which are used by the children free of charge.

--William Taylor was shot and killed at his farm house near Washington, N.C., and Garland Wynn was arrested and held on suspicion pending an inquest. Taylor had chastised his 13-year-old daughter, it was said, because she went riding Sunday afternoon with Wynn and another man, both of whom he said forbidden to come to the house, and it was said that the men had words.

--L. Rockwell Deal, well known farmer near Statesville, was instantly killed by the discharge of his own gun, while near his home. Although there were no actual eye-witnesses, the circumstances did not warrant an inquest as the gun was discharged while Mr. Deal was alone, in what manner it has not been determined. Mr. Deal had been in ill health for some time, suffering with pellagra.

--Jack Graham, negro of Fayetteville, was shot and killed almost instantly by Irwin Graham, his stepson, aged 12 years. The boy is being held in the county jail for investigation of the case by the grand jury. It developed from the evidence that the shooting grew out of trouble between the dead man and his stepdaughter, Sarah Graham, who testified that Graham had repeatedly made improper advances to her.

--Dr. W.A. Withers, director of the State College Summer School, which opens June 12 and continues through July 25, announces that an entirely new course in the textile industry will be offered this year for those working in mill communities. The course is intended primarily to familiarize those who are now teaching or expect to teach in mill centers with the fundamental principles of cotton manufacture.

--Dr. W.F. Drewry says that North Carolina has one insane person in a state hospital for every 527 of population; South Carolina one for every 608; and Virginia one for every 367. Insanity is not on the increase but more cures are affected that formerly and the institutions now care for people who were formerly cared for at home. Dr. Drewery figures that 25 per cent who are treated are discharged as cured or improved.

--North Carolina State College at Raleigh is on the verge of the biggest expansion in its history has determined that the growth shall take place along orderly lines and that neither beauty nor utility shall be sacrificed by haphazard location of buildings that are to be added to the college’s plant. The last legislature appropriated improvements at the college and from this fund six buildings will be added to the 34 now on the campus.

--Under the inspiring influence of the happy children and the splendid buildings and grounds of the Odd Fellows’ Orphan Home at Goldsboro, together with the elevation of Sam R. Currin of Greenville to the office of Grand Master, the North Carolina Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows’ at its annual meeting last week, enlarged its vision and rededicated itself to the care of the fatherless of its membership and other features of the mission of Odd Fellowship.

--Alumni home-coming day at State College promises to be one of the big features of commencement, according to ?? Stafford, alumni secretary, who stated that in addition to a large percentage of the members of the seven classes due this year for reunions, quite a number of other Tech alumni would journey back to West Raleigh for the finals. The first graduating class, that of 1893, will hold a reunion this year just 30 years after graduating.

--Following the reading of a prepared statement in which he reviewed the history of the State Sanatorium and declaring that Dr. L.B. McBrayer is the only man in the State who could have administered the institution so successfully, Dr. W.S. Rankin, Secretary of the State Board of Health told the legislative committee investigating the conduct of the Sanatorium that Dr. Reuben McBrayer and Lewis McBrayer, sons of the Superintendent, should not longer be continued in the service office of the institution.

--Frances McCurdy, 76-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McCurdy of Murphy, N.C., pleased guilty in United States District Court to robbing the Murphy post office. She told the court how she dressed in overalls, slipped into the room of Osborne Cope, postal clerk, and removed the keys to the office from his pocket while he was asleep. She testified that she had copied the combination to the safe several days previously and the securing of eight registered letters containing $15 and $150.91 in cash was therefore easy.

From page 3 of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., May 25, 1923