By the Associated Press
Spruce Pine, N.C., Oct. 1—Two ordinances, one prohibiting the sale of fire-arms and ammunition, and another requiring all stores and restaurants within the corporate limits of Spruce Pine to close at 10 o’clock at night from Tuesday, October 2, to Saturday, October 6, when the tri-county fair will be held were adopted by the board of aldermen at a meeting held at 10 o’clock tonight. In addition to the adoption of the ordinances, a proclamation was issued by city and county authorities in which it stated that no one will be permitted to enter the town of Spruce Pine during the fair “unusually or dangerously armed, openly or concealed.”
The proclamation declared these measures were necessary “in view of the riotous condition due to recent unlawful acts on the part of certain citizens of Mitchell county and Spruce Pine, and the parading of unauthorized armed bodies necessitating the ordering by his excellency the governor of North Carolina of state troops into their county.”
The document read as follows:
“Under the authority vested in us by the laws of the state of North Carolina, the county of Mitchell and the town of Spruce Pine must be respected and the following regulations will be enforced:
“1—That during the fair between Tuesday October 2 and Saturday, October 6, no one will be permitted to enter the town of Spruce Pine, unusually or dangerously armed, either openly or concealed, and steps will be taken to enforce this. Any arms taken will be held and properly tagged by number and may be secured by owner by applying to the proper authorities, expect that under the state laws concealed weapons will be destroyed and violators prosecuted.
“2—The bringing into the corporate limits of Spruce Pine of spirituous liquors will not be permitted and any found coming into this town will be destroyed and those transporting same arrested and held for appearance at court.
“3—Authorities of the town will exercise a search for arms and whiskies as provided by law.
“4—No drunkenness or disorderly conduct will be permitted.
“5—The sale of fire-arms and ammunition with the town of Spruce Pine for the period from Tuesday October 2 to Saturday 6, is prohibited.
“6—All show people quartered in the fair grounds will remain in the fair grounds enclosure after 10 p.m., during the term of the fair.
“7—Fair grounds will be cleared of all visitors at 10 p.m., each night of the fair.
“8—No store, restaurant or vendor stand will be permitted to remain open in the town of Spruce Pine after 10 p.m., during the life of this proclamation.
“9—That should conditions of insurrection, riot or invasion continue in Mitchell county for a period beyond the date, October 6, the foregoing provisions of this proclamation will be continued that the law abiding and good citizens of the state and county, both white and colored, may have that protection of the law which is their just right to demand.
“Every citizen of this great state and country has a right to work without molestation and these rights will be respected and protected.
“In our actions, as above indicate, we expect the hearty support of every law-abiding citizen both in Mitchell county and the town of Spruce Pine, and we hereby pledge them that we will execute the law to the letter. This the first day of October, 1923.”
The proclamation is being printed and will be posted by deputy sheriff all over the section affected by the recent disorders.
Adjutant General Metts stated tonight that troops will cooperate in every way in maintaining order here.
At 11 o’clock tonight Spruce Pine was quiet and no trouble was feared during the night.
. . . .
From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Oct. 2, 1923
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