Greensboro Record
Early Malpass, white farmer of Pender county, will spend four years on the roads after conviction of having been the author and manufacturer of certain “puncture-sure” devices found on the highways near Currie, N.C., and reported by officials of the Carolina Motor club. An offer of $10 reward for the arrest and conviction of the guilty party caused Z.L. Hunt and E.M. Vernon, both of Currie, to investigate. The investigation lead to Malpass’ arrest and conviction. An additional reward of $50 was given by the county commissioners and $25 by an individual.
A sample device was sent to the offices of the Carolina Motor club some months ago by H.E. Parker, in charge of the Goldsboro office and reported to him by E.W. Vick of that city, caused the motor club to offer the reward. A photographic reproduction of this advice (device?) was published in the “Carolina Motorist,” an official publication of the club.
Judge Lyon, who tried the case in Superior Court in Pender county, stated that this was the first case he had tried in which there appeared to be no excuse for the crime. The defendant was given two years for obstructing the highways and two years for injury to personal property. Malpass lived along the highway and witnesses testified that it was a common thing to pick up as many as five tacks or nails on one trip. One man stated that he had taken 17 nails in his tire and nine punctures. Sheriff Arthur W. King of Burgaw reports that the young men who convicted Malpass had the thanks of the entire section.
C.W. Roberts, general manager of the Carolina Motor club, immediately forwarded the reward check to Sheriff King to be turned over to Mr. Hunt and Mr. Vernon. “The reward will be gladly paid wherever an instance of this type is reported. Destroying tires and time of motorists is the most wanton form of vandalism. Organized motoring will not and should not condone it.”
From page 8 of The Oxford Public Ledger, Tuesday, October 7, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073078/1924-10-07/ed-1/seq-8/#words=October+7%2C+1924
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