Sideshows Vie for Chance to Take 15-Month-Old Child on the Road, Aug. 31, 1926

Weighs 65 Pounds at Age of 15 Months

Carthage, Aug. 27—Leslie Carter and wife of West End, Route 1, are the proud parents of a daughter that is only 15 months old and yet weighs 65 pounds. The baby, apparently normal in every way aside from its obesity, is their only child. At birth, according to its parents, it was about the size of any ordinary child, but developed rapidly and at the age of 15 mounts it is still adding weight at the rate of around six or eight pounds a month.

Leslie, the child’s father, is employed in the sand pit near his home, operated by S. W. Wilson and Son. He has been recipient of many offers from showmen who wanted to add his child to their collection. One prominent circus offered him $400 a month to travel with the show and take his “little daughter” along. From another he received an offer of $10 a day, with all expenses paid. But so far he has been undecided whether to accept any of these offers, stating that he fears the child might not live if he uses it for monetary gains.

Both the parents of Virginia Dare, which was the name given the infant, are people of average build and size, the mother, in fact, being of rather small structure.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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Two More Die as Result of Newton Car Accident, Aug. 31, 1926

Two More Deaths Result from the Newton Accident . . . Ellis Jackson and Nathan White Died Monday Afternoon as Result of Accident Earlier in Day. . . Funeral of Mrs. Jarratt Tomorrow. . . Services Will be Held at 3 o’clock with interment in Oakwood. . . Mrs. Ross and Son in Hospital

Funeral Services for Mrs. A. H. Jarratt, killed in an automobile accident near Newton Monday at noon, will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church here tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Bishop Edwin A. Penick of Charlotte and Rev. H. B. Thomas, rector of All Saints Church, will conduct the services at the church and grave.

The pall bearers at the funeral will be: R. P. Gibson, Leonard Brown, W. H. Gibson, H. L. Cook, Robert P. Bell, J. Leslie Bell, A. S. Webb and H. I. Woodhouse.

Mrs. Laura Leslie Ross and son, Thomas, injured in the same accident, are believed to be on the road to recovery.

Ellis Jackson of Newton and Charlotte, driver of the car which crashed with that carrying the Concord party to Montreat, died in a Hickory hospital several hours after the accident. Nathan White, negro chauffeur for Mrs. Jarratt, also died during the afternoon, bringing the casualty total to three.

Mrs. Ross and son are still in the Hickory hospital and each is expected to recover. Mrs. Ross complains more with her side than anything else, relatives here have been told, but so far no serious complications have arisen.

Young Thomas Ross, 11, suffered a fractured skull in the accident, it became known late Monday afternoon after he had been examined at the Hickory hospital. Unless unforeseen complications set in, attending physicians say he will recover. The fracture is not a serious one, relatives have been told, and there were no ill effects from the ??

Details of the tragedy which has shocked Concord more than anything which has happened in some time, indicate that the Jarratt sedan, carrying Mrs. Jarratt, Mrs. Ross, Thomas and a negro cook, was struck about the middle by the Jackson coupe, which is said to have been running at a rapid rate of speed.

Mrs. Jarratt was on the rear seat of the sedan and was on the side struck by the other car. White was on the same side. Mrs. Ross and son were also on the rear seat with the cook seated next to the driver. The cook was the only occupant of the car to escape serious injury.

Relatives here have been told that the two cars met on a sharp curve and that Jackson was not able to pull his car to the other side of the road in time to avoid a collision. Mrs. Ross has been quoted as saying that she saw the couple approaching rapidly and glanced at the speedometer of the car in which she was riding, noting that it registered 35 miles an hour. When Mrs. White saw the approaching car, Mrs. Ross has been quoted as saying, he drove as close to the edge of the road as he could. However, the couple struck the car about the back of the front seat, shattering every glass in the sedan and throwing all occupants to the ground. The car was completely wrecked, it is said, as was the coupe.

It also has been reported that Thomas Ross was not found until some time after the accident. One of the first persons to reach the accident rushed Mrs. Ross to the Hickory hospital and another person picked up Jackson and White and hurried on to the hospital. It was 15 minutes later, it is said, before the injured child was detected, and then he too was taken to the hospital.

Mrs. Ross, suffering greatly from shock, seemed better, it was said, when advised that her son had not been killed or critically hurt.

Jackson never regained consciousness after the accident, it is said, so no statement could be secured from him as to how the accident occurred.

Mrs. Jarratt, sitting in the left side of the sedan, apparently received the full crash as the coupe struck near where she was sitting. An ugly gash in the top of her head inciated, it was said, that she struck the motormeter of the coupe as she was hurled from the car. [Maybe: Mrs. Jarratt, seated on the left side of the sedan, appears to have taken the full force of the impact when the coupe struck the sedan’s motormeter, hurling her from the car. A motormeter was an early automotive gadget — basically a temperature gauge mounted on top of the radiator cap, right out front on the hood. It stuck up like a little glass dial, often with a decorative metal housing.]

Jackson was badly mangled in the accident, it was said. He lived about four hours. White’s body also was said to have been badly cut and mangled.

The negro’s body was brought to Concord Monday night.

One of the saddest phases of the tragedy results from the close friendship of the Jarratts and Rev. John Jackson, brother of the dead man. As soon as he heard that is wife had been killed, Mr. Jarratt was said to have told friends he wanted Rev. Mr. Jackson, Episcopal minister of Charlotte, to conduct the funeral services. He did not know until he reached Newton that the driver of the other car was a brother of the minister.

The Concord party left here Monday morning for Montreat, where they have a summer home. They were going to close the home for the winter, and expected to return home in several weeks They went via Charlotte, Mt. Holly and Lincolnton so as to have a hard-surfaced road most of the way.

The Charlotte News Monday had the following facts about Mr. Jackson published before his death:

Ellis L. Jackson, connected with the accounting firm of Todd and McCullough of Charlotte, sustained a deep wound over his hear and was considered fatally injured, according to advices received here early Monday afternoon from the Hickory Hospital, where he was taken after an automobile collision near Newton in which Mrs. A. H. Jarratt of Concord was killed.

Mr. Jackson has been auditing the county records of Catawba Count, causing his presence in Newton Monday, it was learned here.

Mr. Jackson’s home in Charlotte was at 7 Elizabeth Avenue, where he lived with his sister, Miss Elizabeth Jackson. He was not married. Rev. John L, Jackson, rector of St. Marks Episcopal Church here, is a brother.

He injured man came to Charlotte eight year ago as a public accountant, and for the last six years has been with Todd and McCullough, he formerly lived in Baltimore and was 48 years old.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Advance, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1926

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In Johnston County Recorder's Court, Aug. 31, 1926

Recorder’s Court Runs Three Days. . . Assault and Prostitution Cases . . . More White Defendants Than Colored

The Recorder’s Court of Johnston County was in session three days last week—Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The following criminal cases were disposed of:

--Reuben Holder, a negro from Clayton, charged with simple trespass, was sentenced to jail for a term of 60 days to be discharged upon payment of $25 to the prosecuting witness and the costs of the action.

--James B. Jones and Flonnie Jones, white, of Elevation township, were found guilty of slander. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of costs.

--J.D. Reynolds, a white man of Smithfield, was found guilty of simple trespass and taxed with the cost of the action. From this judgment he took an appeal.

--Walter Powers, a white man of Clayton, was convicted of an assault and given a six months’ road sentence which was to be suspended upon condition that defendant go to church and Sunday school at least three times a month, and that he treats his wife good during the next 12 months. On a charge of trespass, the state took a nol pros with leave on a case against this defendant.

--Wayland Johnson, Albert Griswold, M. G. Hartsell, C. R. Rains and Walter Furlonge, white men of O’Neals township, were found guilty of trespass. Judgment was suspended upon payment of costs.

--Raymond Bridges, a white man of Vance County, was before the court on a charge of rape. There was not sufficient evidence to bind over and the case was tried on a modified—bastardy. On this charge the defendant was found guilty and a fine of $200 was imposed to be paid to the prosecuting witness. He was also charged with payment of costs.

--Curtis Smith, a negro from up Clayton way, was convicted of operating a car while under the influence of whiskey and was sentenced to two months in jail to be suspended upon payment of $25 fine and costs.

--Gurnard Watts, white of Goldsboro, charged with prostitution, was found guilty. Judgment was suspended upon payment of costs.

--Richard Watts, white, of Goldsboro, and Lula Carnegie were charged with prostitution. Richard Watts Plead guilty to the charge and Lula Carnegie was convicted. Judgment in both instances was suspended upon payment of costs.

--Munroe McLamb, Floyd McLamb and Wilbert Ingram, boys from Benson, were convicted of malicious injury to personal property. Prayer for judgment was suspended upon condition that defendants pay prosecuting witness $35 and the costs of the action.

--Lula and Lillie Williams, two white women of Ingrams township, were convicted of prostitution. They were sentenced to jail for a term of 60 days. From this judgment they gave notice of appeal and gave appeal bond of $200.

--Lonnie Cotton of Smithfield was charged with larceny and receiving. He was called and failed.

--Worthey McLeod was charged and convicted of simple assault. He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days duty on roads.

--Nathaniel Dunstin, negro from Clayton, was found guilty of an assault. Prayer for judgment for two years was continued upon payment of cost.

--John Sanders, white, of Pleasant Grove township, was found guilty of prostitution and sentenced to 60 days in jail. From this judgment the defendant took an appeal to the superior court. His wife, Mamie Sanders, was convicted of a similar offense and was given a four-months jail sentence. She also gave notice of appeal. Their bond was fixed at $200.

--Robert Wilkins, white, of Smithfield township, was found not guilty on a charge of rape.

--Adelaide King, a white woman charged with fornication and adultery, was discharged under a nol pros.

--Hester Wiliford, a white woman claiming New York as her home, was found guilty of drunkenness and making of herself a public nuisance. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail to be discharged after 30 days on the condition that she absent herself from the county.

--O. V. Booker was found guilty of an assault upon a female and in his case judgment was suspended for two years conditioned upon good behavior.

--Frank Anderson, white of Clayton, was found guilty of transporting liquor in violation of the prohibition laws. He was required to pay a fine of $10 and costs.

--Garland Crowder, young white man of Clayton, was convicted of larceny and sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was also required to pay a fine of $16 and the costs of the action.

--Eugene Jackson, young white man of Clayton, was found guilty of larceny and sent to jail for 30 days and required to pay a fine of $15 and the costs of the action.

--Charley Eason, white, of Selma, was found guilty of assault. He was required to give an appearance bond of $300 to appear back in court on the third Tuesday in October for judgment and to pay costs.

--Hallie Sanders, negro of Clayton township, was found guilty of assault, and prayer for judgment was suspended upon payment of costs and $9 to prosecuting witness.

--D. L. Dixon, white, of Princeton, was found not guilty on a charge of assault. He was also acquitted by the court on a charge of prostitution.

--J. T. Lee, white, of Meadow township, was charged with driving a car without legal numbers. The state failed to make out a case and the defendant was discharged.

The Recorder’s Court will be in session here two days this week—Tuesday and Thursday. Both days will be devoted to the trial of criminal cases.

Editor’s Note: How could a rape charge become a child support case? Copilot explains reducing a charge of rape to bastardy this way: The woman accused him of rape. The judge decided the evidence was too weak for a felony charge, but the woman was pregnant or had a child, and the court believed he might be responsible. So the court shifted to the bastardy charge — a much lower standard of proof.

Nol pros—Prosecution decided not to pursue the case.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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If Your License Is 78-961E, Come in for 5 Gallons of Gas, Aug. 31, 1926

FREE! 5 Gallons Gasoline

If the person who has the following N.C. License number will present a copy of this to Holleman Motor Company, local Chevrolet dealers, before the next issue of The Herald, they will receive five gallons of gasoline absolutely free. Your license tag reads:

78-961E

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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J.W. Stevens in County Home Participated in Rescue Party on Neuse in 1882

Article in the Herald Brings Reminiscences

Mr. J. W. Stevens, who has been an inmate of the County Home for the past four months was in the city Saturday. Mr. Stevens read the article recently published in The Herald entitled “A Trip Down the Neuse in 1882.” He read this article with a great deal of interest because he was a member of the rescue party which saved the lives of Dr. Henry Lewis Smith and Tom Giddens.

Those who read the article will recall their thrilling adventure when the Neuse was a swollen stream, how they came very near drowning and were rescued near Richardson’s Bridge. Mr. Stevens, who has been in the bridge business for many years, was helping to guard Richardson’s Bridge, which was under construction at that time. This bridge is the last one in Johnston County toward Goldsboro. It has, since 1882, been replaced by a steel bridge. F. Jeffrey of Fremont was the contractor for the original bridge, and he and Mr. stevens were guarding the posts during the freshet to prevent trash and old logs from undermining them. They were in great danger. Mr. Smith in telling of the event Saturday told how they rescued Smith and Giddens when their boat capsized.

Mr. Stevens, who is 67 years of age, followed the bridge business for many years but because of physical disabilities has not been able to work for the past four years, and during the past four months he has been an inmate of the county home.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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Tart Family Reunion in Meadow Township Sept. 5, 1926

Family Reunion

There will be a family reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Tart in Meadow township, Johnston County, on Sunday, September 5th, the date being near the birthdays of both the father, who is 73 years old, and the mother, who is 68 years old. All the relatives of both are cordially invited to attend and bring a well-filled basket.

--Mrs. John Lee, Daughter

From page 2 of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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Elmer Edgerton Caught Three Foxes in Smithfield, Aug. 31, 1926

Catches Three Foxes

Mr. Elmer O. Edgerton, brother of Raney Edgerton and a former Johnston County boy, but now in the drug business at Raleigh, seems to be as good at fox hunting as he is at “pill rolling.” Last week he brought his fox hounds down to Smithfield and went fox hunting. He caught three foxes who tipped the scales at nearly 40 pounds.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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Peterson, Davis Families Attend Braswell Family Reunion, Aug. 31, 1926

Attended Family Reunion

Mr. and Mrs. June Peterson and children and Mr. and Mrs. Will Davis and children attended the family reunion Sunday at the home of Mrs. Peterson’s mother, Mrs. J. R. Braswell near Pine Level. There were present 73 relatives and a few others, which brought the total number to about 80.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Aug. 31, 1926

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Miss Margaret Cress Died of Brain Fever, Aug. 31, 1926

Miss Margaret Cress Died Here Monday. . . Had Been Ill for Several Weeks and Death Was Expected. . . Funeral Services at St. Johns

Miss Margaret Alberta Cress, member of a prominent Cabarrus county family, died Monday afternoon at 4:45 at the home here of her sister, Mrs. Joe Honeycutt, with whom she had made her home for some time. Death was caused by brain fever with which she had been critically ill for several weeks.

Miss Cress was born in Cabarrus county on August 19, 1885, being a daughter of the late D. M. and Martha Cress. She spent her entire life in this county. She was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, which she joined in early life.

Surviving are six sisters and four brothers, as follows:

Mrs. Honeycut of Concord, Mrs. J. R. D. Lentz, Mrs. L.L. Honeycutt and Mrs. G. T. Kluttz of Cabarrus county; Mrs. S. D. Lambeth of Charlotte; Mrs. A. L. Carter of Spokane, Wash., Joe T. Cress of Concord; R. M., E. a. and G. M. Cress of Cabarrus county.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at 3 o’clock at St. Johns, conducted by Rev. W. C. Lyerly and Rev. L. D. Miller. Interment was made in the church cemetery.

From page 2 of the Concord Daily Tribune, August 31, 1926

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