From page 4 of the Alamance Gleaner, Graham, N.C., Sept. 25, 1924. Pyrotol was made from military surplus following World War I, and consisted of smokeless powder, sodium nitrate and nitroglycerin dynamite.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020756/1924-09-25/ed-1/seq-4/
Chesterfield, S.C., Sept. 23—Following a swiftly moving trial replete with dramatic moments, Mortimer N. King and Frank Harrell, young cotton mill workers, were given death sentences late today in sessions court for the murder of Major Samuel H. McLeary, United States army officer, on July, which they had both admitted in signed confessions.
Judge C.C. Featherstone, presiding, set November 21 as the day when they should be electrocuted in the state penitentiary at Columbia, advising them that he was giving them ample time to repent of their “most horrible” crime and to make peace with their Master.
Taking the stand as the first witness for the defense, King produced one of the dramatic moments of the day that kept the little court room, packed and jammed with humanity, silent by the drama being enacted. The 23-year-old defendant, after making a brave effort to conceal his emotions, broke down and sobbed. Pleading for mercy to both himself and his companion, he attempted to take the entire burden of the crime upon his own shoulders. Harrell, he declared, had never had a chance, and had a wife with a baby born just six days ago, depending upon him for support.
Harrell, he admitted, was not at hand when he fired two bullets into the army officer’s head with fatal effect, but was back at the automobile of Major McLeary, in which the two had been given a lift by the officer. Harrell went back at his direction, the defendant said, to turn the engine of the officer’s car off. Several automobiles had passed while they were robbing the major in the woods, King testified, and he decided to the have the engine of the officer’s car stopped to lessen the chances of detection.
Throughout his story he maintained that the murder of Major McLeary was not planned in advance. After they had forced the officer into the woods, he declared, he did not intend to kill him, but planned to tie him up with a tow road which was in the rear of the car, and to make off with the machine. Protesting that he did not realize what he was doing, King said he shot after Major McLeary had struck at him and reached toward his own pocket as if for a weapon.
He told a story of wandering with Harrell in a vain search for employment in explaining why they decided to “stick up” some traveler.
“I had not eaten a bite for a day and a half when Major McLeary picked us up,” he declared.
Harrell, while on the stand, did not break down. He told his story in untrembling, but weak voice. He insisted that he had no knowledge that his companion planned to shoot the officer, and he was not aware that King intended to rob McLeary until King produced his pistol and ordered the officer to stop the car. He himself had no weapon, not even a pocket knife, he swore, and he did not see King fire either of the two shots that killed the officer.
From page 4 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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By the Associated Press
Charlotte, Sept. 24—Fire of undetermined origin discovered shortly after 1 o’clock this morning completely destroyed the home of J.B. Efird in Myers Park. The loss is estimated between $75000 and $100,000 with $25,000 insurance. The home, one of the finest in Myers Park, with all of its furnishings was a complete loss, no article of furniture or personal effects being saved.
Mr. Efird is president of the Efird chain of department stores operating stores in Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, Concord and other North Carolina cities.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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Middlesex, N.C., Sept. 24—Fire which broke out in the main part of the city at 1:30 this morning, destroyed an entire block. Three grocery stores, a pressing club and a barber shop were destroyed. The loss is estimated at $30,000.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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Asheville, Sept. 23—The offer to “give away” her twin baby girls made by Mrs. Dave Bailey, 26, a resident of Craven street, shortly after birth of the children, was accepted by Mrs. Fred Sherlyn, a neighbor, and the transfer of the babies was made a few days ago, it was learned today.
Mrs. Bailey announced following the birth of the twins that she could not give them the care they needed, and asked if anyone would take the babies as their own. When the news reached Mrs. Sherlyn, who is childless, she went in person and pleaded that the babies be given her. Mrs. Bailey commented that the twins will be reared as members of the Sherlyn family.
Yesterday it was stated that the twins are normal and doing well. They were born on September 6.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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Charlotte, Sept. 24—Owing to the widespread interest in the automobile races to be held in Charlotte on the city’s new board speedway on October 25th, the board of directors are making provision to handle a crowd of 75,000 people instead of 50,000 as originally planned.
To that end additional grandstand space will be provided, and it will be possible to accommodate 55,000 people on the infield, instead of 30,000. There will be space for 8,000 automobiles on the infield and 10,000 automobiles in the parking spaces outside the track.
Jack Prince, building of the Charlotte speedway, has left for Fresno, Calif., to assist the drivers in forwarding their cars to Charlotte on a special train on October 3rd. The Fresno races will be held October 2nd. The drivers already singed, and whose cars will be rushed across the continent are Tommy Milton, Phil Shafer, Earl Cooper, Bennie Hill, Peter DePaolo, Antoine Mourre, Fred Comer, Red Cairens, Harry Hartz, wade Morton, Earnie Ansterberg.
Fred Wagner, veteran starter, will also accompany the drivers to Charlotte, and they are expected to arrive here not later than October 10th. The track will e finished on October 7th, according to an announcement by Fred M. Johnson, general manager of construction, and the trial tests will begin 15 days prior to the day of the races.
The Charlotte speedway is a board oval track 1 ¼ miles long, and modeled along the same lines as the new track to be built at Los Angeles. The builders claim that it will be one of the fastest speed courses in the world, with its 84$-foot straightaway and 40 degree bank at the turn. [Don’t know actual length of the straightaway, but it can’t be 84$ feet.]
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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By the Associated Press
Leakesville, N.C., Sept. 24—Willis Bateman, 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Bateman of North Spray, was run over and killed by an automobile driven by Laudy Hutchins near the child’s home last night. Hutchins declares the accident was unavoidable.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1924
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