North Carolina Newspapers

? ' *' " Wilkes Y. M. C. A. U rais ing a building fund for the erection of a modern Y. M C. A- plant. Support it. Th. MM. HasBlaz* ft. Trail o. Pros,** ft ft. of Wj,te? Fof ^ ? Wllkesboro has trading radius of 50 ?erring 100,000 people Northwestern Carolina. fol. 41, No. 74 Published Mondays and Thursdays NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C., Thursday, Jan. 16,1047 Make North Wilkesboro Your Shoooina Center i J Liberal Gifts Are Asked For Polio FimI In County An appeal to the community to make liberal contributions to the 1947 March ot Dimes?annual fund-raising drive of the Nation al Foundation for Infantile Pa ralysis?so the $24,000,000 na tional goal will be met, was made today by Larry Moore, chairman of the local campaign committee >here. . Mr. Moore pledged the local committee to redoubled efforts following receipt of a letter from Basil O'Connor, president of the National Foundation, stressing the crucial importance of the 1947 JHarch of Dimes. The need to replenish funds drained In fighting last summer's epidemic which affected more than 25,000 persons and was the worst In the Foundation's history is more ur gent than ever before, according to Mr. O'Connor. To assure continuing care of patients and build up adequate chapter reserves for future epi demics, $12,000,000 is needed, Mr. Ojponnor said. The othor half of the $24,000,000 minimum Is required on the national level as follows: Epidemic aid reserve fund ! __$5,000,000 Research and educa tion .... $5,000,000 General Working Fund $2;,000,000 "During the 1946 epidemic," l|r. Moore said, "the $4,000,000 epllemic reserve fund of the Na tional Foundation, previously considered adequate, was wiped out completely by November in aiding chapters. By the end of the year approximately an addi tional $1,500,000 earmarked for research had to be diverted for cy aid to fulfill the ge that "no one strieken by lio need so without care for of funds." Pointing out that this com munity as every other in the na tion must be adequately prepar ed for any emergency the future may bring, Mr. Moore concluded: "Let us double our contribu tions now so we can be prepared. We cannot gamble with the saf ety of our children. By giving generously now we will avoid fu ture self-reproach that we gave too little and too late when next summer's epidemics strike." S. R. Williams, 47, Died Wednesday Solomon Randolph Williams, 47, well known citizen of the Falrplains community near this city, died at his home Wednes day following a brief illness. Mr. Williams, who had been employed as a taxi driver here, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mollle Williams, and the follow ing sons and daughters: Ray H. Williams, in the marine corps; James F. Williams, Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Mary Dyer, Tacoma, Wash.; Solomon Williams, Hlnk ley, Calif.; Nannie E., Annie Mae, Peter L. and Dina Lou Williams, of the home. No date has been set for the funeral, which will be held at Fishing. Creek church. Wilkes Residents Ask Legislation On Road Raleigh.?Wilkes County resi dents petitioned northwest repre sentatives yesterday tor legisla tion to force improvement of 24-mile road in Edwards Town ship. The road is so bad in Winter that the mail carrier cannot make trips over it for weeks at a time, according to the petition, signed by 117 persons. The stretch of country road runs from Tucker Road to Lit tle Mountain, serving 1S7 people and 35 homes, they said, it is used as a school bus, mail, and mill road. Legislators intended to take the matter up with highway of ficials. They thought the request ed improvements might be ob tained without introduction of special legislation. Mrs. Ruby Holder Claimed By Death Funeral service was held Wed nesday at Hinshaw Street Bap tist church in this city for Mrs. Ruby Stone Holder, of this city. Mrs. Holder died Tuesday at Davis Hospital in Statesville. She is survived iby her hus band; one child, Anna Mae Hold er; her mother, and two sisters, Mrs. Leo la Anderson and Mrs. Lester Queen, of this city. H. T. Moore, 77, Rites On Sunday Funeral service was held Sun day at New Hope church near Qilreath for Humphrey Thomas Moore, age 77, citizen of that community who died Saturday. Rev. Pervis C. Parks and Rev. J. P. Robinson conducted > the last rites-. Surviving Mr. Moore are Us wife, Mrs. Mary MyMoore, three sons and a 'daughter: James W. and Lonnie Moore, of Gilreath; Mrs. Bertha Tedder, of Camp bellville, Ky., and Rom L. Moore, of Oakwoods. Mrs. J. T. Morton Dies In Virginio Mrs. J. T. Morton, 90, mother of Hugh H. Morton and Mrs. Irene Meade, of this city, died Sunday morning at her home near Keysville, Va. Mrs. Morton is survived by nine children, 43 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren. Those from here attending the funeral service Monday afternoon at Briary church near Keysville where Mr. and Mrs. Hugh H. Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Morton, Mrs. Irene Meade, Mat thew H. and Robert Meade. Mrs. Huldia Byrd Cloimed By Death Funeral service will be held Friday, 11 a. m., at Rachel Church for Mrs. Huldia Byrd, 72, who died Wednesday night at hear home in Edwards town ship. Rev. Grant Oothren and Rev. Gordon Pruitt will conduct the service. Mrs. Byrd is survived by one son, Dewey Byrd, of Roaring Riv er. Inspection Tours Of Manufacturing Plants Here . Planned By Fire Department The North Wilkesboro Fire Department -will meet tonight for the first -weekly Inspection tours of manufacturing plants in this area. These fire department tours are being sponsored by the Industrial oommittee of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce under the chairmanship of J. R. Hi*. Arrangements are being made so that the fireman will] risit a different establishment each week. Fire Chief Thurman Kenerly in commenting aboet this new project, said "The firemen feel that the Industrial Committee of the Chamber is taking a fine fire protection step in starting this activity. I hope that every man ufacturer will assist us. We can do a much better job of fighting fires in any plant if our men familiar with the general^ of that plant." American Furniture Com be visited tonight and the firemen will be shown through the plant fey Richard Johnston. While in the plant they will familiarize themselves with all entrances, exits, locations of fire fighting equipment, power switches, fire doors and all other details necessary in order to ade quately fight a fire anywhere In the plant.. Forrest E. Jones, manager of the Wilkes Chamber, who* is ar ranging a schedule of the visits, said, "Our firemen are taking on a job now that is above their cdll of duty but they feel, as we do, that any fire can be confined in a small area if the proper knowl edge is available before hand. Eventually we hope it will be possible tor our men to be fa miliar with every building in North Wilkesboro. This is one of the steps the Chamber of Commerce 'expects to promote this year for the protection of our commerce." TESTIMONY OF Peggy Shore Tells Story Of Bestial Treatment By Litteral and Bell After She Had Been Kidnaped By Them Agents of the Federal Bureau of investigation in Wilkes court today read to the jury purported and signed confessions, or admissions, of Ralph Vernon litteral and Marvin Claude Bell, who are now on trial charged with rape of Peggy Ruth Shore, pretty 15-year-old Elkin girl, >n August 23. John G. Johnson, FBI agent, #?? ?r ??? read the alleged statements of 30th Litteral and Bell. The'statement which Johnson said Litteral signed on August 50 contained Littoral's 'admission -hat he and Bell followed the 3us out of Elkln and grabbed Peggy Shore after she had left :he hue. He said that Bell was Iriving while he threw the girl into the car, that they proceed ed to North Wllkesboro and stopped Just west of the town, irhere Bell and the girl got out 3f the car and waited for him ;o get gasoline. Litteral's statement said that lie tried twice but failed to as sault the girl .but that Bell did ;wice. He admitted slapping the ?irl and striking her a number 3f times. FBI Agent Johnson also read a statement which he said Bell signed on September 3. This statement contained nearly the same preliminary statements as that of Litteral. He admitted sexual acts with the girl twice iver her protests and said that Litteral tried a number of time# ink that Litteral threatened to sat the girl with a knife and that In Tennessee Litteral wanted to till the girl and he objected and told Litteral that he would hare to kill him first. /The remainder 3f his statement contained var ious sordid details and bis ac count of the return trip from near Bristol, Tenn. It was evident today that trial 3f the two men on the capital charge will consume the remain ler of the week. Every seat in the courtroom has been filled ind Judge EL Hoyle Sluk, of Gtreensboro, had demanded and kept strict order in the court room. Only those who can be seated are admitted to the trial, interest in the trial has been ex ceedingly high. The trial was highlighted by the testimony of Peggy Shore, the alleged assault victim, Oh Wednesday morning. As she re lated her account of what hap pened to her the crowd was very luiet to catch every word and ;ears were clearly. visible in the syed of many court spectators, sspecially when she collapsed on :he stand. Today, followed the testimony iontaining the admissions of the lefendants, she fainted and was Eigain carried from the court ?oom. Wednesday Session Peggy Shore began her testi nony under direct examination >y Solicitor Avalon Hall. She taid she was 16 yearB of age on. October 20, was in the tenth rrade at Ronda high school and vas a daughter of John W. and dozelle Tucker Shore. On the night of Auguet 23, the said, in company with a uum >er of other boys and girls she ittended a watermelon feast at he home of Grady Harris In Kl ein. After the watermelon feast >hp and two neighbor girls, Jo Inne Johnson and Patsy Ruth dyers, missed the 9:30 bus home ind went to a movie, at 11:05 ). m. they got on the bus to go lome, and while on the way they lotlced a car following the bus, ind that the car did not have ights. The fcther two girl# got off he bus and Peggy went to the snd of the bus* line, which was LOO yards from her home. Thrown Into Oar She said the bus turned a~ ?ound, she got off and started valking toward her home. The uune car she had seen follow ng the bus drove up with two nen in it. One stepped out of the iar as it stopped and the other nan told him to grab her. She laid she screamed and started up :he bank of the road toward a leighbor's house when the man, vhom she later called Litteral, , grawueu urn, UOT mto tuo ! back seat, got on top of her on 'the floor of the car with her tace down. At that time she ex hibited an elbow scar which she said came from an injury receiv ed then. Blindfolded While holding her down the man blindfolded her and the car was driven off by the man she later called Bell. After travel ' ing several minutes the car was stopped and the men had liquor, which th<*y tried to make her drink ibut did not succeed. Mean While, she said she was fighting and kicking and resisting in eve ry way possible. Threatened With Death The car car was driven again for a number of minutes and stopped. The men took her out of the car into' a grassy place and placed her against a tree. Litteral, she said, drove the car off and Bell held her by sitting on her legs and holding her hands. At that time, she said, Bell threatened her with rape BOt pw _ P . was placed in thf back feat with Bel,l. ? | The First Assault Tear? stained Peggy's face as she brokenly related how Litter al held her, how she was beaten and how Bell committed the act of rape. After the car started, she said they apparently passed through a town. She was blindfolded all the time, but said that some lights from what she thought were street lamps got through the cloth over her eyes. Attack By litteral After several minutes the car stopped and Litteral got into the back seat wlt,h ber while Bell drove. She said that Litteral tried to rape her but did not fully succeed. He said he threat ened her, beat her and twisted her anp painfully. She said that he placed his hand on her neck, choked her and forced her head down to carry ont a crime against nature. She said: "It was awful; I became sick." At that point in her testimony Peggy began crying and her mo ther went to her side on the stand and remained there at the suggestion of Judge Sink. The Third Attack Resuming her testimony, Peg gy said that lJoth men forcibly put her into the front seat of the car between them and that Bell told her he had a notion to shoot Litteral's brains out for forcing her into the crime against nature act. Then litteral got something l(fut of the glove pocket of the car which she said she thought was a gun and that the two men quarreled. They quit quarreling and she was again placed in the back seat with Bell, whom she said raped her the second time as she was very weak and diary. Disagree On Murder Later tl\p car -was stopped, she was left in the front seat under threat of being shot if she screamed or made any movement o escape. The men went to the back of the car, where she heard Litteral say: "Let's kill her and get it ever with," to which she said Bell objected by saying that he had agreed to raping the girl but that there would be no mur fop Slash On Ttyigh Peggy said the men put her in the back seat with litteral and that she fought as much as her failing strength permitted. She then said that Litteral said he would cut his initials on her leg and that if he could not do what he wanted to he would cut her so be could. He then used a pocket knife, she said, to slash ? ? *? thigh. Later she showed the sear before the Jury. Relating her acoonnt of what took place, she said Littoral completed the act of rape. Peggy Near Collapse ''It was awful," Peggy sobbed as she mnrst into tears and screamed on the witness stand. As she was about to collapse a 'highway patrolman picked her up from the witness chair andi carried her out of the courtroom to physicians nearby. After she was again composed, she re turned to the stand to resume her story, which was told with remarkable coherence and clar ity throughout. She was put out of the car a bout six miles from Bristol, Tenn., she said, and was in fa tigued and highly nervous con dition. Her blindfold " slipped down, and she saw Litteral, whom she identified in court during her testimony. At Tenn. Farm Home She made her way to the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. James Bowling, who carried her to Bristol, bought some clothes to replace the clothes mutilated by her assailants, purchased her a bus ticket to Elkin and placed her on the bus. The remainder of her testimony concerned her physical disability and illness and being in the care of physici ans during the next few weeks. She said she is still sore in her back and legs from blows receiv ed on the night of the assault and that her nervous condition remains bad. Attractive Girl lite wsssalt victim t g?r 1 V- IP i.. i I- I V! H IPS sweater and plaid skirt and wore a pearl necklace. Court spectators were lavish In their praise of her attractive appear ance and her demeanor on the stand. Testimony of Miss Shore, who was cross examined by attorneys for both defendants, was com pleted before court recessed for lunoh. Peggy Corroborated First witnesses in the after noon were Mr. and Mrs. James Bowling, of Bristol, Tenn., to whose home Peggy Shore said she walked after being put out of the car by Litteral and Bell. Both testified that Peggy Shore came to their home Just at break of day on August 24, that she approached the house screaming: "0, my God, somebody help me." They further stated that . her clothes were bloody and torn and thht ber underclothes had been torn from her. She told them, they said, that she had been kid naped and raped by two men. They said they carried her to Bristol, Tenn., where they gave her clothes, something to eat and put her on a bus to Elkin. Henry H. Darter, of near Bris tol, said that a car occupied by two men stopped at his service Btatioii on the morning of Au gust 24 and bought gasoline. He identified Litteral as the man who paid for the gas. Patsy Ruth Myers and Jo Anne Johnson, two associates with Peggy Shore at the Watermelon feast In Blkin on the night of August 23, corroborated Peggy Shore's testimony that a car without lights followed the bus they were riding into the Pleas ant Hill community after 11 p.j m. ? Proves Good Character ' Charlie P a r d u e, Thurman Luffman, Rev. Richard Day, Den ver Holcomb, Clyde Hlnahaw, Rev. David Day, Eugene Couch and R. O. Poplin, Jr., Ronda school principal, said Peggy Shore's character was good. Heard Girl Scream R. M. Alexander, who lives on the Traphill road in Eastern Wilkee at the point where Peggy Shore said she was kidnapped and thrown into a car by Litter al and Bell, said that he heard a girl scream after 11 p. m., that he looked toward the road, heard a car door slam and saw a ear driving away. Russell Darnell, driver of the bus from which Peggy Shore alighted, said he observed a car following the bus as they left Elkin and that the car had no lights. Leo Reavis, of Jomesvllle, testified that he saw Litteral and Bell together in Elkin before 11 (See Rape Trial?Page 7) (? J P. C. Sponsoring A Tribute ft Lee The United Daughters of the Confederacy is sponsoring a na k>n tribute to Robert E. Lee, rhoBe birthday occurs on San lay, January 19. Bach chapter, hroughout the nation, le asking ill ministers In the county, in heir services on Sundays-wither o mention Lee as a Christian in heir sermons, or in some other >art of worship. Where possible he local chapter is extending a jersonal request to the ministers n carrying out this movement by National Headquarters of the U. !>. C. "Cornzapoppin" To Be Presented Here Friday & Saturday Veterans of Foreign Wars Play To Be Given At School Auditorium The play, "Oornzapoppin", sponsored hy the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1142 for a benefit to raise money for a Memorial Building, will be staged Friday and Saturday nights at the North Wilkesboro high school auditorium. "Cornzapoppin" fea tures many well known local peo ple in a show that Is a landslide of laughs from start to finish. In addition to Saturday night's performance will he the Baby Contest and trophies will be awarded to the winners. Don't miss this Grand Ole Opry home talent play. The cast is as follows: Henry Xudklns, Mac Kerley; Elvirey Judkins, Linda Bumgar ner; Sue Judkins, Betty Ken da Clark; Elmer Judkins, Guess Who!; Bob Sandrock, Henry Pearson; iSquire Hicks, Pat Hunt. Following are results of the baby contest to date with the number of votes for each entry: Camille Lovette, 2,062; Mary Ann Nichols, 1,400; Anne Kilby, 241; Suzanna Stafford, 121; Pol ly Gilliam Carson, 119; Bonnie Broome, 108; Lyhne Harvel, 79; Susan Kite, 50; Sarah Brewer, 28; Carolyn Derrick, 21; Bren da Roe Church, 15; Martha Dickson, 6; Dicky Whittington, 1,049; Harold Blankenship, 283; Paul Clontz, Jr., 242; Jimmie Al len, 233; Steve Walsh, 227; John Edward Stout, 179; Jay Foster, 156; Dickey DickersOn, 138; Russel Gray, 129; Gene Stacy. Pardue, 119; Thomas Caudill, Jr., 107; James Eric Williams, 96; Benny Phillips, 64; Russell Pearson, 58; Roger Staley, The contest will close on Sat urday, January 18. Final Votes and prizes will be awarded at Saturday night's performance of ?'Cornzapoppin" at North Wil kesboro school auditorium. Re sults of the contest are posted dally in a show window of Pen ney's In this city. Associational - S. S. Convention Will Be Held On January 21st At Hinshaw Street Baptist Church Here Meeting of the Brushy Moun tain Baptist Sunday School as sociation will be held with Hin shaw Street Baptist church in North Wilkesboro, on Tuesday, lanuary 21, at 7. p. m. "This is a Southside meeting for the co-operative plan. The Eissoclational officers in our 925 associations are promoting the church planning meeting lave planned to go Into our. 24, 900 Southern Baptist Some 15,000 or more team lers will be used in this South wide plan. Be present at this meeting as the purpose of it t>e discussed then,". Mr. Jordan j said. o: ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL Rev. B. M. Lackey, Rector The annual meeting will be held 111 St.. Paul's Episcopal Church Sunday after noon, January 19th, at four o' ilock, at which time rape the variourf church orga ?rill he given and a vest sd for this year. All members are] asked to be pre " 1 Annual Meeting f WHkes Chamber Commerce Friday Will Be Held At 7:30 P. M. in Town Hall; Thomas Carroll Speaker The North Wllkeeboro City hall will be the scene Friday night of the first annual meet ing of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will ?tart at 7:30 and will hare as Its theme the work ? of the Chamber of Commerce for the past year, and plans tor 1047. Harry Krusz, general manager of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, originally schedul ed to address the meeting, will be unable to attend. The speak er will he Mr. Thomas Carrol, personnel manager of the Wach ovia Bank & Trust Company of Winston-Salem. Mr. Carrol was, for a number of years, head of the Winston-Salem Community Cheat- before entering the bank ing business. He Is now serving as a memiber of the Board of Directors of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, and is thoroughly familiar with cham ber of commerce problems. President J. B. Williams an nounced today that wives and guests of all the chamber mem bers were cordially infited to at tend this meeting. Reports will be made by the president and the secretary-manager. Refresh ments will be served at the close of the meeting. Wilkesboro 4-H , Club In Meeting The Wilkesboro 4-H dub peated. The club two sections. Miss Morrison met with the girls and Mr. William son the boys. Each member planned their project for the fol lowing year.?Lucille Mathis, re porter. Marriage License License to wed were issued during the past week by Regis ter of Deeds Troy C. Foster to the following; William Clyde Brown and Tessie Bauguss, both of Traphill; Cecil Woodrow Humphries, Oak Hill, W. Va., and Gladys Frances Romage, Layland, W. Va.; Junior Owens and Thelma Brown Finney, both of North Wilkesboro; L. W. Lambert, Jr., Union Grove, and Edith Brooks, Ronda; James Mayberry, New Hope, and Flos sie Cook, Stafesville. State Tax Office In New Location Harry L. Summers, Deputy Collector, North Carolina De partment of Revenue, announces that hiB Office has been moved from the first floor at the City Hall, to the second floor. The new location Is in the rear of the court room, in the office former ly occupied by Local Draft Board No. 2. * Mr. Summers is in his office on Mondays only, 'between 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. Burcham Honored ? On 80th Birthday ^ Friends and relatives of W. G. Burcham, well known citizen of the Roaring River route one com munity, gathered at his boms Sunday and honored him with a birthday dinner on his 80th birthday. A bountiful dinner was spread on a long table and after words of greeting and devotional by Rev. John Burcham, brother of the aged man, the food was enjoyed by all present. The crowd, estimated at 140, includ ed six children, 35 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Among those present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Burcham and Mr. and Mrs. Pervis Burch am, of Aberdeen, Md. 6