jllje Smitljfidfc 11 era lb, Price One Dollar Per Year "TRUE TO OURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOO." 8ingle Copiee Five Cents VOL. 27. SMITHFIELD. N. C.. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 12, 1?09. y NO. 51 ???. ?* TRAGEDY IN CHARLOTTE. W. S. Biggers, Former Railroad Man, Kills J. G. Hood on Tryon Street Declares in Extenuation That Hood Had Tried to Rob Him?Apparent- j |y Mentally Unbalanced. Charlotte, N. C., Feb. 9.?After ' bringing bis victim to his knees by a shot In the forehead, W. S. Big gers, a former railroad man, stooped down and pointing his weapon straight at the head of the wounded man. sent the fatal shot crashing in- ; j to the brain of his enemy, J. G. Hood ! for a long time a leading business j man of Charlotte. ' Biggers was seen walking rath"r briskly along Tryon street about y o'clock this morning, going southward and at Independence square he had nearly overtaken Hood. Walking a hundred feet farther. Diggers came up with his victim immediately in , front of the Central Hotel. What words were spoken nobody 1 knows, but in a few seconds Biggers. who, is a one-armed man, whipped out a pistol, and opened fire. The first shot went wild, crashing through I the hotel omnibus, and passing through a glass within four inches of the driver's head. The next shot pierced the hat baud of Hood's hat in front, crushing the skull. Hood fell to the ground, and then it was that Biggers got in a dead sight di j rectly at the head of the prostrated I man and fired the deadliest shot of I all, the ball piercing the top of Hood's head, and penetrating the brain. Another bullet grazed the stomach of Bigger's victim, cutting the clothing. The sidewalk was soon covered with blood, which spouted from holes in the dying man's head. Hood was carried to a hospital, dy ing within twenty minutes after the shooting. Biggers made no effort to escape, and when the first officer 011 the scene approached him, he calin lir tianrtfrt over his revolver, remark j iu'{ that Hood had tried to rob him. The cause; leading up to ihe trag edy reach back for six years when the firm of J. G. Hood & Co., was liquidated, Biggers losing several thousand dollars which he had in the concern. Recently it is stated that Hood had attempted to block a real estate deal which Biggers was at tempting to make, and the matter, it is believed, preyed upon Biggers' mind until he deliberately resolved to kill Hood. After being locked in his cell Biggers sang loudly for a while and appeared unable to rec ognize any of his friends. Biggers was formerly in the army, and after coming to Charlotte, lost an arm while working for the South ern railroad.?News and Observer. What They Do Not Read. Not one in ten citizens takes a re ligious paper. Not one in fifty takes a scientific Journal. Not one in ten takes a youth's pa per. Not one in fifty takes a musical or art journal. Not one in ten takes a household paper. Not one voter in a hundred takes a paper devoted to the science of government and the principles of free institutions. Not one citizen in twenty takes a , poultry paper. jNot one larmer in twenty taKes a paper devoted to horticulture. No one in weny akes a live sock journal. No one in three takes a farm pa per.?Farm Journal. Upchurch-Batts. , On Wednesday, February 3rd, near ] Stantonsburg, Mr. W. H. Upchurch i and Miss Hattie Batts, of Wilson 1 county, were happily married. Rev. < J, M. Martin, a Methodist minister, , performed the ceremony. They will ] live at the home of Mr. Upchurch in | Ber tonsville township. , Card of Thank*. Mrs. W. B. Guill and family return their thanks to the people of Smith field who showed them so many kind nesses during the rect nt illness and ! death cf their 1 u&band and father, t They will be e\er held in grateful re- < membrance by the bereaved family. I , Sinlthfield Roller Mill will pay cash ] highest market price for wheat or ex- i Change flour and feed. f Mr. Holt Replies. MR. EDITOR: I invite a careful reading of my ! letter in your issue of January 30th, I and I ask your readers to read care fully the letters of Messrs. Stevens and Honeycutt, appearing in your is sue of February 5th, which letters art supposed to be in answer to mine. And I submit that all careful read ers of the three letters will acknowl edge that the gentlemen have not answered the point in issue, but have dodged the question, and have tried to sidetrack the charges preferred against them into a discussion of a question that was settled in 1S06 by a Convention of the Democrats of Johnston County. In all their long letters they have absolutely ignore the fact that they, public officials as they are, accept ing office, as they did, with an un derstanding that the reduced fees should prevail throughout their term, have gone up to Raleigh and secured, in a seemingly secret manner, the passage of a bill repealing the law affecting their fees, which law was brought about In response to a reso lution adopted by the County Conven tion. They do not seem to realize that they have betrayed a great trust. They seem to ignore the fact that they set aside, without consent or authority, the commands of the Dem ocratic party of the County; and when they are taxed with this breach of party expediency and common gratitude, they fly into a discussion of the question of the unreasonable fees they have been forced to take for the past year or more. They seem to forget the fact that there is no law, written or unwritten, that compels them to hold their re spective offices one minute longer than they wish to hold them. In oth non roaitrn t h f Nash county, died last week. Un ;le Ned was something 70 years old ind had been a preacher for a num tter of years. He was known by both white and black throughout Nash, Wilson, Johnston and Wake counties, ind had* many friends. He was a po lite old negro, and in his humble way le did much good in the world. He was respected by the people of his jwn race, and the white people, too. ?Wilson Times. Death Near Benton. On Tuesday morning of this week : Mr. William J. McLamb who lived ' hree miles west of Benson, died of ' oosy after about six weeks of 111 "Uurch. He was a good far ner ?: ->ful citizen and will be greatly >?? ?i in his neighborhood, i ^ at UNFAVORABLE REPORTS. The Liquor Bills of Representatives 1 Morton and Myatt Sat on by Com- j mittee. Raleigh, N. C., Feb. 10,?The House Committee on Regulation of the Liquor Traffic met for the first time this session today with the net result of an unfavorably report for Representative Morton's bill to ex empt New Hanover county from tha prohibition law, turning down Repre sentative Linney's bill to allow Alex ander county farmers to sell brandy ! made from fruits grown on their own I land, quelling Representative Myatt's ! bill to permit Johnston county folks to sell brandy, wine and cider manu factured from fruit grown on land whereon they live, and an adverse vote on Gaston's measure to permit the sale of wine in Upper Hominy township, Buncombe county. Morton, of New Hanover, and Myatt, of Johnston, both gave no tice of minority reports, so the whole thing will be fought out on the floor of the House. Whiskey Advertising. For a number of years, as the pro hibition sentiment has gained strength throughout the country, there has been a marked tendency among newspapers to discard whis key advertisements. Recently the Knoxville Sentinel published the long list of American newspapers that re fuse to accept such advertising, and the list contained names of many of the most influential publications of the nation. For a number of years the News has refused to carry this class of ad vertising matter. From the Nashville Tenneesean we take the following in this connection, which will be read with interest: "Several weeks ago the Tennessean lulnted a list of monthly rders for them. What more potent * igent of crime is there than the hide- 1 >us liquor folder picturing bowie r cnlves and dirks and revolvers vhich the whiskey sellers offer as >remlums to those who will forward j heir unholy traffic?"?Charlotte . s iJews. 0 For Visiting cards. Engraved or * tricted, leave your orders at THE ' iERALD OFFICE. b Another Enters the Discussion. MR. EDITOR: Iu the last two issues of THE HEH ALD I have noticed a controversy between Mr. S. S. Holt on one sidt and Messrs Honeycutt and Stevens on the other, and I am inclined, witl your permission, to take some in terest in this discussion myself. I know that I am only a common tax payer, but 1 would like to ask everyi reader: "Why is it that Mr Honeycutt was so anxious to get his office for a second term unless h? was getting good pay?" I never heart any talk of his turning in his resig nation during the past two years. ] was in hopes he would and recom mend me to fill the vacancy. Now since the bill has passed 1 would make him a present of $1,000 per an num and 1 will take charge of thi office and carry everything on O. K and give bond to cover the liabilities, Although I live in Princeton, I guess I might be able to survive In Smith field if I were a county officer, un der the present laws, for a few days, months, years, or decades, In the lat ter event by economical living 1 might be a "John D." the 2nd. Well, I hope the Democracy of old Johnston will look after the ^rrors of th;'' past, and in future will elect men to office who will appreciate the honor. * man who seeks office for the pecuniary part of it, is not wor thy of holding office. If Mr. Honey cutt was so opposed to holding of fice under the laws prior to now, why did he try so hard to be elect ed again? Sam is a highly educat ed, refined, athletic, or in other words a first class gentleman. "Judge" Stevens is, in my opinion, the peer of any man who has ever claimed Johnston county as his home, And yet he says that under the past law he did not receive enough com pensation for the amount of work. But whv should Mr. Stevens persist hoMtiig iiis office if there was no profit therein. I wrote the above on the spur of the moment, after reading Mr. Holt's letter, and then the answers of Mess rs. S. T. Honeycutt and W. S. Ste vens, and no one need reply with the sxpeetation of an answer in any way. [ merely expressed my thoughts in this matter. J. H. WELLONS. Princeton, N. C.. Feb. 9, 1909. BUILDING MONSTER GUN. Work on Weapon Begun at Wash ington Navy Yard. The construction of a 14-inch gun has been started at the gun foundry af the Washington Navy Yard. This will be the first built In the Navy De partment, and will be used for ex perimental purposes. While the ten iency in foreign navies is toward the use of more powerful guns, American ordnance experts take the stand that :he present 12-Inch gun is the most serviceable weapon. The 14-inch gun will cost about &100,000.?Washington Herald. Found Dead on Bridge. On Friday, January 29th, Mr. Pat I'aiktr, of Selma, mail carrier, found Mr. Kicl.urd Baker a tenant on the and of Mr. John Brown, dead. His wdy was on the Brown bridge on lie Hainan road in Oneals township. !t seems he started to Selma on a *agon accompanied by a little boy >f his who drove the horse. When hey came near the bridge he got out )f the wagon to cut a switch and old his boy to drive along and he vould overtake him. The boy trav ?led for awhile and stopped. He told Vlr. Parker to tell his father to hur ?y along but when Mr. Parker reach ed the bridge he found the man dead. Soldier Balks Death Plot. It seemed to J. A. Stone, a civil var veteran, of Kemp, Tex., that a )lot existed between a desperate lung rouble and the grave to cause his leath. "I contracted a stubborn 'cold,' ie writes, "that developed a cough bat stuck to me. In spite of all rem idies, for years. My weight ran lown to 130 pounds. Then I began o use Dr. King's New Discovery, rhlch restored my health complete y. I now weigh 178 pounds.'1 For evere Colds, obstinate Coughs, Hen. irrhages. Asthma, and to prevent 'ncumonia It's unrivaled. 50c, and 1.00. Trial bottle free. Guaranteed iy Hood Bros. THE NEWS IN BENSON. Happenings of Interest In and Around Thi? Thriving Little Burg. Mr. anil Mrs. Randall Turlington, of Wilson, visited relatives here last ' week. I Mrs. J. D. Parker, of Smlthfleld, spent several days with Mr. and Mrs. K. H. Parker recently. Mr. F. A. Truitt went to Marion, S. C. Saturday afternoon, returning Monday. Mrs. J. P. Lee went to Garner Sun j day where she will spend several days at the home of her parents. Miss Clida Lee spent Saturday and j Sunday at the home of her parents, | Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Lee, in lower Johnston. Mr. Herman Boon left Tuesday for Enfield at which place he has accept ed a position with the Bevens Drug Company. Mr. C. O. Pickard, of Chapel Hill, has accepted a position in the drug store of Mr. J. \V. Benson. Mr. Dexter Blanchard, of Fuquay Springs, spent several days in town visiting his uncle, Dr. Rowland, re cently. Mr. Heber Creech, manager of the Rosemary Drug Co., spent Sunday in town with relatives. Rev. J. M. Langdon filleu his regu lar appointment at the Free Will Bap tist church Sunday morning nnd night. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Holland, of Ken ly, spent Saturday and Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. George Holland. Mr. Merriman Thomas, who is prin cipal of the High School at Buck Horn, spent Saturday with his fath er near town. Mr. Walter Denning, who has a position with the A. C..L. Railway at Denmark, S. C., *J?>t Saturday and Sunday with his paints. Mr. and Mrs D. B. Denning. Mica VII** MmI ami, *3 "1-* (laughter of Mrs. Isliauj , McLamb. who lives U'io" ,?v? in!.> from . died last Thursday morning. The cause of her death was consumption. On Saturday, the Cth day of Feb ruary, Lemuel Harbour, the son of Mr. E. E. Barbour, died. He had been afflicted for several years, though his death was unexpected at the time. He was 38 years old. On Tuesday morning, February 9, Mr. Bill McLamb, who died about 4 miles from Benson, died of heart drop sy. Mr. McLamb was near 55 years old, was a good far^ner and one of the best citizens of this community. REPORTER. Feb. 10, 1909. CLAYTON NEWS. Clayton is coming right along. The ? tobacco warehouses are just about a certainty. A committee was ap pointed at the mass meeting on Mon day night, to find out all the infor mation they can about warehouses and report at the next meeting which will be held on Tuesday night next. Already several lots have been offer ed as building sites and Just about all the stock has been secured. Miss Dorothy Kerr is visiting at the home of Mrs. L. F. Austin. Mr. A. V. Oulley went to Rich mond, Va., Monday accompanied by his physician, Dr. Hocutt, where on Tuesday he underwent an operation. He is doing nicely. Mr. B. M. Robertson returned from Richmond, Va., where he has been to buy stock. Dr. T. Arthur Griffin leaves Satur day for Baltimore. Irom there he will go to Grafton, West Va., where he will locate. We wish Dr. Griffin success in bis new home. t We are glad to report Mr. C. M. Thomas able to be out at his work again after an illness of several weeks. Mr. A. M. Sanders, of Smithfield, was in town for two or three days this week looking after the delin quents on the tax list. Miss Mae Braxton, of Clayton High School, spent Saturday and Sun day at her home near Klnston, N. C. Mr. Jim Price has opened a groce ry store in Mr. J. H. Johnson's Btore house in upper Clayton. TEUR. Clayton, Feb. 10, 1909. Disappointed in Him. Nell?"Yes, he proposed to her, but she refused him; she was terribly disappointed tu him." Belle?"In what way?" Nell?"He never asked her again."?Ex. BAD COPY OR LIGHT PI | 6 ========^===2^ Deain of Mr. L. B. Holt. Mr. Leonldas Bright Holt, of the Sanders Chapel section, tiled at the Ilex Hospital, Raleigh, Saturday af ternoon, February 6th, at 5 o'clock. His health liad been falling since De cember 1st, and about a month ago, td went to the Hospital for treat ment and underwent two serious op erations. However, these operations did not produce the desired relief, i and death ended his sufferings and j released the tired spirit from the i tenement of clay. Mr. Holt was born October 7, 1838, and was a son of the^ late Wiley | Holt who lived near Princeton. He served in the Confederate Army du ring the Civil War, and after the war he made his home in Wayne county where he engaged in farming for several years. About twenty years ago he moved to Uoldsboro, for (he purpose of educating his children, where he lived until four or five years since, when he moved to his late residence, about six miles south of Smithfleld. He was married in January, 1869, to Miss Ellen Powell, a daughter of the late Ashley Powell and sister of the ex-sheriff, C. S. Powell. To this union were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Surviv ! ing him are his wife aud six children. Dr. R. D. Holt, of Cherokee, N. C., I Mrs. R. A. Moore, of Yuma, Arizona, > Mr. E. M. Holt, of Quarantine, La., j Mrs. C. R. Ross, of Yanceyvllle, N. C., Dr. T. J. Holt, of Wise, N. C., 1 and Miss Lillian Holt, of Smithfleld. Mr. Holt had been a member ot The Methodist church for many years, and had expressed himself as ready and willing to go. His funeral was preached at his home Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock by his pas tor, Rev. W. H. Pucket, and the re mains laid to rest in the cemetery ot fn milt. T"?. .. I cuw * wncn laiuuj, mu uutuaacu w aa I a mat; of means, jk? ^.?11 informed i.nd intelligent; iint* leading citizen of his community, a kiira neTJ,tibor and a devoted husband and father, j he will be missed by all. To the bereaved ones THE HER ALD offers its sincere sympathy. Daughtery-Braswell. On Thursday evening at the home of the bride's father, Mr. Alex Bras well, Mr. John Daughtery and Miss Jennie Braswell were united in mar riage, the ceremony being performed by Elder W. J. VV'ilkins. The atten dants were: Mr. Monroe Braswell with Miss Julia Adams, Mr. David Uraswell with Miss Ella Daughtery, Mr. Tom Evans with Miss Amy Daughtery, Mr. Charlie Daughtery with Miss Mattie Braswell, Mr. Lon don Braswell with Miss Cynthia Bras well. The happy young couple are among the popular young people of their sec tion and have hosts of friends who wish them all happiness. Miss Lula Smith Entertains. On last Friday evening Miss Lula Smith entertained a host of her friends at her home on Oakland Heights. They played lots of games, the principal game was the contest, which was guessing the names of some of the most prominent men. The prize was given to the one that guess ed the most of the names right. Mr. Nathan Johnson, being able to guess the most names right. He having to leave on the shoefly and did not have time to get it, it was delivered to second best, Miss Mattie Smith, of Benson. Those present were: Misses Addie and Florence Johnson. Mattie Smith, of Benson, Hannah Jones, Mary Tom linson, Mabel Byrd, Bessie Sanders. Nannie Underwood. Annie Peacock, Carrie Hyman, and Lilly Barbour; Messrs. Hubert and Edward Woodall, Bernice and Daniel Jones, Mayo Baily Ransom Sanders, Walter Ives, Robt. Parrish, Elbert Bingham, Louts Pay lor, and Nathan Johnson, of Benson. At eleven fifteen they all bid fare woll. saying they had had a pleasant evening. M. V. S. His Terrible Offense. "Brown's in awful trouble." What's the matter? Has he killed a man?" "No, worse than that. He stole a postage stamp and there does not seem to be any possible way of keeping htm out of prison."?Detroit Free Press. ANT