&!)r wmittjficlil M trail). Price On. Dollar Per Ye?r "TRUE TO OURSELVES. OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COD." Single Cop.a. Five CenU VOL. 27. SMITHFIELD. N. C.. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY li), 1909. NO. 52 COOPER JURY IS COMPLETE. Twenty Days Occupied in Selecting Men to Sit on Case, Four of Whom Cannot Read or Write and Two Others Have Vague Under standing of English Language. Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 13.?Next Tuesday at 9 o'clock will begin the trial of Col. Duncan B. Cooper, Kobln J. Cooper and John D. Sharp, charg ed with slaying former Senator E. W. Carmack. After twenty days of wearisome Jury drawing, this decision was sud denly and somewhat unexpectedly reached this morAlng. The Jury, with their ages and oc cupations, follows: ?oooooooooo * ? * * E. M. Burke, carpenter, age 47. * * Robert McPherson, farmer, age * * 49. * * G. A. Lane, farmer, age 52. * * W. Adcock, farmer, age 28. * * Casper Schnupp, farmer, age 41 * * J. H. Vaughan, farmer, age 4'J. * * S. M. Hyde, farmer, age 55. * * Gus Knipfer, farmer, age 47. * * F. O. Bierman, real estate, age 42 * * J. A. Woodruff, farmer, age 55. * * Jacob Frutlger, farmer, age 49. * * William Hows, farmer, age 55. * r * nnnonnoooo^ m ? When court adjourned yesterday the prosecution asked that the jury be not sworn until the State had a chance to investigate charges against two of the jurors. When court con vened this morning Attorney Gener al McCarn made no reference to these charges, but simply said: "We are ready for the jury to be sworn, your honor." The jury was then sworn. The State next asked several days in which to gather its witnesses. The court suggested that the taking of testimony begun at 9 a. m. Tuesday and counsel agreed. Then court ad journed until Tuesday. , ' '-".wi/" ff*- tHn f -J Oirr : | muf.'e those incompetent who had talked with a witness to the murder or talked with some one who had talked with the witness. On the ap plication for bail the local papers printed stenographic reports of the testimony of witnesses. The Supreme court has held that a newspaper print lug verbatim testimony becomes a witness who has talked to a witness. Therefore every one in the county who had read the testimony became incompetent to sit in the case as a Juror. This eliminated at once the most intelligent citizens of the coun ty. As a result it was necessary to draw five venires of 500 names each and one of 519, a total of 3,019, be force the jury was secured. Four of the jurors accepted can neither read nor write and two others understand English only indifferently. All except one of the twelve swore he had not read a newspaper since before the killing and some had not read one for ten years. Bierman, the only ex cepuon, naa Deen out 01 tne Slate from the week before the killing un til the day he was summoned. Hows, the last man chosen, was foreman of the jury in the famous Cox rase. Cox was charged with the murder of a policeman. He was found guilty of murder In the first degree but the jury recommended mercy. Judge Hart refused to heed the rec ommendation and sentenced Cox to death. Cox had powerful friends and the night before he was to be execut ed. some one slipped poison Into his cell with which he committed suicide. ?Tudge Anderson, chief counsel for the defense in the case, also defended Cox. The fact that Anderson accept ed Howe has created no little com ment. SWISS LOSING WATCH TRADE. Output of Cases Alone Falls Off $6, 250,000 in Year. Berne, Feb. 16.?It is reliably es- I timated that there has been a de cline of $6,250,000 in the value of watch cases manufactured in Swlt- j rerland during the past year. The 1 decrease in other branches of tho trade have been proportionately high, and It can no longer be doubted that n very grave crises has to be faced. A "black year" was foreseen at the beginning of 1908, but the depression has excelled the most pessimistic an ticipations. .iL. ?? WIFE ASKS DIVORCE AT 75. Charges Incompatability After 30 Years of Married Life. Winchester, Va., Feb. 11.?Alleg ing cruel treatment and incompatabil ity of temper, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, of Nain, this county, who is more than 75 years old, today filed a bill in the Circuit Court for divorce against her husband James T. Mar tin, a farmer and former Confederate soldier. The couple has been married over 30 years and lived amicably to gether until lately, when differences arose that led first to the Magis trate's Court and then to the Divorce Court. Judge Hrarison has entered an order allowing counsel fees and temporary alimony. The case will come to trial at the next term'. KNOX'S TITLE MADE CLEAR. Eligibility Bill Passes House But Only after a Furious Fight Against It. Washington, D. C., Feb. 15.?The bill designed to make Senator Knox eligible to the position of Secretary of State in the Taft Cabinet was pass ed by the House this afternoon, but under such circumstances, and in the face of such determined and militant opposition, that friends of the Sena tor are tonight very uncertain as to whecher he will accept the post. The bill was twice before the House today. The first time an effort was made to pass it under the suspen sion of the rules which prevailed to day, but it failed to obtain the necesr sary two-thirds majority needed on suspension day. An ordinary bill would have been marked dead right there, but in the interest of this bill Rules Commit tee held a hurried special meeting, made a new rule providing that the Knox bill should again be brought I before the Ho'ise and that if it re a rwyoritv vol* it eilould declared passed. This rule was pui into effect and the bill was passed. The whole fight is exceedingly em barrassing to Senator Knox, who ac cepted the position of Secretary , of Statee in the first place with great reluctance, and the only consolation that his friends can find in the pro ceedings of today is that the fight was not a partison one. The vote that finally passed the bill was 178 to 117, the majority being made up of 151 Republicans and 22 Democrats, and the minority of 99 Democrats and 18 Republicans. PUT ON $210,000,000 FINES. Seven Negroes Each Ordered to Pay $30,000,000, But Get off for $1. Augusta, Ga., Feb. 13.?The sum of $210,000,000 was assessed in fines here today, but the money is not yet in the City Treasury. "I'll go Judge Landis one better and make the fine $30,000,000," said Recorder Plcquet In Imposing senten ce upon seven negroes convicted of violating the health ordinances in al lowing garbage to accumulate on their premises. The fine was im posed upon each of the defendants. Appreciating their inability to pay such fine, the negroes sank to the bench with groans and staring eves. When the laughter which the Court's decision sausad had subsided Recor der Picquet suspended sentences up o> condition that each of the defend ants deposit $1 with the Clerk. The oidinance under which the sentence was imposed provides that the Court "may impose any fine he sees fit." Judge Long arid Pistol "Toter." The other day Judge Long fined a negro $20 for carrying a pistol. "All right," said the defendant, "I have it right here In my Jeans." Whereup on his honor turned and said. "I'll give you six months on the roads. Have you got that in your Jeans?" The negro was from New York, but he now registers from the county Jail. ?Statesville Mascot. Macadam Road to Selma. A bill has been prepared and will be presented to the Legislature to pass a law calling for an election in Smithfleld and 8elma townships to levy a tax and issue bonds to build a macadam road between Selma and Smithfleld. , ,. * I t'lA ?*!?.. . 6,000 LOST IN EARTHQUAKE. Sixty Persian Villages Wholly or Partly Destroyed by Shock of January 23. I Teheran. Persia, Feb. 17.?News was received here today showing that the violent earthquake recorded Jan uary 23 at almost every scientific ob servatory in the world where seisino ' graphs are installed, had its location ! in the province of Luristan, in wes tern Persia. Sixty villages in thii J district where wholly or partly de stroyed and the resultant loss of life is placed between 5,000 and 6,000. This information was conveyed in | belated reports to the government. ! The districts of Murujurd and Sela hor in Lurstan province were the center of the greatest violence and here the heaviest casualties occurred. Several villages are reported to have I been completely engulfed. The des jtitute survivors are flocking into the town of Hurujurd, whence appeals I for assistance are now reaching the government. The peasantry lost practically all their herds and it is estimated that from 10,000 to 12,000 head of cattle perished. This is the first accurate location of the violent earthquake shock of January 23, it being supposed up to today that the disturbance had cen tered in western Asia, in Asiatic Rus sia, or even in the waters of the In dian ocean. The records showed that the tremors were practically of the same force as those which on I December 28 converted the coast re gions of Sicily and Calebria into a scene of desolation and ruin. The province of Luristan is very mountainous and sparsely settled. It is about 300 miles southwest of Tehe ran, and the only communication with the Persian capital is by courier. The inhabitants are chiefly Bakhtyarls, an offshoot of the Iranian people. Referring to the fact that Ca.tisitiii' has at)Offeh.. Dodd. of Springhope, N. C., was buried here Sunday at the Horne burying ground. The funeral was conducted at the Uaptist church by Kev. T. H. Thornton, the pastor. All of Mrs. Dodd's children except I)r. Wm. B. Dodd, of Chicago, were here. . Mr. N. J. Allen, one of our most ^ ro?n !siv. iHTWi/r hit.-.' ortgtnau>l cotton seed which he has named "Al len's Multiplier" and which he claims is far in advance of anything in the c<'ton seed line shown about here. Mr. Alien has already sold several recks of this seed at $1.00 a peck. His many friends throughout the county will be glad to learn that Mr. Arthur Gulley is doing nicely and hop'.s to be at home in a very few da vs. Death of Mr. Needham Branham. Mr. Needham Branham, of near Clayton, died Tuesday morning, Feb ruary 9th, at 11 o'clock. Mr. Bran ham was 85 years old. His health had been failing for some time, but was confined to his bed only five days. Nothing that could be done for him during this time produced the desired relief, and death ended his sufferings and released the tired spir it from the tenement of clay. He serv ed in the Confederate army during tUrx - U? ? J ? iuc vim wtti, nc iiciu uccu cX '11 r-ill ber of the Missionary ilaptlst church for nine years. The remains were lai*i to rest in the cemetery of Mt. Moriah Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. lie leaves a wife, two sons, one daughter and a host of grand children to mourn his loss. L. B. DEAD OF ELEPHANTIASIS. Former London Detective Expires in Virginia, Weighing 400 Pounds, Winchester, Va., Feb. 16.?Weigh ing more than 400 pounds and his body so ponderous that he could no longer walk. John M. Cook, who was for 30 years a member of the pollot. force of London, England, died today of elephantiasis at his home at Ste phens City, this county. He was 85 years old, and had been living here for the past twenty years, drawing a pension from London. Mr. Cook knew every nook and cor ner in the city of London, and at the time he was retired on a pension was one of the best known of the Ixjndon dotecltves. His career as a detective was notable, and he was for years attached to Scotland Yard. His remains will be buried here. Marble monuments, about 30 feet high, *lth suitable inscriptions, are to be erected by the Government to the Confederate soldiers buried in the cemeteries In Alton, 111., and In dianapolis, Ind. GIANT SIGHS FOR WIFE. Advertises in Vain, for Stature Frightens Women. Sayre, Pa., Feb. 14.?Oscar Krails, of Itichford, who was at one time Uarnum's star giant, being six feet eleven and a half inches tall has been iu Sayre for several days look 1 ing for a wife and has advertised in the local papers. He has a good farm and a comfort ble farmhouse at Kichford and says his only handicap in the matrimonial race is his height. A number of women have answered his advertisements, but all balked when they learned about his stature. He now has almost given up hope, and says that if he does not soon get a wife he will consider his chan ces gone. REMARRY AFTER 42 YEARS. Old Soldier, Divorced Just After War, to Wed Former Bride. liangor, Feb. 14.?Among the in tentions of marriage which have been recorded at the office of the city clery of Augusta this week are those of Nelson L. Nourse, of the National House, at Augusta, and while appar ently there is nothing unusual In the announcement, it really is the center of a strange romance. Mr. *ud Mrs. Nourse are both elderly peop'e being on the shady side of seventy, and of the same age, and at one time were man and wife. vrording to the story told at the office of the clerk, they were married in 1?60. Mr. Nourse enlisted In the cause of the Union In the civil war. After the close of the war, lu the year 1867, they decided that it would be better for them to part, and eo they were divorced. That was 42 years ago, and now, in the sunset of their lives, they are to be reunited, and their friends will wish them years of happiness. * i * _ .. ? < A Die In Storm-Rent Church. Learned, Miss., Feb. 14.?A storm from the northwest struck this place this afternoon with terrific force blow ing down a negro church, killing Mrs. Dick Harris, n ehild of Maggie Ben nett and injuring ten others. Seventy-five persons were in the church at the time, and but for the arched ceiling all probably would have been killed. SEA'S TOIL OF WRECK 75,~" Increase in Estimate of Victims of the Penguin. Wellington. N. Z., Feb. 15.?It is now believed that the death roll of the wrecked steamer Penguin will reach 75. Twenty-three bodies have not yet been recovered. Rural Carriers Attention. The second annual meeting of the F.i lal Letter Carriers of Johnston county will be held in Selnia Febru ary 22, 1909, at 2 P. M. It is very necessary that every carrier in the county be present. Besides the elect ing of officers for the ensuing year th??re is other very important busi nrss that should be attended to. There 1b one or more adjoining coun ties that desire to unite with us. This should be brought before the Association and it is important that the members be present when this i3 up for consideration. I have had a few carriers to ask "what good in tnere meetings?" To such carriers I v ill say, if you are wholly satisfi ed with your present condition then these meetings to you seem worthless but if you are not satisfied it is jour duty to be up and doing. If you are not satisfied with the con dition of the roads which you drive over daily, if you are not satisfied to continue hauling one or more p< uches besides your own mail, if you are not satisfied with your pres ent salary then it is your duty to yourself and family and every car rier in the service to Join your coun ty association and attend theie meet ings. JAS. T. HOLMES. Pre* Benson, N. C. The President urges Congress to require ocean going steamers carrying passengers to be equipped with wire less telegraphic apparatus. FEAR THAT 180 ARE DEAD. England Mining Town Scene of Fear ful Disaster?Two Explosions Kill* Many Outright and Closes Up Channels of Escape. Newcastle, England, Feb. 16.?A terrible disaster occurred at West ! Stanley, a small mining town 12 miles distance iu which, It is feared, 180 i lives have been lost. There were : two explosions at 4 o'clock this af i tcrnoon In the West Stanley colliery, which employs 400 men. Nearly 200 of the men were In the pit at the time, and up to a late hour tonight none of them had come to the sur ; face, although rapplngs hare bees heard, and It is supposed that these are from some of the miners who | escaped death from the explosion and the fire which followed it. Almost immediately after the ex plosion flames burst through the shaft, scorching the workers at the pit head and blowing out the fenc ing and apparatus at the entrance to the mine. The flames spread rapid ly and It is impossible for the res cuing party to descend Into the work ings. Thousands of anxious people gathered at the mouth of the pit, but for hours the fire burned furiously. At midnight it was still impossible to attempt a rescue and it will be many hours before the entrance is cleared. An explosion involving 12 lives oc curred at the same colliery in 1882. Two dspoudent women hanged themselves, and a third shot herself to death at Chicago Saturday. A Letter of Warning. EDITOR HERALD: We have a man in our section styl ing himself as Franklin A. Schelllng, Bye Specialist. He came up here and got the confidence of the people by telling them that he had helped I)r. P.. H. Lewis, of ilaleigh, perform an operation and got $00 tor ,il. I was ?ill, ? ??'?? Vii: .ake, 1 \tjlxR> 1 ' Lewis about him and I will fehe >1 ' Dr. Lewis's letter just as he wrote me. It is as follows: Mr. J. Willis Creech, It. F. D. No. 1, Benson, N. C. My dear Sir: Replying to your letter of the 0th inst., just received, I beg to say I have never heard of Franklin A. Schilling, Eye Specialist, which means tl;at he is a faker of unusual vicious ness. His statement of having as sisted me in an operation is an un mitigated falsehood. As a matter of iar t you can set down all travelling opticians, coming from outside the State especially, as fakers. The way they swindle our people is simply out rageous. 1 had a patient in my office a few days ago with a pair of gold filled glasses of inferior quality worth at retail about $2.50, for which she one of these travelling opticians $14. If this man pretends to do anything else than sell glasses, that is pre scribe medicine for the eyes or at tempt to operate, he is violating the tnnrlicn 1 lir?on?