Newspapers / The Rocky Mount Record … / March 26, 1908, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOL. XI., NO. 30 "REMINISCENCES." Biographical and Historical Sketch by Dr. P. s. Hicks, Treating of Local Persons and Scenes. She came and stayed about two months and all went well. Wasn't that good luck and grand for a poor soldier? And all was accom plshed Without money, simply done by my being gifted wittr wit and ven triloquism from tne blessed Lord. As to Mr. Weldon Hunter or Nash Hunter as he is called, I reckon he got a disci" arge, he has since died, as he had already served in the Mexican war and his record showed that he had been a good soldier. He has two brothers living near Rocky Mount, Henry D. Hunter, and John H. Hunter. After my wife left I was ordered back tc my company. About the time I got to Richmond there came a big snow, so I reported to Winder Hospital to wait for better weather. That is very easy to do if you know how. A doctors commission in the army impowers him to locate, send on or re tain a returning soldier from a hospital to his command. So the weather being unfavorable, a big snow on the ground and I just out of comfortable quarters thought it best to report to a doctor at a hospital. I did so, was examined and accepted and remained there a few weeks. I wrote home, Thomas Bras well, my wife's nephew was living there, he wanted to come to meet me in Richmond, go on with me to my company and join the army if he was accepted. That would make the third time he had tried to get in the army. The first time he went with Capt. Ham mond from Rocky Mount, the second time was when he went with me merely becausa he wanted to be with me and be in the army, but was not sworn in; he got hurt by tailing from the forge and my captain sent him back home. We now come to the third time when he met me in Richmond. My wife got him a pass-pert and transportation from Tarboro to Gordensville where my company was at that time. She wrote me when to look for him at the hospital. He was not there on time. I knew something was wrong, that perhaps he had got in Richmond and been taken up by the provost-guard, so I got a pass and started to look for him. I passed along by a large building known as the Sol diers Home, but was more like a jail. I heard Tom hollow out "Uncle Phes," I looked up, his head was out the win dow of the third story of the building I think. I then asked him what he was doing up there. He answered back, "They have got me, I was taken up when I got off the train and have been here two nights and one day, they have also takcen my pass-port and try trans portation." I told him to jUst be quiet I would look after him. I applied at the door, the guard was ordered to let me in. I went to the office and asked who was the commander, "Lieut. Bates," was the reply. "What do you want," he said. I told him I wanted T. W. Braswell out of there. "What have you to do with him," he asked. "He was on his way to join my company at Gordensville, you have destroyed his pass-port and transportation. Now you give him up or you will find out what I have to do with him. *1 will re . port you to the higher authority.'' H e released him at once. It seemed that this Soldiers Home, as it was called, was a kind of lie over place for soldiers returning to their command and to put captured stragglers in that were not disposed to go to their command, and sent off afterwards under guards. While in Richmond I found out that even a conscript was entitled to SSO bounty as much as a volunteer. I ap plied for it so I managed to draw my bounty while in Richmond, and every man in the company drew theirs. In a few days the snow had all melted, the weather was favorable and I asked for a discharge from the hospital and re turned to my company, taking Tom with me as a recruit. It happened that a few days before then orders had come saying every person furnishing a re cruit under 18 years of age should have a thirty days furlough. I had not heard of it until I got in camp, when I did everybody yelled out, "Hicks has brought him a furlough!" Yes, when I got back it seemed that the whole company gathered around me and •cheered and expressed their gladness at my return, and at the same time continuing their "how-do-you do" to T. W. Braswell who had come to join their company as my recruit. He entered as a recruit furnished by P. S. Hick*, so that entitled me to a 30 days furlough. My readers, if you ever were a sol dier or ever are one, you know or will know that a 30 days furlough is worth «lot of "bread cast upon the waters." But the bread did not stop there. I she yioeku Mount 9teecrd. got my furlough, went homr and while here got two more recruits and took them back with me, making in all 90 days in furloughs that I got providen tially through the agency of T. W. Braswell, at the same time not pur posely on his part, not that he would not have willingly contributed to me all the aid he could, but in this case it was a help or reward from the blessed Lord through this boy as an agent to me for the relief and .aid I gave him and his helpless brothers and sisters, when left dependent by the death of their father. So it turned out after many days that I was amply paid for all the bread that I cast upon the waters along that line. As I said before, I got two recruits while at home, Eddie Harredand James Boseman, and they went through the war without a scratch. «" When I returned to my company I sent in for a 60 days furlough but only got 30 days. I remained with my com pany about two weeks and off for home again. A few days before this|the fall of Plymouth had taken place, and a number of federals taken prisoners. They were brought to Tarboro for transportation but were detained two or three days. While there they were encamped under guard just across the river from Tarboro. Rations were rather scarce with them and they were very anxious to buy something to eat, those who had money. There were several who sold them something to eat, with the consent of the guards. My wife was among the number, who took with her a lot of nice things, and old aunt Liza Dancy, the cook, to carry the basket. She sold the prisoners $13.00 worth that day. There were two prisoners who had no money, and they were very hungry. She gave them something to eat for which they seemed very thankful, and told her they hoped the Lord would reward her if they never saw her again. But they did see her agairf. A few months after wards they were paroled and back in the army, and Wete in the raid that visited Tarboro, which is remembered I,7'dt. It w.-iif'fche same raid vbai c«.m. to Rocky Mount and destroyed the cot ton and grist mills belonging to W. S. Battle, and played havoc and destruc tion with a lot of other things. The raid I think came by the way of Washington and Greenville. It was re ported ahead ' that the Yankees were coming, and they came sure enough. Everybody was in terrible confusion, some left ho-ne and others hid in dif ferent places. wife told me she was standing in the door when she saw the Yankees coming. There were several men in front of the regiment, on horses, there was one lieutenant in charge. They rode up to the house, my wife yet standing in the door, and the lieutenant said, "how do you do?" She told him that she was so much excited that she didn't do well. He told her not to be alarmed that they would not hurt her, then he continued "Is this your place?" "No, it belongs to a Mr. Dancy, I only live here." "Where is your husband?" "He is in Lee's army in Virginia." "How long has he been there?" "I don't remember exactly, ever since the 'conscript." (To be continued.) Getting on in The World is a matter of vast personal interest to each and every one of us. There is a wholesome joy in making headway in the world of dollars; in feeling one's horizon of poverty being pushed back, pushed father and farther away. Get ting on in the world means growth, material growth; a broader grasp of af fairs and a larger confidence in one's ability to do the things which count; the things which make for the upbuild ing of our community certainly is a mat ter of personal interest to every prop erty owner, every tax payer, every young man and every young woman in our town and the surrounding country. Do you \ssh to join the ranks of those who are getting on in the world? Its not so hard as you may imagine; just a little practical application of the virtue of thrift, a cutting out of your unnec essary expenses, the saving of your expenses, the saving of your money and the starting of an account with The Bank of Rocky mount. Dr. J. M. Baker operated upon a five months old colored child at the Pittman hospital Tuesday for hydrocephalus. The case is peculiar in that the child's head was thrice its normal size and since the operation, the bones of the skull have shrunk to such an axtent that the child is not-expected to Kve. A Newspaper For The Home. Published Every Thursday Morning. A Peculiar Case. (Tarboro Southerner.) ROCKY MOUNT, M«C., IHUBS'DAY, MARCH-26, 1908. • : X MURDERER CAPTURED DY POLICE. William Alford, Desperate Segro Wanted for Killing an Officer at Dillon, S. C., Taken by Police lere. Chief Davis and other membeife of the Rocky Mount police force made an important capture Sunday night in a negro house on Washington street, they arrested William Alford, a colored man of about 22 years of age, wno is wanted for killing an officer who .wts trying to arrest him near Dillon, S\ C , some four or five weeks ago. Chief Davis and Officer A. L. Dickens went into the room where AlforcH and three others were sitting and pointed out Alford to Mr. Dicktoii, recognizing him from a description he had received, Alford attempted to shod Officer Dickens but found himself .fac ing the muzzle of the chief's pistol, arl surrendered. After being locked »in t cell Alford confessed to the killing an! talked freely to The Record man whet seen later. Alford's story is to the effect that hi went from his home at Rowland, N,'C to Dillon, S. C., on a visit to his brothe. and when he had left Dillon on his wa, back home he was overtaken by men in a buggy and one, an ordered him to throw up his hands This, he said, he did, and asked th officer what he wanted to arrest hin for. About this time Alford's nui'i started off and the officer began to btv, ■ Alford over the head with a pistol whti the latter shot him, according to tb ( prisoner's story. The officer's conip&v j ion picked him up and put him in (la buggy and went back to Dillon, A! for and the girl with him in the j driving to his home, where he stayed that night and then come to Roc*;. Mount. Since he has been here he has been at work at Mr. Groom,s mill, and the police have been quietly working en tile case, with the result recorded. Alford is Jield pending the arrival officers from Dillon. He is k!1 up over his' plignt and moans incessantly, facing certain death for his crime, as he does. There are several tales of what he was wanted for by the Dillon officer, and upon this subject Alford throws no light, professing ig norance. The Weather is "Versatile." "Bo yOu know, I think this is the finest climate in the world," said a friend to The Record Friday. It was snowing to beat the band. "Thursday night when I went to bed I raised the window, lay down on the top of the cover and began to woo the god Mor-j pheus as lam wont to do in the 'good old summer time,' and lo! before day I was glad to get my discarded cover and lower the window. Today it snowed. There's the beauty of the climate; nc monotony, but some kind of weather tc suit everybody, and I always did ad mire versatility in anybody or any thing.'' The gentleman spoke but a truth, The weather is indeed "versatile." Oi Thursday one said "winter is gonej spring has come," when on Friday w« had about the heaviest snow of th; season. A Chained Potato. The Record received this week f:on Mr. J. M. Cutchin, of Whitakers, i curiosity in the shape of a potato grown by Noah Pridgeon. The potitq, which is well matured, is chained, lav ing three links of a plow trace attached to it. When the root was small it evi dently pushed its way through a link; of the chain and as it grew the potatc di vided itself on either side of the link and continued growing until two well formed potatoes are there, connected like Siamese twins by a stem vhich passes through the link. Mrs. James Wiggins Dead. Mrs. James Wiggins died a { her home on Franklin street, this city Sun day morning, after an illness of some time. The funeral was preach»d at the home Monday morning by Ref. D. H. Tuttle, and the remains were taken to Wilson for interment in Mapbwood cemetery. Mrs. Wiggins is survived by her husband and two children, i Tbe Personal Interest you take in building up and t&ring for it will have much to do with your individual success and success oi any enterprise with which you idaitify yourself. It is all under your owr con trol —come in and let us tell you how easy it is to start an account wit) The Bank of Rocky Mount. 7 _ HON. W. W. KITCHIN SPEAKS. Candidate for Governor Greeted by Large and Enthusiastic Audience in the Opera House Tuesday Night. Hon. W. W. Kitchin, prominent can didate for governor of North Carolina, spoke in the Masonic Opera House Tuesday night to a large and enthusias tic audience, composed of both ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Kitchin came in |on the evening txain from Nashville, I where he spoke to a large crowd in the j court house at noon, and though only short notice was given of his speaking in Rocky Mount at night the crowd to greet him was flatteringly large. He was introduced by Mr. J. B. Ramsey, who paid the distinguished congressman from the fifth district a high tribute in an eloquent short speech. Though somewhat fatigued from the strain of a strenuous campaign Mr. Kitchin was in good form and presented his side of the case in a forceful, plain way that appealed to his audience. He devoted a portion of his speech, at the beginning, to a discussion of the issues and declaring his position on them, and then paid h ; s respects to the criti- j cisms and cnarges made against him by 1 those opposing his candidacy. In dis cussing rate legislation and the panic Mr. Kitchin made mince meat of the argument that the latter was due to the former. The prohibition question, he declared, was not a political one, but moral, and said that he claimed no credit for having always been for pro hibition and would vote for it on May jp6ih. ; He discussed monopolies, natural and unnatural, and explained why natura jnonopolies, such as railroads, toll mills, treet car lines etc, could and should be egulated, while unnatural monopolies, uch as the American Tobacco Company ' nd other trusts could not be regulattd Ind should be dissolved. No question raised, said the speaker, when the -jy o. i/T? e.g-*. / |K» jjortorc.^ but when the rich and •ailroads came in for their Share of angulation some people wdufcjlftirow up tseir hands in holy horror and say, you a*e against property. No one, said Mr. titchin, was against railroads and ai.er corporations n the honest con dict of their business, but when they ppressed the people it was the duty of hose in au f h r >rity t9 fearlessly safe guard the rights of the people. The greater part of Mr. Kitchin's speech was devoted to answering per sonal attacks on him by those opposing his candidacy, and, while dispassionate, this part of the speech was delivered with all the force of which he is capa ble. He said the American Tobaco Company, the Southern Railway and their allied interests and powerful newspapers in sympathy with them were opposing his candidacy, because, said the speaker, they know from his record that that he cannot be controller 1 . He appealed to his friends to be ready at all times to answer un just and unfair charges brought against him by his enemies, and to point to his record an all public questions during his twelve years in congress as a re futation of the charge that he is a dan gerous man. Mr. Kitchin's speech was warmly received and frequently punctuated by applause. He has many strong sup porters in this section and they were glad of the opportunity to hear him Tuesday night. Novel Grounds Eor Divorce. Asheville, N. C., March 20.—Novel grounds for the annullment of marriage vows are advanced by James W. Brook shire, in a suit for divorce against his wife, Ellen Brookshire, instituted here. The plaintiff alleges that in January, 1903, he, the defendant, and others were a£ a dance and frolic; that he got drunk; that it was proposed as a joke to draw lots as to who should marry and that the lots fell to him and the defendant, that a marriage license was secured and the eeremony performed. He alleges that when he sobered and learned what had happened he immedi ately repudiated the marriage and that he and his "bride" never lived together. Tbe Bank of Rocky Mount is incorporated under the North Carolina banking laws, and is regularly examined by The State Bank Examiner. It confines itself to a straight, legiti mate and conservative banking busi ness, no speculation, no "high-finance" It respectfully solicits the account of the people of this community who ap preciate safety for their money and as liberal treatment as is consistent with absolute safety. -&£t For Municipal Election. The annual municipal election is coming on apace, but as yet there has been little talk about it on the streets. Six members of the board of aldermen are to be elected, one from each ward, to succeed the following members whose terms expire this year: Mr. Thomas. H. Battle. Ist ward; Mr. Geo. L. Edwards, 2nd ward; Mr. J. E. Hum phries, 3rd ward; Mr. H. E. Brewer, 4th ward; Mr. R. R. Gay, sth ward; Mr. T. C. Gorham, 6th ward. So far as known now all of the the present mem bers will stand for reelection. At a meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen held in the Mayor's office on March 19, 1908, the following regis trars and poll-holders were appointed to hold the city election on the first Mon day in May, 1908: First Ward. A. W. Arrington, regis trar. J. P. Daughtry, R. C. Burton, poll-holders. Second Ward. George Thomas, reg istrar. E. J. Bennett, J. H. Thorp, poll-holders. Third Ward. R. W. Rawls, regis trar. J. Q. Robinson, Luther D. Daughtridge, poll-holders^ Fourth Ward. O. R. Sadler, regis trar. C. W. Smithson, John Winters, poll-holders. Fifth Ward. J. P. Bulluck, regis trar. John T. Richardson, R. D. Tre vathau, poll-holders. Sixth Ward. C. A. CamD, registrar. W. D. Rice, J. C. Stewart, poll-holders. Secures Verdict for $6,000. At Nash superior court in the case of Mrs. Charity Strickland vs the A. C. L. railroad the jury awardad a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $6,000, from which the company's counsel appealed. The suit was brought against the rail road for $25,000 damages for the killing about 18 months ago of Mr. Geo. W. Strickland at the Tar River bridge, near Rocky Mount. Mr. Strickland had tfiu day of election, and started to .cross the bridge at night when a train knocked him in the river, where his dead body was found the next morning. The case was ably contested by At torneys Austin & Grantham and Battle & Cooley, representing the plaintiff, ■ and Spruill & Bunn, representing the company. Caught Aged Distiller. N. C., March 19.—For three years revenue officers have been on the lookout for Gideon B. Vick, an aged white man, wanted for illicit distilling near Mount Pleasant in Nash county. By some means or other he always caught on to the fact when the officers were in his neighborhood, and for three years he has succeeded in keeping out of their way. Yesterday, however, U. S. Deputy Marshal John D. Meares went on a "still hunt" and before the aged moonshiner knew it Mr. Meares tapped him on the shoulder —in the of fice of the clerk of the court of Nash county—and said "I want you." The old man saw that the jig was up and quietly submitted to arrest. He was brought to Wilson last night, and in default of a heavy bond he wa lodged in jail. His case will be heard before Commissioner A. B. Boykin to morrow. The Man Who Succeeds in getting things to come his way generally, makes sure by going out to meet and invite them in. He has a checking account at the bank because of its real value in limiting wasteful expenses, its conveniences, its safety and he knows it is an invita tion to success to meet him half way, an invitation she is in of accept ing. Why don't you have a bank ac count? A Flay By Home Talent. Plans are being perfected for an ama teur performance "Fad and Fancies," to be given by the young ladies and young men of Rocky Mount for the benefit of the Masonic Temple. "Fad and Fancies" will be the chief social event of the Easter season. The names of the participants will be published later. George Stewart Coming. Rev. Geo. Stewart, the great gospel evangelist and temperance orator, will speak in the Opera House on next Fri day evening March 27th, at 8 o'clock. His equal has never spoken in Rocky Mount. He makes only two speeches in the State, Durham and Rocky Mount. Everybody come. free. PRICE 5 CENTS HAPPENINGS IN POLICE COURT. Comedy and Tragedy of a Week as Enacted In Calamity Hall Before Mayor Thorp. Pleasant Hill, colored, accomplished the feat of stealing and carrying away a 200-lb sack of guano, according to strong evidence against him in the re corder's court Thursday morning, and he was sent up to superior court under SIOO bond. Robert Jennings paid $5 for shooting a pistol in the city, and a young white fellow from New Jersey, who was stranded here, was discharged on a charge of vagrancy. It was when Alice Faison was tried on a charge of disorderly, in smashing a chicken coop belonging to a neighbor, that the hangers on at the session got a run for their money. By one of those peculiar circumstances of fate Alice's brother, rheumatic cripple, was the most damag ing witness against her, and this loosed the phials of Alice's wrath and she said some tnings, which in effect was that the aforesaid brother, Archie Dekayser, is now, was and has been for a long* time conducting a blind tiger at his home. Forthwith Arcnie's transgress ing self was enmeshed in the toils of the law, a warrant being issued against him for selling liquor without license, and the case continued to get other witnesses. Friday morninor Thomas Reed, a colored vagrant, was given 30 days, and a sanitary law offender was fined $2. Saturday morning Mamie Johnson was given 30 days on the roads and John Battle was fined $7.50 for indulg ing in disorderly conduct in Soden Bot tom Friday night. Efird Barnes, a colored vagrant was given 30 days on the roads to acquaint him with good honest labor. The improvement in the financial con ditions exerted its influence-on the eul lud sports and many-of tbf to wJras, where crap snooting and -he game of "skin" was tne main bill of fare, with harbecUe on the side. Things went smoothly until the afternoon when the police got wind of it, and, it being in their jurisdiction, began to in vestigate. There were about 40 of the sports assembled near the rock quarry and when the police put in their appear ance a third of them heard the "call of the wild" and with almost indecent haste began to take their departure. Eye witnesses testify to the fact that they were running some, in fact, one bunch outran a dog that had been un wisely keeping company with them; but 11 were rounded up and landed in the lockup until Monday morning when they told, or at least didn't tell, Re corder Thorp all about it. Among the number were Walter Bizzell, Henry Battle, Marion Battle, George Mayo, Curtis Bunn, Ben Ricks, Jim- Mallory and Dave Jones. Nary a crap did any of 'em shoot, said they, but jess simply 'joying the fresh air and a little barbecue, until it comes Dave Jones'' time to talk. Dave intimated that he had given the matter due and careful thought, and inasmuch as he had con- cluded that they couldn't hang him fer it, he would not black his family scutch" eon nor dishonor his name by telling a lie, but would the tale unfold as it really was, so help him. His story was interesting and elicited the applause rt deserved from the spectators, which, however, was suppressed by the, court. To give Dave's version in his own words were impossible, but in substance he said, after he had carefully donned his best hand-me-downs Sunday after noon he sauntered forth for a stroll and as luck would have it struck this bunch of sports celebrating. Not having any conscientious scuples against it he de cided to "investicate" the proverbial 30 cents he had "with him" in the game—and lost. Dave was advised by the court that thiS'Was not unusual in games of chance, in which he equiesced and added that lie had had such experi ence before. Dave then threw further light on the matter by naming some others who played. Henry Battle, George Mayo, Curtis Bunn and Ben Ricks were convicted and fined sls each, while Dave's candor got him off with ass fine. A raid on Dora Winters' house, Saturday night, where gambling was going or, resulted Monday morning in the discharge of the two men,, captured, for lack of evidence. Other cases disposed of were Caleb Battle, disorderly, $7.50; Matthew Davis, drunk and disorderly, -$7.50; Charley Freeman, committing a nuisance, $7.50. For good board and comfortable rooms aply to Mrs. L. F. Wright half block from depot former residence of Mr. Bob Arrington 415 Church St.— Mar. 26.
The Rocky Mount Record (Rocky Mount, N.C.)
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March 26, 1908, edition 1
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