VOLUME 4, NO. 44
BLAME ELIXIR
FOR DEATH OF
LOCAL MAN
J. T. Tanner Succumbs In L*cal
■Y Hospital After Illness Of Week
James Thomas Tanner, 6t)-year-old
local resident, died in a local hos
pital after receiving treatment for
elixir of sulfanilamide poisoning for
the past week.
Funeral services were conducted
from the home at 514 Beal street,
and interment at Battleboro follow-
His death, was the first in North
Carolina attributed to the new elixir,
which has been blamed for about 60
deaths throughout the nation since
its recent appearance on the market.
All the drug has been recovered
in Rocky Mount, which happened to
be the center of the area of earliest
and most concentrated distribution
of the elixir in North Carolina, Pure
Food and Drug Administration inves
tigators reported.
Tanner's death followed a sharp re
lapse at the end of the week, phy
sicians said. Admitted to the hospi
tal Monday, he was believed by phy
sicians to bo in a critical condition
but indications of improvement gave
rise to hope later in the week that
he might recover.
Tanner had told physicians ho
had taken doses of tho elixir over a
period of 10 days from a four-ounce
bottlo given him by a rural physician
in rural Nash county.
Though physicians believed Tan
ners' death was caused by the elixir,
they awaited verification from tests
nnd comparisons made by physicians
in other parts of the nation where
the elixir is credited with fatalities.
Services Held
For E. L. Griffin
Well Known Resident Of City Is
Buried Sunday; Rites From Bap
tist Church
Funeral services for Ernest Lin
wood Griffin, who died here Saturday
after an illness of about a year, were
conducted Sunday from the First
Baptist church, of which he was a
member, with Dr. J. W. Kincbeloe of
ficiating. I
Mr. Griffin, who was 34, had been
suffering from a brain tumor since
September of last year. He died ear
ly Saturday morning at the homo
of Mrs. Fannie C. Davis, his wife's
mother.
He is survived by his wife, who
was Miss Mabel Blackwell; a daugh
ter, Ann, 7, who is in school at
Pineland; and his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. A. T. Griffin of this city.
Mr. Griffin, known to a large num
ber of friends here as "Sleepy"
Griffin, was born in Rocky Mount
in 1903 and had lived here all his
life.
He was employed by the First Na
tional Bank, which later became the
North Carolina. Bank and Trust
Company, now defunct. He was later
in the real estate business.
Elder A. B. Denson, pastor of the
parents of Mr. Griffin, ended the fu
neral services at Pineview cemetery
here.
Pallbearers were T, A. Avera, M.
R. Robbins, Chester Spears, Ben Jen
kins, L. Turner Lesson and J. F.
Childers.
A large number of friends and
relatives, many of them from out
of town, attended the funeral.
Trio Convicted In
Enfield Case
Filling Station Bandltß Get Long
Terms; Fourth Held In Wilson
Wilson, Oct. 28.—Sheriff J. C. Ful
ghum announced here today that he
was holding Frank Faulk, Rocky
Mount man, under SSOO bond on the
charge of holding up Pinkie's serv
ice station on the Wilson-Rocky
Mount highway several months ago.
Th 0 Rocky Mount man was acquit
ted yesterday in Halifax Superior
Court of the charge of holding up
an Enfield service station at about
the same time.
Three others alleged to have been
with Faulk at the time of the rob
bery here were convicted of the
Enfield robbery and sentenced to
long prison terms by Judge W. H.
S. Burgwyn in Halifax.
Of the three, all of whom were
from Rocky Mount, Fritz Brinkley
and Anton Proctor were given be
tween 17 and 23 years in State Pris
on and Walter Wells was sentenced
to serve between 20 and 23 years in
prison.
All three men are also charged
with the robbery of the filling sta
tion here and are Baid to have ad
mitted the robbery to officers.
Deputy Sheriff Frank Carter and
Shoriff Fulghum said here that al
though the three convicted men had
said that Faulk was not with them
in the robbery of Pinkie's place,
they were holding them in Rocky
Mount pending a hearing.
B. G. Crumpton of Person County
baled 200 bales of lespedeza, red
clover and oat hay from 12 acres
of land. Two other tons of loose
hay from this same area hag given
him a total yield of approximately
a ton to the acre this year.
ft
The Rocky mount Herald
IN WASHINGTON
UNITED STATES
Editor's note—Senator Reynold's
column for this week, is written ad
he is en route to Washington from
a visit to Western states, and deals
with some of the impressions he has
gained.
Any swing through the country
will quickly convince an individ
ual that North Carolina selected the
phychological time to spread its pro
gram for recreational development
and attracting new industries. Tho
state is much in the eyes of peo
ple throughout the country. The
progressive way in which it came
through the depression has attracted
national attention. It explains why
tho state is already reaping benefits
from its new development program.
Perhaps the thing that impressed
me most, when numerous invita
tions were pressed upon mo to make
addresses, was that those interested
wanted to hear about North Caroli
na. What are labor conditions f How
are the roadsf Do the Great Smokies
compare with the Western National
Parks! Those and many other ques
tions were asked oh every hand.
There are, of course, many rea
sons for this interest. Great num
bers of Tar Heels have migrated
westward over a long period of years
and retain an interest in their home
state and tell others about it. Equ
ally as important, as one of the
first states to adequately develop a
highway system, North Carolina
won attention that has not been
overlooked with the passing years.
Moreover, the word has spread
that through diversified agriculture,
commerce and industry, North Caro
lina has not felt the effects of the
depression as keenly as some other
states. This view has been enhanc
ed by the fact that Tar Heels, as
a rule, spread confidence wherever
they go and implant a desire on
the part of others to see the state.
The result will be that the pro
gram to attract visitors and new
residents to the state is destined to
prove the greatest step forward
North Carolina has taken in recent
years. I believed this when I left
Washington for a survey of condi
tions and a combined vacation. I
am -more than ever convinced of
it as I head toward Washington for
the special session of Congress.
There is no doubt that people
generally realize that important na
tional adjustments in the economic
field must continue. However, they
want the confidence of business to
'be kept up through assurances to
the business man as to what he may
expect in the way of regulation and
taxes. To delay this assurance will
undoubtedly be more harmful than
to give it as quickly as possible.
Farmers are conscious that surpluses
are controlled by weather as much
as by what the farmer does, and
only want reasonable help from their
Government. But like the husiness
man, that want to know what is
going to be done. Again early ac
tion will be more helpful than de
layed action.
As a result of such thoughts re
flected by hundreds in conversations,
and in the faces of thousands in
"public forums" on important ques
tions, the legislators who have at
tempted to reach the people and ob
tain their views during the time
since adjournment of Congress, are
best prepared to meet the demands
of the day.
New confidence in all that we are
doing i s found everywhere.
Prison Population
Is On Increase
North Carolina's prison population
increased 286 during September to
a total of 9,338 on October 1.
Oscar Pitts, superintendent of pri
sons, released figures Thursday
showing the average daily population
last month was 8,977 and that 10,-
943 prisoners were handled.
Courts sent 1,822 prisoners to the
penal division during September, the
report said, including 067 sentenced
to 30-day terms. There were 1,483
releases of prisoners upon expiration
of sentences.
There were 33 escapes and 43 pris
oners wer e retaken. Bill Payne, the
most notorious prisoner in the lot
to escape, at last accounts was still
at large, although according to re
ports, he was seen in at least a
dozen different places in the state
within the month and been Bur
rounded dozens of times but always
workg hig "lucky charm" on the of
ficers and makes a getaway.
Three Surry County farmers have
purchased 24 head of Hereford calv
es this fall as foundation stock for
beef herds.
Three fine mules died of lockjaw
in Pamlico County in recent months,
reports County Agent A. T. Jackson.
R.C. BRAKE, JR.
KILLED WED. IN
MOTOR CRASH
WHAT
IS
TAKING
PLACE
BY
R. C Brake, Jr., Henderson Busi
ness Man, Dies As Car Over
turns
R.. C.. Brake, Jr., 35, son of Alder
man It. C. Brake of this city and
manager of the Southern Ice Cream
Company of Henderson, was killed
instantly in an automobile accident
near Henderson.
SENATOR
Mr. Brake's car overturned about
four miles west of Henderson on
the Oxford highway, apparently be
cause of a tire blow-out, according
to an Associated Press dispatch re
ceived here..
Officers reported Mr. Brake was
Thrown clear of the car but was
crushed about the chest.
He is survived by his widow, 'he
former Miss Kate Preddy of here,
a week-old sou and a 10-year-old
daughter, Barbara.
Other relatives are his father who
lives here; three brothers, Douglas
and Clyde Brake of Rocky Mount
and Jesse Brake of Port Bragg; and
two sisters, Mrs. Ruark Anderson
and Mrs. Don Roney of here.
Mr. Brake had lived in Hender
son two years He was vice-presi
det of the Henderson Lions club and
wag a member of the Presbyterian
church.
When the accident occurred he was
returning to Henderson from Dur
ham, whore he had taken hig wife's
mother who had. been visiting them
in Henderson, it was reported here.
Mrs. C. R. Preddy, Mrs. Brake's
mother, lives in Durham but former
ly lived in Rocky Mount.
Funeral services for Mr. Brako
were conducted at 3 o'clock Thurs
day afternoon from the First Pres
byterian church of Henderson, of
which he was a member.
Rev. James A. Jones, pastor of the
church officiated. Interment follow
ed in the Elmwood cemetery in
Henderson.
Mr. Brake's son, R. C. Brake 111,
was born last Sunday.
FIRST TERM
COURT IN
NEW HOME
Early Residents Of City Reminisce
As Mayor Robinson Hails New-
Building
Entirely incidental was the docket
in the new courtroom of the Rocky-
Mount recorder's court Wednesday.
No sooner had Judge Ben H. Thom
as convened court than former Ldeu
tenant-Gov. R. T. Fountain precip
itated a round of speeches, paying
tribute to the new courtroom and
city hall and recalling old days in
Rocky Mount.
Mr. Fountain, who became Rocky
Mount's first recorder about 1910,
traced the history of the old Opera
House which was rebuilt as the new
municipal hall, jesting with Judge
Thomas, "With the exception of
yourtself, I was the most distin
guished jurist that has presided in
this court."
Mayor J. Q. Robinson also review
ed the history of th 6 building, re
calling that before renovation it
boro the date of 1904, when it was
rebuilt after being destroyed by fire.
Expressing pride at being the firsi
mayor to officiate in the new build
ing, he visualized its usefulness for
coming generations and called it 3
dedication a historic event in Rocky
Mount.
Prominent among the speakers
was "Senator" T. T. Thorne, Rocky
Mount's only mayor of two com
munities (mayor of Battleboro and
later mayor four times of Rocky
Mount.)
"Senator" Thomas recalled the
days when C. H. "Uncle Bud" Harris
venerable recorder's court clerk, was
editor of a newspaper ("The Weekly
Reporter," in the early 1880'S),
which the "Senator" described as
"bright, sparkling and informative."
He recalled also when Rocky
Mount had a population of 834 and
the board of aldermen used to meet
in Dr. Thorpe's drug store.
Alderman J. R. Bobbitt and a num
ber of Rocky Mount's prominent at
torneys were present for the first
session in the new courtroom.
State Revenues
Are Increasing
The State Revenue Department col
lected 26,06 more taxes for the gen
eral fund this month than a year
ago, Revenue Commissioner A. J.
Maxwell reported yesterday. October
collections were $2,903,443.69, com
pared with $2,303,264.36 a year ago.
Receipts for the fiscal year reach
ed $12,240,094.53, less than the $14,-
691,722.46 collected during the same
period last year when non-recurring
inheritance, payments boosted col
lections. Franchise collections rose
from $926,479.72 last year to $1,450,-
543.04 this month; sales tax rose
from $922,694.27 to $922,345.28; bev
erage lax went up from $93,280.01 to
$144,506.09.
October collections in the motor ve
hicle division for October were $2,-
254,707.14, bring the fiscal year col
lections to $0,088,502.67. '
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1937
w gSaftSi mi WWmmffiSßEigir~AtoWsm~~P' .*~ '., . —; &£j|
Toy guns, used in a stage revue in Osaka, are held by these chorines
on the roof of the theater as they get instruction from a Japanese officec.
Press agent stunt? Perhaps, but it indicates to what extent the war
fever has permeated every avenue of Japanese life. Other women aux
iliaries, with real guns, have their instructions on what to do, should
enemy planes fly over the highly centralized industrial city.
w
Result of Japanese Savagery
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H^wPv!j|^^^^B|Hj^^^B^K3BpPs&iy... $ v^jPMH^ESplE^^
Shanghai's museum, located in the shell-shattered civic center, con
tains many art treasures dating back to the Ming dynasty, preserves
costumes and customs of an age-old civilization, houses statues of Idols,
strange gods, warrior heroes. Here the figure of Kwan Yin is humbled
in the dust by an airplane bomb.
If the lawyers wish to retain their influence with the
people they must be consistent.
During the last legislature there was introduced a bill
to take away from the people the right to nominate
judges. The contention of the lawyers was that a judge
ought not to have to drag his dignified office before the
people in order to become a judge but the legislature became
afraid of the people and turned this bill down.
Now the president of the bar association comes forward
with a proposition that Justices of Peace should not be ap
pointed by the governor but does not say how they should
be elected.
We have always believed that all responsible offices
should be filled by the people rather than by appointment.
Judge Clark. the late Chief Justice, contended that
judges should all be elected and none appointed for life.
What is sauce for the gander ought to be sauce for the
goose.
There is only one member of the Supreme Court in N.
C. that was elected by the people when first placed on the
Supreme Court. All the Superior Court Justices counting
special judges, 24 in number all receive their first work 011
the bench by appointment except 5.
There are 3in the east that have been elected—Judge
Frizzell, Judge Grady, and Judge Harris—and the same
thing exists in the west.
Why not let the people elect all Judicial Officers from high
to low. Be consistent.
In the passing of Captain J. D. Melton, Rocky Mount
lost probably its oldest white citizen, his death having
occured on his 93rd birthday. He was born in 1844, in
Nash County, at Castalia, and in accordance with his de
sire, his body was taken back to this Castalia commun
ity, so much belove dby him. A great part of his life was
spent in the Dortches section where he was an active far
mer until, in the language of the great Justice Holmes of
Supreme Court of United States, he was compelled to bow
to the inevitable, by reason of his advanced years, he gave
up active life on the farm and for the past several years
had been a resident of Rocky Mount in the home of his
son D. Melton, near the famous Meltons Springs, owned
and operated by another son Captain Bob Melton.
During the war between the states, when Rocky Mount
was nothing more or less than a railroad crossing and a
stage coach stop, Mr. Melton carried the mail regularly
between Rocky Mount and Castalia. When the war broke
out he was too young to enlist in the army so he began car
rying the mail and did this all through the war. While
removed from active participation in the social lne of the
community by reason of his advanced years yet he main
tained keen interest in what was going on part cu r yup
to the very last. At the funeral services there wa argc
gathering of friends and neighbors practically hole
community from Dortches, O'd neighbors and ir ere
present, giving evidence of their admiration, 1(
fection.
As War Fever Rises in Japan
"Sauce for the Gander—"
CAPTAIN J. D. MELTON PASSES
A life full of years and field of good works
PULP PLANT OPERATION
IS STARTED THIS WEEK.
NASH COUNTY
MAN KILLED
IN ACCIDENT
Odie Joyner Of Rocky Mount Route
One Is Killed In Nash Accident
A roadster overturned on a Nash
dirt road late Monday night and
fatally injured Odie Joyner, about
21, whose death was Nash county's
eighth highway fatality in the past
six weeks.
Roger William Batts, 21, who was
reported driving, was suffering from
shock at a local hospital but was
not believed seriouslv injured, said
physicians, who were continuing
their examination today.
Joyner was thrown through tho
top of the roadster as the car turn
ed over apparently Ave times after
striking a soft spot in the road.
Highway Patrolman T. R. Burdette
stated.
His neck broken, Joyner was dead
when brought to a hospital here by
a Coopers township man near whose
homo the accident occurred, it was
reported at the hospital.
The young men were going toward
the Wilson-Nashvillo highway on a
dirt road in Coopers township about
eight miles from here, the patrol
man reported.
Patrolman Burdette said the acci
dent apparently resulted from the
driver'# losing control when the ear,
traveling fast, hit a soft spot in the
road.
Batts admitted to the patrolman
that ho had drunk a bottle of beer
The address of both youths was
given as Rocky Mount, route one.
Funeral services for the 21 year
old youth, William Odio Joyner, son
of Mr. and Mrs. K. W. Joyner of
Nash county were conducted by Rev.
J. A. Satterfield, Presbyterian minis
ter, at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday after
noon from the home.
Burial followed in the family
cemetery.
Joyner is survived by two brothers,
Otha and Floyd Joyner, and four sis
-ters,' Bertha and Corinnne Joyner,
and Mrs. Geneva Joyner and Mrs.
Ethel Vick, all of Nash County.
Veterans Are Paid
Huge Sum In Year
Former service men and their de
pendents cost the government
$566,843,868 for the fiscal year which
onded June 30, according to report
issued the past week at Washington.
About 380,000 world war veter
ans accounted for more than one
fourth the total disbursement, re
ceiving $183,315,298 for service or
non-service connected disability
and retirement pay. Their depend
ents. received $36,158,508.
Two dependents of war of 1812
veterans still were drawing pensions
on June 30. Mrs. Carolina King,
of Creektowaga, N. Y., drew S6OO
during the year, and Mrs. Esther
Morgan, of Independence, Ore., re
ceived $240.
Spanish-American war veterans
ranked second to those of the world
war when 175,361 veterans drew
$96,618,4655. Dependents' pension to
taled $18,305,669.
Only 7,031 union veterans of the
War Between the States were draw
ing pensions in June, but families
of their 76,131 dead comrades re
ceived $37,628,439.
Other disbursements during the
year were:
Mexican war dependents $132,776;
Indiinwars, 3,119 living veterans sl,-
811,537, dependents $1,681,906; veter
ans of peace-time service $8,947,027,
dependents $2,467,077; Insurance pol
icy payments $88,051,778; adjusted
service and dependent pay, $1,546,-
168; maintenance of offices and hos
pitals, $84,741,197; construction costs,
$8,963,725.
Disbursements by states, for 1930
and 1937 fiscal years respectively in
cluded:
Alabama $9,217,921, and $8,985,-
743; Arkansas $9,309,633 and $9j571,-
493; Delaware $759,266 and $699,477;
Florida $8,682,890 and $8,946,568;
Georgia $10,955,173 and $10,343,789;
Kentucky $14,207,377 aud $13,594,131;
Louisiana $7,739,575, and $7,473,276;
Maryland $8,441,020 and $8,278,717;
Mississippi $8,156,559 and $8,523,065;
North Carolina $9,837,519 and $9,268,-
252; South Carolina $5,872,383 and
$5,832,600; Tennessee $13,611,672 and
$12,875,839; Virginia $10,470,720 and
$10444,982; West Virginia $6,103,-
676 and $5,468,836.
NOTICE
Those desiring to subscribe to The Rocky Mount
Herald may do so by sending SI.OO with DIM AND
address to The Rocky Mount Herald, Rocky Mouvt,
N. C.
Name
Town - State Route No
SI.OO PER YEA*
Initial Shipments Of I'ulp Will Start
Moving Next Week. Will Turn. Out
About 250 Tons Of I'ulp A Day
At Full Time Operation
Plymouth, Nov. 4. The now
pulp plant of the North Carolina
■ Pulp Co., in the lower part of this
county began operating Wednesday
night, following nearly two weeks
of tuning up and adjustment. The
first cars loaded with pulp are ex
pected to start on their way north
to the Kieckhefer's finishing plant
at Belair, N. J., early next week.
Some pulp was produced last Mon
day and Tuesday, but much of it
was torn and mangled as it came
off the rollers of the machine sup
posed to strain out the water and
form it into sheets.
Most of this was turned back in
to the vats to be softened and rolled
out again after the machinery had
been adjusted as required. Some,
however, was salvaged and this wa»
enough to mako about half a box
car full.
When tho mill is operating at full
capacity it will turn out about £SO
ton 8 of pulp a day, according to la.
J. Meunir, vice president of th«
company. He figures on 40 tons of
pulp to each box car, so it is es
timated that about six cars a day
will bo loaded at the mill as soon, as
everything is operating smoothly.
Company officials expect that it
will tako a while to train the neces
sary crews of from 250 to 300
workers in the operation of the com
plicated machinery of the mill.
The crew of experienced men who
have come from other mills to form
a nucleus for the new organization
has been working almost day and
night for weeks in getting things
started. And Vice President Meu
nir as tho man who designed the
mill and is responsible for its sue
ccssful operation, has hardly left
tho plant for more than a few
minutes at a time during the tun
ing-up process.
Because of the nature of the chem
! ical process involved, once the wood
chips are started through tho long
sories of tanks, ovens and digesters,
they must be kept going. For this
reason tho mill will operate on a 24-
hour a day schedule, and for the
same reason, once the tuning-up pro
cess began, it had to b e completed
as rapidly as possible to prevent loss
of pulp.
The last machines used in the pro
cess are the ones which convert the
liquid pulp into half-finished paper,
and it is these that hav e been caus
ing trouble. They were imported
from Norway, and for a time it was
thought that the company might
have to get someone from Norway
to come here and run them. How
ever, Vice President Meunir declar
ed this was unnecessary, and after
some adjustments eliminated the
trouble.
PWA Money Due
North Carolina
More than $5,000,000 in public
works administration commitments
for North Carolina projects remain
ed undisbursed as of September 30.
This was disclosed in an exhibit
made public in connection with the
annual budget estimate.
The largest North Carolina PWA
commitment so far undisbursed is
the $2,595,000 for a proposed muni- * ■
cipal power plant at High Point.
Further activity on PWA power /]
projects is awaiting Supreme court CI
action on a number of power eases
brought before the tribunal.
Some of the undisbursed money
represents surpluses left after proj- Jj
ects in process of building and some "
to projects on which work has not
been started.
A recent White House statement
said commitments which the PWA
is not called upon to meet must be
written off the books. The money,
under this ruling, could not bo di
verted to other projects.
Elimination Of
County Homes
Is Considered
Raleigh, Nov 3.—The State De
partment of Public Welfare consid
ered today the ultimate elimination
of country homes by the substitution
of social security benefits and dis
trict institutional care.
Mrs. W. T. Bost, commissioner,
said, ''there will be no spectacular
sweeping out of country homes but
wo hopo* through old age assißt&nce
and consolidation into district homeß
to reduce the number of county
homes in the state and possibly to
eliminate them."