North Carolina Newspapers

THE JOHNSTONIAN AND JOHNSTON COUNTY SUN CONSOLIDATED VOLUME 15. SELMA, N. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1932. NUMBER 33 Four Men On Trial For Their Lives In Johnston County Superior Court Proceedings of County Recorder’s Court H:n. Heiiuy A. Grady Judge Presid ing, Delivers Able Charge To the Grand Jury—Walters Case Brings Special Venire of 50 Men—Other Cases Disposed of. The August term of Johnston County Criminal Court convened in Smithfield Monday, with ' Hon. Hen ry A. Grade judge presiding. The judge’s charge to the grand jury was an able deliverance. 0. A. Bar bour, of Benson, was made fore man of the grand jury, consisting of the 18 men who will remain in offiee for the ensuing six months. The court then went into action and the following cases have been tried: State vs. John Pilkington, for as sault on Henry Futch with deadly vreapo'n, and violation of the prohi bition law, July 21, 1932. Prayer for judgment continued from term to term until August term, 1938, up on payment of cost and on condi tion that defendant remains a law- abiding and good citizen. Upon his failure to show that he has kept ter.ms of this judgment, he may be committed to work on roads. State vs. E. L. Summerlin, alias, Julian Summerlin, for rape Grand jury returned a bill of indictment stating that on the 1st of July, 1931, Summerlin ravished, abused, and raped Bethel I.angston, a fe male under twelve years of age at that time: that he did by force and violence and against the will of Bethel Langston. State vs. Oscar Hicks. It appear- i’^g to the court that the defend ant has been under suspended sen tence of 18 months on roads by trial in April, 1931 term, and that he has failed to comply with con ditions of the suspended sentence, it is ordered that defendant give ■bond of $250.00 on condition that he pays into court by the Decem ber term, a sum equivalent to $25 per month from January 10, 1932 up to said term of court and that he does not depart same without leave. If he fails to place bond dur ing this term of court he will be committed under judgment of April term, 1931. State vs. Robert Marlow, ■white mill operator, aged 31, for abandon ment. Plea of g'uilty, and prayer for judgment continued until De cember term, 1932 and by agree- ine'nt with the Selma Cotton Mills, with whom defendant works, will pay half of his wages to his wife for her use and the use of her children. State vs. Norman Eatman, assault with deadly weapon. Called and failed. Capias and continued. State vs. W. A. Simpkins and T T. Bennett. False pretense. State- takes nol pros as to T. T. Bennett. Continued as to W. A. Simpkins. State vs. Tyler Mooneyham, rob bery of 'Chas. Davis store. True bill. Pleaded not guilty. Defendant given 3 years at state prison. State vs. Jack Marbley, carrying concealed weapon and assault with deadly weapon, August 11, 1932. A true bill. Plea of not guilty. De fendant offered plea of insanity and found not guilty. Jury returned a verdict of guilty. ' Deans Case Affair occurred on May 30, 1932. Special venire of 50 men are sum moned to appear in this case on Wednesday. (This testimony given at inquest following death) Douglas Waters, 11-year-old son of W. H. Waters, deceased, of St., Pauls and Selma, testified that he accompanied his father on the night of May 30, to Deans’ resideance where several neighbors had been invited to a fish fry. The lad, ob viously disappointed when no fish were produced, only a quantity of whiskey. He described vividly the scene that followed in which all were in a drunken condition except he and his father. About 10 o’clock he and his father and Mrs. Plonnie Hudson, of Goldsboro; Frank Strick land, Lonnie Deans and his father, Napoleon Deans, left the Deans res idence and started down the high way. On a very careful examination he vi-vidly described the locality where his father was fatally,' stab bed, which was lit as if bv morning •sun due to a very bright moon. The little boy related how Frank Strickland and Napoleon Deans suddenly attacked his father with out any provocation whatsoever; stating that during this melee, Lon nie Deans drew a knife and tried to cut Walters, who was able at this point to force himself from his at tacks and hurled a brick at Napo leon Deans, knocking him down. In the meantime Frank Strickland had gotten back of Walters and succeed ed in holding him in a vise-like grip. Young Deans and his father then stabbed Walters across his chest and abdomen as many as twenty or 30 times. Doughlas then told of his father’s escape and how he assi.sted his dyin,g father in escaping the at tacks by runniug down the highway. They ran nearly a quarter of a mile when they were rescued by a motorist who brought them to a Smithfield hospital, where Walters died a few hours later, never ■ re gaining consciousness. Waites Young Walters was carefully questioned as to the action the other witnesses of the affair. He stated that they were too frightened to do anything and ju-t backed off. plead ing with the men to stop fighting. He was also que.stioned as to the reports that his father was 'guilty of any misconduct toward Napo leon Deans’ young daughter. Young Walters stated that he was with his father the entire time that they were at the Deans residence and that his father did not so much as speak to her. The other witnesses for the -State gave practically the same testimony as young Walters. It is reported that at the close of the State’s evidence - the defend- ents will enter pleas of guilty of murder in the second degree or of manslau-ghter. 'This report has not been denied by council for the de fence, but young Deans and bis father both confessed to the murder to a coroner’s jury last May. 'They will probably plead that theirs was an honor slaying. asserting that while a guest in their home, Wal ters attempted to criminally assault their young daughter and 'sister. Tuesday, August 9th. State vs. Milton Mimmes, white farmer, aged 31, for violation of the prohibition law. Plea of guilty as to possession and transportation of one gallon of whiskey. Defend ant sentenced to 60 days on roads. Chicken Thief Faces Judge In Cow Pasture Tobacco Prices Not PUEASE WAIT UNTIL THE WEATHER GETS COOLER. A dispatch from Albany, N. Y., Friday, said that James A. Farley, the wet Catholic chairman of the National Democratic Executive Com mittee reported to Governor Frank lin D Roosevelt ,that on the ba'is State vs. Willie Williams, colored, laborer, aged' 28, for assault with deadly weapon. Plea of guilty and defendant sentenced to 60 days on roads. State vs. .John Willis Glover, col ored laborer, aged 22, for violation of the prohibition law, is found guilty of possession and transporta tion of one quart of whiskey. De fendant sentenced to 60 days on the roads. State vs. Alton Johnson, white farmer, aged 25, for larceny of so da, value less than 820. Guilty and given 60 day on roads, sentence to be suspended upon payment of $5 fine and cost. State vs. Felton Massengill, white farmer, aged 17, and Brad Massen- gill, white farmer, ag'ed 35, for lar ceny of chickens, value le s than $20. Both guilty. Both sentenced to 60 days on the roads. State vs. Mills Howell, wh'te .far mer, aged 21. and Daniel Howell, white farmer, aged 23, for' violation of the prohibition law Daniel How ell not gudty and discharged. Mills Howell gu’Ttv of possession of four gallons of wh’.skey, beer .and com- nlete outfit for manufacturing whis key. and given 90 davs road sen tence. su pended upon payment of $25 fine and cost. State vs. Dollie Griffis, colored la borer. aged 17- for Inreptiv of corn, value less than $20. Giulty, and giv en 60 da'-s road sentence. Appeal. Anneal withdrawn. State vs. .John Wright, colored laborer, aged 59, for assault with deadly weannn. Guiltv. Defendant is given 60 davs on roads. State vs. Howard Ra’^moy., white farmer, aged 23,, for larcenv of chickens, value less than $20. Plea of guilty. Defendant given four months on roads and then sentence reduced to 3 months. State vs. Cleve Nordan, white la borer, a,ged 24; and John P. Jones, white laborer, aged 17, for larceny of chickens, value less than $20.00. Both guilty. Nordan sentenced to 6 months on roads. Jones given four months on roads. Both appeal. Ap peal ■withdrawn. State vs. Tempie Coats, white female, for ' abandonment of two- weeks-old baby. Nol pros with leave. State vs. Charlie Smith, white la-' borer, a,&ed 39, for violation of the prohibition law. Plea of guiltv as to po-session and transportation of one (]uart of whiskey. Sixty days road sentence to be suspended upon pay ment of $5.00 fine and cost. State vs. Carh'e D. Haves, white It is not out of the ordinary for a thief to have to go before the judge for his misdoings, but this usually happens after he has been caught and bound over to the court; but Judge W. P. .Aycock, of the county recorder’s' court, has added a new precedent to the usual order. Saturday morning Judge Aycock walked out to his cow lot and heard some chickens making a noise down in the rear of the pasture and know ing that there was no 'reason why chickens should be in that territory, he walked down towards where the chickens were heard and found a sack full of chickens hidden in a ditch. Realizing; that the chickens had been placed there by some thief, the Judge secreted himself in some bushes nearby. He had not been there long before a negro by the name of Bill O’Neal came for the chickens. Then it was that he was confronted by the Judge who must sit in judgment as a witness against the thief. The jud.ge got in touch with the chief-of-police and O’Neal was placed in the county jail to await trial in recorder’s court when he will a,gain have to confront the judge, not as a spec tator, but as a witness and the judge to pfiye testimony and to pass upon the merits of the same all in the same court. Should the defend ant plead not guilty it will then be up to the court to prove the accu sation by the State, but as luck would have it the State has a wit ness whose testimony the judge must recognize as final, and render hi.s verdict accordingly. So Good As Expected Tropical Hurricane Kills 26 In Texas Relief Workers Give Food and Medicines to Victims—Hundreds Suffer From Injuries—Crop Dam age Is Heavy. Heavy Offerings Registered At the Opening On Tuesday, But Fall off ^Somewhat On the Second Day— Prices For Low Grades Rang*' Higher Than Last Year,But the Best Grades Are Abut Same Aa Last Year’s Opening. Another Son Is Born To Mrs. Lindbergh of reports, he had received of sup port for the Roosevelt c^ipaign ffarmer, a.sred 25, and Young B. Englewood, N. J., Aug. 16.—The Lindberghs have another baby boy. A .second son wa.s born to Coi. and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh at 6:30 a. m., today, five and one-half months after their first child was kidnaped and slain. Despite the ordeal she sustained with fortitude the whole world ad mired, Anne. Morrow Lindbergh was understood to be “doing' nicely,” and unconfirmed reports said the same about the baby. Always insistent on the right of himself and Hs family to privacy in their personal affairs. Colonel Lind bergh did not make public any de tails of his son’s weight or ap pearance. No't even a foi-mal an-, nouncement of the birth came from the stately Morrow mansion, hid den by summer foliage high on the Hudson river bluffs. Late in the afterAoon, however. Colonel Lindbergh sent out a state ment expressing the hope there would not be continued publicity on the birth of his son. ■‘there is not one state in the union that we concede to the Republican -andidate.” If this Child of the Pope has any more jokes to tell we wish he would wait until after the hftt wave subsides to relate them.— Union Republican. Stanley, white fanner, aged 28, for removing crops without notice, etc. Both guilty. Each defendant given 60 days on roads. Both anneal. State vs. .John Beaslev. white la borer, assault with deadly weaix>n. Not guilty. Riverside Filling Station Is Robbed WANTED HELP A man from the country came into my home last week and said: “Brother Tuttle, I’m to hold a pray er meeting to-night and want a lit tle help on some points of prayer.” I gave him such as‘ I could think of promptly. Such as: (1) Have a quiet place to pray, if you have to leave the house to get it. See Mark 1:35; Mathew 6:6. Use the same place daily, and you will soon have a precious history of answered prayers that will encourage you in praying. (2) Have a time to pray. Make it possible. David and Daniel prayed morning, noon ,and night, the snore, the mightier in power. Do not allow yourself to think just any time will do, you cannot make a convenience of God. (3) Pray for some grace you need to grow, in, patience or self-control, etc. (4) Pray for strength to endure your trials, and strength to overcome evil, tempta tion; etc. (5) Go to prayer in a thankful spirit—spirit of song, re membering you can pray only as God permits you to do in Jesus’ name. D. H. TUTTLE. Smithfield, N. C. Wall Family Reunion ^ Field On Sunday A family reunion was held on Sunday at the home of Mrs. A. L. Batten at Archer Lodge, fifteen miles north of Selma. About fifty relatives of Mrs. Batten, who before 'her marriage ■was Mi.=s Mary Wall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Wall, gathered at the home and a sumptuous dinner was served under the shade of the large oaks on-the lawn. Mr. Batten was master of ceremonies. Mrs. Batten is a sister of Mr. M. R. Wall, secretary-treas urer of the town of Selma, who with his family were present. Mr. and’ Mrs. Batten are the pa rents of three children, Rufus Bat ten and Mrs. Luther Denning, of Goldsboro, and' Miss Mary Eliza beth Batten who resides at the home place. Currituck county farmers made their first cooperative carlot ship ment of watermelons last week. The ' shipment wa=' handled by the Curri tuck Mutual Exchange. Salary Cut In Wilkes. Wilkes county commissioners have ordered a 10 per cent cut of all salaries effective July 1. County of ficers who feel the cut are: Sheriff, clerk of the court, register of deeds, commissioners, superintendent of schools, county accountant, and all others on the county pay roll. There is a decrease of approximately $500,000 in valuation of property in Wilkes in 1932 over the previous year.—Wilkes Journal. Smithfield, Aug. 17.—The River side Filling Station here, which is operated by C. F. Godbold, was robbed last Monday night; this be ing the fourth time within twelve days. On Moaday night, Mr. 'God- bold cha.sed the robbers away firing several shots at their car. Judging from the car tracks, Mr. Godbold thinks all the thefts were commit ted by the same parties. This sta tion had been robbed once before, some tveo or three months ago. The second robbery occurred on Wednes day night, August 3rd. The robbers returned on Friday night, August 12, and on Saturday night, August 13th, and again on Monday night, August 15th. On each visit they se cured considerable quantities ' • of gasoline and motor oil, broke several locks and did much damage to the fixtures. On Monday night police man E. A. .Johnson heard a noise at the'filling station, and drove his car over the river bridge to investigate. He found that the robbers had been there, and he immediately notified both Mr. Godbold and Mr. H. R. Ii'orlines, the Sinclair distributor for this section. The three started for the Riverside station, but policeman Johnson came upon a negro that ■was wanted for a crime committed elsewhere, and stopped to take him to jail. Godbold and Forlines went on to the filling station, and when nearby they could see by the light of the moon that a car was under, the shed. As they turned off of the highway this oar dashed off towards Raleigh without any lights, and without any visible license plate. Mr. Godbold says he fired several Houston, Texas, Aug. 15.—^The rav ages of the southern Texas hurri cane became more grimly apparent today as relief workers went among the hungry and injured with food and medicines. The storm swept out of the Gulf of Mexico last Saturday and hit Houston full force, the wind attain ing a velocity of around 70 miles an hour. The known dead totaled 26; the injured numbered several hundreds; damage to two major crops, cotton and rice, exclusive of all the other destruction wrought in an area sev eral hundred square miles in extent, was estimated authoritatively at $2,- 000,000. An insufficient supply of food was re|)orted at Angleton, which suffered the greatest damage. Houston relief workers promised more food imme diately and "arranged to send addi tional physicians and nur.ses to aid in caring for the injured. The local unit of the Red Cross asked for contributions of $10,000 for relief in Brazoria county. Property damage caused by the hurricane could not be estimated be yond the general knowledge that it ran into millions of dollars at An gleton, Freeport and West Columbia, all within 100 miles of Houston. Estimates of the crojr loss, made by G. C. Ellison, agricultural agent here, and R. Hoffpauir, president of the Houston chapter of the Ameri can Rice Growers association, did note include damage to all crops other than cotton and rice. Everywhere were stories of lost homes, tost investments, tost rela tives. At Angleton, the relief center im- pro'vised in a community hall, one of the few buildings left undamag ed, was so crowded physicians plan ned to send the more seriously in jured to Houston. Freeport was in desperate straits and therb, too, as in West Colum bia, the list of the injured, was tong. In Wharton and Brazoria coun ties, fields that were white with cot ton before the storm lay beaten and devastated today. Rice that had been cut and stacked was strewn over the countryside, rainsoaked and worthless. Arrested For Stealing Ride On Freight Train Florence, S. C., Aug. 17.—Tobac co prices clung to opening day lev els on nearly all markets of the Eastern South Carolina belt and ' border North Carolina counties to day.' Sales, however, dropped material ly from those on the crowded first day. Wednesday’s average price was ' between 7 and 10 cents a pound, an improvement over la_st year’s prices,. I but a disappointment to many of the growers. ' Observers of the United States Department of Agriculture on duty' at the Lake City and Darlington markets, said prices were firm and, that better grades, medium and fair- grade lugs, averaged slightly high- 1 er. Offerings were of about the same quality, they reported. I Farmers continued to bring most ly inferior grades into the market, i hoping for a rise in prices for su- j perior type. Prices for the better grades of weecUIiave shown no im- I provement over those' 'p^id in 1931. About 75,000 ptfunds were sold at' Kingstree, averaging between 7 and 9 cents. Better grades were in more demand. Lower types continued to bring more than last year. The Timmonsville market report ed sale of 132,732 pound.s at an average of $8.46 a hundred. Pamli co warehouses disposed of 25,000 pounds at an average of $9 00. Of the 30 000 pounds sold at Dil lon, most of it was of inferior grade. The average was $8 a hun dred. A few tags were turned. Far mers appeared disappointed because of predictions of 12 to 15 cents a pound prior to the opening break, and are inclined to hold for higher prices. At Lumberton, N. C.. 235,766 pounds were sold at an average of $8.54 per hundred. Onlv common grades were offered. More tags were turned than on the opening day. - A slight advance in prices was shown at Darlington, S. C., where about 60,000 pounds were sold at slightly more than, 8 cents. A big portion of the offerings were prim ings. The weed brought from 10 to Iff 1-2 cents at Jjake City, and prices were more satisfactory than on Tuesday. There were few reiections.- Some 100,000 pounds were sold. Negro Sentenced In Assault On Officer Special Ag'ent J. M. Long, of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, P'ri- day afternoon arrested Quincey Harvey and William Taft Williams, colored, who claimed to be from Wilmington, on the charge of beat ing a ride on a Coa>t Line frieight. They were brought to the city lockup and later given a hearing before Mayor- Wash Hare who sen tenced them to serve 30 days on the streets of the town. Since coming to Selma Sergeant Long has been making it warm for the hoboes coining to Selma, in fact it is a rare thing now to see any of the vagrants hanging around the union station. Mrs. W. L. Etheredge In Hospital. Smithfield, Aug. 16.—Joe Lofton, Negro, of lower Johnston county, wa- sentenced to serve four years on the county roads, having been found guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill upon Way Ion Jones, county game warden and deputy sheriff, on Jan uary 16, 1931. Lofton, who was al so indicted for violating the prohi bition laws, escaped from a posse of officers who were chasing him following the shooting of Officer Jones and was only recently cap tured. Jones chased Lofton during a raid on the Negro’s still and when the officers came too close he fired upon him, the shot lodging just be low his right eye. Mrs. W. L. Etheredge was taken to the Johnston County Hospital at Smithfield last night about 11:30 1 o’clock and soon thereafter under went an operation for appendicitis. Her many friends here are anxous about her condition, and are hoping to learn that she withstood the op eration well and will soon be able to return to her home. It is feared that she wainted too long for the operation to obtain the best results. Boy Is Shot Dead In Meadow Township shots and he thinks that some of these must have hit the car. He thinks the car wa^ a 1931 Chevrolet six. He says that there were cur tains or something else on the un der side of the car which obscured his view, so that he could not see through the glass, and that it wa.s therefore impossible to tell how ; many people were on the car. Smithfield, Aug. 17.—County Cor oner J. H. Kirkman was called to Meadow Township late this after noon where a young man named Ruffin Thornton, age 20 years, had been found shot to death near the home of his father. (Father’s name not learned). After returning to his home here tonight, Mr. Kirkman stated that the relatives 'and neighbors, believe it to be a case of suicide. He said hi.s investigation had revealed that the boy had been drinking heavily for two or three days, and had been reprimanded by his father. The hoy then took a shot gun and left the house. A little later a shot was heard and some one went to inves- tig.ate and found tbe boy shot to death and the gun nearby. ■’fc; 1. - >??■