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SIX PAGES TODAY
LEirSGTOX Jj. C, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1021
VOL. XXXIX No. ft
-J
CHIEF TAYLOR, OF THOMASVILLE,
SLAIN BY DR. J. W. PEACOCK
Prominent Physician
Fires Six Shots Into
Body.of Officer Fir
ed from Concealment
' With Shotgun and
Followed Up Wound
ed Officer and Shot
Him Four Times With
Big; German Pistol.
. , Chief of Police J. E. Taylor, of
Thomasville, was shot and almost In
stantly killed Saturday morning, about
nine-thirty o'clock, by Dr. J. W. Pea
cock, v prominent and" widely known
physician and business man of the
same cltty. Henry Shaver, a bystand
er, received a stray bullet from Dr.
Peacock's pistol in the abdomen, a
probably fatal wound being inflicted.
'Immediately following the shooting
Dr. Peacock submitted to arrest at,
the hands of Policeman D. J. Lamb
and was brought to Lexington jail by
, Officers Lamb and Younts, where-he
is being held pending the preliminary
hearing. ' .
According V to several bystanders
Chief Taylor was standing on the east
side, of North Salem Street, almost in
front of the North State Telephone
building, and was in conversation with
Hodges Varner, who was ; leaning'
against a telephone pole. Suddenly a
shot rang -out and Taylor trew his
hand over his. heart and exclaimed.
"Oh, Lord." Another shot followed
and the chief ran Into Peace's gro
cery store next door to where he was
standing.'1 According to personswho
were at the store at the time, Taylor
ran around in, the store as If dazed
and started for the door. About this
time Dr. Peacock stepped up on the
sidewalk in front of the door, after
coming acrosa from the west side of
the street, -entered, and fired at Tay
lor several times more with a German
Lueger pistol, a most formidable wea
pon with an eight or nine-inch barrel.
Two shots were fired into theack of
Taylor's head as" he lay dying. ' .': ,
Sometime f ollowing the shooting and
' after Sheriff Sink and deputies had ar
rived on the scene the office of Dr.
Peacock, on' the second floor of the
Pinch Building, diagonally across the
street from where Taylor was stand
ing when the first shot was fired, was
visited by officers and a -double barrel
Syracuse shotgun -was found lying on
the floor of the front office in the suite
occupied by Dr. Peacock. A stool sat
near the gun, which was not far from
a window fronting on North Salem
Street. , it contained two empty shells.
The Lueger pistol which came Into
the hands of the officers had a clip of
cartridges from which several shots
had been fired. "' j
According to Officer Lamb, Dr. Pea
cock made no denial of using the shot
gun or the pistol. v. ,
Miss Bertha Dorsctt, who is assistant
' to Dr. Peacock in hlB office. Is quoted
as saying that Dr. Peacock seemed to
be in a very nervous state when he ar
rived at his office Saturday morning.
He had burns on the head and about
the hand, which he sustained when
his barn was burned about two-thirty
o'clock Saturday morning. He went
Into the front-office next , the street
ostensibly for the purpose of putting
salve on his wounds and, It is reported.
il .17. I" . .. La - f.wT "4
uuiButi ivJviin &uiis,;i r, ....... m
short while. The door was then open
ed and Dr. Peacock went down on the
street,' after which the pistol shots
were heard across the street 1
STORY OF EYE WITNESS
""Attorney M. H. S,tone, who recently
: has been acting as solicitor of record
er's court, said that shortly after nine
o'clock Saturday morning he was com
ing southward onBalem Street and
passed Chief Taylor and Hodges Var
ner, who were standing talking on the
sidewalk where an alley leads eastward
i between the telephone . building and
' Peace's store. A shot rang out and
he turned and - saw ' Taylor grab his
bosom and heard -him make an "ex
clamation. Mr. Stone said he did, not
recognise the direction of the first shot
but that when a second shot was fired
he observed that It came from the
second floor Of the Finch Building,
where Dr. Peacock has his offices.
As he felt that he was practically In
range of the shots he hastened south
ward a few steps and then looked and
saw Dr. Peacock approaching the aide
walk on the east side, - In the mean
time, said Mr. Stone, Chief Taylor had
. run into Peace's store. Dr. Peacock
fired several times more when in the
' locality of tha door and then turned
and walked to a drug store across the
street, shortly afterward getting into
n automobile and going to his home
. on North Salem Street, where he was
Jjaken in charge by the officers. -
Taylor who fell on the floor of the
Peace Grocery store. Just Inside the
door, died almost instantly. - His re
mainswere taken to tha undertaking
establishment of J. C. tlreen,' across
the street, where the body remained
: until after the inquest was held Satur
. day afternoon, following which it was
prepared for burial. , - - , .
. Examination of the front of the
North State Telephone Company build
ing showed where perhaps as many as
'. fifty shot had struck the brick facing
and a number of these, battered out
of shape, were picked up by those
who arrived early on the scene.'
' Henry Shaver is said to have been
Standing inside the store of A. T. Peace
and was supporting Taylor whoa on
of the shots from the Lueger entered
his abdomen and plowed .its way
through his body. He was immedi
ately given aid by Dr. C: A. Julian and
rushed to the High- Point Hospital,
from whence came word shortly after
his arrival that the wound would in all
liklihood prove fatal, as the intestines
were pierced at several places. Re
ports yesterday gave some hope for
his life.
' PEACOCK BARN BURN.ED.
About two-thirty o'clock Saturday
morning Dr. Peacock's barn, located
at the rear of his home, which is near
the corner of North Salem and Leon
ard Streets, was destroyed by fire, to
gether'wlth a Franklin tburing car, a
Ford coupe, some surgical instruments
and medicine cases. A cow belonging
to C. C. Hooks, a near neighbor, was
tied in the barn and was so badly burn
ed that it Had to be killed. In rescu
ing a dog and trying to save the cow,
Dr. Peacock sustained several burns.
Tracks are alleged to have lead off
from the rear of the barn, where the
blaze is alleged to have originated,
and were traced for some distance
through a plowed field on the edge of
which the barn Stood.' From the ap
pearance of these tracks the man who
made them was evidently running.
When he was brought to Lexington
to Jail. Dr. Peacock, is said to have
requested Officer D. J. Lamb to , re
turn to Thomasville and measure the
tracks in the-field near the barn and
compare them with the shoes worn by
the dead chief, expressing a suspicion
or belief that the dead man had set
Are to. the barn.
It is alleged that this suspicion is
partially based on the fact that Chief,
Taylor was observed about 6 o'clock
Friday evening to walk slowly by the
Peacock home, which is located two
doors from the corner ' of Leonard
Street, and then turn out Leonard
street past the barn, all the time keep
ing a watch toward ,- the Peacock
premises.. .Joe Long, a neighbor of
Dr. Peacock, said he observed Taylor
in the actions aboue described. Long
lives near the Peacock home and
knew that there was not the best of
feeling between the chief and the doc
tor. - . r. - -
'About two weeks ago Dr. Yeacock,
Who was then a member of the town
council, voted to discharge Chief Tay
lor following certain, chaqgesi. the na
ture , of which have ' not altogether
been publicly disclose . .The vote in
council was a tie,' With one man not
voting. The next day : Dr.1 Peacock
handed in his resignation from coun
cil. .. , :t - v;,.. .
.With the approach of the election
the question of sustaining or discharg
ing the chief .was uppermost in the
minds of many, it is said, but it is de
clared by prominent men present, that
the name of Chief Taylor was not
brought into the proceedings at all.
The slate named was to be submitted
to a mass meeting called by Mayor J.
C. Green, to be held tonight.
' Several weeks ago the town was very
much agitated by a pyhsical encounter
between Chief Taylor and City Attor
ney B, B. Vinson, during which Taylor
struck Vinson several times. Prior to
that there had been some .agitation in
regard to the chiefs Job and a petition
was widely circulated in his behalf and
it is said that more than 500 people
signed the petition. Some thirty-five
out of forty members of the civic bet
terment club are reported to have
signed In behalf of the chief, and as a
result of this petition he was left se
cure la his position at that time.-,
MAYOR COMMENDS OFFICER
Mayor J. C. Green stated to The
Dispatch Saturday morning: "Chief
Taylor was the best officer I ever saw.
He sought diligently to do his duty
without fear or favor, yet he was as
courteous and kindly a man as I have
ever known When serving A warrant
he seemed to try to relieve the situ
ation from embarrassment as much as
possible." . According to another
prominent citizen, the chief was no re-
spector of persons when it came to
KAnM.tM 1. 1 j .... . .
On the other hand, It is reported
that there are in existence a number
of affidavits that are derogatory to the
manner in which the officer conducted
himself In the exercise of his official
duties. ' -
Chief Taylor came to Thomasville
about a year ago from Winston-Salem,
where he had been a traffic officer on
the Twlri City force for about a year.
Prior tq that time he had served in
the navy for eight years. He was a
native of Surry county and was about
twenty-nine years 'old. He was mar
ried but had no children. Mrs. Tay
lor, whose health is In delicate con
dition, was prostrated' by the news of
her husband's tragic death.
1 Dr. Peacock came to Thomasville
from New Lendon, - Stanly county,
about fifteen years ago and had since
that time been practicing his profes
sion In Thomasville and vicinity. He
was born in Salisbury in 1875. For a
number of years he took -prominent
part in county politics and was for sev
eral years chairman of the board of
road commissioners of Davidson coun
ty. Since then he had beeen a mem
ber of the town council of Thomas
ville until his recent resignation. He
was also coroner for a, number of
years. . v. -
He married Miss .Barrlnger. of
Cleveland, Rowan county, and they
have a An family of five children.
Mrs. Peacock and children were re
ported Saturday morning to have been
practically prostrated as a result of tha
terrible tragedy.
' Henry Shaver, a-young man of about
thirty years, has four smull daugh
ters, the oldest of whom Is said to bo
only about eight yean old. He wM an
CAKSLER MAY PROSECUTE
r". DR. PEACOCK
' "
It is reported here that B. T.
Cannier, Sr., of the Charlotte
bar, has been requested by the
city authorities of Thomasville
to assist in the prosecution of
Dr. J. W. Peacock for the mur
der of Chief of Police John E.
Taylor of that city, on Saturday.
One report was that Mr. Can
sler had actually been retained
In the case, while -another was to
the effect ' that he had wired
the Thomasville authorities that
he would come there to Investi
gate the case before giving hia
answer. It is understood to be
Mr. Cansler's policy to Investi
gate all cases before he agrees
to take part. -' .; -
Solicitor John C. ..Bower is ill
in Baltimore' but is expected to
return in a comparatively short
time to begin work on the case.
Attorney J. M. Daniel, Jr., rep
resented the solicitor at the cor
oner's : Inquest at Thomasville
Saturday and will also probably
' appear with the prosecution in
Superior court, which will "be
held here the latter part of May.
Mr. Cansler is in Greensboro
today and is expected to give at
tention to the Thomasville mat
ter before returning to Char
. lotte. ' v . .' ' - -
employe of the Thomasville Chair Co.
and is said to have been a most ex
cellent "worker and citizen.
The affair created almost as much
interest and excitement in Lexington
as in Thomasville, for Dr. Peacock is
almost as well known here as the av
erage citizen of this city, while Chief
Taylor had also' frequently been here
on official business during hb tenure
of office at Thomasville.
News of the shooting spread; quick
ly and within two hours, after it hap
pened newspaper men were on the
scene from Greensboro, High. Point
and Lexington, in addition to those of
Thomasville. The Times got out an
extra edition giving a brief account; of
the shooting within about an hour Af
ter the killing. ', ' : ,
r ; THE .CORNER'S INQUEST..
Coroner 'Frank Hullo impanelled a
Jury Saturday afternoon and conduct
ed an Inquest at the undertaking es
tablishment The Jury returned a ver
dict ' that the deceased came to his
death as a result of wounds inflicted
by Dr. Peacock. The various wounds
are said to have been probed and Cor
oner Hulin stated here following the
inquest that one of the pistol wouads.
was evidently the Immediate cause of
death, that while the gunshot wounds
were evidently serious' and possibly
mjght hale proven fatal, that probing
failed to disclose where any of these
had hit a vital spot.'
One load of shot. No. 4 duck shot
struck the chief in the breast and face,
scattering considerably. The second !
charge apparently -lodged partly : in
one shoulder and the side of the face.
One pistol1 bullet passed through one
arm and Went entirely trough the
body, the bullet being recovered. An
other penetrated the lung and passed
out at the back' of the body. There
were two. pistol wounds In the head,
one coming out In the forehead and
another through the bridge of the
nose. . Evidence brought out before
the coroner's jury indicated that two
shots were fired in the store before
Chief Taylor fell and two were fired
into his body while he lay dying on the
floor, both bullets passing through the
head and the floor. "
Shaver and another man are said to
have taken hold of him to support him
Just before Dr. Peacock appeared and
began shooting,, both releasing their
hold 'on the wounded man when the
shooting was re-commenced.
Dr. C. A. Julian, of Thomasville, and
Dr. Burrus, of High Point, stated here
late Saturday that some 'of Shaver's
organs were injured, one of the Intes
tines being perforated by the Lueger
bullet. - . - . . .
. The prisoner Is quoted as expressing
keen sorrow at the accidental shoot
ing of Shaver.
; Emery. E.- Raper, Walser, Walser
and Walser, J. R.a MCCrary and Wade
H. Phillips of the local bar were re
tained Saturday to defend Dr. Pea
cock. It was indicated that a prelimi
nary hearing would be waived and
that Dr. Peacock would remain in Jail
until the second May term of court.
Temporary Insanity wilt be pleaded
In defense of the prisoner. It is Indi
cated. . ' -. -
After belne brouBht to Jail here. Dr.
E. J. Buchanan visited the cell and
treated the painful burns which Dr.
Peacock suffered while, trying to res
cue soma of his property from his
burning barn early Saturday morning.
Members of his family and several
prominent physicians, ' personal
friends, from Thomasville and High
Point, also visited the pflsjpner. . .
' Progress In Davie Road.
Work on the Smith Orove road In
Davie county is progressing rapidly.
When completed this new road will be
the most traveled road In the couunty.
It will be the direct rout from Win
ston-Salem and the east to Statesvtlle
and Ashevllle, and thousands of 'our
lata will travel it . every year. .The
bridge across Cedar Creek will be one
of the best In the State. It will be a
double-track steel structure, with
concrete floor. It Is hoped that the
road and bridges will be completed by
the lust of August,
T!
.11 nun
Gill jg: won
No Opposition Candi-date--rMany
Chang- :
es in Two Boards
;v ' . i -i- '..... .:,..;..'..
Mayor J. Tlldeli Hedrick was re
nominated by acclamation at Thursday
night's mass meeting at the court
house to succeed himself as mayor of
Lexington for twO more years. He
accepted the nomination in a brief
speech of thanks: and- recounted the
accomplishments it his administration
during the two-year period now com
ing to a close. ! . - . :
- While there had been considerable
talk about town for some timd in re
gard to placing the" same of other can
didates' before the, mass meeting, no
steps to this end Were taken and the
matter of renominating the mayor was
confined to- nomination, second and
motion that nomination be by accla
mation, V' " ' '
Attorney Lv A. Martin presided and
celled the -meetlngUo order, while 'H.
E. Shoafacted as 'secretary. It was
moved that' the delegations present
from the several -wards assemble sep
arately and make I nominations for
members of the board of town com
missioners and the-school board.
; North Ward ? showed a. complete
turnover in the matter of town com
missioners, Dr. J. A: Smith and, R. O.
Kirkman. nresent i members of the
board, losing to P, P- Raper and E. A.
Rothrock.-v For school commissioners)
Dr. J. - R. Terry and' J. D. Redwine
were nominated, v. Dr. Terry succeeds
Capt S. E. vWMlams. Rr. Redwine
is a present member. '
- East -Ward- renominated both, its
present members o( the town commis
sioners, T. & Eaneand Ed. F. Smith.
Two vacancies from, ithis ward occa
sioned by the desir of Dr. J. C. Leon
ard to retire and the death of L. F.
Barr were filled by the Selection of
Fred O. Sink and George L. Hackney.
Both are former members of the board
of town commiseioi(6rs.
From the South Vard W. Lee Har
bin, present member of the board of
town commissioners, was renominated
for the board along with the. nomina
tion of J. L. , Galllmore to- succeed H.
B. Varner, who wai appointed to fill
an unexpired term. J Dr. E. J. Buch
anan was renominated for the school
board and Major $Vade H. Phillies
named to succeed J. Lancaster,
who desired to-retirt, " 'W-- ,1,
I if the West' WW ' Pe
lted contest over nominations, for-com-v
ml8sloners. A. H. Evans, tha;,only
announced -candidate, and rO. . W.
Mountcastle, present commissioner,
received the call out of a field of four.
Gen. Z. V. Walser was named to suc
ceed himself as school board member,
while O. V. Woosley was chosen to
succeed Chairman E. B. Craven, who
refused to stand for renomination,
The sufh total of these nominations
is that four out of the eight com mis
sioner's were renominated and four
new nominees were chosen. Five out
of eight on the slate, for the school
board are new selections.
It has been Indicated since the mass
meeting that there might be some in
dependent candidates for some of the
places, probably for -town commis
sioners, and such announcements
would not be surprising.
Erlangcr Anniversary Number.
There has Just come from the press
the seventh anniversary edition of The
Erlanger Community, -that splendid
publication devoted to the Interest of
the State's most up-to-date Industrial
community. It Is replete with pictures
of early days and of the pres
ent, the comparison being most inter
esting. There are also a number of
articles telling of the first months of
the Erlanger community., The mill
first started operations on the morn-j
ing of March 28, 1914. Since that time
the size of the mill has been consid
erably enlarged, the output- greatly
quickened and the size of the village
perhapr more than doubled.
It is not in size, however, that the
most remarkable changes have been
wrought, but in the .beauty and utility
of the village. The splendid school
and community service buildings, Y.
M. C A. addition, nursery, kindergar
ten, teaoherage, greenhouses and a
number of other things, have bee'n
built since then. Complete transfor
mation has also been wrought about
the homes there In the way of flowers,
gardens and other evidences of a de
sire for the beautiful, on the part of
the residents. ' :
Splendid pictures of Milton S. Er
langer, president, Sidney C. Erlanger,
vice president, J. M, Oamewell, gen
eral manager, George W. Mountcastle,
secretary and treasurer, Stuart W,
Rabb, the hew superintendent, veter
an employes, the Baraca class, home
and garden scenes and many other
interesting views adorn the pages of
the anniversary edition.. It Is perhaps
the most Interesting issue of this pub
lication that has yet appeared. ,
Chnrchland Commencement
Invitations have been sent out an
nouncing, the - annual commencement
exercises of Churchland High School,
which begin on May 1 and continue
through May S. - Ten graduates are on
the clas roll this year, Including four
young men and six young ladles. These
are Charles Owens, Lala Feesor, Alma
Foster, Moses ljolmes, Chacy Gilles
pie, Myrtle Owen, Floyd Carter, Lillian
Doby. Edith Kbonta and Elizabeth
Smith, William A. Young Is princl
pal and J. Thomas Gillespie, assistant
principal. . r
The speakers Tor the commence
ment have, not yet been announced,
but negotiation are under way to se
cure speakers of the usual high type
heard at Churchland in ether years.
.A.
World War Veteran Is
To. Make an Active
Campaign
Major James A. Leonard, veteran of
the Mexican border campaign and the
World War, who was cited for bravery
and promoted from captain to major
for gallantry In action while leading
the men of Company A in the Immor
tal Hlndenburg Line battle, this morn
ing formally announced himself as an
independent candidate for mayor of
Lexington in the election to be held
on Monday, May 2, for the selection
of mayor and members pf the board
town commissioners and school board. ;
In announcing himself as a candi
date, Major Leonard stated to The Dis
patch that he Is taking this action on
ly after he has been urged by a large'
number of friends from all sections
of the city to allow his name to be
used as a candidate. He states that
he will make an active campaign and
will forego no clean and honorable
effort to be elected. i
Major Leonard pledges himself to a
clean and progressive government for
Lexington and says that if elected he
will exercise "the duties and privileges
of the office for the interest of the
whole people so far as may lie within
his power. . He declares that he will
seek to continue to successful comple
tion any progressive movements now
under way and will seek to guard at
all times the Interests of the town. 1
- Major Leonard is. known to every
body in Lexington and he comes about
as near knowing everybody in the city
as apy other citizen. He has been
engaged for a number of years In the
conduct of a cafe business and his
place here has attained a wide and
enviable reputation under his manage
ment. In making the formal announce
ment of his candidacy, Major Leonard
also urged that every citizen of Lex
ington register before the books close
on , Saturday of this week at sundown.
In view of the fact that registrations
are required for both the school and
municipal elections and that there Is a
separate set of books and registrars,
it is said that a numocr have regis
tered ttfr the former election but not
for the city election. The books have
already closed for the school election
but will remain open through Satur
day of this week in eax-h ef the four
wards of the city. ' ' ,' " 1
Much Street Work Vnder Way.
J.ust at this time there is more ac
tual street construction under way In
Lexington than at any time during the
more than a year and a half since work
was first begun. The Noll Construc
tion Company is having little trouble
In securing plenty of labor and Is
working a number of forces in various
pieces of construction under way. '
All of the concrete has been laid on
Sixth Avenue West from Robbins
Street eastward to Main Street and the
seasoning process has advanced to
where asphalt can be laid at any time.
The concrete has also been laid on Bth
Street West from State Street to Rob
bins' Store and asphalt will be placed
on this section shortly. The curb is
down on the block at the northern
end of Strfte Street and the grading
will -be completed as soon as the wa
ter lino Is completed there.
Grading has also been done on the
block on First Street West between
Main and State streets. Concrete Is
also being placed on the two blocks of
First Avenue West from State Street
to Park Street. Grading has been
completed on the block on Second Av
enue West, connecting through be
tween Main and State Streets to the
section of street already built west
ward into Park Place. :
Curb is being laid on the block be
tween Hargrave Street and State Street
on Third Avenue and it is expected
that this street will be built through
to the Southern Depot. Water line is
now being laid on this avenue between
Main Street and the Southern depot.
It is understood that the command
to go ahead has-not yet been given for
Fifth AVenue West from State Street
to the Yarbrough residence, but this
work will probably get under .'way
soon. It had been hoped to extend
this work to the bridge over the
Southbound Railroad but a bitch in
theso plans has been occasioned on
account of the fact that the western
extremity of this' street has no sewer
line." ' ". - - '.
A fight is being waged to have Cen
tor' Street built westward from State
Street through Courtney Addition, but
final action has not yot been taken
Nothing ran be done here, it is said
until final disposition is made of the
matter of widening the street at the
Grimes mill. Council has already
passed an order for condemnation of
a strip at the mill of sufficient extent
to make this a standard street. This
will have to go through due process
and will Involve changes at the mill,
the the cost of which will have to be
borne by the town. In view of the fact
that the mill was placed where it Is
before a street was opened westward
from State Street , -'
OMost Carolina. Alumna Dead.
Dr. A. B, Hawkins, age It, for years
the oldest living alumnus of th Unl
versify of North Carolina and probab
ly the oldest active bank director : In
the United States died at his horn In
HaJpltH - Thursday following an ill
ness of six weeks, ' - ' .
Dr, Hawkins graduated from ths
University "of North Carolina ' In
1845. He had been a member of
the board of directors of the ntl
zen's National bank for about thirty
yeors and' took an active Interest In
the direction of the policies of this
Institution unUl he was taken ill. .
F. VAOE HILL DROVES
AFTER BOMOWRNS
Denton Merchant Loses
Life on Badin Lake
Thursday -
E. Wade Hill, prominent and pop
ular young business man of Denton,
manager and buyer of the W. E. Hill
& Son mercantile establishment one
of the leading stores of the town, was
drowned Thursday afternoon in the
Badin Lake, at the Cicero Badgett old
place near Chandler, when he at
tempted to swim to shore after a
boat had capsized with him while
fishing. Whit Morris, one of Hill's
companions,- barely escaped drown
ing when he swam to the rescue of
Mr. Hill, i The drowlnlng occurred be
tween three and four o'clock, accord
ing to Information received here and
the body, which sank In about twelve
feet of water, was not recovered un
til about ten o'clock Thursday night.
Mr. Hill, Whit Morris, - Baxter
Morris, his brother-in-law, and Will
Reld had gone fishing on the edge
of the Badin Lake at a favorite fish
ing grounds. In some manner the
boat in which Mr, Hill was fishing
turned over but he managed to catch
on something and appeared to be in
a safe position. The others are re
ported to have asked him to hold on
a little while until a boat could be
rowed out to him. Ia the meantime
he is said to have attempted to swim
to the shore, not a great distance
away, but sank before reaching the
bank.-' '--- .
The deceased was the eldest son of
Mr. and Mrs. W. Edward Hill, of Den
ton, and had been associated ' with
his father for a number of jPears in
the conduct oJ a splendid mercantile
business in Denton. He married Miss
Josephine Anderson, daughter of Dr.
Abel Anderson, ' of Denton, and they
have two children. He was about
twenty-eight years old. Besides the
wife and two children the deceased
leaves father and mother one brother,
Edward Hill, of Denton, and three
sisters, Mrs. Baxter Morris, Mrs D. M.
Sexton and Miss Gertrude ; Hill, of
Denton.
Mr Hill was a man of the highest
standing in hia community and was
teacher of , the large Baraca class of
the Methodist -Protestant' church,
which under his guidance had re
cently shown a fine growth He also
.served as Sunday School superintend-
and for a period of fweive months ana
he was always present with groat in
terest in his work. The entire' com
munity and his many friends here al
so were grievously shocked at his
untimely death. '
Funeral exercises 'were conducted
at Denton Saturday afternoon at two
o'clock. , "'
- Horse Runs Info Law Office.
! The facetious crowded ' closely on
the heels of the tragic at Thomasville
Saturday morning, when the Taylor
Peacock tragedy, stirred the town. It
seems that some people were at the
denot arranging for the .funeral of
two soldiers whose bodies had been
returned from France. . At the crack
of the gun when Dr. Peacock fired the
first shot from his office, a horse hitch
ed to a wagon perhaps 150 yards from
the scene of the shooting took fright
and dashed northward on Salem Street
in the direction of the shots.
Just as the horse started to cross
Main Street the wagon struck a Ford
automobile, damaging the car and
leaving the wagon. Wagonless, the
horse then dashed on down street a
short ways and ended up by running
squarely Into the law office of Attor
ney M.-H, Stone. It demolished , a
large glass in one section of the door.
received a number of cuts and spat
tered blood about the office.
It is reported that a young boy by
tho name of Wagner was thrown by
the runaway and received some injur
ies. The horse, which is said to have
belonged to. Lee Bailey, also received
considerable injury, but not consider
ed necessarily very serious.
Tyro Commencement.
The fourteenth annual commence
ment of the Tyro High School will be
held April the 24th to tho 28th.
Tho commencement sermon will be
preached by Rov. C. A. Day Sunday.
April 24, at eleven o'clock. His sub
ject will be "the plan and purpose of
life." ., '- -,' ':-' v:',' " i'
On Tuesday, April 10, at eight p. m
the primary and grammar grades will
entertain. ,' '-.-..''Ti -
Wednesday, April 27, eight p. m.,
there will be a public debate. Query
"Is Immigration- Detrimental to the
United - States?", Affirmative Eula
Koontz and Joe Sink; negative -Mary
Williams and Walter Swlcegood. On
the same nifihtthere will also be a rec
itation contest together with other ex
ercises. .' ' ' ,
Thursday, April 28. will bo com
mencement day.; , The morning wllUbe
occupied by declamation and recitation
contests for medals.' -The address will
be delivered in the afternoon -by Dr.
Raymond. Binford, president of Gull;
ford College, ' , - .,, '
The play, "Our Artful Aunt" will
be given Thursday evening at. eight
o'clock. ' . -.' ;:V-:. - . v ,
' Everybody Is cordially Invited to at
tend all of these exercises. : ,
'Fine Community Picture. '
Miss Mary Hege's community ser
vice program on the regular schedule
this week Will be featured by a five
reel film entitled "Snow White," with
Marguerite Clark' In tho stellar role.
This picture is adapted from, one of
Grimm's Fairy Tales and Is said to be
a most delightful screen production.
Two goqd comedies, Including a Mutt
and Jeff reel, will also be shown.
HART HER IO .
1MI HERE
Succeeds Late Mr. Barr
-Shippers Here Urg
ed Appointment : -
Hobart Raker,, of this city, has been
appointed agent of the Southern Rail
way at Lexington and is today being
checked into the position by an au
ditor of the Southern. Mr.' Raker
succeeds L. F. Barr, agent here for
fifteen years until his death over two
weeks ago. Mr, Raker, who . is' . 13
years old. will be one of the youngest
station agents for a city of the size.and
importance of Lexington in the em
ploy of the Southern, it is said. " '
Shortly after the death of Mr. Barr
a movement was put on foot here to
have Mr. -Raker appointed to the va.
cancy. All of his associates in the em
ploy of the Southern office here petl
tioned for his appointment rand - the
business men of Lexington practically . '
to a man eagerly signed a petition ad
dressed to the divisional superintend
ent asking for Mr.. Raker's appoint
ment The Chamber of Commerce also
held a special meeting and unanimous
ly passed a resolution of endorsement '
The new agent entered to service of
the Southern in the station here as
a clerk some five or six years ago and
received careful training under Agent '
Barr, who was recognized as one of
the most efficient agents on the South
ern. He is said to be thoroughly fa
miliar with all the details of the office .
here and is well known by all the local
shippers. He is a young man of the -highest
character and is possessed of
fine courtesy and tact In dealing with :
the. public. He is a son of Mr. and
Mrs, Frank Raker, of this city.
The Ross Will Stands.
At a quarter past twelve Saturday .
the jury in the Ross will case at Mon
roe called for the judge and, return- s
ed a vttdict for the pr -pounders on :
every issue. The Jury was out only
45 minutes. Attorneys ot t!iatfave,at- ;
o-o ItnniMllnialv moHA a .wfli.n t r
set the verdict-aside, w hich was ds .;
nied, and they gave notice of appeal.
Thus ends the hearing which com
menced ai noon on unursaay, March
xi Ann nprnimon lit nnw lima .. ,
By the terms of the Will of the late -Maggie
Ross,, which a Union county
Jury says should not be set, aside, the -residue
of a larffe-etate roes tothnML.h:,
negroes.-. The--estate -consists of 1.500 .
acres of farming' lands and about
$35,000 in money, ' several thousand
dollars. of which is gold coin - fouifd -'
about the premises after Maggie Ross's
death last summer. , ' ;-.
Specific bequests in the" will are as "
follows: Presbyterian hospital. Char-
lotte, 81,000; , Piedmont -Industrial-'
school, Charlotte, 11,500; , Barium -
Springs orphanage, $2,000; Western
North Carolina conference,1 M. E."
church, for home missions, , $1,000;
North Carolina synod, Presbyterian
church, for home.' missions, $2,000;
Bonds Grove Methodist church near
Waxhaw, $300; Marvin - Methodist
church, $900; Banks Presbyterian
church) $1,600, and $1,000 as a trust
fund for maintenance of cemetery;
Banks church also gets the house and
a three-acre lot at Marvin for a manse
R. A. Hudson, $1,000; Mrs. Hudson
$600; Harry Hood; $500; Dr. W. O.
Nisbet, Charlotte, $1,000; Will Gar
rison, Mrs. Maggie Moore. Mrs. Har
riett Taylor and Margaret Jackson
Crane, $500 each. Two . Yarbrough
boys, tenants on the place, get $100
each; Mrs. Fannie Forbs, $200, and ,
small bequests totaling $1,100 L.to '
sundry negro tenants ' on the Ross-'
farms The remainder of the estate,
real and personal, goes to Mlttie Belle
Houston, Robert B. Ross, her. father, .
and Florence Tucker' Houston, her
daughter. The old home place of
800'acres Is devised to Rob Ross and
Mlttie Belle Houston Jointly and at
I their death to Florence Tucker Hous
ton, and the other lands and property
either devised to them or provision
made for Its sale and the proceeds to
bo paid them, ; i ;'"' ' '':, ,
. When this will, which was made In
1917, was filed for probate shortly
af ten tho death of Miss Maggie Ross
in May of last year a caveat was filed
by a number of relatives, which num
ber hod Increased to 109 when,, the
case came to trial. Maggie Ross was
unmarried and there wr no surviving
brothers and sisters or children of the
same, and no first cousin, so the cave
ators were second and third couslas.
The case was one of the hardest'
fought ever heard in Union county,
the entire Monroe bar and E. T. Can
slcf and Walter Clark, Jr., of Char
lotte, being retained by on side -or
the other. ".':;.,"'.; '"; .,"".
Public Invited to Meet With Pureut
Teaolier Awtocltttlou. !
' The Parent-teacher' ; Association
meets at the school building at three
o'clock Wednesday afternoon As the
members get-to-gether, there will be
a social half hour with refreshments
served by Miss Huckabee's senior class
In home, economies. A short business
session will be followed by musical se
lections, rendered by a chorus of High
School boys and girls, and talks madil
by Mrs. Bess Gray Plumly, President
of the Winston Association, and J.
Norman Wills, President of the city
board of Education, Greensboro.
The talks will begin at 4 o'clock
and ths public Is cordially Invin-d.
The spewkers have niemHK'n of si-dml
exponent for all. Mr. Wills Is no
j stranger
in Lexington and tnni ' r
many friends among Its c!U
Story of Mrs. i'hinily s ex. -
RUltloit Work h:iH i nn .. 1
a full Ruilltorhs i i