North Carolina Newspapers

THE STAB PUBLICATIONS ARE THE ONLY WILMINGTON PAPERS USING FULL DAILY LEASED WIRE SERVICE OF ANY DESCRIPTION -: ----. -— IS ' ■■■» . , ... ni',1 iU*i , ■ ■ . , .■■ ■ •' ■ 1 ..2 '*.. " ■ ■ --- ■ '■ ~ -..>. 1 ; ; *.——.. . Weathzr i . i. ^ ^ ^ /IJU ^ 1,,, ., 12 Pages FaFir Today and Tomorrow Full Day and Night Service of the Associated Press. '. 100 PER CENT AMERICAN FOUNDED A. D. 1867.—VOL. CXI.—No. 136. WILMINGTON, N. C„ W #NESDAY MORNING, JULY 18, 1923. OLDEST DAILY IN THE STATE. Minnesota Election Is Making Republicans III; Democrats Feel Bad, Too Indications are That Farmer Labor Man’s Majority is Fully 50,000 DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY SEES CHANCE FOR PARTY Senatorial Sweep for Progres siveism Follows Michigan Congressional Landslide By H. E. C. BRYANT WASHINGTON, July 17.—The reac tion on the election of Wangnus John son. the bellowing boll of Minnesota was great today. Republicans (are EiClt to the stomach and the Democrats whistle to keep up courage. Republi cans feel that their party lines are be ing swept away by the radical cur rent and are preparing to take advan tage of any letup In the attack. Con servative Democrats fear that thsfr party leaders will rush away after the Johnson’s Brookharts and the like, but. everybody agrees that “Mr. John son” as Magnus calls himself did a good day's work on the old Republican organiaztlon. Frank A Hampton, secretary and treasurer of the Democratic senatorial committee made this comment: “On yesterday I predicted the olectlon of the Farm Labor candidate, Magnus Johnson, as United States senator over the Republican candidate in Minnesota by a majority of 25,000. My reports today indicate that the majority will reach 50,000. The defeat of the Re publicans in Minnesota by a third party undoubtedly foretells the over whelming defeat of the Reptftjllcan party in the presidential election next year The farmers vote upon which the Reoublicans have always relied i heretofore seems definitely lost to the Republican party. "Any progressive candidate for presi dent is certain to sweep the great northwest next year, judging by tfie vote in Minnesota on yesterday. wn»n Michigan and Minnesota, which are as strongly Republican states as South Carolina is a Democratic state defeat the Republican party as they did in the congressional election in Michigan three weeks ago, and in the senatorial election in Minnesota yes terday, the ^oyr„_pf .;We,„d9pX9~.»f the Republican party1 IS dt&ndv"'- ‘The Democratic party has only to be prog ressive and honest to be assured of overwhelming victory for its presi dential eandWiiis in 1924. "As for us Democrats in the ranks, why. we are JuSt preparing to turn the rascals out.” “It might be said that the result of the election in Minnesota is very emphatic vindication of the policies of the Democratic senatorial committee which stood at all times In favor of real cooperation with the Farm Labor party. The Democratic candidate for the senate, a very able man, Mr. Car ley. provided a place for those con servative Democratic votes to go that could not be cast for Mr. Johnson." Plurality May Be 75,000 ^T. PAUL, July 17.—Further returns late today from the United States senatorial election In Minnesota yester day indicated the plurality of Magnus Johnson, farmer-laborite, Would ex ceed 70,000 and might mount to 76, 100. lafollette delighted .MADISON". July 17.—In the eleotlon of Magnus Johnson to the United S'-ates senate yesterday, the people of Minnesota fired a shot which will be heard in every section ot the country according to a statement Issued today oy Senator Robert M LaFollette, who supported Mr. Johnson. 'The people of the great northwest have again spoken their conviction that if representative government is to sur vive >n the United States private monoply must be driven out of control ot iheir government.” The state ment says. “The notion with which :he reactionaries comfort themselves— that the election of Johnson expresses merely a sectional protest of dis gruntled farmers and working men against present condition and gov ernment policies—as a rediculous delu sion. Germany Prints Money to Burn BERLIN, July 17.—(By Associated Press.)—Forty-one German printing plants working day and night, 4Js gorged 17,568,819,142 marks worth of fresh paper money every hour dur ing the first week in July, according to figurs available today. The total paper currency in circulation on July 7 was 20,241,782,968,000 marks, an Increase of 2,950,720,616,000 over June 30. The aluminum coinage in circula tion increased in the same period from 1,000.000,000 marks to 2,200, 000,000. It is officially stated that no note under the face value of 1,000 marks will be printed in the future, as It costs more than the note itself actually is worth to print any of the smaller denominations. The pro duction of a 100-mark note costs many times its face value and a 600 mark note is worth no more than the paper used. A curio collector is said to be paying from five to ten times the face value of certain old 100-mark and llsOO-mark notes, declaring those printed from copper plates are the only ones acceptable abroad, as the latter onef, printed from type, are refused because they are too easily counterfeited. This is dis credited in some quarters in the be lief that counterfeiters would lose money by producing false notes of such low denominations. NEW PRISON LAW IS GALLED INOPERATIVE BY ATTORNEY GENERAL Allows Old Method of Finance to Stand and Avoids Extra Session Moral n* Star Bureau 812 Tucker Bid*. By BROCK BARKLEY RALEIGH, July 17.—The "boner’ Chapter 168 of the 1928 session of the legislature is inoperative so that the state's prison will continue to sustain l itself from its own revenues, accord inr to an opinion today by Assistant Attorney General Nash, thereby re lieving the threat of a special session of the general assembly. Mr Nash's opinion was delivered to Treasurer B. R. Lacy this morning, and Superintendent George Ross Pou was Instructed to continue the method of financing the prison, that has been in effect for years. Contract Foreman Is Beaten at Pembroke BY R. M. JTOKMEXT LTJMBERTON, July 17.—W. C. Court acy„ foreman of a contracting firm constructing a school building at Pem broke, was brought to a local hospi tal in an unconsfcious state yesterday. From all accounts he was taken out by a band of three or four men, order ed to change his ways and then beaten severely. One arm had been broken and baa lacerations on his face and scalp, when he was picked up In the road uncon7 scious. SKIDDING auto kills child GREENVILLE, S. C., July 17.—-The two-year-old child of Dr. and Mrs. R, B. Walker, of Centerville, Ala., was killed, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. R. C. Gool son and Miss Helen Moore, Woodrow, N. C., injured, when the Walker auto mobile skidded off a high embankment on the Durham bridge road, 14 miles from here today. FAIRMONT TOBACCO MART OPENED YESTERDAY WITH SMALL OFFERING IN POOL Only Poor Grades Came in and Selling Was De ferred INDEPENDENT HOUSES WILL OPEN IN AUGUST fairmo\t offering poor (Special to The Star) F-UPmonT, July 17.—The Co-opera t!ve Tobacco Marketing association Pene.-j here yesterday to receive to r'acr° from its members, using as head quarters and warehouse room a part 11 old Fairmont Warehouse, occu P'ed last, year by the pooling Interests. A very limited amount of tobacco ’l'Ka- brought In by the farmers and wap of an extremely poor grade, a- "o sales were made. Only the poor grades of tobacco were ready for mar ■ The manager this year is a Mr. Rak pr. He succeeds Worley and Jones, Managers last year. The RO.rpa of book k(,epors and graders, clerks and heip trs have arrived. The, independent warehous ma,le announce t,ppn August 1. housemen are optimistic over the good crop and the progress the planters are making In harvesting the tobacco. Warehousemen are beginning to a* rlve and by next week the. "town will take on new life. Fully a thousand more people will be added to it3 sum mer census list. i~ El. J- Davis and Son's will operate the Robeson county warehouse while Chambers and Reeves company will have charge of the Peoples Warehouse. They are looking for the biggest sea son in the history of Fairmont tobacco market and substantiate their optim istic view on the good condition of the A much needed rain fell yesterday end this added much to the condition of cotton and corn AS well as to bacco. by gooi authority that fully 7.000.000 pounds of toba.v-o w.V be' handled here this year. The far. _,r_ •mi warehousemen are looking. Tot a; big rush a> the majority of the -rop 1* thrown on the market within fheshort selling season of two months. thr«ovement will be made te nure. „ ,«#illng season ore:- tne en tlre new belt, which includes Fair mont. If this is accomplished Fair mont will easily become one of the leading markets of this e.uce. t PACKET STORE FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN; CAUSES $4,000 LOSS Started in Rear of Rediron Sales room at 11:30 Last Night STOCK WORTH S8,000 L. ABLOVITZ STATES Firechiefs Head Cut by Falling Glass in Forcing Front Door Open Tne Kea.ron racKet sio-e. oeiongmg to Louis Abelovltz and locaten on South Front street, between Orange and Dock strata, was practically de stroyed by tire last night about 11:30. The amount of the loss, as estimated by Mr. Abelovltz. is not less than three or four thousand dollars. He was carrying a stock which he valued at $8,000. Tha origin of the fire is un known. According to Fire Chief Schntbben, the fire had it origination in the rear of the store. It was discovered by L. T .Long who was passing. Patrolman T. Faircloth turned in the alarm which brought the firefighters to the scene. As he was trying to shove the door to the building open, Chief Schnibben was cut on the head by falling glass. The wound was about two Inches in length. It did not retard the chief's progress in directing the foremen. COAST LINE AGENTS AT NORFOLK TODAY Convention to Be held at Hotel Southerland With Officials Present Atlantic Coast Line railroad officials of the first division will hold a con ference tomorrow in Norfolk. The meeting was called by A. C. Kenley, freight superintendent, of this city. H* left last night for New York and will arrive in Norfolk tomorrow in tlnp» for the conference,. „ Tlje officials who will be present are claim agent# and committees of the ^lrst division, comprising Wilmington. Richmond, Norfolk, Fayetteville and Columbia. The meeting will be held at the Hotel Southland in Norfolk, and About one hundred agents, commit teemen and officials of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad company are ex pected to be in attendance. Matters to be discussed at the meeting has not been made known. No Federal Cots For Confederate Hosts BY H. BJ. O. BRYANT WASHINGTON, D. C., July IT.—North Carolina ran counter to Federal law today in two requests on Uncle Sam. Senator .Overman was told that Dr. A. H. Fleming of Louisburg could not use postal franks to send out his lit erature advertising the Louisburg fair There is no provision for any such mai v service. .. . Senator Simmons was notified that the law prohibits the loan of cots and teds belonging to the army and navy, Winston-Salem had asked for these to help out with the Confederate Veterans reunion. DESPONDENT WOMAN SUCIDES NEW YORK, July 17.—Despondent over debts caused by her husband’s inability to obtain work, Mrs. Jose phine Antoinette Driggs. yesterday burned on the gas in a bed room Of their home in Jamaica, caused the death of their two children and then slashed her own throat with razor. Driggs told police there had been no money in the house for several weeks and very little food. RUPPBRT DENIES SAL1S NEW YORK, July 17.—Colonel Jacob Ruppert president and sole owner of the New York Yankees today flatly denied newspaper reports that Harry Fraree, the theatrical man who re cently disposed of his majority in terest in the Boston Red Sox, would become associated with him in the ownership of the American league chanipions. "I own every share of the New York Yankees stock," Col Rup pert said. WEATHER FORECAST BY STATES WASHINGTON] July 17.—Virginia and North Carolina: Generally fair Wednesday and Thursday; no change in temperature; light to gentle winds; mostly east and northeast. South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, extreme northwest Florida, Alabama and Mississippi: Unsettled Wedens day and probably Thursday with scat tered thundershowers; light to gentle variable winds. Superintendent Graham Speaks Before Y. M. G. A. MaJ. W. A. Graham, superintendent of the New Hanover public schools, spoke1 to the Y’s Men’s club last night at its! meeting in the Y. M. C. A. ' He told about 'the Various kinds 6f schools in p,ubllc school system frop the state to the county. He prefaced hil address with a few remarks on | good citizenship and the duty! and the, prlvelege of each member of the club in. acquainting ■himself with the most important public enterprises. The social 'program was in charge p ,\j, Sutton. President M. B. Mc Daniels had, charge, of the business session. M’ADOO ON STAND IN MORSE TiLTELLS OF FIRM'Sf^MOUS FEE Mrs. P" ^ /g Too Weak to Take ,J|giffle Auto Trip as / 11 y Planned ryy * WASHINGTON, July 17.—For two .hours, William G. McAdoo, former sec retary of the treasury, occupied the witness stand In federal court and de» tiled his relations with Charles W. Morse, the shipping operator on trial for alleged wartime fraud. Report that his appearance would make Im portant disclosures packed the court. His brief cross-examination by Dis trict Attorney Gordon told of the rela tions of Mr. McAdoo with officials of the Wilson administration. The law firm of McAdoo, Cotton & Franklin, of New York, the witness testified, became counsel for the Morse interests after he left the cabinet. The firm served as counsel for the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation, operating a yard at Alexandria, Va„ and for the Groton Iron Works, another shipyard iq Connecticut,.»ttd aided the Morse ship ping Interests In securing coal tonnage [ contracts abroad. Mr. McAdoo said he had no stock in 1 the Morse companies. Hie firm, he I said, had received total cash feed of $83,000. and held unpaid obligations of the Morses for a like amount. SENTENCE COMMUTED BECUSE OF INSANITY i W. W. Campbell Who Murdered Oteen Ttelephone Operator Gets Life Term Morning Star Bureau 313 Tucker Bldg. By BROCK BARKLEY RALEIGH, July 17.—Governor Mor rison this afternoon commuted from death to life imprisonment the sentence of W. W. Campbell, who was convicted of the murder of Mrs. Annie Smathers, i Oteen telephone operator,. The 1 prisoner Is j^ftsane. He pep the com mu tati o n. -**n-*v ‘S. •SWfc | The governor based his decision on a jolht report, signed by Drs. Ander son, McCampbell and Faison, superinr tendents of ,the hospitals'for the insane at Raleigh, Morganton and GoIdsbo.ro, i respectively. The crime for which Campbell was sentenced to die was committed May 1, 1922. The trial took i place at the July term, 1922, in Bun-1 cbmbe, arid Campbell was sentence !, to die Octpber II, 1922. *He appealed. He lost and the governor "set the date for July 12, this yegr later granting a respite until October 12. The: governor's statement Issued In connection with the commutation fol-, lows: “In this case, from- information received from the keepers of W. W. Campbell, 1 became very doubtful of the sanity of the prisoner, and re quested Dr. Anderson, superintendent of the state hospital at Raleigh; Dr. McCampbell, superintendent of the state hospital at Morganton, and Dr. ! Faison, superintendent . of . state hos pital at Goldsboro to examine the de | fendant and report to me their opinion. They most emphatically" express the opinion that he must have been Insane at the time he committed the crime. I, therefore, commute the sentence of death to life imprisonment In the state prison.” [Norfolk’s Boy Bandit j ! Tells How He Escaped j PETERSBURG. Va., July 17.—Wltn ] j the modest frankness of a school boy | and his laughing brown eyes sparkling with the comedy of his adventure, ] Benjamin Liverman, the Norfolk “boy bandit.” who escaped from the state ! penitentiary last night and who was 1 captuyed here today told how he plan 1 ned his escape shd detailed the man ' ner in which he walked through the , trap latd for him by penitentiary ' authorities last night. “It Is soft getting out of there,” he declared. Liverman, said the ladder 'and rope which he used. In climbing over the prison wall was obtained in side the penitentiary. He spent five days In a shed on the penitentiary grounds before he was given an op portunity to scale the wall and escape. | He said he had prepared for his escape [far In advance. Every time he en tered the penitentiary, he declared, he managed to smuggle food and water, j This he concealed in the shed. . Then hip supply of food and water had beconje large enougn for him to, live for several days, he decided to . drop out of sight. Last Wednesday afternoon his chance came and the j "boy bandit" disappeared. [Negro Pythians Say State is Best Ever GOLDSBORO, July 17.—In calling to order the 19th annual session of the' Grand Lodge of 'Colored Knights of Pythias of North Carolina in the color ed high school building In Goldsboro this morning J. W- Jones, M. D., of Winston-Salem pointed oiit the many advantages to be found in North Caro lina that are not found in other states, and he told the . 500 representatives; that If the negro was illiterate and Ignorant in the state he would have , only himself to blame. “We have our state schools," he' said, "then we are now having good summer schools all over the state to. help, the teachers,, for we are getting ^hold of the best In the country now.”, FOREST’S GRANDSON SPEAKS BEFORE KLAN DETAILING O'RIGIN * _ I Scion of Leader of Clan Before War Talks to Grand Dragons ORDERS PRINCIPLES. TO BE MADE PUBLIC Endorsement made of Women of the Ku Klux Established in Arkansas ASHEVILLE, July 17.—General Na than Bedford Forrest, grandson of the famoua Confederate cavalry leader of the same name and head of the Ku Klux klan that flourished during the Civil war reconstruction period, ad dressed the conference of grand drag ons and great titans, now In session here, this morning, oil "The Original Ku Klux Klan.” No place for the next annual conven tion of state officers will be selected at this meeting, this being left to imperial officers, although Denver, Colo., Port land, Ore., and Indianapolis, Ind„ have extended Invitations, officials state. Reports of committees Wednesday will end the convention. Resolutions stating the principles and purposes of the or der and setting forth plans for the com ing year are being framed by a special committee and will be made public be fore the meeting adjourns, the pub licity man states. Endorsement and support of the wo men of the Ku Klux klan ,a kindred order established recently at Little Rock, Ark., were given in a unanimous vote today. Members of the Asheville klan,-said to have been members of the original klan, are reported to have, spoken today. Subjects and speakers at today’s ses sion, as announced by the publicity man, follows Fred L. Gifford, grand dragon of the realm of Oregon, on “The responsibility o-f klankraft to the American boy," speaking of a chil dren's home being financed and built by klansmen . of Oregon; the grand dragon of Arkansas on "American wo manhood"; one of the great titans of Texas on "The responsibility of cltl aenshlp”; the grand dragon of South Carolina on "The regulation of immi rratloal'; yast grand dragon of West VlrfciV* dit 'Ttls heritage of American' institutions”; the grand dragon of Ok lahoma on "The definition of klan kraft”; the dragon of Mississippi on "A. spiritual interpretation of klan kraft’; the grand dragon of Colorado "The klansman's obligation as a patriot to his country, his home and his fellow man.” Wednesday morning’s session, it is announced, will be devoted largely to a round table discussion of klan prob lems. conducted by the imperial kili graph and the imperial klaliff. PLAGE FOR BIG MILL WILL BE FIXED TODAY Kearns Rather Favors Labor Day Mixup on American Soil NEW YORK, July 17.—Whether Jack Dempsey will defend his heavyweight boxing title next time In the United States or the Argentine, probably will be determined tomorrow when Jack Kearns, the champion's manager, con fers with Tex Rickard, promoter, and Luis Angel Firpo, the South American challenger. Rickard yesterday ad vanced a proposal to stage a Firpo Dempsey contest in Buenos Aires, capi tal of the Argentine, around November first, but Kearns has expressed a pref erence Instead for two title bouts in this country, one with. Firpo about La bor day and the other with Harry Wills, negro, at Chicago, shortly before the world’s basebal iserles. The title holder’s manager, however, said tonight he was open to the propo sition and might accept Rickard’s South American offer If no better one was in sight. At any rate, he has promised the promoter he will make- his decision tomorrow. Promoters who hold boxing at the Yankee stadium are anxious to have a Wills-Dempsey match at world's series time. Auction Tobacco Sales At Lumberton August 1 Br »• M. NOttMBNT L.XJMBBRTON, July 17.—The local to bacco market will open for auction sales of tobacco August 1. There has been considerable confusion as to the opening date here since July 24 was reoommended as the opening date for the South Carolina belt at a recent meeting of tobacco warehousemen at Asheville. The Star and Banner ware houses will be open to receive tobacco on and after July 24, however. Jackson Cannot Play In South Georgia Now ' Al>BANT, Ga., July 17—Joe Jackson, blacklisted former Chicago American league * baseball player, can not play ir. the South Georgia basebal circuit, according to a decision by the directors of the association rendered tonight. This decision was made in the face of the fact that the Americus. Ga., base bale flub,- admittedly had employed Jbekson. gtying hUn a guarantee of five weeks employment Flogged Woman On Stand At Lumberton Identifies Her Hooded Assailants FIRST LICENSED OPERATOR Georg© Hill Lewis, above, has the distinction of being licensed radio operator Nc. 1. He was the first, in 1M1, when the operator's license law went into effect, to receive the license which he values now more than any other part of his property. Lewis is a graduate of Annapolis and was as signed to the radio division of the U. S. navy in 1910. At present he is em ployed at station WLW in Cincinnati. MRS. VANDERBILT HAS FINISHED STATE TOUR .Hea^^Sd^teExpositianSaye She Met With Pine Re sponse Here Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt, president of the North Carolina state fair associa tion has just completed her ton*- of the state. On her retu-n to her home she says that while 6n the campaign for the closer cooperation of the com munity, county and state fairs she met gratifying response .n Wilming ton and other towns in ilie eastern part . £ the state. She made the trip in approved “stump speaking” style, traveling by automo bile so that she'could make- better time.. Her poke bonnet hat caught the fancy of her audiences, and many a Tar.Heel farmer is ready to wager that she is going to make the fair this year the big success that she has in mind Certainly she will if those who heard her speak can aid her in realizing her ambition, it is declared, for these farm ers found that she is a real womanly woman without frills or furbelows. Mrs. Vandrebllt In her addresses ex plained that the proper function of a state fair or any fair for that matter is not the amusement of pleasure seek ers but the development along proper lines of education in agriculture, in dustry and general knowledge. She ventured to say that there is no other state on the Atlantic sea board that can present so much in the way of natural resources as North Carolina and she ventured further to predict that a state fair of a state-wide basis and financially organized would do more for Nor'h Carolina In five years than a million dollars spent in any other way. Even as it. is last year's fair brought favorable comments from as far north as New Hampshire and as far west as Wisconsin. The logical conclusion of the pro gram of the agricultural society, she said, is to build up an Institution that will belong to the state and that will adequately represent the state. Was Tipped of Visit Just Be fore Masked Men Came in Ford HEDGEPATH TESTIFIES THAT HE WAS AT HOME Jurors Fill Bar and Are Sworn in Platoons; Eight Are Farmers By R. M. NORMENT LUMBERTON, July 17—Mike Law- ; son, Fairmont police chief; John Hedgepeth and Jule Brogden, of Proc to'rvllle, were placed on trial here to day charged with leading a hooded & band of men which broke Into the home of Mrs. Hattie Purvis, at Proctorvllle, Saturday night, April 14, at about 10 o'clock, carried her and Mrs. Mary Watson to a negro churchyard, half mile away, and administered a severe flogging. The case went to trial de spite rumors which continues up to the time t.t was called that some com promise agreement or continuance would be effected, and rapid progress had been made when court adjourned for the day. Mrs. Hattie Purvis, one: of the vie- ' tlms of the flogging, was the star wit- ■ ness for the state and lawyers for the (jefense were unable to shake her testimony that she was positive she Identified Lawson, Hedgepeth and Brogden. She told praotlcally the same story as Bhe told at the prelimi nary hearing held shortly after the flogging. After putting on Conrad' Purvis, her son, and J. A. Sharpe, edi tor of The Robesonian, who described the wounds of the women as the most striking sight he had ever seen, the state rested. Witnesses Fill Bar Defense witnesses comppletely filled the bar and they were so numerbut. they had to1 be sworn in platoons, ' S'x women testified Mrs. Purvis bore1 a bad character In their community and Mrs. Mary Surles, Mrs. Nobles and Mrs. George Branch declared on cross- :'i examination they approved of the flog-; i'i gtng administered to the woman. So- , llcitor 'McNeill elected to go to trial‘"5 ojUtfsr leaser 'of. the' 'two-HMiufjnent#,..;';,. which alleges kidnaping, saoref assault -Hth dekdly weapons, assault ‘and bat- | tery with intent to kill and pointing | a pistol. The kidnaping charge is a ( felony and If convicted the punishment j of the men Is in the discretion of the ■ { court. The maximum penalty Is 20 j years’ Imprisonment In the state prison. .! The Issue with the Ku Klux Klan 1 was souarely joined. Despite objec- * tlons from the defense questions per taining to the Klan were injected In many Instances. One man was dis qualified for Jury duty on his admis sion that he had been driving a taxi In several parts of the county for H. L. Taliaferro, alleged agent of the Invisible Empire, who is under bond of $5,000 to answer charges of at tempting to Intimidate state witnesses in the case. Hedgepeth Takea Stand John Hedgepeth was the first of the defendants to take the stand and he swore the only Ku Klux meeting he ever attended was to hear a lecturer. He denied any connection with the or der and declared he was at home dur ing the time the whipping Is alleged to have occurred. Stephen McIntyre, of the prosecution, | secured the admission from him that / although he was an alderman of the -fij town of Proctorvllle he made no ef- ' u ■a ■ ii 4 ■?, 3 fort to find out the perpetrator* Of the crime beyond talking with his sister, Mrs. Watson, one of the victims of the masked 1-end’s lash. His sis ter, he declared, told him she did hoi know who whipped her. No extraordinary difficulty was ex perienced In selecting, a Jury and one was empanelled before before court ad- ( journed for the noon recess. A thrill went through the crowded court room when J. A. Campbell, a regular Juror, ,i: admitted h* had been a member of the Ku Klux Klan, but Solicitor McNeill begged his pardon for questioning him ; on that score when It was learned ti# M had joined the order of reconstruction ( day. :-j5 Farmers on Jury The jury hearing the case is com posed of eight farmers, three merchants (Continued on Page Two.) SEVEN CONVICTS ESCAPE ,J FROM PRISON FARM, ONE J. J. PEAKE, A MURDERER 1 Lone Guard in Charge of Hali fax Gang Fires Gun Ineffectually ONE GUARD ABSENT WITH SICK PRISONER (Special to the Star) RALEIGH, July 18.—Breaking from a Squad working In'the field on the Halifax state prison farm, seven white prisoners made a successful getaway this morning in the face of gunfire from the lone guard In charge, accord ing to an official report from the farin to Supt. George Ross Pou, of the prison system, this afternoon. One of the seven was J. L. Peake, sentenced July 22, 1922, from 'Forsythe county for second degree murder. A hundred dollars has been offered for the capture of Peake. . His escape to day recalled reports In Winston-Salem a week or two ago that he had made v ■ ' ■ a getaway, the report at thAt tim£ prov'ng erroneous, According- to the report received by Superintendent Pou, 18 men were working as a squad under two guards. One of the men was taken sick and had to be carried to the barracks. One guard going with him, the other wa* left in charge of the squad. The pris oners made the break and the guard opened fire. One man threw up his hands and yelled that he wAs shtn, but did not stop. Mr. Pou is making a thorough investigation to determine if there was negligence. Peake, serving the longest term of the seven who escaped, is 29 years old, 5 feet 9 Inches tall, weighing 1$8 pounds and has brown eyee. dark red hair and fair complexion.1/ His fore finger on the left hand has1 a' scar and the end of the finger is withered AncJ drawn. . '’ff His parents'reside in RldgfwAy, S. C., and he - hae a wife in Chattanooga, Tenn. He murdefed an Insurance man of Winston-Salem. ? . Another long^ termer, for whom a $50 reward hae been offered, is Hardy Sisk, of Rockiggham, sentenced last May 17 for second degree murder; BHe mother resides at Madison. m •: J J ■ 4 Me ' it W ■