VOLUME XLIII, NUMBER 32
NISWONGER TO BE
MAIN SPEAKER AT
FARM INSTITUTE
Department of Agriculture Expert to
Speak on Vegetable Crops at Third
Annual Farm Gather? **- Practical
Experiences to Be Related by Local
Agrarians. Large Attendance Is
Urged by Committee.
The third annual Farmers Institute
for Watauga County, will be held
in the courthouse, in Boone on Thursday,
February 18th, beginning at 10
o'clock a. rn. The sessions this year
are under the auspices of the Boone
Civitan Club, and a program of rare
interest has been worked out b-* a
special committee.
Mr. H. R. Niswonger, of the State
Department of Agriculture, will be
the main speaker, and will discuss
the culture of vegetable crops. He I
appeared here at preceding institutes
and his knowledge along horticultural!
lines has proved of great benefit to
county farmers.
The Asheville Citizen-Times is j
crvrwlinrr o C r> uJ
?? OI'CHIVCI HU1I1 1>?IIL'UHU<'J
County who will discuss the "five-to-1
ten-year plan for Western North
Carolina." which has been given such
wide publicity tor the past several
weeks. This plan, the committee
points out, is of vital importance to
the farm population of this seetinn.
and during the institute it will be
fully explained.
A number of local farmers wil'
appear on this year's program ar.d
give the assembly practical experiences
in agriculture, gardening, poultry
and livestock activities for the
past year. These talks, it is believed,
will be the source of valuable information,
and will lead to many pro-'
gressive changes in rural life.
A plan of farming without the use I
of so much commercial fertilizer will
also be stressed during the institute.
Farmera of the section are changing
their mind, it is stated, relative to
the huge output of money for fertilizers,
and arc seeking a way whereby
stable manure, leaves, etc., may he
used as a soil builder rather than the
commercial product- A speaker will
give practical experiences along this I
line.
A member of the institute committee
states that never in the history
of Watauga has It" Been so necessary
for farmers to plan their activities
wisely. He is anxioua that all
who are able attend the meetings in
order that a definite agricultural program
may be worked out.
Various features of entertainment
in addition to the addresses and demonstrations,
ale being prepared, and
those who attend the meeting are
assured of a well-balanced program, j
MORATORIUM DECLARED ON
HANDSHAKING BY PRESIDENT
Washington.?A moratorium on
periods of extended handshaking was
declared Tuesday by President Hoover.
His place will be taken, however,
at the formal reception of groups and
organizations by Mrs. Hoover.
It having been found that an ever
mounting succession of telephone calls
capped by tens of thousands of handshakes,
were making inroads on the
Chief Executive's time and strength
the ban was laid today in a formal
White House statement, against his
participation, ior the next few
months at least, in "formal reception."
The announcement said:
"Mrs. Hoover will be delighted,
whenever possible, to extend the courtesies
of the White House to visiting
organizations, the officials and
members of which desire to be received.
The President, however, must
request to be excused from participation.''
BOUND TO COURT
Minnie Horton and Katie Grimes,
both colored, who engaged in a "fist
and skull fight on Main Street Saturday
afternoon, were tried before
Mayor J. M. Moretz shortly after the
"smoke of battle" had cleared away,
and each was fined $1 and the cost.
Later, however, the Grimes woman,
displaying a three-inch ^sealp wound,
swore out a warrant fc -linnie Horton,
charging the use < knife dur
"ing the affray. The cah as brought
before Justice E. N. m for trial,
but the defendant wr examination
and was bound to rior Court
under a bond of $10(1
. INCOME TAX EXPl" DOMING
_ f
Marion Thomas, Fi' " . collector
of Internal Revenue. . be at the
Critcher Hotel in Boo^^p February
17th and 18th for the , jrpose of assisting
taxpayers ifi fjling income
tax returns. He asks that those who
have received blanks by mail bring
them along.
PARENT-TEACHERS TO MEET
The Parent-Teacher Association
will meet. Thursday afternoon. There
will be an interesting February program
by some of the children. Miss
Grace Graybeal will sing. A large attendance
.is urged.
/A 1A1
A Non-Partisan N
BOON]
jWatauea Man T*?ll? nf
Blizzard in Washington
While springlike weather prevails
in Watauga County, residents of
Lancnster, Wash., are getting their
part of winter. J. Polk Todd, former
Wataugan who for the past
thirty years or more has made his
home at that place, tells The Democrat
in a recent letter that the
ground has been covered with snowsince
November 14 th, and that
Wn3hingtonians are now in the
midst of a terrific bliaari, which
has blocked roads and brought traffic
practically to a standstill.
Mr. Todd's letter also states
that Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hagamau
and Mr. George Presnell, natives of
i'nis county wno have been in the
Northwest for a long while, are
quite ill, and that wheat is being
sold at the elevators for twentyfive
cents per bushel.
wwwvatvwuwtwtMwtw
M A \TV TA A Tfrrwn
iTmiii
LINCOLN DINNER
Goodly Number of Leading Watauga
Republicans Expected to Go to
Greensboro Frldayi Many
Notables to Be There.
A number of the leading Republicans
of Watauga County are expected
to go to Greensboro Friday to attend
the annual Lincoln Day dinner given
under the auspices of the Young Republican
Club of the State. Baxter
M. Linney of Boone and Lenoir is
secretary of the organization, and this
year's event is scheduled to be held
in the ball room of the King Cotton
Hotel.
Russell D. Hodges, Watauga chairman
of the local committee, has invited
the leading Republicans of the
county to attend, and among those
vho have signified their intention of
accepting the invitation are: W. H.
Gragg, R. D. Hodges, Fred Hodges,
John W. Hodges, A. W. Smith, Miss
Blanche Smith, W. D. Farthing and
G. K. Moose.
About fourteen hundred Republicans
from every section of the State
are expected to be present for the
ar mxel meo.ting. and several promi
i 1 3..? f i : j?J.I? a?_A_ i
j i wi*a uukjiutt vuc oluir.
nru slated to appeal' on the program.
MIMADY BROWN
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Funeral Service* Held Wednesday at I
Home and Burial Tcok Place in
Jont Brown Graveyard. Survived
by Three Children.
Mrs. Grady Brown, 33, of Boone
Route 2, died at her home on Tuesday
morning, February 2, following
a stroke of paralysis on the previous
evening, from which she never regained
consciousness. Funeral serv
ices were held on Wednesday noon at
the home, with Rev. W. C. Payne in
charge, and burial took place in the
Jont Brown Cemetery.
Mrs. Brown was a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Greene, and was
born and reared on Howards Creek.
She was a member of the Baptist
Church, was highly respected in her
neighborhood, and her untimely passing
is lamented by a large concourse
of friends.
Surviving are the husband, father
and mother; three children, Virginia,
Bernice and William; two brothers,
John and Lee Greene, of the Howards
Greek section, and one sister,
Mrs. Clarence Baker, of Bowie.
Full Section of Paper
Used by Popular Store
Spainhour's store ha3 done the unusual
in local mercantile circles by
buying a full four-page section of
The Democrat today for advertising
its periodical Banner Bargain period.
This, incidentally, presages the most
far-flung advertising program thus
far attempted by the popular local
store. According to Mi. V>. R. Spainhour,
who was here last week assist:
?(..??.- a v tt
(UK (uauaK? xa. uaiiia in picpaiing
for the big event, the surest way
out of the present depression is
through noteworthy mercantile values,
coupled with systematic newspaper
advertising. He, however, states
that for the period of the year, the
Bpainhour stores are enjoying their
; usual trade, notwithstanding curtail|ment
of sales of seasonable merchandise
through the warm weather.
The last four pages of The Democrat
today are perhaps the most valuable
portion or tne current issue,
and contain the complete details of
the Greatest Banner Bargain period
in Spainhour history. The stocks are
full to overflowing with the best merI
ehondise the markets afford, and the
prices are the lowest which have been
offered in more than twenty-five
years. Thrifty persons will read carefully
each word of the extended message,
and profit by the unusual savings
being offered tliem.
UGA
ewspaper, Devoted to the
E, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CA
FARM MFFTIMnc ATI
!* IHUIJ ililUlJ lil
'COVECREEKSCHOOL
DRAW BIG CROWDS
Thirty of the County's Most Progressive
Farmers Attend First Week's
ScB?iOu?, Dr. 5. B. Dciiyhcrty Delivers
Address. Growing Crops Will
Feature Second Week. Uses of
Fertilizer Is Discussed.
The night farm meetings at Cove
Creek High School drew Isr^e and
enthusiastic crowds during last week,
about thirty of the most progressive
farmers of the section attending
practically every session. The study
of livestock and poultry proved very
interesting and helpful to the group,
and various suggestions on the feeding
and care of herds were offered.
Several farmers related practical
experiences in livestock culture and
marketing, which brought out new
ideas and leu to many lively discussions.
Watauga County has the natural
conditions for livestock and
poultry raising, hut the group at
the "night school" saw the need of 1
improving breeds and management of
these enterprises.
It was the opinion of all that the
Hampshire sheep, the black Poland- '
China hog, Shorthorn and Hereford |
Cattle are best adapted to the county |
and that everyone should breed to
improved sires.
Dr. T5. B. Dougherty, president of
Appalachian State Teachers College,
was in attendance at some of the
meetings and gave valuable talks,
emphasizing the importance of correct
breeding and the use of manure
as a son punaer. no brought out tnej
fact that farmers of Watauga arc ,
losing tens of thousands of dollars
annually by buying fertilizers instead 1
of making use oi leaves, etc., with
barnyard manure.
Ths second Vr'oek of the <*rnnp J
study course is given over to the discussion
of growing crops. j
Town Mass Meeting
Was Well Attended
i
A good crowd of representative
citiicr.R of Boone met with the May- J
or and Board of Aldermen last Fti- j
day evening. The meeting was pre- ]
siueu over uv ASurrmor. I.other ('ley,
and after it few explanatory remarks
by board members, .a general ^discus- ^
sion of the tax situation was entered
into. During the two preceding !
months collection of revenues by city '
authorities had greatly diminished, '
and fears were entertained that the 1
town might default in her obliga
Hons. I:
However, a spirit of co-operation |1
was manifest ir. those who attended I'
the meeting Friday, and a notable '
increase in city tax collections is re- I
ported so far this week. Officials
urge that property owners who are :
in arrears pay just as much as they
can within the next few days, and 1
do their part toward retaining the
town's good financial name.
Local Taxi Man Injured
When Car Strikes Pole
Letcher Teague, Boone taxi driver,
sustained severe cuts around the head
and face Tuesday afternoon, when a '
car he was driving collided with a
itiepnone poie near the Sprinkle Oil
Station on Main Street. Following
treatment by a local doctor, Teague
\vas arrested on a warrant charging
speeding, reckless driving, and driving
under the influence of liquor,
was tried by Mayor i. M. Moretz and
fined ten dollars and costs.
Other cases disposed of by Msyor
Moretz within the past few days
were:
Her.ry Ragan, drunkenness, fined
$5, including costs.
Roy Bumgarner, drunkenness, $5
and costs.
THE WEATHER
Weather report for week ending
February ri, 1932, as compiled by the
Co-operative Station at Appalachian
State Teachers College:
Average maximum temperature, 50
degrees.
Average minimum temperature, 28
degrees.
Average temperature, 3d degrees.
Average daily range in temperature,
21 degrees.
Greatest daily range in tunpe.ra
ture, 2y degrees; dates 1st and 4th.
Average temperature at 6 p. m.
(time of observation), j9 degrees.
Highest temperature reached, 59
degrees; date, 4th.
Lowest temperature reached, 17
degrees; date, 1st.
Number inches of rainfall (including
melted snow), 2.45.
Greatest rainfall in 24 hours, 2.05;
date, 3rd.
Number of days with 0.01 inch or
more rainfall, 3.
Number of clear days, 4.
Number of cloudy days, 2.
Number of partly cloudy days. 1.
Direction of prevailing wind, west.
Dates of light frost, 1st and 5th.
Dates of fog3, 4th.
Dates of thunderstorms, 3rd.
Other phenomena described as follows:
Solar halo on 1st.
*
DEM<
Best Interests of Northwt
fiOLINA, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY
Huey Long Sw<
jg ^JJ *^WBI*M .. TESRSI
Governor Gone of Louisiana, a d
activities to the Senate, after his ov
acr's chair had been du!j- elected. I
to Vice-President Curtis.
E7fIov1llhom?is
tctrftved ryfirf.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Practically Nothing Salvaged From!
Flaming Residence in Greene]
Heights. Loss Estimated at Around
$5,000. Partial Insunancc Coverage.
Flames Originated in Absence
of Family.
The residence of Mr. and Mrs. T.
F. (Cooge) Lovill, which was located
an the highest eminence of the Green
Heights section, just within the western
limits of the town of Boone, was
burned to the ground shortly before
10 o'clock last Saturday night, only
n very small amount of foodstuffs
having been salvaged from the doomad
structure. The building was a sevan-rGom
frame structure, well furnished,
and a minimum estimate of
the loss has been placed at $5,000.
*h<=re was a partial insurance cover~
building became ignited during
the absence, of members of the
family, Mr. Lovill was at the home
latter a few Kunureu" yardo1
E.way and the wife and children were
in 4ov.'n.-therefore there been'no
theories advanced as to the* origin of
:he flame. When the alarm was sounded
the fire was so far advanced tnafc
all efforts to have saved the building
KfouJd have been futile. It was a substantial
structure, adequately furnished,
and one of the principal item?
of loss consisted of several hundred
:ans of fruits and vegetables, pre
t?<i i CTU uuamij^ CIIV pav DUOSU11Mr.
Lovill expects lo start construction
of another residence at a
point not far removed within the next
few days.
Roby Farthing Dies at
Blountville, Tennessee
Roby Farthing, 58 years old, former
resident of Watauga County,
died at his home in Blountville, Tenn.,
c>n Monday morning, February 1st,
after having been seriously ill since
- ?* 1 \ . r.' J 1 I X..1
tt auuni; \rx ]>uiuijoio uui irt.it ?ui_?.
Funeral services were conducted from
Blountville Baptist Church, and interment
was in that city. Several
relatives and friends from Watauga
County attended the rites.
Mr. Farthing was reared in the
Beaver llara section of Watauga, a
son of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley H. Farthing.
lie moved to Tennessee about
twenty-five years ago, and at the time
he was stricken was engaged in photography
at Pulaski, Va. He was
well and favorably known throughout
this county, where his many friends
learn of his death with sorrow.
Surviving are one brother and three
sisters: Albert of Bristol; Mesdamcs
Nine Truelove of Johnson City, Clay
McBride, Limestone, Tenn., and Miss
Jennie Farthing of Blountville. He
was never married.
HONOR ROLL FOR FIFTH MONTH
AT THE BOONE HIGH SCHOOL
Eighth Grade ? Edward Loviil,
Margaret Hampton, Ileen Jones, Billy
Cook, Clarance Berryman, Daisy
Austin, Mary Bingham, Thelma
Bond, Wylene Dickson, Charles
Wright, Thomas Moore, Alonzo Morctz.
Ninth Grade?Odessa Lookabill,
Annie Norris, Margaret Ray, Virginia
South, Annie Adams, Jean
Bush, June Bush, Ullie Jean Coffey,
Winfred Hampton.
Tenth Grade?Helen Edmisten,
Anna Hayes, Gladys Hampton, Delia
Hayes, Jean Little, Alice iNSchols,
Rex Hagaman, Dale Keller, Banner
Miller, Karl Sawyer.
Eleventh Grade?Ira Coffey. Tom
CroWell, Sam Austin, Helen Benson,
Ruby Byers, Nannie Byrd, Lottie
Dickson, Glenda Hampton. Mary
Hayes, Rubye Trivette, Rubye A.
Trivette, Rex. VcGuire, Winton
Rankin, Woodrow Winebarger.
3CRA
;st North Carolina
11, 1932
)rn in as Senator
imamic politician, has transferred his
m choice as successor in the CoverLENGTHY
HLNES1S
FATAI.TflPOPIU.AR
COVE CREEK LADY!
| Miss Edith Henson Dies at Air.antha
I Home. Former Teacher in County
Schools. Was a Leader in Communi
ity Life. Funeral Services Con1
ducted .Tuesday .and .Burial .at
Hcnson's Chapel.
Miss Edith Henson, 20 years old,
died at her home at Amantha Monday
morning, after having been a sufferer
from tuberculosis for more than
a year. Funeral services were conducied_^Tuesday
from the Hensnn's
Chapel Methodist Church, of which
deceased was a loyal member, by the
pastor, Rev. G. C. Graham, and interment
was in the nearby cemetery.
Surviving are parents and a number
of brothers and sisters.
Miss Henson was one of the most
popular young ladies of the Cove
Creek section, was educated at the
Normal College in Boone, and had
taught for about three years in the
schools of the county. She was excepTJUHRIJJ
rriXIg?iv,- oTju tjili u?>5??CC
in her scholastic work is said to have
been partially responsible for a weak|
en erf condition which allowed the incurable
malady to gain, the fatal foothold.
She was a leading spirit in religions
and other worthy community
causes, and had an unusually widespread
circle of friends.
ZIONVILLE LADY
DIES SUDDENLY
Widow of Richard EgRers Succumbs
to Apoplexy. Burial Thursday.
Operator of Sugar Grove Telephone
Office for Years.
Mrs. Callie Eggeis, G1 years of
age, died at the home of Mrs. Sarah
Grognn, Zionville, on Wednesday,
February 3rd, following an attack of
apoplexy.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Zionville Church, of which
deceased was a taiLMul member, on;
Thursday by Rev. R. C. Eggers, pastor,
and the body was laid to rest
in the nearby cemetery.
Mrs. Eggers was the widow of
Richard Eggers, who died thirty-five
years ago, and had spent her entire
life in the county. For many years
she was telephone operator at the
Sugar Grove office. Mrs, Eggers was
favorably known by a large number
of acquaintances, and general sorrow
was caused by her unexpected passing.
Surviving are four children: Carl
| Eggers. of Diliner, Penn.; Claud Eggers
of Chatham Hill, Va.; Gaither
Eggers of Akron, Ohio, and Blanie
Eggers, of Banner Elk. N. C.
Well Known Physician
n - 11 ?ii
Remain* critically 111
Dr. J. B. Hagaman remains critiI
cally ill at his home on North Water
Street, suffering, it is said, with angina
pectoris. Reports from the bedside
this (Wednesday) morning are
to the effect that no change was noted
in his condition during the night,
and that he is holding his own well
against, the inroads of the disease.
No visitors are being allowed to see
the popular physician, whose illness
has caused grave apprehension in and
J" T?
cix UUIIU
REV. R. L. ISBELL TO SPEAK
AT BOONE ADVENT CHURCH
j Rev. R. L. Isbell of Lenoir will
| speak at the Advent Christian Church
i in Boone on Sundav. February 14th,
both morning and night. Rev. John
Greene, pastor of the local church,
will fill the pulpit at Rev. Isbell's
church on the same day. Boone people
generally are cordially invited to
hear the Lenoir man.
? =?
$1.50 PER YEAR
rniini i n **r itt t fin
I'.rtllU A.U WALLAtK
TAKEN IN CUSTODY
W TENN. OFFICERS
J
I layer of Thurston Oliver Arrested
on Drunkenness Charge ai ElizaJ
bcthton Sunday. Brought to Wa?
5 tauga Jail by Sheriff Farthing on
Monday. To Receive Trial for
Gruesome Killing at Spring Term.
Ephriam Wallace, 30, w ho has been
sought by Wfitauga officers since
December 20, 1931, for the biayiug
of Thiirston Oliver in the Tualney
section, was arrested by Elizabethton,
Tenn., officers Sunday on a charge
of intoxication. Following the arrest,
which was made at an airport nearby.
Wallace was given a thorough questioning,
and circumstances surrounding
the case led court officials to believe
him to be a fugitive from justice.
Getting in touch with local authorities
the Carter Countv sheriff
ascertained that he was holding the
man wanted in Watauga.
Sheriff L. M. Farthing and Deputies
E. Y. Edmisten and Lee Mast,
went to Eiizabethton Monday afternoon
and brought Wallace to the
county jail, where he will be held
until the Spring Term of Superior
Court.
Wallace is alleged to have killed
v?>v? ? ?vrt a oiiui^uu uii cue uav
after Christmas. There were no eyewitnesses
to the murder, but a strong
chain of circumstantial evidence
pointed to Wallace as the man who
fired the fatal shot. An argument over
liquor is said to have started the quarrel
which ended in the tragic homicide.
Forest McGinnis, McKinlcy Ward
and Sherman Baird were tried for
complicity in the murder by Justice
E. N. Hahn on January 2nd, and
bound to court under bonds of SI,000
each. The complicity charges-against
the trio grew out of a minor quarrel
in which they participated which is
said to have taken place earlier in
the day of the tragedy.
PLEADS SELF-DEFENSE
Pleading self-defense, Ephriam
Wallace told his story of the murder
of Thurston Oliver to Sheriff L. M.
Fnvhhing Tuesday. Accordiug to his
account of the affair, he, Wallace,
had been at outs with the murdered
man ? or some iin:e,^nri-sevenn~quarrels
had been engaged in. On the day
of the homicide, he declared. Oliver
was seen approaching the Wallace
home, where Mrs. Wallace lay iil.
Fearing for the safety of his mate,
tqo husband picked up n shotgun
and went down the trail to offer entreaties
of peace to the enraged neighbor.
When i>.. two met. a conversation
was engaged in, anu a decision
was reached "t.o remain friendly, but
not to speak to each other." They
IV -J ? .1 _1 1 .. -i * -
men UCU1UCU, HiillUCK tUUUllUCU, l-VJ
.go to the home of Walt Church, who
resides nearby, and ha\e him witness
the agreement. They started, but
Oliver "got boiling mad again" and
Wallace discovered that he had "a
knife and a rock in each hand." He
threw one of the stones at Wallace,
so the defendant stated, and he, Wallace,
warded off the blow with fcis
shotgun. In the struggle that ensued
the firearm was discharged. Wallace
claims he asked Oliver if he was hurt,
and received a negative reply. Oliver
then renewed his attack with
! knife eV?= ?*?d Wallace fired the
fatal shot.
Since the murder a baby has been
born at the Wallace home.
iWatauga Offenders Are
Arrested in Tennessee
Connelly Woodring. Walter Woodring
and Ray Pennell, wanted in Watauga
for manufacturing liquor, were
arrested by Johnson County authorities
in Mountain City, Tenn., Saturday
afternoon, on a warrant charging
the possession of three pints of
booze.
Tried in recorders court there Monday,
each of the three offenders was
fined twenty dollars and costs. In
default of these fines they were re
manded to the county jail, and this
(Wednesday) morning had not gained
their liberty.
Hearing of the arrests. Sheriff Luther
M. Farthing of Watauga got in
touch with the Sheriff of Johnson
County and asked that the trio be .
held for local officers. The charges
here grew out of the capture of a
still some two weeks ago in Meat
Camp Township, at which time the
Woodring boys and Pennell were seen
running from the plant. Warrants
were issued immediately but the sherI
ifi:s office here had been unable to
make the arrests.
HARRIS BROTHERS' SALE IS
MEETING MARKED SUCCESS
The sale which began last week at
Harris Brothers store has met with
popular approval and an increased
number of people are trading daily,
and taking advantage of the reduced
prices. The sale still goes on and
an advertisement in the paper today
calls attention to a group of lastminute
inducements.