! _
BOONE
SKETCHES
By J. C R.
Thankful . . . Yes!
L-et's offer up a right good little
hutch of thanks for the blessings, o!
one kind and another, that have beer
tossed our way by a kind Providence
during the past twelve-month . . it's
nothing but right that we should. Of
course 'taters are away down low, and
cabbage were not so hot, and the bean
hugs troubled ps a sight, and the
weather hasn't been aii it should, and
taxes are high and tax-gatherers are
persistent . . . and. then, it's been
pretty tol'able hard to buy the youngsters
nil the knick-knacks they
craved, and the old woman has veiled
loud and long for a new coat that
just wasn't forthcoming . . . and
maybe the baby's beer, sick, or the
old man's been down with the rbeumatiz,
cr maybe the cow's gone dry
. . . yes. Jots of unpleasant matters
have developed . . . things that are
calculated to make a fallow lose his
grip and commit suicide, or something.
? * ?
But allow your imagination to
carry you back a few hundred years
to a storm-swept settlement on the
New England coast . . . and a pitiful
nam! of Pilgrims bowing their
heads and thanking God for the few
blessings lie had to offer the hardbitten
denizens of a strange land,
Krugoi blessings, we twentieth
century wiseacres would allow . . .
for when the l'iigrim bowed his
head, just as like as not he'd catch
ait Indian's arrow right smack in
his neck ... or when he stopped
out to shoot one of those turkey
gobblers Pilgrinxs are always pictured
carrying around, he probably
returned to find that some savage
tribe had burned his shanty and
carried off his women folks . . . and
when he planted corn he didn't have
much hope of living till roasting-ear
time, much less the day of harvest
. . . and the kids had colds and fe
ver, and medical stores were short,
and food was sea ire, and clothes
were scarcer! But he WAS thankful
. . . that's what the history
books declare . . . and the 7'ilgrlms
Inaugurated the custom of using
one day u year to tell the Good
lord nbotit it.
? ?
So let's forget those minor heartaches
ami backsets and thwarted ambitions
and seasons of hard-luck . . .
lot's be thankful for the "little, commonplace
things" that go to make
life happy . . . let's be thankful for
the bo until ill crops of the past growing
season, for the roofb over our
heads, for the friends who surround
us, for the conveniences of this modern
age . . . let's be thankful that
Hitler dominates Germany instead of
America, that Stalin holds the reins
In Soviet Russia instead of North
Carolina, that Huey Long has seen
fit to create a "Utopian empire" in
Ixiulsiana instead of our own Watauga
. . . let's raise our voices to God
in joyful thanksgiving for a great
nation which has been carved in the
wtlderness since tliat lonely band of
Puritans stood with bowed heads at
Plymouth Rock!
DEATH COMES TO j
AGED MINISTER
Rev. Wellington Swift Succumbs at
Beaver Dam Hume Alter Period of
Declining Health. County's Oldest
Minister. Funeral Held Sunday.
Rev. Wellington Swift, who, 30 far
as is recalled was Watauga County's
oldest Gospel minister, died at his
home in the Besver Dam section last
Friday at the age of 83. Death came
to the well known citizen after a
long period of declining health.
Funeral services were conducted on
Sunday from the Beaver Dam Baptist
Church by Rev. R. C. Eggers. his
former paster, and iRev. E. C. Hodge3,
his present pastor. People came from
many different sections to attend the
rites, and the great host of sorrowing
friends was more than the building
would accommodate.
Interment was in the neighborhood
cemetery. Surviving is a widow and
ten children, whose residences are
scattered over seven different states.
Mr. Swift professed the Christian
faith at the age of 17 years and joined
the Bethel Baptist Church. In 1874
he became a charter member of the
Beaver Dam Church, and a few years
Ifltnp vrroo nnAonoul 4o tV>o irrrcvWlr of tlin
Gospel ministry and had been preaching
for more than thirty years.
Mr. Swift had served as pastor of
moat of the churches in Watauga
County, and had held pastorates also
in Johnson County, Tennessee, and in
Caldwell County. Ke was widely
known throughout thie section of the
State and the church, county and
neighborhood have sustained a great
lass in his passing.
BABY WINS PRIZE
Mack El rod Jr., three-year-old eon
of Mr. and Mrs. McClure Elrod ot
Boone Route 1, received lionorabU
mention and a medal in a baby con
test recently held by Sears RoobucV
and Company.
WA1
An Ii
VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 22
' Lindbergh Nursemaid i
?|
Trenton, N. J.?Betty Oow, above, !
nursemaid to the Lindbergh baby
at the time of the kidnapping, is returning
from Scotland to testify in
the trial of Bruno Hauptmann for
the child's murder.
TWO ARRESTED IN
CONNECTION WITH
FATAL CAR CRASH
Mrs. Mollie Norris, Resident of Route
One, Crushed When Struck by Car
of Virginia Men. Warrants Charge.
Assault With Deadly Weapon. Funeral
for Weil-Known Lady Conducted
Tuesday at Fairview.
Dr. J. A. Shackleford ajid J. C.
Hooker, residents of Martinsville, Va.,
were arrested Tuesday on charges of
assault with a deadly weapon, as a
result of the death of Mrs. W. S. Norris.
prominent resident of Boone Route
1, who was crushed beneath an automobile
occupied by the Virginia men.
at a point three miles east of Boone
nn f h*? Rfwno Trail Ui
.... ?? - * loununjr
afternoon.
The accident is reported to have
occurred when Mrs. Norris, who was
<37 years of age, attempted to cross
the road in front of the machine. She
had just alighted from another vehicle,
it is said, and when struck by
the car was dragged about ninety
feet. Death was instantaneous. The
driver of the car is said to have expressed
the belief that he was making
perhaps 110 more than 45 miles
per hour, while others allege that the
vehicle .was traveling maybe as much
as 60 miles per hour. The criminal
action will be heard Saturday morning
before a special session of the recorder's
court.
Funeral Held Tuesday
Funeral services for Mrs. Norris
I were held from the Fairview Methodist
Church Tuesday at 11 o'clock,
the obsequies 'being in charge of Rev.
Winkler of Todd. Reverends P. L?.
Smith, Sexton and L. A. Wilson were
also present and each briefly eulogized
the life of deceased.
Riirviirlno1 ia t'V*o Vi 11 oV\onrl cn/? fAii* t
children: Mrs. Carl Byers, Boone
Route 2; Mrs. E. T. Troutman, Statesvine,
and Miss Stella Norris, Boone
Route 1. Seven grandchildren and the
following sisters ore also iisted among
the survivors: Mrs. D. L. Taylor, of
Boone Route 1; Mrs. W. A. Cowles,
Boone Route 1; Mrs. J. F. Greer, Bristol,
Va., and Mrs. Milt Morris, Dillon,
Oregon.
Mrs. Norris had been a member
of the South Fork Baptist Church
for 51 years and was always active
in her religious affiliations. She was
a member of one of the county'3 most
prominent families and had many
friends drawn to her by her many
admirable traits of Christian character.
Illegal Marketing of
Tobacco Is Reported
Williamston, N. C.?The illtal
marketing of tobacoo scrap in this
county has been reported in a number
of cases, creating a situation that
is subject to cause the farmer to lose
his contract and be liable to prosecution
under the revenue laws. Assistant
County Agent Murphy L. Barnes
said yesterday morning.
Farmers have been warned against
the irregular sale of their scrap, but
nitifa a mtmlhAr Vi? \}f* fallon viffim
to unfounded explanations advanced
by some of those traveling through
the county buying the scraps of trash
tobacco, it was said. Mr. Barnes clear-1
ly .pointed out that the contracting I
grower has only two ways to dispose
of his scrap tobacco. The first method
is to carry it to the warehouse,
where the government field agent will
I enter the sale on the allotment card.
The second method to dispose of the
scrap is to destroy it. Some farmers
are said to have given the scrap tobacco
to their children, who in turn,
sold it to truckers. The 25 per cent
i tax was paid, but even if the tax was
' paid, the terms of the contract were
: violated. The contract specifically
- states that all tobacco grown on a
r contract farm must l>e either sold
on ar. allotment card or destroyed.
rAUG
^dependent Weekly News
BOONK, WATAUGA CO
BOARD ACTS TO
PROVIDE MARKET
FOR POTATO CROP
' Agricultural liourd Sends Reprcsenta1
lives to Raleigh to Discuss PossiJ
bility of Seeming Market tor Estimated
225,000-Bushel Potato Surplus.
Board Also Goes on Kccord
j Favoring County Agent.
| Mow to dispose of an estimated
225,000-bushel potato surplus in Watauga
County at some sort of satis
factory figure, constituted tne pi incijpal
problem of the county farm board
! when it met at the courthouap *Ttw?s.
| day afternoon, and Wade E. Brown,
'Newton Cook and S. C. Eggers went
i to Raleigh Tuesday to try to interest
> State relief officials in the purchase
of the Carolina-grown spuds.
I It was incidentally revealed that
potatoes for the destitute were being
shipped into North Carolina from
Maine, and two carloads, en route,
are said to have been diverted to another
distributing center, until the advisability
of buying home grown potatoes
can be forcibly brought to the
attention of State relief officials. Recalling
that Governor Ehringhaus established
a -market for eastern potatoes
last summer through the Relief
Administration, farmers are hopeful
that a paying market may be established.
County Agent Recommended
The remainder of the session was
devoted to a discussion of the county
agent problem, and members otf the
board in attendance reported community
sentiment at least 90 per cent
in favor of an agent. Messrs. Brown,
Cook aud Eggers were then asked to
investigate through the State officials
as to the men available, approximate
costs to the county, etc.
In closing, a motion was unanimously
passed that the Watauga
Agricultural Board go on record
as officially recommending to the
Board of County Commissioners at
their regular meeting the first Monday
in December that a county agent
be employed. It was further ordered
that the board meet at the courthouse
on the first Monday In December at
nnn r\Vl.ir?lr J? ? 1 u-r
-? ?? *... aim l?I <?. ooay uuurt;
the commissioners to make the recommendation.
HAL TEAGUE GETS
THREE YEARS IN
FEDERAL PRISON
Blowing Rock Man Sentenced by
Judge Hayes on Charge of Throwing
M. S. Phillips Into Vat of Still
Mash. Ralph Teague Given Eighteen
Months in Chillicothe and
Claude Teague Placed on Probation.
Hal Teague of Blowing Rock was
sentenced Saturday to three years in
the Federal Reformatory at Chillicothe
by Judge Johnson J. Hayes at
Wilkesboro after he had submitted a
plea of nolo contendere on a charge
of throwing M. S. Phillips, Ferguson
rc?sident, into a vat of hot mash as
he was helping Federal agents to
uusLi-jy u sim in c.ewis f orK Township,
Wilkes County, last summer.
Teague and two of his brothers,
Ralph and Claude Teague, and Ottie
Bauguess, of Blowing Rock, Glenn
Hamby, Turner Raws and Morris fatherly,
of Wilkes County, were all indicted
on a charge of making liquor
On which Federal tax had not lieen
paid and operating an unregistered
distillery.
Sentences were meted out as follows
by Judge Hayes: Hal Teague,
36 months in Chillioothc; Ralph
Teague, 18 months in Chillicotbe;
Morris Matherly, a year and a day in
(Continued on Page 8)
W. N? C. Cattle Plan
Rejected by Wallace
Washington.?Secretary Wallace of
the Department of Agriculture and
Chester Davis, director of the AAA,
Friday virtually tossed out of the
window the proposal of Western
North Carolina cattlemen and relief
workers that drought area cattle now
being fattened in North Carolina and
not yet in condition to be slaughtered
and processed for relief be exchanged
for fait native cattle.
"We can't chance the program in
this respect," said Wallace. "Some
of the scrub local stock might be exchanged
for outside cattle," while Mr.
Davis added "it might work the other
way, too, as some of the fine local
cattle might be exchanged for an inferior
class of drought area stock."
The movement was backed by Congressman
Robert L. Doughton of Laurel
Springs and Congressman Zebulon
Weaver of AsheviUe. Then they called
upon relief officials, they were accompanied
by D) B. B. Dougherty of
Boone, T. Lenoir Gwyr. of Waynesville
and E. S. Transou of Sparta. The
approval of the Agricultural Department
officials was necessary before
the FERA could take any action.
A Dfc
ipaper?Established in the
UNYT. NORTH CAttOOIAA. > HUKSI
Pennsylvania's "M3
f Washington, c. C.?A couple of
{ around here this week. They were j
On the left, U. S. Senator-elect Jose
orimr-elcot George H. Euric. )'r. 4,1
from Pennsylvania since 1870 :tnJ 2
ernor for that commonwealth since
Election Fran
Flare As Wats
Appear In Ra
State Board Says Poll B<
by Saturday. Republica
es of Voting System, ?
Absentees. Democrats
Hands of Republican CI
Oiarires of widespread ami fla- I
grant abuses anil violations of the
State election laws, were aired before
the State Board of Elections in
Raleigh Tuesday night when Democratic
officials answered the charges
of the Republicans that the former
had not after all conducted the
balloting in a fair and unbiased
raopner on November 6th.
Among other things the Republicans,
who lost at the polls by a
greatly reduced majority, charged
that the poll books in Boone and
Cove Creek precincts were never
turned over to the Clerk of the
Court as required by law; that votes
tabulated will not correspond to the
number of names on the poll books;
that the ballot boxes were stuffed;
200 fraudulent absentee votes were
east, and other charges indicating
a dissipation of the free and untrammeled
privilege of the franchise.
These charges were answered by
the Democrats with insinuations,
supported by affidavits, that the
controversial poll books were in the
hands of Russell D. Hodges, chairman
of the Republican Executive
Committee of Watauga. Mr. Hodges
made an immediate denial.
T>I *- ...i . . .
*t*tr uL'urm^, wiiicn was conaucied
by \V. A. Lucas of Wilson, acting
chairman, was a hectic session
and wound up by the dismissal of
all charges except those involving
the loss of the poll books. The Watauga
Board of Elections was given
until next Saturday to produce
these, failure to do so leaving the
respective registrars subject to criminal
action. If the poll books are
produced, it is explained, the Republicans.
are to be allowed to check
them and bring complaint it discrepancies
exist.
PRESS REPORTS
Following is a part of the report
or the meeting by the Raleigh press
correspondent:
"A storm of affidavits charging
flagrant abuses of election procedure
in Watauga County, which cannot ac(Continued
on Page S)
JOHN1 L NELSON Jl
KIT I ITT IN TAR I I
miiiiiji/ 111 v an v*1
John L. Nelson, 60, of Morganton,
prominent in fraternal circles
and well known to Jr. O. U. A. M.
members in Watauga County, was
instantly killed in an automobile
collision near Henderson. N. C., on
Friday afternoon.
The coupe which Nelson wa3
driving collided with a heavyfreight
truck from Burlington operated by
William F. Bofibaugli of Cumberland,
Md. Befibaugh was exonerated
of blame by a coroner's jury.
Testimony at the inquest indicated
that Mr. Nelson, who was driving
alone, had turned out of a traffic
lane to pass another car and was
met by the truck before he could
right his car on the road.
Mr. Nelson was deputy of the
:moci
s y ear Eighteen Eighty-Eig
JAY. .TOVEMBKR 29, 1834
rsterious Strangers" j I
"mysterious strangers** showed up ,
Wful Democrats from Pennsylvania,
ph F. Guffey, and on the right. Gov- j(
iffey is the first Democratic Senator .
Mr. Karle the first Democratic Gov- j
1890. I
d Allegationsi
iiiga Partisans!
leigh Hearing'
aoks Must Be Brought in t
ns Allege Manifold Abus- \
ituffed Boxes and Illegal ,
Insinuate Books Are in
"lairman R. D. Hodges.
MRS HOLTZCLAW "I
DIES SUDDENLY;
Short illness Fatal to Brushy Fork *
Woman. Funeral Services Held on (
Monday. Husband and Daughter
Survive. Prominent Family.
A sudden illness of unexplained j
cause ended fatally for Mrs. Stephen
Holtzclaw, 65-year-old resident of the
Brushy Fork neighborhood, last Sat- .
urday afternoon.
Funeral services were conducted
from the home Monday morning' and *
interment was in the Hine Cemetery ^
one mile west of Boone. 1
Surviving is the husband and one }
daughter, Mrs. Mae Haves, who also (
resides on Brushy Fork.
Mrs. Holtzclaw was a member of '
one of the county's most substantial .
families. She was a daughter of the
j late Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bryan and &
i noDhew of W. L. Brvan. Eso . Boone, i
She was a loyal Christian .woman and
had many friends and relatives
throughout this section who join in
common grief over her passing.
Relief Offices Asked
For Chestnut Timber ,
Mr. Chnuncey Moody of the local ,
emergency relief office is ia receipt
of a letter from Mr. E. W. Cole, third
district engineer, asking for information
as to the possibility ol' securing
chestnut poles and cross arm material
j in this county. Mr. Cole states that
the poie3 will have to average thirty
feet in length with 7-inch tops for the
State program.
He further states that a quantity
of this material will be needed and
says that if anything of interest can
be located, with an estimate of the
quantity available, it will be a great
help in working out a State labor
project for this territory. Mr. Moody
would be glad to know of any considerable
quantity of the chestnut timber
in order that he may convey the
information to Mr. Cole.
INIOR OFFICIAL, IS
S ASH AT HENDERSON
j fourth district. Junior Order of United
American Mechanics, and was a
representative of the beneficiary
and insurance departments of the
fraternal order. When the local
council was formed he took a large
part in the work, and made many
friends throughout Watauga. He
had been a frequent visitor to Boone
for a number of years.
Mr. Nelson was a native of Patterson.
Caldwell County, a son of
the late Mr. and Mrs. William ft.
Nelson. He had lived in Morganton
since early manhood and for tne I
last year had devoted his entire !
time to fraternal work.
Surviving are the widow, one son, '
one daughter, three brohters and
four sisters.
RAT
ht
J1.50 PER Yt.AK
MRS. ROBY GREER
SUCCUMBS AFTER
A LONG ILLNESS
iVife of Watauga Legislator Dies in
Wilkes Hospital. Funeral Services
from Baptist Church Wednesday
Morning and Interment in Town
Cemetery. Had Been Prominent in
Business and Church Activities.
Mrs. Ruth Cottrell Greer, 30-vear>ld
wife of Representative Roby T
r- rvf
WVA W| II ?VUU?,U, UiTVI n L VV ilfiCa
Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, where
she haci been a patient for four weeks
Fhe immediate cause of death was
giyen as septic pneumonia.
Funeral services were conducted
"ram the Boone Baptist Church at 11
/clock Wednesday by the pastor, Rev.
I. C. Canipe. who was assisted in
he rites by Reverends P. A. Hicks,
kV. C. Payne and W. D. Ashley. Interlient
was in the city cemetery, the
arrangements being by Reins-Sturdlvant
Funeral Home.
Active pallbearers were: Tracy
Council!, Rob Rivers, Brenard Dougherty.
Donald Boydeh. Kenneth Quinaeli,
Pat McGuire, Gumcy Brinkley
and Van Teague. Honorary: I>r. H.
B. Perry, Dr. F. C. Hubbard. Sheriff
A. T. Howell, T. C. Baird, Smith Hagaman,
George Sudderth, Eller McNeil,
Frank Moore, J. B. Quails, A. E.
South, L. L. Critcher, H. N. Blair,
W. D. Farthing, J. A. Williams, Gordon
Winkler, G. P. Hagam&n, W. C.
VY? lker. Dr. G. K. Moose. VV. C.
Greer. Bvnum Taylor, Ben Watson,
D. D. Dougherty and J. S. Stanbiuy.
The large and beautiful floral o?"ering
was borne by the following laiies:
Erie Greer. Mrs. Ruth Redmond,
Mrs. Baxter Linney, Bemice Gragg,
\nnic Dougherty, Mrs. Dean Ring
mm, ivjlr;s. ecutfi i'orter. Mrs. Frank
rV'iliiams, Mrs. Pat McGuire, Mrs. R.
7>. 1 lodgers. Marguerite Miller, Mrs.
tulh Kennedy, Mrs. W. Ralph Winker,
Grace Graybeai, Kathryn Harwell,
Harriet Mae Craven, Loree OT>ahiel,
Vlrs. Howard Gragg, Mrs. Gra<ly Far.hing,
Maude Greene, Louise Critcher,
Vir.s. David Greene, Mrs. Alice Council
Robbins. and Mrs. Guy Mattox.
Surviving are the husband, an inant
son, David Thomas Greer, the
parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Cottreli
>f Boone, and the following brothers
uid sisters: Dallas Cottreli, Mountain
2ity, Tenn.; Howard Cottreli, Ooala,
ETla.; Raleigh Cottreli Boone; Mrs.
by Wilhelm, Memphis, Tenn.; Miss
Tloy Cottreli, Boone.
A Native of Boone
Mrs. Greer was born and reared
n Boone, a member of one of the
own's foremast families. She was
graduated from Appalachian College
Uid at Drauglian's Business College in
Winston-Salem. Following her commercial
education she was employed
for a number of years as bookkeeper
for the Boone Hardware Company,
and was later a valued employee of
the Peoples Bank and Trust Company.
During the session of 1933 she
occupied a secretarial position in the
Legislature.
Although prominent in the business
iife of the community, Mrs. Greer was
able to devote a large amount of her
time arid energies to religious endeavor.
She was a member of the Boone
Baptist Church, had for a long time
been teacher in the Sunday School,
was active in the B. Y. P. U., Y. W.
C. A. and other worthy organizations
and -was secretary of the Baptist Sunday
School.
Rarely had a young lady litted in
so admirably in the business, social
and religious life of the community
as has Mrs. Greer, and genuine sorrow
is expressed on account of her
demise.
RELIEFOFFICES
ARE TO BE MOVED
North Wllltcaboro Will Have Regional
Administrative Offices for FEKA,
According to Instrurtlons from
Raleigh Received Here.
The Watauga County Emergency
Relief Administration will cease to
function as an independent admin is
trative unit on the 6th of December,
according to instructions received by
Miss Theodosia Watson, and the affairs
of ERA as applied to Watauga
County are to be taken care of from
a regional office in North Wilkesboro.
Information is that the closing of
the office in Boone is brought, about
in an effort to lessen administrative
costs. Those on the relief rolls will
be looked after by the regular case
workers, it is stated, and only one
stenographer will be employed locally
to look after their secretarial work.
FUTURE FARMERS MEET
The Cove Creek Chapter of Future
Farmers met on Friday. November
; 16th, and rendered the following program:
Dale Adams gave a talk on
"Making the Best on the Feed You
Have." Some very amusing jokes were
given by Gilbert Ward The club was
honored by the presence of Mr. Techey,
district supervisor of the F. F. A., W
" . I