Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / March 21, 1935, edition 1 / Page 1
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BOONE SKETCHES By J. C, R? TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND MURRAY CRITCHER has passed away, and as we pause to pay tribute I to our close friend of many years, the traditional instincts IL^.-.^aaasnaBBNtfi a, ~ 1 r TTH^fTTT 'I **" cAtiviciiig craxi. |S|B constrain the Sketch p| Man to casually 1||| "read proof" on the life and works of this fallen "Roman." >. Ji Like moot of us, */ -:c 0! Mr. Critcher was PBP|| not a shining star in $ ^ the constellation of v high finance . . . his J, ' coffers were not I glutted with the " glittering ore of sucJ. C. K. cessful manipulations ... he had never sought the coveted honors of political preferment . . . his earthly passage was characterized by simplicity and reserve. * * * BUT THROUGH those sixty-five years of earthly endeavor Murray Critcher was laying away, in the treasure house of his soul, priceless jewels of human character. . . . Thousands of down-trodden, poverty-stricken men and women had partaken of food at the Critclier'"tablc . . . hundreds of homeless boys had found shelter and warmth un tier ine t-Titcner roof . . . despairing widows, ill-cliul orphans, roving hoboes, dregs from the backwash of Life, had been subjects of his patient benevolence. ? * SELFISHNESS, the despoilcr of civilization, the arch-enemy of Christendom, was another of the things that Mr. Critcher failed to accumulate during his sojourn with us. His conscientious practice of charity and friendliness became traditional in the mountain country, and crowded from his very being those greedy impulses common to the genus nomo. Tin: t hotel-home which he occupied for thirty years became a haven for the! younger set of the community . . . the cordiality of the amiable proprietor, his sound philosophy and winning personality, created a pleasurable atmosphere of good will . . . an attractive retreat from the cares and disapr pointments of every-day living. ??*** HONESTY, scarcer'n heirs teeth, was another of the Critcher attributes . . . our lamented brother was imbued with courage: courage that caused him to voice his convictions PVi?n In Oim f<?...? * * .... v?? uriLaic lin.l raist'jt him aiyii ab we the slimy realm of hypocrisy. Love, the cardinal virtue of man. was exemplified In his family life, and in his compassion for those among whom he dwelt. * * * THE "PROOFS" show errors, of course . . . but they also reveal in bold type the soul-inspiring accomplishments of a man who lived not to himself alone ... a heritage which means more to coming generations than the monetary hoard of an industrial giant. Boone litis lost one of its greatest men . . . but, at the same time has. garnered brilliant gems for the graven casks of memory. The grief brought by Murray Critcher's passing forbids the customary "cracks' of the Sketch Man . . . the banter and intended sarcasm, the "bull" and "baloney" can wait . . . We'll "call it a day" by repeating with a favorite bard these beautiful words . . . # * * # "There is no death. What seems so is transition; This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysinu, I Whose portal we call Oeath.*"' LOCAL LEGIONAIRES ATTEND DISTRICT MEET The following local World War veterans represented Watauga Post of the American Legion at the officers' conference in Sanford Sunday and Monday: J. Wilson Norris, commander; Lionel Ward, service officer; C. W. Teal, adjutant, and James Gross. Mrs. C. W. Teal, president of the lof?nl T pm'nn AnviHaw a Ion oftan/la^ the conference. LOCAL AFFAIRS Miss Lucile Moore, of Florence, S. C., is visiting her sister, Mrs. C. W. Teal, in Daniel Boone Park. Mrs. Albert Watson received severe scalds on her limbs Saturday evening when a kettle of boiling water was overturned. Her condition is said to be improving slowly. Miss Ruby Parsons spent the weekend with home folks. She is teaching at Maple Springs, in Wilkes County. Reports from Statesville Indicate that the condition of Mrs. Lee Teague. who is a patient at the Davis Hospital, is critical. FARMERS INTERESTED IN' TYA Western North Carolina farmers are showing a great deal of interest in the land use and conservation program sponsored by the TV A and agricultural extension service of State College. The program is designed tc improve 'arming practices and, in the end, raise the standard of living ir the mountain counties. j An i IVOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 38 [ LEADER PASSES | MURRAY P. CRITCHKR M. P. Clirrt'-HER DIES AT HOME IN BOONE Funeral Services Sunday for Pioneer Hotelist and lineal Pivir I Alilnr Murray P. Critc.her, widely-known citizen and pioneer Hotelist of this city, died Saturday, following: an illness with an incurable malady extending over several months. Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon by Rev. Canipe of the Bap tist Church, who was assisted in the rites by Rev. Eugene Olive of North Wilkeaboro and Rev. E. C. Wideiihouse of the local Muinuutai. Pall-bearers were: Earl Greer, Frank Haganian, A. E. Hamby Jr., Irvin Norton. Bill Casey, Craig Holler, Keith Little and Len Wilson. The beautiful and varied floral offering was borne by the following" ladies: Mesdames Stewart Winkler, Frank Robbins Jr., John Horton, Coker Triplett, John W. Hodges Jr., Mack Luttrell, L. T. Tatum, J. B. Haganian, H. B. Perry, G. K. Moose, Carrie Williams, A. R. Smith, Carrie Bingham, Margaret Coffey, Virginia Rivers, Baxter Linney, Ruth Porter, Annie Coffey. J. D. Councill, R. L. Clay, D. D. Dougherty, R. M. Greene, Alice Hardin, F. A. Linney, A. E. South, Jeff St&nbury, Charles Zimmerman, Minnie Wink er; M?. ses Mary Kr'der, Jewel Hagaman, Marguerite Miller, June Russell, Robinson, Erie Greer and Annie Dougherty. The church was filled to overflowing with those who came to hear the rites, many having come from a great distance. Interment was in the city cemetery, Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home having charge of the arrangements. A Native of Watauga Mr. Criteher was a son of the late Captain A. J. Critcher. Confederate chieftain, and was born in Watauga County. For many years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits here, later taking over the oid Coffey Hotel, which for mere thai' thirty years he operated as the Critcher Hotel. For a great part of this time his was the I only hotel in town, and. through association with the traveling public, Mr. Critcher formed a friendship which extended the length and breadth of North Carolina and into l other states. During the administraI tion of President Wilson he served as the postmaster at Boone. He was at I different timed a member of the | hoard of aldermen and for many years before the streets were paved was in charge of the upkeep of municipal avenues of transportation. In the meantime Mr. Critcher con-J tributed a share of his time to farming activities, and came to be more or less of an authority on agrarian matters. He was an active believer in the principals of government as espoused by the Democratic party, and freely contributed his work and influence in matters of civic concern and public improvement. He was a kind neighbor, a faithful friend and an upright citizen of unusual value. His passing is mourned over a large! territory. Surviving is the widow, the former Miss Jennie Blackburn, and three children: Louise, John and Roberta, of Boone. One brother, Frank Critcher of Boone, and one sister, Mrs. C. D. Coffey of North Wilkesboro, also survive. BELK'S STORE WILL OPEN BRANCH HERE Information is that Belk's Department Store is to open an establishment in Boone, and a crew o? carpenters are now engaged in remodeling the Dr. Jones building for that purpose. A three-year lease has been closed o: the property, and it is expected that the department store will nnpn bv the fifteenth of Arvri! Lost hi Yellowstone Park, a shepherd dog hiked 700 miles to Denver, i where it was identified by its tag and shipped by train to its home in Wisconsin. A piece of needle broken off in the > hand of Mrs. M. J. Mayer of Austin, s Minn., thirty years ago, appeared in i her great toe and was removed recently. * AUG, independent Vv eekly News - \ BOONE, WATAUGA BIG MONEY BILLS ARE INTRODUCED IN N.C. ASSEMBLY Revenue and Appropriation Mea-f sures Make Appearance on Thursday in the House. LOWER BODY PASSES BILL FOR FIVE PER CENT BEEH1 Hill Bill Debated for Two Hours iii Senate and Sent to Finance Committee. Favorable Report Is Expected by Sponsors. By M. R. DUhTNAGAN (Special Correspondent) RALEIGH. N. C. The two big money bills of the General Assembly made their appearance hi the House of Representatives last week in rapid succession, the Revenue bill, levying taxes, arriving from committee Wednesday, and the Appropriations bill, spending money, arriving Thursday. The House, after a fight, decided to handle the Revenue bill first, and dissolved itself into a committee of the whole at noon Wednesday and bent to its labors. However, the House look time, to} reverse itself on the bill to increasej the alcoholic content of beer to five per cent. It had previously killed thiss bill, but later sent it to a second com-JI mittee, then Friday passed it, 55 toi 34. The Senate, on the other hand, side-stepped the Senator Kill liquor control bill for the time. Thursday and sent it back to committee, this time to the Finance Committee, after debating: it, with radio broadcasting, for J more than two hours. The proponents of the bill apparently were afraid to risk a vote. They feel that if it should come back with a favorable report, especially if linked with the money bills that are out of balance, it might have a better chance of passage. The House, considered dry passed the beer bill, which gave additional hopes (Continued on Page S) colunsIITmeet with hog raisers Reduction Contracts Must Be Signed by April 1st. Dates Announced by Agent. W. B. Collins, newly-appointed county agent, will meet Watauga fiuWers at the following places 'on! dates mentioned for the purpose of allowing hog-corn raisers to sign reduction contracts for 1935: Agent's office, courthouse in Boone, Monday, March 25. Mabel at Bert Mast's store, on Tuesday. March 26, 9:00 a. m. ] Sugar Grove postoffice on Tuesday, March 26, 1:00 p. m. Meat Camp at Hodgsons' store, on W?>HnPHHnv Afirnh *>7 Q-rtrt n n? zjvCooks' Gap at T. L. Critcher's store, 011 Wednesday. March 27, 1:00 p. m. * Beaver Dam at Don Hagaman's stone, on Thursday, March 28, 9:00 a. m. ] Deep Gap at A. G. Miller's Store, on Thursday, Hatch 28, 1:00 p m. The agent will also be found at his office on March 30Lli. Contracts Explained j Mr. Collins states that farmers who , have grown more than an average of j ten acres of corn, or raised more than . an average of 15 pigs during the years , 1932 and 1933 can in most cases sign J the corn-hog contract to their advan- , tage. The 1935 corn adjustment payment will be at the rate of 35c per bushel i of yield estimated for the number of acres by which the 1935 corn land area is kept below the 1932-33 average. This yield for basing payments in 1935 will be the average estimated corn yield per acre for all crop land in the farm which has been in corn at least once during the laat five years. Corn reductions may be made from 10% to 3C% of the 1932-33 average. Farmers will be asked to make only a 10% reduction in their hogs, and this will be based on the average number of hogs raised for market during the years 1932-33. For this reduction they will be paid $15 per head for the number of hogs taken out of production. Ail 1935 corn-hog contracts must be signed by April 1st. FOURTH SERIES LIBERTY BONDS NOW PAYABLE Liberty Loan bonds of the fourth series, that is bonds ending wit!, numbers 5, 0 and 7. are called for paymonf hv thp Trpainirv npnarfmpnt no of April 15th. Those desiring* to exchange these securities for new Government bonds may do so by letting their desires be known before March 27th. IMPROVED BUS SERVICE The E. T. & W. N. C. Transportation Company today announces a greatly improved scheduie of motor bus transportation through this city. An additional bus now leaves Boone for Johnson City at S a m., and another for Hickory at 1:45 p. m Thus three buses each way are now in operation over their lines through Boone. Attention is directed to the complete new schedule published on page eight today. $ PH paper Established in tH< COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, A. S. T. C. DEBATERS Team from Local Institution St: Atlantic Forcns RAY ST1KE, WTNTON RANKIN o order named), students at AppaJachii pions In forensic attainment. Stike a sixteen collegiate debates and have rc Atlantic Forensic tournaments, winni College of the City of Charleston, an Stuart participated in the oratorical won second place among the six stat subject "Since Five Lean Years" he \\ North Carolina State College. IEMPERANCE THE PLEA OF DR. OWENS [)ry Leader Brands Liquor as a Public Enemy. Association Drafts Resolutions. i Intensified local interest in the liq- i lor control controversy has resulted rom the address of Dr. J. C. Owens. last Sunday evening at the irlethodist Church, when tne united 3ry Force leader spoke on the subect, "Temperance." Dr. Owens also addressed students of all the county's ligh schools on the "Effects of Alco10I on the Human Body." depicting liquor as public enemy lumber one, the forceful speaker outinqil the trail of ruin alcohol has left p its wake throughout the span of qqjhan experience, and answered the arguments of those who would legalze the sale of rum in North Caroina. The arguments put up in favor >f Senator Hill's control bill were )aid to" have been "left on crutches." Che Duriiapi Sepatoy, the speaker uUcfc hgd been $efied to show one nstance where legalization of whiscey had decreased its consumption, md averred that bootleggers still lourish in states where prohibition ? aws have been repealed. Closing1 a jowerful plea for total abstinance on he part of his hearers, he asked all vho would pledge themselves to abstain from the use of liquor in any orm to stand. The response, to the equest was practically unanimous. Resolutions Adopted Following the address of Dr. Owens, he executive committee of the Wa(Continued on Page 4) REMODELING CONTINUES AT SPAINHOUR'S STORE E?S559B|^HHHflflSHQ Carpenters are still at work remodeling the interior of the Spainlour store, and Mr. A. S. Harris, the manager, is hopeful that the job may be completed by the last of the week, rhe walls have been papered, new 3helf and counter room has been added and furnishings are decorated in silver finish. The balcony will provide space for the ladies' ready-to-wear department; the shoe department, which is completed, 13 in the rear on the street floor, and the east side of the building will be utilized for a complete line of mens' furnish.ngs. When completed the store will be thoroughly modern in every department, and will reflect credit on its owners, as well as the community. MOUNTAINEERS WILL OPEN BASEBALL SEASON MAR. 29 A complete schedule for the Appalachian baseball team has not yet been formed, said Coach Eugene Garbee Tuesday; however, a number of contests have been arranged, the opening one with Lenoir-Rhyne at Boone on March 29th, weather permitting. If the weather is bad, the game will be played April 1st. Catawba will play Appalachian here on Ap rii ?ira. Games away from home include High Point, April 3, double-header; Catawba, Apiil 4; Lenoir-Rhyne, April 5th. HAG AM AN"?ISAACS Married at Mountain City. Tenn., Saturday, March 16th, Mr. Max Hagaman of Forest Grove to Miss Myrtle Isaacs of Mabel. Mrs. Hagaman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Isaacs of Mabel. Mr. Hagaman is the son of Mrs. Grace Hagaman of Forest Grove. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hagaman have a wide circle of friends who extend to them a life of much joy and happiness. A sentence of five years in a women's reformatory was recently meted out to Mrs. Myrtle Lattimer of Kansas City, Mo. She pleaded guilty to six charges of forgery. For two and a half years she had been concealing the body of her dead mother and cashing her" pension checks. Tvior1. 5 Year Eighteen Eighty-Ei THURSDAY. MARCH 21. 1935 MAKE FINE RECORD I irs in Two Tournaments of the ic Association. ind CARMON STUART (pictured in m Teachers College, who are chaillnd Rankin have lost but two out of (presented their college in two South tie' over such teams as N. C State. d others throughout the South. Mr. division of the lust tournament, and .es competing. In his oration on the Tas excelled only by the entrant from W. B. COLLINS IS COUNTY AGENT Alleghany Man Establishes Of* i fice in Court House. Arranging Tentative Program. , MEETING ARRANGED < Since this story was written nr- 1 rangemcnta have been made for a 1 meeting at the courthouse next Sat- ' u rday at 2 o'ciock. ai vriiiuu tlr.'.c 1 members of the County Agricultural Board and all other farmers are ! asked to meet with the County 1 Agent and the TV A representative. Mr. W. B. Collins, newly-appointed | county agent, arrived in town last ' Friday and has opened an office in K the courthouse. Mr. Collins conies to Watauga from Alleghany where he was engaged as farm agent for five and a half years. ! So acceptable was hi3 work in that county that farmers vigorously pro- \ tested his acceptance of work in a ! different field. He was graduated from State College in 1921 and most of the time since has been engaged in agricultural work of a type that ' eminently qualities mm lor cmty in t.he mountain section. He conies highly recommended by State College au- ' thorities. Mr. Collins states that at present j he is arranging his office and making acquaintance with the people of the county. The formation of his definite program, he states, is pending a meeting of the county agricultural board, at which time a representative of the Tennessee Valley Authority is expected to be present. Definite plans will be announced shortly through the paper. | Representative Swift 1 Has Appendix Operation : . .Representative Dean Swift is showing satisfactory improvement from an operation for appendicitis performed early last week at a Raleigh Hospital. Information is that Mr. Swift expects to be able to return home the latter part of this week. It is thought unlikely, however, that he will be able to return to his duties in the General Assembly for some time yet. M. E. CHIIJDREN TO GIVE JAPANESE DOLI, FESTIVAL Boys and girls of the Week-Day Church School will hold a doll festival Monday, March 25, at 3 o'clock. The festival will be held in the Methodist Church basement. All parents and friends of the children are invited to be present. The children have been studying Japan. They have constructed a Japanese garden, built a Japanese village, and dressed a "friendship" doll to send to the children of Japan. I Along with this doll will be a display] of dolls and doll furniture. This will j illustrate the doll festival, which Is an annual event of great merriment in the Oriental nation. The home, social and economic life of the Japanaco Q a iriinin in tha otnritr hoo Konn dramatized and will be given by the I j children. Tea will be served in Japanese style. GROUNDHOG THEORY EXPLODED A pet groundhog owned by Hugh Ward, son of Mr. arid Mrs. A. L?. Ward, Sugar Grove, has successfully exploded the "Groundhog Theory/' On last October 7th the "pig" in question left the Ward home to take up winter quarters on a nearby hillside. Later in the month Mr. Ward discovered his den, decided thai the groundhog vtos not therein, and filled the hole. Tba incident was forgotten until Tuesday 1 of last week, when Mr. Whistlepig tore away the barriers of clay and presented himself, in tip-top shape, at I the Wards' back door. An examina: tion of the den showed that the pet - had not stirred from his hibernation until the 12th day of March. n \T* I\/A ght $1.50 PER YEAR SEARCHERS FAIL TO Ffg D HIDDEN COr|; CT GRAVES LegislativJdK mmittce Spends Sunday cByf junty Trying to Verift g gro's Story. CLAIMED ? | iVICTS HAD SUCCUH " J TO CRUELTY Former Convict Says Negroes Were Buried on Stony Fork at Night. Newspaper Files Iteveal Story of Alleged Cruelties. Residents of the Stony Fork section found a source of employment Sunday when members of a legislative investigating committee put a crew of men to work excavating the field where in 1030 stood a chain-gang camp, and where a former convict tcrtificd a fellow prisoner died from mistreatment w-i.u uui ivu in ct secret grave ciose by the stockade. Bob Carter, Mecklenburg County prisoner, guided solons to the spot on the Bone Trail just west of the Wilkes County line, but since the buildings had been torn away, he was bothered as to the exact location of the alleged secret grave. At any rate he said the convict was buried some twenty feet west of the "dark house" where prisoners were punished, and gave his idea as to where the solitary building stood. As neighbors gathered, they, too, had varying opinions as to the exact location of the buildings, and excavations which continued until late in the evening, yielded no bones?just piles of red clay. Residents Questioned Representative Sontello of Brunswick and S. E. Douglas, of the investigating committee, questioned residents of the community about the :amp, and I. M. Carlton, who was placed in charge of the excavations, mid he had never heard of any unjnual deaths at the camp. Lindsay Woody, however, a rormer guaiu said to have reported 'bad conditions,' that prisoners had been handcuffed at irms length above their heads and that he had heard of one man being beaten to death. Mrs. Lily Besh jars, i storekeeper, said she had heard of Dne prisoner dying, but from no unusual cause. The legislative investigation came about after two negro convicts, inmates of a Mecklenburg prison camp, had been forced to have their feet amputated as an alleged result of solitary confinement. They charged that improper treatment had made the operations r.eeesary. Other charges have been made since the investigation 9tarted and Solicitor Carpenter of the 14tli District, which embraces Mecklenburg County, has asked the Governor to call a special term of court prtr r\*WQ?tr?ir n inr)ipinl >n\r*"3fio,nHnn of camp conditions. A Democrat representative, present after the investigation had started, found a pretty general thought among those gathered from the neighborhood that there had been no deaths from unusual causes. There was talk of some shooting early one morning at the camp, the cause of which was not officially disclosed, and one citizen told of a negro having been shot in the leg on the road. Mr. E. K. Greene, well known citi(Continued on Page 8) SALARY OF SHERIFF TO BE REGULATED Bill to Allow County Commissioners Right to Increase Pay Of Officer Is Ratified. RALEIGH, N. C.?Representative Dean Swift, of Watauga County, introduced a bih in the House of Representatives on Wednesday of last week to regulate the salary of the Sheriff of Watauga County, by which the County Commissioners may fix the salary at not less than $000 or more than $1,800 a year, payable monthly. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate. On Friday the bill was passed by the upper House and became a law. The text of the bill follows: "Section 1. The Board of County I nrnfm.ran r</M<ntir <? inI1o \jJ. (i auiu^,a hereby empowered to regulate, at its discretion, the salary of the Sheriff of said County: Provided, the salary of said Sheriff shall not be less than nine hundred i.$900.00) dollars nor more than eighteen hundred (1,800.00) dollars per annum, payable monthly. "Section 2. That all laws and clauses of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. "Sectoin 3. That this act shall be in force and effect from ar>d after its ratification." Sheriff Captures Small Distillery Friday Night A. 60-ga!lon distillery was destroyed last Friday night by Sheriff Howell and his deputies along with 125 gallons of hee'r. The illicit plant was iocoted in the Meat Camp section and appearances indicated it had been in operation fori about six months. Located on top of a dry knob, rainwater was caught in an improvised cistern to provide liquid for the opera' tion. The operators were not present . as the Sheriff approached. I
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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March 21, 1935, edition 1
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