In these columns will be
found a fair presentation
of local and county news
of general interest.
Volume ll—Number 33.
John Horne Murders
Wife In Cotton Mill
Victim’s Head Almost
Severed With Razor
While at Work
LEAVESNOTE
Tries to Take His Own
Life In Same Manner;
In E. City Jail
Edenton experienced its second
murder -within three weeks Wednes
day morning when, leaving a long
penciled note in which he indicated
careful premeditation, John Horne,
33, local cotton mill worker, nearly
decapitated his wife, Nellie, 32, with
a razor and then used the same blade
on his own throat and left jurist. The
woman was killed instantly, but the
husband’s wounds are not deep and
he may live. The murder occurred
at their place of employment soon
after they had appeared there Wed
nesday morning for work. Three
small children; whicji the- murderer
refers to feelingly in the "note survive,
and reference isifmde to Horne’s
mother, Mrs. Annie Horne, of Ben
nettsville, S. C., whoAi he says will
look after .things.; ; ;
Investigation showed that Horne,
who has been Arrested, for assaulting
his wife, had been separated from the
woman for several years and that he
but recently returned to take up life
with her again at their East King
Street home, a somewhat pretentious
dwelling for the neighborhood. Jim
mie, one of the Horne children, said
his father and mother had quarrelled
most of Tuesday night, - that his
father had been drinking heavily
over the last week-end, and that just
before daylight Wednesday morning
he, Jimmie, got up and saw his father
at the kitchen table writing.
About 7:30 the Homes, still argu
ing over family matters, went off
together for the 100-yard or so walk
to the cotton mill. Arriving there
Mrs. Home went up to the spinning
department on the second floor and
had started to adjust the loom she
operated when her husband appeared
with a drawn razor in his hand.
Other employes say he grabbed his
wife about the shoulders with one
hand and drew the sharp blade twice
across her throat with the other.
She fell to the floor her head hang
ing by but a shread of flesh at the
rear vertebrae.
Home then ran to steps leading to
the first floor and it was while de
scending these he slashed his own
throat twice and gashed himself in
the wrist. He was able to stumble
on down the stairs and oat doors
where he fell at the feet of C- S.
Cozart, one of the mill foremen. Hh
pointed to his coat pocket and from
it Cojart took the letter, a poorly
writt*, unparagraphed epistle, minus
all punctuation marks. Home was
hurried to Dr. L. P. Williams’ oflflce
where his wounds were sewed up.
His wife-was removed to a local un
dertaking establishment, and the mill
went on with the day’s work.
The letter left by Home and now
in the possession of Chief Helms as
material evidence, is as follows:
“Dear friends this is not my will
to do this. This woman and her
people and 3 or 4 of her friends has
talked to her against me until they
have got her just about crazy and
caused her to just about run me
crazy. I love this woman and my
children to so I want to live with
them, but it seems like that I cant
do it and so I am going to take both
her life and mine to I hate to leave
my little children we have 3 boys
and neither one is large enough to
work for them seifs they will have
no home and if anybody will do
anything for them I am sure
they will thank you for it when
they get grown I no .that they will be
kicked around a lot but I wont be
here to see it so I believe if the pub
odftffk new both sides my side and her
■f ~ side they would look at the case
from a different angle so I want to
tell all my friends good bye and
don’t do like I did let no woman run
you crazy dont trust no woman too
far I would love the best in the world
to see my 3 bdys and kiss them good
bye before I go but its impossible if
I ever get oh that street they will try
to have me locked up t)K a dissatis
fied mind is something awful now if
anybody will see that q>e and her is
burriedT in the same grave rite by
the side of outs little girl I have some
insurance with the Metropolitan Co.
and my mother in Bennettsville
South Carolina she will be glad to
give her pttrt to help to put us away
Please notify Annie Home, Bennetta
ville S. C.” •
Home was taken to the Elizabeth
THE CHOWAN HERALD
A HOME NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CHOWAN COUNTY
ROTARY GOVERNOR
VISITS LOCAL CLUB
Cleveland Thayer Confers With Of
ficers and Committee Chairmen
Thursday Morning
John W. Graham, who was in
charge of the weekly luncheon of the
Edenton Rotary Club Thursday after
noon, gave out the information that
Clfeveland Thayer, of Ashboro, dis
trict governor of the 57th District of
Rotary International, will be in Eden
ton today (Thursday). This will be
Mr. Thayer’s annual visit to the local
club and all members are urged to
attend the weekly luncheon at the
Parrish House at 1 o’clock.
In connection with his visit Mr.
Thayer desires to meet all officers
and chairmen of the various commit
tees at 10:30 this morning to discuss
various phases of Rotary work.
The attendance at the Rotary
luncheon is particularly gratifying to
the officers, nearby 100 per cent
being present at each meeting during
the past month in spite of the ex
tremely hot weather. At last week’s
luncheon the major part of the time
devoted to a program was consumed
by John A. Holmes, who rehearsed
what had been done and the progress
made toward the securing of money
with which to build new school build
ings in the county.
Mr. Holmes stated that he antici
pated favorable action to be taken
by the PWA on the county’s applica
tion for a loan on the 55-45 basis to
erect a $173,000 plant on the fair
grounds. When the application is
approved the matter will be present
ed to the county commissioners for
final action.
Two visitors Palmer Jerman of
Raleigh, and Herbert Peele of Eliza
beth City, were present at the meet
ing.
County To Refinance
Defaulted Bonds
Upon information received from
Charles Johnson, State treasurer, the
County Commissioners are at present
working on a plan whereby the
County’s defaulted bonds amounting
to $47,500 may be refinanced. This
move will put the County in position
to apply for a loan from the PWA to
erect what schools may be decided
upon by the Commissioners.
W. J. Taylor, the County superin
tendent, is of the opinion that efforts
are being made to erect only one
school in Edenton and make no im
provements to the up-county school.
He feels that his school is entitled to
some consideration and will set forth
his claims when the time comes.
Talk on the street has it that a new
building in Edenton would serve as a
high school for the whole county,
which idea may be strengthened by
the fact that Senator Lloyd Griffin,
the newly-named secretary of the
State School Commission, asked John
A. Holmes, while discussing the plans
of a new building, whether the build
ing as planned could aceommo (ate
all the children within a certain ra
dius, taking in part of Beiti? County.
In the meantime John A. Holme3
is continuing with the work in con
nection with securing the acceptance
of the application of a loan, and
when this is done the burden of the
school situation will rest upon the
shoulders of tile County Commis
sioners.
200 Delinquent City
Taxpayers For 1934
There are 200 delinquent taxpayers
in Edenton for 1934 taxes, the
amount of money due the town being
$6,176.95. These delinquents, unless
they pay the taxes, will have their
property sold on September 9 at 12
o’clock at the Court House door.
A complete lipt appears in this is
sue of The Herald.
Prudens On Cruise
To Nova Scotia
Mr. Mid Mrs; W. D. Pruden and
their eight-year-old son, Billy, will
leave- Saturday by -boat from Nor
folk, ’ ,Va., for si . cruise to Nova
Scotia. Mr. Pruden will' attend a
meeting of the N. C. Bar Association
which Will he held on the. boat en
route to Nova Scotia. .
About thirty-five years ago a simi
lar trip was taken by Mr. Pruden, at
the same age of his son now, with
Lhis father and mother, Mr- and Mrs.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, August 15, 1935.
CITIZENS BANK IS
SOLD FOR $20,000
Expect to Pay Deposit
ors 98 Per Cent With
in 60 Days
■ Liquidation of the closed Citizens
Bank became a step nearer last
Thursday afternoon when the bank
building was sold for $20,000. This
offer was made by N. L. Ward, who
it is understood acted for a small
group of the bank’s largest deposi
tors. The bid however, is subject to
the approval of the Commissioners of
Banks and a judge of the Superior
Court.
The method of dispostl of the
building was cause for much com
ment among depositors, and two pre
vious meetings were held to arrive
at a decision in the ipatter. At the
last meeting, on Saturday, August 3,
a committee was appointed with
power to dispose of the building
within 10 days to the best advan
tage of the depositors. This commit
tee consisted of Z. W. Evans, chair
man, D. B. Liles, E. L. Winslow, S.
E. Morris and N. L. Ward.
The committee endeavored to se
cure a higher bid for the building,
but were unsuccessful and subse
quently met Saturday afternoon in
the bank building to take final act
ion. The matter was discussed pro
and con and after a lengthy discus
sion it was moved by Mr. Morris and
seconded by Mr. Liles that the com
mittee accept the bid of $20,000 of
fered by Mr. Ward, who was requir
ed to deposit $250 to show good
faith.
On Saturday a number of notes
and judgements, property of the
bank, totaling $14,091.44 were sold
at the Court House door, the success
ful bidder being D. M. Warren with
a bid of $205. This sale likewise is
subject to the approval of the Com
missioner of Banks and the judge of
the Superior Court of the First Jud
icial District.
Aside from these two sales W- O.
Crump, the liquidating agent, expects
to collect approximately $4,000 on col
lectable proper on hand and it is the
opinion that complete liquidation of
the bank’s affairs will be made with
in 30 or at least not more than 60
days with a payment of 98 per cent
made to all depositors.
Byrum Bros. New
Boat Line Agents
Announcement has been made this
week of the change in agency of the
Norfolk, Baltimore and Carolina
Line. The agency, which was hand
led by Wood Privott, has been trans
ferred to Byrum Brothers, and Will
be under the supervision of T. C. By
rum.
Mr. Byrum in a letter sent out to
potential customers promises every
thing possible in service and accom
modation. Repairs and improvements
to the warehouse and a change in the
personnel have been made along with
the establishment of new hours which
will be from 7 A. M., to 5:30 P. M.
The boat carrying freight arrives
in Edenton every Wednesday and
Saturday morning.
t i
Dr. J. M. Ormond
To Conduct Revival
Rev. W. F. Walters, pastor of the
Methodist Church, has announced
that Dr. J. M. Ormond, a member of
the faculty of Duke University, has
been secured to conduct the revival
in the local church, which will be
held in October.
Rev. Mr. Ormond was formerly a
pastor in Hertford and Elizabeth
City.
Still Dickering For
New Athletic Coach
Jojin A. Holmes on Tuesday met
with members of the Edenton school
trustees to act upon the matter of
securing a coach for the coming
year. After discussing the situation
Mr. Holmes was instructed to com
municate with two of the available
men and report back to the Board.
The names of the two applicants
were not made public.
Leary Bros. Adding
Another Warehouse
The old planing, mill of the Edenton
Lumber Go., has been tern down by
Leary Bros., who are now having a
foundation laid for the erection of a
new warehouse. The new structure
will be slightly smaller than the
present warehouse, being 128x64
feet.
In connection with the new build
ing a section has been set apart as
GRIFFIN ACCEPTS
STATE POSITION
Replaces Leroy Martin
As Secretary of State
School Commission
Edenton came in for marked State
honors again last week when, due to
the resignation of Leßoy Martin as
secretary of the State School Com
mission, Senator Lloyd E. Griffin was
appointed by Governor Ehringhaus
to the position. The Commission,
with one openly dissenting vote, con
curred in the selection and imme
diately there afterward Mr. Griffin
said he felt flattered and would ac
cept. His salary will be $4,750,
about SSOO more than the previous
incumbent received, and which was
fixed at the Senator’s demand that
the lower sum did not come up to
what he had been making as an at
torney here.
It has been known for several
months that the Griffin appointment
was in the wind. State papers had
hinted that he and the governor had
discussed the situation as far back
.as when Mr. Martin let it be known
he had decided to accept a bank job
in Winston-Salem. But with his cus
tomary reticence the Senator had
kept mum about it and when the ap
pointment broke the town really was
surprised.
Senator Griffin is a well recognized
authority on school matters and will
take to his new position a general
acquaintance with and knowledge of
educational affairs. He was a part
author during the last session of the
legislature of the present State
school law and was chairman of the
Senate Committee on Education.
It is Mr. Griffin’s intention to
leave Edenton and take up residence
in Raleigh on September 15th.
Lassiters To Manage
Wake Forest Hotel
Mr. and Mrs. George W.’Lassiter,
who since the first of the year have
operated the Inn Eden, and previous
to that time were in charge of the
Hotel Hinton, will leave Edenton on
September 2 for Wake Forest, where
they will manage the Wake Forest
Inn. The hotel is owned by the col
lege and houses students, but Mr.
Lassiter plans to also cater to the
tourist trade.
AAA Solicitor Seeks
Use Os Court House
Seth Thomas, solicitor for the
AAA, this week wired Richard D.
Dixon, clerk of Superior Court, re
garding the possibility of securing
the Court House to hold AAA hear
ings. Mr. Thomas desires to have
the building on August 20 for three
days, which Mr. Dixon assured him,
but further details of the meetings
are lacking at this time.
Growers Os Tobacco
Expect Good Prices
Chowan tobacco farmers are opti
mistic over the opening prices of to
bacco on the southern markets, it be
ing calculated that at. prevailing
prices tobacco farmers in this County
will receive in the neighborhood of
$60,000 as against $45,000 last year.
Approximately 400 acres are plant
ed in tobacco this year compared to
about 265 acres last year.
Storm Sewer Caves
In Back Os Church
Employees of the city are now
preparing to lay a section of 36-inch
terracotta pipe back of the Metho
dist Church as a storm sewer. The
former sewer, of brick ‘ and cement
construction, caved in during the re
cent heavy rains and will be replaced
by a more substantial pipe.
Enough pipe was ordered to re
place the caved in sewer, but upon
investigation by workers it was dis
covered that the sewer has also caved
in under the post oflflce property,
hence, more had to be ordered before
the repairs can be made.
Drug Store Explosion
Causes Commotion
Right much excitment occurred in
Sutton’s Drug Store Tuesday morn
ing when the hose connected to a car
bonator tank exploded causing the
customers to scramble to the street.
When the hose busted the noise was
so terrific it was heard some dis
tance and in a little time quite a
crowd had gathered. The noise con
tinued until Kermit Layton, clerk,
ran to the tank, having to wade in
water, and shut off the valves. No
Prospects Bright For
Erection New Armory
LONG SESSION OF
COURT TUESDAY
Two Cases Consume Entire Morn
ing; Joseph Costen Held For
Superior Court
Only two cases were arraigned be
fore Judge J. N. Pruden in Record
er’s Court Tuesday, but these two
consumed the entire morning, court
adjourning at 1 o’clock.
The first case, in which Hannibal
Blount was charged with giving a
worthless check, was tried by a jury
and consumed the major portion of
the time. Blount was charged with
paying Tom Goodman for a set of
tires, giving a check in the amount of
$20.40, and for which Blount had had
no money in the bank nor had credit
with the bank to pay the bill.
John F. White, counsel for the de
fendant, endeavored to show that
Blount had paid part of the bill and
in the course of his argument pro
duced a number of checks which
Goodman had also given the Winslow
Oil Company which were not paid.
Blount pleaded not guilty but the
jury returned a verdict of guilty and
he was sentenced to 30 days on the
roads, suspended upon payment of
the amount of the check in question
and cost of court. An appeal was
noted and Blount placed on a SIOO
bond.
The other case was a preliminary
hearing of Joseph Costen, 18-year-old
colored youth who was charged with
assaulting Robert Brown, 45, with a
baseball bat.
The case grew out of a Fourth of
July celebration in the Yeopim sec
tion when, according to Brown, who
was the only witness to take the
stand, he was struck on the back of
the head, as a result of which the
right side of his face is paralyzed,
affecting his sight, hearing and
speech.
Probable cause having been found
against Costen, he was bound over
for the September term of Superior
Court. His bond was set at SSOO. W.
D. Pruden represents the defendant,
while L. E. Griffin is counsel for the
plaintiff.
TOM RAWLS HELD
FOR HIGH COURT
Probable Cause Found In Connection
With Murder of Hester Satter
field Last Week
Judge J- N. Pruden disposed of
three cases in Recorder’s Court Fri
day morning.
John Martin colored, who was
charged with non-support by his
wife from whom he was seperated
about two years, was found not
guilty.
Murray Baker, young county resi
dent, was found guilty of operating
a car under the influence of liquor.
He was found guilty and sentenced
to 96 days on the roads, to be sus
pended upon condition that he pay a
fine of $75 and costs and show good
behavior for a period of 12 months
and not to operate a motor vehicle in
the state for 12 months. Baker not
ed an appeal, bond being set at SIOO.
Judge Pruden confessed that he
was puzzled as to what to do with
Baker, this being his fifth time in
court on a similar charge. Prosecu
tor W. S. Privott stated to the court
that Baker is a well-behaved young
man when not drinking, and that all
of his trouble has been caused while
under the influence of liquor.
Tom Rawls, who was arrested
Thursday in Camden County in con
nection with the murder of Hestor
Satterfield, plead guilty and also ac
cording held over for Superior Court.
He was committed to jail without
bond to await the action of the
grand jury.
A. E. Hull Is New
Manager Os Hotel
A. E. Hull of Nashville, Tenn., ar
rived in Edenton Monday to take
charge as manger of the King Arms
Tavern, replacing R. *M. Broome, who
resigned. Mr. Hull is a young like :
able sort of a fellow and is very anx
ious to become acquainted with the
townspeople..
Mr. Broome, who has accepted a
position with the Fishermen’s . Self-
Help Corporation, left this week for
Clarksville, Tenn-, where he will visit
relatives before starting in his new
job.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
Bom to Mr. tnd Mrs. J. Frank
White, Jr., a son on Friday sfifter-
This newspaper is circu
lated in the territory
where Advertisers will
realize good results.
v————
$1.25 Per Year
Town Council Offers
Free Site on Hicks
Field
NO CANNING PLANT
Council Adopts School
Tax Levy of 17 Cents
On SIOO
Town Council at its monthly meet
ing Tuesday night was confronted
with a number of important matters,
the session lasting until 10 o’clock.
Those present were: Mayor E. W.
Spires, T. W. Jones, X. E. Copeland,
O. B. Perry, Graham Byrum and Dr.
L. P. Williams.
Mayor Spires explained to the
members of the Board that due to the
lack of man-hours, the application •
for a loan from the PWA for a new
water tank was refused.
Dr. M. P. Whichard appeared be
fore the councilmen with a letter
from adjutant General J. Van -B.
Metts, of Raleigh, in connection with
the erection of a armory on the fair
grounds property. The letter ex
plained that the National Guard As
sociation of the United States had
worked up the idea of building 47
armories in localities where the or
ganizations have inadequate ar
mories.
The plan calls for the city to pro
vide the ground by donation approxi
mately 110x110 on which the build
ing is to be placed and about 22,000
square feet to be used • for outdoor
training. The armory building would
cost not exceeding $25,000 and which
amount must go largely for labor in
accordance with the requirements of
the WPA, and which cost it is ex
pected will be made a full grant to
the State by the Federal government.
The type of building would be an
ornament to the community and af
ford ample facilities for military
training and storage of government
property. It will also have a stage
and large assembly hall.
The title to the ground must be
passed to the State before the erec
tion of an armory. is started and ac
cordingly the Councilmen passed a
resolution offering a site on the fair
grounds property facing Broad
Street between Park Avenue and the
Boy Scout cabin of approximately
three-quarters of an acre for the
erection of the building. Dr. Which
ard has notified the adjutant general
of the action taken by the city a.nd
is very optimistic that the armory
will be built.
John A. Holmes also appeared be
fore the Board, saying that it was
necessary for him to send the school
tax levy to Raleigh in connection
with the application for a loan to
build a school building. He pteScnW
ed his budget, which was adopted by
the Council.
The school tax levy will be 17
cents on the SIOO this year compared
with 26 cents last year. For the
debt service $3,000 will be needed for
bonds and $3,115 for interest, mak
ing a total of $6,115. The County
per capita is estimated at $1,556.64,
leaving a 17-cent levy to raise $4,930,
which totals $6,486.64, bringing the
income just slightly above the outlay.
The Councilmen were well-pleased
with the lower rate and were hopeful
that it would enable the city tax
rate to be at least not any higher
than last year. A special meeting
of the Council will be held in a week
or ten days at which time the tax
rate will be adopted. Mr. Holmes’
rate was arrived at by a levy on a
$2,900,000 valuation.
Wood Privott, Lloyd Griffin and
Caleb Goodwin appeared before the
Board, asking a donation of SSO to
ward maintenance of the tennis
courts. This request was refused but
the Councilmen agreed to lease the
grounds at a nominal figure to a ten
nis club with authority to charge any
who play tennis in order to finance
the upkeep of the grounds.
The idea of' erecting a canning fac
tory w’as quickly disposed of when
the matter *• was presented. This
proposition called f6r the town ad
vancing ' $5066 and’ a • Site to 'build a
plant which woUld'. ini turn be leased
to the Self-Help ■' Fishermen's - Cor
poration. * ’ * ‘
Thb Cdunciliflert consented ’to con
tinue Its contribution’ td the support
of the local re-employment office;
feeling that the city was greatly
benefited by having this office here.
TO VISIT WESTERN CAROLINA
Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Byruin and lit
tle daughter, Ruth, Mrs. W. J. Dan
iels, Miss Estelle Privott and Miss
Inez Felton expect to leave the first
of next week for a week’s motor trip