In these columns will be
found a fair presentation
of local and county news
of general interest.
Volume ll—Number 37,
Huge Crowds At Chowan Court
House To Hear Murder Trials
John Horne Charged
With Murdering His
Wife; Enters Plea of
Not Guilty; Many Un
able to Hear Trial
HARRISJUDGE
Tom Rawls Gets From
25 to 30 Years In
State Prison
Chowan County’s court house was
not able to hold the throngs of spec
tators who were on hand Monday
morning at the beginning of the Sep
tember term of Superior Court. Un
doubtedly the reason for so many
people attending court is the trial of
John Home, who murdered his wife
in the cotton mill a few weeks ago,
when he nearly severed her head
from her body with a razor.
Another case which also held the
attention of many was that of Tom
Rawls, colored, who was held in con
nection with the death by strangula
tion of Hester Satterfield.
Court was started promptly at 10
o’clock Monday and very shortly
Judge W. C. Harris, who is presiding,
gave specific instructions to the fore
man of the grand jury as well as the
body as a whole. Judge Harris was
very plain in issuing instructions and
reiterated various duties which he
wanted these men to perform.
“You are a powerful body,” he
said, “and you can be of a great ser
vice to your county.” He especially
dwelt upon the many charges of
driving automobiles while under the
influence of liquor. “North Carolina
can well be proud of her highways,”
said the judge, “but the State Is |iut
to shame by the large number oi
automobile accidents on the roads. In
practically every automobile accident
at least one person is directly to
blame. Many times members of
prominent families and friends of of
ficials are involved and naturally de
sire to be cleared of the charges, but
this should not be done- We have
enough laws now, if they are proper
ly enforced, and I want you to make
an investigation t 6 see if there are
any officials who are not doing their
duty. And I also want you to find
out if laws are being disregarded in
your county, and report these to the
proper officials, for many times of
fenders are not apprehended be
cause officers do not know about it.
It is your duty to report such cases,
for it isn’t right for one person to
be arrested when another making the
same violation goes on unmolested.”
Judge Harris gave strict instruc
tions also to inspect the school busses.
*‘l want you,” he said, “to examine
every bus separately. A good meas
uring stick is for you to be satisfied
to have your child ride in a bus. If
you deem it not fit for your child to
ride in, is isn’t safe for my child to
ride in.” He urged a report to him
of any bus unfit for use and he said
he would see that it was either fixed
or discarded.
He also demanded a thorough in
vestigation of county officials and in
stitutions. “You have the authority to
examine all books and records,” he
continued, “and I don’t want you to
go to the various places and merely
ask how things are going.” The
grand jury was also instructed to
investigate executors’ and adminis
trators’ affairs, saying that in some
cases, bonds are worthless and that
other people’s money should be prop
erly protected.
Monday’s Cases
Gurney McClenny, a white man,
was sentenced to serve 12 months in
jail, to be assigned to work on the
roads upon his plea of guilty to
charges of larceny. McClenny was
charged with stealing an automobile
belonging to Dr. W. S. Griffin, of this
city.
Hannibal Blount, alias "Ham”
Blount, found guilty of giving a bad
check and sentenced by Judge Harris
to serve six months on the roads with
recommendation that he be sent to
the Tarboro camp. He was charged
with giving Tom Goodman a check in
the amount of $20.40, the check being
worthless.
Pearlie Gregory, young Sound Side
Negro, was sentenced to six months
on the roads upon his plea of guilty
to charges of breaking and entering,
larceny and receiving. He is alleged
to have entered the home of C. Y.
Parrish on the Pruden farm, Sound
Side road, about four miles from
Edenton.
Eugene White, colored resident of
the Cemetery section of Edenton, who
was found inside Tom Walker’s store
after he had broken in the store late
at night about three months ago, waß
(Continued on Page Five)
THE CHOWAN HERALD
A HOME NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CHOWAN COUNTY
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| RANKER HOME }
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D. M. WARREN
Mr. Warren is the genial cashier
of the Bank of Edenton, and returned
from a Norfolk hospital on Sunday.
He is in position to know the pulse
of the financial situation of practic
ally all business concerns in the
county and is consulted very fre
quently by those seeking financial
advice. He is also chairman of the
County Commissioners and is like
wise prominently connected with a
number of other organizations.
TOWN COUNCIL HAS
VERY BRIEF SESSION
Councilman Xy E. Copeland, 111 In
Norfofc Reported
Improving
Town Council met in regular
monthly session Tuesday night, the
meeting being one of the shortest
held by the Councilmen in a long
time. Very little beside routine busi
ness was transacted. Every member
of the board was present with the
exception of X. E. Copeland, who is in
a Norfoik, Va., hospital. Mayor E.
W. Spires telephoned the hospital
just prior to the meeting and was in
formed that Mr. Copeland had shown
right much improvement.
Mayor Spires also explained the list
of five projects which have been sent
in for the city and had been accepted
by the district office. He also
brought up the assessment levied on
the various towns on the new Ocean
Highway route, through which an ef
fort will be made to divert tourists
through Edenton. No appropriation,
however, had been made for matters
of this sort and the proposition was
tabled for the time being.
A. G- Byrum and Dr. L. P. Wil
liams were instructed to consult W.
D. Pruden, town attorney, regarding
the final advertising of 1932 tax
suits.
The meeting adjourned after order
ing the payment of all bills.
NEW SCHOOLS NOW
APPEAR DOUBTFUL
Chowan County’s chances for new
school buildings have struck a snag,
along with the many other North
Carolina projects which have been
rejected in Washington by Harry L.
Hopkins, Works Progress Adminis
trator. According to press dispatch
es Mr. Hopkins turned down 1,908
projects, amounting to an expendi
ture of half a billion dollars in 47
states.
As a result of the wholesale re
jection, a committee composed of
Governor Ehringhaus, Senator Josiah
Bailey and Congressman R. L.
Doughton went to Washington Tues
day to confer with officials in an ef
fort to have the jnatter reconsidered-
According to Dr. H. G. Beatty
North Carolina has received only
$600,000 out of $24,000,000 requested,
or about 2 1-2 percent, while on a
population basis the State is entitled
to $100,000,000, and by relief popula
tion $80,000,000. Beside, the State
has paid Federal taxes of over a mil
lion dollars.
In the meantime local officials in
terested in school improvemeifts are
marking time to await information
from headquarters.
EDENTON-MACKE.YS FERRY
AGAIN MAKING TRIPS
The ferry boat Frances Harrington,
plying between Edenton and Mack
eys, is now back on regular schedule.
The boat was sent to a railway for
repairs whicfi necessitated interrup
tion of service for several days.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, September 12, 1935.
LEON BROGDEN NEW
HIGH SCHOOL COACH
Comes Here Highly Recommended;
Outstanding Star White In
Wake Forest
Edenton High School’s coaching
problem was settled late last week
when Leon Brogden, of Kinston, ac
cepted the position. Mr. Brogden is
well-known here, having been a col
lege classmate of several Edenton
boys and also was a member of the
Williamston baseball club during the
1934 season when the club was a
member of the Albemarle League.
Mr. Brogden comes to Edenton
very highly recommended as a clean
cut, hard-working young man. As an
orphan he entered Wake Forest Col
lege from Kennedy Home, and made
an outstanding student throughout
his college career. He was honored
by his class by being elected its
president in his senior year in 1932.
He was also a member of the Golden
Bow, the highest honor society of the
school.
As an athlete he was also out
standing, having played football,
baseball and basketball during his
four years in college. He was se
lected captain of the football team
and was picked by many coaches and
sports writers as an All-State foot
ball and baseball player. His ability
in the latter sport will be remembered
by many fans here, who will recall
that he played third base for Wil
liamston in 1934.
He has also taken two years of
post-graduate work since his gradu
ation, and comes here as well recom
mended as a teacher as an athlete.
Superintendent John A. Holmes has
a number of recommendations as to
the qualifications of Brogden, among
one of the best being from Dr. B. W’.
Spilman, of Kinston, who recom
mends him as being an asset to any
community-
Mr. Holmes at present isn’t able to
say just when the new coach will ar
rive but has written him, urging him
to come as soon as possible :n order
to start football practice in the very
ngar future.
Prospects are bright for a strong
team this season at the local school
and with the advent of cooler weath
er, both fans and members of the
squad are anxious to see some action.
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W. J TMNIELS
Jim Daniels, a native of Bertie
County, has for many years been in
terested in church and Sunday School
music, having sung and led music
for revival and special meetings all
over the eastern section of the State.
He is a rural mail carrier out of the
Edenton office and is known and
loved by hosts of friends. He is in
charge of the music at the revival
meeting being held at Macedonia
Church this week.
Mrs. Bunch Issues
Two Licenses To Wed
Two marriage licenses were issued
over the week-end by Mrs. Maurice
L. Bunch, one of these being to Fred
Tunstall and Inez White, both of
Chowan County.
A license was also issued to a col
ored couple, Less Perry and Annie
Sue Picot, both of Chowan County.
They were married in the Register
of Deeds office by Justice of the
Peace W. S. Summerell.
DISTRICT OFFICE
WPA ACCEPTS 5
LOCAL PROJECTS
All Five Subsequently
Sent to Raleigh
Office
CREATES^W ORK
Improvements Will Not
Increase City’s Tax
Rate
Five projects for the city of Eden
ton were sent in to district WPA
headquarters in Elizabeth City, all
five being accepted and sent to Ra
leigh, where they will be passed on
and sent to Washington for final ap
proval. If all of these projects go
through the Electric and Water De
partment will furnish a large major
ity of the town’s contribution, as a
consequence of which the tax rate
will not be affected.
The largest of the projects calls
for surfacing streets and building
sidewalks which is figured to furnish
labor for six months.
The projects are as follows:
Project No. I—To complete Mill
Village sanitary sewerage system
which was previously under construc
tion by ERA. Federal funds $899-50;
sponsor’s (town’s) contribution
$736.80; 41 man months.
Project No. 2—Laying 1800 feet of
15 inch storm sewer pipe on Johnson
Street to Park Avenue in North
Edenton. Federal funds $2295.00;
town’s contribution $1630.48. Re
quires 31 man months.
Project No. 3—Sanitary sewerage
extensions and relaying defective
lines in old system to give Edenton a
100 per cenk sanitary sewerage sys
tem. Federal funds $10,213-00; town’s
contribution $6,179.50; 62 man
months.
Project No. 4—Laying 417 lineal
feet of 24 inch storm sewer between
East Gale and Church Streets back
of Methodist Church and Post Office
property to replace old concrete cul
ver which has caved in. Federal
funds $770.00; town’s contribution
$1052.87; 31 man months.
Project No. s—Tar and gravel sur
facing streets on Mill Village; Dock
Street, Third Street and Badham
Road and building 5 foot dirt side
walks in North Edenton on Johnson,
Cabarrus Streets, Park Avenue, Ist,
2nd. and 3rd. Streets. These side
walks will have wooden curbs with a
light covering of crushed rock. Fed
eral funds $18,175.50; town’s contri
bution $1200.00; 84 man months.
SCHOOL FACULTY
NOW COMPLETE
City School Opens Monday, Septem
ber 23; Advance School Starts
At Same Time
With the securing of Leon L.
Brogden to fill the vacancy in the
Edenton school faculty caused by the
resignation of Henry House, all
teachers for the next term have now
been secured. The white schools will
open Monday, September 23, and
with practically the same faculty as
last year, Superintendent John A.
Holmes is very optimistic for a suc
cessful year. The Advance school,
which is included in the Edenton ad
ministrative unit, will open at the
same time.
Following is the list of teachers:
High School
Miss Paulina Hassell, Miss Madge
Pettus, Mrs- George Mack, Mrs. J.
E. Debnam, Oscar E. Duncan, all of
Edenton; Leon L. Brogden, of Kins
ton. Mrs. Leon Lewis will teach
music, while Mrs. T. B. Smith will
again teach the commercial class.
Elementary School
First Grade —Miss Emma Blanche
Warren, of Snow Hill, and Miss
Fannie Sue Sayers, of Draper, Va.
Second Grade —Miss Sara Wood,
Edenton, and Miss Ruby Felts, of
Boykins, Va.
Third Grade —Mrs. Margaret Davis,
Edenton, and Miss Myrtle Jenkins,
Carrsville, Va.
Fourth Grade—Miss Lena Jones,
South Mills, and Miss Mary Cody,
Darlington, S. C.
Fifth Grade —Miss Edna Goodwin,
Edenton, and Mrs. W. S. Summerell,
Edenton.
Sixth Grade—Miss Kathryn Leg
gett, Edenton, and Miss Sara Mac-
Donald, Bishop, Ga.
Seventh Grade —Miss Ruth Daven
port, Columbia, N. C., and Charles D-
Stewart, Edenton.
Advance School
E. A. Swain and Mrs. E. A. Swain,
of Edenton, and Miss Martha Wil
liams, of Merry Hill.
County Schools Open
For Session Monday
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| A BUSY MAYOR [
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MAYOR E. W. SPIRES
Besides the thousand and one jobs
in connection with his duties as
Mayor of Edenton, Mr. Spires has
numerous other positions which keep
him constantly on the go. He has
done an untold amount of work in
connection with local improvements
and preliminary work in the hope of
securing a bridge across the Albe
marle Sound. He is manager of the
local telephone office, and has been
honored by Masons of the State by
being named their grand historian.
Mr. Spires is especially anxious to
see people from Bertie' as well as
other adjoining counties visit Eden
ton, and on numerous occasions ha 9
urged business firms, as well as in
dividuals to put out the glad hand to
strangers.
Fellowship Committee
In Charge of Rotary
The usual luncheon of the Edenton
Rotary Club will be held at 1 o’clock
today in the Parish House. The pro
gram will be in charge of the fellow
ship committee, which is composed of
Jesse White, W. D. Holmes, C. H.
Wood and J. L. Wiggins.
All members are urged to attend.
| VERY SICK MAN I
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X. E. COPELAND
Mr. Copeland, part owner of the
Jno. C. Bond Company, who became
violently ill last Wednesday, was
rushed to the Protestant Hospital in
Norfolk, Va., Saturday night in a
very precarious condition as a result
of a cerebral hemorrhage. At last
reports Mr. Copeland showed signs
of improvement, but is still consider
ed a very sick man.
D. M. Warren Returns
From Norfolk Hospital
iD. M. Warren, cashier of the Bank
of Edenton, who was taken ill about
two weeks ago while on a vacation at
Virginia Beach, Va., and was rushed
to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Norfolk,
Va-, returned to his home here Sun
day. Mr. Warren’s condition was the;
cause of much concern and his many
friends rejoiced to see him back
home.
Mr. Warren has improved right
much, but still is unable to resume
his duties at the bank. He was
forced to be absent from the meeting
of the County Board of Commission
ers, of which he is chairman, at the
last meeting, as a result of which a
number of very important matters
were deferred.
This newspaper is circu
lated in the territory
where Advertisers will
realize good results.
$1.25 Per Year
Pupils May Rent Text
books at One-third
Price
TRUCKS REPAIRED
Parents Urged to Send
Children on First
Day
All white schools of the Chowan
County Administration Unit will be
gin Monday, September 16. These
schools are as follows: Chowan High
School; Center Hill, (white); Elmo;
Oak Grove; Gum Pond and Beech
Fork.
Teachers and principals of these
schools are being notified of the meet
ing to be held at Chowan High
School Friday afternoon at 2:30,
September 13.
The Negro schools of the county
unit will open Monday, September
30th.
Parents are urged to send the
children to school the first day, in
order that enrollment and registra
tion may be completed. It is expect
ed that the attendance and enroll
ment will be better this year because
of two conditions: First, pupils be
ginning school for the first time are
allowed to enter in September if they
become 6 years of age by January.
(However, the Superintendent has not
been notified officially.) Secondly, it
is the opinion of many people that it
will be easier for parents to equip
their children with the necessary
school books, by being able to rent
them from the State at one-third the
marked price of the book; then many
will be able to purchase second-hand
ed books more liberally by reason of
the rental system. In connection
with this it is well to state that it is
not compulsory to rent books from
the State. The rental system is a sys
tem whereby the State offers the
students in the elementary grades the
opportunity to rent all new books at
one-third the cost, and to the high
school students, all the history and
science books. No supplementary
books will be rented by the State.
Therefore all supplementary books
and the remainder of the high school
texts will be had as heretofore. If
students do not wish to rent books,
they have the opportunity of pur
chasing their books, either new or
second-handed. Students who wish
to purchase new books will have to
purchase same from the superinten
dent or the local merchant. Teachers
and principals will not be in a posi
tion to handle this matter. In many
instances students may have a part
of their books on hand and desire to
rent the remainder. This can be
done. All books to be rented are
to be consigned to the superinten
dent and he distributes the necessary
books to each principal or teacher in
charge of the school, and then said
principal or teacher distributes the
books to the students, after having
collected the rental fee (same
amounting to only one-third the price
of the book.) Each teacher will have
the necessary and proper blanks for
keeping an accurate record of each
student renting books and fee's col
lected, The student will be given an
itemized statement of the books he
has rented; the teacher keeps a copy
and turns a copy over to the principal
with fees collected. He in turn
makes a summary report of books
rented and fees collected and remits
same to the superintendent, who re
mits a record with fees collected to
the State Textbook Rental Commis
sion.
The superintendent has been prom
ised his consignment of books by
Tuesday or Wednesday of this week,
and it is hoped that all books tc be
rented will be here so that each child
may receive his or her books the
second day of school. In the event
they are not here, he will do the best
he can as he is assured that the de
lay will not be long. All indigent
students are to be rented books free.
Indigent students are 'defined as
those students who represent famil
ies who receive aid through the
County Welfare Office, or those who
receive aid from the county.
Repairs in general to most of the
school buildings and grounds have
been made, with one or two in the
process of repair.
Trucks for transporting the chil
dren are being put in good repair,
with one new unit; five to be operat
ed in the County Unit and four in
the City Unit. There are prospects
of getting two more replacements if
the State School Bus PWA goes
through, otherwise the present units
.will be operated. Selection of drivers
' and bus routes are being worked out,
(Continued on Page Four)