In these columns will be
found a fair presentation
of local and county news
of general interest.
■Volume lll.—Number 6.
Negro Murderously Assaults
Wm. J. Harris In Grocery Store
' Abraham Nowell Con
fessed to Deed Wed
nesday Morning
FIVE ARRESTS
Inflicted Over Two Doz
en Wounds on Head
With Poker
Fifteen hours after William J.
Harris, 82, beloved East Church
Street store keeper affectionately
known for a quarter century or more
as “Uncle Billy” Harris, had been
murderously struck down and robbed
in his little place of business late
Tuesday afternoon, Abraham Nowell,
23, Negro log woods worker in the
Yeopim section, confessed to the
brutality, and, because of the still
serious condition of his victim and
the feeling evidenced about town,
was spirited to the Central prison
at Raleigh by Sheriff J. A. Bunch
and Officer R. L. Pratt.
Four other captives rounded up in
a somewhat general scouring of the
neighborhood and woods in the New
Town section were immediately re
leased by the authorities. A small
sum of money, estimated as around
$25, taken by Nowell at the time he
struck “Uncle Billy" into semi
consciousness, was found by the po
lice where Nowell had said *he had
secreted it in a stump in the ter
raine near his house.
As the police were able to glean
the facts “Uncle Billy” was setting
up a new stove pip® in his store
when Nowell, who works on the J.
Henderson Dail farm and is the son
Jof a colored preacher, entered the
Harris store with a small sack of
flour under his arm. The Negro in
sists it was never his intent to rob
■or commit the assault and that his
manner was friendly, so much so
that he helped “Uncle Billy” fix his
stove pipe. A customer necessitated
that “Uncle Billy” make change and
it was then Nowell says he saw the
old man take a bag of small cash
from behind his counter. From that
moment Nowell avows he lost con
trol of himself and grabbed a poker
and struck “Uncle Billy” twice with
it, although later surgical attention
couveyed the inference that more
blows than two had been rained up
on the old man’s head.
Immediately after the crime Now
ell, fled, and “Uncle Billy” heroically
struggled to his feet, fastened up his
store, and with blood pouring from a
score of head wounds, walked to his
home on Oakum Street to notify
Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Boyce, who lived
with him.
Dr. L. P. Williams was sent for
and the police notified.
Almost immediately the whole
town knew of the awfulness of the
attack on the beloved old grocery
man and Sheriff Bunch and the
town constabulary went to work im
mediately. Nowell was rounded up
as the second captive after Mrs.
Boyce had said she had seen him
previously in “Uncle Billy’s” place.
Subsequently it was bruited about a
(Continued on Page Five)
Prayer Meeting Called
Off At M. E. Church
Due to the very disagreeable
weather, Rev. George Blount, pastor
of the Methodist Church, has an
nounced that the mid-week prayer
service has been called off until fur
ther notice. Attendance at these
meetings has been vitally affected by
the extremely cold and inclement
weather. The services will be resum
ed just as soon as the weather per
mits, and the .study of a timely book
will be a feature of these Wednesday
night meetings.
The discontinuance of the prayer
meetings went into effect Wednesday
of this week.
Elihu T. Copeland
Funeral Tuesday
Funeral services were held from
the home for Mr. Elihu T. Copeland,
age 74, on Tuesday afternoon, with
Pastor W. T. C. Briggs officiating.
He was assisted by Rev. John T. By
rum. Burial #took place in the
Boyce burying ground near the home
of Mr. T. D. Boyce. Icaria.
Mr. topeland had held his church
membership for years with the
ChappelkHill Baptist Church, near
which heV&d also lived. He is sur
vhjed fly hk wife, who' is almost the
THE CHOWAN HERALD
A HOME NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CHOWAN COUNTY
NEW MANAGER I
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WILEY J. P. EARNHARDT
New manager of the Taylor
Theatre who will take over the
entire managament on Wednes
day, February 12. He is famil
iarly known as “Jimmy.”
NEW MANAGER
IS EMPLOYED BY
TAYLOR THEATRE
Wiley Earnhardt, of Elizabeth City,
Will Take Charge Wednesday
February 12
Os interest to many in Edenton
and this section is the announcement
made by Mr. and Mrs. S W. Tayloi
that Wiley J. P. Earnhradt has been
secured to manage the Taylor Thea
tre. This information follows rumors
during the last week to the effect
that the theatre had been sold, which
rumors are unfounded.
Mr. Earnhardt, familiarly known
as “Jimmy" by his friends, has for
the past eight years been assistant
manager at the Carolina and Al
krama Theatres in Elizabeth City,
and in being made manager of the
local theatre will have entire charge.
He plans to make many changes
and will devote his entire time to the
building up of theatre patronage,
and says his first job will be to
freshen up and beautify the marque
and lobby.
The new manager, originally from
Concord, N. C., will take over his
new duties on Wednesday, February
12. He is thoroughly acquainted with
the theatre business and assures pa
trons of the Taylor that they may
expect to see the best pictures the
industry affords.
Mr. Earnhardt has an attractive
wife and a young son and upon ar
rival in. Edenton early next week
will live temporarily at the Hotel
Joseph Hewes.
Coach Brogden Plans
For Football Practice
Coach Leon Brogden of the Eden
ton High School, is already planning
for football during the 1936 season
and plans to start spring training
as soon as the weather permits after
the State boxing torunament at
Chapel Hill on February 10 and 1L
The equipment was inspected this
week and repairs made, so that it
will be ready to pass out to candi
dates when the call is made. Mr.
Brogden doesn’t know exactly how
many of last year’s team will be in
the lineup next year but has every
reason to believe that the school will
have a strong team.
Hog Killing Time
Now Nearing End
Though hog-killing in Chowan
County has been underway for some
time, quite a few farmers have this
task still ahead of them. According
to reports an ample supply of hogs
has been killed for home consump
tion, much of which has been put up
for use during the coming months.
Approximately 10,000 hogs have
been raised in the County by about
1000 farmers. An average of five
hogs per family has been killed for
home consumption, leaving something
like 8000 slaughtered for sale to the
| trade and 2000 soldjalive.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 6, 1936.
I LEAP YEAR DANCE
ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Ladies of St. Mary’s Guild Sponsor
Unique Affair Over
Edenton Case
Plans have been completed for a
Cabaret Leap Year dance to be held
on Friday evening, February 7, over
the Edenton Case, the affair being
sponsored by St. Mary’s Guild of St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Those in charge of the dance have
announced that there will be many
special attractions for the entertain
ment of those attending, chief among
which will be solo dancing by Miss
Martha Outlaw and her pupils of
Elizabeth City.
Music for the dance will be fur
nished by Fred Barr’s Orchestra.
Tables and chairs will be arranged
for those who do not care to dance.
Mike Kehayas, manager of the
Edenton Case, has re-arranged the
second floor over the case, making of
it a very attractive and comfortable
room in which to hold dances or sim
iliar affairs. A large crowd is ex
pected to attend the dance tomorrow
night.
Edenton Thawing
Out Os Hard Freeze
. Ground hogs and snow birds here
abouts on their proverbial day of
maneuvering/last Sunday may have
satisfied the skeptical that plenty
more winter is in the offing, but the
first fofc- days of this week left the
theory open to doubt, Rain and a
rapidly rising temperature, Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday, cracked Old
Boreas an awful wallop and restored
thoughts of better climatic times to
come, and no one has objected in the
slightest.
Plenty of noticeable ehanges have
been observed. For the first time
since the great cold of 1918 the Al
bemarle Sound was frozen solid from
shore to shore and old-timers say it
might have been possible last Sunday
morning to have driven a mule and
log sled across it—a feat however,
no one dared to essay. The same ice
condition developed in the Roanoke,
Cashie and Chowan rivers, anti Tues
day the rapid thaw broke the bar
riers and the three waterways, pro
pelled by a lively wind, drove the
floes into the Sound, which had aiso
started to crumble.
Down along the Edenton water
front the sight was entrancing Tues
day afternoon as the swirling cakes
crashed and tumbled about each
other with a heavy roar in their
eagerness to go onward toward the
ocean. Naturally the bergs piled up
about the Norfolk and Southern
railroad bridge, slightly damaged in
a similar situation in 1918, and ex
tra railroad crews from New Bern
and Washington were hurried to the
scene to be on watch. Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning it was
deemed advisable to resort to dyna
miting to protect the structure and
all the available powder that could
be secured in Edenton was secured.
The reportes of the explosions could
be heard in Edenton and occasioned
some wonderment.
W. A. Everett, operator of the
Edenton-Mackeys ferry, reported
Wednesday that the line had resum
ed operations after 8 days of idle
ness due to the ice. The situation
provided “Bill” with his customary
statement “Now, see here, if we only
had a steel ferry boat we never
would have to steop running. Can’t
you get us a steel boat?” The Her
ald agreed to pass his inquiry on but
could offer no encouragement.
Mrs. Nejam Will Not
Open Fruit Store Here
The rumors afloat in Edenton that
Mrs. A. Nejam, owner of the build
ing now occupied by Chap’s New
Deal, will open a fruit store when
the place is vacated by the present
tenant is unfounded. This informa
tion appeared in a story in The
Herald last week in connection with
Arthur Chappell buying the Satter
field building, but has been denied
by Mrs. Nejam.
In a letter to The Herald Mrs.
Nejam says, in part:
“Fortunately, my financial position
is such that I do not have to engage
in any business at all, and being
pleasantly located in my own beauti
ful home here in Jackson, I have no
intention what ever of leaving here.”
Mrs. Nejam further says the ru
mor referred to is utterly unfounded
and somewhat embarrassing. There
fore, The Herald gladly gives space
to the correction of the statement
RELIEF REQUESTS
CAUSES WOKRVTO
COMMISSIONERS
Many Take Attitude It’s
Up to County to Fur
nish All Needs
HEAT RECORD ROOM
Discuss Placing County
WPA Projects In One
Building
Though little of importance came
before the Chowan County Commis
sioners at their monthly meeting on
Monday, the session extended over
into the afternoon. Practically the
entire session was consumed dealing
with relief cases, quite a few appear
ing before the Commissioners in per
son requesting help, aside from the
list in the hands of W. J. Taylor,
County Welfare officer. With each
subsequent meeting of the Commis
sioners, there is an increasing de
mand made on the County for relief,
causing them considerable worry in
view of the fact that the County’s
relief bill is already considerably
above the budget. The County is
now giving a large sum for relief
and especially during the cold weath
er the demand has been greater.
Due to the severe weather a trio
of Edenton attorneys also added to
the worries of the Commissioners
when R. C. Holland, W. S. Privott
and J. N. Pruden appeared before
the group and requested something
done to heat the room adjoining the
register of deeds’ office, and in which
is stored records. The attorneys ex
plained that it is necessary for them
very frequently to enter the room to
look up records, but that the room is
so cold they are unable to remain
long "enough to complete their work,
and further, that it endangers their
health. The Commissioners agreed
with the attorneys, and voted to fur
nish an electric stove if the city
would pay for the current. The
proper solution to the situation is a
(Continued on Page Five)
EDENTON SCOUTS
SPONSORING PLAY
“Miss Blue Bonnet” Will Be Present
ed In School Auditorium On
February 13 and 14
Miss Ellis Ballance, play director
of the Wayne P. Seawell Producing
Company, of Atlanta, Ga., arrived in
Edenton Tuesday to formulate plans
for the presentation of “Miss Blue
Bonnet,” a three-act comedy which
will be sponsored by the Edenton
Boy Scout troop.
The play win De presented at the
Edenton Higfy School auditorium on
Thursday and Friday nights, Feb
ruary 13 and 14, the proceeds of the
entertainment going to the Boy
Scouts.
Miss Ballance is already at work
securing a cast for the entertainment,
which will be composed entirely of
local talent, and as soon as enough
characters are secured reheasals will
be held. The play, a comedy, is filled
with laugh-provoking incidents and
John Graham, Scoutmaster of the
Edenton troop, feels sure citizens will
cooperate with the boys in staging a
successful entertainment.
Red Men District
Meeting Tonight
Due to the bad weather last
Thursday, the meeting of the First
District of the Improved Order of
Red Men, which was to have been
held in Elizabeth City, was postpon
ed. This meeting, however, will be
held tonight, and members of Chowan
Tribe are especially urged to be
present.
Matters of importance to the Order
will be discussed, following which
refreshments will be served.
Four Candidates Now
In Senatorial Race
W. T. Brown, of Perquimans Coun
ty, has announced himself as a can
didate for the senate from the First
District, and early this week was
mingling among his friends in Eden
ton. He has served three terms in
the lower house of the General As
sembly from his county and now
aspires to represent the district.
Besides Mr. Brown, there are three
other candidates for the Senate: Miss
Ethel Parker, of Gatesville; Jerry
Hughes, of Elizabeth City, and W. I.
Halstead, of South Mills.
Chowan River Bridge
Threatened By Fire
Herald Adds New
Weekly Features
Starting with this issue, The
Herald has secured a few new fea
tures for its readers. Among
them is a weekly humorous story
by the late Will Rogers, which un
doubtedly will be welcomed by
many Herald subscribers. Another
feature each week will be “Just
Humans” by Gene Carr appearing
on the editorial page and depict
ing possible every day occurrences.
Besides, there will be two other
features, one a timely saying by
Dinah, and a short “Do You
Know" strip so popular in news
papers of today.
The Herald is happy to be able
to present these features and
trust that they will prove interest
ing to all subscribers.
Helms And Dail
Speak To Rotarians
M. W. Jackson will have charge of
the program at the meeting of the
Edenton Rotary Club at the luncheon
today. Mr. Jackson’s theme will be
the dairy business as it applies to
the welfare of a community.
The Rotarians at last Thursday’s
meeting were entertained as well as
enlightened by an address by Chief
of Police G. A. Helms and State
Patrolman George Dail, who were
specially invited guests of the Club.
Mr. Helms in his talk stressed the
importance of cooperation of citizens
in law enforcement, saying it is not
only the duty of a citizen to report
violations but also to testify in
court. He likewise urged parents of
children to aid in keeping children
off the streets while roller skating,
and emphasized the care motorists
should take especially when driving
in the vicinity of the school building
in preventing injuries to school chil
dren. For the information of motor
ists, Mr. Helms reminded his hearers
that the speed limit within the city
:S 25 miles an hour, 20 miles in the
business district and 15 miles in the
. ch.ool zone and at street intersec
tions.
Mr. Dail gave a brief history of
the State Highway Patrol bringing
out the fact that since the Patrol
was formed in 1929 with 37 men, it
now has 121 on the force. In his
estimation, one of the most impor
tant factors tending to safety on
the highways is the drivers' license
law, which is playing an important
part in taking off the highways in
competent, reckless and drunken
drivers. Over 1000 drivers’ licenses
have been revoked since the law went
into effect.
The Patrolman stressed the impor
tance of driving on the right side
of the highway, even if no cars are
in sight. He was asked numerous
questions by the Rotarians, one of
which was the cause of most wrecks
on the highways. Mr. Dail gave it
as his opinion that by far the greater
portion of wrecks are due directly to
high rate of speed, saying that 45
miles an hour is the speed limit. He
recited instances where patrolmen,
when ordering motorists to have
minor repairs made immediately,
have been accused of being in cahoot
with certain filling stations, but that
despite many handicaps the patrol
men continue to carry out the law
as far as possible.
New Jersey Man Writes
Poem About Edenton
An interesting poem written by
Harry G. More, editor and publisher
of the Millbum-Short Hills Item of
Millburn, New Jersey, has just been
received by C. P. Wales. Mr. Wales,
by the way, had previously sent the
New Jersey man a quantity of pecans
and peanuts, and Mr. More was loud
in his praises to Mr. Wales, the nuts
possibly being the inspiration of the
poem, which is as follows:
If the lowly bean of Boston makes
Its residents astute
What reason then has Edenton
To fail to follow suit.
Take glory where you find it
In tea and earthy nut
Let the other fellow laugh from out
His ante-Bellum rut.
When all the nuts are counted
Outside of Eden Town
Twill he good by forever to
You -xlittle peanw town. <
This newspaper is circu
lated in the territory I
where Advertisers will I
•realise good results.
$1.25 Per Year
Serious Damage Avert
ed By Edenton Fire
Department
CABLEBROKE
Fire Breaks Out Second
Time Late Tuesday
Night
Edenton citizens were right much
concerned Monday morning when it
was reported that the Chowan River
bridge was on fire, resulting in the
large Edenton Fire Department truck
being sent to the scene.
Despite a drizzling rain the bridge
had caught fire about midway be
tween the Chowan County side and
the drawbridge in the middle. The
fire was caused by a cross circuit in
the power cable which is hung close
to the bridge supports. The cable
had bunred off the heavy insulation,
and ignited the wooden supports,
spreading under the bridge and to
the other side- The flames were
whipping up over the bridge when
the Edenton firemen arrived on the
scene, burning the surface of the
wooden structure for a distance of
about 50 feet.
The. firemen experienced extreme
diffiulty in fighting the flames, being
forced to break a hole in a layer of
ice about three inches thick in order
to secure water and then had to
break the ice in order to move about
in a boat to fight the fire, which had
spread not only along the sides but
under the bridge as well.
The fire was discovered by a Mr.
Cheick, who was driving a truck for
the Maryland Biscuit Company, of
Baltimore, and reported to Captain
Pat Bell, bridgekeeper. Mr. Bell
immediately called Edenton to have
the power turned off and asked for
aid.
After the fire had been extinguish
ed a thorough investigation was
made of the burned portion of the
bridge to determine whether or not
it Was safe for traffic. The flames,
however, did not eat deep into the
timber and automobiles were allowed
to pass, with the warning to drive
slow.
The fire attracted many of the
highway officials and employees, in
cluding Juiien Wood, a member of
the State Highway Commission, who
was very much concerned about the
safety in crossing the bridge, but
upon a report of a Corps of inspec
tors,, was of the opinion the bridge
was safe.
Another fire broke out on the
bridge about 10 o'clock Tuesday
night, and the Edenton Fire Depart
ment was again called to the scene.
A thorough inspection was made
Tuesday under the bridge by State
officials, and though no fire could be
detected, it evidently was not out,
for no reason for the second out
break could be given except that the
heated asphalt caused the fire. It
occurred under the bridge at the
same section of the bridge that
burned Monday.
Ice in the river, however, had dis
appeared and the firemen had little
difficulty in fighting the blaze from
a small skiff. Traffic was allowed to
cross the bridge immediately after
the fire was extinguished.
22 HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS NAMED
ON HONOR ROLL
Girls Overwhelmingly In Majority
On Selected L|st For Fourth
Month of School
Twenty-two students in the Eden
ton High School were fortunate
enough to earn a place on the honor
roll of the school for the fourth
month just closed. The eighth grade
placed tTie largest number on the ex
clusive list with eight, six girls and
two boys- Os the entire list there
were only four boys out of the 22 to
gain this coveted honor.
Following are the students includ
ed in the list:
Eleventh Grade—Evelyn Brown,
Rebecca Hollowell, Billy Gregory,
Mildred Ward, and Sarah Elizabeth
White.
Tenth Grade—Wendell Copeland,
Dorothy Bufflap, Mabel Ruth Harrell
and Dorothy Saunders.
Ninth Grade—Jennie Ruth McAlily
Junius Davis, Evelyn Hollowell, Eli
zabeth Dail, and Mary Forehand.
Eighth Grade—Alex White, Anna
Wood, Myda Weaver, Helen Edwards,
Edna Mae Wilkins, Billy Shepard,
Mary White, Madeline Habit.