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THe Leading Weekly Newspaper in Western North Carolina, Serving a large and Potentially Rich Territory in (hi* stute
ynilTME XXXVIII, NVMPKR
ffluRrnv, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 4. 1S?27.
6c COPY? SI. 60 PER YEAS
GAME OF FRAUD !
IS PERPETRATED !
ON MURPHY FOLK
Matthew* Claimed He Was Represen
tative of Lumber Company Sent
Here to Operate Plant
A man parading under Uie name
of C. L. Matthews, accompanied by a
small bo\ whom he claimed to be his
twelve year old son. Lewis Matthews,
and posing as a representative of the
Gcnnctt Lumber Company, of Ashe
ville, in the opinion of a number of
Murphy citizens and business houses,
has perpetrated a game of fraud upon
them, it was learned here this week.
On January I Oth, the Cherokee
Company, a large lumber concern
with extensive holdings at Murphy
and Shulls Mills, N. C., was sold at a
public sale by trustees in Wilmington,
Peleware. .Much interest was mani
fested in the sale of these properties
hv the people of Murphy and this sec
tion, ami a ray of hope is held out
that tin1 plant will soon begin opera
tion.
Shortly after the sale, at a time
when everybody was asking such
questions as "Who bought it?"
"When is it going to start?" etc.,
Matthews and his son came to Mur
phy. He registered at one of the ho
tels. claiming to be a representative
of the Gennett Lumber Company, of
Ashtville, which company had bought
the Cherokee Company, and he had
been sent to begin operation of the
plant here.
With his knowledge of the com
pany, its holdings here and at Shulls
.Mills, which is said to ! ve been
thorough, this was thi >,uy recom
mendation or introduction Matthews
neulcd. His demeanor was that of a
luml (Titian and polished gentlemen,
and he dressed the part of the lum
berman.
As a eonsequencc, plans for begin
ning the operation of the plant was
made, work to begin on a certain
Monday morning. The services of
men and trucks were secured. The
first work to be undertaken would be
the renovating and repairing the di
lapidated condition of the buildings
and plant. Every detail of arrange
ments was made with a precision that
gave every assurance of the plant go
ing into operation.
In the meantime, Matthews made
numerous purchases at different busi
ness houses, and on the strength of
his activity, was advanced credit by
a number of them. The purchases
were all small, none of them amount
ing n more than two or three dollars.
He left the hotel at which he was
'topping on Friday morning, taking
lis small son with him, saying that
he was going to Asheville but would
return Sunday night.
When Monday morning rolled
?round, the much abused dinner pail
was again in evidence at the big plant
as workmen, trucks^ and drivers ap
peared ready to begin work, but Mat
thews was not there. A policy of
watchful waiting was adopted. Noon
came and still he had not shown up.
The day passed, night came on, and
Mr. Matthews was getting to be more
conspicious by his absence.
Some thought he had missed his
train. Others believed him to be
ock, an accident occurred, etc. Sure
ly a man with his knowledge of the
bankrupt company's affairs, his pre
cision, business like tactics, genial
disposition, would have returned un
less some unforseen disaster had not
befallen him.
After several days, someone ad
dressed a letter to the Gennett Lum
ber Company. They replied:
"Reg to advise that we do not know
~|r- C. L. Matthews nor his son, Lewis
Matthews. Furthermore, we have not
bought the Cherokee Lumber Mills,
at>d have nobody in that territory
representing us."
Bing! went the bubble. And a
"umber of citizens here are compli
menting their stars that it did not as
JJjnu- larger proportions before the
600 GALLONS OF
BEER AND 2 STILLS
ARE DESTROYED
Moonshiners and Bootleggers Given
Set-Back by Sheriff Birchfield
and Deputies
Operators participating in the
gentle and profitable past time of !
manufacturing and selling moonshine
liquor were given a sudden and se
rious set-back this week by Sheriff
D. M. Birchfield and Deputies J. L.
Rose and Avery Pullium, when they
destroyed two forty gallon stills, 600
gallons of beer and 15 gallons of
liquor.
Tuesday Sheriff Birchfield and
Deputy Rose destroyed six hundred
gallons of beer in the mountains on
Hiawassee river about ten miles be
low Murphy. The officers arrived
upon the scene about noon only to
find that the blockaders had gotten
away with the stiii shortly before. A
boat was used to transport the still
across the river. Deputy Rose con
tinued the search for the missing out
fit and Sheriff Burchfield returned to
Murphy.
Ticking up the trail where they
crossed the river. Deputy Rose found
the still and 15 gallons of whiskey in
a clump of bushes on the river bank
some distance from the site of opera
tion. The still and whiskey were
brought to Murphy, the still locked
in the "relic** room of the jail and
the whiskey poured out.
Wednesday morning, Deputy Avery
Pullium found a forty gallon capacity
outfit hid in some bushes about two
mi lei. northwest of Am wws. Further
search of the vicinity revealed that
a number of empty beer and mash
barrels were hid about 100 yards
from the still. The officer who was
accompanied by Reuben Rector,
searched the premises of a dwelling
some two yards from where the find
was made. A mash stick and a num
ber of containers were found in the
barn. Sam Burchfield is said to be
living in the house, but no one was
there at the time of the raid. Ar
rests are expected to be made in this
case.
Sheriff Burchfield and his deputies
have been aggressive in their cam
paign against manufacturers and re
tailers of this contraband product
since their inception into office last
December. A short time ago they
captured and destroyed two stills and
1800 gallons of beer in the Unaka
section of the county, these two being
located within a half mile of each
other.
KNOXVILLE
MAN KILLED i
WHILE AT WORK!
Funeral of Joe E. Batea Will Be Held
Today
Joe E. Bates, 49, 1213 Forest ave
nue, Knoxville, track foreman for the
Coat Good Coal Co., Coal Good, Ky.,
was instantly killed while at his post
Tuesday at 2 p. m.
The body arrived in Knoxville Wed
nesday afternoon at 3 :55 o'clock over
the Southern Railway and was taken
to the Weaver funeral home.
Surviving are the widow, formerly
Miss Ora McClure; two sons, Clifton
and Algie also two daughters, Thethel
and Edna Bates; his father, S. W.
Bates, Murphy, I. C.; one brother,
Roland Bates, Fonde, Ky. ; one sister,
Mrs. Lou Rogers, Murphy, N. C. Mr.
Bates wns converted earlier in life.
He was a member of the Musonic
fraternity and Mascng will have
charge of the funeral exercises at the
grave.
Funernl services will be conducted
from the Second M. E. church this af
ternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with Rev.
George J. Creswell, pastor officiating.
Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery.
FIRE DESTROYS
PLANT CHEROKEE
ROLLER MILLS
Damage Estimated At $S,000 ? Fire
Department Keeps Flames From
Spreading
Fire of unknown origin early Wed- i
nesday morning destroyed the Chero- I
? kee Roller Mills, manufacturers of |
flour, meal, etc., in the ice plant sec
tion, doing damage estimated at
around $8,000.
The conflagragation was noticed
about 1:30 in the moraine, and had
then enveloped' the building. The
fire department was roused out of bed
and was soon on the scene, hut little
could be done to save the building, or
fixtures, which were completely de
stroyed. However, the tire depart
ment was instrumental in keeping the
flames from spreading to several
buildings close by. The garage of J.
C. Townaon was partly I
It is understood that the building j
was covered by insurance. It was |
owned by Julius McClure and I uthcr
Gentry.
Mr. Townson said he was grateful
to the fire department and neighbors
for the help and assistance in saving
his home and other building close by,
as he did not have any insurance. |
L. E. MAUNEY'S
LEG BROKEN BY
SPEEDING AUTO
Prof. L. E. Mnuncy was carried to
a Knoxvillc Hospital Tuesday in- rn
i ing with a broken leg, sustained when
he was struek by a speeding autonio
hile Sunday ninht shortly after six
o'eloek.
Prof. Mauney, who i* 79 years old,
was walking along to one side of the ;
road when struek by the car, which
did not slow up or stop. H. II. Hick-'
man, in front of whose house tin a<
icident oecured, heard a crash and re
marked to his wife that two cars had '
collided. When ho came upon the'
scene a car was seen speeding north
toward Andrews. He found Mr. Mau
ney lying by the side of the road in
the rain and secured the aid of other j
neighbors and carried Mr. Mauney t 1
his home which was a short distance
away, where he was (riven medical at-|
tention. His left leg was badly
crushed just above the ankle, both j
bones being broken and the skin
lacerated.
The police were notified and im
mediately gave chase. Chief Cearley
and Deputy Sneed arrested two men
in a car answering the description giv
en by Mr. Mauney, at Regal. The
men had broken down and were be
ing towed to Andrews by another
ear. Eleven quarLs of whiskey were
found on the car, three quarts having
been broken as they attempted to
throw it from the car to the side of
the road. It is believed that this car
was the one which struck Mr. Mauney,
as it had a bent radiator and front
light. A man by the name of Dillard
and one Ulus Brown were occupants
of the whiskey car. Brown is said to
have been in an intoxicated condi
tion.
Prof. Mauney's condition is said to
be serious, although he is resting nice
ly. He is one of the most prominent
citizens of the county, and it is fear
ed, because of his age, that the bones
will not knit well. Mr. Mauney did
not take any anaesthetic while his leg
was being set, but gave directions and
said he wanted it set right regardless
of the pain.
It was decided to carry him to
Knoxville Tuesday morning where he
could receive treatment under the
direction of his son, who owns and
operates two of the leading hospitals
there.
SUPERIOR COURT
CLOSES 2 WEEKS
CIVII. TERM
Adjournment Tuesday Follows Com
pletion of Calendar: Several Mo
tions Carried Over
Cherokee County Superior Court
adjourned Tuesday after having com
pleted the calendar, with the excep
tion of a number of motions. This
was a two weeks term of civil court
and was presided over by Judge A.
M. Stack.
Mrs. Missie Picklesimer was award
ed a judgment of $1,000.00 against
the I.. & N. Railway Company for
failure to comply with schedules. Mrs.
Picklesimer was coming to Murphy
to attend the funeral of her mother,
but on account of the train being se\
eral hours late, she claimed her moth
er's body was buried before she could
arrive The case was appealed by the
railway company.
Harvo Hose was given $104. 84 by
the court as a laborer s lein judg
ment against the Hlnwassee Lumber
Company.
\V. H. Ledford. by his next best
friend W. K. Ledford. was given a
judgment of $3,000.00 for personal ?
injuries against the Tallassee Power
Company. The case was appealed. |
\V. M. Ramsey was awavded aj
judgment of $100 for personal injury .
against the Gulf Refining Company.
T. P. Rogers and K. M. Clayton
were winners in u boundary line dis
pute with John Rogers. j
Madge K. Coinwell and others
were winners in a boundary line dis
pute with B. K. Jones.
The ease of Mrs. I.. P. Kimsey
against, the Woodbury Lumber Com
pany resulted in a mistrial.
The boundary line dispute between
H. T. Stiles and John Foister was
settled by consent.
T L Blayloek, 1>> consent judg- 1
mcnt was given $1 ".00.00 by the |
Southern Iron Company for personal j
injuries. I
W. M. Webb, was given a judgment ,
for $1,750.00 against the Howard j
Construction Company for assault and
false imprisonment.
Lee Owcnby was awarded judg
ment for $1,500.00 against the Tal
lassee Power Company for personal
injuries. The case was appealed. |
A. T. Roby, by a consent judgment,
was given $100.00 by J. R. Crye.
Helen Orr was granted a divorce
from C. V. Orr.
In the ease of Asa Adams against
the Whiting Manufacturing Company,
over a tract of land, the decision was
rendered in favor of Whiting.
R. H. Wright & Son. by consent,
were given $650.00 by the Regal Blue
Marble Company for failure to de
liver crushed stone. |
The boundary line dispute be
tween H. T. Gaddis and H. T. Cotter
was settled by consent.
The case of Loudermilk against the
Wofford-Terrell Company resulted in
a judgment of non-suit.
The court ordered a re-sale of the
land in dispute in the case of F. P.
Cover & Son against Leah Hunnicutt
and others.
W. P. Payne was given a judgment
in his favor in the boundary dispute
with W. M. BTannon.
The case at David Kidd against
Andy Whitner resulted in a judgment
of non-suit. . , ? ,
The case of the Bank of Murphy
against Walker, Davis and Axley re
sulted in a judgment of non-suit as
to Davis.
Georgian Heard
By Murphy Folk
At Two Services
Dr. J. R- Anderson, of LaFayette,
Ga., preached at the morning and
evening services at the Presbyterian
church Sunday with the prospect of
being called to the pistorate of this
j church. While the congregation has
I taken no official action with regard
Win SECURES
AGENCY FOR 3
W.N.C. COUNTIES
To Hand'e Hudson-Essex for Chero
kee, Clay and Graham, With
Headquarters at Murphy
Announcement was made this week
that Walter C. Witt had been selected
as agent for Hudson and Essex motor
cars for Cherokee, Clay and Graham
counties, with headquarters at Mur
phy. Mr. Witt expects to appoint sub
agents in Clay and Graham counties,
it is said.
A garage and show rooms will be
located in East Murphy, and the
building is now under construction.
A general repair shop will be conduct
ed in connection with the agency, and
oils, gasoline, tires, tubes and acces
sories will be handled.
The repairing department will bo
in charge cf a fuVu cmtss mechanic
who will be furnished by the distri
buting branch for Western North
Carolina, Mr. Witt stated.
Mr. Witt has been investigating
the Hudson-Essex proposition for
some time and 5s particularly enthusi
astic about both makes. He looks for
substantial business from the first,
'and his friends bespeak him success
j in l is latest undertaking.
I
Marble Lodge
Installs Officers
? : ?
The international extension pro
gram announced recently by officers
I of the Supreme I-odge Knights of
I'hythias, will, in :? large measure.,
direct the activities of Marble K. of
1*. Lodge, according to Chancellor
Commander W. K. Robinson who
was recently installed with eight other
officers of the lodge to direct the
work of the Phythian fraternity in
Marble during the year. The pro
gram, includes among other activities
a definite plan to increase the social
features, quickqn interest in com
munity service and to mak? a strong
er appeal to worthy citizens to be
come members of the order. The
lodge has set as a mark in the increase
of its membership under the general
plan announced by the Supremo
Lodge to secure a twenty per cent net;
gain during the year.
Commenting on the outline for the
new year. Chancellor Commander W.
E. Robinson said: "The program is
intended to make the lodge a real
factor in the life of the community
and to aid in the extension of the ben.
efits of fraternial membership by per
forming its share in the (treat national
movement The movement is support
ed by nearly one million members in
the United States and Canada. We
have over 6,400 lodges and it is the
purpose of the program of activity to
make every one of these lodges the
center of fraternal accomplishment
in performing the service for which
tiie fraternity was founded ? to make
better homes and better communities
in which to live."
The following officers were install
ed January 8, 1327:
Chancellor Commander, W. E. Rob
binson; Vice Chancellor, K. E. Rob
inson; Master of Finance, J. A. Park
er; Master at Arms, John Creaseman;
Keeper of Records and Seal, W. J.
Barton; Master of Works, Edwin
Welch; Prelate, James Bryson; Outer
Guard, Ernest Cook; Inner Guard,
R. D. Almond.
to calling Mr. Anderson, many mem
bers expressed delight with him and
his two services and he seems to be
favorably impressed with the church
and the town. It is, therefore, re
garded likely that Dr. Anderson will
be called to the pastorate of the Mur
phy church and that such a call would
be acceptable to him. The church
here has been without a pastor since
December 1, when its minister, Rev.
E. G. Clavy accepted a call to the
church at Smyrna, Ga.