The Leading Weekly Newspaper in Western
pLUME XXXIX. NUMBER 17. MURPHY,
North Carolina, Serving a large and Potentiall y Rich
NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2. 1927.
'
Territory in this state
5c COPY ? $1.50 PER YEAK
IijRTRUETT. TERMED LEADING
CITIZEN OF AMERICA, TO BE
HONORED AT DINNER TUESD AY
IQambc of Commerce Sponsors
Function for Noted
Pastor
Of North Carol-'na
Head cf One of Largest Baptist
Churches in the
South
(from The Dallas (Texas) Morning
News. Sunday, November 0.)
Dallas will honor one of its lead
fcg citizens, ope who has been term
4 the leading citizen of America,
U-d who is not only recognized as
I powerful factor in the progress of
Dallas, but as international, figure
it the religious world at a banquet
pven by the Chamber of Commerce
ii 6:30 p. m., Tuesday at the Adol
phus Hotel. He is Dr. George W.
Tniett. pastor of the First Baptist
Chare h for the last thirty years. |
His life has been identified with
Dallas since he arrived here in 1897. j
At that time the membership of the
first Baptist Church was 715. The
total value of church property was
$100*000. In 1925 the membership
his congregation was 5,635 and
the church property was valued at
?ore than $1,000,000. The contri
butions of the church the year he
eame totaled $4,925. In 1925 they
totaled $266,000.
Many Baptist institutions follow
ed Dr. Truett to Dallas. Among
them were the Baptist Standard,
the Baptist State executive board,
the Baylor College of Medicine, Bay
lor Hospital, the Nurses Training
School, the College of Pharmacy and
the College of Dentistry. Dallas is
mm th? U ~>ptij?fc .wnttr of th? South
west and, it is declared that this
fact is largely due to the efforts of
Dr. Truett.
.""Perhaps the climax of Dr. Tru- i
At's career was rcachcd when, at '
the Baptist World Alliance held at
Stockholm in 1924, he was selected
to preach the annual sermon." Dr.
J. I>. Cranfill writes, "When he arose
to make that address he faced the
assembled Baptists of the world.
While it was not quite true, as on j
the day of Pentecost, that every man
heard the preacher in his own ton
gue. yet it was true that he then ad
dressed more nationalities than were j
present on the day that Peter preach- i
ed his immortal sermon in Jerusa-|
lem. Europe, Asia, Africa, North
and South America, the islands of
. the sea ? all the world was repre
sented in that Stockholm convoca
tion. It was a challenge such as
nuely comes to any man, because
this was the greatest Baptist gath
ering known to world history.
"His work in Dallas," Dr. Cran
fill continues, "has wrought most
gloriously for the uplift and better
ment of our citizenship. Many have
been the calls that have come to him
asking that he link his life with what
friends abroad thought Mtfas a larger
and more important life. He has
keen implored to go to the country's
great metropolis and he would have
been called to the Calvary Baptist
Church in Washington and had our
recent President in his congregation
but he turned from it all and con
tinued here in Dallas with us."
When the United States entered
toe World War, Dr. Truett transfer
red the seat of his activities from
Dallas to the Western Front. He
was not a "hehind-the-line chaplain."
^ is said that he showed a striking
disregard for danger. In addition
preaching he took upon himself
the monumental task of writing to
the mother of every Texas boy he
? met at the front. And there were
many Texas boys at the front.
Dr. Truett was born May 6, 18G7,
*n the hills of Clay County, North
Ca?olina. He plowed com, picked
cftton and did chores in this moun
tain wilderness. He grew up in
^hose tree covered hills whose still
ies3 was never broken by the shriek
the locomotive whistle. Rather,
(Continued on pace 4)
FOLK SCHOOL TO
0?EN NEXT WEEK
The forma] opening of the tra:n
intr cfopartment of the John C. Camp- ;
bell Folk School will be he!J next I
week, following which the -school I
Will continue in session for the three j
winter months of December, Janu- J
arv si ml Kphrnnrw '<??,? I
school will be confined to the young i
people living in easy distance '?i the
school with the exception of a dozen
or so from a distance who can be ac- j
comodated in the homes of people
living nearby or in the farm house
on the property. This is due to the
fact that the dormitory and living
quarters for students have not yet
been erected, although the spacious
assembly hall and lecture room is
ready and will be used for the class
es.
The work will consist of lectures
by the staff of six members perman
ently connected with the school and
by other people in the section with
an occasional lecture by prominent
people from cut of the State and
from other sections of the State, of |
demonstrations on the farm with
certain groups, of games and physi
cal exercise, singing and similar
activities designed to arouse the en
thusiasm and stimulate the imagina
tion of the people attending the
school. Many of the lectures will
be attended by the older people in
the community.
Some of the speakers who have
been secured for lectures in addition
to the staff of workers are Attorney
John H. DUlard, of Murphy, a Direc
tor of the School; Attorney D. With
erspoon, of Murphy; B. W. Sipe,
Superintendent of the Murphy
Schools; the pastors of the Murphy
u . v-;:~rs. T. L. Sarser J. P.
Anderson, and H. P. Powell. In ad
d tion to these County Agent R. W.
Gray of Cherokee County and Ar
rendale c i Clay County, extension
specialists,' a ranger from the Nanta
hala National Forest; Dr. Warren
II. Wilson of New York, head of the
Town and Country Department Pub
lic Health Board, U. S. A. In Feb
ruary Miss Kidder, Public Health
Nurse is scheduled to give some les
sons in caring for the sick and health
work in general. One member of the
staff is also planning some simple
surveying courses and lectures on the
history of Agriculture in January.
Mrs. A. K. Barton
Called to Her Reward
Mrs. Lucy Barton, wife of A. K.
Barton, Hied at her home November
21. She was sick only a week. She
was 50 years old, born in Union Co.
Ga., joined the Baptist church in
her girlhood days. She was a lov
ing mother, a kind wife and a good
Christian. She will be missed by all
who knew her. She was the daugh
ter of James Carder, of Gaddistown,
Ga. She is survived by her husband,
4 children, Ish Barton, of Fryson,
Tenn.; Vinnie Payne, of Murphy,
N. C. ; Jim and Joe Barton, of Kin
ney. N. C. : a mother, 4 sisters, 6
brothers and a host of friends to
mourn her departure.
Funeral services were conducted
by Rev. Decker. She was laid to
rest in Beach Creek Cemetery.
It was sad to give her up, but God
knew best.
Mrs. Barton was the most belof
ed woman of her county and section,
being a good worker in the church.
She will be missed greatly by those
whom she labored and loved, but her
spirit and influence will be a shining
light to them in the future years.
Oh, the sweetest thought that conies
to me
Is the day when that face I can see.
With a gladly smile and a wave of
the hand.
She has wandered into an unknown
land.
? A friend,
I
NEXT LYCEUM
COURSE TO BE
DECEMBER 6TH
I Roy E. Bendell's Impersonation of
Martyred President Said to
he Remarkable
An impersonation of I sident
Lincoin is one of the masterpieces
I achieved l>y Roy E. Bendell. reader
and ent' /tainer, who appears here
in the Lyceum at the school audi
toriu.n Tuesday, December f>th. 7 ::J0
P. A.
Those who have seen Mr. Bendell's
portrayal of the martyred president
are more than enthusiastic on their
comments concerning its accuracy
and vividness. "The audience fair
ly gasped," says an Iowa editor,
"when, after Mr. Bendell had creat
ed the proper setting by a sketch of
the scenes just preceding the famous
Gettysburg speech, he suddenly fac
ed about, and there stood Lincoln
himself, sympathetic, sorrowful, ma
jestic."
It is interesting to note that Mr.
Cendcll is of almost the same stature
as President Lincoln, which fact
helps materially in attaining a strik
ing impersonation.
Mr. Bendell's repertoire covers a
wide range. He is remarkably suc
cessful, not only in the presentation
of humorous selections, but of dra
matic readings as well.
Many of his selections are given
in special costume ,and with the aid
01 grease paints, wigs, and make-up
1 applied and removed in full view of
the audience. He has a splendid
I stage presence, and even without the
aid of make-up he fully assumes the
| character he represents.
Mr. Bendell is one of the biggest
men, physically, on the Lyceum
' platform today, and he is a big man
I as an entertainer also.
r\n jnrnM?Tijv
UI\. ADLIMNHini
LAID TO REST
LAST SATURDAY
Well-Known and Beloved Physician
Had Practiced In County Near
ly Half a Century
Dr. Jacob Forney Abernathy, 70
years old, who had been a practicing
physician in this county and section
for the past forty-five years, died at
his home about 4 o'clock last Friday
morning, after an illness ex?ending
over several years. About four years
ago, Dr. Abernathy suffered injuries
in an automobile accident from which
he never fully recovered.
He was a native of Cherokee
county, and was well known through
out this section, and ever held him
self in readiness to answer the call
to relieve suffering humanity, some
times getting up in the miudie of
the night and traveling many miles
over rough and muddy roads.
Dr. Abernathy was a prominent
figure in the affairs of the com
munity and county. He served on
the city council a number of times
and was county physician for many
years. He was a member of the
Methodist church, deeply religious,
and fond of children, and as a fit
ting part of the funeral service a
number of children sang his favorite
old hymns. He was also a Mason.
Funeral services were conducted
Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from
the Methodist Church, by the pastor,
Kev. Howard P. Powell, assisted by
Rev. J. P. Anderson, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church, and Rev. T.
L. Sasser, pastor of the Baptist
Church. Interment was made in
Sunset cemetery with full masonic
honors.
He is survived by his wife, one
son, Boyd Abernathy; four daugh
ters, Mrs. A. S. Clarke, of Copperhill,
Tenn.; Mrs. J. H. Phaup, Mrs. Fred
Johnson, and Miss Elizabeth Aber
nathy, of Murphy; one sister, Mrs.
Elizabeth Mavfield, of Murphy, and
one half brother, Mr. G. K. Welch,
of Eatonton, Ga.
FREE DRY AGENT IN
CHEROKEE KILLING
i
Self-Defense Pica Brings Not Guilty j
Verdict for Crisp ? Prompt De- j
ciiion Is Made By Federal Court !
Jury in Murder Trial.
. (.A : Seville Times)
.1 ??sir ? *^p. former federal pro
hibition ;?5T$JU. wa- found "Not
Guilfy" by a federal court jury .Mon
day afternoon on a charge of shoot
ing to death Cecil McClure, 17-year
old Cheiokee county youth, in a
lil]U< ; i.inl the lattci s iiviuv III j
July, 1926.
The jury took the case shortly 1
after 1 o'clock in the afternoon and |
the verdict was returned at 2:30
| o'clock.
Claims Self-Defenae
An hour was ocupied with select
ing a jury. Crisp, taking the wit
ness stand in his own behalf, admit
ted killing the McClure youth, swear
ing he did so to save his own life.
More than twenty witnesses were j
summoned to testify and it was be
lieved tri*l of the case would occupy
all of Monday.
Crisp testified that he went to the
McCluie home in company with two
other federal officers, Charlie Bran
ton and Jack Deweese, with a search
warrant issued by W. Christopher. U.
S. commissioner of Murphy. The
officers, according to Crisp, found
half of gallon of whiskey on the
premises. Just as the search was
being completed, he said, Cecil Mc
Clure, his brother, Charlie, and an
other young man, Clyde Haney, ar
rived at the house.
Declaring with an oath that he
would "fix" the federal agents, Crisp
testified, Cecil McClure, rushed into
the house, obtained his shotgun and
leveled it upon the defendant. As
the youth stood in the doorway of
his home, his shotgun leveled on
Crisp, the latter swore, he (Crisp)
fipfH nr? with ft rcvolvcv Hit
ting him twice. The youth died al
most instantly.
Drank, But "Not Much."
"I saw he was going to shoot me,"
Crisp testified. "1 shot, to save my
life." Under examination of his At
torney, McKindley Edwards, of
Swain county, Crisp swore his act
was in self-defense "absolutely," and
that he bore no malice or ill will to
ward the dead youth.
On being examined by Solicitor
Davis, Crisp swore he resigned from
the federal service voluntary in De
cember 1920 when the department
ordered his transfer to another ter
ritory. Crisp declared he was not
drinking when the raid was made on
the McClure home.
"Mr. Crisp," said the solicitor,
have you ever taken a drink while
you were serving as a federal officer,
sworn to enforce the piohibition
law?"
"Yc>." said Crisp, "but not mu h."
Went for Doctor, Claim
After the boy war- shot. Ci tes
tified. he and the other two ?? ?? vrs
got in th? r ear and went < ? ard
Murphy "to get a doctor.'' I'r.der
tlx- cross-examination he admitted
that he had not gone into the hall
way of the McClure h mie where
I the bey lay after he had been s-not.
As the youth iu>hed into a room
in his home to get shells for his shot
I gun, Crisp testified that he was in
I the hallway. He said the boy's moth
' er cried and begged her son not to
threaten nor shoot the officers.
Crisp said he ran from the house to
avoid trouble, but when he reached
the porch the McClure boy, shotgun
in hand, rushed to the door and level
led his weapon upon him. He said
he shot the boy with a .38 caliber
pistol, firing two shots in rapid suc
cession.
Crisp, who is 40 years eld and a
native of Robbinsville, said he had
served as a government agent for
four years. The only time he was
ever indicted, he said, was for a "free
, fight ". a fistic affair, which he said
was settled in a magistrate's court.
Feelrng High In Cherokee
Feeling ran high in Cherokee coun
ty against the federal agents at the
time the McClure youth was killed.
The procedure in the case as it is be
ing tried in the United States court
is of a highly unusual nature. The
State of North Carolina, through the
j solicitor in the district in which the
killing took place, is prosecuting.,
land the United States government,
| through the district attorney, is de
fending the accused dry agent. Crisp
1 has been at liberty under a $5*000
| bond since the shooting. ?
In the examination of witnesses,
the state is seeking to show that the
federal officer exceeded his author
ity and went beyond the bounds of
necessity in killing the McClure boy.
The federal government on the oth
er hand is seeking to prove that the
killing was entirely justified, since,
j it is contended, the agent killed in
' self-defense while in performance
of his duty as a government officer.
When court convenes at 9 :5i0
o'clock Tuesday morning, Julian
McClure, father of the youth slain
by Crisp, will likely face trial on a
chaige of possessing liquor, it was
learned Monday. In the trial of the
case in which the dry agent was tried
on a murder charge it was te>t?tifed
, that a quantity of liquor was found
at McClure's home.
DIRECTORY OF OFFICERS
OCCUPYING NEW COURT HOUSE
T. W. AXLEY, MURPHY, N. C.
Ch&irraax* County Co? .~.i?sioners
Elected 1923
Horn in Cherokee County, Sept., '
8, 1892. Educated in Murphy Grad- i
ed Schools. Bank bookkeeper a 1
number of years; served as county
treasurer; in hardware business for
6 years. Now serving third term as
county commissioner. Member Meth
odist Church, serving as steward at
present. Mason; now holding office
of Tiler. Married Miss Kate Brit- J
tain, daughter of the late L. W. I
Brittain, of Murphy. Two sons, Tom |
Jr., and Leon; one daughter, Mary]
Catherine.
W. T. HOLLAND, ANDREWS, N. C.
Member County Commissioners
Elected 1923
Born in Haywood County, 1887.
Educated in Haywood high schools.
Located in Andrews, Cherokee Coun
ty, 1911. Conducted general feed
business several years; forest pro
ducts business 6 years. Served on
board aldermen town of Andrews;
one term as clerk of town. Director
Andrews B. & L. Association. Third
term as county commissioner. Mason.
Married Miss Bertha Jenkins, daugh
ter Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Jenkins, of
Morris, Ala. Two daughters, Mary
Catherine and Margaret Holland.
W. J. MARTIN, MURPHY, N. C.
Member County Commissioners
Elected 1923
Born in Cherokee County, July
2nd, 1863. Educated in public
schools of the county and Hayesville
High School. Farmer; engaged in
mercantile business 4 years; County
Welfare officer 2 years; on i)th term
as county commissioner. Member
Baptist Church, serving as deacon
and clerk at present; Treasurer >V.
N. C. Association several years; and
now member of the executive com
mittee of the Association. Mason;
Master for 20 years. Married Miss
Mary Ricks, daughter of Henry Ricks
this county. Two sons, Arthur and
Paul, and one daughter, Norma Mar
tin.
(Continued on page 2)