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Serving Southwestern North Carolina ? Cherokee, Clay, and Graham Counties
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PAPER
5"! ? NUMBER 4.
MURPHY, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1945.
EIGHT PAGES TODAI
JAPAN SURRENDERS
A A
Wayne Townson Is Killed; Dr. M. P. Whichard Is Under Bond
Townson Funeral
Held Thursday At
Methodist Church
Wayne Townson, 31. prominent
business man of Murphy, was shot
and killed almost instant !y Mor.
>la: nignt, ij: front of Town Fu
reial home. r>*. M. P. Whichard,
.u.out fil. distri:; health officer, is
ar.der tnd of $7,500 for appear
ance at the No /ember term of
Cherokie county superior court
nn a charge of murder in connec
tion with the deith.
It is understood that Dr. Which
?rd, whose daughter married Will
bm Townson, 'vol her of the de
ceased, had gone to his daughter's
home, next door to the funeral
home, to assist in moving some of
her furniture. An argument oc
curred between John Carringer, 17.
and Dr. Whichard, and an affray
resulted. Engaged in the affray
were Carringer and Clyde Town
son. brother of the deceased.
Wayne Townson is said to have
appeared on the scene Just a
moment before the gun was fired,
killing him.
Dr Whichard, who had several
lacerations about the head and
face was given treatment at a
local hospital, after he had gonel
to the jail and given himself into
the hands of officers,. He was
then taken to Waynesville by J.
L. Hall. Jr., local policeman, es
corted by Chief of Police W. H.
Brandon and other* most of the
ray.
Funeral services for Mr. Town
son ere held at 2 o'clock today
'Thursday at Murphy First Metho
dist church. The Rev. Ralph
Taylo. the Rev. J. Alton Morris
and the Rev. L. E. Latham offi
ciated Burial followed in Sunset
cemetery, with Ivie Funeral home
in charge.
Active pallbearers were Richard
Parker, Robert Weaver, Frank
Forsyth. Sheridan Stiles, .Verlin
Crisp Dr. Harry Miller, Hobert
Hughes. Harold Hatchett. Honor
ary paiibearers were Dr. R. S.
Parker, Dr. B. W. Whitfield, Dr.
P. V. Taylor. Dr. J. R. Bell, J. D.
Mallonee, W. M. Fain, E. P. Haw
kins Henry Hyatt, Lee Shields,
Randolph Shields, E. L. Shields,
E. C. Moore, Dave Carringer, Neil
David on, Wesley Garrett, T. S.
Evans, Claude King, W. C. Kinney,
Prank Ellis, C. L. Alverson, E. C.
Sims. Pope Wood, Clyde Jarrett,
Prank Bristol, P. B. Ferebee, Sher
iff Brewer of Robbinsville, Clint
Ehulei Howard Moody, Ed Jones,
Cody Clayton, Sheridan Ramsey,
Morris Moore, E. O. Christopher,
E- A. Browning.
Surviving are the widow and
cne s?h. Eric; his parents, Mr.
Mid Mis. W. D. Townson, two
"others. Clyde Townson and W.
? Townson, Jr., and one sister,
Mrs. D. L. Wells. Mr. Townson
*? associated with his father
W<i brothers here in the lumber
tu in-rs. the auto supply store, and
e operation of the Townson
luneiai home.
A. F. Patterson
Dies In Clay
d/^".Cra; services Tor A. Fernan
lir^ 3 erson' "*? w*10 died at his
ocloLawf,h0?t,n* Creek at 7
heir) edne?3ay morning, were
dnru sday mornin* <*t 11 o'
wth lord's chaptl at Elf,
cJL R*V D B Alderman offi
I cb??.K BUrial was in the church
ir chnr^p W"h Ivie funertJ home
I are one ^ ^ Pat"
I ?? r srandson, Ed Patter
4 SAX* f ?"
Donley To Make j
Restitution In
Amount of $7000
In the cases of the state against
John Donley, former cleric of
Cherokee county superior court
charged with embezzlement and
misapplication of funds which were
tried at the August term of court,
the defendant entered a plea of
nolo contendere on one count, with
judgment of two to four years,
sentence suspended on condition
that restitution be made as to cer
tain alleged itms of misappropria
tion in the amount of $7,000.
Harley Davenport of Union
county, Ga., charged with man
slaughter and reckless driving in
connection with the death of John
Burton Davis .lich occurred when
the truck D enport was driving
to a decoration at Hanging Dog
cemetery last May plunged down
an embankment, was acquitted,
of manslaughter, but the Jury
failed to agree on the second count
of reckless driving and this was
continued.
McAfee Awarded
Bronze Medal
The bronze star iaeua! has been
awarded Pvt. Edward W. Mc
Afee of Murphy for' heroic ac
hievement in connection with
military operations against an
armed enemy as a rifle man of the
353rd infantry, oit April 5, near
Eisenach, Gel-many, according to
information received here.
When the two leading squads of
his platoon were subjected to
heavy machinegun fire, he moved
forward alone to engage the posi
tion. Although enemy fire was
directed at him. Pvt. McAfee shot
the gunner and forced the two re
maining crew members to sur
render. As a result, the platoon
was able to complete its mission
without casualties or further de
lay.
Pvt. McAfee is the son of Mr.
I and Mrs. Ed McAfee.
Memorial Books
Given Librarv
%>
Recent gifts of memorial books
to Murphy Carnegie Library, an
nounces the librarian. Miss Jose
phine Heighway, have been: '"Hie
Life of George W. Truett", by T.
W. James, given by the Fidelts
class of First Baptist church, in
memory of C. M. Wofford; "The
Apostle" by Asch, given in mem
ory of the Rev. J, C. Amnions;
"The Emperor's Physician" by J,
R. Perkins, given in memory of
Mrs. W. H. Griffiths, by Miss Jose
phine Heighway; and "Lebanon"
by Caroline Miller, given in mem
cry of Mrs. Griffiths, by Miss Ad
die Mae Cooke.
GETS DISCHARGE
ANDREWS ? Ruth Barnard,
WAC, arrived home last Tuesday.
She has received an honorable
discharge and will teach in the
Andrews City schools this year.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Vestal at
tended the Asheville district meet
ing of Telephone Pioneers of
America at Bent Creek near Ashe
ville last week. The meeting fea
tured a picnic which was attended
by 105 members, each of whom
had from one to three guests.
Combat Surgeon. Robert Brown
who spent two years in England
and one year in Prance, has re
turned home and been discharged
from service. Dr. Brown visited
his grandmother, Mrs. R. H. Hyatt
here last week.
THREE BROTHERS IN SERVICE ? Above are
three sons of Mrs. Fimmie White of Murphy, Route
3. Prom left to right, they are: Pvt. Dee White,
who is in the Philippine Islands, having entered
service in August, 9141, and took his training at
Port Bragg and Port Jackson; Pvt. Virgil White,
who is at Camp Crowder, Mo., having entered ser
vice in May of this year and trained first at Fort
Bragg; and Pfc. Lawson White, who entered service
in October, 1942, trained at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
and is not at Jackson Station, Maine. Pvt Dee
White is married and has one child.
All-Stars To
Play Saturday
The Murphy All-Stars defeated
the Cumming Georgia baseball
team by a score of 4 to 3. The
game going into the last of the
0th inning with Cumming leading
3 to 2. Murphy loaded the bases,
with Ford, leading off with a single
to left field, King came up and
singled, Fortwood hit a long fly to
left field but the fielder dropped
the ball. Smith came up and
grounded out to first, but sacri
ficing Bill Portwood in for the
winning run. Atkinson pitched
the full 9 innings, struck out 15
batters, and allowing only six
scattered hits.
The All-Stars will play Hayes
ville here Saturday afternoon at
the fair-ground park. Game will
start at 3 p. m. All-Stars will
meet the strong Beacon Mills club
from Asheville Sunday afternoon
here. Game will start at 3 p. m.
The Beacon Mills club is one of the
best clubs in Western North Caro
lina. They have batted at pitch
ers like "Spud' Chandler, ace
New York pitcher, hitting him
rather heavily. A close contest is
anticipated.
Elkins Being
Sent To Pacific
Assembly Area Command,
France ? A Signal Heavy Con
struction Company which install
ed and operated communications
at Sixth Ai-my Group Headquar
ters has arrived in Camp Wash
ington, Assembly Area Command,
for redeployment directly to the
Pacific.
| These Signal Corps men install
ed an repaired 3.865 miles of
single and 4-circuit communica
tions lines ? linking the Sixth
Army Group Headquarters with
the American Seventh and French
First armies, and Supreme Head
quarters.
Activated in Italy on Septem
ber 4, 1944, original members of
the outfit ha dhad months of com
munications experience with the
Fifthy Army.
Included in this Signal Heavy
Construction Company is S/Sgt.
Harvey G. Elkins, Jr., 220 Tennes
see Street. Murphy.
ASSOCIATION MEETS
The WNC Baptist association
will hold its annual meeting at
Meadow Grove Baptist church in
Clay county next Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Miss Jean Nichols of Murphy
recently visited Silver Springs,
Fla.
Rationing Of Canned
Foods And Gas Ends
Baptist W. M; S.
Has Meeting
The Lottie Moon Circle had
charge of the general meeting of
the Baptist Woman's Missionary
society at the church, Tuesday af
ternoon, with Mrs. J. L. Savage
leading. "Pacing the Needs in
Our Own Community" was the
topic of the meeting.
The opening hymn, "Make Me
a Channel of Blessing ", was fol
lowed by the devotional by Mrs.
-Savage.
"Hithertj" of community mis
sions, the "How" and the "Heart"
of communitv missions was given
b Mrs. Bon Pa.mer, followed by
prayer by Mrs. Lloyd Hendrix.
Mrs. Cloe M ore discussed the
"Hour" of Community missions
and the "Henceforth" of com
munity missions.
In the absence of the president,
Mrs. J. C. Ammons, Mrs. T .S.
Evans, vice-president, presided over
r. short business session, and the
meeting was closed with prayer
by Mis. J. Alton Morris. Twenty
members were present.
Mis.; Susan Beck spent the
v ..-ind with her parents in
Spencer.
Price Administrator Chester
Bowles announced Wednesday that
rationing of gas was ended effec
tive immediately. So did the ra
tioning of all blue point foods but
rationing of meats, fats and oils,
butter, sugar, shoes and tires will
continue until lowered military re
quirements and increased produc
tion bring civilian supplies more
nearly in balance with civilian de
mands.
Shortly after Bowles' announce
ment, Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes, as petroleum ad
ministrator, said ample quantities
of civilian gasoline will be avail
able immediately. The Petroleum
administration said only a few
days would elapse before better
grade than the low octanes civil
ians have been using will be avail
able.
SINGING
The Third Sunday singing will
meet at Maggie's Chapel at 2
o'clock Sunday, August 19. All
singers are invited.
The town was quiet after the
first burst of enthusiasm. Th?
Lions club held a picnic at the
city park and a dance at the gym
lasium in honor of tie Lionesses.
Stores were closed all day Wed
nc?day and r opened Thursday.
Japs Who Chose to Surrender
I
Here Is one group of the Urge number of Japs on Okinawa who
chose to surrender rather than to be killed or to rommit hara kiri.
Those who surrendered were poorly garbed and emaciated, but the
fact that so many chose to give up Indicates a possible change in
the Jap viewpoint on surrender." (U. S. Maria* Corps Ph<*o)
President Announces
Victory On Tuesday
Next Of Kin May
Send Messages
To Far East
Miss Addie Mae Cooke, chair
man of the Cherokee Cbunty Chap
ter of the American Bed Cross,
has received the following tele
gram from southeastern Area
Manager John C. Wilson, relative
to messages to the Far East:
"Special Far East message plan
similar to that utilized in libera
tion of Philippines effective now
through August 25. Letter from
National Headquarters dispatched
to you today explaining In detail
operating plan. One message with
photograph of next of kin may be
accepted on form 1616 civilian
message form from next of kin
only. Slhould be forwarded air
mail to home service national
headquarters. Message limited
only by available space on form.
Photograph should be lightweight
and not exceeding size of form."
Mrs. Van Gorder
Taken By Death
Mrs. Blaine Beaver Van Gorder.
55, died at her home in Andrews
at 7 o'clock Tuesday morning.
Surviving are the husband, H.
A Van Gorder; three daughters,
Mrs. Aubrey Stow; of Sentinel,
Okla.. Miss Anne Van Gorder,
nurse at Murphy General hospital;
Mrs. D. E. Doyle of Andrews;
Capt. C. O. Van Gorder of Mineral
Park., Calif., one grandson and
one granddaughte, . two brothers
and two sisters.
Funeral service? under direction
of Ivie funeral h >me are incom
plete, pending arrival of the son
and daughter from th? west.
Announcement was made "IXies
day evening at 6 o'clock. Central
War Time, by President Truman,
that World War n, bloodiest war
in all history, had ended with
Japan's unconditional surrender.
The formalities of the official
signing of surrender terms and a
proclamation of V-J day are yet
tc be carried out.
To reporters crowded into the
president's office, he disclosed the
fact that Japan, without ever
being invaded, had accepted com
pletely and without reservation
an allied declaration of Potsdam
dictating unconditional surrend
er.
Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur had
been designated supreme allied
commander, the man to receive
surrender. ?
There is to be no power for the
Japanese emperor, Hirohito, al
though the allies will allow him
to remain their tool. The was
lords will no longer reign through
him nor any successor; they will
take orders from MacArthur.
Allied forces were ordered to
"suspend offeiisi\ e action" every
where. To a Japanese govern
ment which once boasted it would
dictate peace terms in the White
House Mr. Truman dispatched
orders to "direct prompt cessation
of hostilities", tell MacArthur of
the effective date and hour and
send emissaries to the general to
arrange formal surrender.
Congress was summoned back
to work on Sept. 5, more than
a month ahead of schedule to get
busy on unemployment compensa
tion, surplus property disposal,
full employment, government re
organization and the continuation
of abolition of war agencies.
With the announcement of the
Japanese surrender, one of the
biggest celebrations ever to be
put on in Western North Carolina
was staged.
Crowds Gleeful As
News Of Surrender
ils Received Here
SERMON SUBJECT
"ADVENTURING FOR PEACE"
will te the sermon topic of Rev.
Ralph Taylor at 11 o'clock. Sun
day in First Methodist Church.
VISITORS HERE
Mrs. O. Kyle of New Orleans
and D. Sam Cox of Henderson
ville, author of ' Blackie Bear",
were in Murphy Tuesday and
Tuesday night.
Mrs. J. L. Yancey and daughter,
Mrs. James Hurst and son, Lewis,
of Atlanta, Ga., are visiting Mrs.
Yancey's sisters, Mrs. W. S.
Dickey. Mrs. J. B. Hall, and other
relatives this week
Mrs. Charles E. Turner of Day
tona Beach. Pla . and Mrs. Frank
Green of Villa Rica. Ga., spent
last week here with their cousins,
Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Fain.
Pvt. Bill Whichard of Ft. Ben
niinr, Oa.. spent the week-end here
with his father. Dr. M. P. Which
ard, and Mrs. Whichard.
When the announcement came
over the radio at six o'clock Tues
day evening that Japan had sur
rendered unconditionally, cars
started running around town
with horns blowing. factory
whistles blew, crowds rushed onto
the streets yelling, and the fire
siren was sounded continuously for
about 30 minutes celebrating vic
tory over Japan When the noise
had subsided, crowds soon filled
the Baptist and Methodist
churches where impressive services
of prayer, praise, and thanksgiv
ing were held for an hour.
HVDSON PREACHES
ANDREWS ? Rev. S. P. Hud
son. Lillington, preached at the
morning and evening hours at the
Baptist church last Sunday in
the absence of the pastor. Rev. L.
P. Smith.
MoCLURE TO PREACH
ANDREWS ? Rev. R. E. Mc
Clure will preach at the Presby
terian churcsh Sunday. Auguct
18. at 11 o'clock a. m. The pub
lic Is Invited to attend thla ser
vice.