North Carolina Newspapers

AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM THAT BRINGS RESULTS The County, Ke State, The Union A. F. JOHNSON, Editor and Manager SUBSCRIPTION 91,50 Far Year LOUI8BURQ, N. CAROLINA, FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1081 VOLUMN LXn. NUMBER 4 PETITIONS FOR ELECTION Many Citlieni of Cedar Bock-Cypress Creek School District Wand to Vote Off Special Tax and Do Away With District Quite a number of citliena o f Cedar Hock-Cypress Creek township attend ed the meeting of the Board of Bdu cation on the Arst Monday, when pe - titions asking for an election In which the voter# might determine the question of whether the special 60 cent district tax should be voted oft was presented to the Board. . Also pe titions were presented requesting ths Board not call the election but to let it stand as it Is. The petitioners for the election were represented by Mr. V. H. Yarborough, and the Counter letltloners by Mr. Joseph T. Inscoe. me petitions were received and t:is Board took the position that before It could prcii'.ii further it w. uld have to determine the number of qualified voters on the petitions and appointed a committee to make the necessary investigations and check of the names and report to the Board at Its meet . ing in April, when the matter will be taken up and disposed ot carrying out this position the following motion was made. A petition purporting to be signed bv taxpayers and patrons ol the Cedar Rock-cypress Creek School District In Franklin County request ing that a special election be called for and in said school district to the end that the qualified electors and freeholders in said district may vote upon the discontinuance of the fifty (en's special school tax levy, so that said school tax levy shall be removed tvom the tax payers ol said district, was presented to the Board by W. H. ; arbcrough, and a petition purport ing to be s.gned by qualified votera of said district asking 'hat no elec t'on be called, was presented by J. T. Inscoe, and a third petition was pre sented purporting to be signed by some of the qualified voters and tax payers of the district who had signed tiie second petition requesting that the election be held and revoking any other expression there on any other 1-etltir-n. A motion was offered and adopted providing that a committee composed of Mr. Taylor Boone, J. H. Harris, J. T. Inscoe, Mrs. T. H. Dick ons and E. L. Best should check over the petitions, disregarding the names appearing on any two or more of said petitions and ascertain whether or rot there was a duly signed petition for the election. Mr. Yarborough, the attorney for the signers of the flret j.eti'lon referred to, requested that all names cm the th<rd petition be erased from the second and replaced on the first petition, and upon proper motion the said resolution of the Board was rescinded and the follow ing resoluMon, duly made and second ed, was adopted by the Board: ? Be it resolved that all names ap pearing on the Third Petition be stricken from the Second Petition and after so doing that all names 'hen ap pearing on the Second Petition be stficken from the First Petition and tho F;'st Petition then be checked by the committee j eretofore nameJ to ascertain whether or not said Tirst Petition should then ccnta n 60 per ccnt of the qualified voters of the said Cedar Rock-Cypress Creek School District." It was expressed as the opinion ot the Board that if a proper petition signed by 50 per cent of the qualified voters of Cedar Rock-Cypress Creek Special T^sln? District, r'-q'ieuting 1.11 election to submit the question of re voking the tax and abolishing the dis trict was presented and the said dis trict was not Indebted in any s&m whatever, then such a petition would be endorsed and approved. Taylor Eoone, J. H. Harris, J. T. Inscoe, Mrs T. H. Dickens and E. I* Best were appointed a committee *to check said petitions as set forth In the foregoing resolution last above set oat and re port Its findings to the next regular meeting of the board ot Education and said Board at spch meeting was to determine Hie question of the suffi ciency of said petition and the ques* tlon of Indebtedness. . i/-. " Other business coming, before the Board, all of the members of which being present, Was as follow*: The report of the Supt. of Public Welfare was received and ordered filed. After allowing a number of ac counts, the Board adjourned to meet ngaln the first Monday In April. Fire at Cwinty Home The fire at the County Home on Thursday night of last week caused quite a bit of excitement and quick action resulted in saving quite a big damage. The fire was discovered about 7:30 o'clock under the stove be tween the flooring of the main build ing and ceiling of the basement. The alarm was sent In town and the Tire Company responded promptly and ex tinguished the flames with chemicals before any great damage was done. The e?tlnHt?dHata*?? wu ISO Which was fully Insured. County Contests Tonight in Reading ^ And Declamation The seven best readers and the seven best declalmers, according to Judges decisions rendered at the seven high schools In FranklU County, will meet at Mills High School at 8 O'clock tonight In the annual reading and declaiming con tests held by the Franklin County High School League. Two group* of judges will decide which school has the best reader and the best de claimed Instead of selecting first and second places only, the Judges have been asked to place all seven entries In each contest. For the girls reading contests Br. C. C. Alexander, President of Loula burg College, Miss Johnston, of the ffnllwgn other member of the College faculty have been asked to act as Judges, while Mr. Hill Yarborough, of Louls burg, and Mr. 8wlnt and Miss Letton of the Loulsburg College faculty are expected to render decisions for the boy's declamation contests. No admission fee will be charged and the officials of the Franklin County High School League have expressed the desire to have a large number of patrons and friends of each of the high schools help make the contest a success by their pres ence. In the High School League each of these contests counts as many points toward the League Champion ship as all of the boys basketball or all of the girls basketball contests. Recorder's Court Franklin Recorder's Court was the i entre of attraction In Loulsburg, Monday, when the Court room was packed with ?pectatcT| and those In terested In the big docket before judge J. E. Malone. The docket was disposed of at follows: Onnle Ransdell, under a charge of distilling found to be ynder IS years of age, was turned over to the Wel fare officer. S. SupmaH and' t Supman were found not guilty for issuing a worth less check. Prayer for judgment was continued upon payment of costs Id the case of assault with deadly weapon against, L. W. Parrish. Cleo Tant, was found guilty of a t harge of violating prohibition law and was fined $25 and costs. Appeal. Eddie Bob Chappell, was found not {.uilty of violating prohibition law. Percy Joyner was found not guilty of a charge of violating prohibition law. Manuel Debnam, Jr., was found Lullty of assault with deadly weap ons and was given 60 days in jail Commissioners ^o hire out to be dis charged upon payment of $25 into court for Geo. Winston and costs. Richard Clarke plead guilty to as sault with deadly weapon, and was sentenced to 3 months in jail, leave to hire out, suspended upon payment of costs and $30 to be paid to Dr. Perry. Eunice Perry, was found guilty of simple assault and allowed to pay costs. Richard Dickens and Cornelius Clif ton were found guilty of simple as sault, and were discharged Upon pay ment of costs. Edward Clifton and Cornelius Clif ton were found guilty of violating pro hibition law, and were ordered dis charged upon payment of costs. , Henry Holmes drew a sentence of 3 months in jail for dlstUling, sus pended upon payment -of cofctjs. Albert Privett was found not guilty of ncn-support The following cases were contin ued: W. E. Williams, reckless driving. "Taike Williams, distilling. Sam Hawkins and Estelle Little John, violating prohibition law. E. A. Rogers, operating automobile Intoxicated, ; MBsmM The lioufiburg College faculty w$l be at borne to their friends Tuesday afternoon, March seventeenth, fropi four to lire o'clock. _ ' r* Glee Clubs To Sing at Epsiffi Th? mt?d high MhoolB In Fr^Tt lln County are to send thelB.Olee, Clubs to Epsom High Sehool Friday night, March SO to compete for sing ing honors in the annual contest pat on by the Franklin County High School League. Bach glee club will sing two selections. No admission charge will be made. FrankltQ County's beat high school vocal tal ent will be on displayed excellent results are expected. Kiwanis Studies Trend of Legislation Our present General Assembly, af ter over fifty days of legislation, has I>robably studied, analyzed, and enact ed more class legislation than any predecessor in the last decade. Harry Johnson had charge of the program on Friday, March 6th, and It was hi* effort to bring to th? K.i Iran ians a general summary of laws en fcted this year by our solons. Three bills were discussed by local Kfwanl ?ns: the School bill, by E. L. Best; the Davis Bill, by a P. Boddle; the Koad Bill, by F. J. Beasley. Professor Best gave an outline of tue tangible benefits of this law. He explained that this bill would evl nently reduce our ad valorem taxes 52 cents. That the state would di rect $18,000,000. to run the six months Hflhp"1, nn1 "ift It Miff n n1'1 lien and one half dollars fh an equal ising fund for the extended terms. Major Boddle gave a brief outline of the Davis Bill, which would allow the doctors of this state to prescribe whiskey to their patients who could procure It from a federal licensed druggist, it is hti belief that this law, if enacted, would not work smoothly and that it would make more violators of the law by unethi cal usage of the law by druggists and cioctors. He explained the discre pancies, and the illegal methods of dispensing practiced in other states tiiat have this law. Ffsher Beasley explained the Road Bill. He told the Club that Franklin County had a credit with the State Highway Commission of $295,000. (that sum to be expehded in the con struction of roads in this county), but 'hat under this re-organization act we would probably lose that ram if the people of this county did not "go af ter" and demand that which Is due us. Edwin Malone then gave a general summary of the trend of legislation. He discussed the proposed 'Short Bal lot', explaining that this Idea isn't a new one ? that it was a plank In the personal platform of Governor T. W. Blckett. The Central Purchasing Ilan was tried by Governor Bickett, but for reasons there was too much lost motion and it was abandoned. This new plan, no doubt, will have those undesirable wrinkles smoothed out and that it will save the people ?if this state a goodly sum of money. The special music by Mrs. Berke !>, who sang two beautiful" solos, was an enjoyable feature of the program. Bargain Day At Louisburg Theatre The Louisburg Theatre have add ed another feature to their popular show house, which will be welcomed by their many patrons. From now on each Wednesday will be Bargain Day at this theatre. They announce that their prices on this day will be 10 and 20 cents. They also state that the pictures on these days will be first class In every way and not because the prices are cheaper will they put on cheaper pictures. This is just another way to show their appreciation of your patronage. Their ad announcing their program for next week will be found In an other column. Louisburg College News - , - .. .. ?V * A Students Recital was given in the Louisburg College Music Hall on Tuesday evening, March 10. The program was as follows: Piano ? Dance of the Kewpies ? A L. Ashford by (a) Mamie Davis Beam, Louisburg; (a) Hilda Peele, Roxobell. Piano ? The Call of Spring ? Blake by (b) Martha Clarke Alex ander, Louisburg. Piano? The Mill? Blake by <b) Rachel Hobbs Alexander, Louisburg. a Voice ? Home . ? MacFadyen by tb) Lydia Hartman, Battleboro. y Piano? Plngertwist ? Emery by i(*) Hilda Peele, Roxobell. Reading ? A Minute ? by (c) Lydia Hartman, Battleboro. '.Piano? Bagatelle in A Minor ? Beethoven by (a) Frances Overton, Ml. dllead. Voice ? My, Love, He comes on a Skee ? Clough-Lelghter by (b) Miri am Whedbee, Ellerbee. > Piano? Morceau Cha^acteristlque -s-Wollenhaupt by (a) Laura Nell Thrift, Durham. iiJ^todenta with Miss Crenshaw (a); Miss Williams (b); Miss John ston (cji. . Marshals? Ruth Cathey, Chief, Alberta. Laughter,, Leesle Hooper. Dorothy Hurley, Marina Roblnsom - ? Bee the,, Oxford Orphans in Louis burg, Wednesday, March 19th. ..J*-'1! ' > Vision t^sts may be applied tor au tomobile drivers, but the blind pede strain goe? on unrestrained. Some n?en never fet converted to optimism bo matter how many revi vals of basln?M they are. 2000 People See Free Show Is At least two thousand people were In attendance at the tree show given by the Loulsburg Theatre on Wednesday night. If you hare ever been to New York and visited the theatre district of that city you would have thought you were back there on Wednesday night it yon had seen the crowds that were lined up in front of this the* tit*. The management put on Ave complete shows, two In the afternoon and three at night to accommodate the crowds. J. H. Wood Dead Mr. J. H. Wood, one of Franklin CWHtri most popular and proml nent citizens died at hla home near Centrevllle gome time during Mon day night apparently from appo plezy. His passing was sot dis covered until Tuesday morning when his little daughter went In his room aud called him. Physi cians Were summoned and indica tions were that he had been dead some hourB. He was in Loulrburg Monday and retired that night in apparent good health. Mr. Wood was 63 years old and leaves five little daughters, the old est of which is about 15 years of age. He was preceeded to the grave by his wife about two years ago. He was a very active and use ful citizen In his community, hav ing heldl many places of honor and trust, such as School Committee man, Road Trustee, Justice of the Peace, ^ie was a member of Red Bud Baptist church. The interment was made Wed nesday afternoon in the family bur ing grounds about two miles east of Centrevllle In the presence of a large number of friends. Red Cross Ap points Committees A meeting of Red Cross Executives was held in Dr. H. G. Perry's office Saturday to appoint Committees over tbe County. Among those present were Dr. H. G. Perry, chairman, Supts. E. J. Rest, E. 0. Perry, Dr. R. F. Yar borough, Messrs. Hill Yarborough, W. l\ Wilson, Mesdames M. C. Wilder. C. M. Moore, A. H. Perry, C. C. Pip yln, W. S. Person, R. F. Yarborough. Dr. Perry urged all chairmen to proceed at once with organizing Sur vey Committees. The following have been reported: Harris township, Mrs. M. C. Wilder, chairman, J. L. Ryron, John Morris, Richatd Layton. E. W. Puryear, Mrs. Jessie Robbins, Miss Mattle Wheless. Sandy Greek, Mrs. W. S. Person, chairman, G. B. West, M. E. Watklns, Mesdaffies G. C. Parrish, P. C. Per due, M. M. Person. Gold Mine, Mrs. A. H. Perry, chair man, H. L. Denton, Cleveland Murphy Howard Griffin, Mesdames B?h Gup _on and Leila Nelms. Cypress Creek, Mrs C. M. Moore, chairman, B. P. Hinton, G. H. Har j is, Wilson Gay, H. A. Wilder, Mrs. F. R. Moore. Other appointments will be an nounced later. New Gas Distributors Messrs. W. E. Bartholomew and son Edward, have perfected arrange ments with the Atlantic Refining Co., whereby they will operate a gas, and oil distributing -station in Louisburg and serve a greater part of Franklin County. Until other and more perma nent arrangement! are made they will use under lease two local tanks. Mr. Bartholomew, who has been with the Standard Oil Co., in charge of their distributing plant in Louls I urg for the past twelve years, has built up a splendid business and many friends among the retailers ot. gasoline, kerosene and lubricating oils, and will, no doubt, be accorded a liberal patronage. i Franklin County Union Meeting Announcement Is made that the Union meeting ot Franklin t County will mef* at Mapln Springs Baptist church on Saturday and Sunday, ?March 28 and It. 1931. The program will be announced later. Each church in this Union is urged to seqd dele gates. A pessimist la anyone who is dis appointed If disappointment doesn't come as anticipated. ' ? . V FOR FIRST CLASS JOB PRINTING RHONE NO. MS Subscribe to The Franklin Time* Beasley & Bullock To Run Union - Warehouse Mr. R. M. Beasley, of Apex, who with Mr. J. M. Bullock, of Stem, ran the Union Warehouse the past season, was In Lonlsburg the past week and Informed the TIMES that be and Mr. Bullock had made arrangements un der which they would operate the Unicn Warehouse again the coming reason. These gentlemen are ex perienced and popular Warehouse men and Loulsburg and Franklin County people will be glad to learn | of their decision to return to Louls burg next season. ,y.! April 7th The Spring concert of the Louls burg Choral Club will be given April 7th Instead of March 24 a* was form erly announced. This change is nec cesary since the annual revival will be held at the Methodist Church dur ing the week of March 22. A program of popular and semi classical music by the Club and solo ists has been arranged which will prove very interesting. Among the numbers will be the old familiar waltz "Blue Danube", by Straus; the beau tiful "Going Home" of Anton Dvorak; selections from FrlmTs light operas; spirituals, and old English airs. Choirs Furnish ? -??? Splendid Music The Franklin County Welfare As sociation Holds Meeting ? Miss Spencer Speaks. The Franklin County Colored Welfare Association met in the Court house Sunday afternoon in its regular monthly gathering. The or ganization has been featuring pro grams conducted by members of the choirs and Sunday schools of various churches in the County, and these efforts have proven interesting and instructive. At the meeting Sunday, the program was furnished by the Perry's Chapel aggregation, and their program was of a high order. \ Following the rendition of the program the principal speaker of the occasion was presented by the Chairman Dr. J. B. Davis, as one of the best Informed ladles in North Carolina. Said he: The speaker who I am. about to introduce can talk intelligently on any subject, and it is not often that we have the opportunity to hear people of that type. I. take pleas ure in presenting and introducing to this audience, Miss Mary B. Spen cer. Miss Speneer has spoken often and to many organizations in the County and elsewhere, but has never appeared to greater advantage. Her subject was "Our Homes", and those f9rtunate enough to hear* her de clared that she scored heavily In her brilliantly illuminating exposi tion. Speaking pointedly of the home. Miss Spencer declared that God made the home so that children might be trained. She warned her hearers that the only place (or ade quately training the young is in the home. She made a strong plea for obedience, declaring it to be a Tltal element in rearing the young ? and in living the Christ life, declaring that Christ lived for others. Self control was another element that was strongly stressed by the speak er. Said she: "If you do not hare self-control yourself, teach it to you# children." "The life you live will determine your status", said the speaker, "and not the amount of money you are able to acffumulatri." Aside from excellent musical se lections from the ahoir of Perry's Chapel, the Timberlake's Orove Quartette performed In its usual happy style. Rev. James Thomaa made a hap py response to Miss Spencer's line speech, the collection was then ta ken and the meeting attended by a very large crowd, was over until the lint Sunday , in April, when the program will be rendered by rep resentatives of New Liberty Baptist church. The chairman reported the trans mission of a check for $36.00 di rectly to Rev. F. S. Love, the treas urer of the special fund for Louis burg College. , THANKS We wish to express our thanks and i,.preciatlons to all those who so generously lent their assistance in ex tinguishing the lire at the Co?nty Home on Thursday night of last week ?nd assisting with saving the con tmts of the home. Supt. and Mrs. John Hedgepeth. Eleven Convicts Are Cremated Fifty-Two Men, All but Twelve Negroes, in Stockade at Time of Disaster; Blase Dis covered About 2 A. M. ; Re ports Say All Prisoners Ac counted for Except Eleven Dead; Several Investiga tions by Officials Started Kenansvllle, March 7.? Helplessly ? rapped In their narrow cells, 11 ne gro convicts burned to death early Saturday morning In a blaze which swept with wild fury through the an cient wooden Duplin County prison stockade. The unfaltering courage and hero ism of a prison guard, Owen Baisden, resulted in 41 other men escaping a horrible death In the flames. Fifty. Two Men In Building Fifty-two men, 12 of them white, vere Incarcerated to the structure at the time of the Are. The blare was discovered shortly after 2 a. m? by Baisden and B. S. Nicholson, another guard, who were on duty at that hour. The flre, the origin of which has not been deter- - mined, was discovered In the kitchcn. Baisden Saves Lives of Prisoners Eye witnesses of the disaster told i of the heroic efforts of Guard Baisden, I who time after time risked his own life as he returned again and again into the burning building to lead forth the trapped prisoners: Seemingly unconscious of his own danger, Baisden, perilously near tha flames .Mfcself, braved the heat and smoke to unlock cell doors and free the horrified prisoners, one by one. * Scream." of the dying men spurred * Baisden to his task with lightning speed and little thought of his own gaiety. Prayers and cries of mercy from the lips of the terrified captives stunned spectators who could but Mand helplessly outside the flaming bastile while 11 of its inmates were literally roasted to death. Ancfent Structure The stockade, the exact date of its construction unknown was built af ter the manner of earlier prisons in the United States and the flre hazards have always been great. It consisted of a high stake fence covered with corrugated Iron which intensified the heat within its wall. It was sim ilar to war prison stockades used by loth armies during the conflict be tween the States. The prison, which was located about one mile from Kenansvllle was virtually without flre protection. Identify Dead Later in the day the dead men were identified as Wesley Bennett, Preston Hall, Robert Merritt, John James, ? Claude Cox, Virgil Smith, Rogert Jar tnan, John Farrier, Wid Moore, Harry McLamb and James Mills. All were burned beyond recognition and iden tification }vas made from prison camp records. ? Superintendent Bennett said four guards were asleep in the stockade when the fire broke out. He added they were not supposed to be awake. Duplin county ccroner, Dan H. Bridgers, immediately began an in vestigation of the disaster and In structed the two guards on duty at llie time of the fire not to discuss, de tails with anyone. The order of the coroner, however, could not still the words of praise from residents of the community, for <ne bravery shown by guard Balsden. Indications and rumors of incen diary origin of the fire are being thoroughly investigated. " Senator Rivers D. Johnson of this county, arrived this morning to as sist in the investigation of the fire. Senator Johnson is county attorney of Duplin county. Reports also stated that Mrs. W. T. Post, State Commissioner of Public Welfare, Saturday morning instruct ed L. G. White to proceed here at once to aid in the investigation. Mrs. "'IF. T. Boat, State Commission er of Public Welfare, Saturday morn ing Instructed L. Q. Whitley, State Penal Inspector, to proceed at once to Kenansvllle to Investigate the I rlson stockade fire that cost the lives ? cf eleven negro convicts early Sat urday morning. Mr. Whitley was at Caledonia when he was reached by Mrs. Bost. "What would happen If fire should break out In the prison here?" said Governor O. Max Gardner when In formed of the Duplin tragedy. Gover nor Gardner, who has termed State's Prison a "flretrap," has asked the General Assembly to mfcke provision for a new central prison to be built near Cary. The Governor was shock ed by the news. Senator Rivers D. Johnson, of Dup lin, who is attorney for Duplin Coun ty. and Junius K. Powell, head book leeper of State's Prison, left early Saturday morning to Investigate the Duplin holocaust. Three prisoners were burned to death about two years ago wb*p a caged truck In which they were riA ing caught fire from an ope* gaso line tank' in Sampson County.