STOP MONEY
From Leaving Louisburg
By
Advertising in The TIMES
Boost lour Town
The Franklin Times
VOLUMN HIX
SUBSCRIPTION 91.50 a lew
THE COUNTY - THE STATE - THE UNION
LOUIS B ORG, N. CAROLINA FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 18:?i
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(EIGHT PAGES)
NUMBER 25
EX-BANKER IS GIVEN STATE
PRISON TERM OF 25-TO-30 YEARS
"Verdict Is Returned After 4
Hours' Deliberation
APPEAL NOTICE I S
GIVEN
Bond For Slayer of Selma
Oil Dealer Placed At
$10,000 By Judge Olive
Smithfield, July 30. ? James E.
Tharrington, once-prominent Ral
eigh and Smithfield banker, was
sentenced to a prison term of 25
to 30 years in the Superior Court
here today for the "jealousy slay
ing" of John McMillan, Selma oil
dealer.
A Johnston county Jury predom
inated by farmers returned its
verdict of second degree murder
at 2 o'clock this afternoon, four
hours after receiving the case.
He slumped into his chair as
Judge Hubert E. Olive sentenced
him to the state penitentiary and
the smile characteristic of his ap
pearance in court had vanished.
leniency Denied
Denying the plea for leniency.
Judge Olive declared the evidence
warranted a first degree convic
tion. "I can't get it out of my
mind that it's first degree mur
der," he said. "The jury could
easily have returned such a ver
dict."
Defense counsel, denied its re
quest for a reduction in the sen
tence, filed notice of appeal to the
State Supreme Court and was
granted 36 days to perfect the ap
peal.
For the first time since the slay
ing occurred on March 31 at th?
Selma apartment of Mrs. Rosalie
Hates King, his divorcee-sweet
heart. Tharrington was allowed
privilege of bond. The bail was
set at $10,000, despite protests of
defense attorneys who said he
would be unable to raise the
amount.
Tharrington remained cool and
collected as he heard the sentence,
but his wife, who sat faithfully at
his side during the trial, broke
into loud, passionate sobs Mrs.
King also sobbed aloud. '
By its verdict, the 13-man jury
rejected Tharrington's story that
he killed McMillan "to save my
own life," and accepted the state's
theory that he killed the popular
Selma youth as the result of his
jealousy over the young divorcee.
It brought to a close Johnston
county's most sensational trial in'
more than a decade, attended by
a crowd which packed and jam
med the courthouse at every ses
sion.
Courtroom Ripple
Judge Olive warned against a
demonstration as the jury filed in,
but a ripple passed through the
crowd when the verdict was an
nounced, and many of the specta
tors nodded their heads, apparent
ly in approval.
Calling Tharrington a "deliber
ate, cold-blooded killer," Solicitor
Claude C. Canaday argued to the
jury that Tharrington had devised
a cunning scheme to get the divor
cee's other suitor out of the way.
The solicitor demandied the su
preme., penalty, and said the peo
ple of Johnston county would not
be satisfied, "unless Jimmie Thar
rington pays with his life."
In an eloquent plea for mercy,
Chief Defense Counselor Norman
Shephard invited the judge to con
sider Tharrington's excellent char
acter, testified to by state and(
county officials.
"The defendant is disappointed j
in the verdict," Shephard said,
"but we believe we got a fair trials
It is hard for a man who has never!
stood before the bar of justice!
before. We are not/ asking sym-'
pathy, we merely ask that you be
as light as. possible."
Mercy Is Asked
Disclaiming Tharrington as the
criminal-type, he asked the judge
not to consider newspaper com-,
ment which might follow his de
cision, but asked for "every mercy
in your heart." ?
In refusing t>he plea to reduce
the sentence. Judge Olive pointed
out the fact that Tharrington is ai
married man and had been going
with a divorced woman.
After a forceful charge. Judge:
Olive sent the case to the Jury with
the instructions to return one of!
four verdicts ? guilty of murder in,
the first degree, second degree,
manslaughter, or not guilty.
Quoting the law of the Anglo
Saxons, he reviewed the evidence
(Continued on Page Two)
I ?* 1
Do .Not Park Cars
On Highway
? |
Parking At Jackson's Pond
Becoming Dangerous, Pa
trolman Warns
Warning signs have been
erected on both Hides of the
Highway at Jackson's Pond,
according to announcement of
Patrolman Parks Alexander,
warning motorists not to park
on sides of Highways. The
State law covers both day and
night and dirt roads as well as
paved highways. Patrolman
Alexander informs the TIMES
that he warned all motorists
last Sunday afternoon, and
that in the future all violators
will be summoned to Court.
He is anxious for all to help the
State and County correct this
violation, before someone is se
riously hurt.
DRAW JURORS
BOONE AND RICHARD
SON RE ELECTED
Make Appropriations To
Louisburg and Franklin
ton Fire Departments ?
Many Reports Received
The Board of County Commis
sioners met in regular session on
Monday with all members pres
ent. After formalities of open
ing business was disposed of as
follows:
Appropriations of $25 to Louis
burg Are department and $15 to
the Franklinton fire department
were made to assist in defraying
expenses of firemen to the annual
convention.
Reports were made and receiv
ed by the following: E. L. Nor
ton, Farm Agent; Miss Louise
Weaver, Home Agent; Mrs. J. F.
Mitchiner, Welfare Officer; E. R.
Richardson, Superintendent* of
County Home; Dr. R. F. Yarbor
ough, Health Officer.
Mrs. J. B. Yarborough was be
fore the Board in the interest of
an appropriation for the sewing
rooms, the matter was left open.
J. H. Boone was re-elected tax
collector for another year.
E. R. Richardson was re-elect
ed Superintendent of the County
Home for another year.
A list of jurors were selected
fop the September term of Court.
After allowing a number of ac
counts the Board adjourned.
GIVES BOND
Smithfield, Aug. 3. ? Bond of
$10,000 was posted here tonight
for Jame? E. Tharrington and the
former Raleigh and Smithfield
banker, under sentence to serve
25 to 30 years for murder, was
released from Johnston County
jail.
Tharrington, sentenced last Sat
urday by Judge Hubert E. Olive
following a week-long sensational
trial in Superior Court here, was
free tonight for the first time since
the early morning of last .March
31, when he was arrested for the
slaying of John McMillan of Sel
ma. The ex-banker, married and
father of an infant daughter, al
legedly shot* McMillan in rivaly
over affections of pretty Mrs.
Rosalie Hales King, 31-year-old
Selma divorcee.
Tharrington has appealed to
the State Supreme Court for a new
trial. He plead not guilty, claim
ing self defense. The appeal, If
perfected, probably would be de
cided in September.
Pledging 8,000 of the bond were
four individuals: W. N. Fuller, S.
E. Tharrington and P. H. Massey,
all of Franklin County, and W. j
Grover Pilley, of Raleigh. The
remainder was guaranteed by the
Metropolis Bond Company, of
Henderson.
The bond was given before
Court Clerk H, V. Rose.
NO RECORDER'S COURT
The TIMES Is requested by
Judge J. E. Malone to state
that there will be no Recorder's
Court .held in Franklin County
on next Tuesday, August 9th.
?All litigants will bear this in
mind and need not attend.
I
HELD FOR CAP- i
ITAL CRIME
NEGRO ENTERS WOM
AN'S BED ROOM AT
NIGHT
James Edward Davis, 23,
Claims He Was Seeking
Money ? Crime Committed
At J. W. Perdue 's Resi
dence Six Miles East of
Louisburg
James Edward Davi9, alias Jam
es Edward Johnson, colored. 23
and married, was jailed in Louis
burg early Monday morning to
answer to charges of lionSe break
ing and attempted assault. The
preliminary hearing has been set
for 10 o'clock Saturday morning
before Esquire J. L. Palmer.
Johnson, who is a farmer and
has been farming with T. L. Duke,
about six miles east of Louisburg.
this year, is alleged to have enter
ed the room occupied by Mrs. T.
L. Duke, at the home of Mr. J. W. j
Perdue, through a window about :
2 o'clock Monday morning, v while
Mrs. Duke and the chlldrea^were '
asleep in the room and Mr7" Duke
asleep at' the barn about 150 yards
from the house. The first Mrs.
Duke knew of the negro's pres
ence was when she was awakened
by something feeling of her under
the cover. Finding it was not one
of the children she reached for
and turned on the light and saw
a negro man she recognized as
"Wootsie" as Johnson was called.
The negro made a break for the
window and escaped as Mrs. Duke
gave the alarm. Mr. Perdue and
his sons came to the rescue and as
tihey went out of the house they
saw Johnson coming to the well
for water and spoke to him about
it. He denied it. It was sugges
ted Mr. Duke be called and John
son volunteered to go for him, and
upon waking him told Duke that
if they charged him with going
in the house he would leave the
crop. Duke joined the others at
the house and it was decided to
send for the Sheriff and blood
hounds. Sheriff Moore called
Wilson for the dogs and secured
Deputy K. E. Joyner and went to
the scene, where they arrested
Johnson, before the dogs arrived.
Upon^the arrival of t'he dogs they
were put on the trail and ran it
to where Johnson put on a pair
of boots, and wanted to run it
further
Monday morninfe^Sherilf Moore'
and Chief of Police E. Pace|
went to the jail to see Johnson
and tihey said, Johnson made a
full confusion to them of enter
ing the house, but claimed his !
object was to steal some money he
thought was in the bed and while
feeling for themoney he acciden
tally touched Mrs. Duke. He de
nied emphatically any intention of
harming Mrs. Duke. At this time,)
he requested the Sheriff to send
for Mrs. Perdue and Mr. Duke
that he wanted to tell them all j
about it. Upon their arrival thei
Sheriff went with them to the jail ;
where Johnson told about the
same story he had told the Sheritfl
that morning.
Following the news of the con
fession feelings begun to rise and
it is reported, that a large num
ber of cars gathered in and
around Louisburg that night and
that some of the party called on
Jailor Minor for the jail keys,
who after being told the SherifT
had the keys, left. The crowd, it
was stated drove about town
awhile and then left. It was
learned later th&y visited the sec
tion where the crime was commit
ted and did quite a lot of shoot
ing, and dispersed. No damage,
other than many in the section
were frightened, has been report
ed.
On Monday afternoon Sheriff
Moore moved the negro to anoth
er jail for safety and to avoid any
possible outbreak.
Recorder's Court
Franklin Recorder's Court had
only two cases before it Tuesday, I
one was continued and Mie other
tried. J. F. Matthews ably repre
sented the State, in the absence of
Prosecuting Attorney Chas. P.
Green. The docket follows:
Otho Henly, operating automo
bile intoxicated, continued.
Percy Moss was found guilty of
assault with deadly weapon, and
given 90 days on roads. Appeal.
The easiest way to find a needle |
In a haystack would be to run
through the stack on rubber tires. |
LOUISBURG
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
Interesting Items Regarding
Activity of The Chamber
? Getting Ready For
Work
The Board of Directors of the
Louisburg Chamber of Commerce
met Monday night in the Town
Clerk's offiee.
The Chairmen of Committees
had been invited to attend the
meeting and Mr. Paul Elam,
Chairman of the Advertising Com
mute was called on for a report.
Mr. Alexander, a representative
of an advertising company, pre
sented his line of advertising. and
Mr. Stockard made a motion that
the Advertising Committee have
the authority to buy up to twelve
signs. This motion, was carried
and the following slogan was de
cided upon to be used on the
?signs: "LOUISBURG, WORLD'S
HIGHEST TOBACCO MARKET,
Government figures".
Mr. Stockard was appointed
chairman of the Constitution and
By-Laws Committee and his sug
gestion of asking Mr. James Ma
Ione and the Secretary to help on
this committee was approved.
The Secretary presented to the
Board a complete mailing list.
(iM Service by Giving Service
The Louisburg Chamber of
Commerce plans to help the mer
chants in Louisburk keep their
trade and build up an even larger
one. We are asking the men and
women of Louisburg to help.
When you cannot find an arti
cle of merchandise that should be
obtainable in one of our local
stores, call the Louisburg Cham
ber of Commerce and report same.
A list will be kept through each
month and then turned over to the
merchants in order that they may
replenish their stock to fill these
demands.
This service will help the peo
ple who buy and the merchants to
buy.
BASE-BALL
Mitchell Ik Klg Star in l"lne Ridge
Quite a good crowd witnessed
the game here Sunday between
Pine Ridge and Louisburg. Com
ing into the ninth inning two runs
behind. Pine Ridge pushed 3 runs
across the plate for a 6-5 victory.
Louisburg got runners on base in
their half of the ninth but could
not send them home.
Mitchell, with two homers for
three turns at bat, was the star
performer for the winners. Nor
vell, of Louisburg. smaifked one
over the fence. Louisburg was
without the services of John Cam
eron.- Trputman and Puller.
The visitors outhit the locals
10 to 5. PiUe Ridge errored fre
quently. \
Batteries: Pine Ridge ? Cooper,
Richardson and Bullock; Louis
burg ? Barrington and Lamm,
Wimbrow.
Louisburg Wins Over E|
It was "homer, homer, humer,
as Louisburg turned back Epsom,
11.10 Wednesday in a 10-inning
contest.
Wednesday's tilt was the first
of a five-game series and the win
ner will meet the victor of the
Wilton-Henderson series for the
Tri-County "League championship.
There were six homers in Wed
nesday's series-opener. Brantley's
lOth-inning round-tripped won the
game for the locals. He also
clouted a two-run homer in the
sixth. * <0
Epsom's hitters of home rubs
were Gallovich, Dickerson. Byrd
and Eaves.
Batteries: Epsom ? Renn,
Breedlove, Jackson and Dicker
son; Louisburg ? Wiggins, Ed
monds and Puller. _
The second game of this series
will be played in Louisburg today
(Friday). These two teams will
play games in Louisburg each
Wednesday and Friday until one
team wins three out of five.
Victory
CLASS MEETING
? The Young Women's class of
the Louisburg Baptist Sunday
School will meet Friday after
noon (today) at 4 o'clock for its
monthly class meeting at the
home of Mrs. J. D. Simons.
Every membe.r is urged to be
present.
. Elsie Hudson, Sec'y.
It isn't safe to assume a train
has already passed Just because
you can see its tracks.
CATLETT
RESIGNS
Assist Fire Departments To
Attend Convention ? Or
ders Tax Corrections ? Re- 1
lieves Fair of Taxes ? To
Buy Truck
The Board of Town Commis- 1
sioners met in regular session ;
Tuesday night with P. H. Allen, j
Jr., W. B. Barrow, VV. J. Cooper,!
and P. W. Elam present. Mayor
I W. C. Webb and J. S. Howell were
absent. Mayor Pro-tem, W. J.
Cooper presided in t'he absence of
Mayor Webb.
Minutes of previous meetings
were read and approved.
The monthly reports of the Tax
| Collector, Chief of Police, and
j Town Clerk were read and ap
| proved.
The Special Committee prev
iously appointed to confer with
! the County Commissioners in res- :
| pect to charging a tax on t-he ?
| Franklin County Fair reported
| that the County Commissioners I
I agreed to follow the action taken
> by the Town Commissioners. The
j Committee reported that only a
j very few towns or counties charg
j ed the tax last year anywhere in
the State of North Carolina. In
j view of this fact a motion was
passed that t>he Town of Louis
| burg. N. C., would not levy a tax
Ion the Franklin County Fair for
the year 1938.
The Board decided to request
the steps at Mrs. A. M. Hall's res
idence according to the plan
agreed upon by Mrs. Hall and Mr.
\i e ri.> , . i j
Upon the request of Fire Chief,
F. M.. Fuller, the Board appropri
ated $225.00 to the white Fire Co.
and $75.00 to the colored Fire
Co., for expenses to the oncoming
conventions.
The Board decided to resuest
the Board of County Commission
ers to meet jointly with the Town
Commissioners, at the convenience
of t'lie County Commissioners, to
discuss the proposal of construct
ing an Armory building.
Mr. '.German Catlett tendered
his resignation to the Board to
become effective on Sept. 1, 1938.
The Board accepted Mr. Catlett/s
resignation and expressed it's ap
preciation of his services on the
police force. A motion prevailed
to leave the selection of Mr. Cat
lett's successor to Commissioners
Allen and Cooper.
The Tax Collector was instruct
ed to correct an overcharge on the
1 1928 taxes of Mrs. G. W. Ford in
Amount of $261.60, caused by an
| error in the addition of the 1928
[tax abstract of $10,900.00 A cor
rection was ordered on the 1929
; taxes of Mrs. G. W. Ford in
I amount of $46.00, correcting an
overcharge of $46.00 due to a
I $2,000.00 valuation being listed
i both to Mrs. G. W. Ford and to
1 the E. S. Ford Estate.
j The Clerk was authorized to
purchase 3,000 2c windrow envel
opes.
The purchase of a new plstomj
! for the 360 H. P. engine, was au
thorized, provided it is recommen
ded by t'he Light and Water Com
mittee.
v Mr. Harkins was instructed to ,
plug the deep well at the R. G.
j Pers<mlce Plant, to prevent dam
age to N(e well.
The Street Committee was in
structed to "purchase a dump
truck to be us^cl on the WPA
street improvemenK^jroJect.
It's mighty funny how\ many|<
people are willing to leap inXandj
help you ? the minute you've sit?rj
ceeded in fighting your way tio the^
top by yourself.
PROGRAM AT THE
LOUISBURG THEATRE
The following la the program
at the Louisburg Theatre, begin
ning Friday, AugHSt 5th:
Last Times Today ? Friday ?
Dick Powell and Pat O'Brien in
"Cowboy From Brooklyn."
Saturday ? Double Feature ?
Roy Rogers and Smiley Burnette
in "Under Western Stars" and
Jack Holt in "Making The Head
lines." Also-Chap. 2 "Fighting
Devil Dogs."
Sunday ? Joe Penner and Kay
Sutton in "I'm From The City."
Monday ? Richard Dix, Chester
Morris and Joan Fontaine in
"Sky Giant."
Tuesday ? Stan Laurel and Oli-,
ver Hardy in "Swiss Miss."
Wednesday ? Leo Cartllo' and
Edith Fellows in "City Streets."!
Thursday-Friday? Cary Grant,'
Katharine Hepburn, Lew Ayres
and Edw. Everett Horton in
"Holiday."
I
REV. K. H. DAVIS
To whose untiring efforts Pros
pect Methodist Church was com
pleted, paid for and dedicated on
last Sunday.
PROSPECT
CHURCH
DEDICATED
Elaborate and Inspiring Ser
vices ? Dr. Plyler Delivers
Sermon ? Pastor M. W.
Warren Pays Tribute To
Rev. E. H. Davis For His
Great Interest
With one of the largest crowds
ever in attendance at a service at
Prospect, a most inspiring and
elaborate program was enjoyed
on last Sunday at the dedication
services of one of the prettiest
little country churches in thiB
section.
The services wero in charge of
Pastor M. W. Warren, and the
dedicatory sermon was preached
by Dr. M. T. Plyler. editor of the
North Carolina Christian Advo
cate. The program provided all
day exercises with a picnic din
ner. Morning services at many
neighboring churches, including
Louisburg. were suspended so
their congregations might attend,
and the church grounds, to say
nothing of the church's capacity,
was crowded. During the servic
es Pastor Warren paid tribute to
Rev. Mr. Davis as follows:
"This church was originally or
ganized in 1841, and two of the
sons of Dr. John King, Joel and
William, were charter members
and trustees. Rev. E. H. Davis'
family has played a prominent
part in- the life of the church for
t-he past 50 years, though he is
the only member with the excep
tion of his own children that
were ever members of it.
"Rev. A. M. Williams first sug
gested the idea of replacing old
Prospect Church with a new and
more up-to-datft building, and im
mediately plans began to take
form to raise funds for the pro
ject. And by the following year,
1936, under Rev. H. E. Lance, al
most enough was subscribed to
erect a structure that meets every
requirement of a modern house of
worship with adequate Christian
education facilities. No doubt re
mains that it was under Rev. E.
H. Davis' inspirational leadership
that the funds for the new church
were raised. The congregation
giving as liberally as their cir
"wimstances would permit, left) a
larfee deficit to be raised before a
new &kurch could be realized.
This is where Financier Davis got
busy. Witfb the pastor he peti
tioned Duke Endowment and se
cured a liberal donation. Also the
Conference Board of Church Ex
tension made a liberal contribu
tion, buti the necessary amount
was still almost a couple of thous
and short. So Mr. Davis decided
to see how ipany friends he had,
and just how much they thought
of him by giving them the oppor
tunity to make a donation to the
new church. And It was remark
able to see just how many he had
to respond. The Hon. Ernest
Haywood, of Raleigh, came thru
with the largest individual gift of
anyone. Mr. Whitley made a
generous gifts and numerous
smaller ones came from all parts
of the country. With gratitude to
Rev. E. H. "Davis and his -many
friends the new church, a memo
rial to Green Hill and Dr. Johr.
King, is ready tfc dedication. 1_
RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION !
CALLS SPEC
IAL s Session
i
State Legislature To Meet
Monday, August 8th
Cover Hoey Monday called the
General Assembly to , meet in spec
ial session in Raleigh Monday,
August 8, to authorize snpplemen
tal funds for Public Works Ad
ministration grants for permanent!
improvements at State Institu
tions.
It will be the third time this as
sembly, elected in 1936, has met>
in less than two years.
The Budget Commission was
! summoned to meet in Raleigh at
i 10 o'clock Wednesday morning to
I canvass the needs of the several
j State institutions, and Attorney
General Harry McMullati was
asked to draft a bill embodying
those needs.
"I am hopeful that the Legis
I lature may be able to pass the nec
lessary legislation and coitclude
its labors within one week," the
Governor said.
States desiring to participate in
PWA spending must show funds
available and make their applica
tions by September 30, and worjt
on all PWA projects must begrai
by January 1, 1939. Thus it was
necessary to call the General As
sembly into extraordinary session
j to qualify the State for its share
jof PWA grants.
Many Urgent Needs
"Thei'e are many urgent needs
with some of the institutions,"
j Governor Hoey said. "Several o!
1 1 he buildings at Morganton, Ral
eigh and Goldsboro State Hospi
tals must be fireproofed and im
proved facilities provided for the
reception of a large number of in
sane who cannot now be admitted
because of insufficient room and
accommodations. . . . Therefore
i it would seem to be folly for the
State not to avail Itself of the
privilege of getting 45 per cent) of
the cost of thege structures from
the Federal"^ government. since
| North Carolina will have to pay
her prorata part for all of the mo
ney spent by the Federal- Govern
ment'."
The Governor's statement was
based on a cursory examination of
recent applications by State insti
tutions. The Budget Commission
Wednesday heard requests by the
institution heads and made recom
mendations to be incorporated in
the Attorney General's bill.
State Treasurer Charles M.
Johnson said the Legislature could
authorize a bond issue of as much
as $6,345,000, which would be
sufficient for an $11,000,000 im
provement program.
To I'rge Revenue Bond Act
With hands tied by the Consti
tutional debt limitation and ex
piration of the 1935 Revenue
Bond Act, counties and municipal
ities are expected to urge t-he spec
| ial session to re-enact the revenue
i bond act in order to aid them fi
nance PWA grants under the cur
rent spending program.
The Governor said such a pro
posal would be open for consider
j ation and that he may recommend
| such an act.
Forty-one counties of the State
have proposed projects .aggregat
ing $3,000,000 for school houses
i alone. Other permanent improve
ments would include public build-,
ings, sewer systems and street
construction. i
I Consensus on Capitol Hill Mon
[day was that the PWA issue could
be solved in a week, but there was
1 considerable speculation as to
whether the Legislature would
confine its activities to the single
I issue. Elections law reforms fig
ured strongly as an issue likely to
I ho rnisnri
All Contemplated
Pointing out that) the deadline
ot September 30 for PWA appli
cations was the only reason (or el
special session, Governor ' Hoey
said, "That is all I am contem
plating."
Administration supporters, who
had expected the proclamation fop
a special session, were confident
the Legislature would approve the
State supplements, and the Gover
nor said he expected PWA appro
val of the improvement program.
"I have been advised, however,
that we ought to get our applica
tions in before August 15," he
said. ' ,"'f we wait until the Sep
tember 30 deadline, we may find
that all the funds madj available
by the last (. ? ngress have been al
lotted."
An act providing a bond issue
to/ supplement PWA grants may
ei'Ver specify a lumr-sum to b?
allocated by the Go \t .-?? ->r and the