vTHC LENOIR TOPIC.
f . . SCOTT, Jr., Editor and PnlMer
m WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1885.
Entered at the Post-office at -Lenoir
as second-class matter.
Subscription price, $1.00.
t3f Advertising rates reasonable.
f " r fIF"All bills for advertising pay
able weekly. J ?
"Job printing a specialty.
The scheme to raise a stock com
pany for erecting a-tobacco factory
In Lenoir was started last week.
rWhen fifty shares at $100 each are
( subscribed a meeting of stockhold
ers will be called. A considerable
number of shares were subscribed,
but not the requisite fifty. This
matter being broached must be car
ried through to the end. It is the
most disheartening thing in the
world to begin an enterprise, filled
with' enthusiasm yourself, to be met
at every turn with inertia and obsta
cles over which you must climb and
clamber before reaching success. It
is the way, however, with all enter
prises and with all enterprising
towns and communities. It is the
first step that costs. The further
you go and the more obstacles you
move from your path the easier it is
to progress. Let us not be discour
aged. It was always thus. All en-
j terprises buffet with the waves and
fight against the current. It is the
man of energy who is not downcast
by a few rebuffs, who works in sea
son and out of season, who conquers
opposition he is the man who at
! last succeeds. Let us push forward,
then, with the shares that have been
subscribed adding more and more
as we can, advocating the cause at.
all times and sticking a pin right
here the tobacco factory shall be
built. Is it needful to show the ad
vantages that will accrue ? One
being built will be but a nucleus for
several more to collect around it al
most immediately. It needs only to
show that one is successful to see
others spring up near it. This
' brings us a market for tobacco at
our doors, improves the chances, for.
sale and high prices, of those sections
of the county which already raise
tobacco and offers an inducement for
the culture of this valuable weed in
other sections where it is not plant
ed. All! this means the enrichment
Of the county and the spending of
money in it and the bringing of a
great amount of surplus currency
here. A. is illogical when he says
that he can see no great, profit to
himself in $100 invested in a factory
erenaf it make a profit of 100 per
cent. No great direct profit, it may
be, but does he not reap a great in
direct profit by sharing the general
advantages to be derived from these
enterprises? That is plain. We
are poor people compared with those
of other sections ; there are not a
few men among us who can raise
, this money. Go-operation is the
magic word that is opening the rich
mines of the West. If we wish to
do anything here we must follow
suit.
We believe in turning on the
lights so that all public practices
which cannot stand the gaze of the
people may be ordered down and
out- We believe also in strict jus
tice. Now, there is a current notion
thai the certificate of the Supreme
Court's decision in the Anderson
case was purposely held back in the
Supreme Court and not sent to the
Clerk of Caldwell Superior Court in
session when the decision was ren-
1 dered, when it might well have been
sent at that time. This is spoken
of to the discredit of the members
of the Supreme Court bench in that
they should wink at a useless and
unnecessary delay and continuance
ot this case on the docket of the
Caldwell Superior Court ; thus giv
ing the defendant time to prepare
for his escape. The imputation is
wholly undeserved and the explana
tion is easy. t It is a rule of the Su
preme Court to allow no certificates
to be sent to the Courts below until
the end of the. term. The time of
the Judges is taken up with the va
rious cases and their decisions, mo-
. tions "hare frequently to be made by
counsel after decisions have been
reached in their cases and it is not
nntil the end of the term that the
Judgeg. have leisure to round up and
review cases upon which they have
passed. This, then, is the reason
that the certificate of the decision in
the Anderson case, rendered before
Caldwell Superior Court, was not
sent to the term - of the Superior
Court which met after the decision
was made but before the Supreme
Cotlrt adjourned when only the
certificate could be made out.
) Miss sgsfr"sss n n '" ' '
AewiMetho4ist paper is spoken
ct f't Ctatesville, ' '-i
CALDWELL SUPERIOR COUHT:
Fall Tern, 1SS5, Judge. A. C. Awry Pre-
. siding. . ; ...
CRIMINAL DOCKET.
- State vs Gus Jones, d r w, guilty;
judgment suspended on payment of
costs. V !
John Clontz, a and b with d w,
submits; judgment suspended on
payment of costs.
W. J. Livingstonec c w, submits;
judgment suspended on payment of
costs. ' -
Gaston Church, a and b with,d w,
not guilty.
W. S. Miller, c c w, submits;
judgment suspended on payment of
costs.
Gaston Bowman, c c w, submits,
judgment suspended on payment of
costs.
Josiah Miller and Huldah Fin
cannon, f and a; all costs being paid
and defendants married they were
discharged.
W. C Dnla, sci fa, dismissed.
Wm. Gragg arid Julia Chester, f
and a; mistrial; judgment suspend
ed on payment of half costs, defend
ants married.
Isaac Lewis and Samuel Pennell,
affray; judgment suspended on pay
ment of costs.
Lewis Jenkins, delivery of whis
key in Lenoir; bill quashed.'
John Clippard, c c w, judgment
suspended on payment of costs. '
John Jolly, affray; not guility.
Wm. Ford, retailing, guilty; judg
ment suspended on payment of costs.
Two cases.
J. D. Starnes and others, trespass,
capias ordered for R. A. Tucker,
prosecutor, to show cause why he
should not be taxed with costs. -
II. M. Wilson, a andb; not guilty.
W. C. Dula, retailing, guilty;
judgment suspended on payment of
costs.
A. W. Austin, a and b, guilty;
$10 and costs.
J. M. Lutz and J. W. Kay lor,
affray, guilty; $10 and half costs for
Lutz, $20 and half costs for Kaylor.
Myra and John Sudderth, and b,
guilty; judgment suspended until
next term.
Larkin Earnest, continued.
Myra Sudderth, indecent exposure
guilty, 30 days in jail.
L. P. flenkel and A. M. Martin,
affray, guilty, judgment suspended
and costs divided between them.
Alfred Kaylor and Jas. Ilood, il
legal arrest, nol pros as to Hood and
submission as to Kaylor and judg
ment suspended upon payment of
costs. . r
John Wilson and Wm. Wilson,
larceny, not guilty.
Twenty-fife continuances and
alias capiases.
The criminal docket was finished
up on Thursday at dinner-time when
the Wilson larceny case was given to
the jury. This was the most im
portant case tried and aroused some
interest. .
The case of Billy Kirby, or Wm.
Ford, under which name he was in
dicted, was a peculiar one. He is
an old negro, so doubled up with
rheumatism that he cannot stand
and has to be carried about in a
chair. He lives at German's Hill
on the Yadkin and has for years kept
up an illicit trade inspirits. Court
alter court finds him on the docket
under this charge and it seems al
most impossible to punish him in his
lamentable condition. He has been
selling whiskey under a novel fiction
of pawning. Persons would go to
Billy and lay down 5 cents for a
'short" glass, 10 cents for a ''long"
one, and larger amounts for pints,
quarts and gallons upon the alleged
condition that the whiskey would be
returned and the money redeemed.
In other words the whiskey was
simply "borrowed" and the money
was left to secure its return. Of
course this was all a joke and no
whiskey was ever returned.
CIVIL DOCKET.
We give below a few notes about
some of the more important cases on
this docket.
The case of W. S. Miller and wife
against J. N. Harshaw and others
was set for next term.
Phineas Horton vs D. L. Horton
was' compromised by deeding the
land in dispute to the plaintiff for
$50 and the growing crop.
Azor Shell vs Trustees of Daven
port Female College was decided by
the Judge in favor of the defendant
on a point of law.
H. P. Connelly sued Azor Shell
for time lost at plaintiff's mill when
the defendant, who was trestle con
tractor on the railroad, had his pond
drained in order to lay the founda
tion for Connelly's : trestle. The
J udge ruled that" plaintiff had no
cause of action because he willingly
opened the floodgate. It could not
have been opened without his con
sent and the damages should have
been assessed at the time in the usu
al manner. They had quite a funny
time in the court room selecting a
jury, as the two parties to the action
are related by blood or marriage to
nearly everybody in the county. Af
ter exhausting the regular panel and
sifting through a considerable num
ber of called jurymen a jury was at
last found. Even then the Judge
on the bench was discovered to be
related within the ninth degree to
one of the parties. j -
A case exciting considerable in
terest was the "railroad case." On
Saturday before last New Year Al
fred Witherspoon, colored, was haul
ing wood for Dr. Beall along the
McCall mill road. Just before or
about the the time up freight was
due he was at the railroad crossing.
He looked up the road and listened
and neither heard nor saw a train. He
started across and, looking up, saw
a train bearing down on him. His
wagon stopped on the track and he
could not move his team. A lock
chain had fallen and caught on the
rail and he could not remove it. He
stood by his horses, when the train
dashed past," overturning the wagon,
t making the horses run away j and
knocking Alfred winding. He al
leged that he was cooped up at home
for six weeks and that he is no good
any more. He employed Messrs.
Jones and Vance to bring suit a
gainst the railroad for $5,000 dama
ges. Cilley and Newland, of Lenoir,
and Beverly C. Cobb, Esq., of Lin
colnton, appeared for the railroad.
Jones opened for the plaintiff, Cilley
and Cobb spoke for the railroad and
Vance closed for the plaintiff The
four speeches were all good, j Mr.
Vance's speech was complimented
on all hands as being an able and
logical effort. The jury rendered
its verdict about dark on Friday and
gave $150 damages to the- plaintiff
besides assessing the costs on the
defendant. I
That was the last cause tried and
the Judge adjourned the court.
REPORT OF GRAND JURY.
We found the county jail in tol
erably good condition, the prisbners
well cared for and the rooms kept in
a healthy condition. The jail seems
sufficient to keep prisoners safely.
We visited the poor house j and
found the paupers well provided for
and expressing themselves satisfied
with their treatment in every re
spect. As reported by our former
grand jury we find still existing
great necessity for the building of a
new house for the keeper, for the
old building is uncomfortable and
dangerous, the chimney being liable
to fall at anytime. In consequence
of the death of two of the inmates
recently there does not now -exist
any necessity for building another
house for the accommodation of in
mates, though some repairs arej nec
essary for some of the houses pecu
pied by the paupers to render jthem
comfortable during the approaching
winter. A. P. Puett, Foreman.
Watauga County Teacher's Association.
To the Editor of the Lenoir Topic:
This Association held its ! first
meeting in the Boone Academy,
Sept. 4 and 5. As some of our
teachers are not subscribers to The
Topic, they forgot the time, and so
missed the meeting. I hope this
little disappointment will, more than
ever, impress them with the impor
tance of taking TnE Topic. The
meeting was not so largely attended
as we hoped it would be. The As
sociation was organized on the; last
day of the Normal School with 25
or 30 members, but only about half
that number attended. , However
the meeting was a good one. R. H.
Farthing made a good speech on
"What can the teacher do toward
getting all the children in
trict to attend school ?"
his
dis-
L. G. Maxwell read an interesting
paper on "the County Teacher's As
sociation a necessity. A. J. Taylor
ably advocated "the importance of
every teacher being a reader of ome
good educational journal." W. S.
Farthing made a good speech on
"the qualifications of teachers,' and
Prof. K. H. Cline, of the Elk Knob
Academy gave us a good speech on
"ladies, all things considered, are as
good teachers as men for primary
and preparatory work." j The! fol
lowing were appointed a committee
on time, place and programme for
next meeting : W. S. Farthing, L.
G. Maxwell, I. W. Thomas, (Miss
Lucy Floyd and Miss Nannie River.
The committee reported the follow
ing : Place. Cove Creek Academy ;
time, 2 and 3 days of October ; pro
gramme, Friday, 10 a m to 11 a m,
How can the teacher best secure the
hearty cooperation of his patrons ?
E. N. Miller. 11 a m to 12 m.
Should corporal punishmen be
abolished in our common schools ?
R. H. Farthing. . . j
1 p m to 2 p m, Class drill in
English grammar, conducted by L.
M. Tnvett. 2 p m to 3 p m, Best
means of advancing small children.
An essay by Miss Lily Veach. Busi
ness and adjournment. j
Saturday, 9 a m to 10 a m, Qual
ifications of teachers, Prof. Ri H.
Cline. 10 a m to 12 m, Theory
and practice of teaching, Lecture
by I. W. Thomas. 1 p m to 2 !p m,
Are ladies, all things considered, as
good teachers as men ? L. G. Max
well. 2 p m to 3 p m, Class drill in
History of N. C, W. S. Farthing.
Business and adjournment. There
will be a drill in Calisthenics each
day by Prof. Cline.
The lady teachers of Watauga are
cordially invited to attend the next
session of the Association and be
come members. The citizens gen
erally are invited to attend. We
want to create a deeper and broader
sympathy in the work of educating
the children. As Superintendent
Finger said in his address before the
Normal School, "We want to create
a sentiment in favor of education."
It is to be hoped all the teachers
will attend. , Dismiss your schools
on Thursday afternoon, and be on
hand Friday promptly at 10 a m.
Come all aglow on the subjects of
teaching and education. Come to
say something and say it. Tell your
experience and troubles and difficul
ties as teacher, and may be somebody
present can help you. If the teach
ers do not manifest a great deal of
earnest, prudent zeal, we cannot ex
pect the patrons to manifest much.
We are having frequent calls for
good teachers for certain localities,
and we cannot recommend teachers
who will not try to be up with! the
progress of the day. As ; teachers
we may expect to be "laid upon the
shelf" at no distant day, if we do
not read, study and keep abreast of
the times. Let us strive to make
Watauga the "Banner County.''
7. W. Thomas, Chairman.
J. J. Harrison, Secretary. " :
1 ' "WSSsVsfrBS 1
Rubber Goods! Ladies' and men's
Rubber shoes, men's gossamer coats,
ladies gossamer circulars, very low j
ladies Jerseys lower than ever known,
Clover seed and orchard grass seed'
at Courtney Bros. j
Siit trcaght Against a Kewspaper for Libel.
Charlotte Observer.
it ...
A few days ago the , Reporter, . a
small daily paper published at Dur
ham, made some comment upon the
purchase of the property near Blow
ing Rock by Mr. R. A. T. Robertson,
which displeased that gentleman, and
gave sufficient ground, in his opin
ion, for a libel suit.; The exact na
ture of the Reporter's offending is
not known to us, but yesterday Mr.
Robertson passed through Salisbury
on his way to Durham. . He was ac
companied by his counsel, Mr. J. J.
Graham, of Virginia. They go to
Durham for the purpose of institut
ing a suit for criminal libel against
the Reporter, and Mr. Graham is to
conduct the case for Mr. Robertson.
As soon as the suit is filed, Mr. Rob
ertson and his attorney will settle
for the purchase of the land, Mr.
Robertson will build his hotel this
fall and will have it ready for Blow
ing Rock tourists next summer.
"A Series of Surprises."
Bakeraville Democrat.
The Lenoir Topic, in its newsy
way speaking of Ray and Anderson,
gives an entirely different version of
the "Calloway letter," from any we
have heard. As we have some doubts
about the authenticity of The
Topic's version, we are not inclined
to; reproduce it. Speculation in
this matter is worse than lost time.
"Let him who standeth take heed
lest he fall." A series of surprises
await those interested in this case.
k Sad Accident.
Boone, September 10.
To the Editor of Tlie Lenoir Topic :
A very sad accident happened on!
Meat Camp, Watauga county, last
Monday. James Proffit a good citi
zen liymg on Meat Camp went out
to cut down a cherry tree ; his two
children, girl and boy, 8 and 10
years of age, went with their pa.
In falling the tree struck another
tree and broke off and was thrown
back by the spring of the other tree
and struck both children, killing
the girl instantly, mutilating the
body, breaking the skull and arm.
The little boy was still alive when
last heard from, but not able to move
or talk. It is supposed that his skull
is also broken. Mr. Proffit took
both children in his arms and carri
ed them home, a distance of nearly
a mile, being covered with blood by
reason of the lacerated bodies of his
children. Nothing, perhaps, ever
occurred more heart-rending to a
father than this accident. I am told
they were his only children and were
very bright, and their father was
very proud of them. D. B. D.
Lovelady Letter.
Loveladv, Sept. 14.
To the Editor of The Lenoir Tome:
The march of improvement goes
steadily on in our village one
house is scarcely completed ere an
other is begun. Mr. L. E. Hoke
is erecting a nice two story- house
for Rev. F. S. Starrette who expects
to move here abdut the first of Oct.
We welcome him and all like him
who will come here.
Our school opened last Monday,
the 7th inst. and the prospects for
a good school are fine.
Messrs TL Sparks and I T A
Spencer speak of moving here; we
hope they will. Caldwell can boast
no better citizens than they.
feMiss Jones, of Kings Mt, the sis
ter of our esteemed friend M F
Jones, is visiting her brother.
Mrs M V Moore of Lenoir and
Mrs Dixon and mother are visiting
the family of Mr P G Moore.
Granite Falls Mfg Co is opening
out a large stock of handsome new
goods at their factory store.
There are being large shipments
of shingles made from this point.
Messrs Jones & Icard got an order
for 250,000 from one party.
The third quarterly meeting for
Caldwell circuit was hold at Ebene
zer on the first Sunday in this
month embracing Saturday before;
Rev R A Willis, the new P E, was
present and preached to the edifica
tion of all, he is one of the finest
Sreachers we have ever had on this
istrict. '
Crops are fine in this section and
we luiuk mero wm uo uu buiv.kj
of corn another year. .Oren.
Chit-Chat from Clay.
Clay, Mitchell Co., Sept. 9.
To the Editor of the Lenoir Topic:
Mr. Richie went out on to the
Burnett mountain the other evening,
and his dog, Jeffrey, treed a wood
chuck, which Mr. Richie killed. It
was large and, like Henry Clay's
slaves, "fat and sleek." The wood
chuck was cooked in Mrs. Richie's
best style, and was indeed very pala
table eating. It; may seem not worth
while to make record of so simple a
thing as the killing of what the na
tives call a ground hog; indeed,
when a boy, I killed a large number.
This was the first one I had seen for
fifty years, though my business has
called me to travel a great deal over
East Tennessee and Yancey and
Mitchell counties in. the past ten
years, not only on the highways, but
over hill and dale, and where the
wily woodchuck most do abound,
yet I have not seen one under all
these circumstances, which has
caused me to make some remarks
upon the singularity of the circum
stance. And this was the first I ever
tasted. '!!''M-r.;:-
Mast; both oak and chestnut, ap
pears to be abundant, and if the
frost does not destroy the chestnuts,
there will be a superabundance. JJut
the hogs are not nere to eat them.
Speaking of frost, reminds me to
remark, that though the great
northwest; was "severely visited on
the 24th ultimo, and on the 27th, it
appeared in some portions of our
own, Watauga and' Ashe counties,
we have not had a semblance of frost
yet, though we are usually credited
with the first of thp season, in this
mountain district. '
The tri-weekly mail brings The
Topic on Thursday instead of Sat-,
urday, and we are h'appv.
There is a hitch somehow at Log
gy, the-new post office near the head
of Toe river. The mail is not de-v
livered there. I
I have uot yet fathomed the mys
tery concerning that Vstate" house
to be built by J. C. Shull at Shull's
Mills. j
The road menders were out on
Thursday and Friday last on Lin
ville section, Wesley Snmmerrow,
overseer, and on Elk Horn section,
Frederick Ledford, overseer. They
shoveled a little dirt; here and there,
and put it in the ruts, half-drained
the mud holes, cut and pulled up a
few roots, removed some stones and
left a great many others and
went home, because Ithe roads were
worked out the two days. The rains
will soon come and wash out the
ruts, fill up the slouighs and leave
the roadways as uneven and bad as
ever. I ; ' '
The board of education for our
county met yesterday. It was the
day for appointment of school com
mitteemen for two years from Octo
ber next. D. F. I Richie, Martin
Banner, Jr., and Thomas Coffey
were appointed for our district.
We are going to try, for a new
road from Jas. Aj Aid ridge's to
Bullscrape, a distance of miles,
On the old survey known as Mont
gomery survey. As it is much more
than ten years since that survey was
made we will first have to make a
new one. If we are successful, we
can reach Bullscrape 1 mile nearer
than by the present road. .
Mrs. Crisp wife of Joseph
turns up in East Tennessee. He
and all the family! have betaken
themselves to Roan Mountain sta
tion, in Carter county. So, no more
of this scrape, till Mrs. C. sees fit
to come back.
My informant was over to Bakers
ville yesterday, and says that some
fourteen persons have died there of
a sort of flux. The wife of William
Marsh, the lawyer, of the firm of
Marsh & Green, was very low. The
venerable J. K. Ertiy is very much
afflicted with a sore I leg ; a chronic
case, which will probably afflict him
as long as life lasts.! There is no
more money in Bakersville than the
law allows. "Hard; times," which
was the universal cry from 1837 to
1843 as I well j remember has
"come to town" again, and I fear,
will stay half the length of time it
did then. Things s out of Joint,
as Martin Van Buren once said in
using that little word instead of are.
Mrs. Sally V., wie of James A.
Aldridge, has been confined to her
bed several days, afflicted with a bad
case of puerperal fever. With one
other exception, our community is
exempt from sickness. That case is
Miss Mary Townsend, who is a con
firmed bed-rid. J
Granite Falls Academy,
lovelady; n. c.
A FIRST CLASS HIOH SCHOOL FOB BOTH SCXK8.
Conveniently located on the f . tt L. R R. in a
healthy and moral omwunity. Instruction, thor
ough practical, progifwuive., Tnition $1 to $4 per
month. Music $2.60. Board $0 to $4.
Fall Term opens Sept. 7th. 1835. Address.
J- It HUGHES, Principal.
TO THE PUBLIC!
I am still at my old stand, next
door to S. W. Hamilton's. All per
sons wanting eitherj
Sheet Iron or Tin Work
Done, can have it donei on short
notice and in good style, and
all new work guaranteed.
Tobacco flues; and stove
piping tofbe had at
8 B O R T N O TIjC E .
Sugar and' Coffee
and other groceries and .
notions and bread and cakes
always on hand, j TPith thanks
for past favors I humbly solicit a
A continuance o4 the same, promising to sell as
Cheap as any of the rest can sell.
J. S. P. HAMILTON.
v J. A. CRIRP,
' WITH
Cloyd, Nelson & Co.,
SHULL'S MILLS, N. 0.,
Is opening up one of the
Best Stocks of
General Herchardise
-, - i -
Ever offered to the People
of Watauga River.
.: - - ,- i ; . ':
Prices down to
ROCK BOTTOM FOR '
Cash or Good Country Prodaee.
Cash Paid for Genseng.
Wild Ginger, !
Jamestown (jimson)
Leaves, Oatnip leaves,
White Hellebore.
Cloyd, llelson & Go.,
Shull's Mills, N. O.
The Land of the Sky !
The Land of Peace and Happi!
The Paradise of the World !
But even in this Heavenly land, life
is a burden, unless our homes
are furnished neatly ! Just
Think! Today you can
buy a suit of the
latest style of fur
niture for
813. Thirteen Dollars
$13.
Besides this,
rare bargains are
offered in Meat Safe3,
Bureaus, Washstands, Bed-
steads, Tables, (square and round)
Lounges, rocking chairs, children's
chairs, dining extension tables,
either walnut or ash, walnut
bed-room suits, bed mat
tresses, , springs, &c.
If you want to see! or buy
Anything in my linedo&'t
Forget to Give Me a Call.
Very Truly.
J. B. ERYIN.
Bead 5 Remember !
That we want all ithe
Blackberries
We gan buy this Season
- i i
And will pay the very
For the same that the market
will allow.
it l-
Owing tq the "hard times" we
afe now selling our
LARGE STOCK
General Merchandise
At Extremely
Either for cash, or good
r merchantable produce.
Special attention is called to the
following seasonable goods :
Grass Scythes,
Mason's Improved
Fruit Jars,
"Oriole" and
"Gold Medal"
Apple Fealers,"
Corers and Slicers.
Bear in mind we offer iio "baiea"
to catch trade, but sell each article
for what it is worth
and pledge ourselves'- to give our
- . - i i
customers both in I
Buying and Selling
Eyery legitimate advantage of the
market.
Hoping lay-honest effort
and fair Dealing to
merit your !
continued patronage,
tzq are,'
EespectfuUy; ' ' ' ' ' , '
CLOYD MD 1IBLS0N.
F. CTIESEITFELD,
Not Having time to Write out an
Advertisement
And one
at Length, would
say tha
he is ready
or
Every Hind ofTrade in its
i
Season.
t-o-l
He Will
Give. Good Prices
and Sell
GOOD GOODS
At Reasonable
Prices.
m
Watt Plows,
SEWING
MACHINES,
9
Always on Hand.
EespectfuUy,
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