7-' -pf"
THE
ROBESONIAN
Established 1870. . - ' Country, God and Truth. Single Copies Five Cento
VOL XUV NO. 13. , LUMBER TON, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1913. WHOLE NO. 2850
PREVATT SURRENDERS.
Voluntarily Give Himself Up to Sher
iff to Answer the Charge of Killing
Emory McNeill. Jr Awaits Trial
in Jail Says He Had No Intention
of Leaving County Father of Pris
oner Makes a Statement to the Pub
lic. ' ' ,
Barfield Prevatt, charged with fir
ing the shots last Saturday night
which resulted in the death the fol
lowing day of Emory McNeill, Jr., has
voluntarily surrendered to the officers.
He was placed in jail here yesterday.
Monday, the day after McNeill's
death, Sheriff R. E. Lewis was in
formed by Mr. W. JD. Prevatt, the
boy's father, that his son would sur
render himself. As soon as arrangements-
were completed yesterday to
employ counsel Mr. W. J. rrevatt of
Lumberton, a cousin of Barfield
Prevatt, 'phoned Sheriff Lewis
and requested him to go out with him
to where Prevatt was so that he could
give himself up. Mr. W. J. Pre
vatt and the boy's father went with
the sheriff to the home of the lat
ter and young Prevatt gave himself
up.
Prevatt says he had no- intention of
leaving the county but did not wish
to surrender himself until arrange
ments were made to secure counsel so
that he could obtain a fair trial.
The well-known firms of Mclntyre,
Lawrence & Proctor and McLean,
Varser, & McLean have been retained
to defend Prevatt, while Mr. H. F.
Seawell of Carthage and Mr. Tf L.
Johnson of Lumberton have been en
gaged by the father of McNeill to as
sist the solicitor in the prosecution.
Statement From Prevatt's Father.
To the Public:
I am in deep grief over the difficulty
of last Saturday in which Mr. Emory
McNeill, Jr., lost his life. As the
father of Barfield Prevatt I am na
turally concerned that he have a fair
hearing. He has voluntarily given
himself up to the officers, believing
that he can and will receive a fair
and impartial consideration of his
case. So many wild rumors, utterly
without any foundation, are being cir
culated, that I feel it my duty to ask
and to earnestly urge upon the public
. to withhold ttieir judgment until the
real facts can be brought out. I feel
the boy is entitled to a consideration
of his case upon the evidence and not
upon rumors, and this we ask at the
hands of the public.
Respectfully,
W. D. PREVATT.
Lumberton, N. C, April 2nd, 1913
United States Government Will Be
First to Recognize New Chinese Re
public Washington Dispatch, 2d.
The United States government has
decided to recognize the new Chinese
Republic. Secretary Bryan confer
red with President Wilson for nearly
an hour today at the White House
completing the details, and a note
is being prepared at the State Depart
ment to be addressed to China through
the Chinse minister here.
Whether it will be presented before
the meeting of th constituent assem
bly next Tuesday or is intended to
reach the Chinese government on that
date, has not been disclosed, but the
mere presentation of the note to the
Chinese minister and the resumption
of formal international relations with
the Chinese minister are regarded in
diplomatic circles as tantamount to
recognition. v
The United States government is
anxious to show its friendliness to
ward China, and while there has been
rumors that other nations might an
ticipate the action of this govern
ment and recognize China before the
United States does in official circles
here it was believed that the United
States would be the first to show its
faith in the new republic.
No formal announcement is expect
ed from the administration here until
the Chinese government is in receipt
of the American government's note.
J. P. Morgan's Remains Will , Be
Brought to New York.
Rome Dispatch 2nd. v
The Eternal City gave its last fare
well to J. Pierpont Morgan, whose
body was conveyed this afternoon
from, the Grand Hotel to the railway
station and there placed aboard a
train for Havre. It . will be trans
ported to the United States by a
steamer, probably the France, sail
ing for New York on Saturday.
Express companies of the country
have been hit hard by the operation
of the new parcel post system, ac
cording to statements submitted to
the Jjiter-State Commerce Commis
sion Tuesday by counsel for the com
panies in their final arguments against
the reduction' in express rates propos
ed bylhe new commission. It was'
declared that the companies have suf
fered a losa approximating 25 per cent
-in small package ; business a T loss
which amounts to six per cent of the
gross revenues of the companies.
TOWN POLITICS.
Will Now Grow Warmer and Warm
er Until the Appointed Day Some
of the Probable Candidates Before
the Primary Those Whose Terms
Expire.
Now that the dates for the pri
mary and election for the nomination
and election of town officers for the
ensuing year have been fixed by the
town commissioners, town politics will
grow warmer and warmer until the
verdict of the sovereign people is
known. Maybe. And. then again
maybe it will be an unexciting and
uneventful time. The chances are,
though, that it will be warm a plenty.
A mayor to serve a term of one
year, 3 commissioners for 2 years, 3
graded school trustees' for 2 years
and 3 members of the board of audit
j and finance for 1 year are to be elect
ed.
Mayor A. P. Caldwell, who is finish
ing his first term, is a candidate to
succeed himself. Opposing him in the
primary ,it is understood, will be
former Mayor A.'E. White and Mr.
Alf. H. McLeod. Which makes it
reasonably sure that there is plenty
of fun ahead for the primary. Friends
of each of these candidates will doubt
less pull off their coats and go to
work in earnest pretty oon, and a
lively time may be expected.
Members of the board of tovn com
missioners whose terms expire are
Messrs. M. W. Floyd, W. J. Prevatt
and D. D. French. Mr. Floyd has
been a member of the board for the
past seven years and has given the
town good service, but he says he's
through, that he will not serve again.
Mr, Prevatt has been a member of the
board for the past two or more years
and has also made a good commis
sioner. He is not a candidate for
re-election but says that he might
serve, under certain conditions, if
elected. Mr. French has been a mem
ber of the board something less "than
a term of two years, having been
elected by the board to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation of Mr. H.
B. Jennings. Mr. French has also giv
en the town good service, but he says
he is not a candidate for the office
again.
Messrs. W. I. Linkhaw, L. R.
Varser, J; P. Russell and Amos King
have been mentioned for commission
ers. Neither of these gentlemen is a
candidate for the office, but it is street
talk that their friends will ask them
to allow their names to go before the
primary. All are good men and would
make good commissioners.
The commissioners whose terms do
not expire are Jas. D. Proctor, D. P.
Walters and C. B Redmond
Ex-Judge T. A. McNeill and
Messrs. Frank Gough and W. S.
Britt compose the board of audit and
finance, the first-named being chair
man. It is a job these gentlemen are
not running after but they probably
will not run away if it is offered them
again.
The terms of Messrs. L. E. Wha
ley, W. S. Britt and L. H. Caldwell
expire as school commissioner. Having
had a taste of the honor these gentle
men will not be overly anxidus to
succeed themselves but might be pre
vailed upon to serve. And there are
others presumably who might be pre
vailed upon to serve. As with the
board of audit and finance, nothing
definite has developed as to this
board. The members who hold over
are Messrs. C. B. Townsend, chairman,
R. D Caldwell, Alf H. McLeod and
Q. T. Williams.
The situation at present is about as
outlined above. 'Things will shape
themselves with more definiteness in
a few days, perhaps .
Superior Court.
. As The Robesonian goes to press
the case of W. W. Carlyle et al vs. the
A. & R. Ry. Co. is on trial. Mr.
Carlyle is suing for the value of an
automobile wrecked by the railroad
company near Rennert a year and a
half ago. , The car was being driven
by Mr. Tom Pate of Lumberton and
in it were ex-Sheriff Geo. B. McLeod
and Mr. T. L. Johnson. It will be
recalled that Mr. McLeod was ser
iously injured and was confined in a
hospital in Fayetteville for some time.
The. following cases have been dis
posed of since court began Mon
day: McLeod vs. 6 Hope Mills Mfg.
Co., a verdict of $442.50 for plain
tiff. Divorce has been granted in the
cases of Sandy Locklear vs. Locklear,
J. E. McLaughlin vs. McLaughlin,
Richard Mathis vs. John Mathis, Ar
rie Thomas vs. J. B. Thomas. Judg
ments have been signed in J. S. Wil
lis et al vs.' O. I. Floyd et al; A. B.
Pearsal vs. A. C. L. Ry. Co. Sev
eral cases have been continued and
non-suit has been entered as to sev
eral others . ' --
For earache, toothache, pains,
burns, scalds, sore throat, try Dr.
Thomas' Eclectic Oilra splendid rem
edy, for emergencies."
TOWN PRIMARY AND ELECTION.
I
Primary to Be Held April 29 and Elec
tion May 5 for Town Officers May
or, 3 Commissioners, 3 Members of
Board of Audit and Finance and 3
Graded School Trustees to Be Elect
ed Primary and Election Officers
Other Town Affairs.
At the regular monthly meeting
Tuesday night of the town commis
sioners a primary was ordered to be
held on the last Tuesday in this
month, April 29, for the purpose of
nominating a mayor, 3 commission
ers, 3 members of the board of aud
it and finance .and 3 members of the
board of graded school trustees. If
a second primary is necessary it shall
be held two days later, on Thursday,
May 1. And the general election was
ordered to be held on th? fh-ct ?.Io..
day in May.
For the primary Mascrs. A. P. Mc
Allister, J. D. Nonnjnt, V. Lennon,
E . A . Thompson and Go . L . Thomp
son are appointed managers. It is
their duty to call and conduct the
primary according to the rules here
tofore made and existing at the last
general primary and election of the
town.
For the election, J. B. Bowen was
appointed registrar and James L.
Williamson, R. R. Carlyle and L. T.
Townsend were appointed judges.
The registrar was ordered to make
publication notices as required by
law. -
Elsewhere in this issue something
is said about whose terms expire and
probable candidates.
At this meeting of the commis
sioners other business was transacted
as follows:
Chief of Police Redfern was in
structed to proceed with all possible
haste to collect all taxes due the town
for the year 1912-13 and to make levy
when it appears to be necessary.
The mayor and clerk and treasurer
were authorized to execute the note
of the town in the sum of $617.90
to the Studebaker Corporation, South
Bend, Ind., payable November 15 next,
for street sprinkler, sweeper," etc. ,
A committee composed of Jas. D.
Proctor and R. E. Lee was appoint
ed for the purpose of investigating
and making settlement with Mr. W.
W. Whaley for numbering the houses
of the town and making chart of
same. Any citizen having any com
plaint to make of this work will con
fer with this committee.
Mr. W. J. Dubois was allowed a
rebate 'of $2.50 for privilege tax
paid.
Supreme Court Renders Decision in
Some Cases of Local Interest.
The State Supreme Court yesterday
rendered decisions in three cases of
local interest.
Virginia & Carolina Southern Rail
road vs. the Seaboard Air Line Rail
road, reversed. The right of the V. &
C. S. Co. to maintain a crossing al
ready established in Lumberton across
the Seaboard was involved. Judge
Peebles had decided against the V.
& C. S. The V. & C. S. was repre
sented before the Supreme Court by
its president and counsel, Mr. A. W.,
McLean of Lumberton.
J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co.
vs. McKay, no error. Mr. McKay,
who lives near Rowland, claimed that
the machine company had misrepre
sented a traction engine sold to him.
The lower court decided against the
machine company and the higher
court finds no error. Messrs . McLean,
Varser & McLean and Mclntyre, Law
rence & Proctor of Lumberton repre
sented Mr. McKay, Messrs. Dorman
Thompson and W. D. Turner of
Statesville representing the Case Ma
chine Co.
Barnes, administrator, vs. Railroad,
no error. A case in which the Coast
Line Railroad Co. was sued for dam
ages for death of Jno. Stafford, a
negro fireman killed near Pembroke.
The lower court held that no dam
age should be recovered, and the high
er court sustains this view. The rail
road was represented by Messrs. Mc
Lean, Varser & McLean of Lumber
ton, Mes'srs. McNeill & McNeill of
Lumberton representing the plain
tiff. Mr. R. M. Phillips Passes.
Mr. Robert M. Phillips, associate
editor of the Greensboro Daily News
and one of the best known and most
popular newspaper men in the State,
died last night at his home near Car
thage He had been sick hut a few
days and the news of his death
comes as a shock to friends all over
the State. Death was due to heart
failure superinduced by chronic gas
tritis. Deceased was 48 years old.
Mr. Phillips was reading clerk in the
Senate during the recent session ,of
theLegisIature. The funeral will
take place tomorrow at Carthage.
Itching piles provoke profanity, but
profanity won't remove them. Doan's
Ointment is recommended for itching,
bleeding or protruding piles. 50c at
any drug store.
WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD
A Street of Which the Superstitous
May Fight Shy Reportorial Li
cense More Appreciation.
Water street, on which Barfield Pre
vatt fatally shot Emory McNeill last
Saturday night, has a record that is
calculated to make the timid fight
shy of it at any time. It is a record
that on a dark night would make even
the brave "pass by on the other side,"
so to speak.
Mr. W. S. Wishart, who remembers
everything that has happened here
abouts in the last 50 years, and has
heard everything else that ever did
happen hereabout, says that 40 years
ago, when barrooms were pretty thick
in Lumberton, a drunken man, who
r.ad started out of town on a mule,
was killed on that street when his
mule ran beneath a tree and the
man's head struck a low-growing
limb. The .-man's head was broken
and he died almost instantly.
Some years ago Mr. Rory McNair,
a lawyer, walked into the river down
by the old wooden bridge, just off
Water street, and was drowned.
One Chas. Allen was drowned near
the old wooden bridge some years
ago.
Three or four years ago Police
man 1). W. Biggs, since deceased, shot
at a fleeing negro on that street. The
negro, an expert swimmer, jumped
into the river near the old bridge and
a few days later his body was found
just a little piece down the river. The
pistol .shot had not taken effect.
Two or three years ago Mr. Alex
Currie, who was then policeman, shot
and wounded a negro on that street
and the negro died the following day.
It seems that every time a man is
shot or hurt on that street his wounds
prove fatal and going into the river
from that street, at least between
Second and Fourth streets, seems cer
tain death. '
Thus the Lumberton correspondent
of the Wilmington Star in last Sun
day's paper:
"It is a genuine pleasure to us and
we know to thousands of others to
note the very great improvement in
The Robesonian since it changed from
hand to machine type setting. The pa
per is neat and clean as a pin and it
seems to us that the make-up is all
that one could desire. The business
men are showing their appreciation
of the dear old paper by taking all the
space they can get. This is right and
proper as the publishers deserve it.
There is one thing, though, which we
can't quite understand. Everybody
in this section knows good and well
that W. K. Bethune, the business
manager and local newsgatherer, is a
hustler, and yet when he is right on
the spot and a man is run over and
knocked his length on the ground, he
overlooks it. Last Monday morning
while Mr. Bethune was at the passen
ger station he saw a young man ex
ceeding the speed limit coming down
the hill on a bicycle. The rider was
75 or 100 yards away when Mr. Be
thune first noticed him coming, and
both he and. the rider seemed to be
charmed with each other, or some
thing like that At any rate the wheel
made directly for the newspaper man,
who was so charmed he couldnt' move
and as a result the wheel knocked
him down and went right on over
him without stopping'until Chief Red
fern took a hand. Mr. Bethune admit
ted next day that he was knocked
senseless in spots. Be that as it
may he still shows an inclination for
standing in preference to sitting, and
rather walk than ride. The Robeson
ian has been issued twice since that
accident and if it has been noted
we just overlookecTit."
The kind words are appreciated.
Maybe Mr. Bethune thought that it
was a time when a man v.as justified
in using reportorial license. If it is
true that he still has to eat off the
mantle he cannot be blamed much
for not sitting down to write about
the cause of his sudden preference
for standing.
The Robesonian man appreciates the
following, received this morning, very
much:
"Dear Sir: I want to endorse every
word that R. D. Caldwell said about
The Robesonian.
Yours truly,
J. D. CLARK."
St. Pauls, N. C, April 2, 1913.
A disastrous wreck occurred on
the Salisbury-Asheville division of the
Southern Railway Monday when a
west-bound freight train was turned
over about miles east of Hickory on
account of a broken rail. Conductor
E. - V. - Boyd of Asheville, Engineer
W. M. Eagle of Spencer and Fireman
A. L. Huddle of Asheville were kill
ed and a young man who was beat
ing a ride, givisg his name as Ray
Pope of Asheville,. had lZ Seriously
crushed and lacerated.
SPECIAL SALES DAY
April 25 will be a Time of Unusual In
terest in Lumberton.
Plans are under way for a special
sales day for Lumbertoi. Friday th
25th day of April is tne bay, and it
is expected to be a time of unusual
interest with regard to buying and
selling. Several of tha leading busi
ness concerns of the town have al
ready agreed to take a hand in the
effort to make the occasion one of
great interest to the public. For this
day quite a number of the leading
merchants will have on special sales,
offering sorli zt greatly reduced
prices. Tl-.e A. K. J. W. Company has
some valuable town property that will
be so'. J to the highest biddor oi. this
day, and in" general this is exfcctd to
be a day the like of which Lumberton
hus never before had. Musi: for
the occasion will be furnished by a
brass band and there will be other
attractions.
To keep posted with regard to what
the occasion is expected to bj it will
only be necessary to watch The
Robesonian.
Death of Mr. J. G. Boylin of Wades
boro Brother of Mr. H. C. Boylin
of Lumberton.
Mr. H. C Boylin received this morn
ing a message from Wadesboro to the
effect that his brother, Mr J. G. Boy
lin, editor and owner of the Wades
boro Messenger and Intelligencer, died
this morning at 4 o'clock at his horne
in Wadesboro. He had been sick for
some time with pneumonia. He was 50
years old and is survived by his wife
and several children. He is also
survived by two brothers and three
sisters.
Mr. H. C. Boylin spent Sunday and
Monday in Wadesboro with his broth
er, and when he, left Monday even
ing thought his condition was some
what improved. Mr. Boylin will leave
this afternoon for Wadesboro to at
tend the funeral which will be some
time tomorrow.
Drunk and Down on Street and Lock
ed Up, But No Case in Court.
A man who has his local habitation
near the town of Lumberton and who
has a reputation of occasionally im
bibing a little too freely of "the old
familiar juice," was in town Mon
day. Some time about the hour of
5 o'clock in the afternoon just across
the street from The Robesonian office,
to the rear of the City barber shop,
he lost all power of locomotion and
lay down upon the ground, or the
ground flew up and took him to bed
or something to that effect. About the
time of going to bed Policeman Roach
came along and gathered up the un
fortunate victim of mean liquor and,
with the aid of some bystanders, piled
him up in a one-horse wagon and car
ried him to the jail, where he had out
his drunken sleep. This man was on
the streets in town today, though not
drunk. Mayor Caldwell says that he
has had nothing doing in his court
but maybe the man won't get drunk
any more.
Serious Flood Situation Along the
Ohio.
Shawneetown, 111., April 2 (By
boat to Dekoven, Ky.) All that is left
tonight of Shawneetown is the sub
stantial brick and stone buildings be
hind the main levee, and they are con
sidered unsafe. There are less than
100 persons left in the former town of
3,000. They are in the second and
third stories of the main street build
ings, the structures on the highest
street in town. A strong wind ris
ing at 10 o'clock this morning, com
pleted the destruction begun by the
opening of the south levee yesterday.
The water within the levees was
up to the 57 foot level of the Ohio
river.
A break in the northern levee also
added to ther danger of the town nd
the main force of the Ohio striking
the north levee. The entire north and
east levees are submerged.
Paducah, Ky., April 2 The flood
situation here is growing worse hour
ly. At 7 o'clock tonight first floors
of every wholesale house and many
retail stores were flooded. The river
rose a foot and a half today, going to
a stage of 52.2 feet and the forecast is
for four feet more of water. Should
this occur only five blocks in the city
will be out of the water.
Notices of New Advertisements.
Rhode Island Red eggs for sale D.
E. and W. G. Nance.
Reward for return of strayed or sto
len Fox Terrier.
Free Trip to Fayetteville W. E.
Kindley Co.
Twenty customers wanted to take
quart of milk daily rWoodlawn Dai
ry. A niceTOttage for-ent Miss Jose
phine Breece.
Cobum's Minstrels April 5.
Raleigh adopted the commission
form of gqvernment in an election
held Tuesday.
BRIEF LOCAL NEWS ITEMS.
Middling cotton today, 12 centsr.
Mr. W. G. Pitman, superinten
dent of the water and light plant, is
having the water tank, near the jail,
repainted.
Mr. Dennis Biggs, manager of
the Lumberton Furniture Store, has.
just completed a nice office, ia the
rear of his store.
Mrs. W. L. Whitehead, of Pen
der county, is undergoing treatment
at the River-Side hospital. Water
street. She arrived Tuesday.
"Pandora's Box," a Vita graph
picture in which John Bunny and a
box of mice take prominent parts,
and "Into the Jungle," a dramatic pro
duction by Kalem, will be shown at
the pastime theatre this evening. Mr.
Bunny is one of Lumberton' favo
rites. A series of meetings was kegur
Sunday at the East Lumberton Bap
tist church and will probably continue
until Sunday. There are two service
each day, one in the afternoon at 2:30
o'clock and the other at 7:30 ia the:
evening. The meetings are being con
ducted by the pasto, Rev. W. R. Da
vis. Mr. H. II. Anderson, manager of
the Waverly hotel, has just fitted up
the front south-east corner room for
a parlor. On account of lack of rooms;
and crowded condition, the hotel for
quite a while has been without a par
lor. The room is s-mall but it has
beon nicely furnished and has be'en
repapered and painted. But this does
not mean any addition to the already
inadequate number of sleeping rooms.
Mrs. Lucy G. Elvington, of Fair
mont, has purchased from Prof. R.
E. Sentelle the two-story residence
on Elm street at present occupied by
Prof. Sentelle and family. The deal
was closed yesterday. Prof. Sentelle
purchased the house and lot from Mr.
A. W. Peace of Fayetteville. Prof.
Sentelle is to give the home up May
1st, and says , that he will probably
buy a lot and build a new home.
Mr. E. D. McNeill had work
started this morning on a brick bundl
ing to be erected on Fourth street
adjoining his livery stable building, in
which at present Beasley Brothers are
conducting a livery business. The new
building will be 20x40 feet, single
story. It is understood that it will be
used for a blacksmith shop. Mr. D. P.
Walters, contractor, is superintending,
work on the building.
Mr. WTH. Barnes, who lives on
the corner of Water and Fourth
streets, where Barfield Prevatt shot
Emory McNeill, Jr., ' last Saturday
night, McNeill falling with his head
against Mr. Barnes' fence, found this
morning one of the large bullets from
Prevatt's pistol. The bullet struck a
wire of the fence, bent the wire,
glanced to the house, then glanced off
into the yard, where it was found
by Mr. Barnes.
In the account in Monday's Robe
sonian of the shooting of Emory Mc
Neill last Saturday night it was stat
ed that it was perhaps 25 minutes be
fore any officer arrived on the scene.
That was an error due to misunder
standing of a remark made by Chief
of Police Redfern. Night Policeman
Lloyd Roach was one of the first to
reach McNeill after the shooting. But
the statement that no immediate pur
suit of Prevatt was made was correct.
Blind Tiger Cases From Fairmont.
Sheriff R. E. Lewis brought to jail
from Fairmont yesterday four ne
groes Wm Walker, Roy Ellis, Bud
Elison, Richard Haywood who are
charged with retailing and were un
able to give bonds in the sum of $100,
required in each case, and so must
await trial in the higher court in jail.
They were tried before Justice A. E.
Floyd Tuesday and at the same time
three other negroes Bill Lindsey,
Earl Willis and Jno. Eady and three
white men J. P. Brown, Wiley Tay
lor and H. H. Pitman were required
by Justice Floyd to give bonds in the
sum of $100 to appear at court to an
swer the charge of retailing.
'Among the Sick.
Mr. J. A. Rowland has been sick
for several days at his home, north
western part of town. His condition
today is not thought to be much im
proved. Mrs JJ A rGeen, who has been
sick at her home on the eastern edge
of town since returning Saturday
from Wilmington, where she spent
two days with her son Mr. Harry
reen,, is able to sit up today for
the first time.
Drive Sick Headaches Away.
Sick Headaches, sour gassy stom
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