| The RECORD, a
household word in j
| Chatham £o r 47
| years. j
ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER , 1878.
Pittsboro Real Estate $
Fast Rising in Value
Lots at Kay Sale Go Fast and at Good
Prices —A Great Auction Sale
Tomorrow, Friday.
The demand for Pittsboro real es
tate has proved gratifyingly good.
The sale of lots advertised by Mayor
\ C. Ray for last Monday went off
marvelously well, despite the in
clemency of the weather. Only a
fifth of the acreage was ‘sold, yet
the proceeds of the sale was over
55.000. Mr. Ray is much pleased
with the result.
Now comes, tomorrow, the sale
r,f 100 fine lots embracing the beau
tiful grove on the hill in the nor
thern part of town and right
on the paved highway. There
are really few prettier resi
dence sites in Chatham county to
compare in beauty and advantage of
location with these.
The Durham Auction Company has j
the sale in charge. They have graded j
the area, laid off broad streets, and
otherwise prepared the lots for sale.
They are going to feed the people,
too. Brunswick stew is to be pre
pared for two thousand and numer
ous cash prizes will be given.
Come to Pittsboro tomorrow and
get a real mess of appetizing Bruns
wick stew free, try for the prizes,
and buy you a lot in one of the best
resident towns in all the state. Re
member the new silk mill is near and
you can see the manufacture of
silk ribbon and can see in that mill
the beginning of industrial enter
prises here that will double the popu
lation in short order.
An investment at Pittsboro will,
we believe, pay better than 99 out of
a hundred in Florida; that is, for the
fellow that doesn’t find another suck
er to take his buy at an advance
while the Florida boom is on.
GRAND JURY’S REPORT
Follows the report of the grand
jury to Judge Devin last week:
To His Honor, Judge William A.
Devin, Judge Presiding.
We, the undersigned Grand Jury,
October term, 1925, Chatham County
Superior Court beg to report:
That we have passed upon and re
turned into open court all such in
dictments as have been submitted to
us:
That we have visited the offices of
Clerk of the Superior Court, the Reg
ister of Deeds, the Sheriff and the
Superintendent of Schools and find
the same and the records of each of
fice, neatly and accurately, as far as
we can ascertain, correctly kept.
We have by committee visited the
jail and find the same in good con
dition, but we would recommend that
a sink and two additional commodes
be installed therein:
We have by committee visited the
County Home and find the same in ex
cellent condition. We found there
eighteen inmates, nine white and nine
colored. They are all apparently well
cared for, and the equipment and
furnishings of the home are all that
could be desired. We found at* the
home two mules, three milch cows,
four dry cattle and twenty hogs. We
found there fifty barrels of corn and
a sufficiency of forage.
We congratulate the county on the
high state of efficiency that is main
tained at the county home and es
pecially commend Mr. John W. John
son, the Superintendent, and Mrs.
Johnson for the excellent service they
are rendering the county as managers
of this institution;
A committee visited the County
Convict Camp and found there eigh
teen prisoners, three white and fif
teen colored. The camp is clean and
sanitary, and the prisoners, ex
amined separate and apart from the
superintendent and guards, stated
that they were well cared for and
humanely treated. We found at this
camn eighteen mules, all in excellent
condition, and found an adequate a
mount of road equipment, all in
good condition. We examined the
food served the convicts and found
the same to be wholesome and plenti
ful. We desire to commend the
Superintendent, Mr. J. W. Harmon,
both for the satisfactory manner in
which he is treating his prisoners and
caring for the public property en
trusted to his care, and also for the
splendid progress that he has made
in road building and the upkeep of
the roads of the county.
We find the court house in a rather
unsatisfactory condition due largely to
fact that there is totally inade
quate vault room in both the office of
the "Register of Deeds and in the of
fice of the Clerk of the Superior
Court.
We recommend that the toilet in
bin' Grand Jury room be removed to
some other plare in the court house,
Brs - if this cannot be done, that it be
nbo;ished. as it. in our judgment, con
stitutes a nuisance, as it is now lo
cated.
We extend to the Presiding Judge
fj UT most sincere thanks for the cour
tosms aTl( i help that he has so freely
extended to us. . *
Respectfully submitted, *
C. N. BRAY, Foreman.
The Chatham Record
BURKE’S CONFESSION
Tells Mother That He and Stephens
Are Guilty—Sheriff Blair’s
Skilful Detective Work
Fon Burke has acknowledged that
he is guilty of the crime for which
a jury convicted him last week, a
long with the two Stephens and two
negroes, over the strongest kind of
alibi presented by his good mother
and his brother and brother’s wife.
Sheriff Blair escorted the mother to
the jail Saturday, after having told
Fon that he should tell his mother,
and Fon told her. “Mother, you
know I was home that Friday night,
but I did it.”
The first clause was,' doubtless,
meant to soften the effect of the con
fession upon his mother’s own con
science when she recalled that she
had sworn so positively that her son
was at home that night. There is
still little, any, doubt in the minds
of the people who know Mrs. Burke
or heard her testify that she was ut
terly sincere in her protestations that
! Fon was at home. The idea is that
Fon later fixed her mind upon the
Friday night in question as the one
on which she had ministered to him.
But however that may be, the Record
has checked up on the date as given
in the indictment and finds that it a
grees with that given by Mr. F. M.
Nash in a letter to the Record dated
August 3. Mr. Nash fixes the crime
as occurring Friday night, July 31,
and that was the night that Fon told
his mother that “she knew he was
home.” Accordingly, Wimberly’s
story of how Burke told how he had
fooled the folk at home by pretending
to go to bed suffering from appendi
citis is confirmed.
This confession probably nullifies
any attempt at an appeal, since a new
trial would result absolutely in the
conviction of the whole bunch and
might result in stouter sentences
than those handed out by Judge Dev
in.
Sheriff Blair’s Detective Work
Sheriff Blair is so quiet in his work,
so little prone to blow, that one
could not have guessed how busy he
and his men had been in ferreting out
the evidence in the case. In fact, he
himself on the stand led the Record
into an error last week that did him
an injustice. The omission of Will
Farris’s confession to him in the cell
before he brought Buck, led the Rec
ord, and possibly the jury, to conceive
that the confession of the negroes
was concocted while together. But
the sheriff had a reason for the omist
sion, since it involved what Mrs.
Burke would swear and she had not
yet been on the stand. Night after
night the Sheriff or some of his men
had watched at the Stephens home,
hoping to get a clue. Men were lis
tening not only in all quarters of the
county but in other counties and
states. Actually a conversation in
another state involving the negroes
came to the sheriff’s ears, and he
had much evidence to corroborate the
confessions of Buck and Will, and it
appeared one time, in the face of the
strong alibi and the prolonged de
liberations of the jury, that possibly
the state had made a mistake in not
strengthening its case with this
reserved corroborative evidence. Even
the disclosure of the negroes’ separate
confessions would have greatly
strengthened their testimony.
Burke Gives Case Away
Burke can blame himself alone for
his conviction. He told the story to
Vanius Wimberly in jail. That was
the first time suspicion had been turn
ed upon him as the perpetrator of the
crime. It was hard to conceive be
forehand that he had been guilty of
the dastardly crime against a citizen
living between thirty and forty mile?
distant from his home and with
whom he was supposedly not ac
quainted. Yet suspicion might have
fallen upon him at last, as it seems
the negroes were telling the story
confidentially and the news was get
ting to Sheriff Blair. But even be
fore his confession to his mother Sat
urday, his tongue had given him away.
The sheriff was listening for what he
might hear and was not disappointed.
After the conviction and the five were
in jail, Fon was heard by the Sheriff
to tell Buck that it would not have
got out if he (Buck) had done as he
told him.
The bunch went to the pen Saturday
afternoon under escort of Sheriff
Blair and deputies.
Hallowe’en Party A Success
The Mt. Pleasant Hallowe’en party
was a big success. A fund of $72 was
netted for the school and the church
piano. A cake was sold in voting
contest, bringing about S4O, and
might have brought more if time had
not been called. Miss Lou Pearl Mann
was the winner of the cake and the
decision by the voting method as the
prettiest girl present. Miss Novie
Hamlet ran her a close second.
Little Boy Seriously Burned
The seven-year old son of Mr. Tom
Carroll was seriously burned about
the legs Sunday. He was with his
father working about the automobile,
got gasoline on him, tvent into the
house to warm and caught on fire.
PITTSBORO, N. C., CHATHAM COUNTY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1925
1 County Fair Prize Winners
i Below appears a list of the prize
r winners in the various departments
i of the Chatham County Fair which
I was held at Siler City, October 13-16.
i This information was prepared for us
■ by the secretary-treasurer, Mrs. P. H.
Elkins, who states that the premium
checks representing these winners
will be mailed from her office this
[ week.
\ Note that in classes where there
- was no competition only second prize
[is awarded. Also exhibitors will
j please note that by order of the di
t rectors cash prizes will only.. be_jiaid
I for articles or animals listed in cata
l logue.
Horses and Mules—Single horse,
s 2nd E. E. White; Draft horse 2nd,
, S. D. Brewer; Mule colt 2nd, E. E.
White; Pair mules 2nd, J. O. Brown.
Cattle—Jerseys, Cow, Ist, and 2nd,
O. A. Clapp; Keiffer, Ist, O. A. Clapp,
[ 2nd Gaston Scott; Heiffer under 8
. year, 2nd, O. A. Clapp.
. Grades-—Cow, Ist, Gaston Scott;
2nd, H. W. Cheek.
’ Sheep—Ram, 2nd, O. A. Clapp;
; Ewe, 2 years and over; ewe 1 year
[ and under 2; ewe under 1 year, O. A.
1 Clapp won Ist and 2nd in all classes.
Hogs—Duroc-Jerseys, Boar, over 2
’ years* and boar between 6 and 12
' months and sow between 6 and 12
! months, R. M. Correll won 2nd; boar
[ under 6 months, sow over 1 year; sow
under 6 months and herd, Ist and
’ 2nd in all classes won by R. M. Cor
. rell.
Poland'-China —Boar between 6 and
’ 12 months; sow over 1 year and sow
; between 6 and 12 months, 2nd, O. A.
r Clapp in the three classes.
Hampshires—Boar over 2 years,
2nd, Lacy Short; boar under 2 years,
. 2nd, Gaston Scott; boar under 6
) months, Ist and 2nd, E. R. Smith;
. boar under 6 months, Ist, Lacy Short,
' 2nd. P. M. Elkins, sow over 1 year,
; Ist Lacy Short. 2nd P. H. Elkins; sow
" between 6 and 12 months, Ist and 2nd,
? S. D. Brewer: sow under 6 months,
j Ist Lacy Short, 2nd P. H. Elkins.
Dogs—Pointer dog, Ist and 2nd, J.
, A. Hargrove; 3rd, A. E. Cockman.
Pointer bitch. Ist Braxton Fd
» wards, 2nd, A. E. Cockman, 3rd, J. A.
5 Hergro.
’ Pointer pun, Ist L. J. Brooks, 2nd
and 3rd J. P. Estridge.
Setter dog. Ist J. A. Hargrove, 2nd
and 3rd A. E. Cockman.
Setter pups, Ist 2nd and 3rd Pat
j Morrow.
Hound dogs, Ist N. R. Voss, 2nd
‘ and 3rd. T. A. Hargrove.
? Hound hitch. Ist C. R. Edwards, 2nd
, T. A. Hargrove.
\ ' "
STOP, LOOK, LISTEN!
r ___
> Did you ever see the sign, “Stop,
Look, Listen!?” I have, and I have
heard of some who did not observe it
that got into trouble and sometimes
a sad misfortunte. Now we people,
both men, women and children, have
r God’s word as a guide and all church
i es have rules, and church discipline
l are all based upon the Bible. When
: we join these churches, standing be
l fore God and the church, we vow to
[ live according to these rules. Yet
i when fall of the year comes a lot of
! us begin to stay away from church
s for fear we will hear money, when if
! we would be as ready to pay our
church debts as we are any other
debt, we would not have to hear it,
and cause our preachers to be criti
cized for what they have to do for
there are elders over them; bishops
over the elders, and God over all, yet
; we do not fear Him who has power
i to cast into Hell both body and soul
> after death, Matt. 10:28.
s I will fore-warn you whom ye shall
sea 12-15.
Beagle dog, 2nd, E. R. Johnson.
Beagle bitch, Ist, E. R. Johnson,
2nd, S. E. Pike.
Hound pups, Ist C. R. Edwards, 2nd
W. A. Johnson, 3rd T. A. Hargrove.
Best dog in show, J. A. Hargrove.
Poultry—Barred Plymouth Rocks—
Cock, Ist, J. B. Whitley, 2nd, Mrs.
Jane Culberson. Hen, Ist, J. B. Whit
ley, 2nd, Mrs. Jane Culberson. Pul
lett, Ist and 2nd, J. B. Whitley, pen,
young, Ist, T. Ira White, 2nd, Ram
seur Poultry Farm.
Wkite Rocks —Hen and Pen of
Young, Ist and 2nd, L. G. Marley.
Wyandottes—Golden, Pen young,
Ist, B. E. Woody.
White, Pen young, Ist, G. W. Lin
nens.
Blue, Cockerel and Pullett, G. W.
Linnens, Ist and 2nd.
Javas —Pullett and pen young, Ist
Paul Blair.
Rhode Island Reds—Cock, hen and
cockerel, Ist and 2nd, Hugh York.
Pullett, Ist Mrs. J. M. Stout and
2nd, Hugh York.
Pen old, Ist, P. A. Lineberry.
Pen Young, Ist, Mrs. J. M. Stout;
2nd, Hugh York.
Rose Comb Pullett, Ist and 2nd, W.
H. Davis.
Light—Hen, Ccokerel, Pen-young
and Pen-old, Ist, D. E. Highfall.
Dark—Cockerel, Pullett and Pen
young, Ist, D. E. Highfall.
Leghorns—Dark brown, pullett, Ist,
Ramseur Poultry Farms.
White, Cock,lst, P. H. Nance. Hen
Ist, Mrs. J. M. Hackney. Cockerel,
Ist and 2nd, Mrs. J. M. Hackney.
Pullett, Ist and 2nd, Harvey Andrews.
Pen old Ist, Mrs. J. M. Hackney, 2nd,
J. M. Hackney, and pen young.
Buff—Pen young, Ist, Broardway
Adcock.
Minorcas —S. C. Black—Pen young,
Ist, Paul Blair. R. C. Black, Pen
young, Ist, Mrs. Loula Duncan. White
Cockerel, Ramseur Poultry Farm.
Anconas—S. C. Mottled, Cockerel
and pullet, Ist, Ramseur Poultry
Farm.
Orpingtons—S. C. Buff, Cock, Hen,
Pullet and . pen young, Ist and 2nd,
Curtis Teague.
S. C. White —Cockerel Ist, Mrs. J.
D.* Edwards. Pullet, Ist, and 2nd,
Mrs. K. L. Teague.
Cornish—White, Hen, Indian, Cock,
Hen. Pullet, and Cockerel, Ist and 2nd,
Ramseur Poifitvy Farm.
Bantams —Hen, end Pen
Young, Ist. Ramseur Poultry Farm.
Ducks —Pekin, Adult Drake, Duck,
Young drake and duck, pair young
and pair old, Ist, D. E. Highfill.
(Concluded next week)
But all of us fear to let a debt
at a store go unpaid for fear we can
n6t get what we want again. But
lots of us fail to pay our church debts
and many times some and some times
official members in the churches are
ready to find fault and cause by
talk perhaps, some not to be willing
to be willing to pay. Though we each
one shall some day stand before God
and give an account of ourselves.
What will be the answer. Well done,
thou faithful one, or Depart from me ?
For Pastor Lance I wish to say I
have never heard him talk wrong
fully of any one or engage himself in
smutty jokes in the home or else
where, and in the pulpit his message
is from the Bible and not about some
one on the earth. He has had a bad
throat trouble this year, which kent
him away some. In the last years
all preachers have extra help at
meeting time and all churches take
a free-will offering. I have never had
a dictator of any thing I write, more
than feelings I have caused by God
and things I see and hear.
H. F. DURHAM.
WOODYJO ROADS
Governor Declines to Commute Sen
tence to a Fine—George
Hudson Goes Too
Governor McLean has declined to
commute the sentence of J. A.
Woody to a fine and Mr. Woody has
begun serving his term, joining the
camp force on Hickory mountain Mon
day night. He spent the morning in
Siler City and came to Pittsboro in
the afternoon. He had gracefully ac
cepted the inevitable, as had Mr.-
George Hudson, who too had lost an
appeal for mercy.
It was at the May term of court
that Woody, charged with unlawful
possession of whiskey, submitted to
the charge and was sentenced to the
roads for three months, being al
lowed, however, to await September
15 to begin serving the sentence that
he might take care of his farm op
erations. This was no exception in
Woody’s case, as others, including a
negro or two, if the writer recollects
aright, were treated similarly.
Woody freely admitted having for
merly dealt in liquor, but has been,
and still is, positive in his assertions
that he has sold no whiskey in sev
eral years. However his neighbors,
including several ex-blockaders, were
positive that he was still dealing in
liquor or financing its making or sale.
Yet, pressed for evidence, they have
not been able to produce anything at
all definite, while one of the deputies
had to admit that he had sold Woody
liquor but Woody had never sold him
any. It was, apparently only a few
years ago, no unusual thing for a
citizen of the Hickory Mountain sec
tion to make and sell liquor, and
Woody and several of those most en
ergetic in opposing the commutation
were all alike dealing in the stuff ten
or twelve years ago. Yet a great
change came over the community.
Former makers became opposers of
the traffic. Woody himself professes
to have quit dealing in it, but did
not quit drinking it, and of course
to drink it he must keep in accord
with the dealers, if he Was not one
himself. This was his undoing, if he
had actually quit dealing in it, since
his profession would not carry at par
value with his neighbors. Woody has
gone to the roads not for what has
been proved upon him, but because
of his reputation as a slick dealer in
it in former years and the lack of
convincing evidence that he who could
get it on the sly was not still selling
it the same way. The burden of
proof was transferred to the accused
and the proof that one has not done
a thing, is almost an impossibility.
If he was innocent of selling, he
couldn’t for his life prove it. On the
other hand his prosecutors could not
prove that he has sold.
But the sentence was for unlawful
possession.
Either the Governor concluded that
the presumption that the whiskey was
for sale had not been removed or he
concluded that a road sentence is the
thing for possession of whiskey,
thing for the possession of whiskey,
whatever the reason for having it.
Anyway, J. A. Woody is on the roads.
Moncure News Letter
Dr. J. E. Cathell and daughter,
Miss Virginia, spent last week-end at
Greensboro with relatives.
Earl Glisson, the son of Mr. and
Mrs. M. H. Glisson of Haywood, was
run over by a car last Friday eve
ning near the school building where
the boys were playing ball.
Earl was at once brought to Dr.
Cathell’s office, but as he was not in
town, Dr. Chapin was phoned for and
examined the boy and bound up his
wounds. We are glad to state that
he was not seriously hurt.
The Hallowe’en entertainment
given at the school auditorium last
Friday evening was well attended.
The costumes for the students were
very appropriate and pretty. The
program contained musical selections,
both vocal and piano. Many songs
by the boys and girls, ghost story,
recitations, jokes and little dancing.
The proceeds for the evening a
mounted to $47.00.
We are requested to state that per
sons passing Moncure school build
ing beyond the legal rate of fifteen
miles per hour will here-after be ar
rested.
Messrs. William Womble, Glenn and
Jennings Womble, Evan Ray. James
B. Utley and Clarence and Sam
Crutchfield, who are at Elon College
this year, snent last week-end at
home with their parents.
Miss Amev Womble. the dauo , hte T *
of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Womble. is
teaching, this year, the third and
fourth grades at the Deen River
school which is about seven miles from
Moncure.
Mrs. C. J. Harmon snent last. Wed
with her Mrs. W.
W. Miss Lilb’e Hackee v
fpo dauf rV, +°r Mr. and Mrs. .T. -T.
Hackim” been clerking at the
Deen River Store for the past ter
davs.
Mrs. F. W. Tallev and children of
A<sboviHe are visiting- Mr.s. D. A.
C!a~k fion cor^o-I-irro.
L. E. Cole is now teaching at
Ashurv school. His daughter, Mr
Clarke is looking after his filling
i i
The Best
j Advertising Medium jj
j in Chatham County £
Court Closed With 7
Sent to Penitentiary
Seven Sent to Penitentiary—A Big
Bunch Will Help Build
Chatham Roads
Judge Devin has been much praised
for his push, his speed, and his poise
in the week’s steady grind on the im
mense docket confronting him at the
opening of the term.
There were several important cases.
Seven went to the penetentiary, the
Stephens, father and son, Fon Burke,
Will Farris, Buck DeGraffenreidt, all
in the Ragsland whipping case,
George Brooks for murder, and Rob
ert Marsh for larceny. Brooks was
carried to the pen about the middle of
the week. The sheriff and several
deputies took the others Saturday af
ternoon. The appeal of Burke and
Stephens went to smash on the con
fession of Burke.
Last week’s report covered the
cases tried up to Thursday and the
Burke case. Other cases not reported
follow.
Ollie Baldwin, colored, indicted for
rape of a colored girl, submitted to
a charge of simple assault upon a fe
male, and was sent to the roads for
two years.
Joe Henderson, Jack Henderson,
and Vance Crews, three white boys of
this community, plead guilty to lar
ceny. This is the case of the rob
bery of L, N, Womble’s store. Jack,
under sixteen, was referred to the
juvenile court. The others are sen
tenced to 2 years in jail to be paroled
at the end of sixty days on entering
upon a bond of S2OO each to appear
before the court at each criminal term
during the two year period.
The judgment against Tom Phillips
was stricken off the record on ac
count of age and disability of Phillips.
It was a fine imposed several terms
ago.
Sam Fox was acquitted of carrying
a concealed weapon.
Robert Marsh, for larceny, went to
penitentiary for 12 months.
Wes Cheek was let off with cost for
possession of liquor.
W. D. Diffee submits to his part in
the mix-up _o£. the Womble girl and
others in a fight near Moncure and
was let off with the costs.
D. D. Elkins paid SSO and costs for
driving an auto while drunk.
George and R. Ratliff pay cost in
liquor case and surrender interest in
automobile valued at $75.
Dock Williams pays S2O and costs
for assault in a fight with Lossie and
Ossie Pass. The two latter went
free.
Dean Crutchfield pays usual penalty
for driving auto while drunk—sso and
costs. D. D. Elkins does same.
Ollie Baldwin’s sentence was
changed from two to one year.
Harvey Stanley pays cost in liquor
case.
Eugene Dulin, for larceny, is hired
out to pay costs.
The case of Mrs. J. B. Hester
against her husband was compromised
by the agreement of the husband to
pay the wife S3OO yearly. Cruelty
and non-support was the charge.
Norman Murray submits to charge
of receiving stolen goods; goes to
roads for 12 months.
D. W. Thomas must pay costs, and
$25 to his wife, and sls a month to
her. Bqnd of S2OO required.
Ed Thomas, driving car drunk, pos
session, SSO and costs, 1 year on roads
unless he gives bond for SIOO appear
ance and good behavior.
Ernest Henderson has sentence re
duced from 18 months to 12 months.
Make Marsh, liquor charge, costs,
and bond for good behavior.
George Gray and Hurley Gray, li
; quor, George Gray, road for 2 years;
Hurly Gray, eight months.
; Arthur Glover, assault on female,
; two years on roads. Notice of ap
peal.
George Gray gives notice of appeal.
W. H. Burke, bondsman for Ike
Wood, was let off by payment sloo—
—for SSOO.
Several cars were ordered sold.
The sheriff was ordered to destroy
liquor held as evidence in cases tried.
Siler City’s Bargain Week
Siler City has on a Bargain week.
They failed to get their ad ready for
us last week, but are using a quarter
of a page this week. Make Friday
and Saturday their big days. Almost
every kind of goods can be bought
from one or the other of the firms
participating in the cooperative bar
gain week. Read the advertisement.
Durham to Mount Olive
Oscar W. Durham went to Mt. Ol
ive, Wayne County, Tuesday on busi
ness, returning home Saturday. He
and his family will move there to
farm very soon.
station while he is teaching, although
he is going and coming from home.
Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Skipper of
Asheville will spend the winter with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. V. H. Hil
liard.
Mr. W. Clay Farrell, the Rural Car
rier on Route one attended the Pine
hurst Fair last Wednesday and Mr.
J. Lee Harmon carried the mail for
him that day.
YOL. 48. NO. 7