ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 19,1878
Evidence Against
W. H. Lawrence To I
Go To Grand Jury
O
Today
CONTROL OF THE POWER
SOURCES.
FRANK B. WILLIS.
WAR AGAINST RATS.
AMERICAN FLYING.
By ARTHUR BRISBANE
Canada’s Government encourages
use of electric power, particularly ,
on farms and in small communities
Water power is developed fully to
generate the current, and all are as
sisted in its installation.
Farmers are taught to grind feed
with it, pump water and do their
other work.
And, by the way, United States
farmers are urgently invited by the
Canadian government to settle in
Canada.
Our attention is concentrated on
a different problem. We want to t
make sure that the right people get
possession of our power sources, the j
right people being those that control j
power and peddle it to the people. |
As to farmers and others that buy ;
and use power, our Government has j
not found time to think about them, j
I
Prophecy is usually dangerous. ■
particularly dangerous for farmers
when government prophecies go
wrong. The Government forecast on
potatoes last fall predicted a crop
greater than the real one. Many ,
farmers sold in a hurry at low prices, j
some were not marketed, many fed j
to stock. I
Then the shortage was seen, price ,
went up, a few wise people made the
money, NOT the farmers.
Tho sudden death of Senator
Willis, in his battle for Ohio’s Presi
dential delegates, ended tragically
one phase in the 1923 campaign.
Senator Willis would have pre- {
ferred to die fighting. Those that j
know Secretary Hoover know that
Senator Willis’ death will cause him
sincere grief.
A powerful man, never sparing
himself, Senator Willis forgot that
there are limits to the heart’s endur
ance. A tired heart often succumbs
in the most powerful man, weared by
constant strain. •
The daed man’s widow attributed
the Senator’s attack to the fumes of
smoky flares that he had been inhal
ing constantly, in the course of a ,
political parade.
A weak heart, fighting against
poisoned air, is in danger.
The League of Nations proposes
international war against rats, their
complete extermination.
Such a war, made to include mos-,
quitoes and flies, would be the best j
war in history. It would save every j
year in lives and money as much as
the big war cost in any year.
No more rats, no more bubonic
plague.
No more mosquitoes, no more yel
!cw fever or malaria.
No more tse-tse flies, no more
sleeping sickness.
No more house flies, no more filth
dragged over food of ycung chil
dren.
It would be interfering with
Nature’s plans, perhaps. Darwin
says a pair of tropical flies and their
maggot offspring can dispose of a
lion’s carcass in a few hours. Kill
all the lions and the flies would not
he needed to dispose of the carrion.
George Haldeman and Eddie Stin
son, Americana, broke th* world’s
endurance record in the air, flying
without stopping fifty-three and one
half hours.
The French Government offers a
million francs to any French flier
that will win back some flying rec
ords formerly held by French fliers.
A little encouragement from our
Government would make it impossi
ble for any nation to compete with.
The first flying machine was made
here. Lindbergh was born here. We
have the money and engineers. This
ought to be the flying nation.
This eo'mes from Italy: “Major
d p Bernardi has established a new
world’s air record, 318 3-4 miles an
hour.”
Will solemn naval gentlemen that
call flying machines “only an auxi
liary” be good enough to tell what
chance ships on the sur
face would have against a flock of
airplanes with that speed?
On the great mountain called
Nashan, in Manchuria, far up where
air is pur p and clear, Japan, as a
monument to the new Emperor, will
build the greatest astronomical ob
servatory in Asia.
That observator, with a sixty-inch
reflector and thirty-inch refracting
telescope, will be a much nobler
monument than any rearing horse of
bronze.
The Chatham Record
Durham Contractor!
Charged With Mur-!
der of Mrs. Terry in j
I Jail —Habeas Cor-;
pus Hearing Abor
tive. j
SOLICITOR SAYS HE HAS i
EVIDENCE ENOUGH TO j
SEND HIM TO CHAIR
Grand Jury Will Probably Sift
Evidence Here This Week—
A Battle Royal In Prospect, j
The habeas corpus hearing plan- j
ned by counsel of W. H. Lawrence!
before Justice Brogden of the su
preme court did not materialize Sat
urday, as Solicitor Williams had not
i been legally notified, and was not
! prepared or present for the hearing.
The hearing was postponed until the
coming Saturday, before which day
! the Chatham county grandjury will
probably act upon the charge against j
I the former Chatham county citizen j
who is accused of the murder of Mrs. '■
Annie Terry, at A vent’s Ferry on the j
Cape F ear, two or three weeks ago. \
Hardly had the Record of iast j
week left the press with its story ;
of the failure of the officers to land
th p man guilty of the crime when j
i the news came that W. H. Lawrence, j
| a prominent contractor of Durham j
| and a native of the Avent Bridge ;
| community, had been arrested on ;
the charge of murdering the Dur-1
ham woman. As our readers know, ■
the crime was an exceedingly das-1
tardly and heartless one, the woman
being struck upon the head and then j
thrown into the Cape Fear river at j
midnight while sh P pleaded for her!
life.
! The identification of the body tha\ ’
arose a week later as that of Mrs. '
Terry, of Durham, gave the first j
opportunity to get a track of the |
murderer. The clues seemed to lead ;
to a man driving a car of a certain |
description and bearing a South Ca-1
rolina license tag. One Haskins fin- ;
ally presented himself as the driver I
of a car of the description given,
and was probably the man in mind.
However, he thoroughly convinced
Sheriff Blair that he was not the j
guilty man, but came to Pittsboro j
and Durham with the sheriff and is j
assumed to have been instrumental
in directing to Lawrence, though no
authoritative statement to that ef
fect has been made by officials.
The arrest of Mr. Lawrence start
led his friends. As yet the solicitor i
has not revealed all the evidence j
against the man, but declares that j
, it is strong enough to send him to !
j the electric chair. The presence of j
I something like blood on thp uphol- i
storing- of his car, a pair of gloves, ’■
the color of the car, and the exact,
fit of the tire of the accused man’s I
car in the tracks left at the bridge |
and of Lawrence’s shoe in the man’s j
track at thg bridge, are the princi- j
pal points yet published, together j
with a knowm intimacy or friendship i
of the accused with Mrs. Terry. Law- i
rence proclaims his innocence, but j
unfortunately lacks the evidence for j
a -complete alibi. He is said to be I
able to prove hi s whereabouts till j
about eight o’clock of the evening
of the crime, when he says he went
home and went to bed. Hp lives with
a niece, who happened to be away j
from home that night, thus leaving I
him without corroborating evidence
of his being at home and in bed.
Much might be surnjised and writ
ten, but the foregoing is about all
that has been made public. The case
will probably be presented to the
grandjury this week, and if that
body brings an indictment, the hab
eas corpus hearing will probably fol
low. James H. Pou of Raleigh and
R. P. Reade of Durham have al
ready been retained by Mr. Lawrence
and wer« present at the abortive
hearing at Durham Saturday.
There is little question that the
defense will put up a strong fight,
and as the evidence so far is reveal
ed is wholly circumstantial, it will
be a difficult matter for the state
to convict. However, the public has
not been given the benefit of the
full amount of evidence in the hands
of the officials, and any opinion as
to the guilt or innocenc P of the ac
cused is worthless. The fact that
the bridge where the crime was com
mitted is so located as hardly to
havp been visited by any other than
one acquainted in that community is
one feature that will militate against
the defendant. It is not on a state
highway, but has been recently
erected at Avent’s Ferry, and is
reached from the Chatham side by
a road branching off from a county
road leading from highway 50 by
Brickhaven and on to Corinth. Thus
it is shown that the joy riders, if
such they started out, were off the
main lines of travel, and where no
stranger would likely have gone.
Lawrence has many friends and
PITTSBORO, N. C., CHATHAM COUNTY, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1928
I MISS WARD ENTERTAINS
THE PITTSBORO SENIORS
On 0 of the most beautiful and en
joyable parties of the spring season
| was given by Miss Julia Bynum Ward
iat her home between Bynum and
I Chapel Hill to the Pittsboro high
i school seniors and members of che
j faculty, Saturday evening, April 14.
From the time that Miss Ward re
! ceived her guest at the door, in her
| most pleasing and cordial manners
j she allowed no dull moment for any
! one, so well had she planned the
j fun making games and contests.
! Thp living room and dining room
* of the Ward home were beautifully
; decorated in flowers, candles, and pa
-1 per ribbon in yellow and white —the
j senior class colors. The place cards
! were rolls of white parchment with
thp menu in side tied with yellow
ribbon in the manner of diplomas.
These added a very clever touch to
the already beautiful table.
Miss Ward’s mother, assisted by
j Misses Grace and Jeannette Ward,
; served an elaborate two course menu
j consisting of: chicken salad, ham
| sandwiches, deviled eggs, pickles, ice
; cream, cake, coffee mints and nuts.
The members of the senior class,
the faculty members and invited
friends made about forty-five guests
who enjoyed the hospitality of Mr.
and Mrs. Ward and Miss Julia By
j num Ward.
B.&WJIAYBE
EXTENDED
Would Link Un Cotton Manu
facturing Industry On Deep
River In Randolph
(Asheboro Courier)
Will the Bonlee & Western rail
road he extended from Bennett to
i Coleridge, a distance of eight miles? j
It has been rumored for some time j
i past that this move was contemplat- j
od by officials of the road if a little j
financial help would be extended by i
interested parties at the two term
inals of that line. In fact, the di-;
rectors of the road in a recent meet
ing voted to extend the line. Before
! this is done, however, there are sev
eral matters which will have to be
straightened out. First, the Corpo
ration Commission must authorize
the building of the extension. There
[ is no opposition contemplated in this
quarter. Next come financial con
j siderations. There is nothing defi
i nite about the matter yet, but it
| may come to a head at any time.
The Bonlee & Western, extending
; from Bennett to Bonlee, a distance
| of approrimately 12 miles, taps the
Atlantic' & Yadkin at the latter ter
j minus. This furnishes connection
i with trunk lines of the Atlantic Coast
| Line. The road was chartered in
1908 and its construction begun. It
was operated by the original owners
up until some time in 1921 when it
i was taken over by Arthur Ross, of
I Asheboro, and M. H. Burkhead be
i came superintendent of operations.
Mr. Ross kept and operated the line
until June 30th, 1927, when he sold
it, largely to the persons from whom
h p first purchased the road.
This line, though only a short
j stretch of railway, does a good busi
| ness in the hauling of forest and
i agricultural products from Chatham
| and a part of Randolph county.
I Cross ties and lumber probably con
' stitute the bulk of freight handled
;by the road. Should it be extended
ito Coleridge it would tap th P cot
! ton manufacturing industry of Ran-
I dolph county. The Enterprise Man
i ufactu.ring Company’s yarn mill is
| located at this point. Coleridge
j freight now has to be hauled either
|to Bennett or Ramseur, the latter
I point getting th P bulk of the busi
j ness.
j RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT
The Grim Reaper, Death, ever a
broad in the land, taking one here,
one there, called from our midst,
lon March 30, 1928, Brother A. B.
' Jenkins, casting a pall of gloom and
sadness over our community.
By the death of Brother Jenkins,
Goldston Council No. 288, Jr. 0. U.
A. M. has sustained a loss; therefore
be it resolved:
First, that we bow in humble sub
mission to the Divinp Will, knowing
that He doeth all things well, and
realizing that “life is but a shadow
that fleeth and continueth not.”
Secoftd, that we extend to the
sorrowing family our deepest sym
pathy.
Third, that a copy of these reso
lutions bp spread on our records, a
copy he sent to the Chatham Record
and Baptist Gleaner for publication
and one to the bereaved family.
By order of the Council in session
March 31, 1928.
J. W. BURKE,
VAN E. ELLIS,
J. G. GOLDSTON, Com.
relatives in his native county, and
they hope that he will be able to
clear himself. The man is said to be
confident aiid unafraid, though he
does not like the publicity that has
fallen to his lot.
He is in jail at Durham. Any
sized bond, it is said, could have
been secured for his release, but a
bond is not allowable in a capital
case.
Since writing the above we are
authoritatively informed that Mr.
Lawrence will be able to present a
perfect alibi, and that a hundred
million dollars of Durham wealth
wa s ready to be offered as a bond
for him.
Conspiracy Case !
In Progress Here
Sixteen Men Arraigned On a
Charge of Conspiracy to
Steal Automobiles Three
Only Chatham Men,
FIVE THROW~" UP HANDS
Able Array of Attorneys Pres
ent to Defend Clients of
Three States
The great case of the state against
a dozen men or more from this state,
Virginia and Tennessee is being held
here. Only three Chatham men are
involved, but Pittsboro was chosen
as the seat of the trial, which is
based upon a conspiracy charge. The
case has been worked up by officials
of the State’s Automobile Theft Bu
reau, advised by Assistant Attorney
General Walter D. Slier, w'ho is as
sisting Solicitor Williams in the
prosecution.
The court room Monday was crow
ded with spectators, while the bar
was surging with defendants and at
torneys. Judge Lyon, the veteran
Bladen county jurist, is presiding,
with Miss Speight present a* steno
grapher to record th P mass of evi
dence and other matters that
go into the records.
The deck was cleared for the
beginning of the case at 2 p. m. on
Monday. A goodly batch of jurors
had been drawn for the session, but
quit P a number of talesmen had to
be called before the jury was com
pleted. It required, however, only
two hours to satisfy the various de
fendants. Comparatively few of the
challenges allowed th P host of de
fendants were used. The state ex
hausted only six of its 22 challenges
j and the defense less than a dozen of
j its -18.
; The jury as completed is eom
■' posed of the following citizens: Geo.
| Ouakenbush, S. S. Edwards, J. D.
! Baker, Frank Gattis, Thos. Thomp
son. J. Hoke Siler, Eddie Perry, Tur
ner C. Perry, W. H. Paschal, M. H.
Woody, Alex Cockman, L. T. Dark.
The three Presnells are represent
|ed by Moser and Burns, and A. I.
Feree, of Asheboro and A. C. Ray
of Pittsboro. Garland Daniels, of
High Point, represents Paul Payne.
Wade Barber and W. P. Horton, of
Pittsboro, represent Frank Scott and
Claude S. Jones. J. A. Spence of
Asheboro, and Mr. Barber represent
J. B. Powers, of Bennett. D. M.
Guinn, of Johnson City, Tenn., and
Mr. Barber are defending Daniel
Walton White, Ray and Upchurch
ar p looking after the interests of Ed
ward Barber. Long and Bell repre
sent J. Clifton Palmer.
Three of the defendants practical
ly threw up their hands and them
selves upon the mercy of the court.
Bob Greer pleaded guilty. Edward
Barber pleaded guilty to handling
cars, knowing them to be stolen.
Daniel Walton White of Johnston
City, Tenn., the notary who attested
papers at the end of th P line, sought
through his attorney, Wade Barber,
to have his charge abated here on
the ground that he was from Ten
nessee. Judge Lyon rules against
him, and he entered a plea of nolo
contendere.
The case against Bill Payne was
nol prosed by the Solicitor, as Pay
ne has just received a sentence of
ten years in Richmond county for
his part in robbing the Norman
Bank, which crime occurred since
the bank robberies at Elon and Ben
nett. He had also a term of eight
years to serve on an old charge, he
having escaped from the penitentiary
and the Solicitor evidently thought
he had enough, if they can hold him
in the penitentiary.
The case against Red Harcrow
was also nolprossed, ag he is to be
tried in Federal court on the same
charge. R. M. Gatlin, , recently ar
rested, was given until the May term
to prepare for trial. Colin Fox and
Eliza Cox are still at large.
Examination of witnesses began
Tuesday morning and as nearly a
hundred witnesses have been sum
moned, it will take till after thi3 pa
per is in circulation to complete their
examination. It is hoped that the
case may be completed by Friday,
upon wh!ch day the case against
Will Rainey for robbing the Ben
nett bank is set on the docket.
Rainey has been positively iden
tified by Mr. Purvis, cashier and
other gentlemen of Bennett.
The chief interest of Chathamites
in the case now on trial hinges on
the charges against Jones, Scott, and
Powers, who bought cars but who
bought them many believe, basing
their judgment upon the known
; character of the men, as innocently
! as they would have bought anybody’s
! second-hand Ford. A host of char
; acter witnesses will attest their good
i character, and a superfluity of char
i acter evidence will be at hand for
j Jones, especially.
I The star witness hitherto has
! been Albert Culler, who after being
severely wounded in a fight, con
fessed his nart in the conspiracy and
gave evidence that led to the charges
being tried in this court. But the
1 case has not advanced far enough
when the Record goes to press Tues
day night to much enlighten our
readers if fully reported.
Other Proceeding*
Before entering upon the conspi
! racy case Monday, the other and
| more easily disposed of jail cases
j were disposed of. Charlie Harris
pleaded guilty to charge of larceny
i and is to work six months for Tur-
o
(Please turn to page eight)
MORRIS-BRINSON
CASE IS SETTLED
(Randolph Tribune)
The case of E. G. Morris vs R. L.
Brinson for breach of contract in
regard to leasing a filling station in
the town of Pittsboro was compro
mised in court Friday, after the
plaintiff had introduced his evidence
and before the defense had put any
witness on the stand.
According to the terms of compro
mise Mr. Brinson pays the cost and
Mr. Morris receives $650 damages.
REV. J. H. EARNHARDT
X;
yXv/lvl'Xv^flßotv
Rev. J. H. Earnhardt, Presiding
Elder of the Winston-Salem District
who will deliver the commencement
sermon here Sunday, April 29.
SCHOOLCLOSING
IS NEAR AT HAND
Pittsboro School Commence
ment Approaching First
Feature Os The Senior Exer
cises.
Another school year is rapidly
drawing to a close and the Pittsboro
school folk are busy preparing for
the commencement events. The sen
iors will start the ball rolling to
morrow evening, Friday, with their
exercises, which promise to be of
real interest. The following Friday,
Frank Graham of the University at
Chapel Hill will deliver the com
mencement address. That night the
annual school play will be given. On
Sunday following Rev. J. H. Barn
hardt will preach the commencement
sermon. Os the latter features, how
ever, fuller announcement will be
made next week.
Senior Class Roll
The following comprise the senior
class this year:
C. C. HAMLET, Pres.
ESTELLE JOHNSON, Sec.
Riddle, Ralph
Raymon A vent, Dan Farrel, Lester
Farrell, William Griffin, Jacob Har
per, Frank Mann, Billie Norwood,
Ralph Riddle, Eugene Roberson, John
Stroud, Eugene Stroud, Ben Rose
Strout, Lazell Campbell, Julia Camp
bell, Corinne Carroll, Alic e Cope
land, Hayes Ferguson, Julia Gattis,
Ruth Hackney, Bonna Johnson, Er
ma Riggsbee, Elizabeth Mann, Le
nora Ward, Julia Bynum Ward, Ju
anita Webster.
Program for Senior Class Exercises
Butterflier (Gurlitt) Estelle Johnson
Songs Senior Class
Welcome C. C. Hamlet
Introduction ...... Erma Riggsbee
Our Seniors .... Primary Children
History Lester Farrell
General Average of the Class—
Ralph Riddle
Song Senior Class
Prophecy Eugene Stroud
Songs : Boys
Vespers Julia B. Ward
Songs Senior Class
Do not be deceived by the formal
appearance of the program. Almost
every number has a surprise for
you. Everyone is cordially invited
to come and hear the seniors.
MONCURE HIGH SCHOOL COM
MENCEMENT
Moncure high school will close its
present session April 24th. The
commencement exercises will begin
Sunday, April 22nd and continue
through Wednesday, April 25th.
On Sunday, April 22nd, at 11:15
a. m., Rev. P. E. Lindley, Dean of
Men, High Point college, High Point,
N. C., will preach the baccalaureate
sermon in the school auditorium.
Rev. Mr. Lindley is an outstanding
leader in his denomination and one
of the most popular members of the
High Point college faculty.
On Tuesday evening, the Junior
class will present a three-act play
entitled “Sue.” This is a play that
will be highly enjoyed and promises
to be well rendered.
Wednesday evening, Dr. Chas. E.
Brewer, president of Meredith col
lege, Raleigh, N. C., will deliver the
baccalaureate address. Mr. Brewer
is widely known throughout the
state and needs no introduction. In
addition to this address, the Senior
class will present their graduating
exercises. Diplomas, certificates
and prizes of award will be deliver
ed at this, the final program of the
i commencement exercises.
A woman’s idea of a good conver
sationalist is a man who can think
of something to say when she pauses
for a second regain her breath.
VOLUME 50, NUMBER 31.
CONGRESS SHOWS
WARES BUT PUT
EM AWAY AGAIN
Congress Sniffs At Flood Con
trol Program—Want Fed
eral Government to Pay All
The Bill—Vote Swapping is
Rumored.
50,000 VISITORS EASTER
By WILLIAM P. HELM,
Washington Correspondent of
Th p Record
Washington, April 17.—Congress
displayed its Spring samples to Pres
ident Coolidge last week and lost a
good customer. The President was
in the market for one boys’ size tax
reduction, one Model 80-20 flood
control bill, and one refined, self
sustaining farm relief law. On the
theory that it is no trouble to show
goods, Congress hauled down its
wares and Mr. Coolidge went away
muttering to himself. The deal, it
seems, is completely off.
So once again, congress and Mr.
Coolidge are as peaceful as a couple
of tomcats hung over a clothes line.
The fur flies freely and the welkin
echoes the music of the combatants.
There is this distinction, however;
that when the Presidential midriff
is marked by only that dignified
grunt of displeasure peculiar to
the Vermont hills.
1 The upshot of the whole business
is that the country stands a most
excellent ehanc p of obtaining neither
tax reduction nor farm relief, nor
yet flood control legislation at this
session. On all three of these press
ing measures there is a sure and cer
tain deadlock between the White
House and Capitol Hill. The next
! month will disclose whether the dead
! lock will be broken, for congress is
| getting ready to pack up and get
! away from Washington along- about
the middle of May.
On tax reduction, the deadlock
centers largely around the size of
the cut. The House has already vot
ed a reduction of $290,000,000. Last
week the Senate finance committee
o-ot around to the bill and was told
that the cut couldn’t safely surpass
$200,000,000. So the committee
promptly decided to cut out the auto
mobile tax cut, to abolish the inher
itance tax levy and to make less of
, a cut in the corporation rate. And
; J the House roared its disapproval,
i The flood control bill has gotten
: into one of th p worst tangles seen
here in recent years. Mr. Coolidge
■ is committed to the so-called Jadwin
plan, calling for the spending of
about $325,000,000 over a period of
years with the lower Valley States
bearing 20 per cent of the cost. Con
gress has sniffed at the program and
bigger and better flood control mea
sure, with lots of pork and trimming.
To bolster up the pork end of the
program, congress ha s generously
come out for the idea that the fed
eral government should pay the
whole cost.
That idea may be wholly sincere
on the part of congress, and then
again it may be a blanket for the
pork. It is designed, of course, to.
win support among affected states
for the congressional program and
to get the idea into the people of
those states that Mr. Coolidge isn’t
such great shakes at flood-controll
ing. But that really isn’t the nub
bin of the thing, at all. The real
heart of the congressional program
lies in taking away all control of
the work from the Army Engineers
who have so long carried it on, and
placing it in a mixed commission
that wouldn’t be responsible to the
President or anybody else but con
gress.
Ever since that idea was broached
the Army Engineers have been shoot
ing at it. General Jadwin has stud
ied it, and has told committees and
probably the President himself that
instead of spending $325,000,000
congress would spend maybe 1,500,-
000,000 and maybe $2,000,000,000
before it got through. As the Gen
eral sees it three fourths of any
such sums or more, would be a use
less drain on the treasury.
The President, backing this view,
is prepared to veto any such bill.
Those who say he won’t certainly do
not know Grace Coolidge’s husband.
That brings us to farm relief,
which we discussed last week. The
situation has progressed nicely. It
has reached the point where the bill
is dead, so far as getting the Presi
dent’s approval is concerned. He
has not said so in those words, but
he has indicated that he would not
choose to sign it. It is too red-head
ed, freckle-faced, ornery and useless
as he sees it, to do chores at election
time.
Over in the House, however, and
probably in the Senate, too, the air
is filled with rumors of veto-swap
ping. Boulder dam, Muscle Shoals,
farm relief, and flood control fig
ure in those rumors. Blocks of votes
for one in exchange for blocks of
votes for the other are in prospect,
according to whispers over the grap
vine circuit. The corridors in House
and Senate echo the whisperings.
Another naughty little thing that
congress is fixing to do, as Mr. Coo
lidge looks at it, is to arrange for
$250,000,000 from the federal trea
sury as a sort of subsidy for those
who would go down to the sea and
build an American merchant mar
ine. And as if that weren’t enough
to make a nervous President even
1 1 o
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