North Carolina Newspapers

A Paper with a Prestige c f a Half Century. A County, Not a Com munity Paper vv I A HUSHED SEPTEMBER 19, 1878. SEVEN NEGROES IN JAIL FOR ASSAULT, ROBBERY The Sheriff Lands All Seven of the Assailants of Lonnie Knight; Traced by Flat Tires to Durham; Two Native Chathamites in Bunch Supposedly, all seven of the negroes connected with'the , ami robbery of Mr. Lonnie Knight, an aged bachelor northeast of Pittsboro, have been arrested and are in P . i> this is written Tuesday. A preliminary trial is set for V,'; l iesday. Below is a full account of the robbery, written boc:c the arrests, and it will be noted that it was stated developments might take place at any time. They have t:ik 11 place. A ear of seven negro men< poking the same road back an forth the same day would rally be noticed by num j\. -of people. And when it aed that the car part of the way was running on one ran and on a flat tire, it may be supposed that the recollec tion of its passing would be much more definite. That was v.hit gave the fellows away. People along the highway, cleat* to Durham, had noted the car’s returning as describ ed. Moreover, it was not al together impossible to track it. as the rim and the flat tire made distinct impressions in many places. It was tracked to a garage in Durham. It was found to belong to Roy Lee, a native of Chatham and therefore acquainted with the country and Mr. Knight. He had “turned it in,” being unable to pay dues on it and having made a water-haul of the attempt against Mr. Knight’s fortune. Lee's wife, it appears, helped give a list of the men with Lee; and Kx at: are were rounded up, namely, Lonr.e Bell Lambeth, another Chat ham county negro, but a resident of Durham, Leo Huggins, Ransom Durrani. Leßoy Monk, Henry Myers, and Emanuel Super. Sheriff Blair and his officers sough: the assailants of Mr. Knight persistently and had had little rest since -ire robbery. As usual, they made fine job of it, sustaining the repute: n won in former difficult Be •>- is the account of the crime as written and in type before the arrest: ACCOUNT OF THE CRIME A bunch of seven negroes, got fooled :n counting upon the sup-* posed simplicity of Mr. Lonnie Knight, an old bachelor who lives alone in one of the loneliest sec tion.' of Chatham county, though it is only a few miles from Pittsboro and a shorter distance from Bynum. Mr. Knight has been generally ac counted as having saved practically ail the money he has ever made, and the idea has more or less gen era.iy prevailed that he, like some other miserly folk, had it about his pei*;on or residence. But it was not h*ue. He banks his money, and well h was that he has done so. At the time of the attack of five negroes upon him. he had only sixteen dol lars in his pockets, but had bank deposit slips for $4,000. With these " e was able to convince his assail f|*ts that he could not lead them to "I* cache, and, accordingly, their c*vef care was to stop pursuit as , sn g as possible. They, therefore, 01 jad him with a cow chain, and Jfy him in the house under threat at Jhey would come back and burn house that night. But he fooled them again. He a »aged to free himself from the onds, and went to his brother t , amp ’ s . Bynum and reported o, e du with the consequence that i. a very blood hound ho j Was so °n active. Blood- Junds were secured , from . Ashe . r o. and that night a crowd went f p , ;P°L The dogs ' struck a once « hut some of the in front of the dogs,' or A°n of some •■■of the df low would .have been k' were discovered in t • patch, which ‘ indicated running, and 'it is . ' lis was the man who r • e back that night. only resident of ! s >n. era’ “ is ' oes were seen by sev al ove Bynum coming Se : . car - They stopped at the V '" l ’ s filling station near juniy line, and he saw Wete ' k returned, but there x m en in it then. The ; * at Ihrie Small’s, ess in which Mr. uire the way, and r aen. w°nian counted seven "‘ e ial er Ihrie saw the ine Chatham Record 3- car as it was leaving the community for the Pittsboro-Chapel Hill high way, and counted only six in it. Accordingly, it is evident that one lurked n the community, or was a resident of the section and sepa rated himself from the bunch of strangers. The community was once well set tled and prosperous, but is now isolated, without roads, or with a criss-cross of cart tracks, so that a stranger could hardly find his way, indicating that there must have been a pilot who knew the country and knew' Mr. Knight’s reputation for having money. Yet neither Small nor his wife recognized any of them. Mr. Knight has only one eye and the other is said not to be very good. He recognized none of his assailants, though he thinks he might be able to identify some of them if he could see them. He had not been spending the nights at home for several days, as he had evidence that some one had been about the place one night recently. It was Friday afternoon, in broad, open daylight, that he approached his home. The bunch of negroes came out of the bushes upon him. In the course of events, he got a blow upon his face, endangering his good eye, but was not so seriously injured that he could not make his w’ay to the home of his brother after effecting his release. The sheriff is not telling all he knows, and those who may know any of the party of seven and fail to give the information may soon find themselves involved in the trou j ble. The colored folk of Chatham county should know that the sheriff usually gets his man, and if it turns out that some one has denied know ing any of them and when the right men are caught it is shown that he did know one or more, it would likely go hard with the liar. The sheriff has w r arned these folk to that effect. Two have been held as witnesses, the sheriff suspecting that they have not told all they know'. The bank deposit slips were later found near the place where assault occurred. This is written Monday and developments may occur at any time. ® MAYOR WILSON PROTESTS HEARING WIGGINS CASE - Mayor George E. Wilson of Char lotte has protested to Governor Gardner against removal of the case against the five men charged with killing Ella May Wiggins to Char lotte. Mr. Wilson says that Char lotte got lots of unfavorable pub licity by having the Aderholt mur der case tried there and he does not want a repetition of that. The gov ernor replied that the matter of locating the trial was entirely up to Judge Clements, who last week ordered it moved to Mecklenburg from Gaston upon motion of At torney General Dennis G. Brummitt. Solicitor Carpenter refused to join in the motion for removal, and the defense also opposed it. But Mr. Brummitt acting for the state asked for removal and secured it. HENDERSON SAYS HE’LL TALK NICE Radio fans have been right much interested in the campaign being conducted by K. W. Henderson over station KWKH, Shreveport, La., against the chain stores. Members of congress have taken cognizance of Henderson’s' line of talk and the radio, commission' has also warn ed him against the use of profane and vulgar language. ,A few days ago Mr. Henderson wired the radio commission that he had never used curse’ words as the- dictionary de fined them,, but that out of respect for the w'ishes of some of his audi ence he would here-after refrain from the use of such words as ‘ nell and “damn.” TARIFF LEAGUE SPENT ' $40,000 IN CAMPAIGN The American Tariff League spent $40,000 during the 1928 campaign to assist in electing candidates pledged i*. a high tariff, according to recent disclosures at Washington. Senator Walsh thinks this a viola tion of the corrupt practices act and has asked for an investigation. PITTSBORO, N. C., CHATHAM COUNTY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1930 The above cut shows graphically how J. Wilson Alexander of Cornelius, Mecklenburg County, won the State championship in growing cotton for 1929. Mr. Alexander produced nearly IIV2 five-hundred pound bales of lint cotton on five acres of land. The work was done in cooperation with D. W. Easom, agricultural teacher at Cornelius high school, and Kope Elias, county agent of Mecklenburg County. WEEKS MOTOR CO. HERE BANKRUPT Liabilities. Listed at $22,724.25 and Assets as $19,563.96 Petition in Voluntary Bank ruptcy Filed Friday The Weeks Motor Company of Pittsboro is seeking voluntary bank ruptcy. A petition was filed in Greensboro last Friday, in which the liabilities were listed at $22,- 724.25 and the assets at $19,563.96. Os the liabilities $17,302.67 is un secured, and of the assets $15,000 represents insurance. The doors have been closed since Friday night. The failure is undoubtedly due to the unprecedented series of poor crops in Chatham county. Before buying the business here, Mr. J. C. Weeks, who, with his father before him, was a friend of the editor of . the Chatham Record, consulted this writer upon the advisability of buy ing the business. The writer told him that the time was unauspicious, as the county had had several bad crops and the financal condition was unpromising, but when times became ' normal the location would be a profitable one. It seemed reasonable at that time to expect a better crop year soon, but instead of a better one the crops have got poorer and poorer each year since he bought the business. Moreover, immediate ly after he had bought the business, Ford changed his model and for a year the Weeks Motor Company, as other Ford agencies, was seriously , injured by its inability to get any | cars. The consequence was that 1 when the new Fords and the Chev rolet and other low-priced cars, did come upon the market, there were . so *many old ones ready for the boneyard that many new cars were bought. The improved roads and-'the greater staunchness of the new cars have brought a great slump in re pair work, and has cut off the in come of practically all garages. Ac cordingly, his friends knew that he was having a hard time to pull through through, as everybody else is having during these times cursed with a series of crop failures and Hoover prosperity at the same time. But no one seemed to be expecting the business to fail, since all of us have got to expecting to see the people save themselves by the skin of their teeth. Accordingly, the clos ing of the doors was a great sur prise and shock to the people, and much sympathy is felt for Mr. Weeks and for the employees of the , company, who are thrown out of ’ jobs. At this writing there is no inti -1 mation as to whether the business ‘ will be reopened under other aus pices, but it will be a bold man that undertakes the task at this period, and few there, doubtless, are who would cry if the heartless Ford could find successors to the numerous firms breaking in the handling of his cars. Mr. Weeks is a good business man and if anybody could have suc ceeded undes the circumstances, we i believe he could have done so. His ’ j'integrity is beyond question, and the J experience is bound to be a bitter one for him. His brother A. D. Weeks, now located in Florida, is understood to have been associated with Mr. J. C. TWeeks in financing the company. 2 FOR LIEUT. GOVERNOR The town of Marion is a little 1 forehanded in the matter of efindi ■ dates for lieutenant governor. Al ; though the primary is over two . years off that one town has two ■ candidates in the field —W. F. Wood [ and D. F. Giles, both former state senators. AUTO EXPENSES TO LOWER INCOME TAX Several Items May Be Deduct ed From Total Duce U. S.; - Motor Club Gives List North Carolina car owners who file federal income tax returns may deduct several items growing out of ownership and operation of auto mobiles, according to a schedule ap pearing in the current issue of The Carolina Motorist, official publiea- i . tion »f the Carolina Motor Club. In this State the gasoline tax is ( levied as a consumer’s tax and under | the federal rulings the total sum j paid as gas tax may be deducted, ; as well as all registration fees, driv- j er’s licenses, State personal prop-’ erty taxes and municipal taxes, it is pointed out by C. W. Roberts, gen eral manager of the club. The schedule, showing items which may be deducted, follows: All sums paid during the calendar year as registration fees, drivers’ licenses, state personal property taxes and municipal taxes. Total sum paid as gasoline tax where it is a consumer’s tax under the law but not where it is a dis tributor’s tax. Interest on money borrowed for the purchase of an automobile used for either business or pleasure. All operating and maintenance ex penses, including depreciation (usu ally figured at 20 per cent per annum) on automobiles used wholly for business; or a pro rata share of such expenses representing busi ness use where a passenger car is used chiefly (more than 50 per cent) for business. Automobile insurance on auto mobiles used for business purposes. Uncompensated losses sustained by reason of damage to any automo bile used for either pleasure or business. Damage paid for injuries to per sons or destruction of property, pro vided the automobile at the time of the accident was being used for business. Amount of finance charges on au tomobile purchased which covers interest and risk on the loan, but not the amount covering the prem ium on insurance to protect the fi nance company’s interest. Loss sustained where an automo bile used for business purposes is traded in for a new car. The following important items of expense may not be deducted: The amount paid for an automo bile used for either business or pleasure (this being a capital ex penditure and subject to claim for depreciation where the automobile is used for business purposes.) Loss sustained where an antomo bile used for pleasure is traded in or a new car. ——— s>• WINBORNE NAMED fO CORPORATION COMM. I. M. Bailey has resigned as cor poration commissioner to assume his old job as attorney for the com mission and Governor Gardner has appointed Stanley Winborne of Wind sor in his place. Mr. Bailey formerly drew SSOOO as attorney for the commission. Then he was offered the place as commissioner at the same salary, plus SI,OOO for ser vices as securities commissioner, and he accepted. The corporation commission later fixed the salary of the attorney at $7,500 and Mr. Bailey resigned as commissioner to take his old job back. Mr. Winborne, the new commiss ioner, is well known and popular throughout eastern North Carolina and is said to be admirably equip ped by ability and training for the - duties of his new post. COURT ADJOURNED LAST WEDNESDAY Road Sentences of Sugar Steal ers Changed to Penitentiary Terms—Many Other Cases Tried The following cases were disposed of in superior court last week: Judgment absolute on Coble Lane’s bond was rendered. Case against W. iC. Booth was dropped. Execution !on bond of Paul Adams ordered. I Judgment absolute on bond of Will ! Brays; also judgment absolute on I bond of Henry McLeod; also of ! George Cheek. Judgment absolute jon bond of John Pennington, and case continued. Judgment absolute on bond of Jim Cotten. Capias for M. A. Phillips, who failed to answer when called. Odessia Crutchfield sued for di vorce but the divorce was granted to her husband Gaston Crutchfield,. as it seemed the wife was the sinner. R. F. Horne case continued. Case against Joseph Burnett remanded to county court. The sentences of the sugar steal ers were reported last week. But the road sentences were changed to penitentiary sentences when the sheriff reported that he could not place the nine negroes on the roads of any county, and that Chatham does not have a chain gang. The revised sentences were as follows: Loyd Moore 12 to 15 months in State Prison; Horton Taylor, ditto; Dan Williams, the same; Sandy Rog ers the same; Loyd Moore the same; Clyde Yarboro, 4 to 6 months; Claude Williams two to three years; Floyd Harris, two to three years; Henry Alston two and a half to three years; Jackson Alston, the same. Colon Moore, convicted of reck less driving as reported last week, had judgment suspended to October terms on condition that he pay $25 for the benefit of Misses Sadie and Daisie Oldham, and $75 to Lonnie Oldham, owner of the wrecked car, also the costs of the action in the case. Thus it costs young Dollar, altogether, S3OO for stopping at a side-road with one wheel on the pavement about eight inches. Garrett Marsh, liquor charge, four months on roads, but capias not to issue except at order of solicitor— practically not at all if he behaves. But Marsh ifiust pay costs. Capias for Ralph Slade, who fail ed to answer; also for Charlie John son; also for F. N. Miller. .Continuances of cases against Lemuel Farrar and A. A. Thacker. W. B. Merritt acquitted of un lawful moving of crop, but Truby Horton guilty. The latter to pay costs. Judgment continued till May term. Case against Eddie Goldston con tinued. The grand jury made an interest ing report, having found everything in good shape and “the county’s money judicously expended.” There are about 30 in the county home, with meat aplenty and 150 barrels of corn on hand. The grand jury again recommended certain installa tion in the jail and presses the com missioners to heed the recommenda tion. Court adjourned Wednesday eve ning. The docket has been greatly re duced by the county court. 2 <£- " Reports of Secretary Davis indi cate that employment conditions are better in all major industries. Steel, iron and automobile industries are especially good, it is said. This is the first improvement shown since the stock market crash last fall. Subscribers at Every Postoffice and All R. F. D. Routes in Great County cf Chatham. VOLUME 52, NUMBER 19 COUNTY TEACHERS HAVEJjOOD meet Last Friday a Red Letter Day for the Chatham County Teachers Dr. McKee Speaks—Also Others The meeting of the Chatham County Teachers Association, at Pittsboro last Friday, January 17, was most satisfactory and instruc.- tive. The visiting teachers, of the coun ty, ow r e much to the Pittsboro teach ers for their kind hospitality and helpful instructions which made the morning session a success. At 8:45 the bell sounded and the work of the day began; the Pittsboro teach ers doing their scheduled class room work while the visiting teachers eag erly looked on ready to grasp new ideas methods. Principal Wa ters, the faculty members, and the entire student body showed that fine spirit of co-operation which is es sential in a good school. There are over six hundred students in the school, but under the splendid man agement of Mr. Waters, everything moves along in a creditable way. There was no evidence of military discipline or dogmatism, but “thngs went rght.” The “Teacher Training Girls,” under the supervision of Mrs. R. P. Horton, contributed much to the pleasure of the visitors by directing them to the various class rooms and ■ introducing them to the grade teach ers. After the morning observations, a ; delightful lunch was served by mem bers of the P. T. A. The students having been dismiss ed at noon the afternoon session was given over to an assembly meet ing, which was well filled with talks, criticisms and lectures. Mr. Waters, president of the Chatham County Unit of North Carolina Teachers Association, presided. Rev. R. G. Shannonhouse led the devotion serv ices. His reading, a paraphrase on the thirteenth chapter of first Co rinthians, was from a school reader printed early in the nineteenth cen tury. “The Necessity of Ability to Express One’s Self Well” was em phasized by Mr. Shanno»nhouse and the prerequisite for this accomplish ment is a choice of good reading. The mission of the preacher, and the teachers alike, in that both are • trying *to save people, said Mr. Shannonhouse. The spiritual and mental forces working properly in the child, is es sential, but more is necessary, name ly a strong physical body. Dr. Chap in discussed this field of work for us, and gave out helpful leaflets on contagious diseases. Following Dr. Chapin’s speech, Principal Self from Moncure, and Principal Veasy from Goldston gave very good constructive criticisms of the work observed in the morning session. High commendation was paid the Pittsboro teachers by each of these speakers. Superintendent Thompson, who believes in professional growth, nev er lets a meeting lack for good speakers, and at this time Dr. Mc- Kee, of the University of North Carolina, was introduced. “The Pos sibilities of the Teacher” were dis cussed and brought out very vividly by Dr. McKee. “A successful teach er,” said the speaker, “must have four determinations.” First, a de termination to grow professionally, intellectually and culturally; Sec ond, a determination to keep out of ruts; Third, a determination to dis cover the potential possibilities wrapped up in the child; Fourth, at determination to grow in the teaeh*- ing -profession. Every topic was fully outlined and explained, and if his message was not an inspirator to the listener, it came as a warr ing. Our superintendent, who wanted 7 to give us the benefit of a whole' day, introduced a second visritingr speaker, Superintendent Lee Thomar from Moore cox*ity. Mr. Thomas stressed the necessity of unity and co-operation between parents and teachers for the welfare of the schools. His talk was very instruc tive. Last, but by no means least, on the program was Superintendent Thompson, who gave very encourag ing remarks and facts, about the schools of Chatham. There is a gradual increase in the rising stand ard .of the teachers’ certificates of the county over last year; more children are being transported to schools, and an eight-month school term is provided for a vast number of the children who did not have that advantage last year,” said Su perintendent Thompson. That the day was well spent, is the sentiment of the Chatham Coun ty teachers, and it is to Superin tendent Thompson that we owe our thanks and appreciation for this splendid opportunity. Mr. Thomp son is like that, he believes in doing things to bulid up the educatona! system of the county to enable ev ery child of the county to have equal opportunity. A VISITING TEACHER.