S';,
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VOL, xxxm. No. 26
P.blM.«l Md Thun«iw8. NOWH WILMIMORO. N. C THUBSPAY, HAIt. 11, 1940 tl.to te'ifeWATE-IZ.OO OOTOFTHEai*#,;
Armistice Ends
nan Invasion
Of Finnidi Nation
'Hootflitie* Ceued Taesday
Moraine; Finland Offi-
ciaU Cnuid«r Troaty
RUSSIA ASKS TERRITCMIY
Little Nation Unable To Lon-
fer Withstand Russian
Onslanght Unassisted
Helsinki, Finland (Wednesday)
—Giant Rnssia and little Finland
formally ended their -unequal
3%-month war today and Foreign
Minister V. A. Tanner in a poign
ant radio speech to the mourning
nation said that Finland had had
no choice.
The end came here at the
World War armistice hour at 11
a. m. The smoking guns of the
Mannerhelm line ceased fire, and
the ski patrols In the far north
were called in.
“All war-like operations ceased
at 11 a. m. Finnish time,” sa.d
the official announcement.
This was the hour set in the
treaty signed at Moscow at 2:30
a. ra. Moscow time—noon Moscow
time or 4 a. m. e.s.t.
It was announced also to the
Finnish people that the treaty,
which put Russia hack to the
frontiers of Peter the Great's
(Continued on page eight)
Byrd On
In Court Today
Defendant Sp^ids Several Hours Testif3nng
In Own Behalf; Evidence By G-Men
Features Statens Evidence
BYRD STEADFASTLY DENIES GUILT
Shotgun With Scara, Tiny Paper Fibre*, Color Photo
graph* Ste«J Slug*, Shotgun Shell* aiiid Several Ooth-
er Article* Introduced A* Evidence In Trial
Relief Needed For
Victims Of Russia-
Fw wakes;
More Centributor*
A. S. Cassel, Wilkes county
chairman of the Finnish Relief
drive, said today that contribu
tions have been coming in more
rapidly during the past few days.
Although hostilities in the F'.n-
nlsh-Russian war have ceased,
Mr. Cassel urged that Wilkes
people continue making contri.bu-
tions for Finnish Relief ibecause
the people of Finland are in dire
need of clothing, food and medi
cal supplies as the result of the
attempted Invasion of their coun
try by the Red army.
Mr. Cassel has appointed the
following township chairmen to
raise money for the fund and ask
the people of the county to send
their contrihti.tions to either of
the chairmen or to him at North
Wilkesboro: V. E. Jennings, Wil-
kesiboro school: S. C. Hutchison.
Moiley; M r s. Eiunlce Walsh,
Boomer; Mrs. Grady Tester, Fer
guson: Mrs. Roxie Jennings, Mo
ravian Falls: Mrs. Sallie D. Gil-
reath, Gilreath; Miss Florence
Mathis, North Wilkesboro route
3; Tom W. Hayes, Millers Creek;
John Barnette, Hendrix; Mrs.
Mary Alice Church. Summit;
Mr*. Fannie Yates, Purlear; P.
W. Greer. Millers Creek: Evan
Colvard. Wilbar: Mrs. Hattie Mc
Neill. North Wilkesboro; Mrs. J.
1.. Gregory, Hays; Miss Muriel
Shumate. Abshers: John A. Hol
brook, Traphill; J. W. Joines,
Joynes; Robert Poplin, Ronda:
Coy Durham, Benham; J. R. Cal
loway, Ronda; Mrs. Helen Hen-
dren. Roaring River; Annie E.
Bowers, Lincoln Heights.
Since the last report contribu
tions were received by Mr. Cassel
from the following; Miss Hoots,
-A Friend’’, J. C. Royall, “A
Friend”, Mrs. Beatrice Parsons,
Mrs. Cleo Whlttiugton, Ora Van-
noy, M. F. Bumgarner, C. C. Van-
Boy, P. W. Greer, Vance McBride,
Mrs. Mae McNeill. Miss Annie
Vannoy, Miss Nina Jones. Eloise
Stroupe, Miss Mae Church, Paul
Dolp, W. F. McNeill, Rell Cau
dill, Lunda Pierce, Lester Eller,
Mrs. Edna Bivins, John Walter
Gaither, ^r. and Mrs. Van Cau
dill.
George Byrd. Ferguson man
on trial for first degree murder
for the fatal shooting of S. M.
Burchette, a neighbor, on No
vember 11, went to the stand in
Wilkes court today and remained
there about five hours, making
a sweeping denial of the charg
es and clinging to his claim that
he had no knowledge of the
crime and no connection with
Burcbette’s death.
Burchette was killed on the
night of Novemiber 11 about eight
o’clock by a shotgun charge fired
through his window as he was
retiring 'or the night. Four iron
slugs were taken from his chest.
The state’s evidence was com
pleted before noon today. Includ
ed in the state’s testimony today
was that of Matt Minton, Fergu
son merchant who testified that
Byrd purchased 12 red shotgun
shells from him on the evening
of November 11 between sundown
and dark.
iSycho Hartley and Wayne Mc
Guire both testified that they saw
Burchette’s car (pess close to the
horse on which Byrd was riding
that afternoon. The horse jumped
and they heary Byrd say
said.
A. D. Triplett and J. G. Trip
lett each testified that they had
never borrowed a gun from
Byrd.
Defense attorneys as court ad
journed this afternoon said that
a number of other witnesses will
be placed on the stand in the
morning but indicated that the
testimony will be short and. may
be completed before noon. Solici
tor Avalon E. Hali said that the
state will offer some relmttal tes
timony.
When the jury -va.® emipannell-
ed early Tuesday Mrs. Burchette
was the first witness. She testi
fied that she was standing near
her husband yrhen she heard the
shot an-1 he dropped dead at her
feet.
■Coroner I. M. Myers told of
taking four iron sings from Bur-
chettfi’s chest. The slugs had ap
parently been cut from a steel
bolt or rod.
Deputy Sheriff R. C. Jennings
told of finding in Byrd’s borne the
shotgun about which the FBI
technician testified, nine loaded
shotgun ahells, one empty shell,
a haoksaw, a chisel, two hammers
and a steel file.
Sheriff C. T. Doughton told of
fiiuilng red paper fibre around
the hole in the window screen
through which the lethal slugs
were fired, the color of the fibre
corresponding to the color of the
shotgun shells found in Byrd’s
home. He said he took those par
ticles from the screen and carried
Murw^ tw ekaBriflatltm.' ' '
Murray oh the witness stand
said he could not say definitely
what made the scratches inside
the barrel of Byrd’s gun, although
he said they were made .by some
hard object and could not have
been made by lead. He told of
microscopic examination of a
(Continued on page eight)
Plans To Conduct Driving School
WPA driving school will he tor the WPA, will be in this city
held in North Wilkesboro in the week to confer with interest-
near future if present plans work people relative to conducting
out, C. M. Crutchfield, area Wl’A
.oaoT, Ibe .schoo , Mr. Crutchfield said,
engineer, said today.
Lieut. T. A. Early, formerly If the plans materialize the
with the state highway patrol and school will open on or about
now in charge of driving schools ‘ March 25.
Wilkesboro Grange
Meets Tuesday Night
The Wllke^oro Grange will
meet at the courthouse in Wilkes
boro on Tiesday night, March 19,
7:30 o’clock, according to an an
nouncement today.
Carl Edward VanDeman, spec
ialist in charge of the apple re
search laboratory on the Brhsh-
IW. win tell of his observations
of agricultural practices in Eur
ope during the past summer. A
larg* attendance of meiabers Is
Above are four North Wilkesboro girls who typify Girl Scouting:
Upper left, Jean Somers; a Brownie, one of the seven-to-ten-year-
olds; Nell Rousseau, Senior Girl Scout, one of the fourteen to eigh
teen year olds: Nancy Forester, Troop 2 and Patsy Ruth McNeil,
Troop 3 of Intermediate Girl Scouts, from the ten-to-foarteen-ye*r-
oM group. 'This week marks the 28tJt anniversary of the Gill Scout
fanovement nnd Girl Scouts everywhere join in the birthday celehra-
tkm. Public ppiritjed citismis are asked to badi Urn Girl Scout mpv«>
meat in every way poadble. +
Late News Of
Sl4te>Natim
T(^ Briefly
OLDEST GRAD PASSES
Luniiberton, March 13.—Claude
B. Townsend, 89, oldest living
graduate of Trinity college, now
Duke University, died tonight at
bis home here. He suffered a
stroke last week.
MURDER-SUICIDE
Troy, .March 13.—Sam Hancock
of Capelsle, near Troy, this morn
ing shot and killed his wife, Lls-
zle, and then committed suicide,
Sheriff Earle D. Bruton said.
Sheriff Bruton said that Hancock
evidently shot his wife as she
was eating breakfast and then
went behind the barn and shot
himself. B. T. Reynolds, coroner,
said that it was a plain case of
murder and suicide and that an
inquest was unnecessary.
NATIONS PLAN PACT
Bucharest, March 13.—^Plans
for a non-aggression pact between
Russia and .Rumania are under
discussion in Berlin, It was re
ported tonight in diplomatic cir
cles. Official circles refused to
comment, but it was learned on
high authority that a military
commission composed of high-
ranking Rumanian army officers
now is in Berlin. For more than
a week government officials here
have denied reports that a Rus
sian delegation was coming to
discuss a nonaggression pact.
SELL FAST PLANES
Washington, March 13.—^The
frplease of 400>mile-an-honr army
War woodring was iuked to *ps‘
pear before a House military af
fairs subcommittee early next
week to explain a War depart
ment policy which has permitted
American manufacturers to sell
duplicates of some of the air
corp’s newest war planes to Great
Britain and France. Major Gen
eral George €. Marshall, chief of
staff, also will be asked to testify.
Ai ■
To convalescent homes such as
this go the fortunate crippled
children whose bodies have been
straightened by today’s medical
science. When the surgeon has
done his work much remains for
other hands. The tots in the pic
ture albove are convalescing in a
home where their every need Is
anticipated and supplied. They
will doubtless become responsible,
normal members of society rather
than an expensive and pitiful bur
den.
To foster services of this kind,
which is an important step in itg
complete program, is the aim of
the schools, Scouts and civic or
ganizations, now conducting their
annual sale of Blaster Seals. The
seals, which sell for a penny each,
can be procured from J. B. Wil
liams, Paul S. Cragan or C. B.
Eller.
GnuidJi
BODY IDENTIFIED
Asheville. March 13—^The body
of the woman found Tuesday in
the Swannanoa river just below
the city recreation .park was
identified tonight as Miss Lizzie
Beachboard, SO, native of the
Leicester section. Identification
of the woman was made by Mrs.
Callie Cox. her niece, of 134
Rankin avenue. Mrs. Cox told of
ficers that her aunt, who lives
with her cousin, Mrs. Julia Wil
liams in the Starnes Cove sec
tion, left her home Monday hut
that no alarm was felt for her as
it w'as assumed she had gone to
visit other relatives in this coun
ty Miss Beachboard, who was a
semi-invalid, formerly lived with
relatives in the Leicliester sec
tion Mrs. Cox said she could not
explain how her aunt walked
from the Starnes Cove section to
tlie river where she was found, a
distance of about 12 miles.
Mr T. O. Minton, of Champion,
was a business visitor in Greens
boro yesterday. Mrs. Minton ac
companied him to Winston-Salem,
where she spent a few hours vis
iting.
Joy Of Living
NANCY ROUSSEAU
'Typical of the 70 Girt Scouts
of North Wilkesboro is this (fhy
young miss. She looks as
though being a Girl Scout »-
green with her. Health, good
sportsmaashtp, a qnldc srase
of humor *re the aims of this
BtoyemeBt,
Daring
County Property Reported
To Be In Good Condition;
89 Bill* Are Examined
Wilkes county .grand Jury in its
report this week to Judge W. H.
Bobbitt, presiding over the
March term of court, reported
county affairs in good condition
with the exception of certain
needs as outlined for the jail and
county school bus garage.
The grand jury recommended
that blankets, quilts, mattresses,
towels and soap be supplied to
the jail, that the water and heat
ing systems be repaired and that
a hole in the wall described as
ibig enough for a small .person to
get through be repaired.
It was recommended that a re-
facing and reseating machine be
purchased for the school bus gar
age.
The grand jury examined 89
bills, found 78 true, 9 untrue and
two continued for lack of evi
dence, according to the report of
J. C. Miller, chairman.
At the county home the body
found everything in good shape
and listed property as consisting
of 22 milk cows, five heifers, six
calves, 21 shoats, four brood
sows, two mules, two horses and
100 hens.
At the state prison camp were
102 prisoners and everything was
found to be in good condition. In
the county jail were 22 prisoners,
19 males, three females.
The grand jury said the coum
ty tubercular thospital was in
good condition. The Wilkesboro
school building was also visited
and declared to be in fine con
dition.
Offices in the courthouse, the
grand jury said, were in fair con
dition under existing circumstanc-
Wilkes May Enroll
Nine In C. M. T. C
C. B. Eller Chairman For
Wilke*; Boy* Are Offer-
^ Training
C. B. Eller, Chairman of the
Military T(;alnlng Camps Associ
ation for WUke« County, an
nounces that tlje procurement
campaign for t)ie 1940 Citizens
Military Training Ca?np, which Is
to be held at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, has officially opened.
The camp tvIH be held from June
12, 1940, te July 11, 1940.
The mission ol.'. these training
camps is to bring together, under
healthful oaH*
(Contia
AH Farmer* Who Expect To
Get Payment For 1940
Must Sign Forms
Forms for all farmers who an
ticipate taking part In the soil
conservation program for the
year are ready for their signa
tures, Lawrence .Miller, clerk of
the Triple A in Wilkes, said to
day.
Before any farmer can receive
payment for compliance in 1940
he must sign the forms .setting
out his plans for compliance and
all these forms are now ready to
be signed, Mr. Miller said. Those
who have not signed up for this
year are asked to call at the
Triple A office in the courthouse
and sign at the earliest opportun
ity.
Attention is also called to the
fact that the deadline for signing
application for payment for 1939
compliance draws near and that
any who have not signed appli
cation for payment should do so
at once. All applications must be
in the Raleigh office before the
end of this month and prompt
action on the part of any farmers
who have not signed the payment
applications is very important.
Singers To Gather
On Fifth Sunday
At Kings Creek
Next session of the Southside
longing association will be held
oh. Sunday, March 31, at Kings
Creek church. Attorney F. J. Mc
Duffie, chairman, said today.
The day’s program will 'btegln
at ten o’clock and all singers are
invited to attend and participate,
the chairman said. Kings Creek
church is located in Caldwell
county near the Wllkes-Galdwell
line on highway 18.
Boston O. Glass
Dies At Home Today
Boston O. Glass, member of a
well known Wilkes family, died
at 12:15 this morning at his home
in the North Wilkesboro route 3
community.
Funeral service will be held
Friday, 2:30 p. m., at Fishing
Creek Arbor church with Rev.
Pervis Parks In charge.
He Is. survived by his wife,
Mrs. Della Glass, his mother, Mrs.
Linnie Moore Glass, and the fol
lowing brothers and sisters: E.
H. Glass and Parjis Glass, North
Wilkesboro; Jonah Glass, Rock.
W. Va.; Mrs. Mary McDaniel, WU-
keshoro route 2; Mrs. Alice Lea
ther, MoComas, W. V*.; Mrs.
UOiUfi Olae*. Wilkesboro route
Eothnsisttic
Meetiof’Hdd
Plan* Ontlinad By- Proda^
int Company Aireat; Ain*>
ther Meeting On 28tli
A movement which Is expeetaA
to give North WUkeeboro tkar
greatest amount of publicity sias*
the charter was reeelvsd 10 ysaa*
ago, was launched at the city
hall when a small group of baa-
Iness men met and heard an oat-
11ns for celebrating the city’s 504k
anniversary by Myron Calvin, eC
the John B. Rogers Prodnclaa
Company.
The meeting was called by tka
advertising bureau of the loeal
Commerce Bureaus, and John B.
Prevette, director of this bnreaa,
presided. He presented Mr. Calvta.
who went Into mnch detail te.
regard to celebrating the anni
versary of the city, and after en
thusiastic discussion by a num
ber present, it was decided that
another meeting b^e held on.
'Thursday, March 28th, 7:30 p.
m. at the city hail, at which tim*
Mr. Calvin will be .resent again
to explain his plan for giring a
historical pageant which will de
pict the hsltory of Wilkes county
WilkeMtoro.
e'^ tt^dBf^’this' afieteoon dain j
to inclement weather and in ht-
der that all civic organlzatlona
oY the city may have representa
tives present.
Everybody is invited to th*
meeting to be held on March
28th, and it is hoped that a big
crowd will be on hand to hear
Mr. Calvin’s plans and co-operat*
in putting over one of North WU-
kesboro’s greatest celebrationn
during its entire history of half
a century..
Two New School
Buildings Planned
Will Elrect A Three Room
Building At Newlife A*
A W. P. A- Project
Construction of one elementary
school building has begun and
another will .be built as soon a*
the one now under way is com
pleted, C. B. Eller, county super
intendent of schools, said today. ,
WPA workmen began work on
the foundation of a three-room
frame structure for Newlife ele
mentary school a few days ago.
Total cost of the building win
be approximately 95,000 with
the cost divided about 50-50 be
tween the county as sponsor and
the federal government.
Materials salvaged from the
old Newlife building and frmm
the present Oak Grove building
in Union township will be used
later to build a building for Oalc
Grove, Mr. Eller said. The 0«Jc
Grove building will contain one
large classroom and a communiti'
room.
HealtlTCWficiaU
Say Mary Parks
Oldest In State
Raleigh.—The cold wave of
January 25-28, which sent tem
peratures in the mountains of
North Carolina to unprecedented
lows ranging from ten degree*
low zero at Winston-Salem to
eighteen below at Oullowhee, may ,
have claimed North Carolina?*
oldest Inhabitant.
At any rate, according to a-
death certificate filed with Dr.
State Board of Health’s Dlvisioii
R. T. Stimpson, Director of th*
of Vital StaUstlcs, Mary ParkaJ
negro woman, 112 years okU
found frozen to death at Roaiimg.,
River, In Wilkes County. The 7«ar
of her birth was given as'1828,
and the death certificate wa»
signed by I. M. 'Myer*, Wilke* ■
county coroner.
*«fae Is certainly the oldest P^.
son whose de*tb has been report-:^
ed since I have been here, a* far ;
eg I know,” aald Dr., Stimiwma
who aatumed his dnUo* ia ^