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to erect
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for only
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| North y Wilkesboro has
trading radius of 50 miles,
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the cost Vote JL 1 I 1 i V 1 A. * v- H A. .M, -M. A. serving 100,000 people In
Hoanital <5enV 2r . r r? i ,,r- / u/.n // r /v \/ Northwestern Carolina.
Sept. 28. The journa|-Patriot Has Blazed the Trail of Progress In the "State of Wilkes For Over 42 Years
Published Mondays and Thursdays NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C., Monday, Aunust 30, 1948 Make North Wilkesboro Tour Shopping Center
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______ -L -*
Leonard
Millers Creek
Resident Cleared
In Cowl Friday
Sensational Case aided Fri
day After S Hours Delib
eration By Jury
%
Leonard Miller was acquitted
in Wilkes court Friday afternoon
of the charge of poisoning his
wife to death at their Millers
Creek home February 22.
The Jury filed hack into the
courtroom -at 4:20 p. m. after
deliberating since 11 a. m. Mil
ler was tense as he awaited the
verdict and smiled broadly as it
s|?|mnounced by the jury fore
Throughout the day, the
man whose life hung on the de
cision of the jury, expressed con
fidence that he would be acquit
ted.
Morning session of court until
11 o'clock was consumed by
charge of Judge John H. Clem
ent to the jury. The presiding
judge reviewed the evidence and
the contentions of the prosecu
tion and defense. He also stated
that under the law the jury could
return either of four verdicts:
murder in the first degree, mur
der in the second degTee, man
slaughter or acquittal. This
came as a surprise to many court
observers who were of the opin
ion that the only verdicts could
be guilty of first degree murder
or acquittal.
The trial began Monday morn
ing with selection of a Jury and
83 of the special venire were ex
amined before the Jury box was
filled. Evidence in the case was
completed Wednesday and Thurs
day was consumed with argu
ments of counsel.
' The prosecution contended
that Miller had planned and ex
ecuted the poison murder of his
wife. The state's evidence, some
of which was refuted, contend
ed that Miller purchased a quan
tity of strychnine here on Febru
ary 9, and that on the day of his
wife's death he gave her a
headache powder envelope con
taping strychnine. An autopsy
performed in June revealed
more than a lethal dose of strych
nine in Mrs. Miller's body. The
state also introduced evidence
tending to show that Miller had
sought information prior to his
wile's death about the amount of
sj^yV-hnine necessary to cause
death. - '
Miller himself went* on the
stand and made a blanket denial
of the charge that he poisoned
his wife. He stated that his
wife took the headache powder
envelope from the fireboard in
the room, and he was supported
in this evidence by their six-year
old daughter. Miller said that
he purchased strychnine for rat
poison and that when he went to
the drug store he asked for rat
nnloAn
Members of Miller's family
end others were on the stand to
quote Mrs. Miller in statements
which indicated that she wanted
to die, or would die In a short
time. Thus the defense intro
duced the suicide theory, which
evidently had great weight with
the Jury, and the prosecution was
unable to convince the Jury of
Miller's guilt 'beyond a reason
able doubt.
The closely contested case was
considered a victory for the de
fense. Miller's attorneys were
Eugene Trivette, Bill Mitchell, J.
E. Holshouser, J. H. Whicker,
Sr., and J. H. Whicker, Jr.
Solicitor Avalon E. Hall and
former Solicitor John R'. Jones
vigorously .prosecuted the case
for the state.
The Miller trial ended three
weeks of court, during which
many of the more than 250 cases
awaiting trial were disposed of.
The next term for trial of
criminal cases will be in Decem
ber.
? o
W. F. Gaddy and daugh
ter/Hies Geraldine Gaddy, of
this city, and Mr. and Mrs. Doc
Whitley, of Albemarle, spent the
week-end at Manteo and attend
ed a showing of "The Lost Col
ony."
? ??? i
?. ?-?> to the
H. D. C. Meetings
Cricket Home Dempnetratlon
club will meet Wednesday, Sep
tember 1, with Mrs. Archie Lee
Osborne at two p, m.
On Thursday Pleasant Ridge
club will meet with Lydla Bau
guss at two p. m.
Theatre At Millers
Creek Has Opening
Mill era Creek drive-in theatre
opened Friday night before a
capacity crowd.
The new theatre, owned by
Roy and Neil Cashlon, is located
on Highway 421 at the intersec
tion of Pads Road one mile east
of Millers Creek postoffice. The
theatre is modernly equipped, in
cluding speakers with individual
volume control.
t
o?'
Garden Club Here
?Will Meet Tuesday
| North Wilkesboro Garden club
I will meet at the Woman's Club
,house Tuesday, three p. m., for
;a business meeting. At 3:45 the
district president will give a dem
J onstration on making corsages
and the public is cordially in
' vited to this session.
Republicans WHI
Meet On Tuesday
Eight P. M. at Courthouse;
Campaign Plans To
Come Up
Republicans from all parts ot
Wilkes county are Invited to at
tend a party meeting to toe held
Tuesday, August 31, eight p. m.,
at the county courthouse to dis
cuss campaign plans.
J. EJ. Broyhill, Republican Na
tional Committeeman, will attend
the meeting and , a large attend
ance is desired toy the GOP or
ganization.
o
L M. Greene Is
Suicide Aug;. 19
Funeral service was held at
Pattons Ridge church August 21
for L?ane McKinley Greene, who
ended his life August 19 toy fir
ing a shotgun load into his heart.
The act took place near l)ls home
In Jobs Cabin township.
He was a son of Mr. and Mm.
Mitch Greene. Surviving are his
parents and three brothers,
Blaine, Otis and Dewey Greene.
o
Guy Frank Taylor, Jr., who
has been with his mother, Mrs.
Mont Livingston and maternal
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S.
W. Hoppers, Laurel Springs, N,.
C., returned to Charleston, S. C.,
Sunday. His father, Dr. G. F.
Taylor, Charleston, S. C., and
Guy Frank will attend school
together this winter in San
I Francisco, Calif. Dr. Taylor Is
specializing in plastic surgery.
I
Registration On
Hospital Eleeton
Is Started Today
Today marked the opening of
the period of registration for
voting on a ibond Issue to erect
a municipal hospital In North
Wilkesboro.
The election will be on the
proposal for a North Wilkesboro
bond issue of $275,000, for
which a modern, 100-bed hos
pital costing about $1,200,000
can he erected with aid of state
and federal funds.
James M. Anderson Is regis
trar and he will have registration
hook at the office of Insurance
Service and Credit Corporation
Monday through Fridays. On
Saturdays, September 4, 11 and
18 he will register at the city
hall from 9 a. m. to 8 p. m. Date
of the election is September 28.
With sentiment preponderant
ly in favor of taking advantage
of the opportunity to erect a hos
pital for only 22 per cent of
the cost, it is expected that the
bond Issue will be voted by a
large majority.
Registering For
Dratf Under Way
Registration tor Selective
Service began today in the mu
nicipal building at Wilkesboro,
which is the only registration
point f?r men in Wilkes county.
Men are asked to register only,
on the days designated for their
particular age group.
Those born in 1923 must reg
ister Tuesday ot Wednesday of
this week. Thursday and Friday
will be dates for men born in
1924.
The office personnel is not
l^rge enough to register thbee of
all ages on all dates, and men
must register on the dates pre
scribed for their respective ages.
? o
Miss Muriel Coykendall has
returned to the city after spend
ing a; month with her mother,
Mrs. Anna Coykendall, at Penn
Yan, N. Y. Miss Coykendall is
to he a member this year of
the city school faculity.
1?o ,
Gordon Finley, Jr., left Sun
day for Grand Rapids, Mich.,
where he will attend the Chris
tian Youth Conference of .North
America, as one of the twelve
young people from the Presby
terian Synod of North Carolina.
The Conference is interdenomi
national, and is held every four
years. There are 5,000 expected
to attend.
u
If you haven't been gypped by
a fake mail-order advertisement,
had either your appendix or ton
sils removed, and been made a
fool of by one of the opposite
sex, you are not a true American
citizen. These are the minimum
requirements.
LENOIR EDGES OUT WILKESBORO
IN HARD-FOUGHT BOONE GAME
Lenoir high school Bear Cats
just did edge ont the Ramblers
of the Wllkesboro high in\the
first football game In North Car
olina for the 1948 season In Ap
palachian stadium In Boone Sat
urday night. Witty only about
15 seconds to go, Lenplr pushed
over a touchdown to take the
game by the close score of 12
to 9. - |
The .game was the climax of
two weeks' training at Boone for
both squads, and Lenoir was
rated to take the Ramblers by
several touchdowns by. virtue of
superior weight and plenty of re
serve strength. However, the
scrappy Rambler team, led by
the fast running of Jack Groce
and Ray Triplett, made it plen
ty tough for the big, heavy Le
noir eleven. ^
With only a minute and one
half to go, Lenoir ran up a .first
down on about the Ramblers'
thirty-yard line. Then' they sue-,
ceeded in executing a beautiful
pass play, carrying the ball to
the Ramblers' two-inch line.
Sam Vlckery, president of the
Wilkes Junior Chamber of Com
merce, today announced that the
Jaycee Rifle ' and Skeet club
would be open some time during
the next week. This new Rifle
Club has been built under the
supervision of the Jaycees, Ike
Eller, Edd Bell, Forrest Jones
and Highway Patrolman Sid Car
ter.
The range la located on the
Hunt property about two miles
down highway 268 toward Elkln.
Facilities for smgll bore shoot
ing in a modern and* complete
100-yard range is available as
well as complete facilities for
skeet and pistol shooting.
Memberships In the Jaycee
Rifle and x Skeet Club will he
available to any Interested
sportsmen In this area. Mqm
With only seconds remaining In
the game, Doug Holcomb plunged
over for the touchdown' which
brought victory to the Bear Cats.
Wilkesboro took the lead in
the first quarter when a Lenoir
back was caught behind his goal
line for a safety. Lenoir pushed
over a touchdown In the second
period to lead at the half 6 to 2'.
Then in the thir^ period, follow
ing a fine run by. Groce, Ray
Triplett went over for the Ram
blers' only touchdown of the
game. Groce made the extra
point with ' a beautiful place
ment, putting the Ramblers in
the lead 9 to 6 until the final
seconds of play.
A crowd, estimated at more
than 2,000 witnessed the game,
most of whom came from the
home towns of the opposing
teams.
Summary of the garnet
Wilkeeboro .... 2 0 7 0?9
Lenoir ? 0 6 0 6-?12
Touchdowns: Lenoir?Fennell,
Holcomb. Wilkeeboro ? Trip
lett. Point after?Groce.
Z.'-'.l . - ? -A' , ;v'
North State Lumber
Yard Here Is Moved
North State Lumber Co., yard
has been moved from Vance
street In North Wilkeaboro to a
part of the Gaddy property east
of this feity, adjoining c. C.
Winger's store on Highway 268.
The ' company purchased the
property where the yard is now
located and began operations
there today. ,
In the new location the com
pany will operate a complete
plant, where logs and lumber
will be purchased and processed
in manufacture of various types
of lumber. A- T. Lott is owner
of North State Lumber Co.
o ?i?
Hearing Tuesday
On Demonstration
At Baseball Game
Scheduled To Be Held On
Tuesday, 1 P. M. Before
Judge E. C. Bivins
The demonstration here Fri
day night at the North Wilkes
jboro-Galax baseball game will be
aired Tuesday, 1 p. m. at a hear
tr.0. *n ha halt! thafnro TP
ling to be held before Judge E.
C. Bivins, president of the Blue
Ridge league, in Mount Airy.
Following Friday night's game
Judge Bivins suspended North
Wilkesboro Manager Henry
Flash Loman pending the hear
ing set for Tuesday.
The demonstration was staged
by a large group of fans who
were Incensed at the manner in
which Plate Umpire Camia called
the game. In the seventh in*
ning Camia called Tommy Yonng
out at third when Field Umpire
Oliver! had given" the "safe" sig
nal. Young waq temporarily
knocked out and when Loman
was returning from third base
to the dugout he papsed to pro
test with Camia about the de
cision, which was not only a Bur
prise but h. shock to the North
Wilkeebore team and fans.
When the fans Swarmed onto
the field the umpires were given
adequate and complete protection
'by more than half a dozen offic
ers, players of the North Wilkes
boro team and some of the fans.
Following the game they were es
corted through a side entrance
from the park and along the
highway toward Galax for many
miles. At no time were the um
pires. assaulted.
Business Manager Larry Moore
stated today that affadavlts will
be presented Judge Bivins to
morrow and that witnesses may
be heard on a true account of
events here Friday night. It
was learned here that Umpire
Camia had reported "inadequate"
protection at the game and re
ported that Manager Loman pro
tested long and often about de
cisions, when as a matter of fact
he had protested only once be
fore the seventh inning Incident
and was on the field at that
time because of the injury to
Young at third base. It is ex
pected that a group of local
fans as witnesses will attend the
hearing.
O'
Mr. Ned Moser, of Lewisville,
has returned home, after having
spent the past week in the home
of his grandfather, Mr. W. M.
Duncan, on the Moravian Falls
Road.
RIFLE AND SKEET CLUB FORMED
BY JUNIOR CHAMBER COMMERCE
bership in the club will cost $15
per year, which will allow use of
all facilities of this club. Ar
rangements will be made bo that
targets, clay pigeons, and am
munition may be purchased at
the range.
Announcement will be made
on Thursday by Junior Chamber
of Commerce officials as to the
time and date of the official
opening of the range. It is ex
pected that some of the best
riflemen and sheet shooters In
the country will be present at
the opening.
Anyone interested in joining
this rifle and skeet club can se
cure application blanks at the
Wilkes Mountain Poultry prod
ucts Company in Wilkesboro or
Eller Brothers Wholesale store,
in North Wilkesboro.
Expected To Hear
Address By Former Gov
ernor To Be Feature Of
Farmers' Day Program
J. Melville Broughton, former
Governor. and now nominee for
the U. S. Senate, will deliver an
address here on the afternoon of
September 14, which will be Far
mers' Day and opening day of
the Wilkes Agricultural Fair.
Address of the former govern
or will be a highlight of the af
ternoon program and will be de
livered from a stage to be set up
on Ninth street between Main
and C streets.
It is expected that a large
throng will want to hear the
speaker, who for many years has
been keenly ii 'crested in agri
culture in North Carolina and
who during his administration as
governor showed particular in
terest in agricultural activities
and industries in Wilkes county.
Farmers' Day program will get
' under way with a mammoth pa
! rade at ten a. m. The parade,
| with many interesting and va
I ried units, will form in Wilkes
boro, march to North Wilkesboro
J~by way of Memorial Park, travel
' west on Main street and over
. Tenth and D streets to Ninth
street. , . j
! Following the parade will be
| a series of highly entertaining j
. contests at the corner of Ninth
and C streets. !
j In addition to the address of
' former Gov. Broughton there (
1 will be several other features for
the afternoon program. Prizes
will be awarded winners in the
| 4-H timber thinning contest. A
; string band will give an open
air show. |
In addition, many valuable
prizes to be given by participat
ing merchant's will be given
away. Tickets will be available
at the stores, where the public
may get full information on how
1 the prizes will be given away.
Sales Institute
| Under Way Here
Sales Institute under sponsor
ship of the Wilkes Chamber of
Commerce began today and will
continue through September 10
with sessions on Monday at 2:00
and 3:15 p. m. and Tuesday
through Friday at 9:00 and
10:15 a. m. at the North
Wilkeaboro city hall.
Registrations may be accepted
until Wednesday of this week,
and those who enter by Wednes
day may qualify for a certificate.
Mrs. Delle R. Putnam, of the
North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction, will be the
instructor.
Ninety-fire hare already en
rolled, with indications that the
enrollment will go well orer 100
before the middle of the first
week. .
Mrs. Rawley M. Baldock, of
Roanoke, Va? spent sereral days
last week in the home of her fa
ther, Mr. W. M. Duncan. Mrs.
Baldock has now Joined her hus
band at Ft. Belroir, Va., where
he is taking two weeks' training.
o
Support Community Recreation
Shoun Kerbaugh
Is With Sentinel
Insurance Agency
Shoun Kerbaugh, a well-known
young man here, has resigned
his position ' In the office of
Relns-Stipdivant to aecept a po
sition with Sentinel Insurance
Agency, beginning September 1.
Mr. Kerbaugh was with Reins
Sfturdivant for six years with ex
ception of 18 months which he
served in the Navy during World
War II. For several years he
has been active in civic work In
the community. In his new po
sition Mr. Kerbaugh will devote
his time to sale of insurance for
the agency.
Merchants Raise
Trade Promotion
Funds For Year
Annual Contributions to De
fray Expenses Farmers'
Day and Christmas
Budget group of the Trade
promotion committee of the
Wilkes Chamber? of Commerce
this week will 'begin calling on
merchants for their annual con
tribution to defray expenses of
Farmers' Day, Christmas open
ing, Christmas decorations and
lighting.
Each place of business in the
Wilkesboros will be Invited to
pay their proportionate share of
the cost of the two outstanding
events In the way 'of trade promo
motion.
As a suggested amount the
committee is asking on the av
erage of one dollar per front
foot for business houses, with
the amount varying according to
type and size of business.
September 13-18
Are Dates Set
Fer Annual Event
Maries Shows on Midway;
Full Flodged Fair To
Be Staged 5 Days
A full-fledged fair, with mid
war; grandstand acts, exhibits
and a great display of fireworks
every night, will hold forth on
the horse show grounds near this
city ' throughout the week, be
ginning September 13.
The fair, which began last
year on a small scale, is spon
sored by the North Wllkesboro ,
Klwanls Club to promote agri
cultural Interests of Wilkes
county.
On Monday, September 13, all
exhibits are to be placed on the
grounds and the John Marks
Shows, one of the biggest midway
aggregations In the busniess, will
move in. The midway will bo
In operation Monday night, the
13th, with numerous shows and
rides.
Tuesday, really the opening
day of the fair, will be Farmers'
Day in North Wllkesboro, with a
full program of events morning
and afternoon. The morning
program will Include a long pa
rade, and a series of hilarious
contests. The afternoon Far
mers' Day program will be fea
tured by an address by former
Governor J. Melville. Broughton,
string band show and concert
and other events.
Tuesday at 8:00 5. m. the
fair will get under way with full
steam, including grandstand acts
and fireworks in addition to the
shows.
Wednesday will be livestock
day with Judging of livestock In
the afternoon.
Colored school children will be
admitted free on Thursday af
ternoon.
Friday will be white school
children's day with school chil
dren admitted free until the
night session.
Saturday will have a full pro- \
gram at the fair, beginning with
a dog show at 10:30 in the
morning. At 1:30 will be a show
of draft horses and mules, fol
i lowed by a horse show of horses
| of Wilkes and adjoining coun
I ties at three o'clock. The cham
1 pion stake classes of the horse
show will be at 7:30 p. m. Sat
urday night.
Numerous Cash Prizes
Several thousand dollars In
cash prizes will be given exhib
itors at the fair. In every de
partment there are many cash
prizes. The entries are open and
no fees are charged. All farmers
and homgmakers are invited ?< .d
urged to show their products and
help make the fair the success
it should be in the community.
A premium list and program of
78 pages has been printed and is
being distributed to prospective
exhibitors.
Co-chairmen for the fair are
W. K. Sturdivant and Paul E.
Church, with Dr. Wm. K. New
ton, vice-chairman. G. Sam Win
ters and J. B. Carter are secre
taries for the fair. Those who
wish a premium list are urged to
contact any of the fair officials
or the office of the county or
home agent in Wilkes county.
Flashers Gaining
On Galax Leafs
?
Take Two From Abingdon; I
Play Trips Again Here
Tonight, 8:00.
After dropping two slam-bang
games to Galax here Thursday
and Friday the North Wllkes
boro Flashers rebounded to take
two from the Abingdon Trips,
Saturday night 9 to 2' and Sun
day afternoon 7 to 2.
Willard Kops, who was batted
out by Galax, came 'back to pitch
a three-hitter against Abingdon.
The two Abingdon runs in the
sixth were on two walks, a hit
batter and a single by Kruds
low. Dong Shore with four hits
and Troy Stanley with a double
and triple were the ibig guns for
North Wilkesboro at bat as
Shores drove In three runs and
Stanley four. Joe Santamauro,
Abingdon manager, was ejected
from the game by Umpire Swan
in the seventh.
On Sunday, Dick Long, who
had been playing second base,
pitched a neat victory over Ab
ingdon 7 to 2. It was a mound
duel until the sixth when the
Flashers exploded with four runs.
The game was called by agree
ment at the end of the seventh
because of the extreme heat with
the temperature at the century
mark. Sam Gibson, who played
first, and Jack Cooper had two
hits each. Tagliarino slammed a
long triple in the fifth.
Meanwhile Galax divided a
double bill at Mount Airy Satur
day night and lost to Mount Airy
Sunday, narrowing the gap be
tween North Wilkesboro and Ga
lax to three games.
The remaning schedule will
take North Wilkesboro to Rad
ford for double headers Tuesday
and Wednesday and the Rockets
play here Thursday and Friday,
la that series it is expected that
first, second aad third places will
be virtually decided. North
Wilkesboro will go to Wytheville
Saturday an<j Sunday and the
regular season will end here with
a double header with Wytheville
Monday, September 8.
It is expected that the play-off
between the four top teams will
be arranged by league officials
this week, probably Tuesday at
Mount Airy.
o
Mr. and Mm. Clyde Benton
and daughter, Robin, have re
turned home after spending a
few days in Wytheville, Va.
New Management At
Wilkes Vulcanizing
On July 3, 1948, the Wilkes
Vulcanizing Company was pur
chased by J. H. Crawford from
A. E. Hodges.
Mr. Crawford has recently se
cured the distributorship on Gil
lette tires, tubes, batteries, etc.,
for Wilkes, Ashe, Watauga, Alle
ghany, Gurry, Alexander, Cald
well and Burke Counties. He
now has In stock a complete line
of tires In all sizes, with a life
time guarantee, and invites you
to see these tires and ask for
prices Ipfore you buy.
Mr. Crawford has employed as
general manager, Mr. Clande
Key, also T. W. Blackburn, both
with years of exerience In recap
ping.
They ipvite you to see them
before you have your tires re
capped.
Watch for ad in this paper for
specials on Gillette's.
? o t