THE JOURNAL-PATRIOT The Journal-Patriot Has Blazed the Trail of Progress In the "State of Wilkes" For Over 43 Years WJR CITY North Wilkesboro has a trading radius of 50 miles, serving 1^0,000 people h) Northwestern Carolina. ? BUT . SEALS NOW AND HELP FIGHT T. & lay Christmas Soak Holp Stamp Oat T! Vol. 43, No. 71 Published Mondays and Thursdays NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C., Monday, December 19, 1949 Make North Wilkesboro Your Shopping Center Two Murders and One Mysterious Death In Wilkes Christmas Cheer Werk Progressing Well In Wilkes All Destitute Families Will Be Aided If Good Work Is Continued Christmas Cheer work to aid underprivileged families in the Wllke8boros and all Wilkes county is progressing very sat isfactorily, it was learned today from the office of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, which is acting as a clearing house of information on needy families and those being helped by vari ous groups and individuals. This year the Wilkes welfare department, the North Wilkes boro welfare department and the Wilkes chapter of the Amer jan Red Cross prepared a list ly families who ' must it Christmas time or stockings. This list fames, addresses, sex I all members of the kh information on the homes. Don raged to deliver the if they cannot the department will V CMC clabs, churches, Sunday classes, women's organi zations, school and individuals are helping and have taken the names of many families. The North Wilkesboro Lions club, which started this type of work ???gfal years ago, is taking the jfftrgest number of families. It was learned today from the office of the chamber of com merce that several families have not been taken and other groups and individuals are encouraged to get these names and provide them with Christmas cheer ma terials. If the remainder of the fam ilies are taken, the work will wave been carried out more suc cessfully than ever before and all the more needy cases will re ceive aid. The cumulative total of Christ mas cheer help this season in the county is e )pected to total several thousand dollars. DMrige Dealer Previews New Car Model January 4 The new Dodge cars which will be introduced January 4 will have a fresh styling appeal, new low body lines and many refinements in design, accord ing to W. o. Absher, who has >ettimed from a dealer preview meeting in Charlotte. Others at tending from this dealership, ^Vilkes Auto Sales, Inc., were F. Forester, Claude p. Roope, I'V Privette, and W. R. Callo Absher said that pictures jb new Dodge cars, specifica , jKs and full details on body types will be released on De cember 27 and the new cars will be on display in his showroom on January 4. "Dodge's production and re tail deliveries this year have been the highest in Dodge his tory," he said. "We're confident 01 "Joins even better next year the new improved models. Jtby're beautiful cars. I person ally believe they are the finest values we've ever had." Mr. Ahsher cordially invites everybody to his gala open house January 4 through 7. Christmas Club Savings Set New High Record Here Banks Have 1950 Clubs Op en Now With Opportun ity For All to Join Total paid out by banks here to Christmas Savings Club mem bers set a new record this year. The Northwestern bank mail ed out checks' totaling $16, 1L3.50 to club members and the Batik of North Wllkesboro paid out $15,000 in Christmas sav ings. Totals at each bank let new records in Christmas sav ings 'dtttbs In this community. . vgh# banks have new clubs in ipffition now and there Is still time to enroll for 1950. Club members may enroll for any a mount they wish and receive their savings on or about De tcmber 1, 1950. Grayson Attends State Meeting Of Tax Supervisors J. C. Grayson, Wilkes county accountant and tax supervisor, last week attended a state meet ing of tax supervisors held in Chapel Hill under auspices of the Institute of Government. Approximately 80 of the 100 counties in the state were rep resented at the meeting. Mr. Grayson said that only a few counties in the state this year will have re-valuation, be cause of the abnormal market values prevailing. ' Visitors Flock Through Bank At Open House Hours Bank of North Wilkesboro Friday afternoon and evening from 4:30 until 9:30 observed "open house" to show a steady stream of visitors through the newly remodeled and modernized bank. Officers and personnel of the bank, with members of their families, formed the receiving line for the many visitors throughout the "open house" hours. Refreshments were served and favors were given. Visitors were high in their praise of the improvements in the bank, which has a complete ly remodeled interior with new fixtures and new equipment. Of particular interest were four large pictures on the wall of the bank's main floor. These four pictures ? depict the four principal industries of Wilkes county. An orchard scene shows an orchard in bloom. A dairy herd represents dairying and livestock. A sawmill with stacks of lumber in the mountains rep resents timber and wood pro ducts. Baskets of eggs surround ed by chickens represents the poultry industry. These giant pictures are in color and are very impressive. Lobby space in the bank has been doubled by moving the bookkeeping department to the newly constructed mezzanine floor of the bank. Among those assisting in re ceiving the guests and serving refreshments during the hours of open hduse were: Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hix, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Halfacre, Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Finley, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Brame; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dun can; Mr. and Mrs. Weaver Starr, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn McNeil, Mesdames Tom McLaughlin, R. W. Gwyn, Jr., Carlyle Ingle, W. C. Marlow, E. R. Spruill, Edna Staley, and Hazel McNeil, Misses Fannie Ruth Kilby, Ella Mae Whittington, Lottie McNeil, Max ine Brookshire, Ruth Hubbard, Ginny Brame, and Jody Dough ton; Mr. Blair Gwyn and Mr. Worth Tomlinson. Christmas Scene At Liberty Theatre -i One of the most impressive Christmas displays ever con structed here is on display in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre. "Jhe scene is a snow covered landscape of hills and valleys forested with pine. One of the unique items in the display is a stone house, which was con structed by Henry Bauguss, of the theatre staff. Beside the house is a lake, and a mill with old fashioned water wheel. Another item artistically form ed is Santa Claus - in his sleigh approaching the house. The dis play is so realistic as to cause much comment from spectators. Parents are invited to carry their children to view/the dis play, which will be of much in terest to the adults as well as children. Seeking Help For Veterans Family Blue Ridge Mountain post of Veterans of Foreign Warsv is asking aid in providing clothing and other materials for the fam ily of a very needy veteran. Members of the family and ages are: wife, size 18; boy age 15, girl 11, girl 9, boy 6, boy 4, girl 2 and boy 11 months. Thdse who have clothing or toys they will give for this family may leave them at the Jewel Box or call James McNeill at Belk's and he will pick up the gifts. Felts Curtis Dies On Roadside West This City Friday Death Has Not Been Deter mined By Officers As Murder or Suicide Body of A. Felts Curtis, 49 year-old father of nine children, was found dead early Saturday beside the Suncrest Orchard road four miles west of this city. Coroner I. M. Myers and Wilkes Sheriff C. G. Poindexter today were continuing their in vestigation. The officers stated that the body of Mr. Curtis was lying beside the road about six feet from Curtis' car, which was parked on the roadside. Door of the car was open. Curtis' death was from a gun shot wound in the chest just over his heart. Beside his body was a 22-calibre rifle identified as belonging to Curtis. Sheriff Poindexter and Coroner Myers concluded that he was shot with the rifle, which had an empty shell in the barrel. On the back of the front seat of the car were blood stains, indicating that he was shot while seated in the car and had fallen out from the car to the ground. The body, gun and car tirere covered with frost, indicating that they had been there for several hours. Coroner Myers said death had occured about midnight or before. Powder burns on the man's chest indicated the shot had been fired at extremely close range, probably with the gun barrel pressed against his chest. The bullet ranged out the left side of his back. In the car were cigar ashes and two bands. Apparently he had sat in the car and smoked for some time before the shot was fired, the officers said. Curtis resided in the Cotton Mill Hill community just west of this city, where he operated a hog-killing place for the people of that community. Until a few months ago he was employed at Charlie Johnson's service station and lumber yard ?in North Wil kesboro. He and his wife were seen in North Wilkesboro Friday after hoon. After carrying his wife home he left and officers were unable to trace his movements later Friday. However, they found a number of people who had observed his car parked where he was found Saturday morning". A car was seen parked there as early as 9:30 Friday! night and another reported see ing Curtis' car there near mid-| night. It was only a short dist ance from highway 421. Coroner Myers and Sheriff; Poindexter stated that their work 1 had failed to uncover any evi dence of foul play, although they were continuing the inves tigation before making any def inite statement. Curtis had not been robbed, and his billfold contained some money. Other j personal belongings about his body were apparently intact, the officers said. Curtis is survived by his wife, Mrs. Venie Curtis, and nine sons and daughters: Kathleen, Gil bert, Richard, Rita Sue, Louise, Mattie, Margaret, Buddy Elmer and Barbara Ann Curtis, all of North Wilkesboro; also two bro-j thers and one sister, Finley and Bill Curtis, of Mooresville, and j Mrs. Virgil Parker, ' of North J Wilkesboro. Date of the funeral, which will be at Pleasant Grove Baptist church, has not been set. Christmas Pageant To Be Presented At Fairplains Chur< On Friday night, Decernb* 23, 7:30 p. m. the Fairplair Baptist church will present play entitled "The Nativity. There will also be a Christms tree and treats for the Sunda school children. The public i cordially invited. Bookmobile Is Off Durina The Holiday The Wilkes public librai bookmobile will not make I scheduled runs from Decemb< 22 through January 21, aft< which date the bookmobile wl make its regular schedule. Kenerly To Open Tax, Bookkeeping Office January 2 James G. Kenerly, who is re signing from government work after 20 continuous years of service in the budget and tax collections departments, will open a tax service and bookkeep ing office over Horton's Ap'pli ance store in North Wilkesboro January 2. Mr. Kenerly is a native of Davidson county. After attend ing high school there he went to Washington, D. C., and for four years attended the Roosevelt school of bookkeeping. After graduating from that school he was a student for four years at Professor Mullendore's School of Accounting in Washington, D. C., a private institution with a wide eputation in accounting education. For several years he was in government service in! Washington in the budget de-| partment and later as a deputy collector of internal revenue, a position he has held here for the past four years. ? J In his office here Mr. Kenerly will make all kinds of tax re turns, state and federal, will set up bookkeeping systems for bus iness firms or will keep complete business records for firm's not employing bookkeepers. Music Features Kiwanis Program Here Friday Noon Christmas music featured the meeting of the North Wilkes boro Kiwnais club Friday noon. John Leyshon was program chairman and he presented Miss Martha Lue Frazier and her voice class. Her pupils sang as follows: Lelia Cooper, "Santa Claus is Coming"; Jane Gambill, "The Bells of St. Marys"; Tommy Fra zier, "Tippie's Christmas Car ols"; Sylvia Abernethy, "Prayer of Norwegian Child"; Jeraldine Sarah Lou Chipman. "White Christmas"; Sylvia Kenerly, "I Heard the Bells on Chistmas Day"; Julene Barlow, "The Car ol of the Cricket"; Mickey Som ers, "Sweet Little Jesus Boy"; Sarah Judy, "Bing a Torch"; Rebecca Raper, "I Wonder as I Wander"; Dorothy G. Clark, "Oh Holy City." In the business session of the club General Program Chairman Cecil F. Adamson read program assignments for 1950. Thomas Eshelman was guest of his fath er, P. W. Eshelman; Walter Kel ler was guest of Paul Choplin; and John K. Blackburn, of Waynesboro, Va., was a visiting Kiwanian. Local Car Dealers See Plymouths The new 1950 Plymouth cars were displayed at Columbia, S. ? C. today, the first showing of the hew models to take place in this section of the country. Two local automobile firms sent representatives to the show ing?Motor Service Sales Co., and Barber-Somers Motor Co. The former was represented by Quincy McNeill, and Joe R. Bar I ber and Claude Billings went I from Barber-Somers. Rex Kilby and Robert Smoak made the trip to Columbia to see the new Plymouths. Ashe County Man Found Dead Today On The Blue Ridge Glenn Farrington Victim Of Foul Play Last Night In Union Township Glenn Farrington, 40, resi dent of the Wagoner community of Ashe county, was found dead in a country road In Wilkes county two miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Blue Ridge, Wilkes Sheriff C. G. Poin dexter said today. Farrlngton's body was bloody from a wound on his head, which apparently caused his death, Wilkes Coroner" I. M. My ers, who accompanied the sher iff to pick up the dead man, said. There were blood stains In the road for a distance of several yards. About 200 yards from where the body was found were indications of a scuffle on the road. The man's body was lit erally covered with blood and mud, the officers said. Death had occured some time during the night, several hours before the Coroner's examina tion this morning. The body was taken to a West Jefferson funeral home, where Wilkes Coroner Myers ordered an examination by physicians and possibly an autopsy be per formed to establish more accur ately the cause of death. Early this afternoon officers had not received report of the examina tion. Sheriff Poindexter today did ( not reveal any evidence of find ings at the body relative to iden tity of any guilty parties, but indicated that the investigation may have later developments. 'Farrington, the officers learn ed, had visited Sunday night in theV community near where his body was found this morning. The body was found on a road in the Glenn Miller store com munity 4 1-2 miles northeast of Glendale Springs. Attend A.S.T.C. Football Banquet Superintendent William T. Long was a special guest at the annual football banquet held at Boone on Thursday night of last week by A. S. T. C. He was ac companied to Boone by Ray Triplett, star halfback of the Wilkesboro high school Ramb lers for several seasons. Jack Groce, also a Rambler star at Wilkesboro, and one of the few freshmen in the North State conference to make the varsity team during the past football season, was awarded his "A" at the football banquet. Jack was an outstanding half back for Appalachian Stale Teachers' College. Christmas Services in St. Paul's Church Service will be held in St. Paul's Episcopal church o n Christmas Day at 10:30 o'clock a. m., at which time there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion and sermon by the Rector, Rev. B. M. Lackey, A cordial invitation is extended to everyone to attend this serv ice. The Christmas tree service for the church school will be held in the church on Tuesday evening, December 20th, at 7:30 o'clock. CHRISTMAS SEAL SALES PASS $2,600; HOSPITAL APPROVED Christmas seal sale fund today has passed $2,600, Dr. J. H. Mc Neill, chairman of the Wilkes Tuberculosis committee, report ed today. Bangle Day was carried out here Saturday by members, of the Junior Woman's club and resulted in raising the sum of $79.00. Those who hare not made re turn on seals mailed them are urged to do so as early as pos sible. w To date reports have not been received from Home Demonstra tion clubs and from schools, which have done a magnificent Job of selling seals, Dr. Mcfrelll said. Dr. McNeill will be interview ed on radio station WKBC Tues day, one p. m., relative to the seal sale and the program of work to be carried out in Wilkes during the coming year. Hospital Approved Frank McNeill, superintendent of the Wilkes Tuberculosis hos pital, which is one project of the Tuberculosis committee, has been notified that the American Med ical Association has approved the Wilkes Tuberculosis hospit al. This approval is considered excellent evidence of the high type of work being carried out by the county and the Tubercu losis committee. Recently linoleum has been placed on the floors of the hail and kitchin. Sky land Textile Christmas Party Held On Satunfay Skyland Textile company was host to employes and their fami-1 lies at a Christmas party held Saturday night at the V. F. W. hall. Attending this highly enjoy able party were employes and their families, the total number being near 300. Forrest Tugman, general man ager of the firm, was toastmast er and he presented Dr. J. S. Hiatt, superintendent of Hugh Chatham Memorial hospital in Elkin, who brought a highly en tertaining message. Dr. Hiatt's address contained many humor ous stories. The crowd was entertained with singing, games and square dancing. Refreshments were also enjoyed. Santa Claus made a happy ap pearance and distributed candy to children. The company plans to make the Christmas party an annual event. Miller Elected Head Of P.M.A. In This County The elected delegates from Wilkes county's twenty-one townships met in convention at the Federal building "in Wilkes boro on Friday, Dec. 16, and elected Lawrence Miller as chair man of the PMA (Triple A) County Committee. Charlie Miles, of Traphill, was elected vice chairman and H. C. Roberts, of Cycle, was elected regular mem ber. T. J. McNeil, of Roaring River, was elected first alter nate with U. Bland Martin, of Ronda, as second alternate. In the regular PMA election held on Thursday, Dec. 15, the following committee was elected as representatives of the farmers in their respective townships: Antioch: T. M. Inscore, chair man: Millard Mathis, vice chair man; Willie H. Anderson, mem ber. Beaver Creek: J. C. West, chairman; L. Z. Walsh, vice chairman; L. F. Walsh, member. Boomer: Ralph Swansor, chairman; M. F. Laws, vice chairman; T. F. Greer, member. Brushy Mountain: J. C. Ted der, chairman; J. D. Costner, vice chairman: Albert Baity, member. Edwards No. 1: J. K. Tharpe. I chairman; U. B. Martin, vice| chairman; Irvin Key, member. Edwards No. 2: Alton B. Car-1 ter, chairman; Clyde Luffman vice chairman: Dright Barker,| member. Elk: E. C. Hodges, chairman: Rea Welch Hodges, vice chair-1 man; D. M. Triplett, member. Jobs Cabin and Stanton: H.| H. Beshears, chairman, C. V Cornet, vice chairman: A. H Beshears, member. Lewis Fork.: C. W. Proffit, chairman; A. M. McGee, vice chairman; L. G. Triplett, mem ber. Lovelace: Julia Wright, chair man; D. W. Marlow, vice chair-1 man; C. W. Hendren, member. Moravian Falls: W. R. Hub-1 bard, chairman; Paul J. Vestal, vice chairman; L. P. Bentley, | member. Mulberry: H. H. Jennings chairman; Will Watson, vicel chairman; C. B. Hayes, mem-| ber. Newcastle: G. C. Greene, chair man; C. M. Welborn, vice chair-1 man; D. J. Melton, member. North Wilkesboro: J. E. Wil liams, chairman; W. B. Bea-1 mon, vice chairman; A. X. Wy- j att, member. Reddies River: Q. O. Kilby. chairman; Hugh Kilby, vice chairman; C. C. McNeil, mem-| ber. Rock Creek: J. C. Felts, chair man; E. R. Lowe, vice chair-1 man; Sol Byrd, member. Somers: B. P. Roberts, chair man; A. T. Myers, vice chair-1 man; R. C. Jarvis, member. Traphill: M. P. Parks, chair man; Watson Durham* vice| chairman; W. Joines, member. Union: A. R. Miller, chair man; W. H. Whittlngton, vice chairman; E. M. Dancy, member. Walnut Grove: W. W. Gai bill, chairman;' C. A. Absher, vice chairman; L. G. Billings, member. Wilkesboro: Charles C. Staler, chairman; B. S. Call, Jr., vice| Paul Hemric Shot And Killed Near TraphillSatarday Grant (Skinny) Holbrook Ordered Held Without Bond; Murder Count Grant (Skinny) Holbrook, a roadside merchant of the Trap hill community, today was charged with the murder of Paul Hemric, 38, of Ronda, at Hol brook's store Saturday after noon. Holbrook through his attor neys, W. H. McElwee and -Bill Mitchell, waived the hearing scheduled today before Coroner I. M. Myers, who ordered Hol brook held without privilege of bond until his trial in superior court. Two companions of Hemric. Grady Moore and James Hall, of Ronda, who had been held for investigation since Saturday aft ernoon, Sunday were released under bond as material witness es. The three Ronda residents were together at the Holbrook store. An argument started be tween Holbrook and Hemric in the store in the presence of a number of people and the two left the building, together, Sher iff Poindexter quoted witnesses as saying. In a very short time Holbrook ran back into the store, got his rifle and went out again. A shot was heard. In a sworn statement made today before Solicitor Avalon F. Hall, who came in from Yadkin ville to assist in the investiga tion, it developed that at least two witnesses saw the shooting. Mrs. Will Billings said she saw the shooting from a dist ance of about 160 yards. She said that she Baw Hemric run ning from Holbrook's store, followed by a man she believed to be Holbrook, that Hemric partially turned while going a^ way from Holbrook and she heard the gun fire and saw the man fall. Grady Moore told in his states ment that he walked to the door of the store and saw the men facing each other. He said that Holbrook apparently struck Hemric with the gun as it fired. One witness quoted Hol brook as saying to his daugh ter when he went back into the store that he struck at Hemric with his gun and the gun went off and blew his brains out. A witness quoted Holbrook as telling him to go after Blaine Sparks, deputy sheriff who lives in the Traphill community. He was the first officer to arrive at the scene of the shooting. He found the body of Hemric, and near one hand was an open knife which had bloodstains. Deputy Sparks found the gun identified as Holbrook's 25-So rifle under a log about 200 yards from the scene of the kill ing, which was about 125 feet from the store building. Bullet from the high powered rifle entered Hemric's head through the left ear and blasted away a great part of the top of his head. Information about the cause of the trouble was vague. Wit nesses said that Holbrook and Hemric started talking to each other in a friendly manner and the conversation progressed in to a quarrel. Assisting Sheriff Poindexter in the case investigation were Deputies Blaine Sparks, R. W. Edwards and C. W. Hanes. Holbrook lived in the Maple Springs community between Ronda and Elkin and was em ployed at an Elkin furniture factory. Surviving are his father, J. W. Hemric, his wife and six children, Norma Jean, Rachel Jeanette, Johnnie, Jerry, Jennie and Judie Hemric; also three brothers and two sisters. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, 11 a. m. at Maplj Springs church. Rev. O. D. Smith. Rev. L. P. Pardue and Rev. E. J. Pardue will officiate. Holbrook is being held it, Wilkes jail without bond. O Dr. Roy L. Lovvorn, Statt College agronomist, has been selected to head the new divis ion for weed investigations in the Bureau of Plant Industry. Soils, and Agricultural Engineer ing of the TJ. 8. Department of Agriculture. y*?**??????? chairman; Clarence Fletcher.