orth Wilkesboro ,toaa a ading radius of 50 milee, srving 100,000 people tn brthwesteru Carolina. The Journal-Patriot Hos Blozed the^Troil^LPr^gs^n^he^St^e of Wilkes" • Published Mondays and Thursdays jilORTH WILKESBORO, W. CT Monday. April 10.1950 Your Shopping Center FORMER RESIDENT OF WILKES KILLS STUDENT ANDSELF M. ,i . Leon B. Smithey Shoots Self After Staying Of Bennett CHAPEL HULL, April 8.—Al most 18 hoars to the minute af ter allegedly firing fire ballets Into the body of a student friend, Leon Broughton Smithey, 30 year-old" ex-student and war vet eran, -was found dead, propped up against a tree near the Forest Theater here about 9 a. m. today, a bullet hole through his head. Coroner ». y. Walker, Hillsboro and Chapel Hill undertaker, ruled It a suicide following the murct er Friday afternoon of George Lemuel Bennett, Jr., 22. Walker said there would be no need for autopsy in either case. Smithey, sought since 2:50 p. m. Friday, when he was seen walk ing away from his rooming house, apparently gone directly to the Battle Park woods after kill ing Bennett, officers stated. The coroner Bald he had been dead msince 4:30 or 5 p. m. Friday. Found By Student Ira Castles, a Monroe, l^a., graduate student and part-time instructor in economics at the uni versity was on his way to a dental • appointment this morning, tak ing a short cut through the woods from his residence near Gimhoul Castle, when he passed by the body of Smithey. He said he called to him several times. He then went rapidly to Raleigh Street, approximately 100 yards away, flagged a neighbor, a Mr. Wade, and Immediately notified police. Capt. Bill Blake of the Chapel Hill Police Department formally identified the body of Smithey at the scene. Smithey had shot himself in the right temple with a .38-caliber revolver, the same gun used in the ■laying of Bennett, according to "^orSiier WalESf! The buTMr 5*aser through the head and out the left side. The revolver was found clasped in his hand across his lap. Village Tense Discovery of SmKhey's body ended a period of high tension in this Easter-quiet village. Police Chief W. T. Sloan, said he could not recall a student murder at the university since he joined the force in 1924. The police de partment, the state highway pa trol, and SBI agents under Lee Phillips of Raleigh, did not sleep Friday night, continuing their ef forts to locate Smithey. Not until the verdict of suicide came from the coroner did the officers leave their poets. Smithey, described by his mo Smithey was a son of the late Sherman Smithey, of Wllkes boro, and Mrs. Naomi Hendren, who resides in Arlington, Va. »**###*###»»»»»•#*•»»»*»»*»*#»»< ther, Mra. Naomi Smithey of Ar lington, Va., as in need of treat ment at a mental institution, had voluntarily entered Veterans Hos pital at Fayetteville last year for treatment, police said. It was in dicated by a psychiatrist at the hospital last night that Smithey was released "under protest" and that a university professor had "assumed responsibility" for the man. Report Confirmed In a brief telephone interview early this morning, Dr. Harry W. Crane of the psychology depart ment confirmed the link for the Daily News. He said, however, that ft was not a personal matter but one for the university and he would confer with school authorl ites before releasing a statement concerning Smithey. Smithey was last seen by V. A. Hill, a former university professor and currently of the university ex ension division, owner of the fash ionable house at 210 Henderson Street in whicb Smithey and Ben nett roomed. n —————— Flashers Begin . Training Today IS Men In First Workout This Morning With Others Expected Soon Manager Bernie Loman started spring training for the North Wilkesboro Flashers her« this morning with a squad of 15 play ers and more are expected late to day and tomorrow. By the end of the week a squad of 30 players may be in uniform. A' number of Jastr year's vete rans have not reported but are expected momentarily. Veterans in the first workout were Pitchers Lee Bentley and Leslie Rhoades and First Baseman Tom Daddino. New candidates include two catchers, four infielders, three outfielders and three pitchers. ^Work will reach a faster pace by middle of the week and the Flashers will open the exhibition slate at Morganton Saturday night. The first home game of exhibitions will be against Shelby here Sunday and the season will open May 1. Complete 'report on players on the squad will be published in this newspaper Thursday. o ■ Support The Red Cross ^iMjHWH»%%tWWHWmWWWHW»WWWWWHHWHMHW 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY APRIL 13 Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hubbard were married April 13, 1890. Mrs. Hubbard ii a daughter of the late James . Owens and Diana Wesley Chatham, of Elkin. Mr. ■^lubbaid Is a son of the late Saner Hubbard, of Mora * vian Falls. At the time of their marriage, Mr. Hubbard was employed at Chatham Manufacturing Co. They jpred to Morairian Falls shortly after their marriage tad have lived in that community since. They are the parents of ten children, six lhring, as follows: H. C. Hubbard, of Salisbury; Miss Ruth Hubbard, Mrs. E. G. Critcher and Rafeh Hubbard, of Moravian Falls, P. M. Hubbard, ofK. Sterling, Ky.; and J. a Hubbard of Texas. —wVikk mountain streams stocked with trout ni' i - i M i ne cow for each ten people. The slimination of this margin of dif-. 'erence is being made. He says tforth Carolina is fast becoming i green state because of the rapid levelopment of pasture lands. This s pointing to a finer state, he utid. Guests Friday were as follows: lohn B. Justice, III, with John B. Justice, Jr.; Bob Hubbard with Dr. F. C. Hubbard; Richard John ston and L. L. Ray with Frank Blair. E. W. Smith, of Lenoir, was i visiting Kiwanian. Mitch Reeves Rites Conducted Sunday Mitch Reeves, 60,' died Friday jvening at the home of his dau ghter, Mrs. Ray Church, in the Ronda community. Mr. Reeves was born Septem ber 6, 1889, a son of the iate Prank and Candis Eller Reeves. For many years Mr. Reeves op erated a store and service station tour miies west of this city on highway 421, and was well known In the county. Surviving Mr. Revees are his wife, Mrs. Jennie Reeves; one son, R. H. Reeves, of Lenoir, and one daughter, Mrs. Ray Church, of Ronda. w_i—o Schoolmasters Meet Wilkes Schoolmasters Club will meet this evening, 6:80, at Ho tel Wllkee. Speaker will be Na than R. Tel ton, executive secre tary of the Teachers Retirement Mrs. Jane Lowe Funeral Saturday At Walnut Grove Mrs. Jane Lowe, 79-year-old resident of the Pores Knob com munity, died Thursday. Funeral service was held Sat urday morning: at Walnut Grove Baptist church, ot which she was a member. Rev. C. C. Holland conducted the last rite*. death by Lowe. Surviving are. the follow ing sonrf and duaghters: 8pur geon, J. A. and Trfed Lowe, of Pores Knob; Dave Lowe, of North Wilkesboro; Mrs. D. S. Tread way, Mrs. James Earp and Mrs. Hubert Haun, of- Pores Knob; Mrs. Mary Lou Brookshlre, of Taylorsville. Cancer Society Plans To Raise $2,000 la Drive Capter Holds Meeting Here And Reviews Work of The Past Year Wilkes chapter of the American dancer Society in meeting here reviewed work of the past year and made plans for increased edu cational work in the county. W. C. Grier, chairman of the chapter, reported on the Cancer Center, which is operated every Tuesday morning qt Wilkesboor for the people of northwestern North Carolina. The cancer center is operated by the State Health Department, with physicians vol unteering their services. However, he cancer society does much work in encouraging people to attend the center and obtain can cer examinations. The fund raising campaign was also discussed. The goal for the cancer campaign in Wilkes this year is $2,000. Forty per cent of the funds will be used to fight cancer in Wilkes county. Twenty per cent will go to the state chapter for use in counties which do not have an active organization. Hie remaining forty per cent goes to the American Cancer Society to finance research work in efforts to find cancer cures and prevent atives and to finance cancer edu cation on the national level. ^ The plan of organization calls for raising the cancer funds dux-' ing the month of April. Mr. Grier stated, and efforts will be made to. launch a full scale campaign here next week. During the coming year the Wilkes chapter plans to show a number of films in Wilkes coun ty, which will show the desperate need of early diagnosis and treat ment of cancer to cut down the apalling death toll from the dis ease. o Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Helms spent the wsak-snd with relatives la CharknUt. ...... Dave Hall Files As Candidate For OfficeOfSheriff Prominent Farmer And Busi ness Man Seeks Demo cratic Nomination Davs Hall, prominent business ■msa and tygjfliy.ban announced Ms candidacy and has filed with the Wilkes county board of elec tions as candidate for the Demo cratic nomination for sheriff of Wilkes county in the primary to be held May 27. Born and reared in Wllkes boro, Mr. Hall is a son of the late Mr. and Mre. J. B. Hall. For 23 years Mr. Hall was with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco company in the sales division and was division manager with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. After retiring from that posliton Mr. Hall spent three years in Florida. After returning to Wilkes he bought from Mack Moore one of the largest farms in Wilkes county, located near Wllkesboro. In addition to operating his large farm very successfully, Mr. Hall has been active in civic and pub lic life. He has been very active in work of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a member. He is a Baptist, a mem ber of the North Wilkeboro Op timist club and is a member of the Masonic lodge. Mr. Hall is a veteran of World War I. o Debtors Will Hear Dr. Mulherin Here Chapel Hill — Three special ist, Dr. Philip A. Mulherin of the University of Georgia School of Medicine, Augusta; Dr. Robert D. Dripps, University of Pennsyl vania Hospital, and Dr. Reno R. Porter, Medical College of Vir ginia, Richmond, will be the speakers this week at four Post graduate Courses in Medicine be ing held in various parts of the State this and next month. The courses are being held in North Wilkesboro, Salisbury, Ral eigh and Edenton under the spon sorship of the University of North Carolina Medical School and Ex tension Division. Dr. Mulherin will give addresses in North Wilkesboro on pediatrics at a clinic at the Hotel Wilkes at 3 p. m. Tuesday, April 11, and at a dinner at the Hotel that night at 6:30. o Mr. and Mrs. Rom H. Pearson went to Linoolntor Friday morn ing to attend a cake-cutting party given in the evening by their dau ghter, and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Killian, at their home honoring Miss Virginia Yount and Tom Wellborn, who were married Saturday evening, 7: St o'clock, in Dante's Lutheran church. The Pearson's other daughter, Mias Beatrice Pearson, who teaches in Hickory, attended the party and remained over for the wedding. The groom is a son of Mr. Guy Wellborn, of Wilkesboro, and the [late Mrs. Wellborn. Seniors To Give > Stage Production Of Beloved Clotsic Louisa May Alcott's classic no vel, '^Little Women.", was written in the mid-1800'a and sold 80,000 the first year of publication. For eighty years this book has been read and loved by children and adults throughout the world. It has been adapted for stage, screen and radio, never losing its popu larity. On Friday, April 21, the senior class of North Wilkesboro High Schol will present a three act dra matization of "Little Women'' in the school auditorium. The annual Senior Play is one of the biggest Events in the school and the cast has been working diligently for weeks to make this an outstand ing production of "Uttle Women." Tickets are 60 cents for adults and 30 cents for students. Matinee performance for elementary stu dents on Thursday April 20, will be 25 cents per student. Don't miss "Little Women." It is a heartwarming story the whole family will enjoy. r> LOCALS Mrs. J. E. Duncan spent the week-end at Pageland, S. C„ with her son and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Owen E. Duncan and two sons, Danny and Gary. Mrs. Don Coffey and Miss Eliza beth Pinley spent the Eatser week end in Chapel- Hill and Durham. They also visited various North Carolina gardens which are open for spring tours. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Day and young son, James Timothy, viBlted with Mrs. Day's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Saunders, at Bedford, Va., during the week-end. Mrs. W. H. McElwee and "two children, Martan aml Billy, spent the day Wednesday at Kings Mountain with Mrs. McElwee's parents, Bir. and Mrs. J. O. Plonk. Mrs. McElwee was , accompanied home by her mother, Mrs. Plonk, who is visiting here in the McEl wee home. Mesdames N. B. Smithey, Kyle Hayes, Lee Hemphill, Charles Younce, Louise Alexander, and G. M. N. Parker, and Misses Ghita Tuttle and Joyce Younce went to Taylorsville Wednesday evening for a birthday dinner given by Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Kirkpatrick at their home honoring Mrs. Smithey, mother of Mrs. Kirpa trick. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Blatt, of Milford, Va., were here for the Easter holidays with Mr. Blatt's parents, Mr. and Mrs.. Gordon Finley. Mr. Gordon Finley, Jr., a student at Lees-McRae College at Banner Elk, and who had spent the spring holidays with the Blabts at Milford, reutrned home with them and was here also for the week-end with his parents. More Money From City And County Needed For Yeor Trustees and librarians of the Wilkes Public Library, faced with an embarassing books and hour shortage, this month appealed to the Wilkes County Commission ers and the North Wilkesboro city council for Increased appropria tions for the fiscal year beginning July 1. 1950. With a total Income of $5,606 for the current year, the library authorities stated that their min imum needs for the coming year will be $8,040 if the library is to render the type of serviee the people of the county want and are entitled to. Fdr the current year the lib rary receives from the city of North Wilkesboro $1,120. The request for the coming year is $2,500. For this year the county appropriates $600 and the . re quest for the coming year is $3, 000. This year the state furnishes $3,586, which will be reduced to $3,240 for next year. Miscellen eous income is estimated at $300 yearly. That the library is growing in popularity and usefulness is shown by circulation figures, the trus tees pointed out in their summary presented with the requests fer increased appropriations. Circu lation of books in 1949 totaled 46,632, compared to 21,750 in 1945, an increase o; more than 100 per cent in five years. Last year the library added 814 volumes to bring the total to 6, 212, which is far short of the amount needed for the popula tion of the county, now estimated at about 50,000 people. The Am erican Library Association sets as a standard two books per capi ta. Last year the per capita in come of the Wilkes library was IS cents, which is much lower than 45 for Randolph, 75 for Alle ghany, 29 for Watauga, 33 for Caldwell, 28 for Catawba, 35 for Rutherford, and many other coun ties cited in the report.