North Carolina Newspapers

THE WEATHER: Fair tonight and tomorrow. 4SaIiilry'i tbt free; Tie Post's tie Paper. VOL. 9 ,NO. 136. SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1912. $4.00 A TEAR, DEATH UNDER WAGON PLAN BARACA STEEL BILL IS VETOED FRIEL ALLEN ON TRIAL NO PENSION "MONEY ASTOR HEIR ARRIVES CAMPAIGN Frank, the Young Son of Mr. Colum bus Sloop, of the Mill Bridge Nei ghborhood Falls Beneath Wheels end is Almost Instantly Killed Funeral Held at Thyatira Church This Afternoon. A telephone message to the Post yesterday afternoon told of a dis tressing and fatal accident vhicl oc curred in the Mill Bridge section Monday afternoon about 4:CO o'clock. Frank Sloop, the 18-year-old sf.n of Mr. Columbus Sloop, was haulins; a load of wood from his home to Sloan's mill, having a double team of .mules, and when about a mile from his home as he was going down a small grade the wood slipped for ward and threw the young man from his seat on top. He fell between ti e mules and the wagon, the wheels of which passed over his body, inflict ing injuries from which he died in a short while. The funeral was held from Thya tira Presbyterian church this after noon at 2:30 o'clock. The father of the young man is one of the most prominent and best known fanners in the county, is an elder in Thyatira church, and the un fortunate boy had many friends in the neighborhood who are saddened over his untimely death. PERPETUAL B. & L. Officers and Director Hold Meeting and Name Date for 54th Series. The officers and directors of the Perpetual Building and Loan Associa tion met in the offices of the same at 207 South Main street last night and decided to open the 54th series on Saturday, September 7th. This is the 27th year of continu ous operation for this association and in that time it has aided in the build ing of 457 homes, churches, business houses and manufacturing estab lishments. The books of the associa tion have just been examined by the Southern Audit Company and show that the organization is in a splendid condition. The officers are: Frank R.Brown, president; T. B. Brown, vice-president; T. B. Marsh, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors is composed of Theo. Buerbaum, M. L. Jackson, Dave Oestreicher, J. E. Ramsay, H. C. Daggett, P. H. Bern hardt, J. W. Neave, S. F. Lord, T. B. Brown, Leroy Smith, J. M. Brown and Frank R. Brown. BENEFIT OF ORPHANAGE. Sunday School Class of the Metho dist Church to Serve Cream. Mrs. J. D. Gaskill's class of the First Methodist church Sunday school will give an ice cream fete at the home of Mr. J. Will Proctor, 427 East Innis street, tomorrow evening from 8 to 11 o'clock, the proceeds to be donated to the Meth odist orphanage at Winston-Salem. The public is cordially invited to come out and enjoy the evening and at the same time aid the class in a most worthy cause. POURING INTO WHITNEY. Mechanics and Laborers Arriving at Big Power Plant. Word comes from Whitney that large forces of men are arriving at that place preparatory to the begin ning of work in connection with the completion of the big power plant of the Southern Aluminum Co. As already stated, J. H. Sands, of Roa noke, Va., will complete the four mile canal, and H. B. Hardaway, of Columbus, Ga., will finish the immense dam. Idle days at Whitney are be lieved to be at an end. AGREE ON DRAINAGE. Majority of Property Owners Along Grant's Creek. It Is stated that two-thirds of the owners of property lying along Grant's Creek have .agreed to the drainage of the same and the matter will now be taken before the board of eountv commissioners and it is - thought that drainage will follow at an early day. - : Mr. J. P. Brischo, of Brooklyn, N. Y, who far several years has been connected with Abraham and Straus, one of the largest department stores in New York, has accepted a position with J. Feldman A Sons in the capa city of a window dresser and show card writer. .- ; j BAD CONVICT KILLED END OF SOLOMON SHEPHERD, SLAYER OF ENGINEER HOLT, OF THE SOUTHERN. WAS TRIG TO ESCAPE Notorious Negro Who Ambushed and Slew Popular Spencer Man Shot to Death While Trying to Secure His Freedom From the State Convict Camp Near Aberdeen Had Given Guards Much Trouble and Made Numerous Efforts to Escape, Being Successful One Time. Solomon Shepherd, the desperate negro who shot and killed Engineer Holt, of Spencer, while the latter was in his cab at a water tank at East Durham one night several years ago, had to be killed at the convict camp near Aberdeen yesterday. Engineer Holt was popular and was well known in this city. He was a brother of Mr. T. V. Holt, of Spencer. The case created great interest in Salis bury and Spencer at the time and the numerous attempts of Shepherd to escape also created comment here. The following Raleigh special in re gard to the killing of this noted con vict will be read with interest: Solomon Shepherd, the most des perate negro convict of the North Carolina penitentiary, was shot to death by guards this morning at the railroad convict camp near Aberdeen, on the Raleigh, Charlotte & South ern Railroad. He had made a rt.'sli for liberty and the guards fired upon him, mortally wounding him, death resulting in a very short time. The particulars of the shooting could rot be learned here this afternoon. This was the sixth time that Shep herd had attempted to escape since he was sent to the penitentiary for life from Durham county, where he was convicted of the murder of En gineer Holt, whom he shot from am bush in 1909. Shepherd's first at tempt to escape was made six days after he had entered the penitentiary and at that time he was shot in the leg and painfully wounded. He suc ceeded in getting away once from .the convict camp and was at liberty several weeks before Oeing recaptur ed. The Raleigh News and Observer of this morning gives the following ac count of the kiPIng of Shepherd and of the murder of Enginjcr Holt, to gether with a review of Uw vase: Solomon Shepherd, the setf-confess- ed murderer of Engineer Fred Holi, was killed in his seventh attempt to escape yesterday near Fayettcville, Capt. S. J. Busbee shootln ( him when he broke from the camp. Shepherd's chain had been remov ed from him as he started to break fast. He took advantage of the re moved encumbrance and dashed for freedom. The load of shot struck him in the back and mdo wounds from which he soon died. The kill was made at 115 yards. A Remarkable Criminal. Solomon Shepherd in many respects was the most remarkable negro crim inal North Carolina has ever had. Until the murder of Engineer Holt he had never been heard of outside of Method, where he was born and raised. He was regarded as a half witted negro, who developed from youth the disposition to onfess all the infirmities of his brothers and sisters and in' later years all of the crimes of the community. When En gineer Holt was slain in his cab on the night of December 3, 1908, the--) wasn't the faintest suspicion of his murderer. In a few days a loquac ious detective appeared and worked up a case against Reuben Barbee, a gentleman of some record also. Shepherd Confesses. . There were positive declarations by negroes that they had seen Barbee shoot Mr. Holt, but they were dis credited. Barbee was tried for his life. In the meantime Shepherd had been caught in Cincinnati, where he confessed that he was the man want ed for the killing of Holt, and while the trial Was in oro cress, he was brought to Durham. When put on the stand by the defense, he confess ed the killing of Mr. Holt and said that he was after negro brakeman who had kicked him oft the train. Solicitor Jones Fuller scouted the testimony and Dr. E. B. Ferabee, Class of the First Methodist Church Hold Largely Attended Business Meeting and Name Captains for Contesting Teams A Pleasant So-1 cial Hour Follows Campaign Will Close on December 1st. There was a large attendance at the meeting of the Baraca class of the First Methodist church last night to make arrangements for the city-wide membership campaign. More men were present than at any night meet ing ever held by the class. Capt. E. R. Fonda presided and talks were made by A. L. Smoot, Rev. J no. W. Moore, O. W. Spencer, N. W. Collett and A. B. Saleeby. The campaign is to be conductd on the following plan: Two sides have been chosen, Reds and Blues, and Mr. O. W. Spencer heads the reds as captain and Mr. N. W. Collett will be captain of the blues. Buttons have been provided Tor each red and blue and assist ants are to be chosen and the side bringing in the least number of new members by December 1st is to pro vide a barbecue supper for both the Baraca and Philathea classes of the First Methodist church, and when this takes place it is to be made a great gathering of Baracas and Philatheas and for their friends and specially in vited guests. At the close of the business meet ing, which was held on the church lawn, watermelons, donated by Mr. Saleeby, were cut and all enjoyed a pleasant social hour. The lawn was brilliantly lighted with electric lights which had ,Jtaen strung through the courtesy of the Public Service Co. alienist, declared that Shepherd was not a man to be taken seriously. Tht jury acquitted Barbee, though Shep ard's story was shown, on cross-examination, to have been utterly Idio tic. : More Confession. That there was some truth in it, it was believed by many. On Shepard were found some keys with the name of J. M. Whitted on the bar. Mr. Whitted's house had been burglarized. Catching a glimpse of the man, Mr. Whitted gave chase in his noctur als and ran Shepard a block bare footed. The same morning, the house of Dr W. Petty was burglarized find Koonce Patterson, colored, caught That Patterson would have been elec trocuted is certain but for the con fession of Shepard. Patterson had been identified by the Petty house hold, but Shepard had some v that established his connection wi'i this robbery. Having acquitted Patterson of burglary and Barbee of murder. Shop aid was arraigned and trieA The case came up in Durham and was re moved to Granville. Shepard before going on the stand denied having confessed the crime or knowing any thing about it He was convicted of mu'dti in the second degree anc mntenced by Judge Ctiwford Biggs to a term of thirty years'. Hu did ad.'-it shooting at a brtkemnn. Soon Escapes. He had not been them a week be fore he escaped and gare the offic ers a two days' hunt He stole . a horse t while on his rampage ard was caught with it This occurred about Sanford and he came immediately in to his own community. More Escapades. About this time, he went to a bar ber shop at the camp and was being shaved. He grabbed a razor and slashed a fellow prisoner's throat but was beaten away from him be fore he killed his victim. A little lat er he was near one of the little hand cars on the road at Garysburg and thinking to maim himself for life, stuck his foot under it. His heavy, new brogan shoes protected his foot and though it waa badly mashed, he recovered from that injury within a month. He made yet another attempt at escape, but was 'this time taken without a shot This was the last until yesterday morning, when he re ceived the discharge that ended his life. ; - Shepard never passed for a bad ne gro until he got. into the courts. The story of the killing of Engineer Holt Is fresh in the minds of everybody. On the coldest December night of 1908, Mr. Holt was coaling his en gine at the chute in Durham and standing up wiping his engine. A hot was heard and in a few minutes Mr. Holt sat down in great distress, He said that he had been fired upon President Taft Today Sent to Con gress a Veto of the Steel Tariff Bill Declaring That the Bill is Not Made With Full Understsnding of Condi tions and its Passage Will Hurt the Steel Industry. Washington, Aug. 14. Basing his objection of the fact that the bill will be disastrous to the iron and steel in dustry and that the revision of the tariff is being made without ample study and investigation President Taft today sent to Congress a message vetoing the steel tariff bill. INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS. Mrs. Giles and Prof. Griffin Instruc ting Teachers Much Interest. Pursuing the course in McMurry's "How to Study," the conductor is now discussing the necessity of giving the child some reason, some aim, in studying each lesson. He also dis cussed the preparatory work, -before the school proper begins. Mrs. Giles is continuing the draw ing lessons, giving instruction m the use of the colored crayons. This afternoon, the primary work for the teachers of 1, 2 and 3rd grade will be continued. This work is very interesting to mothers as well as to teachers. Prof. Griffin is giving outlines of work in geography, history, arithme tic and reading. This work is very helpful and interesting even to those not professionally concerned in the work. Several teachers who had not reg istered before, came in this morning. The attendance is good and all are interested in the work. If aty our institutes are to be like this, there is no reason why they should longer be considered a bug-bear. LUTHERAN WOMEN. Society of St. John's Church Elect Officers and Name Ufa Members. At a meeting of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Soc iety of St John's Lutheran church held August 12th the following of ficers were elected for the ensuing year. ' Mrs. J. O. Werts, President Mrs. L. W. Walton, V.-President. Mrs. L. D. Peeler Rec. Secretary. Mrs. J. L. Fisher, Corresponding Secretary. Mrs. G. O. Kluttz, Treasurer. Rev. A. J. Stirewalt and Mrs. J. A. Rendleman were made life mem bers of the society. TO HAVE W. O. W. FLOAT- Woodmen of the World Give Financ ial Aid to Big Celebration. At a joint meeting of Hickory and Rosewood camps, Woodmen of the World, last night $20 was voted to the Spencer Labor Day fund. Each camp also voted $10 toward the building of a float for the great pa rade. This with the amounts voted by the Spencer and East Spencer camps will give $40 for the W. O. W. float, which is now in course of ere tion . and which will be one of the handsomest in the parade. and must die in a few minutes. He had no idea who did the distantly thing. With an injunction to his fel low laborers to look out for his wife and children he died. Shotgun Figures. His back had 104 shots in it the entire load of a single-barrelo.1 shot gun entering the b'n man's body. The. assailant was seen to reload the shotgun. This instrument of death figured somewhat in the arrest. It was learned from a negro that She pard had such a gun. About the time of the killing, Shepard was' in Durham. During the same night ho took his gun, went up the streets and fired into M. Greenberg's house. Reu ben Barbee was known to be an en emy of Greenberg, and this was used as evidence against him. Shepard left Durham after:: spending two months there, was arrested in Pet ersburg and escaped. He went on to Cincinnati where he was finally "tak en. In that city he gave such a de tailed story of the crime and made such a queer confession that he was held, and brought back to Durham, Barbee was tried in August of 1909 and acquitted. Shepard was tried in February, 1910, and convicted. It is to be doubted whether, there has ever served time in the peniten tiary a man who had a stranger ca reer in crime than Sol. Shepard. Being Tried at Wytheville for the Murder of Commonwealth's Attor ney William M. Foster Prisoner Is Only Nineteen Years Old Allen Claims He Did Not Shoot Until Foster Shot at Him. Wytheville, Va., Aug. 14. The trial of Friel Allen for the murder of Commonwealth's Attorney Will iam M. Foster began at Wytheville today. The jury has been summoned from Bedford county, and it is anti cipated that there will not be much delay in securing twelve men. Friel Allen is third of the Hillsvilie courthouse offenders to be placed on trial for his life. Floyd Allen and his son, Claude Allen, have already been tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and the death sen tence awaits them. Friel Allen is a nephew of Floyd Allen and cousin of Claude. The prisoner is but nineteen years old. According to his story, told on the witness stand in the trial of his cousin he was sent to Hillsvilie by hie father, Jack Allen, with some money to be placed on deposit Ha went to the court house on the fatal morning. He claimed that he did not shoot until Mr. Foster, walking to ward the door, shot at. him. Woodson Quisenbury, the deputy clerk of the court, testified that he turned away firing at Floyd Allen and saw Friel shooting. Quisenbury then shot at Friel and the latter Jeft the court room. The five prisoners are expected at Wytheville this morning and they will be placed la jail here and taken to court today to be used as witness es. GENERAL LEINSTER ABOUT THE SAME. However, Hk Friends Are Hopeful Hla Jteeorery k Near. Wifaihir&n, AugJ i4Adjt-Geh. R. L. Leinster, of the North Carolina National Guard, who was stricken with paralysis in his room at The Or ton hotel in this city last Friday morn ing, and was removed to the hospital Saturday, is getting along about the same, it being reported front the hos pital that there U a' perceptible change in his condition. However, friends here are hopeful that his re covery Is not far in the future and that it will be permanent CONTRACTOR BREAKS' vV, BOTH ARMS ;FALt,' And Still Uvea, Though in a Critl cal Condition Had Just Finished New Home for Hinseelf. . High Point, Aug. 13. Breaking two arms, though still surviving, W. B. Boddeaux fell from the second story of the new Peacock Sherrod building on Whjch he was working as contractor at noon today. He was rushed to the city hospital where there is some slight hope of recov ery. He had just finished him a new home on Centennial avenue. KILLS BROTHER IN SELF DEFENSE. Tragedy Results After Drunken Bro ther Threatened Kimsey Stepp With Razor Skyer Surrenders to the 8heriff. Hendersonville, Aug. 14. After threatening to kill his brother, yes terday .Govan Stepp turned upon hk brother, Kimsey with a razor and as result Govan died instantly from a gun shot wound in his breast Kimsey Stepp, accompanied by Sol omon Clark, came to town last night and surrendered to Sheriff ' Black well. He was in such a hysterical condition he could not talk. Ckrk stated that Govan was drinking and threatened to kill hk mother, when Kimsey interceded, only to be turned upon by his enraged brother , with razor. Kimsey's sore foot prevented his escape, and he fired On his bro ther with fatal results. Both men have families and Uve in the DeWitt section, eight miles from Henderson ville. Captain and Mrs. J. E. Way, of the Salvation Army, who nave been sta tioned here for a good .while are be ing transferred , to Bock HilL The Captain and his wife desire to return thanks to the kind people of Salisbury for their treatment and support,both to them personally and to the Army and its work. . ' : ' ' : ' ; Mr. H.' S. Trott, of New London, was in the city yesterday. PENSIONS DUE ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND VETERANS. IS Congress Has Failed to Make the Nee esaary Appropriation to Meet the Quarterly Pension Roll and Thous ands of Appeals' and Kicks Are Be ing Registered With the Commis sioners of Pensions Both Ctvil War and Spanish-American War Veterans Are Affected. Wellington. Aug. 14. One hun dred and eigb. thousand soldiers, veterans of the civil war, and Spen ish-American wars, have not received their quarterly pension allowance which was due August 4th. This is because Congress has so far failed to make the necessary appropriation. Commissioner of Pensions, Daven port is today deluged with complaints and inquiries from thousands of de pendent veterans, but he is helpless to aid them. Fifteen million dollars due these veterans cannot be distri buted until Congress either passes a new pension bill or continues the old appropriations. CONFERENCE AT OYSTER BAY. Dixon, Perkins and Davk at the Col enels Home for a Conference aa te Hew to Finance the Bull Moose Campaign. "'VyV;' Oyster Bay, Aug. 14. Progressive Chairman Dixon, George W, Perkins and O. K. Davis are expected here this afternoon to discuss with Colo nel Roosevelt plans for financing the Bull Moose party in the coming cam paign. Colonel.' Roosevelt announced that he would take the stump in 86 States between now and November, but the details of ht strip he said were not settled. UNMASKED MEN LYNCH NEGRO. Take Prisoner From Court House Of- Iclak and Change Sentence. Columbus, Ga., Aug. IS. Holding up the officials at the court house, a mob of 40 men late this afternoon took the second . Cotton Young negro and lynched him Just beyond the city lim- ta 'The negro waa accused of kill ing Cedron, Land, white,' two months ago. tie was round guilty oi umawrui manslaughter and sentenced to three years. - The prisoner when taken, waa rush ed upon a street car, from which the passengers were ordered, and when the car had psssed the city limits, the negro was riddled with bullets. The members of the mob were unmasked. in investigation will begin tomorrow. LITTLE GIRL SUICIDES. Six Year-Old Child, Dkflguered, ' Jumps la a Well Nashville, Aug. 14, A dispatch from Cookesville says that Ruby 81agle, six year old daughter of Fil more Slsgle, of DouLle Springs, end' ed her life at her home yesterday, jumping into a well. Recently the child, unusually pretty and attrac Uve, by handling a bottle of acid she had picked up, was fearfully burned about the face and hands, the burns leaving ugly scars. Greatly distress ed by this, the child brooded over the scars. She is said to have declared her purpose , to Jump Into the well She was closely , watched but yester day while her parents thought her asleep she carried out her purpose. They were attracted by her screams as she struck the water but reached her too kte. ; WILSON APPROVES. Demoeratk Candidate Approves of the Action of the House in Passing the - Wool Bill Over the Veto of Presl dent Taft ' Sea Girt Aug. 14. Governor Wil son today expressed hk approval of the action of the House in passing the Underwood wool bill .over the Presl dent's veto. He said, "I am heartily in favor of this wool bill and think the action of the house was entirely jus tillable," . . Mr, , Theo. . Buerbaum and. family have gone to Royal Gorge on their annual summer vacation trip. 15,000.000 Post Humous Child of the Late John Jacob Astor Born This Morning at 8:30 O'clock and Will be Given Fa there Name Mother and Child Are Reported as Doing Fine Father Met Death on Titanic. New York, Aug. 14. Colonel John Jacob Astor's post humous child, heir to three million dollars, arrived at 8:15 this morning. The boy will be named John Jacob Astor. Both moth er and child are reported by the at tending physicians to be doing well. Mrs. Astor has been the center of a large public interest since her escape from the lost Titatic a disaster that is responsible for her widowhood and the birth of her child will Increase the public interest in the widow of the rich New Yorker. Before her marri age Mrs. Astor was Miss Madeline Force. She and he husband were re turning from a honeymoon when the Titantic went down. OD ELL. TESTIFIES BEFORE COMMITTEE, Former Republican Governor of New York Says he Saw Letter Roosevelt Wrote to Hsrrimsn in the Cam' palgn of 1904 and That Hantaan Afterwards Raked 1240,000. -Washington, Aug. 14. B. B. Odelt, former governor of New York, mana ger of the Republican campaign of 1904 today told the Senate committee ' investigating campaign expenditures " about the late E. H. Harriman't con . tributiona. He said that R. R. King showed him a letter .from President Roosevelt asking Harriman to come to Washington and confer with Roose velt Harriman afterwards raised $240,000 Odell said. FAMILY ROW PROMISED. , Democrats in Cane us on Battleship Question Divided Yet on What to do Some Would Make no. Allow- ance at All for Battleships.; Washington, Aug. 14. The Home democrats are prepared for another family row in the caucus over battle- hip appropriations. Chairman Bur leyson of the caucus and majority leader Underwood expressed confid ence before the meeting that there would be a compromise on one super- dreadnaught Instead of two. Con " grsssman Sulser, of New York, insists that he will demand two battleship and has a resolution prepared to give democrats authority to vote for as many as they see fit Rpresentative Pnraatf? A Alabama tm ttatti no-batuesnip faction and Has declared .. that he will fight the scheme to com promise on a dreadnaught, but says he would agree to vessels not of the dreadnaught type. NINETEEN NEGROES : DIE IN EXPLOSION Dlssstrous Result in Alabama Coal Mine From a Windy Shot ' Abrnant, AkW Aug. 13. Nineteen negroes were killed in an explosion here this morning at the Abernant Coal . Company . mine. Seventeen bodies had been recovered by 9 o'clock tonight ;, Forty white men and eight teen negroes, also in the mine accident escaped alive, t i , State Mine Inspector Nesbitt reach- - ed the scene this kfternoon. ; V A. . 1 " 1 .1' 1 . it oeiicrea me explosion was (rue to a windy shot The mine is still dangerous, to enter tonight, although a rescue party from adjoining, camps made repeated efforts. CANADIAN POLICE LOWER OLD GLORY. Strip United States Fkra From Wag on in Circus Procession. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Aug. 14. Royal mounted v policemen, headed by a number of citizens of this city, caused a sensation in the streets here yesterday during , the parade of an American circus, when they stopped the procession and ordered all stars ana stripes removed from the wagons, leaving nothing but union Jacks float ing to the breeze. Both hoots and cheers greeted, the police when thy were taking down the nags . , Mr. J. W. Peeler of Peeler Grain and Provision Co, of Salisbury, is out on the granite quarry spending his vacation and taking in the beautiful scenery in and around Faith. The congregation of the First 11 3 thodist church will take up a ?pecr .1 study of the Acta at tonight's s-r-vice. - The service begins at 8 o'd ' .