North Carolina Newspapers

'fhe Pilot Covers Ijjrunsvvick County THE STATE PORT PILOT A Good Newspaper In A Good Community Most of The News All The Time Southport, N. C., Wednesday, March 31sf, 1948 published every Wednesday ii.so per yeas ,0 Men Being [Held Without Bond Privilege Lnington Man Ordered lf)eld F?r Trial For Fatal ?tabbing Of Leslie B. ?Watson, Bolton Man ICOND MAN B ALSO BEING HELD Ijtson Died Following tabbing Which Occurred Charlie Hattem Place Near Navassa Ten Days Ago k; an it-quest held here in the t houre Friday night a stvick county coroners jury Kinmended that Woodrow 40 year old Wilmington be held without bail for the j stabbing of Leslie B. Wat 30 year old Bolton World ? II veteran. The same jury recommended that George Donald. 24 year old Wilming man. be held in jail without ilege of bond. He is charged Si aiding and abetting Davi9 the murder of Watson. He killing took place at the j ley Hattem road house at assa. Davis had engaged in altercation with Raymond rrell. manager of the place, the previous night. The testi r.y indicated that in company McDonald he returned to the k the following night. This e he got in an argument with iriey Hattem, owner of the !. During this dispute Hat was knocked down and Wat one of the men present, in ferred and was stabbed twice, death occurred in a very t time. ie jury impannelled by Cor John G. Caison and which d the evidence upon which two men were held, included F. Ganey, foreman; E. A. lev. James Pemberton, F. W. >ves, Charley Skipper and lest Bergman. The two men were captured rveral hours nT ret the ?crime as committed, the arrests be ? made by Deputy Sheriff O. F. Perry, assisted by members the State Highway Patrol and iimbus county officers. Two tier men, Harry F. Davis, a rcther of Woodrow Davis, and G. Seagraves were also arrest by the officers. They were urged with aiding and abetting se two men is escaping. Subse tently Solicitor Clifton Moore ttiered these two men released ? there appeared to be no evi nce upon which to hold them ^ trial. Brief Nt?? Flash?* f- T. A. MEETING Southport Parent Teachers As Wiation will meet Thursday ght at 7:30 o'clock in the high &00I library. hospital patient Harry Robinson, Southport srchant, was a patient at James 'alker Memorial Hospital in filmington Monday and Tuesday. ?ade honor roll Two Brunswick county boys, J rilham H. Robbins, ofWinnabow, M William L. Bennett, of Shal "te, made the honor roll for the jut semester at Wake Forest ?Uege. !a.mes notary Mrs. Rachel Todd Corlette was baied yesterday by Governor R. Kg Cherry as a notary public Brunswick county. This is a ewal of her present commis fen. ,T PRESBYTERIAN The second of a series of ad <sses on the churches will be vtn at the Presbyterian Church ; Sunday evening at 7:30 o' The topic will be "The ""thodist Church and the Char ter of Its Founder, John Wes ? The public is invited. ?? Sf>KKNHMENT STAND Members of the Womans Aux *"ry of St. Phillips Episcopal ^uich in Southport are serving ^ffeshments and are conducting 5 C:'ke and pie sale each day this N* in the D. J. Smith office r*t to the tax office. ^SITING LN PANAMA , Mr and Mrs. J. J. Loughlin left wnday for Norfolk. From there ?ey were due to embark aboard 1 naval vessel for Panama yes eoiay. Their son and his family "'We at Coco Sola, Canal Zone, ^ Mr. and Mrs. Loughlin plan j? sPend two of three week? visit r-S them. RECORD CATCH OF ROCKFISH BEAUTIES?The finest catch of rockfish reported in Brunswick county this Spring was made by John W. Garner, left, and W. H. Murray, right, who are shown with their nine fish. The largest weighed 25-lbs. and the others ranged in weight from 6-lbs. to 18-lbs. Memorable Easter Is Observed In Southport Pre-Dawn Singing Begins Day Of Religious Observ ance Featuring Special Easter Music at Churches WEATHER THRUOUT THE DAY WAS IDEAL Methcdist Choir Presented j Annual Cantata At Morn- J ing Hour, Baptiste Their Program In I Evening | . Easter Sunday dawned bright' land fair In this are;a, but even j before daybreak observance of I the day had begun by various 'groups. Among them were the colored ! singers of Southport, who made j their way about the city singing the beautiful songs of Easter. This has come to be an important part of this celebration each year. At least two churches out in the county held sunrise services | which were 'well attended by early morning worshipers. At the 11 o'clock hour in Southport the choir of Trinity Methodist church presented their cantata, "The Music of Easter," J acclaimed as one of the best pro grams yet offered by this group. Mrs. Dallas Pigott was'director. The church was beautifully de corated, and choir members were attired in their new vestments, which added to the atmosphere of beauty and simplicity. The choir of Southport Bap tist church presented the cantata | "The Easter Allelulia" at the | evening service, which attracted la congregation so great that the high school auditorium was al I most completely filled. Mrs. R. C. Daniel directed this program, j At St. Phillips Episcopal church in the morning and at Southport | Presbyterian church in the even ing special Easter music added greatly to the services. Union Services Planned Sunday ' j The Rev. H. M. Baker Will | Fill Pulpit At Tranity Methodist Church At 11 O'clock; Methodists To Join Baptists In Evening In ? the absence of the pastor, the Rev. L. D. Hayman, the pul pit of Trinity Methodist church will be" filled at the 11 o'clock ?hour Sunday morning by the Rev. H. M. Baker, pastor of Southport Baptist church. At the evening hour members of the Methodist congregation will worship with the Baptists in the high school auditorium, which is being used by members of that church for services while their own new church building is under construction. For several months it has been the custom of these two congre gations to hold union mid-week -prayer services, and this is but another step In the matter of co operation between the people of these two churches. The Rev. Mr. Hayman depart ed Tuesday morning from Wil mington as passenger aboard the ocean going tug of which his brother, Captain Dan Hayman, is the skipper. His desination is New York, and he expects to be away about 10 days. Final Report Of Polio Fund Drive The Rev. H. M. Baker, March of Dimes Chairman for Brunswick county this year, has re|M>rted total collections of $976.63 to .Mrs. E. J. Prevatte, chairman of the Brunswick County Chapter of the Nation al Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Of this amount, $452.66 was raised through the schools; $133.22 came in through the various churches: while indi vidual contributions reached $398.74. A good portion of this latter amimnt came through small coin recept icles which the Rev. Mr. Baker had placed in public places throughout the county. Numerous Cases Tried In Court Wide Variety Of Cases j Brought Before Judge W. J. McLamb For Trial At ! Wednesday Session Of Court A variety of cases were dis posed of in Brunswick county Recorder's court here Wednesday before Judge W. J. McLamb. The following disposition was made of these matters: James Coleman, failure to send children to school, fined $25.00 and costs. Fine remitted on con dition that defendant send child ren to school. C. E. Storms, reckless opera tion, $40.00 and costs. Charles Honvltz, speeding, cap ias. L. Lewis Dewolf, speeding, capi as. Albert M. Bresler, speeding, capias. Jack E. Wilthe, speeding, capi as. Hugh B. Mills, speeding, capi as. Thomas Davis, speeding, $10.00 and costs. John Martin Davis and J. C. Seagroves, escape, nol prossed. Clarence Waco King, reckless operation, motion for jury trial. Marion George McDonald and Wood row Davis, murder, motion for jury trial. Woodrow Davis, raising dis turbance- at public place and aid (Continued on page Two) Portion Of U.S. 17 Maye Be Improved Two Brunswick county projects were among those for which bids were opened yesterday by the State Highway Commission. One calls for sand-asphalt sur face on U. C. No. 17 from Supply north to a junction with highway No. 303, a distance of 13.6 miles. Low bid was $95,316.00 submitted by Ballenger Paving Co., Green ville, S. C. The other calls for sand-asphalt surface for 7.75 miles on high way No. 130 from midway toward Supply. Low bid of $47,494.50. was submitted by the same com pany. Ordination Held At Soldier Bay Baptist Church Impressive Ceremony Held Friday Night For Rav. J. Harold Stevens, Who Will Serve For A Time As Pastor PLANS TO ENTER MISSION FIELD Will Serve As Pastor Of Brunswick County Church At Ash Until Final Ar rangements Are Completed At a special service last Fri i day night Rev. J. Harold Ste Jvens was ordained to the Baptist ministry by the Soldier Bay Bap tist Church. Members of the presbytery call ed to examine the candidate and recommend him for ordination were: Rev. H. S. Strickland, pas tor of Wrightsboro Baptist church, Rev. H. M. Baker, pas tor of Southport Baptist church, Rev. A. V. Simmons, of the New Brittain church, Rev. R. C. Mum power, of Swananoa, Rev. G. A. Smith, Rev. W. M. Kelly of Wil mington. Besides these ministers the presbytery included the following deacons: W. B. Edwards from New Life church, R. D. Coleman, O. L. Stanley, R. C. Phelps, P. P. Formyduval and R. A. Wil liams from Soldier Bay church, George W. Harper and L. L. Ward from Friendship church. Upon the recommendation of the- presbytery the church car ried out an impressive service of ordination with the ministerial members of the presbytery in charge of the various parts on the program. Present in the congregation that night were three generations of the Stevens family: H. W. Ste I vena, grandfather of the candi (Continued on page 2) Parent Convicted On School Law Father Found Guilty Of Re fusal To Send Child Of School Age To Fublic I Schools Of County With little enforcement of the compulsory school attendance law during the past few years, some parents have become negligent in the matter of seeing that their children attended. Last week in a case worked up by Miss Ruth Paterson, county welfare superintendent, James Coleman of the Seaside communi ty was taxed with a fine of $25.00 and costs for failure to send his 10 year old daughter to the Shal lotte school. While he was required to pay the costs, the fine of $25.00 was suspended on condition that the child attend school on all occas sions when there was no lawful excuse for keeping her at home. If he fails in this provison he will be called upon to pay the fine. Miss Paterson states that there are a number of other cases of like violations being reported throughout the county. Unless the j parents see to it that the child ren attend school as the law re quires she will be compelled to have warrants issued for them. I Phi Beta Kappa WILLIAM LEFFIS BENNETT Shallotte Man Is Wake Forest Honor Student William Leffis Bennett Is Elected To Membership In Phi Beta Kappa, High est National Honorary Fraternity William Leffis Bennett, the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Bennett of Shallotte, is one of the leading members of the senior class at j Wake Forest College. i Active in a number of campus I organizations, Bennett was re cently elected into Phi Beta Kap pa, highest national scholastic fraternity, with 20 other members of his closs. Bennett, who has a combined major in History and Government, will receive his A. B. degree with his class in June. He plans to take graduate work leading to an M. A. and Ph. D. in history or the social sciences. He is now un der consideration for a scholar ship' which would give Him three years of additional training (grad uate work) In any University in the United States or Canada. Ben nett is also negotiating with the U. S. State Department for an exchange fellowship to Europe, preferably to Oxford University in England. At Wake Forest he takes an active role in the International Relations Club, an organization devoted to the fostering of peace; The Euzelian Society, a prominent literary and debating organization] over one hundred years old; The Student Political Union, one of (Continued on page 2) Ask Donations For Cemetery Lions Club Committee Is Raising Funds to Finance Present Clean-Up Pro gram At Old Southport Cemetery The Lions Club committee in ; charge of raising funds with i which to finance the current 1 clean-up program at the South ! port cemetery ask that persons ! interested in this project make j their donations as quickly as pos sible in order that the work may (Continued on Page 2) W. B. KEZIAH Our Prelimary to coming to spend the summer at their beautiful home at Caswell Beach, Mr. and, Mrs. Harris Nelson have been spending the past week there and j "in the neighborhood". Mrs. Nel-1 son reminded us Sunday that she would not forgive us if we ( did not happen around to the Nel-l son Castle this week. These fine! people from Leaksville-Spray are a big asset to Caswell Beach, j Each summer they bring a num ber of outstanding people to this section. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Bowles of Hickory and W. M. Oliver of Marietta reminded us Sunday that they were at least part time residents of Brunswick county. The beautiful weather sent them down to spend several days at their homes at Long Beach. They will be back before long for the summer and we bad better put it in the paper to remind ourself that we are to stop in at the "Olive Bowl" whenever we are over at Long Beach. "A Man and Three Women", a new novel by Vincent Stevens, has just been published by the Dorrance & Company Press of Philadelphia. Mr. Stevens is the author of "What Doth it Profit a Man." Incidently, he got his start in the newspaper world at South port and from here worked up to the City Editors desk on the De triot Times. As a young man he resided in Southport for many years. He is a brother of Mrs. C. Ed Taylor of Southport. The Sea Pal, Lewis Hardee's new shrimp trawler, was launched Thursday morning. A 54-footer, she slipped down the ways with out a hitch. Work of placing her (continued on paga two) FURPLESS IS CHARTER MEMBER LOCAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Recent Visit Here Of Son Of First Pastor Brings To Light Several Interesting Bits Of History j It is not generally known, but i Price Furpless of Southport is | the only living charter member 1 of the Southport Presbyterian j church. As a matter of fact, when the church was founded just 50 years ago there were only three j members. These three were Mr. ! Furpless, Mrs. L. J. Pepper and | Mrs. Vernon. Both of the latter I are now dead. The church was founded by Rev. W. M. Shaw, a resident of South port in the nineties. Mr. Shaw ! formerly owned the J. I. Davis ! home. He died suddenly in the yard of that home in 1916 and is : buried in Wilmington. i While he resided in Southport [the Rev. Mr. Shaw taught a private school in the old Frink I house, two doors east of the ; Brunswick Inn. Among his pupils in this school was Joel Moore. Of Rev. Mr. Shaw's own fami-| ly, a son, William(Bill) Shaw is now post master at Fayetteville. Another son, Heman Shaw, was j principal of the Wilmington I schools for six years, leaving ' there to do graduate work at Haverford, Pa., where he has since resided. He is dean of his tory ia the Haverford private school which has enrollment of 600 boys. Miss Ruth Faison Shaw, the only daughter of the minister, rose to great prominence as an artist. She originated the finger painting method. She is a resi dent of New York and of Topeka Kan. i Carl C. Shaw, one of the most brilliant young men Southport has ever produced, according to 'oider residents, died In 1910. An other of the minister's sons, Har : ry S. Shaw, died in the first world War. I This week the dean of history at Haverford came to Southport , on his first visit in some 32 years. | He recalled many interesting i things about the town and people of other years. He was here when two Spanish torpedo boats, the Sandoval and the Alvarado were captured and brought into South port during the Spanish-Ameri can war. These boats caused much excitement here. He missed mak ing contact with Mr. Furpless, one of his father's original church members, but did see Joel Moore. Civil Court Term Will Probably End Today McKeithan Named On Election Board Guy C. McKeithan, Shallott? business man, has been named to the Brunswick County Elec tion Board, replacing Dave Ross, who has served as chair man of this body for the past several years. There was no change in the other two members, who are Kobert Milliken, Democrat, and L. C. Babnon, Repuhl' nan. No announcement has been made a? to when the members of the new board 'will hold their organizational meeting, but report of this action and announcement of interest to prospective candidates will be made at an early date. Second Auction At Long Beach Valuable Business Property Will Be Offered To High est Bidder On Saturday, April 10 The second auction sale at Long Beach in less than two weeks will take place Saturday, April 10, when C. W. Mills & Son, Realtors and Auctioneers of Bennettsville, S. C., Will place on sale the Long: Beach Pavillion and small hotel that goes with it. They will also sell a number of building lots. This property is owned by J. F. Garrell of Whiteville. He pur chased it two years ago with the idea of developing it with his son as manager. Only a few weeks after taking charge the young man was killed in an automobile accident. With other business re quiring his attention, Mr. Gar rell has decided to sell the pa villion, hotel and other beach property. The property is a very valu able one and is expected to draw a number of interested bidders. The Bennettsville firm that is to conduct the sale is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Boards and has a fine reputation for handling pro perty. It has recently conduct ed a number of very successful sales in the neighboring county (Continued on Page 2) Colonel Bennett Is Visitor Here Brunswick County Native Held Important Assign ment In Pacific Area During World War II Colonel and Mrs. Ivan L. Ben nett, of Fort Meade, Maryland, are spending this week here with Clerk of Court and Mrs. Sam Bennett. The Colonel's wife and Mrs. Bennett are sisters and the Clerk of Court and Colonel are second cousins. I Colonel Bennett has been serv ing in the army as a Chaplain for the past 29 years. During the recent war he was Chaplain-in Chief of the entire Pacific Area, a work in which he won recognl ^Continued on page 2) Jury Returns Verdict In Favor Of Defendant In One Of The Holmes Vs. Newton Cases; Others Settled COMPROMISE REACHED IN OTHER MATTERS Indications Are That Court Session Will Wind Up Today After Two Days Of Trials With several of the most im portant cases scheduled for trial this week settled out of court, it appeared this morning that there is a strong probability that Su perior court may adjourn this afternoon. Judge Q. K. Nimocks of Fay-; etteville is presiding over a one week civil term. Yesterday a jury heard evi dence in the Holmes will case and returned a verdict in favor; of the defendant, Mrs. Josephine Newton Smith, in the matter of whether the will in question was indeed the last will and testa ment of the late Robert John Holmes. Following this action,' two other cases involving the I same principals were settled out. of court. In the matter of Lewis vs. James Walker Memorial Hos pital, a compromise agreement was reached and the case will not be tried. The same is true in the case of Trott vs. Fergus. In the action Pretlaw vs. Hamme attorneys were in con ference late yesterday afternoon in an attempt to settle this mat ter by agreement. Several cases were continued, and chief interest in remaining cases on the docket was centered in the case of McCoy vs. Mc Nair Investment Co. This case was scheduled for trial today. Invitation Is Extended Board Members Of Board Of Con servation And Develop ment Invited To Be Guests Of Lions Club Next Week Members of the Board of Con sen ation and Development will hold their Spring meeting in Wilmington next week, and on Friday, April 9, "will be guests of the Southport Lions Club at a luncheon at the Community Building. Members of that body will make a trip down the Cape Fear Friday morning for the purpose of inspecting the Navy Section Base at Fort Caswell as a pros pective State Park. The group will' then come over to South port, and following the luncheon i will hold an afternoon business I meeting at the Community build ing. A special invitation has been extended Governor R. Gregg Cherry to be present at the luncheon at Southport, but it has been learned from a reliable sourc* that the North Carolina chief executive will be unable to join the conservation board mem bers for their meeting here. Blooming Season Nearing Peak At Beautiful Orton Tour About The Garden? Monday Reveals That From Standpoint Of Vari ety Now Is Best Time For Visit PEAK SEASON TO EXTEND TO MID-APRIL Greatest Profusion Of Co101", i Expected When Indian ! Azalea# Are In Full Color; Change* Made | While the peak of the Indian azalea blooming in the Orton gardens and nursery will not 1? reached for another ten or twelve days, visitors to the garden? I now and throughout all -of n?*t week may be assured of seel"S | the greatest profusion of flowers 'shown any time during the year, j Many of the beautiful camellias 'are still blooming, scores of vari ous kinds of azaleas are also In full bloom and with them many j other flowers. Even the beautiful Indian azaleas that are credited with bringing the peak of tho season are already in bloom. For profusion of beauty Orton is at its peak now and for those who like variety the gardens are just as great now as they will be When the Indian azaleas make itheir big show ten days or two Iwpeks from now. I Going through the gardens thil . 'week with J. L. Sprunt. owner | of the plantation, a representa tive of this paper was advised r The Indian Azaleas will begin coming out In a few days. Tho [peak of their blooming will be reached within two weeks and they should last through the month of April, if the weather stays normal." Mr. Sprunt then stumped the newsman by asking: "Just what is normal weather?" The year has seen many innovations at the garden?. La?t sumn ?*r and fall Robert S. Stur tevant. New York and Memphis, Tenn., landscape architect, put In many weeks at trte gardens, map ping a wealth of dhanges. His directions and pfans have been faithfully carried out and this year s visitors are viewing many new and wonderful features In walks and flower bed design?. The whole place looks vastly dif ferent and greatly improved. Among the new features do. stined to be a wonder in future years when the flowers have taken hold is a miniature "Green field" lake, bridged over and with flower planting on its border? still going on. Hundreds of visitors are now arriving at the gardens daily. They come from practically all states. Judging by the number during the past Sunday the tide of visitors will reach thou sands this week end and will be as great on the week end? of April 11th and April 18th. ' Meanwhile, it is easy to take Mr. Sprunt's word for It that the flowers are Just as lovely on week days, perhaps more so as the absence of a big rush enable?' the guides to be more attentive. Brunswick Has 15 At N.C. State Highest Number Of Brunt* wick County Students In History Attending College At Raleigh N. C. State College's winter term enrollment includes 15 stud ents from Brunswick county, a survey of the institution's regis tration figures indicated today. The school now has a total en rollment of 5,151, including 5,093 men and 58 women. Veterans of World War II now enrolled in tha college number 3,884. The College's School of Engine ering attracted the largest num ber of students, with 2,922 re (Continued on Page 2) Local Seniors Present Play Three Act Drama Under Direction Of Mrs. J. T. Denning Will Be Presen ted Friday Evening Members of the senior class at Southport high school will pre sent a three-act comedy "Aunt Susie Shoots The Works" Friday 'night at 8 o'clock in the high school auditorium. Blanche Weeks in the role of Aunt Susie winds her way through a series of complicaUoris which promise to leave the a<?? 4Continued on page 2) ~