C01E
IEK
ISSUED WEEKLY PRINCIPLES. NOT MEN ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
- . ''- V- 1 l
VOL. 40 Asheboro, N. C, Thursday, July 22. 1915 No. 28
: -
BAD FIREAT ETHER
mnirr ALMOST WIPED OFF
THE MAP STARTED IN BOIL
ER ROOM OF ETHER MILLING
COMPANY.
On Monday of this week, the littl
wiiino- of Ether, on the Norfolk
Southern Railway, a few miles this
eide of Star, came near being wiped
off the map by a fire which started
the shaving room of the boiler room
of the Ether Milling Company. The
fireman had gone to dinner and the
fire was not discovered until it had
gained such headway that it had
spread beyond control.
In the Ether Milling Company build
ing, where the fire originated, was
located a roller mill, cotton gin, saw
mill and planing mill. In it was also
a lot of wheat, cotton and lumber. The
loss of building, equipment and goods
is estimated at from ten to twelve
thousand dollars. The Ether Milling
Company is owned by Mr. and Mrs
Eli Freeman.
H. Freeman and Sons company
store, owned by H. Freeman, Sewell
Freeman and W. C. Floyd, was de
stroyed, the loss being estimated at
from five to eight thousand dollars
2.000 cross ties belonging to this
same firm were also burned.
Elsie Freeman's store and dwelling
' were destroyed, the loss estimated at
from fifteen hundred to two thousand
dollars.
The Ether Telephone Exchange, the
postoffice, located in a building next
to H. Freeman and Sons Company
and the old depot, owned by H. Free
man and Company, and used as
warehouse, were entire losses. The
loss of the latter is estimated
$1,000.
Woodrow Farlow lost about 1,000
cross ties and considerable damage
was done to his stock of goods in
moving them from the building. The
huildincr. however, was saved.
One end of the Norfolk-Southern
Railway station was badly damaged
though the entire building was not
destroved.
A irreat deal of lumber, the owners
of whom can not be ascertained, was
also destroyed.
There was no insurance at all on
any of the property destroyed and the
loss is entire. It has not yet been
decided whether the business section
will be rebuilt or not.
BURCH MORGAN CAPTURED
Burch Morgan was convicted of
siurder in the first degree m Mont
gomery county at September term of
the Superior Court at Troy m 1904,
and was sentenced to death by Judge
Charles M. Cook. The death sentence
was commuted to life imprisonment
by Governor Aycock upon the recom
mendation of Judge Cook and Solicitor
Wm. C. Hammer.
After three years of liberty Mor
can's reauisition was signed by Gov
Craig on last Friday for the man
who is now confined in Dillon, S. I
Iris Seagrove is named as the agent
bearing the requisition papers.
It was in 1912 that Burch was at
41ia nnmn ramn at Enfield. The
camp was located on the Atlantic
Coast Line. Morgan took advantage
of a passing freight and sprang before
the engine, across the track ana into
the woods on the other side before
the guards were aware of his absence.
The freight could not be stopped.
When it had t-ssed and the guards
gave chase the man had so much of
i, a lead that it was impossible to over
take him.
DUKES GIVE MORE MONEY TO
TRINITY .
Messrs. J. B. and B. N. Duke tost
week gave money to Trinity College
to have placed around the park
granite wall thirty inches high, and
to finish the macadam on the circle
drive within the park. . The Messrs.
Duke have always been interested in
every phase of the college's life and
work.
RURAL PROBLEMS AT SUMMER
SCHOOL
Public schools and their improve
ment have been the subject of discus
sion at ths High School Conference
which closed at Chapel Hill last Fri
day after a most productive and suc
cessful session. Two particular types
of schools engaged the attention of
the conference and the teachers in at
tendance moonlight schools and the
farm life schools. 150 teachers pledg
ed to teach one month in some moon
light school.
"DIN THE COUNTY
WHAT Ok .TOWN CORRESPON
DENT Hl .? 4ND THINKS
ITEMS OF iNTERiJsT FROM ALL
OVER THE COUNTY.
The crops are fine in this county
and the farmers are smiling. The war
does not hurt where a man has his
home supplies, when the "good ladies
go to the garden and have so many
good things to cook they hardly know
what to cook for dinner.
Asheboro is very much on the map
and with the roads leading out from
here in every direction being improv
ed all the time, we are going to stay
on the map.
There was a reunion of the family
of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Bray, of Ram
seur Rt. 1, July 11. All their children
and grand children were present. All
these shared the generous hospitality
of the parental home. Each contrib
uted to the common fund of joy and
gladness. ."Children's children are
the crown of old men and the glory
of children are their fathers:" So
said the great and wise King Solomon.
This must have been a delightful oc
casion.
The Asheboro market is being well
supplied with vegetables, but there is
a shortage of fruits.
Dr. F. C. Craven, of Ramseur, was
in town a short while Monday.
Your correspondent took a trip last
week through Franklinville, Columbia
and Coleridge townships. We were
delighted with the crops, especially
along the road between Ramseur and
Coleridge. Mr. Hugh Parks has
fine farm on this road and his five
renters have fine crops. Mr. T. R,
Burgess has the finest cotton we have
ever seen for this season of the year
and he also has good corn. He owns
a good farm end is a good farmer and
the war in Europe will never touch
him and his family, so far as neccssi
ties and creature comforts are con
cerned.
Mr. J. F. Routh, a prosperous farm
er of Randleman Route 2, was in
town Tuesday.
The good old summer time has been
most delightful in this section so far.
The weather has been 'pleasant in
deed 'and there has been an absence
of excess heat up to this time,
The Courier gets better and better
as each copy comes out. Every home
in Randolph and adjoining counties
should open its doors to The Courier.
All of our people should read it.
Mr. Troy Redding, of Back Creek
township, was in town one day this
week.
Mr. O. M. Yow, of Richland town
ship, was in town Tuesday on b'usi
ness.
Mr. C. T. Luck, of Cedar Grove
township, was here one day this week
Mr. J. A. Redding, of Millboro, was
in the city last Saturday.
Messrs. R. F. and Henry Garner,
of the Ralph section were here a few
days ago.
We clip the following from the
Smithfield Herald:
The present prospects of the Amer-
ican farmer are bright. The great
war in Europe has enlarged the mar
ket for American food products, and
the American farmer has accordinly
increased his acreage in many of the
leading products. New crop records
are to be made this year according to
government figures, based on crop
conditions on July 1st.
Corn, the most valuabe of all
American farm products, shows an
area of 109,273,000 acres, half a mil
lion acres more than was ever planted
before. This big acreage is supposed
to produce 2,814,000,000 bushels of
cora. The crop conditions lor tne lew
weeks prior to July 1, were such as to
reduce the condition of the corn crop
3.5 per cent, below the ten-year aver
age. Even in spite of these unfavor
able conditions the crop is estimated
to be 106,000,000 bushels above the
average for the past ten years, and
141,000,000 bushels greater than last
year's crop.
The much talked of billion bushel
wheat crop promises to be a reality,
The latest estimates gives the pros
pective wheat production 963,000,000
bushels. The winter wheat crop con
dition has fallen which promises a re
duction of 13.000.000 bushels below
the previous estimate.
The State having the greatest num
ber of acres planted to corn is Illi
nois with 10,449,000, with an estimat
ed yield of 351,300,000 bushels. Iowa
follows next with 10350,OOQ acres,
and an estimated yield of 306,400,000
bushels. North Carolina has 3,303,
000 acres in corn, with an estimated
yield of 54,100,000 bushels.
Kansas holds first place as a grower
hi
THE COURIER SUBSCRIPTION CONTEST
The Courier has contracted for an automobile, piano,
buggy, diamond ring, furniture, etc., to be used in a sub
scription contest beginning today.
The premiums will be announced next week and those
who desire to enter the contest are requested to send in
their names and begin to take subscriptions. No votes
need be sent in until after August 1, but subscriptions
should be taken now, and the money sent before the first
of August so that advantage can be taken of the offer to
send The Progressive Farmer until January 1, next, to all
who pay a dollar before August 1.
The contest will be conducted by the Southern Con
test Company.
Write The Courier,
Contest Department,
Asheboro, N. C.
MAKE SMITH CONVICTED OF
MURDER
At January term of Montgomery
Superior Court at Troy in 1907, Make
Smith and his son Charles were both
in jail charged with the murder of
Thomas Bundle a few weeks prior to
that term of court.
Bundle was killed while walking on
the railroad track in sight of the
town of Star, and three ugly axe
wounds were on the head and neck.
No evidence could be obtained at
the time sufficient to go to the jury
as to Make Smith and Solicitor Ham
mer, believing at the time that
the father was equally guilty with
son, obtained permission from the
court to take a nol pros with leave as
to Make Smith and he was not placed
on trial. Charles Smith was con
victed and sentenced for 30 years.
On the trial the proof was conclusive
against the son, he went on the stand
and testified that he hit Bundle three
times with an axe and that something
told him each time to hit him and
something told him to throw the axe
in a hole of water.
At the trial last week Charles Smith
was brought from the State prison to
testify against his father Make Smith.
The son testified that the father and
eon followed Bundle and took an axe
along and the father told the son to
hit Bundle in the head, and then told
him to hit twice more after Bundle
fell from the first lick, and the father
then told the son to throw the axe
in a hole of water near by and he
would get it later. The son said his
father had him to search for money
he got $69 out of the dead man's pock
et, that his father gave him a ten dol
lar srold piece and kept balance.' He
showed the gold piece to a witness
who testified at the other trial. When
his father found it out he took out
the son and told the son that a man
by the name of Harris had at some
time in the past let him have a five
dollar gold piece. It was agreed that
the son was to go to Harris and tell
him that Make had let the son have
the five dollar gold piece which Make
the father had obtained from Harris.
On the trial of Charles Smith, Harris
swore that he had let Make have the
five dollar gold piece and that Charles
had told him Make had given the five
dollar gold piece to him. Charles
swore in the first trial that it was
five dollar gold piece that the witness
saw him have and not a ten dollar
gold piece.
At the trial last week Make Smith
denied the statement of his son
Charles, but the jury found Make
guilty and he was sentenced to the
nenitentiary for 18 years. Father and
son are both serving terms in the pen
together.
of winter wheat, having 126,800,000
acres, with a prospective yield of 76
per cent, of a full crop. North Caro
lina has 10,900,000 acres in winter
wheat with a crop condition of 88 per
ent.
Prosperity is ahead for the Ameri
can farmer. Not every one will reap
the direct benefits of the great crop,
but the present prospects are bright
for the ap-to-date all- round farmer.
Mr. J. R. Osborn, of Liberty Route
1, spent several days in town this
week.
Mr. Preston Humble, a prosperous
farmer of near Liberty, was in town
yesterday. .
Mr. James Ellison, of Franklinville
Route 1, and Miss Swannie Kinney,
of Liberty Route 1, were married last I
Sunday by Rev. James Webster.
Mr. R. L. White, of Glenola, spent
a short while in town Monday.
Mr. K. E. Hare, of Cedar Falls, was
in town one day this week.
A TYPE O FTHE SOUTHERN
SOLDIER
(From The Sanford Express.)
Seeing Capt. H. C. Ingram down
street early the other morning, we
wanted to know why he- was up so
early. "The sun has caught me in
bed but few times in 50 years," said
the Captain. He has always been an
early riser and has been greatly
benefitted by it. He is 74 years of age
and looks to be not over 60. He is
perfectly erect and moves with a quick
elastic step. Captain Ingram was in
the Confederate army and became
commander of his company. He fought
at Gettysburg and was in 40 or 50
feet of Stonewall Jackson when he re
ceived his mortal wound at Chancel
lorsville. He heard him give his last
command.
SUPPOSED DEAD MAN RETURNS
Frank Klug, of Millwaukee, Wis.,
for whose murder Nick Georgian is
serving a 25-year sentence, and whose
body was identified by relatives, re
turned Monday to his family. He had
left home because of discouraging
domestic conditions. Fearing arrest
for desertion, he said, he made no ef
fort to fommuicate with his family
and a recent letter from a friend gave
him the first intimation that he was
supposed to have been murdered.
DEATH OF MR. VESTAL
Mr. Calvin Marvin Vestal, aged 74,
died at his home in Randleman last
Sunday, and was buried on Monday
at St. Paul's cemetery, Rev. R. E.
Powell conducting the funeral. Mr.
Vestal was a Confederate veteran,
having been a member of Co. I., 22nd
North Carolina Regiment. At the
time of his death he was a merchant
at Randleman. He is survived by
three children, but no widow. The
children are Mrs. Cora Lee McDonald,
Mrl Henry Vestal and Miss Annie
Vestal, of Randleman.
Mr. Vestal was a good citizen and
a good Christian man, and will be
missed from the life of his community.
RUSSIANS DESROY 59 TURKISH
VESSELS
A fleet of 59 Turkish sailing vessels
laden with war material for the Turk
ish army of the Caucasus has been de
stroyed by Russian torpedo boat de
stroyers, according to a dispatch from
Sebastopol to Reuter's Telegram Com
pany.' The sailing vessels were on -a
voyage to Trebizond, a seaport of
Asiatic Turkey on the Black Sea.
The crews of the Turkish ships were
made prisoners by the destroyers.
PILOT MOUNTAIN TO BE SLD
Pilot Mountin, one of the leading
landmarks of the Old North State,
and nearly 3,000 acres of land will
be sold at public auction Tuesday,
Nov. 9, the place of the sale being at
the old Gilliam place, which is located
on the premises.
The sale of Pilot Mountain marks
the ending of a legal battle extending
over 18 years, during which time it
has been tied up in litigation among
the heirs, who have been trying to
get the battle settled, but not until a
few weeks ago did the courts decide
to appoint commissioners to sell the
property. 2,911 acres will be sold.
Negotiations are going on looking
to the taking over of the gold mine
properties at Gold Hill, Rowan coun
ty, by parties representing the Gug
genheimer Company. Nothing definie
has as yet been given out, but from
what can be gathered the proposition
is almost certain to materialize.
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS
ITEMS OF LIVE NEWS GATHER
ED FROM OUR EXCHANGES
AND CONDENSED IN BRIEF
FORM FOR BUSY READERS.
Six persons were drowned-Tuesday
of last week in waters in and around
Manhattan and in New Jersey. One
man died of heart failure, while bath
ing. The dead also includes a boy
who was fishing, a boy who was ca
noeing, a fresh-air fund boy who was
swimming, and a barge captain who
tried to save his wife. An unidenti
fied men fell into East river.
Before the war began Ypres, France
was a city of some 18,000 people.
Now it has not a single one. No one
is making any effort to make any
ruin habitable. The only sign of life
except occasional soldiers coming out
and going to the lines are cats grown
wild which become streaks of fur dis
appearing among the ruins of their
former homes.
J. Blanding Haman, who has been
with the Wilmington Star, left last
Friday for New Orleans where he will
take a position with the Times-Picayune.
He is succeeded as telegraph edi
tor of the Star by James F. Reynolds,
who has been with the News and Ob
server. The $20,000 worth of school bonds
which Maxton voted recently have
been sold to M. W. McNear and Co., of
Chicago, for a 5Vs per cent., 30-year
bond at par and accrued interest, the
printing of the bonds and a premi
um of $126.
The home of Mayor WT"S. Stanley,
Highland, near Hickory, was fired into
with a pistol by some unknown per
son Thursday night of last week about
one o'clock and the mayor and his
wife narrowly escaped being murder
ed while asleep in bed.
A report is going the rounds in
Thomasville that a gentleman out
West recently addressed a letter to
the "Chair Town" and that it came
straight to Thomasville. That town
is justly proud of its nickname for no
other city excels her in the manufac
ture of chairs.
The seventh annual convention of
the Woman's Missionary Union of the
Sandy Creek association convened
with the Baptist church at Aberdeen
July 15 and 16. The business meet
ings were tinged throughout with zeal
for better plans and methods for effi
ciency. Stanly county has been added to the
list of counties which are to have soil
surveys.
Dr. Joseph McConnaughey, one of
Salisbury's oldest citizens died last
Saturday after an attack of acute in
digestion. In his younger days Dr.
McConnaughey was a leading man in
the county and was well known among
the older citizens.
D. Kiser, a young fireman of Com
pany No. 2, of Winston-Salem, met his
death at a small fire one day last
week, when, he picked up an electric
iron while the current was on. He
could not set the iron down and two
men tried to wrench it from him but
could 'not.
Greensboro last week voted $60,000
worth of school bonds, which will be
put on the market as soon as possible.
A new building will replace the Ashe
boro street graded school and two new
buildings will be erected in the north
ern part of the city. A school for the
colored will be located on East Wash
ington street.
Mr. Frank Hargravc, threshed 2,
821 bushels of wheat and 309 bushels
of oats on his fine farm near Linwood,
in Davidson county this year.
Don E. Herbert, aged 23, son of
State Senator Herbert, of Hayesville,
Clay county, died last Friday as the
result of a bullet sent crashing
through his head, while he and a Miss
Watkins, of Andrews, and Herman
Ownby were out in a machine. The
coroner returned a verdict of suicide.
Mr. J. P. Millner, aged nearly 80,
died last week at his home in Thom
asville after several weeks of declin
ing health. He is survived by a wid
ow and eight children.
Solomon Gallert, of Rutherfordton,
will probably run for the Democratic
nomination for Congress in the Tenth
North Carolina district in 1916.
High Point has asked the Federal
health service to send an expert to
High Point within the next few days
to investigate conditions there, as
there are several cases of fever in that
town.
Two sons of Gaston Bradshaw, col
ored, of near Graham, were accident
ally drowned in a mill pond one day
last week.
FRANK'S THROAT IS CUT
LIFE TERMER USES BUTSHER
KNIFE ON LEO M. FRANK AND
HIS RECOVERY IS DOUBTFUL
Leo M. Frank, serving a life impris
onment sentence in the Georgia State
penitentiary for the murder of Mary
Phagan, a 14-year old Atlanta factory
girl, had his throat cut by William
Gree, a fellow prisoner, at the State
prison farm Saturday night. Physi
cians pronounced the wound serious,
but said there was a chance that he
might recover.
Frank was attacked while sleeping .
in the prison dormitory in company
with other inmates. The knife used
was made of a file and the prisoner
had used it in killing hogs the day
before.
GOOD ROADS MEETING
North Carolina Association Met in
Asheville Last, Week Timely Top
ics Discussed.
The North Carolina Good Roads
Association convened in AshevillA
.Thursday of last week. At no meet
ing in the history of the Association
has there been a more general repre
sentation from the various counties,
nor has a spirit of enthusiasm been
greater. Strong addresses were made
by speakers of promience, timely res
olutions were adopted and interesting
reports were heard. More than 200
delegates were in attendance.
Paying a warm tribute to the' late
Dr. J. A. Holmes, whose death oc
curred recently, Dr. Joseph Hyde
Pratt referred to him as the founder
of the North Carolina Good Roads As
sociation. Resolutions of Respect to
the memory of the man who devoted
his life to his State and country were
adopted. Hon. H. B. Varner was re
elected President.
REFUND TO PURCHASERS
The Ford Automobile Company has
announced a refund of approximately
$15,600,000 to owners of Ford ma
chines who bought them since August
1, 1914. - On August 1, 1914, the comr
pany announced that if 300,000 ma
chines were sold during the ensuing
year each purchaser would receive a
refund of from $40 to $60. The 300,-
000 mark has been reached.
000 mark has been reached. "Uncle
Henry" is going to stand by his prom
ise. -ir
HARRY K. THAW DECLARED
SANE
Harry K. Thaw was declared sane
Wednesday of .last week by a jury
which for nearly three weeks had lis
tened to testimony given in the Su
preme Court at New York before Jus
tice Peter Hendrick. He remained in
jail Wednesday and Thursday nights,
and on nday Hendrick announced
thst he had adopted the verdict of
the jury and Thaw was given his
freedom. Counsel for the State im
mediately gave notice of appeal, and
Thaw's bond was fixed at $35,000.
After the bail arrangements were
made he left for Pittsburgh.
Dr. George W. Long, of Graham,
who has been at Whitehead-Stokes
and John Hopkins hospitals for five
and a half months, returned to Gra
ham Thursday of last week. He is
much improved.
Deputies C. D. Story, of Burlington,
Hardy J. Stockard, of Saxapahaw. and
A. W. Moser, of Graham, and Gordon
Rogers, colored, barely escaped with
their lives when their machine turned
turtle near Burlington one day last
week.
More than sixteen and and a half
million passengers were transported
by the Southern Railway during the
year ending June 30 with only one
fatal injury to a passenger while, on
a train and that one while standing
on a car platform. During this same
period twelve persons riding in auto
mobiles were killed in accidents at
public highway crossings.
Of the forty cases on docket at the
term of Rowan Superior Court last
week, thirty-five were liquor cases.
The German submarine U 15 has
been sunk in the Black Sea by Russian
warships. This submarine became fa
mous by eluding the British blockade
and passing through Gibralter on its
way from Wilshelmhaven to operate
against the allied fleet in the Dardan
elles. Speaker Champ Clark faced a band
of suffragettes in a hotel lobby at
San Francisco last Thursday and
pledged allegiance to their cause.