North Carolina Newspapers

1 1 THE'WEATHER: Fair Sunday: Monday partly cloudy, k not much chance iu temperature. I VOL. XXXVI, NO. 62. ASITEVILLE, N. C. SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28, 1919. PRICE FIVE CENTS I 2 ii n fill lrpiiiiiif ir il niinif L I II Ull I Ln m 1 MS BEHIND BROWN MURDER MYSTERY . Two Men and Woman Are Believed To Be In volved in Case. SOLDIER IS ORDERED TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ; Mrs. Leona Bennett Is De 'O tained by Officers at Sandusky, Ohio. MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich., Deo. 27. Convinced that Jealousy was behind the slaying last Tuesday night of J. Stanley Brown, son of a former De troit Manufacturer, authorities toaay instituted a search in Ohio and south ern Michigan for twg men and a wo man, the latter airs, uniun being detained at Sandusky, Ohio. Filrther Investigation here brought B .tntompnt from Loyd Provost who has been held as a -material witness hut ' later released Implicating the three. One of the men, it was said was a soldier stationed at Camp Cub- tar. The other, a civilian, was pre mimed to be in some Ohio or southern Michigan city. Both of them, Pre vost told Sheriff William "Caldwell were Infatuated with Mrs. Bennett to whom he stated-Brown had paid COI id court before his death. This accord g to the statement, led to threats violence against urown. Sheriff Caldwell stated tonight that rs. Bennett would be Drought nere for examination and that he had her promise to aid in clearing up the mysterious death of Brown, who was found Wednesday morning shdt to death at the wheel of his automobile en the road ' between Detroit ' and Mount Clemens. A sheriff's deputy left late today for Battle Creek for the purpose of taking the soldier Into custody. The sheriff announced tonight that Prevost and Mrs. Ruth Prevost Brown, young widow of the slain man, had been definitely eliminated from the investigation. Both of them had been held as material with esses and were released today shortly after writs of habeas corpus were granted in De troit. , . . 'MUS. BENNETT ARRESTED. BANDUSKY. Ohio: Dec. 27. Mm f liHha. Bennett, aged. J4, was arrested here 'this afternoon by Sheriff Perry on request or Mount Clemens; Mich, authorities, who are probing the mur der of J. Stanley Brown. She was found at the home of her father, Charles Peck, who came hero about six months ago from Michigan. Sheriff Perry says Mrs. Bennett claims to have come to Sandusky Christmas eve. Pending the arrival of the onlcers from Mount Clemens, newspaper men were not permitted to see Mrs. Bennett at the county jail where she Is confined. Sheriff Perry says Mrs. Bennett will waive extra dition. A deputy sheriff arrived here late tonight and will take Mrs. Bennett o Mount Clemens tomorrow morning, ne win not be questioned until she i brought before the authorities at Mount Clemens. According to Sheriff Perry. , Mrs. Bennett Inquired tonight if she was suspected of the murder and was told that she Was wanted only as a wit ness. The woman appeared much worried, the sheriff said. She told the sheriff that she reached Sandusky on unnstmas day. Deputy Sheriff Lowenstefo, t Mount Clemens, declared that his of Ilce had information that Mrs. Ben nett had a suitor at Battle Creek. her home, and that Brown had also paid ncr attentions. DENIES CHARRR. ,: BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Dec. 27. Mrs. leona Bennett Smoke, former wife of Clyde Bennett, and whose ar rest has been reported in Sandusky, Ohio, Is in Battle Creek. Tonight she Indignantly denied all connections with the case and said she had no Idea who the "woman is who was ar rested ln Sandusky. :: Mrs. Smoke has made her home ln this city for three years. CpilO LYNCHED BY MOB iilN THE TAH HEEL STilTE Black Is Taken From Of- fleers After He Killed White Man. WTLMINGTOX. N. C. Dec . 27. While being rushed to Ra lelgh for safekeeping following his arrest for the murder of R. , M. Brown, a white man, .a. ne ;" gro named Green was taken from officers by a mob 'and fastened by the neck to the rear axle of ' an automobile, after which he was dragged for'two miles and then hanged to a tree. Daring i the fight between officers and v members of the mob, the negro J broke away but was recaptured f ; by the crowd. - Mr. Brown was shot to death - at Franklinton, N. C. From what can be learned, the trouble seems to have started 1 when Green was directed by 7 Brown not to strike matches is '- the building, the negro taking . offense and following Brown to r the street later shooting him. miSONF"" ."E PLAY i RALK1UH. N. iec: 17. Twenty! erven women prisoners of the North. Carolina state Prison, .including sev eral whose life terms last week were commuted to 16 years imprisonment. were guests tonight of a local theatre st a play witnessed by Governor and Mrs. ickatt. ,. - . - Another Railroad WOULD AVENGE THE DEATH OF ANGELES Villa Writes Letter to the - AssodatedJCresa- Declares No Just Tribunal Would Have Sentenced Friend to Death. EL PASO, Tex., Dec. 2-7. General Francisco Villa in a letter addressed to the Associated Press at El Paso and received today, protested the ex- cution bv Carranza troops of Gen- ecution oy vouu er under Villa and hinted at reprisal on those who had a part in the -as- ,BB.,nn ,, SaSSinailon. The 'letter was dated December 10 at Murquli. Goahuna, wnicn paice Villa. Raided obtaining "Christmas, ' ... . gifts." for his command, tne .euer was written ln long hand, presumapiy by a secretary of the leader, but It bears the signature of Villa. The oe" l"n D B letter contains the first authentic statement direct from Villa" concern- Representative Lufkln said Secre ln the Angeles case received ln the tary Daniels, Admiral Knight, Admir- . . . n alma taw, nthoi ntflnaru wnilM he United States. The letter rouows: :T0rFranec4rvniarand ail of the chiefs of the revolutionary army which Is under my command since I speak in their names P hemently against the assinauon or General Felipe. Ange e oraerea Dy ih. trntltor. venustiano Brraiiiii, and carried Into effect by the Carrans Istas, and we proclaim to the world h.i naneml Anseles was an honor able man and that no just tribunal In the world wouia nave bbdiwuwu him to death. His sole crime con-, stated in never having been a Car Mark this well, so that when the time arrives for Justice to wards the Mexicans tnere can oe mm to accountability those who are re nonslble for the aaslnation of a pa triot whom we deeply mourn. "Muqulx, Dec, 10. iviv. , "The General In Chief, "Francisco Villa." rtenaral Angeles was executed at Chihuahua City November 26, after being found guilty oi reoeiuun u mimrr court. He was a graduate of Chapultepec military school, was an officer In tne army oi mo nmi Dtax and took part m tne maaero. revolution. In the world war Angeles offered his services to the French and awarded tne legion oi nunor medal for his work as an ariinery expert. ' LL -6E VOTING FUN IN LEAGUE1,. , LONDON. Dec t7. Prmier Lloyd George, speaking at wany.tymawy. w.iNL today, detenaea uie voting aVrawemt of the league of nations! , Ho slio that Australia lost as many men as th. United States in the war .nri Knit aa much right to rote aa tne ; TTnltwl States. This vote, however, he added, would not be used on any question arising between Great Bri tain and the United States. President Wilson recognized tne nt th riiin ! forward in behalf of the British em-: pire", said the premier. He recounted the fight ln the United States on the treaty, which he termed "the folly of America entering upon party warfare when trying to settle the difficulties and troubles ensuing from the great war. Question m . PROBE TO BE MADE OF MEDAL AWARDS By Both Congress and the . rr.y Navy Department. r - Joint Committee From Both Houses Will Take tip the Question . WASHINGTON. Dec. 27. Full in- 'lKn who ftma todav ,rnm M(W1. vjoe tQ hava, offlcerB broUght to a son, Mass., to learn why the physician head by Rear Adnftral William 8.haA , r.. 81ms' recent protest against the ten- n, i... a k.. tv.. j.n.rf. ani? b th department. on the heel f-secretary uan.ei s Mnnuuncvmv.iL inL itia tiaroi K D...' Umlnl Tfnln-ht hail. h nrrtered reronvened .to review' review, jts , findings on recommendations tor meaais or otner aecoraiions, iiepre- untntlvA T.nfkln rennhlfrAn. HfflMft- chugetts o( the -hou nava, commlt. tee conferred with members of the senate committee and stated that a Joint committee would lane up me whnln niu nn when consreaa re- convenPd. - committee which es not need special author.. h , . - ,hA k.i in each case will be examined, he 'said, H..,v rmniei. tnrtav fh .-.,' . ,l8t of decoraUonB and in passing on new recommenda tions for awards the .Knight board would be instructed to Tollow) in gen eral the policy he adopted ln revls- (CONTINUED UJ PAOB TWO.) KOLCHAK RETIRES AS HEAD OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN ARMY Names Gen. Semenoff, Commander-in-Chief. Action Taken Because of kolchak's 111 Health, Message Declares. - LADIVOSTOK. Wednesday, Dec (By the Associated Press.) Ad- linlral Kolchak. commanding the all- Russian government forces opposing the botehevlki In Siberia, haa retired t --"- r"-." " " " m -.- -- Semenoff to succeed as commander In chief, according to a message received here today by General Semenoffg rep- rewinwuvo. The message,' quoting Admiral Kol- cbak'a order, said: "In 'order to unite all armed forces fighting to make secure our political organization. I name General semen- ntf tnmnuder In chief with head- quarters i In the Irknuk and trans- Baikal Russian military districts. All military commanders win he subordi nate to him," : . ' - .CONFERENCE ADJOURNS. ; DORPAT, Falday. Dea. it (By the Associated Press.) A last mo- By Billy Borne BLOW OVERCOMES EY Dr. Vermilye Refuses to See t m ,.v . v. Bridegroom-Elect , Declines to Make Detail State ment on Affair. VEW XCtRK. Den. S7Tr. Wll. ,T ,r , , dav to marrv her. ar both rial ent hospital Jn Brooklyn. Miss Keenev - - man1, mril fit thn In.f llutlnn wh.n i ,r ... n formed that Dr. Vermllv wnnM not see her. The doctor has been a patient since Thursday evening. Earlier, in the day Dr. VeJ-milye stated that "upon my return to the TTnfterf states f wn a met hv a n fntH. ded that he. was "not hiding from anyone" and had nothing more to say. Miss.Keeney was accompanied by her father, George Keeney, and a young cousin couple. Mr. Keeney ap peared bewildered by the situation and when asked about Dr. Vermllye's statement said that the doctor was "r j man of very strong mind and great ability and It would be Impossible for any woman , to force herself upon faltn." His daughter had received many presents from the doctor, he added. "All wo can do now is wait." Mr, CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO. Adhiral KOLCMMC ment hitch, over the right of the Esthonlana ' to fortify part -of the Narva -front developed after m pro tracted session of the Baltio peace conference, extending far intoyChrist mas morning, when the conference adjourned after abandoning the at tempt to complete the "preliminary I armistice", and ith the question ofi peace still in tne Balance, Accoromg to tne stnomansL jeres. I Russian bolshevik delegate, departed , mvmnwr, nv iinn Tmrew MISS RUTH KEEN r lOIHERHOOiSJO OUTLINE POSITION ON.CUftllNS BILL .i - . In Declaration of Principles To Be Drafted at Conference. PREDICT THE HOUSE WILL NOT PASS BILL Possibility of Veto Also Discussed by Officials at the Capital. WASHINGTON, Pec. 27. The at titude of organized railway employes toward the anti-striko provision of the Cummins railroad dill will be formally stated in a dei-laration of principles to be drafted -by the heads of all the brotherhoods ut a confer ence here Monday with President (iompers, of tho American Federation of Labor. Labor lenders dec-fered today that "nothinB drastic wis to be expected" but the general view among organized workers was that the affiliated trades would stand by the railway machin ists' union which voted to quit work if congress enacted the antl-strlko provinlon. Senators and representa tives now ln Washington expressed the opinion, however, that the house never would accept the bill as It came from the senate and that even If it should pass, President Wilson would veto it. The possibility of a presidential ve to has been given serious considera tion by members of congress, who realize the necessity of enacting prop er legislation before the roads are handed back to their owners on March 1. Labor leaders in discussing this eventuality, also called attention to day to this statement by the Presi dent in his message to congress four weeks ago: Wilson's Statement "The right of Individuals to strike Is inviolate and ought not to be. in terfered with by any process of gov-' ernment. but there is a predominant right of the government to protect all of its people and to assert its power and majesty against the chal lenge of aoy class." v This one sentence was variously in terpreted by brotherhood officers as a virtual announcement by the Presi i.e. wimi. no WUUIU not Sign ft Dili ( tlce by the President that even if 1 dent mar no would not sign a bill de no- right to strike was Inviolate; the ngni oi tne pudiio stood over and above it. Regardless of what action might be taken by the brothorhoods. the be lief prevailed In congressional circles that when senate and hnnu ferees got through with the Cummins 7wk !etE!-V,0i26rt,8.of tho ant- n -woV" The con- iorono-o win Degin work next week after Senator Cummins and genator Kellogg, republican. Mlnnto turn here from North Carolina' hundreds of barrels of the poison All of the senate conferees ' voted ' "quor were male )n thl" c,ty bV for the labor clause and are expected n ' Italians and shipped to Con to make a hard fight In ronfrenV. tWt necticutt and nearby states. They Its retention. On the straight senate test an amendment to eliminate th section was defeated, 39 to J4. Some idea of the attitude of the house, how n who .Wm .gJv?n.u todtty by members who said that the anti-strike clause Dody "0t command ""y vtes in that . To Confer Monday The heads of the four big brother mdi "I!d tne tpn affiliated trades will be here Monday for the confer ence With Pr..l,lnn - " . ?' was called for the sDeciflo nm-'n 1 nn.i.. . -j Jr,pecl.no Purpose of i tion. Committees representing the six shop trades have an appointment for dlEcusslon of wage demands, but vv,wiu.iiiiK uiiuinr mi pnBrf l . ill Tuesday B deferred "" It was emphasl2ed at federation headquarters that the two confer ences had nothing in common, al though It was admitted that the situation respecting wage demands was somewhat changed In view nf President Wilson's definite decision to in view of the short period of gov ernment control there was a feeling in some quarters that the director general might refuse to saddle a wage Increase on tho roads ori the eve of e!h5e.tUrn lo Prlvau oPerWIon. Most Of the1 leaders Insisted, however, that the demands would not be rejected to use his Influence, to get more wage, for railway men if the gover" ment failed to reduce the cost of llv- SIS Jl1?edlt rallroad taltloii. some fh"b'Ja" "Pressed today whether ? fl ?i"d Cummlna '11 could be Vt .1 P. nnd. put toe"ier again by the time set for the end of fed" eral control of tho roads. Meanwhile great pressure Is beinr k,.TJw bear on members of the senate and i tno men whiskey, and gave the offl house to speed up work, but there cer" a bottIe froi "ck for anal is little hone of vetting u. : ..: I m i. chief Medieai r. i , uaiura me end of Jan-' ! . , SPECIAL MEETING OP CAROLINA MASONS RALEIGH. N. C. Dec. 27. The Masonic grand lodgs of North -... olina has been called to meet in a special communication here Sundav afternoon to attend the funeral of General William Cox, one of the last surviving officers of the confederacy who died in Itichmond, Va., Friday night. The funeral will b hM n Christ's Episcopal church. DEATHS IJT MEMPHIS MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 17. Ronr.i of health records show threee per sona died in Memphis Of wood alco hol poisoning, during the - present month. All of the- deaths eccuerd prior to the Christmas holidays. . CIXB BUYS PITCHER. TJ"msVILLE. Ky.. L.. . The iTMiiaville American association base halt club tonixnt announced tno pur chase of Arthur R. I1 pitcher. :."" ,..k . v , MORE DEATHS OCCUR AS RESULT OF USING POISONOUS WHISKEY Kidnaped by Suitor. f Mrs. Mary Delk, of New York city, has requested tho police to search for her daughter, Irene Welner, 18 years old, who Iihs disappeared. Mrs. Delk said sho was convlnved that the girl had been kidnaped by a young man whose attentions Miss Weiner had rejected. OFFICERS BELIEVE E' Predict Number of Arrests After Finding Still . and "Extracts." THINK LIQUOR WAS SHIPPED TO CONN. Hiwdrt Pofson Whiskey .Was Probably Made in N. Y. NEW YORK, Deo. 87. New York rUtAetlva aAAklnv th tniirr.. nf "whla !key" manufactured from wood alco- 1 h, u.k u.. 0.. 1pp.. , AMthm ' 7 ,n the (Ut within the last two days I tonight expressed the opinion that !'red,ctet' a number of arrests would , be mad, i The detectives made this prediction i aiiiir -rniu tin wnat la utmoveu 10 have been an illicit still on Buster street, where 11 bottles marked whiskey flavor and "whiskey ex tract" were found concealed among bags of sawdust Many more bottles, containing Ingredients ordinary used ln the manufacture of Italian and Spanish cordials, also were discover ed, according to the police. There wre many bottle labeled "brandy extract". Th nronrletor of th h. . ' ' ment in wnicn tne alleged still was located was arrested, charged with being a suspicious person. In the Bronx detectives attached to the district attorney's office also were hunting fur contraband Il'tuor ana Dooiieggers. One party left for City Island to in vestlgate a report that poison liquor nan oeen manufactured there and taken up Long Island sound ln points in v-onneeticut. Itetmlt of AntonHim. ine health department also pre- jro in com oat mo new menace, a rigid Inspection of saloons being or- tioroa. Autopsies today showed two oeatns ly tnis city this week were due to wood alcohol poisoning. - Conferences between manufactur ers of wood alcohol and members of tne committee of public health and hygiene will bo begun here next week, it was announced tonight, to discuss the alarming number of deaths from beverages mixed with tho poison ous liquid- The committee Is as sociated With the CountV Medical n. soclatlon. Two men were found Ai.ua n serlouely ill tonight from what is be lieved by physicians to be wood alco hol poisoning, in a Fulton street ho tel. When questioned by the police, the notei proprietor denied hvlm nM iwwcuvu are oonuuctlng an in -vestigation to learn where the men Dougnt tne poisoned lloimr. Ono of the two men who were poi soned by Jiquor died in a hospital later. FOUR MORE DIE. CHICAGO, Dec. 27. Four persons, two of them women, died today from drinking wood alcohol, making a to tal of eight such deaths in Chicago In 48 hours, or 34 since July 1. The authorities were thoroughly aroused and several arrests were made. Drinks containing wood alcohol were called "coroner's cocktails" by Coroner Pe ter M. Hoffman, who Issued a public warning against the fatal draughts and said he would attempt to band coroners and other public officials throughout the country to prevent the sale- of poisoned liquors. Both the coroner and the city health com missioner. Dr. John Dill Robertson. N F ITALIANS MAD NEW DRINK said wood alcohol drinks were surer' md TOtlt of TI'090 from to result either In blindness or death. fhe ponce arrested' the manager of the drug-department i of an out lying department store, at whose es tablishment pint Dottles of wood al nol had been given away with fl (CONTINUED ON fAQB TWO.) , Sventy-One Persons Have Died Within the Past Forty-Eight Hours. BLINDNESS CAUSED IN NUMEROUS CASES Total of Thirty-Five Dead in Chicopee, Mass In vestigation Started. NEW YORK. Dec. 27. Seventy, eight persons have died within the past forty-eight hours and scores of others are suffering from paralysis and blindness, due to drinking wood alco hol "whiskey," according to reports received tonight from seven eastern cities and Chicago. The toll of poisonous liquor Is the hlKhext in New England, where sixty deaths are recorded. Two women at Chicopee Falls, Mass., and one at SiiriiiKtield, Mass., are included In this list. In connection with the New Eng land deaths and six reported in New York city, police, internal revenue of- llcers and agents of the department of justice are seeking Adolph Paraneti, Importer arid commission merchant, of this city, who they assert sold 18 barrels of the poisonous liquor, The , jiollce charge that the "whiskey" was concocted ln Paranell's store in Bleecker street. In Chicopee, Mass., 34 men and two women died, In Springfield, three men and one woman; Uolyoke,. six -men, and In Greenfield, Mass., one man. In Hartford, Conn.. IS per- - Uons died of the poison. Chicago reported eight deaths from the drinking of poisonous beverages.- Two deaths were announced at Newark, N. J by the police. t Three deaths in' Cleveland,- Ohio, this week, brought the total there to 14 for the month. Parry Confesses CHICOPEE, Mass., Dec. 27. -District Attorney Ely, of Westneld, who has been Investigating the deaths of more than 45 persons In the Connec ticut valley aa the result of drinking wood alcohol ' contained In Whiskey, announoed tonight that Ale Perry.; " proprietor of the American house ln- ' Chicopee Falls, had confessed- to fc.iv. -- lauU'ord, -all excebt five or w.- w. wr sold. The district attorney also. stated, 'that Ave other gallons of the liquor, had been traced to the Polski. ; hotei ln Holyoke. - -..:.i.t.r ' According to the. district attorney z1- who had refused to grant ball of 110,. 000 to Perry earlier In the day on the charge of manslaughter,. Perry stated, ne bought the liquor through Sam Darling, of Hartford, an expressman. who is under arrest in that city ln connection with the deaths. Perry ' told the district attorney he had no ' ides the liquor was poisonous. Fol lowing the confession the district at torney allowed Perry to be released on ball. ' . The list of dead was increased to 4 in the Connecticut valley tonight. with the death of another Chicopee. man, Maurice Murphy, in Mercv hospital, Springfield. The deaths are now divided as follows: . Chicopee, 83 men and two women: ' Springfield, three men and one wo man; Holyoke, six men; Greenfleld, one man. LIST REACHES 43. CHICOPEE, Mass.. Dee. 27 The death list resulting from the drinking of "whiskey," said by Medical Exam iner Fletcher to contain wood alco. hoi, during Christmas festivities, had reacneu o in mis city, Springfield, Greenfield and Holyoke early tonight. Wlt,h the additional deaths in Hart ford, reported to be IS late in the afternoon, tho figures were nearlng the 60 mnrk and It was expected that before Ihc night had passed the toll would be much higher, due to the increasing number of cases coming to the attention of physicians and police. Tho first ileotH in Greenfield was reported tonight, and It was stated thut several other persons are 111 and have, symptoms of wood alcohol poi soning. It was said the dead man and thoso ill went to Holyoke Wednesdav night to buy the liquor and took it back to Greenfleld for the holiday,-. Quentton Kaloonkerper. District Attorney Ely, of Westfleld today questioned several saloonkeep ers and hotel owners In this city and Holyoke. Alexander Perry, owner of the American house in Chicopee Falls, who was held under $10,000 ball on a charge of manslaughter. after pleading not guilty, was among those questioned, but no word was given out by District Attorney Ely as to the result. All saloons In this city and Holyoke were closed this afternoon by the po llco on orders from tho district at torney. Every hour of the day and early evening brought reports of new cases of expected deaths. The Mercy hos pital ambulance of Springfield, and the Chicopee police patrol was kepi busy the entire day rushing victims to the hospitals. Of tho 15 or more cases entering Mercy hospital, all ex cept one had died and the ono per. son alive was not expected to live. THIRTEEN DEAD. HARTFORD, Conn., Dec 27. Ths death list in this city as a result of drinking "whiskey," said to contain wood alcohol, remained at 13 tonight, with only two new rases of llquof poisoning reported. Hospital report show four persons In a serious con dition tonight from the effects of poi sonous liquor. The cases of the four men held hers on charges of murder were continued nntil next week police court. Jacob Bronerwlne. one of those held. Is re garded by the police as a leader of the "whiskey" ring, and is alleged to Illegal Uouor sales since July 1. Twelve barrels of materials brought from New York city, the police -say, were made into 24 barrels by the uee of water, and then distributed over the bar here and sold In bulk to per- tCO-NTLNUED ON PAUE TWO) V