Newspapers / Forest City Courier (Forest … / June 11, 1925, edition 1 / Page 1
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RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S BIGGEST AND BEST NEWSPAPER VOL. VII—No. 35 J. R. HUNSINGER DEATH OF SECTION FOREMAN IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY • _ Seen Lying On Track By Engineer W. P. Simp son, Bui Not In Time to Prevent Engine Hitting Him. CASE OF FOUL PLAY CONCENSUS OF OPINION Dead When Train Crew Reached Him Body Found To Be Almost Cold. Blood From Wound In the Forehead Had Caked On His Face. Depot Was Rob bed and Murder Suspected. Complete mystery surrounds the tragic death of Mr. J. R. Hunsinger who was struck by fast freight train No. 95 on the C. C. & O. railroad just north of the station in this city at 3:00 o'clock Sunday morning. The problem that may never be solved is the question as to just how Mr. Hunsinger met his death. Here are some of the theories ad vanced : That he was struck on the head by negroes who broke into the station earlier in the night, and his body placed on the railroad track to cover the crime. That after being attacked by the negroes, he staggered up the railroad, finally falling in the position observ ed by the engineer just before the train knocked his body from the track. That he was under the influence of liquor, sat on the track to rest and fell asleep. Train No. 95, northbound, was in charge of W. P. Simpson, conductor and P. M. Palmer, engineer. Mr. Palmer stated that he saw the body of Mr. Hunsinger lying on the track, but that he did not have time to bring the train to a stop before striking him, a curve obscuring his view un til he was very close to the prostrate man. Mr. Hunsinger was lying with his body outside the rail, with his arm under his head, as if for a rest. A bolt on the cowcatcher struck Hun singer in the head, knocking him 4 from the track and fracturing his neck at the base of the skull. The train crew, immediately after bringing the train to a stop, hastened to the side of the stricken man. An examination revealed that he was dead. It also became apparent that the body was almost cold, especially in various parts. «* Blood' from a wound in the forehead had caked up on the face. A wound in the top of his head and another near the base of his skull was bleeding. Conductor Simpson hastened to the; depot to call the agent, Mr. A. R. Mm, and the company surgeon, Dr. C. Bostic. Both of these gentle n¥£n arrived not later than 20 min utes after the accident. Dr. Bostic examined the dead man and also noted the condition of his body. He found the blood from the wound on his forehead had congeal ed and that his body was cold in places—a striking coincidence, con sidering the fact that only about 20 minutes had elapsed since the dead man was struck by the train. Dr. Bostic found that blood was flowing from the other two wounds. Coroner C. M. Roberson was sum moned. A jury was at once empan eled, composed of the coroner and Messrs. M. E. Dorsey, H. B. Doggett, B. B. Green. The body was viewed and then ordered taken to Mr. Hun singer's home, near the station. After discussion and upon the statement of some of Mr. Hunsinger's relatives that he was slightly under the influence of liquor earlier in the night, the jury returned a verdict that Hunsinger met his death by be ing struck by the train while under the influence of liquor. Dr. Bostic told the reporter that FOREST CIT Y COURIER after the most searching examination of the dead man's body, he found no evidence of liquor—not even the slightest trace of the odor of drink. The jury was only influenced by the statement of relatives that the man had been drinking. We are informed that these parties later denied that Mr. Hunsinger had been drinking. Possibly in the excitement of the case they made the statement unwitting ly. The story leading up to the tragedy is one of mystery and surmise. Mr. Hunsinger, who lived with his fam ily near the C. C. & O. depot, had taken his wife and children to the home of his father-in-law, Mr. A. J. Bryant, at Harris station, Saturday night. He left their horrie in his car at a late hour, coming back to his residence, arriving, it is thought, about 1:00 a. m. It was found that he changed his clothes and left the car at his home. Fui*ther, no clue has been found as to his movements. The depot has been broken into several times in the past few months. It frequently happened that Mr. Hun singer, who was an employe of the road, would go to the depot during late hours of the night for an inves tigation when he saw lights or heard noises at the depot. The most generally conceded opin ion now is that Mr. Hunsinger heard the noise or saw the lights when the depot was broken into Saturday night. This happened after 1:00 p. m. The conductor of Southbound train, passing the station here at 1:00 o'clock, wired Station Agent Beam next morning that he noticed three negroes at the station when he passed. The station was broken into that night and the natural theory is that this gang of negroes did the work. What more natural than that, be ing surprised by Mr. Hunsinger, one of the gang struck him with the same bar that was used in prying open the door. Then he either stag gered up the track and fell in the position his body rested when the passing freight knocked him from the track, or, that the lick from the negro stunned him the gang placed his body on the rails so that a passing train might strike him and cover their crime. If this theory is incorrect, how can the coldness of his body and the coagulated blood on his face be accounted for? Officers are working on the case and have found that three negroes, claimed by another negro to have been at the depot Saturday night, have disappeared. A strong effort will be made to capture these men, as they may throw much light upon the case—even though they are not guilty of crime. Mr. J. R. Hunsinger, the victim of an atrocious crime or a deplorable accident—as the case may be—was about 32 years old and had been em ployed by the C. C. & O. Railway Co., for a number of years as section foreman. He resided with his family near the C. C. & 0. depot. He was a steady, reliable man and held the confidence of his employers. He was a member of the Woodmen's lodge and also a church member. .He was reared in the Harris section of this county, his mother, now living in that community. He also leaves his wife and five children. Funeral services were conducted at Sulphur Springs church at 3:00 o'clock Monday afternoon in the pres ence of a large crowd. The untimely death of Mr. Hun singer is deeply deplored on all sides, and if foul play figured in his death, the culprits will be brought to stern justice if vigilant efforts upon the part of law officers count for any thing. It is said that several negroes tried to break into the storeroom at Wood PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1925 KILLED—HIT BY C. C. &, 0. TRAIN CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL COINS To Be Released Through Na tional Bank—Help the Cause The first consignment of Confeder ate Memorial Half Dollars, minted by the United States Government as a "tribute to the valor of the Soldier of the South," which are to be sim ultaneously released through the na tion on July 3rd, has been received by The National Bank of Forest City, according to an announcement made •today by M. W. Harriss, cashier. "Citizens of Forest City now have the opportunity of making sure of ob taining some of these coveted Me morial coins on their national distri bution July 3rd," said Mr. Harriss, "by immediately purchasing coin cer tificates, redeemable for the actual half dollars on July 3rd. "As less than two million of the Memorial coins are available to the entire South at this time, the South ern Eankers Committee, arranging details of their distribution has al located only a limited number to each city and county in the various South ern States. Once these quotas are exhausted no further coins are ob tainable. "The issuance of these commem- orative coins by the National Gov ernment is an event of the greatest significance to the South. It is a ges ture of friendliness on the part of the nation to which the South will spon taneously respond. "Not only do these coins have a high sentimental value through this national recognition of our Southern heroes, but they also possess an ad ditional worth, since the modest pre mium at which the coins are sold goes to the completion of the great monu ment to the Confederacy being carv ■ ed at Stone Mountain, Georgia." I j It never gets too hot at Woodland Swimming pool. Open nights. 35*-3t MASONIC PICNIC i AT HAZELHURST I To Celebrate 101 at Anniver sary—Plans Forming For Big Event Aug. 6th. District Deputy Grand Master J. M. Ediwards, of Forest City, is lay ing plans for the 101 st Anniversary of Masonry in Rutherford county with the annual picnic at Hazelhurst ; Farm, which will take place on Aug ! ust 6th this year. He expects to have Grand Master Leon Cash, of Winston : Salem, and Dr. W. C. Wicker, of Elon College, Educational Field Sec retary, present for the occasion. There will be an Educational Meet ing held at Rutherford courthouse on the night of August sth under the direction of Dr. Wicker and the pub lic will be invited to attend. MR. HUGH WHISNANT NEW MANAGER ELECTRIC CO. Mr. Hugh Whisnant, who has been connected with the Electric Service Co., for some time, has been named manager, to succeed Mr. R. L. Nich ols, resigned. The appointment is a good one and the company's busi ness should increase under Mr. Whis- nant's management. Mr. L. W. Gardner, manager of the Shelby plant, says he will give the Forest City branch more of his time than formerly, to help take care of the increasing business. land Swimming Pool Saturday night and were driven away by shots fired by the proprietor, Mr. R. K. Webb. Possibly this same gang later broke into the depot at the C. C. & O. station. CHAUTAUQUA TO RETURN NEXT YEAR Closed Engagement Last Fri day Night—Not Up To Standard. Redpath's Chautauqua came to a close Friday night, after a successful five-days' engagement. While the Chautauqua was a success from a fi nancial standpoint, ticket sales ex ceeding that of any previous year, there was considerable complaint that the program had deteriorated from previous years'. And again, the management had failed to take into consideration the growth of Forest City, thereby not providing adequate seating arrangements. On several nights seats ran out and quite a number had to provide their own chairs or stand. However, Redpath's is a great organization and provide sterling entertainment as well as take good care of all arrangements, there fore we may expect an improved pro gram and more generous and com fortable seating arrangements next year. The matter has been called to the attention of the home office and all can expect a bigger and bet ter Chautauqua next year. The public spirited men of our city who guarantee the return of the chautauqua are to be commended for their efforts to provide this feature for the citizens of town and county alike. The Chautauqua is county wide in scope and provides a whole some, educational and pleasing pro gram that should appeal to every one. j The chautauqua is sponsored l by the ladies of the Woman's Club. These good ladies realized about SIOO.OO this year from..the sales of tickets. The Cleveland News announces that the chautauqua will not return to Shelby next year, because no in dividual organization would make the required guarantee. That the For est City business men should assume this obligation will be doubtless ap preciated by the people of our county. COUNTY CLUB MEET IN FOREST CITY Rutherford County Bankers to have Charge of June Meet ing—Hon. Felix Alley to Speak. The next regular meeting of the Rutherford County Club will be held in the Kiwanis Hall in Forest City, Tuesday, June 16th, at 1:00 p. m. The bankers of Rutherford county will have charge of this meeting. The dinner will be served by Mes dames Biggerstaff and Blanton, of Forest City. The principal speaker will be Hon. Felix Alley, of Waynesville. Mr. Al ley is a polished speaker and orator, a lawyer and statesman. He nomi nated Locke Craig for governor of North Carolina in 1912. It is possible that short talks will be made by some of the county's bankers. Music for the occasion will be fur nished by Moore's Orchestra. COCA-COLA STARTS BIG ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN With this issue the local Coca-Cola plant, through the D'Arcy Adv. Co., starts a big advertising campaign in The Courier boosting Coca-Cola in bottles. Local dealers throughout the county should feel immediate benefits from these advertisements. The popular drink is in much demand all over this section. RECEPTION AT THE FOREST CITY METHODIST CHURCH Every member of the Methodist church living in Forest City is cor dially invited to attend a reception at the First Methodist church Friday evening, June 12 at eight o'clock, given in honor of the new members. Come whether your membership is here or not. CHIMNEY ROCK BOY SCOUT CAMP DIRECTORS ELECTED LOCATED AT TRYON Dr. L. B. Morse kes Finan- Piedmont Councif, B. S. A. Ac cia! Report—Enthusiastic • cepts Offer JVLido By Lake Meeting. Lanier Corporation. Chimney Rock, June 9.—A large and representative crowd attended the stockholders annual meeting of Chimney Rock Mountanis, Inc., this afternoon at the pavilion, to which point the meeting was moved after it was found that no other place would comfortably accommodate the number present. The features of the meeting were the election of 16 directors to serve for the ensuing year, or until their successors are qualified, and heav ing the reports of the officers for the past year. The main reports were those of Treasurer J. H. Thom as, Secretary S. E. Elmore and chief ly the annual message of President Lucius B. Morse. The directors elected, all unani mously, are as follows: Dr. L. B. Morse, Kenneth S. Tanner, Willis J. Mllner, Jr., S. E. Elmore, J. H. Thom as, B. B. Doggett, T. F. Oates, Dr. M. H. Biggs, E. O. Thomas, M. O. Dick erson, Jr., Dr. L. V. Lee, Charles C. Blanton, Frank Coxe, E. W. Ewbank, F. Pickens Bacon and Walter P. Tay lor. The report of President Morse was comprehensive and afforded all stock holders an opportunity to hear of the many accomplishments of their cor poration during the past year and questions were invited at all stages where additional information was de sired upon any particular point. Among the outstanding feats was that of financing the contract for building a solid concerete dam, 104 feet high, and 585 feet across the top, accommodating a scenic highway across to form a portion of the 27 mile shore line drive around Lake Lure when created by the building of the dam. This financing of a body of water covering 1,500 acres and generating 13 1-2 kwh annually, with out a cent of cost to the parent cor poration and without mortgage on any of the property outside of that 1,500 acres inundated by the head waters after the dam is completed. The main point in this financing was the making of a contract with the Blue Ridge Power company for the sale of the future generated hydro electric energy at a very advantage ous figure, which auditors calculate will not only retire the cost of the dam, but completely -finance itself in ten years free and clear, owned by the parent corporation as a going hydro-electric public service corpora tion without cost to any stockholders in Chimney Rock Mountains, Inc., which now owns all the voting stock of the subsidiary building the dam. t A Strong Feature. Another strong feature was that of i so arranging all the development i work this summer to proceed at full speed without interfering with traf fic on state highway number 20,1 which passes the site of the dam. This is accomplished by a short deto ; of 3,900 feet and half of this is new per-' manent highway and every foot of it is in excellent shape. Engineers say that when traffic is turned into the detour two weeks hence that the ac-' tual running time around the detour 1 will be three minutes quicker for the • 3,900 feet than the present state high- ! way and equally as good surface. I CONTRACTS LET FOR WATER AND SEWER WORK Contracts were let at a sitting of the Board of Aldermen Tuesday eve- j ning for extensive improvement work ' on water and sewer construction. The new work, made necessary by the growth of the city, calls for an outlay of about $38,000. Quite a number of bidders were present. The sewer improvement . contract was let to Mr. Geo. B. Dean, ; of Lincolnton, at $16,000. The water improvement contract was awarded j to Boyd and Goforth, of Charlotte, j at $22,000. Both contractors expect to begin j work at an early date. Engineers are also busy making a new survey and map of the city. I ■ 14 Pages i i 84 COLUMNS $1.50 Per Year In Advawc« The following report of the execu tive board meeting of the Piedmont Council Boy Scout Officials, held in Gastoma last week will be of great interest to the Boy Scouts of Ruther ford, Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: "The executive board of the Pied mont Council, Boy Scout of Amer ica, in session Thursday night at the general Scout headquarters ac cepted the offer of the Lake Lanier Corporation of a permanent TJpy Scout camp on the shores of this won derful new lake development and will operate a Scout, training camp there this summer. "According to R. M. Schiele, scout executive, thiy site near Tryon offers the greatest possibilities of any coun try inspected by the tamping com mittee and himself in many sections of Western North Carolina. Plans for the development of the ci.mp will move forward rapidly and it is FX pected that hundreds of boys will take advantage of this wonderful camping opportunity th : s and the oth er summers to follow. "Through the generosity of the Gastonia Rotary Club the Scor?ts will have the use ot' a number of trr»t,s and steel cots until camp buildings are erected, thereby making it pos sible for the Piedmont Council to open the camp at an early date. "The plan of the camp will call for troops to come to camp as units un der scoutmaster leadership. A defi nite program of scouting and camp ing activities will be staged and £V.c,ry opportunity will be given the boy Tor a good time in the out-of-doors every possible safeguard for his. health and safety. , "A professional cook will be em ployed and well balanced mesls, will be served. The cost of the camp to the boy will be on the basis of one dollar per day. Th?s charge wilK cover the cost of the food white, the physical operation of the camp will be financed by the Piedmont Council. "The camp being locate# near Try on will make possible tbe supply of fresh food and ice, medical service in emergencies and an atmosphere x>f a pleasant and helpful association. Already the people of Tryon have manifested their interest in the jde velopment of a Boy Scout camp ami it is expected that the city of Tryon will contribute in many ways to the success and the building of the -can;p. "Announcement of the dates of the camp will be made public during the coming week." KIWANIS CLUB NOTES The regular weekly meeting of .the Kiwanis Club was held Monday night with a good attendance. Several visitors were present, among them being Mrs. J. H. Thomas, Mrs. R. W. Minish, Mr. Walker and Supt. W. R. Hill. Prof. Hill, who was recently re elected as county superintendent, v/a*. introduced by Prof. J. W. Eaks, .who styled him "the best County Super intendent in the State," amid ap plause. j The matter of a children's clinic, ' presented by Mesdames Thomas and Minish, was discussed and 1 the help -of the club promised the ladies, i Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Minish de lighted the club with their musical program. i The attendance prize w»s awarded to Mr. J. M. Edwards. Farmers' night will bo observed at an early date. THE HAMILTON PLAYERS COMING TO FOREST CITY ; The Hamilton Players are coming to Forest City for one weeks, begin | ning Monday, June 15. This high ! class aggregation have their own big comfortable tent, which will be erect ed on the public square. Lzdi'ys' night, Monday. Popular prices will prevail. See their big a*t in thfs paper.
Forest City Courier (Forest City, N.C.)
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June 11, 1925, edition 1
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