The Courier
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-No. 7
}L. VIII
BE. ft K. HARRIS ■
DIES IT HOSE ■
Prominent Citizen Of Sea?®
and Member Of PromiM
nent F •Tt mily. M
Mr. R. K. Harris, prominent S
/.en of Seagrove, Randolph coi V
ti ieel here suddenly Friday moinin H
he home son, B
W. Harris, where he and Mrs. flip
,'is had been visiting for a few wee®
h «
r:early two years, suffering with
pina xjeetoris, which was -ihe cause
of his death.
Mr. Harris was 76 years old, being
the oldest son of Captain Ransom
Wood Harris, a widely known citizen
of Randolph county a generation ago.
Mr. Harris was born at the old Harris
homestead on the Uwharrie river in
Randolph and spent his boyhood on
the farm. In later years he was con
nected with several different busi
ness enterprises at Hickory, and here.
Retiring from business activities sev
eral years ago he returned to his na
tive section to spend his last year. He
was a member of the Methodist
church and it has been said of him
that he lived a life without a blot or
blemish. It was given to few men to
have the friends he had, for all who
knew him were his friend.
Surviving are the widow and the
following children, Arthur C. Harris,
of Seagrove; Mrs. L. E. Fisher, of
Asheville; F. W. Harris, of Hickory;
E. G. Harris, of Charlotte; Mrs. J. D.
Lcdbetter, wife of the president of
(he National Bank, of Forest City and
M. W. Harris, cashier of the National
Bank.
Mr. Harris had a large connection
of relatives throughout Guilford,
Rr. idolph and Davidson counties, the
families being among the most promi
nent in that section of the State. Mrs.
Henry C. Kearns, Sr., of High Point,
is his oldest sister, other brothers
and sisters are Mrs. M. K. Callum, of
Greensboro, the late J. W. Harris, of
High Point, Frank W. Harris, of Fay
etteville, Mrs. R. L. White, of Con
way, L. W. Harris, of Roanoke, Va.,
and R. F. Harris, of Carraway. Mrs.
"•Vvll mD. Simmons, Jr., of High
Fei/it, is a granddaughter.
The funeral was held in the Metho
di.st church at Hickory Saturday
morning at 11 o'clock with Dr. W. R.
Ware, paster of the Methodist church
here, officiating, assisted by Rev.
Jordan of the Hickory church. Inter
ment was at Hickory, where Mr. Har
ris resided for twenty-five years prior
to returning to Randolph county a
few years ago.
EVANGELISTIC SERVICES SPIN
DALE PRESEYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. Eugene E. Gillespie, D. D.,
Superintendent of Synod Missions
with headquarters in Greensboro,
will begin a series of evangelistic
services at the Spindale Presbyterian
church, Friday night, December 4.
Miss Florence Howard will be in
charge of the music and preliminary
arrangements. Special prayer serv
ices will be held at the church, be
ginning Monday night, November 30.
Dr. Gillespie is a native of Greens
boro and was for 20 years pastor of
the Presbyterian church at York, S.
C., where he was successful in build
ing up a large congregation and one
of the leading churches of South Car
olina. He is a splendid and forceful
preacher and evangelist. The people
of York reluctantly gave him up for
the larger field of work in which he
is now engaged. His work for the
causes of the Synod of North Caro
lina has been outstanding and elicited
much favorable comment from the
press of the State.
The churches of Forest City are
cordially invited to co-operate in
these services at Spindale.
The Blue Ridge Fox Hunters' Club
will give their annual banquet in the
Kivvanis Hall Friday evening, Novem
ber 27th, beginning at 7:30 o'clock.
All members are urged to be present
with their wives and sweethearts and
enjoy an evening of fun and a real
aaeal of turkey and oysters.
Mr. BIT
the
nis hand hurt in the
fortune to gel
mill last week
Willard, the small son of Mr. and
Mrs. G. Dixon, was hit by a car as
he was returning from school one
afternoon last week, but was not seri
ously hurt.
Mrs. Ada Shelton is spending some
time with her Brother, Mr. and Mrs.
Lee Putman, of ClifTside.
Mrs. Grady Lowery spent the week
end with relatives near Sunshine.
Mrs. Norris Padgett is visiting her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Chapman,
of Valley Falls, S. C.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Callahan, of
Alexander, spent Monday with Mr.
and Mrs. John Callahan.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Biggerstaff
and family visited in Cliffside Sun
day.
Mr. Berry Green from near Sandy
Mush spent Saturday night with Mr.
and Mrs. Jimmie Green on Haynes
street.
Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Wilkerson of
Avondale spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. Ed Wilkerson.
MUSIC DEPT. WOMAN'S
CLUB MET FRIDAY
An especially interesting program
was presented by the Music Depart
ment of the Woman's Club Friday
afternoon. The subject was Southern
folk songs, which is one of those mu
sical programs that have a universal
appeal.
The meeting was presided over by
the chairman, Mrs. R. W. Minish.
Mrs. J. 11. Thomas read an inter
esting and carefully prepared paper
on Stephen C. Foster, the dearly
loved writer of Southern melodies,
who, though northern bom, has so
sympathetically interpreted the soul
of the south. This paper was follow
ed by a medley of southern songs by
I Foster, sung in a most pleasing way
by Mesdames T. R. Padgett, R. P..
Howes, W. R. Ware, W. A. Ayers,
C. E. Alcock and Annie Ware, accom
' panied by Mrs. Hague Padgett.
Two other delightful selections
were a solo. "Lindy Lou," by Billy
Strickland, sung by Miss Ruth
Meares and a piano duet, "Rustic
Dance," by Mason, played by Mrs.
E. O. Thomas and Mrs. R. W. Min
ish. Decidedly the most unique num
bers on the program were the piano
solo, "Turkey in the Straw," by an
unknown composer, played by Miss
Katherine Goggans and "The Water
Boy," by Avery Robinson, sung by
Mrs. Hague Padgett.
! The interest of the meeting was
greatly enhanced by the reading of
several of the outstanding current
events in the music world by Mrs.
Frank R. Wilkins.
After the program a delectable
salad course was served by the hos
tess, Mrs. Hague Padgett and Mrs.
W. R. Ware, assisted by Miss Mar
garet Young and Mrs. Carpenter.
There will be a Thanksgiving serv
ice at Pleasant Grove Methodist
church Thursday night, Nov. 26, at
7 p. m. Preaching by the pastor,
Dr. W. R. Ware. Let everybody
'come and help make this a good serv
■ ice. It is a good thing to give thanks
to the Lord for all His benefits to
the children of men—to us.
j There will be no service at the
Forest City Methodist church next
Sunday night. We will worship with
jOur Presbyterian brethren. The pas
tor, Dr. W. R. Ware, will preach at
I Pleasant Grove is the morning.
k
r24.— Under the di-
J Sane, Ciegg, Whis
illips the first num
commencement ex
ti by the grammar
enrietta elementary
Saturday evening,
21, 1925 at 7:30.
ogram presented to a pack
,Q was especially in keeping
,ie Thanksgiving season. A mu
i playlet, "The Indian Princess,"
yi the leading feature of the en
.-rtainment. This brought out very
clearly the familiar story of Captain
John Smith and how he was saved
from death at the hands of Chief
Powhatan by the Indian Princess Po
cahontas. The petite Pilgrim maid
ens, with their white collars and
crisp caps, the knightly bearing of
Lhe English courtiers, and the excel
lent singing and dancing of the In
dian Maidens, carried us back to the
spirit of Colonial days.
Those deserving special mention
were Earp Hicks as Captain John
Smith, and Ethel Shires as Pocahon
tas.
This is test week for the seventh
grade. Attendance is good and pu
pils are working hard. Last month
we had two pupils, Reid Daniels and
Cecil Neal, who avei-aged above
ninety on eight subjects. The sev
enth grade challenges any grade in
the high school to put up as many
ninety per cent pupils as they, in the
month beginning after Thanksgiving.
The eighth grade had their first
public debate of the year in chapel
Tuesday morning, Nov. 17. The
query was: Resolved: that the mov
ing picture theatre does more harm
than good
Negative
Jessie Harris
Pearle Randall Solon Smart
Affirmative
Nell Vassej
The debate was very interesting:
nee this subject is a timely one and
a problem that must be solved by
every community. We think that this
fir si: debate has created a spirit for
debating in the classroom and espe-
(Continued on Page Four)
Going To Make Hay,
Mr. Merchant?
This season is one of the most prosper
ous in years. The purse of the nation is full
to overflowing - and their hearts are charged
with the Christmas spirit and the desire to
buy.
Christmas lists are already made out and
are bigger and longer than ever before.
Shoppers are perplexed with the annual
problem, "WHAT WILL I GIVE."
Anxiously they search the ads—seeking
gift suggestions. If you have anything to
sell, advertise it now for the big buying
season is at hand. The sun is shining, Mr.
Merchant! Advertise and make hay!
The Forest City Courier will carry your
message into the homes of Rutherford
county.
For the benefit of advertisers The Cour
ier carries the most complete cut service
of any country newspaper in the State.
Phone 58 and a representative will call
and prepare your Christmas advertising.
OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
H CAROLINA, THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 1925
101 MEWS
Work of the
rietta-Caro-
hoois
IV. VICES IS
GIVEN 10 YEARS
Former Rutherford Coanty
Man Convicted On Circum
stantial Evidence—Seeks
New Trial.
The Charlotte Observer had the
following account of the conviction of
J. V. Vickers, former Rutherford
county man:
The fine thread of circumstantial
evidence which the state wound—
fearfully, lest it break—around J. V.
Vickers turned to stout steel bars at
G:3O o'clock last Friday evening and
he was sentenced to serve 10 years in
the state penitenti :ry at hard labor
for the murder of Ellison Y. Rogers.
The jury had the case for an hour,
returning a verdict of "guilty of mur
der in the second degree." The first
ballot stood seven to five as between
second degree murder ar.d acquittal,
the second ten to 2, and the third
unanimous, one of the jurors said.
They took the case at 5:20 o'clock in
the afternoon.
The prosecution began Thursday
with infinite caution to draw its thin,
silken thread of circumstantial evi
dence around J. V. Vickers in an ef
fort to send him to the electric chair
on the charge of robbing and murder
ing Ellison Y. Rogers on the Tucka
seege road the morning of Thursday,
October Bth.
For each carefully calculated move
on the part of the state the opposing
lawyers made one of force and verbal
eloquence. Protests and objections
were frequent.
I Vickers, a well-groomed young
I man of 33, sat with his lawyers and
' in care-free manner heard the testi
mony designed to convict him. He
! heard with evident enjoyment incon
i gruous statements which his lawyers
at times led state's witnesses to make,
i His wife, sober-eyed sat near him and
took an unsmilin ginterest in the evi
! dence. She is a bride of less than a
year. Relatives from the Forest City
vicinity sat in the coui't room.
The state theory is that Vickers
induced Rogers to draw S7OO from
the Monroe bank, took him to a se
! eluded spot on a Mecklenburg county
road, killed him, tcck the money and
rushed back to the city.
The defendant declares his inno-
(Continued on Page Four)
! UNION SERVICES AT
PRES3YTERIAN CHURCK !
j
The Union Thanksgiving Service, :
Thursdav. November 20. will be held I
'
at the Forest City Presbyterian
'church at 10 a. rr>., with Rev. William
! Black, D. D., preaching the sermon. I
;Union choir will render special and;
' appropriate music.
| The usual sunrise service will be
'held earlier at the First Baptist'
| church and the Methodist, Baptist and ;
j Presbyterian congregations will unite
in the Union service at 10 o'clock.
The congregations of all the
churches in Forest City are cordially
invited to join in this service of
thanksgiving and praise.
OAK GROVE NEWS
Elienboro, R-2, Nov. 23. —Rev.
Huston preached an interesting ser
mon a:. Oak Grove school house .Sun
day afternoon.
Mr. L. L>. Wilkie and family spent
Sunday at Mr. Joseph Blanton's.
Mr. Robert Biggerstaff and family
spent Sunday at Mr. Joseph Bigger
staff's.
Miss Pearl Randall spent Saturday
night with Miss Mary Randall.
Mrs. R. H. Biggerstaff and chil
dren visited Mr. T. E. Randall, Sun
. day.
Misses Aline Griffin and Geneva
, Harrill from Spindale, spent the
week-end with Mr. and Mrs. Odell
Harrill.
Misses Eugenia Randall and Lucile
Webb visited Miss Mary Randall
j Sunday.
Messrs. Charles and Joe Dobbins
from Rock Hill spent the week-end
with Mr. Claude Dobbins.
Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Randall from
Caroleen spent Sunday at Mr. J. T.
Webb's.
Mr. and Mrs. K. M. Randall and
little daughter, Catherine, spent Sun
day afternoon with Mrs. Randall's
j mother, Mrs. Evie Hamrick near
Ellc-nboro.
There will be a Thanksgiving pro
gram and a box supper at Oak Grove
school house Thursday night.
Rev. J. N. Randall and family
i from Plateau, spent a few days last
week in this community visiting rel
atives.
. Mr. Davie Hawkins and family
from A von dale visited.his father. Mr.
M. E. Hawkins, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Davis from near
Race Path, spent Sunday at Mr. Wil
lie Bailey's.
Mrs. Norman Hamrick from Caro
-1 leen and Mrs. Vardie Abernathy and
I children spent one day last week with
| Mrs. R. IL Biggerstaff.
j | LARGE CONGREGATIONS
HEAR DR. BLACK
Two large congregations heard Dr.
II William Black and his singer, Mr.
i j Burr, Sunday at the Presbyterian
church.
I
I In the morning the Methodist
| j church choir and people rendered fine
j j service and at night the First Bap
j ■ tist congregation filled the church un
[til there was standing room only. This
I splendid co-operation is appreciated.
Dr. Black preached two exception
ally strong and impressive sermons:
i"What Is Your Life?" and "Where
Ait Thou?" The singing by the
Methodist and Presbyterian choirs
I was enjoyed a s were the duets by'
j Messrs. Black and Burr.
Service will continue daily this
week, through Sunday at 10 a. m. and
.7 p. m. School will dismiss Wednes- (
day and the children are urged to j
j attend the service Thursday, Friday,
; and Saturday. The public is cordial- ;
;ly invited.
TWO-ACT PLAY
AT GRAMMAR SCHOOL j
A two-act play, "The Windmill of I
Holland," will be given by the 6th
and 7th grades at the Grammar
School auditorium December 4 at 8 j
i ;
p. m.
An admission of 25c and 35c will
be charged which will be used for
the benefit of the library fund.
MT. PLEASAHT OYSTER
AND PIE SUPPER
There will be an oyster and pie
supper at Mt. Pleasant school house
Saturday night, Dec. 5, at 7:30 o'-
clock. The proceeds will be used to
'get a library for the school. Hot
kmches wiH be served by the P.-T. A.
12 Pages
!___
72 COLUMNS
$1.50 Per Year In Advance
YODTMFBL WITNESS
BARES BAD CAREER
l Walter Bridgeman Brad
ford Wiison Held at Shelby
For the Larceny of
Automobile.
In recorder's court Thursday morn
ing a youth, Bradford Wilson, of For
;est City, told of a life of crime that
is perhaps unequalled by air other
16-year-old boy in this section, says
the Shelby Star. The rehearsal rang
ed from the larceny of automobiles
■to breaking in a swimming pool, an
'unheard of escapade here.
5 Wilson was used as a state's wit
ness against his buddy, Walter vßus
ter) Bridgeman, of South Shelby, in
connection with the k.ic\ ny recently
c* a Hudson coach, the property of
;J. S. Wiliard. The automobile was
itaken from its parking place near the
Princess theatre h *re and found the
next day near Spartanburg, S. C.,
where it had been abandoned by the
boys.
Got Three Cars.
j According to Wilson the car was
J taken from its parking place by
Bridgeman, who came to his home in
Forest City, in the car and asked Wil
son to accompany him. The car be
came hot on the trip to Spartanburg
and they abandoned it near Cherokee
Springs, Wilson said, after they
! thought it was out of oil. In Spar
tanburg they secured another car, a
Buick, which Bridgeman said belong
ied to his brother, according to Wilson.
l At Gaffney they left the Buick, talk
ed over taking a Nash and finally
departed Gaffney for Shelby in a
Ford roadster. Wilson says he drop
ped Bridgeman in South Shelby and
drove the roadster on to a colored
suburb at Forest City, where he left
it. Three cars in two days was the
haul of the two boy;- according io the
youth.
1 Asked where he first met Bridge
man, Wilson replied: "in the Ruther
ford jail."
! Both boys were in jail there for
stealing cars, it is said, and while
there Wilson testified that Bridgeman
talked of getting other cars when they
j'ot out, and the first car was taken
, .> >
r not long after they were freed.
At the end of his testimony Wilson
was questioned bv Solicitor Burrus
1 "
• and asked how many times he had
• been in trouble. The bey his
narrative bv saying ''l broke i::.o the
i
Farm'rs Hardware at Forest City
night before last and got a bunch of
i junk." Questioning brought out the
act that the junk consisted of money,
I guns, cartridges and other supplies
carried in a hardware store. Being
questioned further, Wilson admitted
that he had taken a car once before
and was in jaii about it, meeting
Bridgeman while there. Using his
memory to recall more of his past
the boy stated that he had been in
trouble once for fighting and on an
other occasion for breaking in a
swimming pool, meaning the bath
house where bathing suits were kept,
j Bridgeman did not testify and at
the conclusion of Wilson's testimony
.Solicitor Burrus asked that Wi'son
'also be held, and Judge Mull ordered
both bojs returned to jail in default
of a S3OO bond each to Superior
court.
Wilson toid the court that he
would not be prosecuted for entering
the hardware store at Forest City, as
he had informed the owner where the
'stolen articles were hidden, but it has
been learned that he is wanted there
I when the local court gets through
; with him.
The witness contended that he did
not know the Wiliard car had been
stolen and that Bridgeman told him
that it belonged to his brother. He
first became suspicious, he said, when
Bridgeman stopped somewhere down
the South Carolina road, jumped out
and hid in the briars while a car
passed. However, he admitted driv
ing both of the other cars and that
he took the Gaffney roadster on with
him to Forest City.
DR. JAMES COOPER AT
RUTHERFORDTON
Dr. James Cooper, of New York,
will lecture at Rutherfordton today,
Nov. 26, at 2 p. m. at the Movie The
atre on "Birth Control." It is an in
teresting subject, handled by one who
knows. Quite a number will be pres
ent to hear Dr. Cooper.