The Courier
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VOL. VIII—NO. 48.
DR. T. A FFL'BRAYER
DIES AT BROAD OAK
SANITARIUM SUNDAY
Relief From Long Suffering
Comes at 9:45 P. M.—
Burial at Forest City.
In the death of Dr. T. C. Mcßrayer
the county loses one of its most
unique characters, a native son, who
made a wonderful success in life in
many ways and lived not in vain.
Of a generous nature and a warm
heart, he did much for humanity,
administering to their ills as a phy
sician and was never backward in
rendering financial assistance to
the worthy.
Dr. Mcßrayer, who had been suf
fering from a complication of
diseases for several years, died at
the Broad Oak Sanitarium at Mor
ganton, Sunday at 9:45 o'clock p. m.
Failing rapidly toward the last, .rel
atives had him taken to frhe Sanitar
ium about one week ago, where he
gradually declined until his death
He had made a long and brave fight
for life, his afflictions bearing
heavily upon him for the past several
years, only his own skill as a
physician and his indomitadle spirit
prolonging his days.
Dr. Mcßrayer was born in this
county 69 years ago the son of
Lorenzo Mcßrayer, who died dur
ing the Civil War. Later his mother
was married to Frank Moore of this
county. The survivors of this union
half-brothers and sister to de
ceased—are Mr. W. E. Moore, of
Forest city, and Mr. B. C. Moore of
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Mrs. Mary
Webb, of Forest City.
Deceased was never married.
Taking up the practice of medicine
many years ago, he became a most
successfull physician, becoming most
expert in handling cases of Tuber
culosis, typhoid fever, pneumonia
and pellagra and was noted as a'
baby doctor of unusual ability. He
built the structure now occupied by
the Horn Cash Store as a san
itarium, but never got it success
fully established on account of con
ditions beyond his control. He was
also very successful in handling real
estate and amassed a fortune esti
mated at abouts3oo.ooo. He also
built the old Maybree Hotel, which
was destroyed by fire in 1918.
A devout member of the Wesleyan
Methodist church, Mcßrayer do
nated the handsome structure now
occupied by this denomination in
Forest City in its entirety, the
building and lot being a free gift to
the congregation. At the time of his
death" he was having erected a
church building for the Wesleyan
Methodists in the Hopewell section,
of which Rev. Dan Hardin is pas
tor. He was always most liberal to
the church and the poor and afflict
ed. He was not a man given to pomp
nor display, but always sought to
give of his wealth to those whom he
felt were the most needy. It is said
of him that a case of poverty or
affliction never failed to touch his
heart and he was most generous in
coming to the assistance of his fel
lowman. He was truly the poor
man's friend, and wealth given in
this manner does far more good than
wasted in temples and palaces erect
ed for the purpose of perpetuating
the memory of the^builder.
Dr. Mcßrayer has come and gone
—lived the short span of the mor
tal—but there are many who will
mourn his loss and bless his memory.
He was following in the footsteps of
his master, the lowly and meek Jesus,
when he ministered to the poor and
the afflicted.
Funeral services were held at the
Wesleyan Methodist church at 2 p.
m. Wednesday. Among the officiating
ministers were the pastor, Rev. H.
P. Rich, Dr. W. R. Ware, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, Forest
City, and Dr. Black, of Asheville.
Interment took place in Pleasant
Grove cemetery, where he was ten
derly away beside his mother.
Flower girls—Katherine Barber,
Lilah Padgett, Ethel Moore, Mary
King Harrill, Margaret Young, Myr-
FOREST CITY COURIER
I MR. J. M. HOLLIFIELD
SERIOUSLY INJURED
While at work Saturday morning,
Mr. J. M. Hollifield, woodworker at
Bostic, was struck in the eye with
the end of a belt which had broken
on a planer that he was using. He
was immediately rushed to a doctor
and was later taken to an eye spe
cialist at Charlotte. On account of
a hemorrhage of the eye it could not
be determined whether he would lose
eyesight or not.
Mr. Hollifield is well known in this
section, and it was with much regret
that his many friends heard of Wis
accident.
Latex*—rMr. Hollifield returned to
his home Tuesday. He can see some
now with the injured eye, and the
specialist thinks he will fully recover
his eyesight.
COOL SPRINGS
SCHOOLS OPEN
AUSPICIOUSLY
Attendance Largely Increased
—School News of Interest
to Patrons.
I
The Cool Springs Township schools j
began work on a regular schedule j
Monday. The periods were cut short j
and the day ended at noon. Full work ]
was given the second day. The or
derly manner in which the schools
begun work was due to the planning
of the work by the teachers, princi
pals and superintendent.
All the schools have an increase ;
I
in their enrollment. Alexander, in- j
crease , Bostic, 123, Forest City |
grammar school, over 600; Mt. Pleas- j
ant over 100; Pleasant Grove around j
30; Cool Springs High 260. This pres- j
ent enrollment shows an increase of
150 pupils in all the schools over last
year's enrollment. The registration
Monday will be increased over 50
per cent by the last of the school.
The reorganization of |he high
schools of North Carolina changed
the class periods from 45 to 50 min- j
utes. This change made it necessary
for the school here to dismiss at 12:10
for lunch and have only 40 minutes
for lunch. Perhaps the Forest City ;
graded school will have only 40 min- I
utes, beginning Monday, September i
13th.
This year some pupils will be re
tained in a grade when their pa
rents think they should be promoted, i
A pupil must have completed three |
units in order to pass to the second j
year high school. It will require j
seven units to get in third year and '
twelve units to get in fourth year, j
This rule will be strictly enforced j
this year. This will prevent a num- ;
ber of pupils going'up in grades be
fore they are prepared to do the
work. Too, it will eliminate all of j
those from the senior class who can j
not finish the course.
The patrons, of Cool Springs J
schools who live on farms are urged ;
to start their children to school at'
!
once. If it becomes necessary to I
keep them out to pick cotton later in j
the year, they will have had some!
time in school. They will be in po-'
sition to study at home and keep up i
with their class. This year the cot- j
ton crop is late and -it will be at I
least two weeks before much cotton i
will be open.
FOREST CITY COURIER REACHES
THE FOLKS
Caroleen, Sept. 6.—"Please pub
lish enclosed program in The Courier
this week. Your paper certainly
reaches the foIks.—SUBSCRIBER"
Thanks for the expression. Our
advertisers have also discovered the
fact that The Courier "reaches the
folks." That's why we carry more ad
vertising than any other paper in the
county.—Ed.
tie Gudger Harrill, Kate Long, Evelyn
Blanton.
Pallbearers—Rev. Dan Hardin,
Archie Hardin, R. L. Reinhardt, E. O.
Thomas, J. C. Scruggs, R. E. Big
gerstaff.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPT. 9, 1926.
VICKERS INNOCENT,
STATEMENT MADE
BEFORE HIS DEATH
I
Repeatedly Told Hospital Phy
sician He Did Not Kill
Rogers.
Did J. B. Vickers suffer convic
tion for a crime he did not commit,
and lose his life at the hands of a
prison guard who shot him down
without cause or reason, has been the
question foremost in the minds of
Rutherford county relatives and
friends of the unfortunate young
man.
According to the deathbed state
ment of Vickers —and it is to be giv
en serious consideration—he was an
irnocent man.
Mr. Crawford Vickers, brother of
J. B. Vickers, and who was at the
bedside at the time of his brother's
death, made the following statement
to a representative o| The Courier:
"The hospital doctor told me that
Back told him at least a dozen times
that he never killed that man. I
never saw anyone die so happily and
peacefully as Back did. Back was
anxious to go. He made this state
ment to me before his death: "I am
ready and willing to go.' His death
did not cast such a gloom over me,
for I know Back was telling the
truth on his dying bed."
'J. B. Vickers, the second son of
Mrs. .Dolph Vickers, was about 32
years of age. In 1916 he enlisted
in the calvary of the first division
of the U. S. Army and spent two
years of active service in France.
While on the firing line his knee and
ear were badly injured. Mr. Vickers,
whose father preceded him to the
grave seven years ago, is survived by
his mother, five 'brothers and six
sisters, all of this county.
• • •
An article elsewhere in this paper
gives full details of the events lead
ing up to the death of the young
man.
HENRIETTA MILLS
MAY BE SOLD
Deal Pending For Purchase of
Big Plants at Henrietta,
Qaroleen, and Chero
okee Falls.
It has been rumored for some time
that sale of the Henrietta Mills was
pending, but announcement was
withheld by The Courier on request
of some interested parties. However,
negotiations have progressed to the
point where it may be stated that,
without a doubt, the big deal will be
consummated October Ist.
The Henrietta and Caroleen Mills
are located in Rutherford county and
the Cherokee Falls plant is in South
Carolina. The deal, should it come
through, would involve around two
million dollars, it is said.
The three big mills were merged
under one organization a few years
ago following the death of S. B.
Tanner, Rutherford textile leader.
Mr. J. H. Thomas, of Forest City,
Kenneth Tanner and other Ruther
ford citizens are stockholders, but
the majority of the stock is owned
by C. M. Woodford, of New York,
and W.S. Forbes, Richmond capital
ist. The business organization is
maintained in Rutherford although
controlling interests are in Richmond
and New York. It is definitely stated
that the proposed deal is with New
York interests.
Details of the deal were not given
by Mr. Thomas, who confined himself
to saying that negotiations are on.
The three plants are outstanding in
the textile life of the Carolinas, and
their sale would be another move
southward by northern textile in
terests.
The Courier has good authority
for the statement that, in event of
the sale, there will be no change in
the personnel of the forces at any
of the big mills. The deal only means
transfer of stock to other interests.
ONE MAN DIES,
ANOTHER IS HURT,
AUTO TURNS OVER
Jennings Harris Killed and
Robert Neighbors Injured
At Spindale.
Jennings Harris is dead and Robt.
Neighbors is in the Rutherford Hos
pital seriously injured as a result
of an automobile accident at Spin
dale Saturday about noon. Neighbors
was driving. They were in a Stude
baker touring car, and it is report
ed that they crossed the railroad at
60 miles per hour. The auto over
turned three times and was badly
damaged. The injured men were
rushed to the hospital and Harris
died soon after reaching there; only
the two men were in the car.
They were en route from Charlotte
to Asheville where Harris was to en
ter Oteen Hospital. He was an ex
soldier of the World War and had
taken treatment in Atlanta, Oteen
and other government hospitals since
the war. He was 24 years of age,
single and the son of Mr. J. L. Har
ris, of Cliffside. The family moved
to this county from South Carolina
about six months ago.
Harris is survived by his parents,
two brothers and four sisters. He
was a member of Company D, 105 th
ammunition train in France, during
the war. Papers were found on him
from the United States Veterans'
Bureau, Charlotte, which would ad
mit him to Oteen Hospital. He was
before the Veterans' Bureau Friday
and got his papers fixed up.
Neighbors' home- is in West Ashe
ville. A message from the hospital at
1 o'clock Wednesday, stated that he
was doing nicely and there were!
hopes for his recovery.
HENRIETTA NEWS
TOLD IN BRIEF
The Courier's Correspondent
Covers Every Happening
of Interest.
Death of Infant. —-
Henrietta, Sept. 7.—The six
months-old infant of Mr. and Mrs.
Jule Carson died Saturday and was
buried at High Shoals, Sunday af
ternoon. The funeral was conduct
ed at the home by Rev. J. P. Horn
buckle. The small grave was cov
ered with a mass of beautiful flow
ers. This child was one of twins.
The other twin died some time ago.
* * *
Ferry Road Completed.
The road force under Mr. A. G.
Randall has completed the new road
from Ferry to the Broad river
bridge. This is a splendid piece of
road construction and a great im
provement has been made in the
road as it approaches the bridge. Mr.
Randall will probably be sent to
Golden Valley, where Mr. Marvin
Butler and his force. of hands have
been at work for some time on a
new road from South Mountain In
stitute to Forest City.
* * m
Mrs. Robert McDaniel Dead.
Mrs. Robert McDaniel died at
Spartanburg, last Saturday and was
buried at Providence, Sunday after
noon, at 4 o'clock. Mrs. McDaniel
had been in failing health for some
months. Before her marriage she
was Miss Emma Rollins, of this
place. Since her marriage to Mr. Mc-
Daniel, they have made their home
in Spartanburg. She is survived by
her husband, two children, mother,
three sisters, Mrs. Sallie Ingle, Mrs.
Palmer Smith, and Mrs. Job Brad
ley; three brothers. Messrs Fred
Rollins, G. W. Rollins, and G. D.
Rollins.
(Continued on Page Eight.)
FOOTBALL SEASON TO
OPEN THIS MONTH
Coach W. T. Pool was greeted by
approximately 24 candidates for the
Forest City high school football team
yesterday, when he assembled the
squad for the first workout of the
season.
The first day's practice was com
posed largely of discussions, light
exercise and running. Coach Pool
will give the squad plenty of light
exercise before putting them down
to real work. From the first glance
at the material turned out the coach
and school officials are well pleased
with the prospects. A good schedule
is being worked out with strong
teams of this section. The first
game will probably be with the strong
Kings Mountain team on Friday,
September 24. The team will report
for practice regularly until the
season opens.
MRSTCONNER
MEETS DEATH IN
AUTO ACCIDENT
Car Bursts Into Flames and
Her Skull Fractured in
Jump to Paved Road.
I j
Tragedy followed swiftly in a se
ries of automobile accidents at Spin
dale, Saturday and Sunday, two
meeting their death.
In returning from church services
at Forest City Sunday night, a car
driven by aMr Moore, and occu
pied by Mr. and Mrs. Marion Conner
and two ladies, burst into flames
when just above the Spindale Furni
ture Store on the paved road.
In her fright, Mrs. Marion Conner
leaped from the burning car and
sustained a fractured skull in the
fall to the paved road. She died at
the Rutherford Hospital at 5 o'clock
Monday morning.
None of the other passengers were
injured. The driver, when he dis
covered the car on fire, hurriedly
ran to the side of the road before
stopping, and the remaining passen
gers leaped from the burning car.
Mrs. Marion Conner was 55 years
old, and resided near Watkins school
house, about three miles from Ruth
erfordton. She is survived by her
husband and five children.
Burial took place at Bethel church,
in McDowell Tuesday af
ternoon, at 2 . o'clock.
"CUPID UP TO DATE,"
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Brought to Forest City by the La
dies' Aid Society of the Methodist
church, "Cupid Up To Date," a three
act home talent musical comedy, is
one of the newest, funniest and best
shows ever presented to Fprest City
audiences.
The production opens with a musi
cal prelude of barnyard setting, the
chorus girls being dressed as
chickens. The first act portrays a
modern couple scrapping over a col
lar button, the second act takes all
ahead one hundred years and the
third act is a colorful and gay birth
day party with Cupid reigning su
preme. Fantastic costumes play a
great part throughout, the chorus
girls as well as members of the last,
being garbed as chickens, pigeons,
monkeys, cats, clowns, clocks, old
fashioned girls, moons and stars.
Little Miss Virginia Magness is
Dan Cupid while Margaret Moore and
Sue Finley play the leading roles, not
to mention a superlative cast whose
excellency is unquestioned.
No one can afford to miss this
sparkling scentillating comedy when
it is presented Friday, September
10th, at 8 o'clock p. m., at the High
School.
FIRST BALE OF COTTON
SOLD IN FOREST CITY
Mr. Cletus Reynolds, of near El
lenboro, sold the first bale of cot
ton of the season to the Forest City
Oil Mill Co., last Saturday morn
r '
ing. The cotton brought 17 cents,
and the bale weighed 419 pounds.
14 PAGES
84 COLUMNS
$1.50 Per Year In Advance
POPULAR COUPLE
CELEBRATE THEIR
SILVER WEDDING
Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Padgett Re
ceive Large Number of
Friends Friday
v Evening.
One of the loveliest and most
brilliant social affairs of the season
was the reception given Friday even
ing, September 3 at the handsome
new home of Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Pad
gett, celebrating their twenty-fifth
anniversary, or silver wedding. Their
elegant home was tastefully and
handsomely decorated throughout in
pink and white roses, ferns and cle
matis in silver baskets, vases and
urns. The home with its brilliant
lights and flowers formed a most
beautiful scene as the guests wended
their way throughout this spacious
home. Receiving at the reception hall
were Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Thomas,
j Mr. and Mrs. Hague Padgett. Mrs.
Thomas wore a green beaded dress
and Mrs. Padgett a blue brocaded
velvet.
Mr. and Mrs. G. C. King received
at the drawing room door, Mrs. King
wearing a black charmeuse, trimmed
in crystal beads. Mr. King, the on
ly brother of Mrs. Padgett, intro
duced the guests to the receiving
line, in which stood Mr. and Mrs.
Padgett and their lovely daughters
and three sons—Mrs. Nellie Padgett
Norris, Messrs. Charles and James
Padgett, Miss Lilah Padgett, Mr.
Phillip Padgett, Misses Meriam and
; Marjorie Padgett, and Mr. Padgett's
I mother, Mrs. Priscilla Padgett. Mrs.
T. R. Padgett wore an orchid and
silver lace dress, with a handsome
Spanish shawl, and a cox - sage of roses
tied with silver ribbon, showered
with valley lilies.This Spanish shawl,
worn on this twenty-fifth anniver
sary, will be handed down as an heir
loom.
Mrs. Nelle Padgett Norris wore a
pink chiffon, heavily beaded in
rhinestone and carried a gorgeous
peacock fan. Miss Lilah Padgett
wore white with rhinestone hair
trimmings, and carried a pink ostrich
fan. Miss Meriam Padgett wore pink
georgette, trimmed in silver lace.
Little Miss Marjorie Padgett wore a
white dress of satin ribbon ruffles
with tulle shoulder bows. Mrs. Pris- ,
cilia Padgett, the grandmother, who
sat in an easy chair at the end of
the receiving line, wore a black ra
dium silk dress trimmed in soft folds
of tulle and jet. 'The father and
three sons wore conventional even
ing suits.
From the iteceiving line entering
the solarium, the guests were greeted
by Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Doggett. Mrs.
Doggett wore a black and gold lace
dress.
Mr. and Mrs. John Carpenter
greeted the guests at the register.
Mrs. Carpenter wore a jade green
beaded georgette dress. The regis
ter, which was hand-painted and
tied with silver ribbon and showered
with valley lilies, painted and ar
ranged by Miss Ellis Credle, was
beautiful and unique. The sketch
on the front of the register repre
sented a bride and groom, the bride
wearing a dress sketched from the
original wedding gown of Mrs. Pad
gett, worn twenty-five years ago.
From the register the guests were
directed to the punch bowl, which
was presided over by Misses Fannie
and Alice King and Ottilie Long,
these young ladies being twin cousins
of the family. A delicious iced punch
was served from a table with lace
cover interwoven witl\ a mass of
pink roses and ferns. From there the
guests were directed to the east end
of the salarium where were seated
the aunts of Mr. and Mrs. Padgett,
Mesdames H. D. Harrill, Tom Moore,
S. A. Bridges, J. B. Long, Sue Big
gerstaff and Mrs. Mollie Homesley,
of Charlotte, an intimate friend of
the family. This was indeed a lovely
picture, as these ladies, with beauti
ful gray hair, faces wreathed in
smiles and dressed in lovely black and
gray silk dresses, greeted each guest
on this happy occasion.
From there to the drawing room
where the guests were greeted by
(Continued on Page Five.)