The Courier
Only SI.OO
Per Year
VOL. IX—NO. 31.
ONE KILLED, THREE
INJURED IN AUTO
CRASH THURSDAY
Lee Mathis Dies En Route to
Hospital Following Auto
Accident Near Forest
• City
Joseph Lee Mathis was killed and
Tommie Culbreth, Howard Sherrill
and General Harris injured as result
of an automobile wreck at Concord
Filling Station, midway between here
and Ellenboro on Highway 20, Thurs
day morning about 10 o'clock.
The three were in a Studebaker
touring car, driven by Sherrill, go
ing toward Ellenboro, when General
Harris entered the highway from the
Concord Church road, driving a Ford
touring car. Sherrill states that the
Ford slowed down as it' approached
the highway and he sped up to pass
it, but the Ford shot across the road
in front of him and he struck it in
the rear. The Studebaker ran off the
concrete highway, down an incline
and turned over twice, lodging right
3ide up near a barbed wire fence.
The Studebaker was almost demol
ished. The Ford driven by Harris was
slightly damaged in the rear by the
impact.
It is thought that Mathis fell out
as the car turned over the first time,
crushing the life out of him. He was
rushed to the Rutherford Hospital
immediately, but died en route. His
left arm was broken, and he suffer
ed internal injuries as well as a num
ber of severe bruises and scratches.
*\ilbreth was injured about the
and suffered minor cuts and
bruises, while Sherrill was hurt
about the mouth and suffered a num
ber of body bruises. Both were un
der the care of a physician during
the wefek end. Mr. Harris, driver of
the Ford, had two ribs fractured and
his spine injured.
The three occupants of the Stude
baker were young men. Tommie Cul
breth is the twenty-one year old son
of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Culbreth, of
Spindale, and Sherrill is the eighteen
year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sher
rill, of Spindale. Mr. Harris is about
fifty-five years old and lives near
Concord Baptist church.
It is reported that the Studebak
er was running at about thirty miles
per hour when the accident occur
red.
Funeral For Mathis Sunday
Funeral services for Joseph Lee
Mathis was held Sunday afternoon at
Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, and
were attended by what was possibly
the largest number of people ever
gathered at that church. It was vari
ously estimated that between two and
three thousand attended the service,
showing the high esteem in which he
was held. Only a small part of the
large assemblage was able to get seats
in the church.
The services were in charge of Rev.
John Smith, of Gaffney, assisted by
Revs. Loss Wright, William Hardin
and W. V. Tarlton. Interment was in
Sulphur Springs cemetery.
Mr. Mathis was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Joe Mathis, of the Sulphur
Springs section. During the last
eight years he had been a barber,
and had worked over the entire coun
ty. He had been located at Spindale
during the last three years, associat
ed with the Ridings barber shop. He
L survived by his parents, three
brothers, Messrs. Henry, Minter and
Horace, all of Sulphur Springs and
one sister, Miss Magdalene Mathis,
of Sulphur Springs.
His former barber associates acted
as pallbearers and were as follows:
Messrs. Wilber Ridings, Boyd Dob
bins, W. G. Godfrey, Harris Morgan,
Elbert Sisk and Robert Culbreth.
Mr. Mathis was twenty-eight years
old and unmarried. During his eight
years as a barber he had made hun
dreds of friends over the county by
his wonderful personality and man
ner. People from every section of
Rutherford county were present to
pay their last respects to him Sunday
as he was laid .away in the cemetery.
For some time he had been looking
FOREST CITY COURIER
NEGRO SERIOUSLY
INJURED IN FIGHT
John Allen, Negro Hurt With
an Axe in Fight With An
other Negro at Chim
ney Rock
Chimney Rock, May 9.—John Al
len, is seriously hurt and Alvia Moore,
negro woman, is in jail at Ruther
fordton and Jack Hartson, another
negTO, is at large as a result of an
affray Thursday night at the rock
crusher of Ziegler Bros., road camp
near Chimney Rock.
Deputy Sheriff C. Ray Dalton cap
tured the woman about three o'clock
Friday afternoon in a car with an
other negro one half mile from the
scene of the fight. According to her
testimony she says that a number of
the men were drinking and Allen
and Hartson got into a fight and
Allen came on Hartson with a knife.
She handed Hartson an axe and he
hit Allen on the forehead with it,
bursting his head partly open. He
was rushed to a hospital in Ashe
ville. His home was form
erly in Asheville. Alvia
says that she has lived with Hart
son about four years but that she
is not married to him.
The woman and her accomplice
are originally from Wadesboro, N.
C. Officers are doing everything pos
sible to locate Hartson. He left here
coatless and wearing leather leggins.
He weighs about 160 pounds and is a
young man.
The case will be tried in Ruther
fordton before Judge Raymond G.
Parker the week of May 16.
All the negroes were employees
of Zeigler Brothers road force.
MEMORIAL DAY
AT CLIFFSIDE
Annual Event Observed Sun
day—A Tribute to the
Messrs. Haynes
Cliffside, May 9.—Annual memo
rial day, which is always the second
Sunday in May, was observed yester
day by hundreds of people who
came from far and near to place
flowers on the graves of loved ones
and of friends. From the early morn
ing until the evening shadows, lov
ing shadows, loving hands were scat
tering flowers here and there in the
cemetery at Cliffside. Words of praise
and appreciation for Mr. Chas. H.
Haynes were expressed by many for
his kind and thoughtful consideration
m keeping the cemetery as clean and
beautiful, not only on "Memorial
Day," but throughout the year. The
mound of each grave was carefully
raised and smoothed, and not a blade
of grass, or weed could be seen.
Each squai*e lot is marked by
marble corners and the walks plan
ned straight and accurate, and as we
stood in the center of the silent city
of the dead, and viewed its beauty '
and the hand-carved work of man, i
the fragrance of sweet flowers wafted
on the breeze reminded that tomor-,
row they, too, would be dead, and that
we likewise shall pass away. We turn- j
ed our eyes to evergreens, which 1
seemed to stand in silent watch
around the granite tombs of our lov
ed ones, and in the sacred stillness,
came the sublime and eternal words
of our Savior, ."! am tlie
tion and the life. John 11:25."
Standing beside the tomb of the
late R. R. Haynes, our friend and
brother, we bowed our heads in silent
i tribute to his memory, realizing that
it was through him the foundation {
of beautiful Cliffside was established;
| and it is through his son, Mr. Chas.:
| H. Haynes, whose every courtesy be-1
i speaks for him the true gentleness, 1
for which he is, and who is held in
the highest esteem by his fellow
workmen, and employees, that we en-'
! joy the many privileges we have to
! day in Cliffside.
i _
forward to attending Memorial serv
ices at Sulphur Springs which wefre
held Sunday, and it was very approp
riate that his funeral should be con-,
ducted on Memorial Day.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOR EST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
AMERICAN LEGION
HOLDS RALLY IN
RUTHERFORDTON
State Commander Paul Younts
Addresses Ex-Service Men.
I Public Meeting of Leg
ion at Avondale
May 16
Rutherfordton, May 9.—A number
of former service men and civilians
attended the rally of Fred Williams
Post No. 75, American Legion here
Monday night of last week. Music by
Rutherfordton's new brass band was
a feature of the meeting. The band
was sponsored by the post. Command
er S. P. Dunnagan introduced State
Commander Paul Younts, of Char
lotte, in a short eloquent address.
The State Legion chief stressed com
munity service and the close contact
of the Legion with community prog
ress; told why the Legion was organ
ized and traced its accomplishments
briefly. The duty to our ex-service
men was emphasized.
The speaker urged that each post
in the State or county at least be
represented at the Paris convention
in September. North Carolina has
practically reached her allotment of
362 now, he said. "We plan to take
400 Tar Heels with us to Paris. With
in the next few days we hope to in
vite five distinguished citizens of the
State, who rendered special service
during the World War to go with us
to Paris."
The membership of the Legion
in North Carolina is greater now
than it has ever been in the history
of the State, he said. He urged the'
boys to "carry on for the Legion
and their country."
Mr. Younts said Rutherfordton
needs a woman's auxiliary of the
Legion. The Legion is furnishing
$4,000 per year' for a nurse and
clinics at Oteen Hospital for our
disabled buddies. It has helped to
secure the passage of 3247 bills be
fore Congress and the various State
Legislatures for the benefit of ex
service men. Mr. Younts declared
the Legion is for the masses and
not the classes.
After the meeting adjourncj it
was decided to hold the next meet
ing at Avondale public school build
ing, May 16th, 7:30 p. m. and in
vite the public and especially all
ex-service men of the county to at
tend. The program will consist of
special music and speaking. It is
hoped to have Judge Raymond G.
Parker and Solicitor J. W. Pless to
be present and make short talks.
ONE INJURED IN FREE
FOR-ALL FIGHT
Chimney Rock, May 11.—James
Mathews, young white man, engaged
as a truck driver at the Zeigler Broth
ers road camps near here, was injured
Tuesday morning about 2 o'clock
when he was assaulted by a drunken
negro. According to reports reach
ing the Courier several negroes en
gaged in a free-for-all fight Tuesday
morning. During the fight Mathews
came near the negroes and one hit
him on the face with knucks or billet
breaking his jawbone. Deputy Sher-
iff Curtis Hardin was called to the
scege of the fight and arrested three
negroes. They were tried in record
er's court Tuesday. The negro charg
ed with assaulting Mathews received
a twelve months' road sentence, while
two others were fined $50.00 and
costs for fighting and drunkeness.
COOL SPRINGS HIGHS
DEFEATS CENTRAL HI
The Cool Springs High school base
ball team defeated the Central High
school baseball team Tuesday after
noon by a score of 7-3. Batteries for
Central High were Wilson and Hardin
and for Cool Springs were McKeithan
and Moss.
Central High plays here Friday af
ternoon at 3:45. This is the last
game of the season and the last op
portunity to see the high school boys
in action.
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1927.
CLEAN-UP WEEK
IN FOREST CITY
MAY 16 TO 21
Citizens are Requested to Co-
Operate With Authorities
in Making Forest City
Cleanest Town in
State
The week of May 16 to 21 has
been set aside as clean-up week in
Forest City, and the people are re
quested to co-operate with the of
ficials in charge and make Forest
City a 'spick-and-span' town. Visitors
and tourists passing through Forest
City frequently pass on remarks
about the cleanliness of Forest City.
Let's keep up the good work, and
not only clean up the town next
week, but keep it clean afterwards.
Clean - Up Proclamation
As health officer of the Town of
Forest City, I wish t to call the at
tention of the citizens of Forest City,
that the week beginning May 16th has
been set aside as clean-up week. I
will appreciate and expect a hearty
co-operation of all the people of our
good town. Please clean up all the
rubbish on your premises and put it in
boxes, or barrels, as our help will
not have time to get it unless it is
in a container. Do not leave any old
cans, buckets, or barrels on - your
premises that will hold water as they
make a very suitable breeding place
for mosquitoes.
I wish also to call to your atten
tion the ordinance relatives to hogs
and hog-pens. If you do not under
stand this law, inquire at the town
hall and they will be glad to explain
it to you.
We have one of the prettiest little
towns in Western North Carolina so
let us all strive to make it the clean
est.
AMOS DUNCAN, M. D.
WOMAN'S CLUB
There will be a general meeting
of the Womans' Club Thursday af
ternoon May 12th at 4 o'clock in
the Kiwanis Hall. It is desired that
every member of the Womans' club
be present and let all who intend
to be members for next year come
prepared to pay their membership
dues to the general club of SI.OO per
year.
Remember the time and place of
meeting. Thursday afternoon at 4
o'clock, Kiwanis Hall.
COUNTY RAISES $607.16
FOR MISSISSIPPI SUFFERERS
To date $607.16 have been donated
by the people of Rutneriord county
to alleviate the suffering of those
made homeless by the overflow of the
Mississippi River, according to a re
port from Miss Virginia Grayson,
county Treasurer. Prof. B. L. Smith,
county chairman of the Relief Com
mittee, states that he is gratified with
the response of the people of the
county in contributing to this worthy
cause. "We are not poorer, but rich
er by our donations, which will do
much to relieve the dire misery and
want of our fellow citizens of the
Mississippi Valley States", says Capt.
Smith.
Rutherford county was asked for
only $250.00 for the Relief Fund and
the committee is delighted with the
manner in which people have respond
ed and went "over the top" with their
contributions.
Manager W. L. Horn, of the local
movie, has been warmly congratulat
ed upon the installation of a new
Seeljurg orchestrion. He has also
been giving some splendid pictures.
"The Last Frontier," shown Satur
day, was pronounced by many as one
of the very best. The program for the
ensuing week is unusually good.
New phonograph records. Come in
and see them. Courtney's 5c and 10c
Store.
MRS. MARTIN'S 95TH
BIRTHDAY OBSERVED
Large Number Gather to Hon
or One of Rutherford
County's Oldest
Women
About one hundred friends and
relatives gathered at the home of
Mrs. Ibbie Martin, on Duncans'
Creek, Sunday May 8, in an all day
celebration of Mrs. Martin's nine
ty-fifth birthday. At noon a bounti
ful dinner was spread on a table
prepared for the occasion. Mr. J. O.
Gettys read a poem, the subject be
ing "Mother," and very appropriate
for the occasion. He made a short
talk on "Mother," and was followed
by Mr. S. G. McAllister, of Gastonia
who asked grace.
Mr. Martin, in his talk, stated that
Mrs. Martin was ten years older than
Cleveland county, having been born
ten years before the formation of
Cleveland from Rutherford.
Mrs. Martin has spent seventy-five
years of her life at the place where
she now resides. She is the mother
of eleven children and has twenty
nine grandchildren, forty-two great
grandchildren and two great-great
grandchildren. Five generations were
present at the dinner Sunday.
Mrs. Martin was the daughter of
Allen Crowder and Phoebe Grigg
Crowder, and had fourteen brothers
and four sisters.
A large number attended the reun
ion and dinner from all sections of
Rutherford and' Cleveland counties
as well as from Charlotte and Gas
tonia.
TOWNSHIP MUSIC
FESTIVAL HELD
Children From All Schools i
Township Participate in
National Music Week
Program
National music week was observed
in Forest City in a unique and de
lightful way. A music Festival was
put on by all the schools in Cool
Springs Township at the high school
auditorium on Thursday evening. May
sth at 8 o'clock. The auditorium was
packed with people from all over the
township and the program was a rev
elation to the citizens of the town
ship. It was a splendid exhibition
of the quality of work in public school
music that is being done in the
schools. 200 children took part in the
program and they showed excellent
training.
The program opened with a music
al play, "A Picnic Day in the Woods"
by the Forest City grammar school.
This was a pretty tuneful litle play.
The costumes were bright and the
children took their parts extremely
well.
A group of choruses from the Bos
tic and Mt. Pleasant grammar schools,
the Forest City grammar school sex
tette and the boys quartette from the
high school came next. These chorus
es showed good training, well match
ed voices and were much enjoyed by
the audience. This group closed with
a violin number by six violinists from
the high school. They played Barca
role first, then a selection from Rose
Marie. The grammar grade sextette
from Forest City sang Rose Marie
with the violins. This last proved
to be one of the most popular num
bers on the program. All the mem
bers of the sextette have lovely voic
es and they carried the two part chor
uses beautifully. The group of chor
uses was an excellent illustration of
the work the children are doing. The
value of this kind of training in the
schools can not be over estimated. It
will show in church, in school, in ev
ery type of community work and For
est City is rapidly becoming a music
al center.
The program closed with an oper
etta given by the 4th and sth grades
from Alexander school. It was en
titled "Day Before yesterday" and
was a story of History from pre-his
toric days down to the present. The
per Year in Advance
RUTHERFORD
COUNTY TEXTILE
LEAGUE OPENS
Teams Representing Six Towns
of the County Organize
Baseball League. First
Game Played Last
Saturday
The Rutherford County Textile
League opened the season Saturday
with games over the entire circuit.
The league was recently organized
and is composed of six teams from
Caroleen, Cliffside, Henrietta, Avon
dale, Alexander and Ellenboro. Z. O.
Jenkins is Club president. The Alex
ander team has E. L. Cantrell as
president, D. B." Randall, secretary
and treasurer and C. W. Halford as
manager. Ellenboro is managed en
tirely by Mr. Garrett Edwards. The
officials of the Henrietta Club are
J. M. Mauney, president, L. O. New
ton, manager and Frank Weast, sec
retary-treasurer. Prof. F. S. Hall is
president of the Avondale Club with
W. Smith as manager. J. L. Brown
is manager of the Caroleen team
while Mr. Reinhardt manages the
Cliffside team.
Each club will play every Satur
day, as sho.vn on the schedule below.
The season will be split, the win
ner of the first half of the seaso.n
playing the winner of the second half
of the season. Saturday's games
were the openers for the first half,
which will close July 2. The second
half of the season will open July 9th
and close September 10th.
Th following is the schedule:
Schedule Rutherford County
League
May 14. Alexander at Cliffside; El
lenboro at Caroleen; Henrietta at
Avondale.
May 21. Cliff side at Alexander;
Caroleen at Ellenboro; Avondale at
Henrietta.
r May 28. Ellenboro at Alexander;
Henrietta at Caroleen; Cliffside at
Avondale.
June 4. Alexander at Ellenboro;
Caroleen at Henrietta; Avondale at
Cliffside.
June 11. Alexander at Avondale;
Ellenboro at Henrietta; Cliffside at
Caroleen.
June 18. Avondale at Alexander;
Henrietta at Ellenboro; Caroleen at
Cliffside.
June 25. Alexander at Henrietta;
Ellenboro at Cliffside; Caroleen at
Avondale.
July 2. Henrietta at Alexander;
Cliffside at Ellenboro; Avondale at
Caroleen.
(Close of first half of season)
July 9,. Alexander at Caroleen;
Henrietta at Cliffside; Ellenboro at
Avondale.
July 16. Caroleen at Alexander;
Cliffside at Henrietta; Avondale at
Ellenboro.
(The schedule repeats from top to
close of first half of the season, con
stituting the second half of the
series.)
Results Saturday
Saturday's games resulted as fol
lows:
At Alexander 12; Caroleen 5.
At Henrietta, 9; Cliffside 3.
At Ellenboro, 8; Avondale 7.
Through the courtesy of Mr. E. L.
Cantrell, of Alexander, the Courier
will carry the results of each week's
games and the standing of the clubs,
beginning next week.
Mr. C. A. Wilkie had his hand bad
ly lacefated at saw mill. No ser
ious results are" expected, although
the wound was a painful one.
costumes in this play were beauti
ful and it was an illustration of how
the work in public school music can
be correlated with other studies. The
costumes and dances were most ef
fective displays of each period in
history and the songs were beautiful.
The most popular dances in this play
were the minuet and the Virginia
Reel illustrating "Day Before Yes
terday" in the United States. •
The festival was an unqualified
Buccess and the work of Miss WiWer
and the township teachers in music
is a source of gratification to many
citizens in the township.
14 PAGES
84 COLUMNS