r
FARMERS
NIGHT
KIWANIS
CLUB
FEBRUARY
16.
VOL. XHI— No. 19.
'relelsed under
BOND OF $5,000
Widow of Prominent Farmer
Freed Under Habeas Cor
pus Proceedings as Re
sult of Investigation.
Rutherfordton, Feb. 9. Mrs. Hi
bernia J. Lynch, widow of John
Lynch. well known farmer who was
shot at his home on the night
of January 25, was released from
jail here Saturday afternoon under a
§5.000 bond. Mrs. Lynch and John
Paul Searcy, nineteen-year-old
vouth of that section have been
held here in jail without bail since
the killing.
Both defendants were given a
hearing here Saturday afternoon at
the clerk of Superior Court before
Judge Hoyle Sink, who is trying
the bank cases here, under a writ
of habeas corpus proceedings.
Judge Sink announced his de
cision after he had read the evi
dence submitted before the coro
ners jury here Tuesday afternoon
and Solicitor J. W. Pless had ques
tioned the eldest son of Mrs. Lynch,
Jack. 14.
Solicitor Pless announced that
he found no new developments,
and there was no new evidence
submitted. Both defendants ap
peared in the courthouse but did
not go on the stand. Judge Sink
stated that they should be held
but would be allowed to give bond
in the sum $5,000 each, and
Searcy 'aas failed to make bond to
date.
SUNDAY FIRE
DESTROYS HOME
Home of Mr. Walter Settle-
Myer Burned Sunday
Night at 7:15.
A frame house just off the old
Alexander road, belonging to John
Reid. of Rutherfordton and occupied
by Walter Settlemyer and family,
caught nre Sunday night about 7:15
resulting in a total loss to both Mr.
Reid and Mr. Settlemeyer, whose
entire household furnishings were
destroyed. The flames raged for more
tnan thirty minutes before they could
be cheeked.
Jlr. Settlemyer and his family
vere at the Florence Baptist church
•\hen the fire was discovered by
K'-iuhbors .Hearing the fire siren and
ii dicing the fire was in the direction
1 his home, Mr. Settlemeyer left
i lurch, but not until he was within
•'Uht ol his home did he realize that
'' his own place of abode that
afire.
Thejire had gained such headway
discovered by neighbors that
* (,r hing could be soved. All of Mr.
Knieyis household furniture
'wined, while the house was also
a to tal loss.
-0 insurance was carried on the
urniture, but Mr. Reid had SBOO
lns urance on the building.
*■ is connected with
e Padgett Barber Shop, where he
nt - of the city's most popular
at )ei s, and it was with much regret
3t man y friends learned of his
Tw ° BANQUETS HELD AT
THE NEW CENTRAL HOTEL
(i Walton League, Ruth
°''d c °unty chapter, held their
in^ 81 meetin £ here Tuesday even-
a t 7:00 o'clock, in the banquet
of the New Central Hotel. A
in'r rtltenc^ance featured the meet
er *' antl ; 'fter an enjoyable lunch
n a business session was held.
1 ' o'clock the Rutherford
. Unl-V Cental Society held a lunch
n meeting at the same place. A
J 0( attendance was; had at this
br e?tin * an d after the luncheon a
U! business session was held.
|t * en s 25c quality, special
Ul day. Joc pair. Courtney's Ten
Ur 't Store.
FOREST CIT¥ COURIER
FOREST CITY "ONE OF THE TEN BEST PLANNED AND MOST BEAUTIFUL jj SA » TT Q
—i I t • A ' L " S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SURVEY
Lynch Trial Is
Set For Spring
Rutherfordton, Feb. 10.—Trial of
Mrs. John Lynch and John Paul
Searcy, charged with the murder of
Mrs. Lynch's husband at his home
near here, has been set tentatively
for the May term of criminal court.
Mrs. Lynch is at liberty under
$5,000 bond following a habeas
corpus hearing ilast ;wieek, but
Searcy, 19-year-old farm hand, has
not been able to post a similar
amount and is still in jail.
SCHOOL BAND BEING
ORGANIZED HERE
Using Co-operative Plan to Se
cure Instruments—D. C.
Cole to be Bandmaster.
A school band is being 1 organized
in the Cool Springs Township schools
under a plan that guarantees suc
cess if the school receives the co
operation of the parents of the chil
dren who wish to join it. Capt. P.
G. Sutton, bandmaster of the Harry
J. Carlton Co., Elkhorn, Wisconsin,
was at the assembly period Tuesday
morning and explained the organiza
tion of such a band. This company
has now more than 600 bands through
out the United States under its di
rection, a number of which are in
North Carolina, and some of which
are in our immediate section. North
Wilkesboro is one of the participat
ing- schools and has about 60 chil
dren now taking lessons.
The guarantee made by the com
pany is very liberal. The company
proposes to produce a playing band
by the last of May, every member
playing his or her part in a pro
gram of five or six numbers played
during second semester. This period
of instruction will be without &barge.
- A. -
If any' member fails to learn his
or her part after taking the full
course of lessons, following the in
structor's directions—who is to spend
one whole day each week in the
school teaching the children—the in
strument is taken back and all mon
ey advanced on it will be refunded.
Mr. P. G. Sutton and the Harry J.
Charlton Co. were highly recommend
ed by superintendents of schools at
New Bern, Lincolnton and North
Wilkesboro. Tuesday morning the
superintendent of the local schools
called superintendent H. C. Sisk: of
North Wilkesboro schools and aslced
about the success of the band. Mr.
Sisk stated "We have just received
over forty instruments and have had
throe practices. We are more than
pleased with the work of Mr. Sut
ton and his company."
For a number of years the super
intendent of Cool Springs Township
schools has wanted an orchestra and
band' at the high school. He and the
local board did not think it advisable
to expend the tax payers money for
instruments, efc. The plan as out-
lined by Mr. Sutton will enable the
local schools to have a good band at
a small cost to the patrons. The in
struction for nearly four months
will be free. Next year it will cost
the pupils from 25c to 40c per pu
pil per week to continue this work.
This is purely a volunteer proposi
tion for the pupils and parents. It
is hoped that the parents will grasp
this splendid opportunity.
Mr. Sutton has agreed to use Mr.
D. C. Cole of Spindale director of the
Spindale band, as band master. All
the people in Rutherford county and
adjoining counties recognize Mr.
Cole as an outstanding musician an i
Christian gentleman. The patrons
should be grateful to Mr. Sutton for
this selection.
The Directors of the Forest City
Kiwanis club voted to endorse the
movement for a high school band.
Supt. Clyde A. Erwin and the local
school -board endorsed this proposi
tion.
PARENT-TEACHER MEETING
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18
The Parent-Teacher Association
will meet Wednesday afternoon, Feb
ruary 18, at 3:30 o'clock instead >f
Wednesday, February 11th, as pre
viously announced. All parents are
urged to attend.
PUBLISHED IN THEJWTEREST OF FOREST C I J ND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THUfI o FEB. 12> 1931
WOULD MERGE 23
N. C. COUNTIES
Brookings Institute Also Rec
ommends Uniform Govern
ment for Units.
~ V* • • r
Raleigh, Feb. « 9,—Consolidation
of 23 North Carolina counties into
eleven is sugg9#ted by the Brookings:
report on county
state released Monday by Governor
O. Max Gardner.
"It is our recommendation that
a careful study be made of this
question of county consolidation,"
says the report, "and to this end we
are listing certain specific instances
in which it is believed such a con
solidation could be made with ad
vantage."
The following consolidations are
urged:
Cherokee and Clay counties with
Murphy as county seat.
Graham and Swain counties with
Bryson City as county seat.
Mitchell and Avery with Spruce
Pine as county seat.
Henderson and Polk with Hender
sonville as county seat.
Alexander and Iredell counties
with Statesville as county seat.
Stokes and Forsyth with Winston-
Salem as county seat.
Caswell and Person with Roxboro
as county seat.
Hoke and Cumberland with Fay
etteville as county seat.
Wilson and Greene with Wilson
as county seat.
Chowan and Perquimans with
Edenton as county seat.
Pasquotank, Camden and Curri
tuck with Elizabeth City as county
seat.
If such consolidations were af
fected, North Carolina would be
come a state with 88 counties in
stead of its present 100.
The report also suggests a uni
form governmental system for the
state's counties. The county govern
ment would be composed of the fol
lowing units:
I—Board1 —Board of county commission
ers; 2 —Department of finance; 3
Department of justice; 4—Depart
ment of education; s—Department
of health; 6 —Department of high
ways and public works; 7—Depart
ment of welfare and B—An audit
department (state department of
local government finances.)
ELLENBORO TO HAVE
TWO TRADE DAYS
Ellenboro, Feb. 10. —The enter
prising little town of Ellenboro iwll
have two bargain trade days Fri
day and Saturday, when the mer
chants will combine to offer speeiai
items to the trade.
THINGS THAT NEVl|* HAPPEN
By GENE
*5 ■ iky *
Vl
.'V
A ' y
Ml/ M afraid jci • . .
_l I THE STONE.IS; J I .
v
cm&L . Xrsn&iA-nritiAL Cant 'B/nwts
FARMERS NIGHT
KIWANIS CLUB
MONDAY, FEB. 16
jj
Sixty farmers Invited to Meet
Club at Next Meeting
at High School Building.
Monday night .will be "Farm
ers Night" at the Kiwanis Club. There
will be sixty or more guests of the
Club on this occasion, at whfch time
a splendid program will be render
ed and many matters of importance
ro the farmers discussed.
In sponsoring; Governor Gardner's
"Live-fvt-Home" campaign the Ki
wanis Club offers a cash prize of
$25.00 to the winner. The rules of
this? campaign have been worked
out by the agricultural committee,
headed by Mr. Sutton. This contest
is proving to be very interesting and
those wishing to enter should see Mr.
Sutton or some member of the com-
mittee and get the details. Several
prizes in addition to the Kiwante
prize will be offered.
The club is also lending its moral
support to the formation of our
High school band. Dr. W.-A. Ayeis
and brother, M. A. Ayers of Idaho,
also a Mr. P. D. Sutton were guests
at the Monday evening luncheon.
Mr. Ayers gave a splendid address
on Abraham Lincoln, which was
greatly enjoyed. Mr. Sutton, repre
senting a large musical instrument
concern, spoke on the formation of
the High school band.
DR. R. L. REINHARDT
ANNOUNCES FOR MAYOR
After persistent urging upon the
part of his many friends, Dr. R. L.
Reinhardt has this week officially an
nounced his candidacy for mayor,
subject to the action of the voters in
the municipal election, May 5.
There is no better known nor more ,
universally loved man in the county
than Dr. "Bob." as his friends af
fectionately call the genial druggist,
who is eminently qualified for the
position he seeks upon the demand
of his friends. Dr. Reinhardt is a
i
successful business man who has
the interests of the city at heart,;
and, if elected, will use his business
qualifications in the duties devolv
ing upon him as mayor. Dr. Rein— J
hardt has served on the Board of t
Aldermen and is experienced in city
affairs.
Wild life is valuable. In the east
ern part of the country, it has a
meat and fur value of about 14 cents
an acre;.birds are worth more than
26 cents an acre as destroyers of
insects and other pests.
.Womans' Club Meets
Thursday Afternoon
The February meeting of the Wo
man's Club will meet in the High
school Thursday afternoon at 3:45
The hostesses are Mesdames F. I.
Barber, C. F. Harrill, M. H. Hewitt,
Alton Horn, W. C. Huntley, A. M.
Glickman, Arthur McDaniel and Miss
Katherine Goggans.
The Junior Music Club will be
honor guests of the club and present
the program under the direction of
Mrs. Glickman and Miss Goggans.
LEGION BANQUET
FRIDAY EVENING
Banquet for Members Only—
Public Invited to Hear Ward
Threatt at 8:00 O'clock.
_______ I
The Willis Towery Post No. 74,
American Legion, will hold their ban
quet at the Cool Springs High
School building Friday evening, be
ginning at seven o'clock. The ban
quet will be for the members of the
Post only.
The Post has secured Mr. Ward
Threatt, of Charlotte, as principal
speaker. Mr. Threatt is a speaker ot
note, featuring humorous addresses
The public is invited to attend the
speaking. The speaking will be held
in the school auditorium, beginning
at eight o'clock. Arrangements have
been made with the Blue Ridge En-,
tertainers to furnish string music
for the occasion.
The Ladies Auxiliary will prepare
the banquet.
Telephone Wire
Breaks Negro's Neck
Kings Mountain, Feb. 9.—A z
right Jimison, 30-year-old negro of
this was instantly killed-in -a
peculiar automobile accident on the
York road four miles south of here,
about 8 o'clock Sunday night.
Jimison was driving an old model
Ford when he ran into a telephone
wire on a privately owned line. The
wire, it is said, yanked the wind
shield back and then caught the
negro in the mouth, jerking his
head back and breaking his neck.
The wire, it was reported here,
was swinging low and was just
about the height of the windshield.
Two colored women and another
colored man were in the automobile
with him, but none of the others
were injured.
Jimison, a well known negro, was
an employee of the Kings Mountain
cotton oil mill.
• What caused the wire to be down
and other details of the fatal acci
dent were not definitely known here.
Woodrow Matheny
Member Phi Beta Pi
Tuscaloosa, Ala,. Feb. S). —M r .
Woodrow Matheny, of Forest City,
has been pledged as a member o:
the Phi Beta Pi Fraternity at the
University of Alabama.
The Phi Beta Pi Fraternity is an
Honorary Medical Fraternity and has
only for its members the most out
standing students from the medi
cal school. Each year four under
graduate students, who are Pre Meds.
are pledged to become a member of
this fraternity when they enter the
medical school. The four that have
betjfi selected are: Mr. Woodrow
Matheny, Forest City, N. C., Mr.
Jimmie Palmeri, Ann Arbor, Mich
igan., Mr. James Schaffer, Birming
ham, Ala., Mr. Don Campbell,
Youngstown, Ohio.
Mr. Matheny is a member of the
social Fraternity, "Sigma Nu", also.
MR. G. M. HUNTLEY INJURED
MONDAY IN AUTO WRECK
Mr. Georg? M. Huntley suffered
three broken ribs and a number of
bruises Monday when the car in
which he was riding collided with a
truck in front of Dr. R. R. Howes'
residence on West Main street. The
Forest City Seed and Fertilizer Co.
owned the truck. Mr. Huntley was
carried to his home where he is
resting comfortably at 1: test reports.
SI.OO Per Year in Advance
MOTION FOR NON
| SUIT IN BANK
CASES OVERRULED
State Rests and Defense Places
No Witnesses on Stand—
Jury May Get Case
Thursday.
Rutherfordton, Feb. 11.—Motion
for non-suit in the trial of five of
ficials of the defunct Rutherford
County Hank and Trust Com pan y
was overruled Wednesday morning
by Judge Hoyle Sink, who is pre
siding at the special term of super
ior court here. The motion was made
by defense attorneys Tuesday after
noon at the close of, the state's evi
dence. The defense did not put any
witnesses on the stand. The attor
neys agreed Wednesday to limit the
arguments before the jury to thrre
and one half hours for each side.
Argument began NVednesday at
eleven o clock and it is expected that
the case will go to the jury some
time Thursday afternoon.
Rutherfordton, Feb. 11.—The trial
of five defendants of the defunct
Rutherford County Bank & Trust
Company—J. L. Taylor, president;
W. B. Walker, cashier, and K. S.
Tanner, S. E. Elmore and T. F.
Oates—opened here Wednesday af
jternoon, with Judge Hoyle Sink pre
siding. This term of court was call -
led to convene Monday, Feh. 2, but
ja special venire was summoned from
j Cleveland county to sit as jurors,
| which delayed the case until Wed
j nesday. The special venire reported
j Wednesday at 2:30 o'clock, and Wed-
J nesday afternoon was consumed in
; selecting the jury.
The following men were selected
fropi Cleveland to act as jurors: E.
L. Holland, J. B. Hamrick r Ar-J".
! Dedmon, J. E. Randall, Tom Corn
:well, Gfady McSwain, C. R. Wrigh\
James B. Horn, A. P. Ramsey, Gradv
! Wilson, E. G. Roberts and D. L.
I Martin.
i
i The trial got under way on Thurs
' day morning. Dr. John I>. Biggs,
liquidating agent was on the stand
! all day. Solicitor J. W. Pless led the
i questioning for the state until noon
Thursday, while Clyde R. lloey. at-
I torney for the defendants, cross ex
' amined the witness Thursday after
' noon.
A sharp argument of opposing
i counsel, involving the State Corpora
tion Commission, were the high lights
'of Thursday's proceedings. When
, Solicitor Pless asked the witness it
the bank was insolvent when he took
charge, an hour's argument followed
by attorneys of both sides as to what
constitutes insolvency.
Commission Sco red.
i
Charles W. Tillett, >f Charlotte,
one of the attorneys for the defend
ants, argued that the bank was re
ported solvent by the state cor
poration commission when it was
examined December 4, 1929, by state
bank examiners, two months befoi"?
it closed. Mr. Tillett read the lav.'
specifying the duties of the cor
poration commission.
Solicitor Pless replied thiil he was
ready to help prosecute the state
corporation commission if it wa>
guilty of violating the law and that
even if it did violate the law such
action did not excuse the defend
ants from violating it.
Insolvent Before Close.
Dr. Biggs said the bank was in
solvent when he took charge Mare I '.
24, 1930, also that it was insolvent
February 1, 1930, and January 25,
1930.
Reports of bank examiners for the
year 1928 of the bank was read anl
discussed in court. Signatures of of
ficials who signed statements were
identified. Notes and collateral of
the defendants were also read.
Big Deficit.
Testimony that there was a deficit
of $23,946.93 in the $200,000 caoi
tal stock of the Rutherford County
Bank and Trust Co., on February
3, 1930, the last day it was oper
ated, was the high spot of Friday's
session of the trial.
(Cc:.:cd Or. Tage F r: r)
I 2 Pages
72 COLUMNS