VOLUME XXXII -NUMBER 21
LAURINBURG. N. C, THURSDAY. MAY 21, 1914.
$1.50 PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE
Hi'
WILL T. M'KENZIE
GETS LIFE SENTENCE
Young Scotland County Citizen Declared Guilty of Murdering His
Brother-in-Law and Sentenced to Die On June 12th Re
ceives Commutation of Death Sentence to One
Of Life Imprisonment.
Attorneys E. H. Gibson, W H.
Cox and Judge Nea!, of Laurin
burg, left here Sunday at, noon
by automobile for Hamlet, where
they caught the afternoon train
going to Raleigh. The purpose
of their trip" was tomake an ap
peal to Governor Craig in behalf
of Mr. Will T. McKenzie, the
young Scotland county citizen
under sentence of death, the date
being Friday, June 12th.
The plea of McKenzie's attor
neys, together with the appeal of
the jury that convicted him, the
request of Judge Lyon, who tried
the case, and a petition signed by
about two thousand citizens of
Scotland and Robeson counties
resulted in Governor Craig ex
tending the mercy of a life sen
tence to Mr. McKenzie. ,
Our readers are. familiar with
the case and we shall not again
recite it in detail here.
The action of the Governor is
no surprise to the people of the
county, a3 the request made for
this action on his part was per
haps as strong as was ever pre
sented under like conditions. The
jury that tiied Mr. McKenzi
said to the Governor in substance
that they did not expect him to
suffer the full penalty of the law,
and had they thought he would,
that theirs would have been a
different verdict. This, with a
request from the presiding judge
and the signed appeal of so many
citizens of the home county of
Mr. McKenzie and the neighbor
ing county in which he was tried,
constituted a plea that Governor
Craig quickly appreciated and
without the usual delay in such
cases, expressed his intention of
granting this mercy to the young
man.
GOVERNOR STATES HIS REASONS.
"From the evidence 1 conclude
that the verdict of the jury,
whereby the defendant was con
victed of murder in the first de
gree, was proper.
"About twelve o'clock on the
day of the killing, the defendant
was grossly insulted by the de
ceased The defendant armed
himself, and about three or four
o'clock of the same day went to
the. deceased who was at work
near the road along which the de
fendant was traveling. It was
evidently the intention of the de
fendant to humiliate the de
ceased regardless of most serious
consequences. The fatal diffi
culty resulted.
"This commutation is recom
mended by Judge Lyon who tried
the case, by all the jury, by a
great number of the very best
citizens of that section, by Hec
tor McLean, A. L. James, T. J.
Gill, VV. T. Pate, L. M. Blue, J.
A. McKay, T. C. Edwards, VV.
R. McEachin and many others of
that type.
"In my opinion the defendant
can escape the punishment of
death only by the merciful exer
cise of the power vested in the
executive. In view of the fact
that he had been grossly insult
ed, that he was greatly disturb
ed by this insult, that he may
not have determined to kill with
that premeditation and delibera
tion required by the statute, and
in accordance with the view of
the good people of that section :
lawyers, ministers, doctors
citizens who must uphold and ad
minister the law- I have decided
to commute this sentence to life
imprisonment, although T realize
that the evidence warranted the
verdict and that the defendant is
guilty of a homicide which de
mands the severest punishment
short of the extreme; penalty :
death.
Besides the Laurinburg attor
neys, Mr. A. W. McLean, of Lum
berton, appeared in behalf of Mr.
McKenzie.
The Republican State Execu
tive Committee has been called
by Chairman John M. Morehead
to meet in Greensboro May 26.
It is reported that President
Wilson will speak at Cheraw, S.
C, July 8, which will be the 150th
anniversary of the founding of
that town.
CORN CLUB PRIZES.
Valuable Rewards in Store for Faithful
Workers on the Farm.
For the benefit of the contest
ants in the "Boys' Corn Club" of
Scotland county we take-pleasure
in stating that the following
prizes will be awarded strictly
according to the rules and regu
lations of the club.
STATE PRIZES.
First prizes: Free trip to Wash
ington, D. C. Given by the
North Carolina Department of
Agriculture.
$50 cash, offered by Hastings
Seed Co., Atlanta, Ga.
Second prizes: $30 cash, of
fered by Hastings Seed Co., At
lanta, Ga.
One boar pig (Yorkshire
breed), givan by Geo. C. Leach,
Aberdeen, N. C.
DISTRICT PRIZES.
Five cash prizes will be given
in each district by the North
Carolina Department of Agricul
ture, as follows:
First prize: $15.00
Second prize 12.50
Third prize 10.00
Fourth prize 5.00
Fifth prize 2.50
COUNTY PRIZES.
First prize: Free trip to State
Fair at Raleigh, by The State
Bank, Laurinburg.
Second prize: A good suit of
clothes, by Z. V. Pate, Gibson.
Third prize: A Corn Sheller,
by First National Bank, Laurin
burg. FcuV.th ;..prize: One Buckeye
Corn Planter, by The Planters
Trading Co., Laurinburg.
Fifth prize: One Poland China
Pig, by L. M. Blue, Gibson.
Sixth prize: 600 pounds Osce
ola (8 3-3) Fertilizer, by Jno. F.
McNair, Laurinburg.
The North Carolina Commis
sion to the San Francisco Expo
sition has decided that this State
shall have a building on the
grounds next year and that com
plete representation will be had.
Gen. Julian S. (Jarr wa3 elected
president of the commission arid
Fred A. Olds secretary. Gover
nor Craig is to leave Raleigh
June 20 for San Francisco, where
he will select the site for the
North Carolina building.
The Fifth District Regional
Reserve Bank (comprising North
Carolina in its territory) was or
ganized in Richmond last Mon
day. John F. Bruton, of Wilson,
represents this State in the di
rectorate. Secretary Daniels addressed
the graduating class of Davidson
College last Monday, and on
Monday night he delivered the
commencement address before
the Charlotte Graded Schools.
Secretary Bryan is scheduled
to speak at Newbern on May 30,
the occasion being "Home Com
ing" week in that town.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt ar
rived in New York May 19 after
an absence of several months in
South America.
CITY GRADED SCHOOLS
CLOSE TOMORROW
The Laurinburg Graded Schools Close Another Successful Year.
Closing Exercises Begin Tomorrow and End Monday Eve
ningAnnual Sermon by Rev. R. F. Bumpas.
The Program.
The Laurinburg Graded Schools,
comprising the Central School
and the East Laurinburg School,
have finished another successful
year's work, and beginning to
morrow and ending Monday eve
ning the commencement exercises
will take place.
This is the fifth year of the
schools' existence, and under the
direction of Prof. B. P. Caldwell
it has been a most successful one.
The program for the com
mencement exercises is as fol
lows :
Friday, May 22d, 8:30 -Play,
"Mr. Bob." by Students of
- High School.
CASTE.
Miss Rebecca Luke, a Maiden
Lady Katie Calhoun
Miss Katherine Rogers, Miss
Luke's Niece Berrie Bryant
Marion Bryant, a friend of Miss
Rogers Irene Prince
Phillip Roysun Colin McArthur
Mr. Brown, representing a law
firm Edwin Gill
Patty, the Maid Ruth McKinnon
Jenkins, the Butler John Shaw.
Sunday, May 24th, 11:15-Annual
Sermon by Rev. R. F.
Bumpas, of Laurinburg
Methodist Church. School
Auditorium.
Monday, May 25th, 11:00 A. M.
Contest in Declamation for
Faculty Medal :
Ralph Calhoun, The New South.
Ned. Clayton, The University
Training Camp.
Clifton Fairley, The Vision of
War.
Frank John, Rubenstein's Play
ing. John Maxwell, The Responsibility
of War. . '
Benton Prince, The Hero of the
Furnace Room.
Malloy Prince, Arena Scene from
Quo Vadis.
Judges : Dr. W. D. James, Mr.
T. J. Dunn and Hon. W. H.
Weatherspoon.
Song Summer Fancies, O. Me-
tra High School Chorus.
Instrumental Quartette--Carmen,
Georges Bizet Ruth McKin
non, Betsie McNeill. Agnes L.
Buchanan, Bernice Douglas.
Monday, May 25th, 8:30 P. M.
Graduating Exercises.
Class Dav.
Song Merry June C. Vincent
High School Chorus.
Invocation Rev. J. R. Williams.
Salutatory Benton Prince.
Class Statistics Mabel Brooks.
Class Poem Clifton Fairley.
Song Daisies Everywhere L.
Denza.
Class Prophecy Ralph Calhoun.
Class Will John Maxwell.
Valedictory Frank John.
Duo Variations C. Saint-Saens-Irene
Prince, E. Gibson.
Presentation of medals, awards
of honor, delivery of diplomas
to members of graduating class
Mr. Edward Gibson, Supt.
Caldwell.
THE GRADUATING CLASS.
The graduating class this sea
son is comoosed of one girl, Miss
Mabel Bro ks, and eight boys
Ralph Calhoun,- Edward Clayton,
Clifton Fairiey, Frank John,
John Maxwell, Morrison McLau
rin, Benton Prince and Malloy
Prince.
The Mexican Situation.
May 14 Rebels took the port
of Tampico after besieging it for
several weeks Peace conference
at Niagara Falls, Canada, post
poned from May 18 to May 20.
May 15-The United States de
mands explanation from Huerta
as to killing of Private Samuel
Parks, U. S. A., who strayed
into the Mexican lines near Vera
Cruz, and who is reported to have
been executed. It' is claimed
that his execution constitutes a
violation of the armistice which
has been agreed to pending the
outcome of the peace conference.
May 17. The A. B. C. peace
mediators left Washington for
Niagara Falls. Huerta's three
delegates also started thither, af
ter a call upon Secretary Bryan.
May 18. -The U. S. delegates
to the peace conference received
final instructions from President
Wilson and departed for Niagara
Falls, where the conference is
scheduled to be held, opening
May 20. News from Jaurez,
Mexico, says that the rebels in
sist that only the elimination of
Huerta and his entire party will
restore peace in Mexico. It is
stated that Huerta has authorized
his delegates to consent to his
withdrawal from the presidency.
PRIMARY ELECTION
PASSED OFF QUIETLY
The Vote in Scotland Heavier Than Two Years Ago Spirited Con
test for Congressional Candidates Page Defeats Beasley
By Large Majority C E. Muse for Register of
Deeds Leads Ticket.
Blackhand Work at Littleton.
On or about the 27th of March
last Wiley G. Coleman received a
note from some person unknown
to him demanding that $50 be
placed at some point designated
.in the note by a certain time.
3Ii3, uemantl was promptly met
and persons put on the watch
for the comer after it. The money
was not taken. The latter part
of April the demand was repeat
ed, also a note sent to the police
man warning him that he had
better quit watching a mail box
(the place designated for the
money to be placed each time) or
he would pay the penalty. The
money was again placed in the
mail box, and the policeman was
on the watch for the criminal,
but was discovered-and shot at
the ball coming dangerously near
the mark. Mr. Coleman does not
know who the person thus trying
to annoy him is, but he does
know that person is violating
law and placing himslf in a se
rious position, as it is perfectly
natural that Mr. Coleman should
be prepared for any emergency.
Littleton News-Reporter.
Evidently murdered and the
body rifled of all belongings,
then placed across the rails of
the Norfolk Southern Railway
near Wilson in order that the
crime might be covered up, fate
stepped in and the body of Frank
Smith was discovered last Friday
night by the engincor of the
Norfolk Southern eastbound pas
senger train in time to stop his
engine. No clue has been dis
covered as to the murderer.
John R. Early, the North Caro
lina leper who attained notoriety
several years ago, escaped from
the quarantine station at Port
Townsend, Wash., last week.
WHAT SHALL VYE DO?
The Laurinburg 6irl at Montrose Not Yet
ProYidsd For.
During the past two weeks this
publication has endeavored by
asking for contributions from the
good people who read The Ex-J
change to raise a lund of $50 to
be used in making it possible for
Miss , a bright young
Laurinburg girl, to remain at
Montrose, the State sanatorium
for tubercular patients. The re
sponse to this appeal has been
very small, indeed ' so small that
it ru.w appears that she will have
to giveifup the sweet hope of
holding Oiji to life and return to
her home &?oken in spirit, broken
in health and doomed "to a cer
tain death. Only the $50 stands
between her and the restoration
of her health and happiness. The
attending physicians say that
with two months further treat
ment she can return home with
great assurance of a recovery,
but if she has to leave now, the
chances are that she will soon
return to her former condition,
which certainly means an early
deaths
Is it possible that the gocd
people of this enlightened, pro
gressive and so richly blessed
community, will permit one of
its fair young girls to perish for
the lack of $50? Will we say to
her, No. Is that to be our an
swer? A VIRGINIA FRIEND.
We are in receipt of the fol
lowing letter from Richmond.
tfI7 W. Grace St.,
Richmond, Va., May 17, 1914.
THE LAURINBURG EXCHANGE,
Laurinburg, N. C,
Gentlemen :
Your paper under date of May
7th happened to come into my
hands. I noticed the letter from
assistant superintendent at Mont
rose regarding one of their pa
tients. I would be glad if you
Yould let me know if this sum
of $50 has been raised, if not, I
would be glad to contribute
something to it. I imagine though
it has been forwarded before
this.
Thanking you in advance for
this information, I am,
Yours truly,
(Miss) Sarah McKinnon.
We didn't like to write to this
distant friend that the people
here had failed to come to the
rescue of one of their own, but
we were compelled to tell her
that she had surmised wrong in
thinking that the amount had
been given, arid that her contri
bution would be gratefully ac
cepted. In our first campaign
for money to send this girl away,
we were surprised to find that
such a pei cent of it came from
strangers who had no motive in
giving except as they desired to
answer the cry of a suffering
stranger, and now when we wish
to raise an additional fund for the
benefit of this young lady, one of
our own, we find strangers in
neighboring States more quickly
responding than we, upon whom
. The nominating primary held
in Scotland county Saturday pass
ed off quietly, and although the
results were not just what every
one would have wished, the re
sults are of course satisfactory to
the majority of our citizens at
least their ballots, expressing
their wishes, say so.
The most interesting contest
was that between Page and Beas
ley, candidates for Congress. The
most ardent Beasley supporters,
throughout the entire campaign,
had no hope of carrying Scotland
for their candidate, but they
fought hard to secure the largest
vote possible for him. As an ev
idence of the extreme interest on
both sides, voters were person
ally appealed to to vote for Mr.
Page and likewise for Mr. Beas
ley, and when a voter had passed
the Congressional box and had
voted, there, he was turned loose
and permitted to vote the balance
of the way without serious rao
.lestation. . Both sides used print
er's ink in their fight, and TriE
exchange had to use two spe
cial editions to take care of the
demands made upon it.
The result was no surprise, for
it was long before conceded that
Mr. Beasley had no chance of se
curing a majority of Scotland's
vote.
In local affairs, the race for a
seat in the lower house of the
General Assembly was of great
est interest and resulted in a tie
up between Mr. A. E. Shaw, of
Wagram, Spring Hill township,
and Mr. L. M. Blue, of Gibson,
Williamson township. Mr. Blue
lacked--ijly six votes of securing
a r cio s iie votes above
both His " opponents, Mr. Shaw
and Mr. H. O. Covington of Lau
rinburg. At a meeting of the
board of canvassers Monday Mr.
Shaw, through his friend, Mr.
John A. McKay, of Wagram, no
tified the committee that he did
not desire a second primary, and
thus Mr. Blue was declared the
nominee.
Messrs. J. R. Jordan, the
incumbent, and Mr. P. N.
Brown were candidates for the
office of Coroner. Both worked
hard. In this vote Mr. Jordan
secured the largest majority of
any candidate who had opposi
tion. ,
Messrs. George T. Goodwyn
and M. L. John were in the
field for the office of Prosecuting
Attorney in the Trial Justice's
Court, with the result that Mr.
Goodwyn received the nomina
tion. The other county candidates
had no opposition and Mr. C. E.
Muse, candidate for re-election
to the office of Register of Deeds,
has the distinction of leading the
ticket by three votes.
the real responsibility rests.
If we are to do anything in the
behalf of this younp lady, it must
be done without delay. The
money must be forthcoming or
this bright young girl must come
home. W7hich shall we do, give
$50 or permit her to die? We
have to do one of these.
John L. Griffiths, U. S. consul
general at London, died suddenly
in that city, May 17.
Results of Primaries Held in Scotland County, North Carolina, May 16, 1914.
Congress Solicitor iHouse of Reps.jPros. Atty
c c
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Precinct g I J ' JT 6
" & & fi. m o m
Pi . w j h d a o
m p4 . a a p a
Spring Hill 135 4 92 38 133 2 10 107 20
Upper Laurel Hill 21 8 24 4 13 1 15 24 2
Lower Laurel Hill 87 24 75 33 - 63 8 42 80 28
Stewartsville No. 1 177 149 155 158 169 88 79 276 58
Stewartsville No. 2 65 11 62 8 5 14 57 12 61
Upper Williamson 183 24 163 35 ll 7 194 131 64
Lower Williamson 110 10 109 8 6, 3 112 , 74 43
i ' " N
Totals- 778 230 680 284 400 123 509 704 276
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