1
ID
Stale Library
VOLUME XXXI.
HENDERSON, N. C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1911.
NO. 1
ENDERSON
1
A BAND OF BURGLARS
ROUNDED UP BY POLICE.
ft
The City Police Department
Makes a Big Haul.
A DOZEN VICIOUS NEGROES
SENT UP TO CHAINGANG.
For Several Months Past They
Had Been Plying Their Ne
farious Trade in This City
Many Homes ' and Several
Business Houses Have Been
Entered and Robbed.
One of the prettiest and most
commendable pieces of work that
has been accredited to the Hen
derson police department in a
long time was the rounding up
during the latter part of last
week of an organized band of
burglars and thieves that have
infested this city for several
months past, and as a direct re
sult of this good work about a
dozen worthless and vicious ne
groes are now serving terms of
from five to eighteen months on
the chaingang. Nothing has
happened in Henderson lately
that has caused more general
satisfaction and universal ap
proval. Two or three of these negroes
were captured and sent up sev
eral days ago, but the real den
of thieves was not discovered and
broken up until last Friday and
Saturday, when seven or eight
more were apprehended by the
police, tried in the Recorder's
Court, convicted and sentenced
to the roads as follows: Joe
Keavis, fifteen months; John H.
Perry, five months; Will Satter
white, twelve months; Silvestus
Roberts, twelve months; Will
.Johnson, six months; Tom John
son, sixteen months, and John
Harris, eighteen months. The
evidence against them was con
clusive, practically all of them
being "found with the goods on
their., ".and they took their med
icine without offering to appeal
to the higher court.
A very simple thing led to the
detection and rounding up of
this notorious gang. Policeman
Champion, who has for some
time been keeping a close watch
out for some clue to the many
burglaries and robberies that
have been taking place here,
happened to notice a suspicious
negro with a new watch and at
once took him into custody. He
said he got the watch from an
other negro, and the other negro
was promptly arrested. The
blame was passed on to a third
negro and he was arrested. In
this way John Harris, one of the
gang, was finally apprehended.
The evidence against him was all
suliicient and he was sentenced
to the chaingang for a term of
eighteen months.
Policeman Champion was sat
isfied that Harris could tell a
great deal if he onlv would, and
s kept urging him to make a
clean breast of the whole affair.
At first Harris showed little in
clination to give away his pals.
lut when the officers started
with him to the chaingang where
ne was to serve an eighteen
youths sentence, he handed Mr.
Champion a list of the names of
t: e whole gang and told him of
iiilVrent places where he would
stolen goods that had been
taken from the Watkins Hard
ware Company's store about
three weeks ago and from anoth
er store more recently. Warrants
jr all the negroes named by
Harris, and also search warrants
iir their 'quarters, were at once
" cured. The arrest of the ne
s'nes and the search of their
1 ivmises followed immediately.
P-eMdes finding a considerable
' -;ch of the stolen goods at the
; ' e of James Swett, who had
viwd and stored them know
- them to be stolen, practical-t-very
one of the negroes was
n i to have a nice pistol and
-er articles on his person, the
-':-e having recently been stolen
: ' the Watkins Hardware
anv's store or some other
:v m town. The negroes and
U'len articles were at once
; "-giit into the Recorder's
-i t. and Recorder Powell made
"r: work of the whole busi
passing sentences on them
as above stated. To Policeman
Champion is due most of the
credit for this good work.
For several months past Hen
derson has been infested with an
organized band of burglars and
thieves who have been operating
in one part of the city or another
with marked frequency. During
all the summer and fall they have
been plying their trade, and
many homes and several busi
ness houses have been entered,
plundered and robbed. Some
times two or three homes would
be entered the same night It
seemed next to impossible to
gain any clue to the identity of
the perpetrators. For this rea
son they had become so embolden
ed that they did not hesitate to
enter private sleeping apart
ments to carry on their plunder
ing, and the people of th city
had come to feel little security
from them. The police depart
ment seemed powerless to do
anything, and was severly cen
sured by many.
About three weeks ago the
Watkins Hardware Company's
store was entered one night and
a number of pistols and other
articles were taken, by whom
nobody knew or could even guess.
A few nights later one of the
Jew stores was burglarized and
various articles were appropriat
ed. But most of these articles
were found in the raid last Fri
day and Saturday by the police
department. There were pistols,
watches and jewelry galore,
along with numerous articles of
personal apparel, all of which
were promptly identified by the
proprietors of the stores robbed.
Of course it is not definitely
known that this is the same gang
that has been burglarizing resi
dences for several months past,
but it is so believed by many.
And while this is quite a good
haul to start with, it is believed
that there are still others who
have not yet been apprehended
and brought to justice. It is
therefore very important that
the police department keep up
its vigilance until the last burg
lar in the city is run down.
Miss Ada Daniel won the $20
gold watch this week for secur
ing the largest number of votes
in the Gold Leaf's contest during
the past week. Miss Helen Moore
won the second prize, a $5 bam
boo music stand, which was given
by the Hughes-Smaw Furniture
Company.
Great Week For Contest.
This has been a great week for
the Gold Leaf's big subscription
contest. The number of sub
scriptions turned in was almost
if not quite double that of any
former week of the contest. But
if the weather is favorable most
of the incoming week, we may
safely predict that next week's
report will be even better. Con
testants who are in earnest, and
we presume all of them are, can
not afford to overlook the great
opportunity to pile up votes from
now until next Wednesday even
ing at G o'clock. It is the best
one yet, and the best one that
will be at all.
Entertainment.
The young people of Towns
ville will give an entertainment
at the box plant on the evening
of December 2Gth. The enter
tainment, a comedy "The Su
perior Sex" will be given under
the auspices of tne Woman's
Auxilary of the Episcopal church
and will be given for its benefit.
Performance will begin at 7
o'clock. Oysters will be served
later. Admission: 2o and 15
cents.
Why She Loved Horses.
Pastor now, look here, my
man, your wife does love you.
Parishioner Why, how do you
know?
Pastor It's an old saying that
a woman who loves horses, loves
her husband, and your wife cer
tainly loves horses, so
Parishioner (interrupting)
You bet she loves anything
she can drive around. Gus il
liams.
Some people never appreciate a
favor until thev need another.
SPLENDID NEW BUILDING
FOR FIRST NATIONAL
Work On It Will Be Begun
In the Early Spring.
WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON
STRICTLY MODERN PLANS.
AH Plans Are Now Complete and
Contract Will Soon Be Awarded
Will Be the Finest Building
To Date in Henderson.
Plans have been completed for
the very handsome and substan
tial new four-story building for
the First National Bank of this
city, which is to be erected next
year, work on same to begin in
the early spring. This splendid
structure will occupy the vacant
lot on Garnett, street, from which
the Rowland old building was re
moved quite recently. This is a
most desirable location, being
right in the center of the town.
A more convenient site would be
hard to find.
The new structure will be
strictly modern in all of its plans
and arrangements. The dimen
sions will be 35x85 feet, four
stories and basement. In addi
tion to commodious quarters for
the bank, it will contain a num
ber of fine private office rooms,
and the plans fully indicate that
it will be the finest and best
building in the city so far. It
will be erected at an approximate
cost of $35,000, and will do much
credit not only to the First Na
tional Bank but to Henderson
and Vance county as well.
All of the materials used in its
construction will be of the best.
The walls will be of pressed brick
with stone and terra cotta exteri
or. It will have tile floors and
marble wainscoting and fixtures,
and will be a fire-proof building.
There will be an electric elevator
and convenient and elegant stair
ways. It will be lighted by
electricity and heated by steam
from bottom to top, and will
have all "the" conveniences that
are found in strictly modern
buildings.
This fine new building will be
a feather in Henderson's cap.
and would do decided credit to a
city several times the size of
ours. It will furnish the most
elegant bank quarters in this sec
tion of North Carolina. The First
National is to be congratulated
on its enterprise and progressive-
ness in planning this splendid
new structure, which is to be the
beginning of even a better and
more modern class of business
houses and other buildings in
this city.
Kittrell News Notes.
Mr. and Mrs. G. V. Barnes
have gone to Richmond.
Miss Wallenia Moore, of Flori
da, is visiting friends at this
place.
Mr. V. H. Ballard, of Greens
boro, visited Mrs. C. H. Black
nail recently.
Mr. Rivers McNeill, of Chicago,
is the guest of his sister, Mrs.
Mitcher Crudup.
Mrs. C. H. Blacknall and Mas
ter C. H. Blacknall left Wednes
day for Greensboro.
Miss Lautina Williams is now
at home from the Woman's Col
lege at Richmond for the holi
days. Mrs. T. C. Harris and children,
of Atlanta, have arrived to spend
the holidays with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Williams.
Miss Mildred Pirie, who is a
student at St. Mary's, after visit
ing Mrs. T. H. Crudup and Miss
Kate Blacknall, has returned to
her home at Wiliiamston.
A most delightful meeting of
the Book Club was held Satur-
dav at the hospitable home of
Mrs. G. A. Kittrell, and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all pres
ent.
There is something doing in the
Gold Leaf office these days. Be
sides the rugular run of work,
which is heavy, it requires one
printer about half his time to
place new subscribers on the
mailing galleys and move up the
dates of old ones.
What is more unfair than some
1 specimens of tbe fair sex?
DABNEY NEWS ITEMS.
Mr, J. B. Burroughs spent
Sunday at Oxford.
Mr. J. E. Ellington spent Sun
day at Dexter.
Mr. J. B. Boyd went to Ra
leigh Wednesday.
Miss Mamie Kimball Visited at
Mrs. Glover's last Friday.
The weather is getting cold
for Christmas which will soon be
herat A
Mrs. James H. Harris has been
very sick lately, but is better
now.
Mrs. J. W. Raney is very sick
and; her friends hope she will
soon be well.
Miss Jewell Glover will go off
to school after Christmas also
Mr. J: D. Glover.
Mis? Lottie Hart, Mr. J. S.
Roysu;r, Mayor J. H. Harris,
Messrsi U. S. and Nabert Daniel
spent Saturday at Henderson.
Mr.E. S. Glover is driving the
nicest pair of black mules that
have ever been in this county.
They are nice, pretty mules.
Mioses Mattie Harris, Annie
Loyd and Rufus Daniel, of Ma
con, .will be the guests of Misses
Mettie and Lillian Harris next
week.
Mr; Brodie Wilson has moved
from Dabney to the Capt. W. T.
Hardy old place near Williams
boro. ' We wish him much suc
cess in his new home.
We now have within one-half
mile of the postoffice 133 inhabi
tants. Dabney now looks like a
little town, don t it? Let s in
corporate it. Get busy.
Mrs. J. T. Harris, Mrs. W. T.
Nichles, Mrs. J. W. Burroughs,
Miss Jewell Glover, Mr. J. M.
Sattervvhite and Mr. Tom Ivey
spent Tuesday in Henderson.
Mr". Glover is still wearing the
badge for high priced tobacco.
He will of course get the prize
buggy. We think he ought to
have it and we believe he will
get it
Mayor Harris likes Henderson.
He siys he is going to buy him a
trairitid haye a street car ' line,
too, Trom Dabney to Henderson.
He is a man with the right kind
of spirit. Let the good work go
on. We will get the town incor
porated soon if Mr. Harris stays
with us. We think he is satisfied
here and will stay.
Mr. W. N. Wilborne is moving
to Dabney this week. We are
glad to have Mr. Wilborne and
family with us. We need good
people. If we could get rid of
all the bad people and fill their
places with good ones it would
be better. But let's think they
are all good and be friendly.
That's what we need, to all be
friendly and neighborly. We
want to live right. Let's do it.
Teach the Children How to Han
dle Firearms.
(Progressive Farmer. )
Let us call attention to one
kind of accident which children
should be taught to avoid, and
this is accident from firearms.
Scarcely do we pick up a news
paper that we do not read with
horror of the frightful accidents
which befall children from fire
arms carelessly left about by
parents and relatives. In the
first place, we as a people might
well curtail the use of firearms
in every day life. As a means
of protection a gun rarely ever
protects and is more often a
menace to the peace and harmo
ny of communities. Secondly,
if firearms are necessary to daily
living it is the imperative duty
of each adult of the household
to see that such are well out of
reach of the children. Thirdly,
children should be brought up to
treat every pistol, rifle or gun as
if it were loaded. Hundreds of
persons are shot every year by
people who are "certain" that
their weapons are not loaded.
Suppose you do a little hustling
on your own account for your
favorite contestant during the
next few daps and help her pile
up votes under the special offer
for the coming week. Your help
right now will do her more good
than at any future time.
There may be people who are
beneath flattery, but did you
ever see anyone who was above
it?
CHRISTMAS OFFER OF 25,000
FREE VOTES TO CONTESTANTS.
Positively the Largest Offer of Free Votes That
Will Be Made During This Contest Now Is
the Time For All Contestants to Work.
The manager of the Gold Leaf's big subscription contest wishes
to give every contestant at least 25,000 free votes as a Christmas
present and it will be quite possible for them to win 50,000 to 75,
000 and even a larger number of free votes under the terms of this
offer, and it is therefore squarely up to each contestant to get busy
and make the best of this offer as it is going to count for much in
he windup.
OUR BIG FREE VOTE OFFER FOR THIS WEEK.
For every $15 turned in on this contest between now and Wednes
day evening, December 27th, at G o'clock, we will give 25,000 free
votes. Under this splendid offer $30 will secure 50,000 free votes,
and $45 75,000 free votes, and so on. We do not limit you to any
amount you may turn in. The more the better for your cause.
But we propose to give you 25,000 free votes for every $15 tou turn
jn, and proportionate votes for all over that amount "
THIS WILL BE YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY.
Positively this is the largest ofTer of bonus votes that will be
made during this contest, and we guarantee the fulfillment of this
promise. This offer is made to contestants in consideration of the
fact that this is the Christmas season and as a special inducement
to them and their friends to work during the holidays. We hope
every contestant will take full advantage of this great opportunity
to pile up votes against the final day of the contest, which is now
not very far off.
The contest manager or anyone in the Gold Leaf office will take
pleasure in explaining this offer fully to any contestant who might
not understand it or any particular feature about it
RELATIVE STANDING OF CONTESTANTS THIS WEEK.
BOBBITT.
Miss Clara Young
WATKINS.
Miss Kate Bobbitt
RIDGEWAY.
Miss Helen Moore ,
HENDERSON.
Miss Miriam Smaw
Mrs. J. C. Champion
HENDERSON R. F. D. NO. 1.
Miss Ada Daniel. . ViVv-. ..... . . . .
HENDERSON R. F. D. NO. 3.
Miss Rosa K. Parham
KITTRELL.
Miss Florence Stone
TOWNSVILLE.
Miss Hazeltine Harris
DABNEY.
Miss Ethel Ellington
Notes from Hawkins Avenue.
Prof. E. M. Rollins spent last
Sunday with Mr. J. W. Coghill.
Mr. W. H. Finch, of Bobbitt,
spent last week with her father,
Mr. J, A. Gill.
Miss Sue H. Watkins spent
part of last week with Miss
Florie Kittrell.
Mr. E. O. Pardue and children
visited his sister, Mrs. J. W.
Coghill, Sunday.
Mrs. P. H. Gill spent several
days of the past week with her
sister at Roanoke Rapids.
Miss'Addie Ellington will spend
the holidays' with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Ellington.
Mr. Clarence Gill has returned
home after having spent several
days with relatives at Raleigh.
Mr. S. P. Brummitt attended
the Farmers' Convention, which
was held at Wilson the past week.
Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Parks and
little son, Joseph Kittrell, spent
part of last week with Mrs. J.
W. Coghill.
Miss Carrie Gill, who attends
the State Normal College, is at
her lovely country home spend
ing the holidays with her father,
Mr. J. A. Gill.
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Gill and
children left Thursday for Wil
mington, where they are to at
tend the Taylor-Johnson marri
age, and also spend the Christ
mas holidays with relatives.
Hereafter contestants will
make their reports privately to
the contest manager, one at a
time, and others will be given no
opportunity whatever to as
certain what any contestant has
accomplished until it is announced
in the paper. This is for the
purpose of safe guarding the in
terests of each and all the contestants.
201 950
173 250
252 250
185 800
288 000
274 125.
254 500
85 250
220 125
25 750
Axe Handle Contest Closes.
The axe handle contest, which
has been conducted by the Wat
kins Hardware Company since
the first of September, closed
yesterday, and the prizes were
awarded to the successful contest
ants. Seventy-five farmer boys,
under nineteen years of age, in
Vance and adjoining counties,
took part in the contest and sent
in seventy-five nice hickory axe
handles that they had made with
such tools as they had on hand.
The prize handle sold for $1.00.
The prizes were awarded as
follows
Jack Oakley, of Henderson,
first prize-$25.00 Stevens Shot
Howard Jones, of Elberon,
second prize-$15.00 Winchester
rifle.
J. R. Wortham, of Oxford,
third prize-10.00 Texas riding
sadle.
P. C. Eastwood, of Towns ville,
fourth prize $3.50 hunting coat.
Samuel Hunt, of Kittrell, fifth
prize $2.00 beauty razor.
Clarence Johnson, of Bobbin,
sixth prize $1.00 Boker pocket
knife.
The judges were, Messrs. T.
H. Aycock, Ed. Finch. W. P.
Gholson, D. I. Langston and
Henry Polston.
Much interest has been taken
in this contest ever since the be
ginning, and the Watkins Hard
ware Company gave away some
valuable prizes to the successful
contestants. Some of the win
ners were very young boys, one
only fourteen years of age, and
all went home rejoicing over what
they had won and the trade that
they had learned.
Mrs. Wallace Phelps and little
daughter. Elizabeth, of Oxford,
are visiting relatives in the city.