he Monroe Journ
VOL.XVHL ! VV
MONROE, N. O, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1911.
ONE DOLLAR A TEAR.
I l " ' " ' ' -
A MOST FOUL MURDER.
Cleveland County Farmer and His
Wife Slain With Axes Five
Negroes Arrested and Some of
Them the Guilty Ones Brought
10 unariotte Jail.
Before day last Weducsda,
morning Mr. and Mrs. John Dix
mi, a young couple living in Cleve
land comity, alwut 10 miles from
Shelby were most foully beaten
to death with axes. Five negro
es, three or them thought guilty
mini iwo iieui as witnesses were
ai once arrestee, aiut i-vutay were
ikToiight from the Shelby jail to
Charlotte, to await trial by a, speo
wi term or court already called
hy Governor Kitchen. John and
lr i- ii -i
ijiii-K noss, i wo oi i lie men, are
brothers. uid Will Ross is a coils
in. The other two, held as wit
nesses. are grown Ihivs, sons of
the others. John Ross confessec
Ros prefaced his atorv hv
branding his former statements as
a lie out of the cloth. Mrs. Dix
on did not tell him . when she
beckoned to liini and old Major
Stroud from the window, that
white men had called her bus
band out to get a mule out of the
ditch and he did not see two
strange men when he passe
the barn. He did we a man at
the,, bam, however, and this man
Mas his cousin, Will Ross. He
also saw the dead bodv of Mr.
Dixon lying in front of the banu,
Killing of Mr. Dixon.
"Will Ross, so John's confession
govs, met him at t lie barn and ad
mitted that he did the killing, al
so warning John that he wool
kill him if he said anything about
wlui t he (Will) had told him
Will said that Mr. Dixon had
mortage on his mule and that he
was unable to pay it; that
Mr. Dixon had taken a cow from
mm tne year netore ami lie was
determined that he should not fret
Ins mule. So he planned to coin'
mit murder in order to get the
mortgage and destroy it, believing
that he would then be sale in
the possesion of the mule. He
went to the Dixon home in tli
dead hours of the night and call
ed to the young husband to conic
out oud get his mule out of the
ditch. Mr. Dixon drcvwcd and
came out and the two men start
ed towards the barn. Will said
he did not get a chance to strike
with the axe he had
for the purpose, and
tieared the barn he
Dixon that they would
Dixon turn
second and
Mr. Dixon
picked up
when they
said to Mr.
need two axes. .Mr,
ed his head for a
pointed to where another axe was
to he found, and on turning back
towards the negro he was met
with a crushing blow on the left
temple, the blunt aide of the axe
being used. Mr. Dixon -went
down instantly and Ross made a
hasty examination of his pockets
but failed to locate the desired
mortgage. Foiled here, he rushed
to the house in further search for
the much wanted paper.
Sent To Join Husband.
Mrs. Dixon wai awakened and,
fearing that she would recognize
him, the negro dealt her a blow
with the same instrument that had
felled her husband. He then carc
tully searched the house and still
failed to discover the mortgage.
Realizing that his dastaidly ef
forts had been in vain, he return-,
cd to his home and later came
back to the scene to eee, according
to John Ross, if anybody had
foimd out what he had done
John Ross, so he alleges, theji
went to Mr. T. D. Dixon's, fath
er of the murdered man, and lie
gave the alarm, and while John
wag gone it is the general belief
that Will once more went to the
house ami sent the young moth
er to join her husband in the land
beyond, striking her twice in the
center of the forehead, first with
the blade and again with the poll
of the axe.
Will Ross Arrested.
Wiil JRoss stoutly denied that
he was in any way implicated in
the murder. The presence of
the miniature arsenal and a nuin
ber of axes which were also found
in the room, could not be account
ed for, however, and the authori
ties are postive in the belief that,
so far as Will Ross is concerned,
John Ross' story is correct. It
is further believed, tHough, that
John Ross was also a party to the
crime and possibly Hack, whose
tracks, as expressed bv a well-
knowned farmer who arrived at
the home shortly after the alarm
- a
was spread, were seen "gwine
ana coming. Whether or not
either of the two lioyg. Tig Ross
:id Cullen Mull, participated in
the murder is not known, but it
is firmly believed that thev know
all about the crime and both will
be held as material witnesses iid-
ing futher investigation. Mull
contradicts the storv nf Hack
Ross in that he says
away from home for
during the middle of
Hack saying that he
iiacK was
some time
the night
never left
home, although he got up at two
o clock.
After the negro had lcen ar
rested, and while waiting for the
coroner s jury the Shelby crowd
got restless ami signs of lynching
filled the air. Judge Webb, who,
with others made speeches, said:
"Fellow citizens, 1 take it that
you have gathered here todav to
hear the coroner's jury's report
relative to the horrible murder of
Mr. and Mrs. John Dixon. I
have always been proud that 1
was born in North Carolina, and
proud that 1 wvm Immh in Cleve
land county. It is the duty of all
good citizens if possible to find
out who committed the deed, but
it is never wise to take the law
in their own hands. If thev do.
they will hae a nail that will
follow them in life and Wther
them in sleep. I recall the mi
pleasent consequences in Ruther-
ed U the house after Major haii
gone to Mr. Dennis Wright's for
help and struck the blows that
mad; the murd double.
The Kosh clan of n gro have
always boine a bad reputation
in Cleveland county. They are
said to have Indian Mood in their
veins and have Wen in the toils
of the law time and time again.
A brother of Hack and John
Quint Ross, served a 7-year s-n
lenee ior Killing another negro
about ten years ago and John
Ross was shot himself some time
ago in quarrel. Hack and Will
Ross appear to be about 40 years
of age and John claims to be 27.
The two boys, 1'ig Ross and Cull
en .Mull, who are held w mater
ial witnesses, are yet in their
teens. They all have a choco
late complexion and sharpe, pierc
ing eyes that seem to be always
looking for trouble. On t lie
train going to Charlotte today
uiey exniimeu no sign s ot ner-
votwncw and didn't seem to at
all realize their predicament.
Another Witness Comes Forward.
A Shelby special of Dec. 17. to
the Charlotte Olserver. savs:
Bert Gardner is the last uetrro
to be arrested in connection with
the double murder of Mr. ami
Mrs. John Dixon, the prominent
Cleveland comity fanners. Gard
ner is being held as a material
witness against the Rs negroes.
John and Will, who are held in
the Gastonia jail, and Hack, who
f,il1 JWtuiito !.. (.ll..-n.l 1, -,..,!, J
. . . J . restu for suto-lluiiitiniT in tlwi f'ln.
lllff. Men IiiiiI to Ipnvo then wivph' ... i... v um
and children. I hop.1 that no
citizen in the county has thought
about lynching. It is a horribl
and outrageous crime, but we al
so have vigilant oltieeiu am
clean men who will sit on the ju
ry and give the man or men i
speedy trial and justice. 1 havi
a telegram in my hand from Gov
W. W. Kitchen calling a special
term of court to try the men we
have arrested. There is no dang
er ot a nioD getting an innocent
man and destroying cvidmce that
may lend up to the conviction of
the gnlitv partv. Mr. Ambrose
Clitic, father of the young wil't
and mother tells me that he hopes
there will be no violence and h
wants the law to take its fours-:
We have the right party; a court
can lie held in two wecKS. so
beg ot you, as good citizens, not
to stain the tair name ot Cleve-
ind, but go home and wait.'
The Observer correspondent had
talk with old Major Stroud,
who passed the Dixon home
with John Kvss and was
by Mrs. Dixon,
seems certain that
made on her.
an honest
ckoncd to
and it now
two attacks were
Stroud, who is
and indu-st rjoiis negro of nearly
70 years of age and bears a good
reputation, says that) when he saw
Mrs. Dixon she had her head in
her left hand, but there was no
otind on hex forehead, tatter,
when neighbors arrived uion the
scene, ahe was toiuul sitting on
the side of her bed in a dying
condition, with blood flowing free
ly from a gaping wound in the
fore head. She seemed to under
stand what was said to her and
made a weak effort to speak, but
could not. She was laid on fli
bed and death ended her suffer
ings in a few moments.
Thus story, as told by Major
Stroud, is borne out by the na
hire of the wounds. Mrs. Dixon
was struck on the left temple and
the temple bone was crushed, and
it is probable that she had her
hand iw to this wound. She
couldn't have lived until neigh
bors arrived it the wounds on
her forehead had been inflicted
before John Ross ami Stroud pas
sed the house.
It seems that Major's good rep
utation has got him into trouble
and that is another circumstance
pointing to John Ross' connect
ion with the crime. In going to
the woods to chop, John had to
go a mile out or ins way to go
by Major's and his axe did not
need sharpening badly, as he said.
So it is believed that John Ross
intended to carry Major by the
house ami find the dead (todies
and the testimony of Major as
to the discovery would save him.
His plans were spoiled, though.
hy finding Mrs. Dixon alive, and
it is the accepted theory that
either John or Will Ross return-j
lott? tombs, as suspects of the das
tardly murder.
Gardner voluntarily told his
ucighliors shortly after the affair
that he heard John and Hack
planning the killing at a corn
shucking at Mark Beam's three
or four weeks ago. As soon is the
officers heard of this evidence,
they brought Gardner here as a
manna i witiicm in the prosecu
tion, lie is an old negro, wi
thought of in the coiimnunit v and
much will rest on his t-wtimonv
Gardner says John and Ha
Ross had their heads close togetl
er and were talking in an midi
tone almut Mr. Dixon taking their
mule and meat, and thev mad
the threat that Mr. Dixon wotil
not live until Christmas. Wh
tins conversation was heard, the
crowd at the corn shucking ha
gon.' and the Ross negroes did not
know Gardner was near enough to
hear them. Gardner says he wouh
have told it before this, but that
Hack is a talkative negro ami he
lid not put any faith in the
threat.
Everything is quiet in the coim
ty now, nut people eontiiie to dis-
cuss the various threads of evi
lenee, and many drove to
lesolated home today to look up
on the scene ot the dastardly
crime. Kelattves have taken
charge of the home and put it in
order. The live stock is being
cared, for bv Mr. T. D. Dixon, fa
ther of the deceased, and the one
year-old girl baby, that was left
untouched in bed with its dead
mother, will want for nothing.
The county commissioners will
take stc this week toward seen
ring a jury tor the special term
of court ordered to convene Jan
uary 8 for the purpose of trying
the Ross negroes. The citizens ap
preciate the efforts of the offi
cials to give a speedy trial.
Indian Trail News.
(Correspondence.)
Mr. L. K. Muggins of Mandiville
sH-nt Siuiday with his brother.
i rot. l. .1. Muggins.
.Miss .Maud ILirgett sjent last
week with relatives n.-ar Mint
Hill.
Jilts Annie CroweH and littl
si..rs, a Ilea and .Mart ha kim-m!
Saturday night and Sunday with
their grandparents, Mr. ami Mrs
A. A. Davis, in the 1'iiioii neigh
IK TllOtMl.
Mrs. T. A. Boyd and little son
TA, Jr., have been spending some
time at the home of Mrs. Bovd's
parents, Mr. and Mis. .1. M. Gu'm
of I'nionville.
Mr. A.C. Hargett. who luis betii
wth the Southern Power Co. for
some time, is spending a few
weeks at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Covington ISovd
of ( ha riot te were guests of their
cousin, Mrs. J. R. Bellinger, last
week.
Mr. and Mrs. John Gurlev ami
little daughter Kathleen have re
turned home after visiting rela
tives in Columbia, S. C.
Misses Lillic ami Annie Porter
were gmts for a few davs
of tlveir sister, Jlrs. Sam Shannon
of Antioch.
I f Pf A .
ur. it. a. rressiev, carrier on
route 1, lias been uniible to attend
to his duties for several davs on
account of injuries siwtaiiKd bv
runaway horse.
Mr. J. M. Harkey and family
are occupying their prettv new
residtuice which has recently leen
completed.
The ( hristmas entertainment to
lie given by the students of Wel
lington Academy will be on
Thursday night of this week.
Marriage of Miss Fairley and Mr.
Beckley.
Iu a cttreinony of beaut v and
impressivenexs Miss Katie I a
rairley ami Mr. J. Harrv lU-ck-
ley were wedded Thursday even
ing at eight o dock in St. Paul's
Episcopal ehurdi. Rev. Wm. II.
Ball if Conoord. an intimate
friend of the family officiated.
The church had been tastefully
.i . i i .i -!.
ui-wrauMi uutier (IK SKUIIUI ilirif-
tions of Mr. Code Morgan. Ropes
ot cedar, dotted here and there
with yellow nses, entwined lie
altar rail and a large arch at the
gate to the altar. Susinded from
the arch was a large hell of yel
low roses under which the mar
riage vows were spoken.
At the apKinted hour, a tpiar-
tet couiiHiscd of Mcshih. Frank
and Henry Fairley. Fred Smith
and Will Love sang very sweetly
'O Perfect Love."
Mendelsohn's wedding march
was artistu-ly played bv Mrs. J.
C. Sikes as the bridal party (Al
tered. First came the pretty lit
tle ribbon children Misses Sarah
Russell and Amelia Dillon and
Masters Mcljean Fairley and
Braxton Iajiey. Th.we were fol
lowed by the ushers, Mr. J. C.
Sikes with Mr. Locke Evorett and
Mr. G. B. Caldwell with Mr. J.
J. Parker. Next came Miss Cor-
nie Fairley, maid ;f honor, beau
tifully trowned in vellow cretin de
chene, carrying an arm bonnet of
vl-lntu nurtuitifinu SMiii titu fjilhiw.i Sa V
ed by the dame of honor, Mrs. X
l. riiiglisli, wearing white crepe
de chene with yellow trimmings
and carrying yellow roses.
for
to
iu
Financial Statement.
Financial retnirt by the Vice-
President of the Cnion Association
of Women's Missionary Societies
for the quarter ending November
;i()th, I!)U.
First Church. Monroe, W. M.
S., $S7..")0; V. W. A.. $21.25; Sun
beams, $20.00; R. Al. $15.:io.
Marshvillc. W. M. S.. $12.r);
Sunbeams. $2.15; R. A.. $-1.0.").
Shiloh, W. M. S., $4.50.
Mountain Spring. W.M,S.. $l.-'10
Mill Creek. W. M. S.. $4.;"0.
Meadow Branch, Siuilicnms. $:.
Total $174.!M.
Mrs. F. B. Ashcraft.
The studmts of Mineral Spring-
school will give an entertainment
next Friday night. The music
pupiln, assisted by their teacher.
Prof. I). L. Sharp of Charlotte.
will furnish music. Proceeds will
go towards buying black boards,
etc., for school room. Admission
10 and 13 cent.
Write for The Journal.
The Journal would like
more of its tanner friends
Ve .left em for publication
Jt. paper. It would .be a givut
help to the tanning interests of
the county if the fanners would
each give his brother farmers the
benefit of his knowledge and ex
perieiice in various matters per
taining to tanning and farm hfi
And the funnel's wives, too, hav
nuiny good ideas that they could
impart to all the other fanners'
wives iu the county by using
The Journal. We would like to
have letters from our friends in
all sections ot the eoiintv. I urn
over a new leaf and start th
new year bv not only midi'ng the
paper more closely and carefullv
than ever before but also bv
sending us an occasional comiini
mention for publication. The
only requirements we make an
these: Always sign your name
write only on one side of tin
paper and never deal iu person
alities. If von do not want your
name to apjicar to the letter in
the paper, we will omit it iihjii
request. We simply want to
know, for our protection, where
each letter conies from.
i -n
came the dainty utile l lower girls,
Misses Celeste Annfield and Cath
erine English. Thev wore while
batiste dresses trimmed in white
valencM'ime lace with yellow sash
es ami hair riDDous and earned
baskets filled with yellow rose
petals, the handles of which were
tied with white chiffon rib'urn.
Master John Wilson Fairley. the
IumkIwi me nephew of the bride.
carried the ring which was tied
to a large yellow chrysanthemum.
The bride entered with her
brother. Mr. John M. Fairley. Jr.,
who gave licit away. She was met
at the altar by the gr.iom who en
tered from the side, accompanied
by Mr. Albert Red fern, who serv
ed as esi innii. i lie neauinui
ring ceremony of the Episcopal
c.iiuiH'i) was used. .t its conclu
sion the march from Tannhau.ser
was rendered.
The bride was liiiinb
gowned in white satin en
with peal Is and point lace
mings. Her long tulle reil,
caught with lilies of the
and she carried a shower
of white sweet peas.
On the following afteruon
informal reception was given
the home of the bride s parents,
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Fairley
Mr. atid Mrs. Berkley each have
hundreds of warm friends who
wish them u happy wedded
niely
train
valley
boqiiel
Christmas Whiskey.
If I buy your practice with a
quart of whiskey once or twkv a
week and keep you tanked Up to
control your good will, you force
my service iimii xour wife ami
children who may prefer some
other dis-tor.
The lowest jxiKsihl- basis upon
which to stlect a family phi-
cuin is the basis of whiskey pres
criptions for voniNi-lf.
Any doctor can serihble off a
liquor proscription, but it requires
certain amouM Jh-ihis, knowl
edge ami exp'Tumv to handle a
ease of desperate illness.
Please, for Ilea yen's sake, don't
ask me to d-bau'h and dcrcidc
the medical prof.-ssion bv barter
ing and trading whiskey prescrip
tions for practice.
Only one kind of medical prac
tice m meritorious and gives us a
sense of genuine twifort and that
is when we can find out what is
the matter and relieve or cure the
patient.
Don't force our services iqMtu
your wire and children just be
cause you get a quart once a
week.
Hereafter I wiJi to limit my li
quor practice to not over three
pnneriptions in one day. This
will cure many.
1 desire not to prescribe whis
key fo-r any fellow that will do
and say things under whiskey that
would not otherwise do and
; for any fellow that has been
intoxicated within two years; for
any fellow that has gone home
drunk, abused his wife and chil
dren or cursed hi th-'ir presence,
kicked the door open, broken any
article of furniture or any dish,
kicked the dog, thrown a shoe jit
the eat, find a pistol on the pub
lic, highway; or cut the find in
gejieinl; for any minor er any un
married young man under twenty
without pet missM'ii from his ja
ni'ts. If every wife end mother who
has a drunken hiiisbaud or son
will write the doctor a request or
demand not to prescribe whiskey
for hers, it will haw its effect.
Many a poor enslaved animal
who is an inebriate h birth and
-uviroumeiit has ird red two to
five gallons to h-1 him as a
hog to celebrate the birth of
Christ could cut a small cedar.
use the whiskey money to load it
with well selected articles and
thereby wreathe the whole fami
ly iu smihs and good wiil.
Tlii; is n it a thrust at any man.
but only a request idul a remind
er. Very truly.
II. D. Stewart.
lit'.
Meet! n ir of Teacher ' Association
I ti ei.i. tt:.
The second meeting of the uuis ouhb umim.
eachers' Association convened Hie rariners I men ot
at the Graded School building State met at Wilson last
Sat. Dec. 16. Notwithstanding The following officers were
the inclement weather, the meet- ed for next year
the
week
elect
lug was a success. I wenty-six
were present ami the program
was carried out, although some
ot the principal ones on the pro-
grain could not vome. Prof. N'es-
hit called on a hummer ot lite
tcachois for short talks on the
Eight Factors of Study as out
lined in McMuiry's "How to stu-
Iv". AH the talks were inter-
sting and helpful.
"The study of children and
its results was very amy Us-
cussed liv .Miss ' ora janey ami
others. Miss Lanev emphasized
the importance of child study
and said that teachem should be
areful to study the children in
the classroom, in the playground
and in the home. Prof. Nesbit
then concluded hy asking and
lisciissing the pertinent gnvstion
Should we study the child prop
erly. what would be the effect
on the child, on the community
and- on the country f
T. J. Hoggins (Sec y.)
President. II. Q. Alexander of
Matthews; J. M. Templeton. vice
president, Cary: secretary am
treasurer, h. ( . raii"s. Charlotte
Mate organizer, -i. . ii n.
Marshville; business agent, J. R.
Rives, Sanford.
Executive Committee: W. (!
('powder of Wake. W. I. Gibson
of Iredell. C. C. Wright of Wilk,
es. I. P. CoggiiH of Chatham and
W. II. Moore of Pitt.
President Barrett, of the Nation
al I'liion, took ground that th
plan of holding cotton projosed
by the New York bankers would
not work. President Barrett stat
ed in sulwtance that the plan sub
mittctl by the financiers was not
in line with the proposition In
laid before them and lie thought
they wanted too much and their
restrictions were harder than the
fannors would be willing to Mtb-
mit. lie urged the farmers to
rediree their acreage, raise their
own supplits and thus get in po
sition to hold their cotton on the
farms.
Messrs. II. B. Adams. C. B.
Adams, and W. J. Rudge ami
their families will leave Friday At The Dixie to-night. The Mil
for Concord to spend Christmas lionaire. and Tiki Many Burirlars.
. . - i. '
ith Dr. and Mrs. W. C. I Ions- also illustrated song by Mr. II'li
ton. . ry r airlev
Resolutions.
Whereas, our heavenly father.
iu Ills providence, has removed
from our midst Floda Ann Fow
ler, the wife of Siv. J. B. Fow
ler, a member of Price's Mill
Camp No. 162 W. O. . we. the
members of the Camp, desire 1 t
extend to Sov. Fowl -r our sym
pathy in h: great luss, therefore,
lie it Resolved.
First. That we assure him that
he and his little helpless children
have our heart felt sympathy iu
the death of the wife and mother,
and we pray that (Sod may sus
tain them in their affliction.
Second. That we bow in humility
to the will ol th" rather, know
ing that, he is too wise to err;
that he has said that all things
hall work together for the good
of them that love him.
Third. That a copy of these res
olutions be given the bereaved
family, a copy Ik placed upon
minutes of the Camp, and a
copy be sent to The Monroe Jour
nal for publication. R, B. Cuth
bertson, W. A. Diggers, and C.
T. Winchester.
Fire in Stanly.
(Corrrspoiidi nee.)
The boi.se of Mr. John Tucker
in western .Maniy inai was occu
pied by Mr. Adam A. Hutlicock.
was minted lasi rsaiuiuay aner
nooii. Mr. llathcnck was gone to
preaching, and his wife and three
small children were at home, but
the house was in a flame before
they gave the alarm. Some neigh
Isirs arrived jinst in time to save
two tmnks, a sewing machine and
few other artn-bs. Just last
July Mr. Tinker's 1kuh and gra-
nerv in Montgomery county, with
all his wheat and oats, was burn
ed.