"THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY READS IT"
THE UNION COUNTY PAPEREVERYBODY NEEDS IT
he Monroe journal
PUBLISHED TWICE EACH WEEK - TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
VOL.25 .No. 46.
MONROE, N. C, TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1919.
$1.50 PER YEAR CASH.
MOB ORDERS STEGALL TO LEAVE
LAX KM I'KKKK HOME I) VV1CK'
lallier of Roy Stegall, Recently Par
doned by iov. Rickett, Called (hit
at Midnight ami Taken to Tu.sk fur
Offense of His Son Well-Know II
Preacher AN Threatened.
Twenty or thirty men, disguised
beyond recognition, drove to the
home of Mr. G. D. Stegall, in Lanes
Creek township, about midnight Fri
day and after asking for his son, Roy,
who was conditionally paroled on the
30th of June by Governor Bickett af
ter having been sentenced to two
years on the chain gang for an as
sault upon a white female, and being
told that the boy's whereabouts were
unknown, informed Mr. Stegall that
he must get out of the community by
January first. "Damn quick," so the
leader of the party is said to have
uttered as he made his way back to
his automobile.
The affair was marked by Us quiet
ness. The men acted in an orderly
manner; did not seem to be drinking,
showed no firearms and allowed one
man, who seemed to be the leader to
do all of the talking. To forestall any
efforts to summon officers or aid. the
telephone wires had been cut in three
places before the party approached
the house.
Mr. Stegall was in Monroe yester
day and save an account of the affair
to The Journal. He said that it was
about 12 o'clock Friday night when
he heard several automobiles stop in
front of the house. He said that nei
ther lie nor .Mrs. Stegall was asleep,
as they had gotten word that a party
was coming to make demands that
night. Officers, he told The Journal,
had beun informed concerning the im
pending visit, but placed no credence
in the report.
Mr. Stegall told The Journal thai
when he thought he heard automo
biles stop h asked Mrs. Stegall if she
heard them. Upon her replying that
she did. he said that he made his way
to the room of his nineteen year old
son. Frank, awoke hitr and told him
that somebody had stopped In front
of the house. Mr. Stegall declared
that t.pfnre his son was fully dressed
some one approached the front door
and said: "Open that door or we will
knock it down." Upon this Mr. bte
troll Aimnpi t th door, stenned out on
the porch and leaned against a post
to talk with the party.
A a tn whn romnosed the party Mr
Stegall declared that he could not
tell. He said that he natt aereciive
voii.iit mid that in the moonlight he
could not recognize any member of
Ihe party. Their faces appeared pas
t v white, and blue and colored, he told
The Journal. From this it is thought
that i'ip members of the party must
have daubed their faces with some
KKinrinrr imiMpr. Asked whether they
seemed young, old or middle aged
on Mr s5ip!;i l declared mat ne
oil,, .' -' - r." -
pmii.i mil tell, lit' thought there were
twenty to thirty in the crowd, which
BoeniPil nni nous in its silence aim
purpose. The Journal representa
i pit tn know if the men ap
pea red to be drinking or displayed
nnv firearms. Mr. Stegall repneu in
tha npL'atlvp.
When Mr. Stegall stepped out on
the porch and leaned against a post n
i,, an whn nnneared to be the leader
addressed him in the following man
ner: "Where Is the boy, you nave
mnvarl Vl i 111 ?"' The bov referred to
was Roy Stegall, 16 year old and re
cently conditionally paroiea oy gov
ernor Bickett. Mr. Stegall replied
that he did not know where he was.
and the leader reiterated the question
several times.
Tha man Hninp the talking for the
party wanted to know where he had
been moved. Mr. Stegall repeated
. ha hnri not moved the boy and
hm nnt know where he was. The
I..J.r than rpfarfad to ReV. R. M
Haigler, who was one of a number
who appeared beiore uovernor tic.
oii ,nH nro-orl that he Dardon the boy.
Roy. According to Mr. Stegall, the
leader could not recall the name of
the minister at the time, saying "you
that nreacher (here he hesitated
until annia Ann shouted the name of
Mr. Haigler) he'd better keep out of
this section."
If he has ever done anything to or
fend any of his neighbors Mr. Stegall
..... ha la nnt aware of it. The mob
seemed to hold him responsible for
his son's deed, thougn ne in no way
Inspired it or had anything to do with
It. "I've stuck to my boy all the way
A Mr. Stegall. "and I'll
do It until my death." In conversa
tion with The Journal he In no way
hiq hnv of blame. Like
others Interested in the case he only
plead for leniency for uoy on account
Ul Ilia juum.
Mr. Stegall has not yet decided If
he will obey the mandate oi me moo.
u. .oi- ha hat nianned to leave that
tic pnjp w . . t -
section weeks ago, though he owns
land there, but the threat or me moo
has put a new complexion to the situ
,inn vria niri home Is near Wlngate,
and it was there he had planned to
move.
The Journal gathers from reports
that the people In Stegall's section are
very much aispieasea wun xne lenien
cy shown Roy Stegall, even If he Is
nothing but a youm.
Patient Parent "Well, child, what
on earth's the matter now?"
Young Hopeful (who has been
bathlne with his bigger brother )-
"Willy dropt the towel in the water
and he's d-ied me wetter man ! was
before." T!i3 Passing Show.
$rxo,MMj copper mink;
Scotchman llelievett He Has Made
Valuable Find at Mr. Hemby's
While sinking a well on the farm
of Mr. W. L. Hemby, near Wedding
ton Friday, a Scotchman, whose name
The Journal could not learn, extract
ed a quantity of copper ore from a
depth of a hundred feet. The ore
he Scotchman is said to believe, will
assay an enormous amount of copper
to the ton. There were also traces of
gold in the ore, it is said.
According to the Scotchman, the
vein, tt investigation proves it to be
up to expectations, will be worth
1500.000 or more to the owner. The
ore will be assayed, and further ex
plorations of the vein made. The
Scotchman, who is an expert miner.
believes the copper vein to be a later
al vein running from the Howie .Mine,
which is only about six miles from
Mr. Hemby's place.
The find may prove to be only a
'pocket." but it is at least worth in
vestigating. If it is found that a pro
lific vein runs from Mr. Hemby's to
he mine it means that the fortunes o
he people in that section are made.
The Scotchman's figures of $500,000
may seem large, but if there Is any
copper at all hardly his figures would
be reasonable, as copper is worth
probably more than any other metal
except gold and silver.
SIMMONS ENDORSEMKN OK MOIL
RISOX REGARDED AS BLUNDER.
Unwise Statement, is Belief, mill Re
garded us Signal of DMies Kinnn
Senior Senator.
Keen observers of North Carolina
politics, writes Tom Host in the
Greensboro New believe that Sena
tor Simmons has executed in pro
vincial way the Wood row Wilson faux
pas. more Irreverently denominating
pulled a bojiehead, in coming out
recently for Cameron Morrison for
governor. i
And the parellel perserves. It is
known throughout the world that
President Wilson did not wish to is
sue his appeal to the country by niak-
ng himself the issue. He was not
the contention and became so only
when he tried to be, Senator Sim
mons is not a fighting point in the
gubernationul race, but the anti
Morrison men read in the lute an
noueetnent an effort of Mr. Morrison's
friends to make the supremacy of the
organization an issue and of course
it cannot but hurt.
In other words, the statement of
Senator Simmons is a publication of
distress as was Mr. Wilson's address
to the country. The Democracy knew
that it had lost and It could not lose
worse. It thought. Bryan says so,
everybody does. President Wilson
was called on and as John Kendrlck
Bancs says, he done noble. Similar
ly, Mr. Morrison is up against it, the
organization has many tlme com
plained that it does not of itself make
a wide appeal. The rail to Mr. Morri
son Is a capital blunder.
There Is an abundant reason. Sen
ator Simmons has now and nas nan at
no time better friends than the Pages
of Moore count' nod Montgomery. In
the ancient flgb's they were with him
and it is not vrltten that any Page
warmed to Kltvhln in lfiOS. In 1!) 1 2
the Pages were there. Bob and all.
They are most substantial folk. Bob
beat Cam Morrison for Congress and
Cain has indicated that he will come
back to his old district and carry ev
erything in it just as he purposes go
ing to th ninth, his own. and taking
all but Cleveland. Gardner's home.
In coming out for Morrison the Pages
will remember the senator and it Is
Ineomorehenslble that In the event
Bob Page should be shelved In the
first primary his strength would go
to Morrison.
LOCAL AXD PERSONAL
The Stouts school will begin Its
session July 21 with Prof. J. O. Bau-
com principal and Miss Ethel Ford,
assistant, in charge.
Dr. W. B. Houston, loved by all
of Union county, has been critically
111 at his home two miles south of
town for several days. Information
received at 2:30 was that he was not
expected to live through the after
noon. The Sunday school of Central
Methodist church will hold a picnic
at Mt. Carmel Thursday. The start
will be made from the church lawn
at 9:30 in the morning. Those who
intend to go should be on hand at
this hour.
Mr. William DeWilt Craig and
Miss Kate Little, both of Sandy Ridge
township were married ' Sunday by
Rev. A. Ridge. The groom Is a son
of Mr. William L. Craig and a young
man of good character. The bride is
a daughter of Mrs. John Ellis Little
and Is an attractive young lady.
Mr. David Simpson and Mrs.
Beulah Tucker were married Monday
night by Rev. John A. Wray at the
home of Mrs. O. C. Curlee. Mr
Simpson is an employee of the Sea
board railway, and is a well-known
respected young man. Mrs. Simpson
is an attractive and accomplished
young lady.
Ton telegrams from business
firms and men of the city have been
dispatched to Mr. James D. McNeil.
presiding over the state convention of
firemen in Asheville, urging that the
1920 session of this body be held In
Monroe. The telegrams were collect
ed by Assistant Fire Chief J. Frank
Hill. Indications are that Monroe
will land the convention.
MARYIX KITUH IS TRYING TO
ORGANIZE MILL WORKERS
Offers Them the Possibility of Secur
ing a 55-Hour Week SMke to
Them Fritlay Night, and Hoes to
Organize Saturday.
Mr. Marvin Ritch. Charlotte law
yer, and counsel for the textile union.
was in Monroe Friday stirring up
union sentiment among the mill oper
atives, and is coming back soon to
organize them. Backers of the union
hope to organize 100 per cent strong.
The Charlotte man Is a native of
Monroe, having only left here eight
years ago for the Mecklenburg coun
ty seat. During the recent mill fight
in Charlotte he made such an effec
tive fight for the union that he has
been retained as permanent counsel,
though his actions here tend more to
classify him as an organizer.
The mill workers assembled in the
Benton Heights school house Friday
night to hear Mr. Hitch's plan. He
promised them a 55-hour week and
increased pay whereas now they are
working 60 hours a week. The work
ers warmed up to the union, and it
Is believed little trouble will be ex
perienced by Mr. Ritch In organizing
the Monroe chapter.
Few expressions of dissatisfaction
have been heard from the workers un
til Mr. Ritch came. The Monroe mills
always seemed to get along with
their employees; and the Icemoriee,
especially, has had no labor troubles.
But, the workers claim, following the
cessation of hostilities, wages of many
have been cut, and there was open
complaint and a walkout at one of
the mills. The walkout, it is said, re
sulted in an amicably adjustment of
the wage dispute. It was further
slated that two or mor men who at
tended the meeting at the school
house Friday night had quit the day
before because their wages were, ac
cording to their estimation, too low.
At the meeting Mr. Ritch declared
that the only way they could get
what they demanded In the matter of
wages and working hours was to or
ganize. He told those present that
they would not be able to accomplish
much by a union among themselves
but it would be necessary that they
become federated with the Textile
Union.
The Charlotte man stressed the
point, it is said, that becoming affil
iated with the Textile Union did not
mean loafing on the job and being
unfair 'to the management or me
mills. He said that it meant the
continued actions as men and women
willing to give value received for the
pay received.
There is not a more opportune
time to organize a union than now,
he told them. "Mills, where the op
eratives are members of the union
are running only 55 hours a week
while the mills here run on a 60
hour basis. Workers are needed in
every mill, and if the workers here
organize they can secure just de
mands."
A labor organizer had been expect
ed !o accompany Mr. Ritch to Mon
roe but was prevented. However
plans were made for a meeting to be
held in the court house Saturday af
ternoon at 4 o'clock at which time an
organizer is exepcted to be present
and form an organization.
Mreadv a number of union workers
are employed In the mills here, It Is
said. During the shut out of union
workers at Concord recently quite a
number of those effected came to
Monroe and sescured positions in the
mills here. With the resumption of
work at Concord, however, most of
them returned.
Air. Ritch. who spoke to the work
ers Friday night, is a native of this
county, having moved away sometime
aeo. When ti.'j miils around Cr.nr
lotte shut down after a union of the
workers was perfected and refused to
hire union men Mr. Ritch was em
ployed by the mill people to look af
ter their Interests.
Some Tragedies of Pugillism.
New York World,
The bookkeepers of the prize
fighting industry provided us with
many dlsillusionments. Instead of
60.000 paying spectators at the re
cent Toledo mill, there were fewer
than 21,000. Instead of receipts of
$1,000.00, we have an actuality of
$452,000. Instead of great crowds of
the proletariat clamoring for $10
seats, the attendance was made up
largely of the capitalistic classes
whose tickets cost $50 to $60
As showing, furthermore, the risks
and disappointments of the business
It may be noted that all the conces
sionaires lost money. The man who
provided sleeping accomodations for
the expected throngs of campers-out
the lemonade man, the soda-water
man, the peanut man and many oth
ers did no realize enough to cover
prices paid for their privileges
All this explains why the City o
Toledo, which was to have 7 per cent
and the United States government
which was to receive as a war tax 10
per cent of the receipts, are consider
ably Bhort of revenue from that
source. It may be accepted also as
the reason why the estimable Tex
Richard, who staged the show believ
ing that it would net him $500,000. is
not making any boasts of his newly
acquired wealth.
If the fianances of fisticuffs are to
be uncertain as such disclosures seem
to Indicate, the pugilistic fraternity
will presently be demanding guar
anteed prices, wages and profits. The
crowning tragedy of Toledo, however,
appears to be that the only man who
took in ail that he had snv rv'son to
expect wns Jess Willard v ith his
$100,000 bonus, and he w&3 licked.
THINKS Al TOS. KEEP PEOPLE
AWAY FROM SUNDAY SERVICES
Tliey Are Alright in Their Way, 1.
flares Methodist Minister, But
Tliey A re Sending Many People to
the leil Scores Small Church
Attendance.
"Sabbath today is observed as a
holiday rather than a holy day." de
clared Rev. H. H. Jordan during his
sermon on Sabbath Observance at
Central Methodist church Sunday
morning. He blamed autos to a cer
tain -extent for the small church at
tendance, declaring that though the
automobile was a good thing, and if
rightly used could be made the agent
of good, was now sending many peo
ple on the way to the Devil because of
the manner in which it is used on
Sunday.
After he had called attention to the
fact that in uiany of the cities over
the country the vaudeville houses
and picture shows vied with the base
ball game in drawing the Sunday
crowds he expressed the fear that this
sort of thing might eventually do
away with Sabbath observance en
tirely. He told the congregation that
this would undermine the religion
and civilization of the country.
There are places in Monroe," he said
that remain open solely for the
pleasure of the crowds on Sunday."
He regretted that this was so and that
men were in this manner kept from
attending worship.
The text was "Sabbath was made
for, man and not man for Sabbath."
Rev. Mr. Jordan said in part: "The
question of the proper observance of
the sabbath is one of most vital im
portance since it is one of the funda
mental principles of the moral system
of the world. God set apart Sabbath
as a day of rest for the benefit of his
creature man. Man is so constituted
that he must have an occasional day
of rest in order that he may attain
the highest efficiency in his life work.
Man owes it to himself us well as to
his God to properly observe the Sab
bath. The man who violates the Sab
bath is as guilty in the sight of God
as the man who commits murder or
adultrey. One of the serious and
alarm i n j; symptoms of the times is
the disregard of the sanctity of the
Sabbath. Students of history believe
that the Reign of Terror In Paris was
caused to a great extent by the abo
lition of Sabbath observance by the
government."
TRADE WITH GERMANY TO
BE RESUMED VERY SOON
Lilting of Blockade With Enemy
Country Expected in a Few Days
Only Dyestutl's, Chemicals and Pot
ash Are Excepted.
With the lifting of the blockade
gainst Germany expected in a few
days trading between that country
md the United Stal?s ai '.veil as tlu
other associated powers begin,
according to a Washington dispatch.
Acting Secretary of State Polk nn-
muiced Friday that blanket licenses
would be Issued for transactions of
merican firms, and that details
would be given wihin 4i hours after
derison of legal experts as to whether
a formal proclamation by the Presi
dent would be necessary.
Trading of all commodities, except
dyestuffs, chemicals and potash, con
trol over which will be exercised by
the reparation commission set up by
the peace treaty, will be unrestricted,
it was said, American firms doing
business with Germany must send
their agents Into that country with
out passports, however, as these can
not be issued until the proclamation
of peace. It also was said at the state
department that there was no certain
ty when American consuls would be
sent to Germany,
Payment for the goods which this
country sends to Germany must be
made under a system of credits to be
arranged later through private cap
ital. officials said. Details as to this
svstem have not been worked out
While Germany has large quantites
of goods ready to be exported, of
ficials doubted that there would be
any great demand for them in. this
country and consequently the trade
balance In favor of the United States
is expected to be large
Germany was said to he in imme
diate and pressing need of raw ma
terials of almost all kinds, particular
ly cotton and copper. In order to re
habilitate her industries large
amounts of food have been sent into
that country under direction of the
inter-allied relief commission, but It
is believed the demand for grain and
other cereals will be great. Clothing
of all kinds also Is needed
Three ships for Germany already
have been loaded In American ports
one with cotton, and two with gen
eral merchandise, it was said today
at the shipping hoard, and they will
start overseas as soon as licenses for
their cargoes have been Issued.
It- also was announced that direct
steamship lines to Hamburg and
Breman would be established by the
board
In announcing resumption of trade
relations. Acting Secretary Polk
pointed out that the trading with the
enemy act was not abrogated and that
the action of the government was not
to construed as meaning that the
state of war had ceased to exist. The
war will be at an end only with the
ratification Of the peac treuiy. It
was said, and the trading with the
rnemv act will remain In force until
, H In repealed by presidential proclam
Jatlon after the war ends.
SAM THOMPSON' PAKItONER
Three Times Was Scheduled to Die
In Electric Cliuir Many Thought
Him Innocent At Time.
Sam Thompson, colored, three
times scheduled to die in the electric
chair after having been declared
guilty of the murder of Gus Also
brooks, colored, on the night of
March 8, 1912. and whose sentence
was commuted to life imprisonment
by Governor Kitchen, has been par
doned by Gov. Bickett. Sam arrived
in Monroe yesterday and has gone to
work at Benton's Cash Store.
From the time that he was arrest
ed on suspicion Saturday morning
following the killing many of the cit
izens of Monroe have believed Sam
innocent of the crime of which he
was convicted and now rejoice with
the old negro in his liberty.
A number of the Monroe citizens
have worked untiringly to secure the
pardon of the negro since he was
convicted in 1912. Among this num
ber none have worked with greater
zeal thun Mr. John Benton. Recent-
y Governor Bickett conducted an in
estigation of the evidence in the
case and from this he decided to par
don Sam.
On the night of March 8. 1912.
Gus Alsobrooks was shot as he sat
bv the fire in his cabin north of town.
The assassin crept to a window, point
ed his shotgun through an aperture
and fired with deadly effect at the
sleeping man. Sam Thompson, a
neighbor of the murdered negro, was
arrested on suspicion, aud placed on
rial for his life. Although the evi
dence was purely circumstantial he
was convicted and sentenced to die
n the electric chair. At the trial
Sam proved by members of his fami-
y that he had been at home the night
Alsobrooks was killed. About two
weeks before Alsobrooks was shot to
death he was waylaid and an effort
made to take his life with a shotgun.
The shot from Ihe gun took effect in
his head but were fired from such a
distance as not to cause serious in-
ury. It w-as presumed that the man
who made this attempt to kill Also
brooks was the one who later shot
him as he slept In his cabin. While
on trial tor his life Thompson prov
ed by reliable witnesses that he was
n Monroe when the first attempt
was made to kill Alsobrooks. This
was taken Into consideration by Gov
ernor Bickett in granting the pardon.
BRITAIN'S TRANSATLANTIC AIR
PIONEER FINISHES ROUND TRIP
The Voyage Arrows Seas is Completed
in About 73 Hours The Trip
Was Without Incident.
Great Britain's mamouth trans
atlantic air pioneer, the dirigible
R-3 4, arrived Sunday at Norfolk,
England, completing her round trip
from the British Isles to the United
States aud return.
Shouts from those on the field
greeted first sight of the long gray
body low on the horizon. As the R-34
approached the Held she dropped
from a height of 5,000 feet to 2,000
feet. The men who were to aid the
airship in landing were ordered to
their positions and waited silently as
the ship circled the field, dropping
lower and lower.
When Maj, G. H. Scott, her com
niander, had maneuvered the airship
into position for the landing, the wa
ter ballest was released to steady her
and a rope was thrown trom the bow.
The rope was grasped by eager hands
and the giant ship moved across the
field to the shed where the delicate
operation of berthing her was com
pleted quickly without accident.
A military band stationed on tne
field played "The Call of Duty" as
the airship began to Bettle, and then
changed to the strains of "See, the
Conquering Hero Comes," as the ship
was put into the shed the band played
'Keep the Home Fires Burning."
The crowd was too Intent In watching
the ship to notice the music, while the
whirr of the propellers made It Inaud
ible to the men in the R-34.
The tired, unshaven, but smiling
men who composed the crew quickly
climbed from the gondola and were
greeted warmly and with many slaps
on the back by the officers and sol
diers gathered on the field.
"The vovage home has been wttn-
out Incident." said Major Scott. "We
want breakfast."
Giant Negro in Army.
Kansas City Star.
The systematic plan whereby a
civilian recruit is converted quickly
to a khakl-clad individual, soon after
he reaches camp, ran against a snag
when the quartermaster attempted to
tit a negro who arrived with a contin
gent of boys from Mississippi. The
young man looms up like a genuin-?
Goliath. He Is six f-et ei;:ht Inches
tall, weighs 365 pounds and as to
shoes well, after due measurements
were made It was estimated that he
needed a pair of 21's and "there
ain't no such."
Officers at the recruiting station
were in a dilemma. They had a con
sultation and decided to call in out
side experts. Togs and shoes for the
new recruit must be made to order
So a shoemaker and a tailor were
summoned from Junction City and
thev agreed to assume the job.
The shoes made for him are 17
Inches long, and there Is just three
times the quantity of cloth In his uni
form that the average uniform re
qnf',,s. His comrades from Mississip
pi declare he is strong, even beyond
his size.
"I like hot weather, don't you?"
"When It gets too blamed hot to
work. Boston Transcript,
WEIR BOUND OVER TO
COURT UNDER A HMNNI BOND
Mr. J. S. Plyler. Main W lines, says
Fatal Blow Was Struck With
Small Stick.
Mr. Will Weir, who was given a
preliminary hearing yesterday before
Sub-Recorder I. H. Blair on tho
charge of killi-ig Martin O-awford.
tn aged negro cf Waxhaw, on laiil
Salunuy, has teen oer tj '.. i
the next term or Superior court,
which couveues in August, under a
$6000 bond.
The killing was of an unintention
al nature. Crawford, who did odds
jobs for the Waxhaw people, is said
to have offended Mr. Weir while hs
was trying to collect a small amount
of money. It seems that Mr. Weir
merely wanted to inflict small pun
ishment, but did not contemplate for
a miuute killing the man.
At the preliminary hearing yester
day Mr. J. S. Plyler was the first wit
ness called to the stand. His testi
mony follows: "I was In my office
in my garage building Saturday
morning about 7 or 7:30 a. ui. open
ing my mail when Martin Crawford
came to the window and handed ma
his book, in which he had me charg
ed a small sum of money for cleaning
my closet. I paid him his money. Ha
stepped to the door and stood there
talking to me. He is a man about my
size, about C3 or 70 years old. and
wears glasses. While Crawford was
standing in the door talking to me
I heard soi:ione come in right be
side him. 1' was Mr. Weir, carry
ing a small s'i.k about 2 or 2 1-2
feet long, about an Inch wide and a
fourth of an inch thick. Weir rais
ed the stick, striking the deceased,
saying as he did so: 'You must not
curse me!' That was all said. I
think he struck with his rand hand.
It was all done quickly. The deceas
ed fell back, his head striking the
door. He never spoke after he was
hit. Weir took hold of him after ha
fell, telling him to get up, that he
had not hurt him. Then I, the de
fendant, and a negro boy took Craw
ford out of the office into the ga
rage. The defendant told the boy
to rub Crawford's hands. Mr. Weir
said to me: 'I believe I have hurt
him; I would not have done it for
a thousand dollars. Call a doctor as
soon as you can get him.' The de
fendant and the boy stayed with the
deceased until the doctor came,
which was about ten minute later.
He was In my office about five min
utes before he was hit.
"Just before the defendant came
in someone knocked at the back door
of the garage. I told Lee Hood, the
negro buy. to let him in. That was
a short time before the defendant
came in. I did not see the defend
ant come in the garage."
On cross-examination Mr. Plyler
testified further: "I have known de
fendant all his life. He Is a man of
good character. After Crawford fell
to the floor Mr. Weir said to me that
he would not have had it happen for
a thousand dollars.
Lee Hood, the negro youth men
tioned in Plyler's testimony, said:
"I was at the garage. Mr. Plyler was
in the office reading a paper. I was
against the side of the office next to
the front door of the building. De
ceased came in and told Mr. Plyler
that Mr. Weir had called him a fool.
Mr. Weir came in through the back
door, which I opened after Mr. Ply
ler heard him knock. I went to the
front when Crawford fell to the floor.
Mr. Weir told him to get up, and
tried to lift him. He told me to get
a bucket of water. We carried him
to the back end of the garage and
throwed water in his face. The
stick was about as big as two fingers
and about three feet long. The de
fendant threw the stick out the back
door. I did not see it any more aftei
that, though I looked for it."
Dr. G. B. Nance, county physician,
examined the head of the deceased at
6 o'clock on the afternoon of the
homicide. His testimony follows: "I
opened the scalp and bared the skull
and found a crack in the skull ex
tending from near the base on the
right side, two and a half inches from
front of left ear. over the top of head
about one inch to the left of medim
line and five and one-half inches from
the base of skull behind. Crack Jin
skull was nine inches long. I ran
my knife blade through the skull
when I bared it and blood came out
In a stream through a crack. The
blow was on the right side of the
head in front of right ear. The con
tusion extended down to the face. I
?aw no sign of the ear being bruis
ed. The skin was not broken. There
was no indication that the wound
was made with a sharp instrument.
In my judgment whatever struck him
on the head caused his death."
Dr. T. E. Crai colored physican
of Waxhaw. said "I saw the de
ceased about 10 o'clock Saturday
morning. He was unconscious.
There was a knot on the back of htB
head about ihJ size of one's two fists.
There was no abrasion. Evidence of
a blow extended to about two Inches
in front of ear, and went to about the
middle of the back of head. I phoned
for the Sheriff, but did not get him.
I also phoned for the Coroner."
Meta Crawford, widow of the de
ceased, deposed as follows: "I am
the widow of the deceased. He waa
70 years old or more. He was blind
in left eye. He never spoke after
they brought him home."
Yesterday while In a town about
40 miles from Monroe Mr. Amos
Stack filed a telegram to his father,
Mr. J. E. Stack. A few minutes later
he started to Monroe in on automo
bile, arriving two hours ahead of the
telegram.
MIL