"THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY READS IT THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY NEEDS IT MONROE JO PUBLISHED TWICE EACH WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY Vol 27. No. 103. Monroe, N. (X, Tuesday, January 31, 1922 $2.00 Per Year Cash URNAL JUDGE WEBB GIVES TIMELY REMARKS Calls the Attention of the Grand Jury to Several of the Pre valent Evils of the Day ALMOST WISHES CURFEW Liquor, Pistols, Cigarettes d Joy Riding Receive His Attention and Commends New Marriage Law Superior court for the trial of criminal cases convened at eleven o'clock yesterday, Judge James L. Webb presiding. The following grand jury was drawn: W. C. Sanders, fore man, N. B. Ayers, W. C. Cunning ham, J. Bedford Davis, W; L. Price, M. W. Moore, C C. Taylor, G. T. Winchester, F. W. Eason, J. B. Hug gins, L. J. Smith, D. L. Furr, W. L Earnhart, R. C. Belk, S. C. Thomas, W. J. Helms, W. H. Hood and J. M. Tarlton , . In his charge to the grand jury, Judge Webb paid his respect to the blind tiger liquor business, but he stated that some otherwise good men have been induced to go into block ading by the inticingly high prices that the stuff brings. He emphasized the fact that there is a lot of mighty mean liquor on the blockade market "There are two or three men in the state prison today," he declared, "charged with murder on the ground that liquor they sold killed the men who drank it." He declared that when a person drinks blockade liquor he is taking his life in his own hands. The judge then stated that under the law a man may obtain as much ai a quart every fifteen days, provided he obtains it legally, but that if one takes into his possession even a spoon ful with the intention of delivering it to somebody ebe he is guilty of violating the prohibition laws. He also stated that no man has a right to order liquor in another person's name. Careless Rumor Judge Webb also broke some in teresting remarks about men and boys slandering women. He btated that young men very often make un guarded remarks about girls that atart a report and within a short time the girl is damned and doesn't know it. He then gave some words of warning to others who are in the habit of repeating what they have heard, in which they are just as guilty in the eyes of the law as if they had started the report. His remarks in regard to the prac tice of carrying concealed weapons were very timely. He said he had heard brave men make the statement that nobody ever carries pistols ex cept cowards. He would, however, leave that for the jury to decide for themselves. It js the judge's opinion that good men sometimes carry them for protection from highwaymen at night, but the fellow he is after is the one who gets hold of some mean liquor, sticks a pistol in his pocket and starts out for trouble. The judge believes in removing so far as pos sible all temptations and he thinks dealers in firearms should observe the law strictly in regard to selling pis tols to any one until they have been convinced that they are of good char acter and need the weapon for the protection of property or persons at home. He started to name some of the different makes of pistols, but decided to abandon the idea, stating that some boys and some negroes know the names and makes of all of them. The Cigarette Law The judge bore down heavily upon the necessity for cigarette dealers using care in regard to selling them to boys under seventeen years of age, stating that it is a violation of law to sell or give cigarettes to any body under seventeen years. He stated that he would rather an eight- or ten-year-old son of his would form the habit of drinking liquor than of smoking cigarettes, because he could cure h;m of the habit more easily. He believes that cigarettes arc killing hundreds and thousands of boys in North Carolina. "If we expect children to be strong their parents must be strong," the judge declared, "and the law requir ing men and women to be clean be fore a marriage certificate can be issued is a good law." He took a shot at joy-riding and Stated that the practice of boys and girls going automobile riding at night js ruining the young life of the country. "Boys are like flies to some extent," he stated; "they see what they believe to be sweets - and go to it and get caught in the net that has been set for them." Judge Webb believes that he is almost ready to advocate the re-establishment of the turfew law that required the ring ing of a bell at 8:30 and at that time every boy and girl must be in his or her room. "On the streets is no place for boys and girls after dark," he declared. Wants Court House Heated In regard to persons operating au tomobiles without license, Judge Webb said some men in the state own two or three cars and have jonly one license teg, changing it from ope to the other as it is needed. He said the state is getting in behind that practice and also those who have no license at all that agents are being sent out to various towns to investigate such matters. He advised the gTand jury to rec ommend that the county commission ers have steam beat put in the court Cofttinued on Paft Eight How Much Will He Get? Fire insurance men are called upon to write policies on most any and ev erything and they can usually do it But Mr. O. B. Caldwell has been stumped. He had to call for help. A customer wanted some insurance on a Ford but Mr. Caldwell couldn't say whether he could let him have any or not But it was too rare a case to turn down without an effort and so he decided to write his com pany and describe that Ford and see what the company would risk on it. He hasn't heard from the company yet Here is how he described the Ford: One Ford car, with a piston ring, Two rear wheels, one front spring; Has no fenders, seat made of plank, Burns lots of gas, is hard to crank. Carburetor busted half way through, Engine missing, hits on two. Only three years old, four in spring; Has shock absorbers n everything, Ten spokes missing, axle bent; Four tires punctured,aint worth a cent Got lot of speed.will run like the deuce, Burns either oil or tobacco juice. Helluva good Fordjor the shape it's in. THOMAS APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT Automobile Salesman Convicted at Concord of Murder in Sec ond Degree Given 18 Years NOW RELEASED ON BOND Case That Attracted a Great Deal of Attention Engaged Four Union County Lawyers Mr. J. J. Parker got home Satur day night after two weeks of the hardest work of his life at Concord where he was leading lawyer in the defense of Thomas, the automobile salesman on trial for his life for the killing of Allen at Kannapolis in Oc tober. There was widespread inter est in this case and the public gen erally has already learned that Thomas was found guilty of murder in the second degree, sentenced to eighteen years, appealed, and was set at liberty under a twenty thousand bond pending the hearing of the ap peal by the supreme court some time this spring. There were four Union county law yers in the case, all of them for the defense, and all of them made speech es. They were, beside Mr. Parker, Messrs. Frank Armiield, T. D. Ma nus and Boyce Sherrin, all now prac ticing in Concord. Thomas was an automobile sales man of Charlotte. Allen was a plumber of Concord, and with Thom as at the time of the killing was Mrs. Lowe, wife of a traveling salesman known in this section. The killing took place at Kannapolis on the night of October 25. Thomas claimed that Allen walked up to his car on the street and asked if he were follow ing liim and demanded him to hold jp his lands. That he thought he was about to be robbed and shot without think ng. The state con ended that he did know it was Allen, that he saw him before shooting, th-it the shot which entered Allen's na-.'k killed him, and that there was some secret reason which caused Thomas to do the deed. The whole truth about the matter will probably never te known. Public sentiment was against Thomas. He was riding with a mar ried woman and- ciarying a pistol, which he claimed to carry at all t mes. These two facts, coupled with the improbability of his story, caused people to think him guilty and few were surprised at the verdict of the jury. In sentencing Thomas Judge Ray declared that his decision had been influenced by his sympathy for the wife and mother of the defendant, "who have sat faithfully by his side." "At first I intended to give the prisoner the full limit of the law," he stated. "But I feel a great sympathy for the wife and mother and I cut '.he sentence to 18 years." Judge Ray also stated that he felt sorry for Thomas, that he apprecia ted the fact that the sensibilities of the defendant were different from those of the average prisoner at the bar, but that the judiciary stands be tween the people and lawlessness, and that he had to do his duty as he sees it." Sentiment Against Thomas Mr. Parker gave three reasons in asking Judge Kay to set aside the verdict. First, that the verdict is con trary to the greater woght of the evidence. Second, that the cause jof the defendant had been greatly prej udiced by the arguments of the coun sel for the state. Third, that the cause of the defendant has been greatly prejudiced by the hostile at titude of the spectators and by standers. In his arguments Mr. Parker stated that public Bentiment had been strong against Mr. Thomas, and that should a new trial be granted, a change of venue should be made. T. D. Maness also spoke briefly, pointing out certain facts in the evi dence of the defense, which should cause the verdict to be set aside in his opinion. Mr. Parker made a masterful plea for the mercy of the court in sentenc ing his client He requested that minimum and maximum sentence be given by Judge Ray, former to be effective on the behavior of the pris oner. Judge Ray declined to do this. Thomas came into the court room with his sister, Mrs. Reavis, and his brother. Mrs. Thomas came in a minute later and sat by his side. His More Than One Hundred Killed When Roof of Theatre Collapsed Weight of Snow Smashed In Washington City Playhouse Satur day Night and People Were Crushed Like Rats Caught Under Deadfall North Carolina Girl Killed The roof of the Knickerbocker; Theater In Washington City collapsed ; Saturday night and killed 10? per. sons and seriously hurt more than a hundred others, weight of the snow on me rooi causing me uisssier. An avmaucue oi oroKeu inaaier, bricks, snow, splintered wood and twisted steel beams catapulting upon the audience while the orchestra and a comedy film ground out Is the description of the theatre disaster given by Representative John H. Smith irk, of Pensacola, Fla. He was in the balcony of the theatre when the roof collapsed tinder Its weight of snow, and escaped unaid ed Just how he cannot recall with more or less serious hurts. "The orchestra was playing beau tiful music and a comic film was running," said Mr. Smlthwlck, lying in his bed, bandaged and with his face and hands covered with cuts. "Suddenly there was a sharp crack. I lntlrAi nn and unvr a prpnt fissure running across the ceiling it was i right over my head. 1 Instantly realized what was happening. The, plaster began to fall, dropping down in large and small chuncks all over the theatre it seemed to me. While waa looking up a great piece right over my bead started to fall. I ducked, crouching, involuntarily I suppose, down between the seats. The piece struck the seat right where I had been sitting. The force was broken by the- seat but it pinned me down where I was crouching. The noise was awful. It was a great, tre mendous roar. It was simply lndes acibable. I never can forget It. Shrieks of the Injured In the midst of the roaring were shrieks and cries of women and children and a few shouts of men. There were cries for help, groans, and. worst of all, the moans of those in terrible pain. It was awful. I can't describe It. I see It all the , time those poor children and men j and women crying and groaning, there. Recovered from the reck and hor. ror of the ruined theatre, a pitirul stream of mangled bodies, dead and living, flowed all Saturday night and j Sundnv Into the lower rooms of a Christian Science church a few hun dred yards away. At the first word of the disaster, the place was thrown open to these stricken folk and the hundreds of others who came to search for their dead or Injured. Aud as the full weight of the 'osses became known, the dead monopolized the space, crowding the Inj'-red into the nll-too-sniall rooms. It was merely a first aid station for those taken cruhed but alive , from the wreckage on stretchers) over tne slippery pavement wim lines of soldiers keeping the crowds far bark. Dortor and mines and women , carer to brine their sympnthy an.l i cheer to t'' suffering or bereaved ' waited In the church. They tender-1 ty washed away the grey dust of the , crumpled concrete, the grime and caked Mood, blackened sometimes by I hours of waiting pinned under the dehrls until the rescuers cut the : victim loose. Bandages were ap plied and the Injured were whisked away to hospital or home. The Dead in Long Rows But the dead lay long in double rows in which they stretched across mother was not in the courtroom when sentence was passed. The defendant showed the same optimistic spirit that had character ized his demeanor during the entire trial, as he entered the courtroom. He smiled to friends, and to all appear ances was very calm. Thomas Gives Way to Tears Only during the speech for mercy by Mr. Parker did Thomas show real emotion. During this masterful plea he gave way to his emotions for a minute and did not try to hide the tears that rolled down his cheeks. His wife moved closer to him, and they sat shoulder to shoulder as they heard the verdict which will send the man to the state prison for 18 years. The case was one of the hardest fought in the histoy of North Caro lina, the attorneys among the most brilliant in the state. Eleven days were consumed with the taking of testimony and arguments by counsel: 213 witnesses were introduced, and attorneys spoke in arguments for 23 hours and 51 minutes. The defendant was renresented by Maness and Armfield, John M. Ogle by, J. Lee Crowell, of Concord, E. T. Cansler of Charlotte and John J. Par ker of Monroe. Solicitor Havden Clement was aid ed by L. T. Hartsell and H. S Wil liams, of the local bar, and L. C. Cald well, of Statesville. " Members of jury deliberated but two hours, one of them stated. Some favored waiting until next morning to render the verdict; others wanted it rendered that night so they could go home. It is not known how many ballots were taken. Remember the old-fashioned cen taur who had the head of a man m l the body of a horse? His euccessor Is the stylish girl who looks like a polar bear above and a stork below. Toledo Blade. the floor, until a tearful relative or friend, a husband or wife or father or mother, recognized the crushed form at lust. Up and down the aisles walked those whose fears had drawn them here because there was some one nissing In the family circle. Women already weeping in cer. tainity oc" what they must 'find sooner or later beneath the kindly blankets that shielded the sleepers made the Journey of sorrows many times be fore they found what they sought. Men with working faces leaned to draw bark the coverings and then gasped with short lived relief as they moved on to the next hudled form. Some of these seekers came with the dirt and grim of the wreckage upon them still. Some had passed through the crash of roof and bal rony only to leave a dear one dead in the tangled maso. They had worked hours with the rescuers to find that one, only to re turn now and then for a hurried trip to the chamber of death. Eleven times death struck down husband and wife, side by side. They died as they had sat to see the swift picturing of the film. But many other times it was only the wife or the husband who perished and the survivor must make the ter rible pilgrimage of recognition in the grim chamber of death. The times when children were taken were sparingly few. Usually the big theatre has been in its earlier hours of a Saturday night the gathering place of a host of youngsters who come with their parents for the week's amusement. But the ttnrm that wrecked the Knickerbocker kept tnost of the lit. tie folk at home that night. Up the long path, trodden through heavy (.now, that ran from the im promptu morgue to the Knicker bocker, struggled the stretcher squads, army and navy men chiefly. Commissioned officers of the military feervices held the doors of the church entrance, and with exquisite gentle, ness and sympathy sifted out those who sought their dead from others drawn ty morbid couroisity. Above all there was quietness at the church in spite of the urgent and never ceanlng activity. Of the losers in the Knickerbocker disaster, neith er the physically hurt nor the be. reaved gave voice to their suffering, and It was the testimony of the first who reached the theatre that the out. cry here in the ruins was little and soon stilled. North Carolina (Jfrl Killed The only know North Carolinian killed was Mips Nannie Lee Lambert, a native of Asheboro, who was a government employee working in the war department. Miss Lambert came to Washington years at'o. She used to be a stenog rnph'T for W. C. Hammer, now a member of the house'. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lambert, are very old. Miss Lambert graduated from the State College for Women at Greens boro In the class of 1915. Her remains were sent to W. W. Chambers company, undertakers, by Mr. Hammer. It will be two or more day before thea body will be shipped out of Washington. Archie Bell, an employee of the war department, accompanied Mbs Lambert. He was killed. His homo was in New Jersey. Court Proceedings There are no cases of importance before the present term of superior court. Judge Webb is moving things along rapidly and court will probably adjourn about Thursday. Quite a number of cases have been thrown out of court, continued, etc. The fol lowing car.es have been tried: Mack Kennington, charged with abandonment, nol pros with leave. W, C. Hogan, charged w'th as saulting and beating his wife, judg ment suspended on payment of costs. Jas. Gaddy, failure to list property, judgment suspended on payment of costs. Harrison McManus, carrying con cealed weapons, fined $50 and costs. Buck Hulsey, carrying concealed weapons, fined $50 and costs. Pete McDonald, larceny, judgment suspended ipon pavmcnt of costs. Jesse Winfield, forgery in several cases. It will bo remembcre.! that Winfield forged checks on Monroe batiks. He was given fourteen months on the roadj of Union county. Hides Ingram, bigamy, six months on roads. Zeb Smith, theft, pleads guilty, sen tence not rassed. Frank Griffin, fornication and adul tery, judgment suspended on payment of costs. Stephenson School House Completed Mr. W. H. Presley tells The Jour nal that the new brick veneered school building in the Stephenson dis trict of Vance township has been completed and the present term is being taught in it. The new hoi'so has four class rooms and a large au ditorium. The district was formed from the Hbcnczcr ani Center Grove districts which were consolidated un der the name of Stephenson, in honor of Mr. J. M. Stephenson who donated five acres of land to the school for the building and play grounds. Who Got Mr. Soil's "Parts"? On the 28th of last October Mr. J. A. Sell lost his Chevrolet car by fire on the road near M:ll Creek church, that is, it was so damaged by fire that he couldn't use it again till it had been overhauled. He had an insurance policy on it and made ap plication for indemnity to the com pany. He has just succeeded in get t ng the claim adjusted anJ the re mains of the car has fallen to him. il has decided to try to make it run again and thinks he can do so if the folks who have been carrying it off piecemeal will kindly bring back the parts that have been taken away. Mr. Sell says he is far from accusing any one of having stolen any othe parts, and since they were only borrowed he thinks it time for them to be re turned. The radiator is gone, for in stance, and it is quite necefsary in the scheme of rehabilitation. An other quite useful article is the car buretor, which has also flown away. Of course the tires would be useful, too. W heels and axles are also said to help in the matter of running. Just any such things as these Mr. Sell will be glad to get back. A LOOK IN ON THE MEN'S BIBLE CLASS Mrs. Hargett Finds It Pleasing to Hear the Men Talk and Lift Voices in Song MR. GORDON LOOKED FINE And Mr. Love's Talk Was.Inspiring and Drew a Hearty Amen From Mr. Phifer By Mrs. Knox Wolfe-IIargett We were ushered last Sunday into the Business Men's Bible Class. The apartments are down in the spacious room of the new Sunday school an nex at Central Methodist church. Having been invited and put on the uDticity committee we desire to now exactly what was expected of us. After taking the collection, the secretary, Mr. Zeb Faulkner, an nounced the amount, and number pres ent. One hundred present with three new pupils. The trio was asked to rise and be introduced. Mr. Curry, the "new man in town," an insurance promoter, was one of the number. The members kept coming; at least a dozen or more came after the count. Mt. W. B. Love, the teacher of the class, made it known to all that Mr. V. H. Phifer had been made an hon orary member, also a life member of this class. "For forty years," the speaker said, "he has given his serv ices to the Sunday school of this church, and now we propose to honor him with the very best that is in our power to bestow." Rev. Caleb Hoyle is the chaplain of the cluss; he opened services with prayer. The president, Mr. W. M. Gordon, looked a veritable prince.with his benign countenance all aglow with the interest he was taking in this particular occasion, as he sat just to one side of the speaker. Mr. Ed Lee was at the piano, and Messrs. J. T. Shute, J. Fowler, and others led off in singing the hymn, "More about Jesus," with the finest zest. The voice of young Shute was strong, sweet, and clarion like, and he led the big crowd. The writer was over-joyed to see so many young men that were taking part in this big new class. Our les son next Sunday will tell of the fall ing of Elijah's mantle on Elisha, and we thought of the mantle of these! older men falling on the younger, in years to come, and the church would ;,'o on, and grow and prow. Mr. Love, one of the town's best lawyers, made a brilliant talk on the lesson, and said that every man had a Naboth's vineyard at his door, but he was expected to have manhood enough to fight the assailant when he came to tempt him. He recalled the abomniable trial th:it had just ended in Concord, where sin had ruled supreme, and selfishness, covetous ness, and lewdness had lurked at the doors of these people, while Je?ahel had held high carnival. "A man can't rob God, and not pay the price," he told us. "The Germans reached out to get the vineyards of little France, and there is so much crime today it looks like the thing can't be stopped. Only one tli'ri;; can save any man. and that's the pi.r. undefined spirit of God. (Amen, said liro. Phifer). And a better day is coming; God is in the world. It will work out some day," the teacher fluently declared. What a fine talk this was. I only caught a nnall part, but that was good. Certainly our good lawyer teacher can't be classed with the at torney I once heard of. He, the law yer, was cross-examiniiii' a witness for the other side "You say the moon wc.s shining brightly at the time?" Witness: "It was." "You are perfectly familiar with the appearance of the moon, are you?" "Yes sir." "Can tell a moon as far as you can see it, can you?" "I think I can." "Ever see the man in the moon?" "I've seen what they call the man in the moon." "Often?" "Many a time." "What does he look like?" "Well, to tell the truth, he looks like a little, two-for-a-cent one-horse lawyer." Now Dr. Weaver comes in for his share of praise for this effective out come in building up this large class. I'm afraid to say too much about Continued on Pace Eight WAS WILLING TO TRUST DR. ROWE Drotlier Stephenson Took a Nap While the Dr. Was Preaching But .Made No Apology THOUGHT CHURCH ON FIRE Didn't Know Much About the Sermon Lut Dreamed Where the Cross Cut Saw Had Been Lost By L. E. Huggins A Union county citizen believes that long sermons are not best, but at the same time he is of the opinion that people who form the habit of sleeping in church will go to sleep during a short sermon just as If it were a long cne and that anybody is liable to go to sleep sometimes. He then told a story of the late Rev. It. T. X. Stephenson, who served the Tolkton circiut as his last work. Rev. .Mr. Stephenson was recognized as one of the best men In the Wes tern North Carolina conference and Dr. J. C. Iiowe was presiding elder of the Charlotte district at that time. He held a quarterly meeting In Marsbville on Sunday and preached that evening. During the sermon, which was a most interesting one. Bro. Stepbcnbon went to sleep. After the services were over. Dr. Rowe ap proached Vc pastor and exclaimed: "Bro. Stephenson, you went to sleep on me." "Yes Bro. Rowe," responded Bro. Stephen on, ' I've been hearing you a long lime and I've got to the place where I'm willing to risk you." Mr. White Tells Two Rev. C. E. White, pastor of the Marsbville Presbyterian church, tells the story of a fellow who always slept during church services. One day the preacher was delving into Scripture bearing upon the existence of a lake of fire and brimstone. He exclaimed: "Yes. brethren, there Is a hell and and there Is hell f-i-r.e." with spe cial emphasis on the fire. His loud tone of voice aroused the sleeping brother Just in time for hiin to get the last word f-l-r-e and he Jump ed from his seat in a badly frighten, ed state of mind and shouted: "Where is the fire?" Rev. Mr. Whlio then told one on himself when he was a boy. He went to church one Sunday and while the congregation was kneeling for pray er during the first part of the ser vice Mr. White fell asleep on his knees. Nobody aroused him from his peaceful slumbers and he never knew anjthing until the preacher had pronounced the benediction and the people were leaving the church when he suddenly awoke and found himself on his knees. A Timely Dream Put Henry Marsh took the prize with this interesting story of the late Mr. Ike Nash's sleeping qualifi cations in church. Henry says that Mr. Nash had been doing some work for Mr. K. C. Griffin and had list the crors-cut saw. lie went to rhurrh on the Sunday following and when ! e returned Mr. Griffin at-ked him how he liked the sermon. "I can t tell you much about the sermon," re plied Mr. Na?h, "but I dreame.i where we left that cross-cut faw," and he looked In the place he had dreamed about rnd found the saw. Mr. Gwyune Griffin of Marshville, who is principal of the graded schools at Advance, states that when ho lert that place Friday the snow was twelve Inches deep. When asked how he liked that section of the state, Mr. Griffin replied. "Very well, but Union is the besi county in the state." He then explained that while Pavlo Is a good county there are not no' so many home-owners an In Un ion. The farms are to a great extent owned by large land-holders who either rent the farms or have them cultivated by tenants. Perhaps Union has more small farmers or men who own small farms and cultivate them themselves than any county in Xorth Carolina anil that's what it takes to make a desirable community In which to live. Holding Money Tight "There ia qulle a bit of money in Union county,'' said a citizen a few days ako, ' but tlie people are afraid to turn it loose." He then explained that folks have become po excited over ihe appearance of the boll wee. vil that they have withdrawn their money from circulation slid thereby made conditions worse than th'.v ivuKy r-1 i 1 he. It Is iilo tliia man's ri 'iio: 1 1i : : t there r.re thousands of dollar' in t'lo county hidd.Mi away in t I I stor hir.uts, rr.'Cks of houses and in ot'.:rr places, that would greatly relieve the tituat mi If they were put into the banks and thereby placed into c'revlMtnn. V'I'h the large num ber of z.rM3 in Union, all on solid footing, it I; rather strnngo that any body w ill truss to hick and the weath er to keep their money safe in places where robbers can so easily find and secure the earnings of a lifetime. And then there Is another class of people who delight In carrying lare rools of money In their pockets, Just why no one is able to tell, unTesa they are possessed of the same feeling the preacher had who always borrowed a dollar before going Into the pulpit. It is said that the minis, tre referred to never used the money and always handed it back to th" brother from whom he borrowed it at the close of the services. When asked why he borrowed It, he re plied: "I never have any of my own and I can always do better preach Ing when I have money ia my pock' et."