North Carolina Newspapers

I - WOODF1N ORDERED RELEASED ON BA L Acting under a writ of kibca cvrpur, A . cci-t Je. tirr dark son, of the North Carolina Su preme Court ordered the release under bail of W. F. Woodfin, Federal prohibition agent char ged with the murder of Grover C. Bradley, prominent merchant and farmer of Northampton county. Bond was fixed in the sum of f 10,000, to be approved by the clerk of Northampton County Superior Court. The decision followed a hotly contested hearing before Judge Clarkson, with 10 lawyers and more than HO witnesses partici pating in the proceedings. The practical effect of Judge Clarkson’s decision is some what doubtful. In a written opinion announcing his decision. Judge Clarkson ruled squarely that there was not probable cause to sustain a charge of murder in the first degree and it was intimated at the hearing that in the event of such a ruling Solicitor Midyette would not present a,bill to the grand jury charging the capital crime. How ever, the matter is a decision for the solicitor and his right to send bill or that of the grand jury to determine it is in nowise affected by the granting of the bill. Government authorities have interested themselves strongly in Woodfin’s case and have rallied to his defense. Martin - Taylor The Monticello Hotel of Nor folk was the scene of a wedding fof unusual interest to the com munity last Thursday morning when Mr. Robert L. Martin and Miss Annie Taylor were quietly married. Mr. and Mrs. Martin left Nor folk at 7 o’clock on the steamer “Hamilton” for New York City and Niagra Falls'where they ex pect to spend their honeymoon. The bride is the attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Taylor, of Jackson street, and is well known as the efficient chief operator of the local telephone exchange. The groom is an accomplished musician, being conductor of both the Rosemary and Roanoke Rapids bands. Mr. and Mrs. Martin will be at home to their friends in Roanoke Rapids after January 1st. Rev. Charles Sheet* Receives “Pounding” Pastor Charles Sheets of Rose mary Baptist Church, reports that he received a severe “pounding” at the hands and hearts of his people, when mem bers of the church advanced upon his home last Friday night with meats of all description, canned goods of many varieties, flour, sugar, potatoes, fruit, fruit cakes, toilet articles, and other expressions of their love and best wishes. Mr. W. J. Norwood acted as their spokesman. Mix Lula Jackaon Miss Lula Jackson, daughter of the late John Jackson, died at. the home of her sister, Mrs. Neil McRae, last week, after an illness lasting only a few hours. Miss Jackson had not been feel ing quite well for several days, but her death was totally unex pected. Funeral services were held from the M. E. church. Her pas tor, Rev. G. F. Smith, officiated, assisted by Rev. Francis Joyner, of the Episcopal church, and Rev. Mr. Broom, of the M. E. church of Roanoke Rapids. - Miss Jackson is survived by one brother, J. M. Jackson, of Roanoke Rapids, and Mis. Nell McRae, of Littleton. RJSEMARY PER>ONAL AND LOCAL ITEMS Mr. Tom Betts, of Macon, wa in Rosemary Monday. Mrs. W. S. Kennon and daugh ter, Miss Florence are visiting in the home of Mrs. George L. Hayes, Jr. Mr. M. R. Vick spent the Christmas holidays in Seaboard. Misses Ruth and Viola Glover and Hazel Cobb left Wednesday for Henderson where they will i visit friends. , Mr. Herbert Brantley, of Greenville, spent several days in j town visiting relatives. 1 Mr. George W. Taylor, of Rich mond, is visiting in the home of j his mother, Mrs. C. B. Taylor, j Miss Josephine Hege, of N. C. 1C. W„ is spending Christmas in ' the home of her parents, Mr. and ;Mrs. F. C. Hege. i Mr. James W. Ross left Mon iday for Gordansville, Va. to pass | Christmas with his parents. I Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Williams i were in Enfield Tuesday. | Mr. and Mrs. J. Clyde Taylor, j of Enfield, were in Rosemary [ this week. , Mr. Walter Humphreys, of Schoolfield, Va., is visiting his parents, Dr. and Mrs. H. B. Humphreys. Messrs.- Alvis George and George Batton were in Richmond several days this week. Mr. Lester Kendrick, of Co lumbia, S. C., was in Rosemary during the week. mr. neairice Harris is visit ing her father in Raleigh. Mr. E. B. Freeman left Thurs day for his home in Lumberton, after having visited in the home of Mr. W. H.. Marks. Mr. C. B. Skipper, of Lumber ton was the guest of his son, Mr. C. B. Skipper, Jr., at his home on Washington street during the holidays. Mr. H. C. Wright, of Roanoke, Va., spent several days in the home of Mr. W. H. Marks. Miss Pauline Denton, of Mon roe, and Miss Alice Marrow, of Henderson, are the guests of Mrs. H. H. King. Mr. A. C. Zollieoffer leaves to night for Philadelphia on a busi ness trip. Dr. J. C. Crank left today for Louisa, Va. Mr. A. N. Martin left yester day for Gordansville, Va. Mrs. Fannie Manning is spending some time in Henderson with relatives. Mr. J. L. Cobb spent several days in Rocky Mount this week. Mr. James and Miss Minnette Marshall, of Norfolk, visited in the Rosemary Lodge during Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Younts are visiting in Durham. Rev. Roy Shelton and family, of Wadesboro, are visiting rela tives in Rosemary. Miss Eleanor Horton, of Wadesboro, is the guest of Mrs. Geo. L. Hayes. Miss Louise Stephens, of Char lotte, is visiting in the home of Miss Traynham Wyche. Mr. Jesse Sahderson is visiting friends in Rosemary and Roan oke Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. R. Paige Taylor, of Ashland, Va., spent several days in the home of Mrs. J. M. Grizzard. Cadet Kenneth Sheets, of Fork Union Military Acadamy, is en joying the holidays with his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Charles Sheets, at their home on Jack son street. Mr. Jim Gurkins spent several days in Belhaven this week. Mr. Ellis H. Joyner spent Christmas with relatival in Greenville. Miss Elizabeth Smith is visit ing relativs in Greensboro. * The Rt. Rev. Jos. Blount Cheshire,Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina was the guest of Mr. and Mrs T. W. Mullen Sunday night. . Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Pruden spent several days in Seaboard this week. Mis* Elijbath Baglay apaot WITH THE CHURCHES Rosetn .ry Ua.tist (.hurch , Chai I 5 J. sheets. Pastor ' 10:00 A. M. stfnday school. S. ' I). Brown Supt. 11:00 A. M. “Tis Enough to i Make a Person Run.” will be the ; pastor’s sermon subject. 6:30 P. M. The Three B. Y. P. i Unions will meet, j 7:30 P. M. “Is Your Fare Paid On The Nineteen-Twenty-Four Time Limited?” will be the pas tor's theme. Seek the Lord and His strength >seek His face evermore. (Psalm 105.4). Monday, 11 to midnight. New Year’s eve watch night prayer, praise, and worship service. Everyone invited. Wednesday, 7:30 P. M. prayer meeting. All Saints Church I Episcopal) Ree. Lewis N. Taylor, Rector Mr*. Katherine Webater, Parish Wotker Roanoke Avenue Next Sunday is the Sunday after Christmas. 9:45 A. M. church school, bible classes for adults and chil dren, T. W. Mullen, Supt. 11:00 A. M. morning service and sermon. The night service will be omitted. A cordial welcome awaits you at All Saints’. POLICE COURT NEWS ITEMS Larry Gee was dismissed on ! payment of costs on a charge of 1 disorderly conduct, but required to give a bond in the amount of $150.00 for carrying concealed weapons. Timothy Brown, charged with the shooting of Lucius Jenkins on May 4 1919, was required to give $1,000.00 bond for his ap pearance at Halifax Superior Court. Brown left immediately after the shooting occured and was apprehended when he re turned recently to attend his father’s funeral. Lucius Jenkins, the shootee, was also charged by Brown with assault with deadly weapon, and was held under $150.00 bond for his appearance at Halifax. CARD OF THANKS The inmates of Halifax Coun ty Home wish to thank the peo ple of the county for their kind ness and thoughtfulness at Christmas time. For the service rendered there and for all good things and Christmas cheer they brought. A word of thanks from the superintendent and his wife. Wishing all a happy New Year. L. H. Freeman, superintendent. the holidays with relatives in Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Arch L. Taylor and children spent Christmas in Oxford. Miss Nancy Johnston spent the holidays with relatives in Rowland and Fayetteville. Mr. John W. Vick, of Univer sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill spent the week with his parents Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Vick. Miss Florence Bingham left Saturday to spend Christmas in Winston Salem. Mr. isoan aanier ien Mon day for a visit with relatives in Belhaven. Miss Ruth Transou left Satur day to spend the holidays in Winston Salem and Belhaven. Mr. James E. Smith spent the week in Pittsboro. Mr. Irvin Brooks, of Raleigh, spent Christmas with friends in town. Miss Thelma Mills, of N. C. College for Women, Greensboro, is spending the week with her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Mills. Mr. P. W. Ray spent a few days in Williamston this week with relative*. Old Yesterdays in < url No C.ime to a /Vac rmeton i:i 11 - illax U-.uTuj A ; ■ culleation , f i.:ii D , “Dat's the best white man anti tie biggest cusser what cum here but he's as perlite a., er niggt.- trying to he;- out of jail. Dat’s Cap’n Dili Day turn V don." This remark was by-the colored messenger of the Court after a portly, faultlessly attired man had hurriedly passed through te Clerk's office and en tered the court room, without waiting for a reply ao “where's Kill Bagley?” And so it was and so it was he: William H. Day, aui generis, as the lawers say, just of his own kind. Indescrib able; personification of antithe ses; fiery and courtly; high tempered and tender: profane, eloquent and cultured; some times harsh and violent, but generous as a prince and a great trial lawyer. Chief Justice Merri mon asked him, "Day, do you believe in the divinity of Christ and the plan of salvation?” “Yes, I believe it all," he re plied: but tinctured by profanity. "I never went into battle without saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, ad —n sinner,” The Chief Jus tice remarked, rather dryly, "Well, no wonder at that, you were frightened anti hysterical.” "Yes, I was scared then, but I say it yet, frequently and fer vently,” replied the religious and profane captain. i ne following was ;oiu -,t tne ingle side in the old Clerk’s office: Captain Day was employed to de fend a negro, who had been in dicted in Halifax county for steal ing a watermelon. His friend, Janies E. Shepherd, then judge of the Superior Court, presided at the trial. There was most con clusive evidence of guilt and Capt. Day introduced no evidence for the defendent on the stand, hut insisted on addressing the jury. Every member of the jury was a farmer and Captain Day addressed them substantially as follows: "Gentlemen of the jury, let us consider this remarkable circumstance! Here is an attempt to send to the chain gang an humble, inoffensive nigger, born and reared in a log cabin in Ha lifax county, for just pulling a .d eating a watermelon and going about his business. It is prepos terous! Whoever heard of taking a poor, hard working nigger away from the cotton patch where the laws of nature and Na ture’s God intended him to be and putting him to work the roads, because he invaded a watermelon patch? Why, gentlemen, there is an everlasting and indestructible affinity between a nigger, a mule, and a watermelon. You have been sworn to try him according to the evidence and the evidence is against him. But evidence of what? Evidence that he did only what every man on this jury does not deny he has done himself - just took a watermelon without asking for it. Who can doubt that had he wasted time to ask for it, it would have been given to him unhesitatingly. So what harm has been wrought? The law is in tended to punish and prevent crime, but what crime has been committed? The indictment charges that he stole a water melon. Gentlemen, you cannot steal a watermelon in nauiax county. Law is ‘the perfection of human reason.’ Law is common sense and common law is founded on common customs the begin ning of which ante date the mem ory of man. . Where is the man living in Halifax county today who can remember a nigger or any one else going to jail for stealing a watermelon? Under the common law as it obtains in this grand old county, cradle of freedom and liberty, there’s no such crime as stealing a water melon. If so, all of you are mis erable thieves and should wear a felon’s stripes. Yes, gentlemen, this grand old county still retains some vestige F nc.ncial Cor. lition of . Nor h Carolina , be i c]'.-'. Itnent oi Commerce • C • ' Jr. . o.-Is of gov . ■ I . •; t... No; . i jed inn? 30. 1922. a,;uu:; . ; :25,' o-i.112, v/hieh \v .s ;i per •capit-i cost of $9.58. *;i -Pi:’ j ho per capita coat •••a.- $2.19, • and n. 1 P t■ / J, f \ tj.- fo: hero y. ars being 85,407.381 a. -< 5,008,802, respectively. The | I per captia costs for 1922 eon-1 i; ted of expenses of general do-j /ailments, 85.48; payments for interest, $0.28; and for outlays, | • 1.87. Of the.- o the largest were I nearly 86,000,000 for highways ' and 82,500,000 for schools. Revenues The total revenue receipts for 1922 were $18,164,249, or 84.97 per capita. For the fiscal year the per capita < xcess of government al costs over receipts was there fore, 84.61. Per capita expenses for general department and payments for interest exceed the per capita revenue receipts by S0.74. In North Carolina property and special taxes represented 41.G per cent of the total revenue for 1922, 50.2 per cent for 1918, and 51.7 per cent for 1915. The increase in the amount of pro perty and special taxes collected was 22.0 per cent from 1915 to 1918, and 84.7 per cent from 1918 to 1922. The per capita property and special taxes were $2.07 in 1922, $1.20 in 1918, and $1.03 in 1915. Earnings of general depart ments, or compensation for ser vices rendered by state officials, represented 18.7 per cent of the toral revenue for 1922, 20.4 per cent for 1918, and 24.1 per cent for 1915. business and nonbusiness licenses constituted 33.9 per cent pf tlie total revenue for 1022. 19.-1 per cent for 1918, and 14.7 per cent for 1915. Receipts from business licenses consist chief ly of taxes exacted from insur ance and other incorporated companies, while those from non business licenses comprise taxes on motor vehicles and amounts paid for hunting and fishing privileges. Indebtedness. The net indebtedness (funded and floating debt less sinking fund assets) of North Carolina was S12.59 per capita for 1922. 83.85 for 1918, and S3.77 for 1915. During the current year over S19,000,000 bonds were issued of which S19*600,000 were highways. Assessed Valuation and Tax Levies. Taxes shown as collected for the current year were from the 1920 levy. Since that year there has been no general property tax for st-iU purposes. ~-- -----I of its pristine glory and it, still ] adhertps to the principles of liber- j ty and justice. Under the com-1 mon law of Halifax county you j cannot steal a wattermelor. j Gentlemen, would you cast back-1 ward the strong, relentless arm j ol the law and profane the hal lowed days of your boyhood?! Has there faded on the walls of' your memory the sweet picture of the shady old swimming pool from whence you cr°pt in boyish glee and pulled a luscious water- ] melon, thence back to the pool where you splashed and tossed this melon till it had cooled, then ' carried it to the bank, burst it \ against a rock and gouged out i its red meat and partook of its inward sweetness? Ah. no gen tlemen, you cannot forget. “Whatsoever things therefore ye would that men do unto you do ye even so to them l'or this is the law.” Yes, gentlemen, the Great Book—the highest guid ance for man’s rule of conduct— savs so. Gentlemen, turn this nigger lose.” Despite the judge’s charge, there was a verdict of acquittal. —News and Observer. RO.VVOKE RAPIDS PERSONAL AND LOCAL ITEMS s'. C BevU spent a few :n Plymouth with lxTuti ..id ': :■■■ M. K P:;i:;on. of >: :i liny pom lei e v. 1 ■ -md Mrs. T. M. Faison '■.tie daughter, of Fayette a few days here this ' til fii. . and relatives. .'nr. and Mrs. J. A. Ro s, of ■ -reenshoro, are visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Mr. and M r . G. A. Brewer . •! little son. spent the Christ-! i! holidays in Jackson.. Mr. Frank Williams, of Fay-! ctteville. is visiting his parents here. Misses Norine and Erma Cranwell and Mr. Jonnie Cran •vell spent a few days in Rich mond this week. Miss Cammie Vhughan, of Halifax is spending the Christ mas holidays here with her parents. Miss Meta Jones and Mrs. Paul Ray spent Wednesday in Richmond. Mr. Everette Poole, of Raiford, X. C. is visiting in town. Mr. David Camp of Garys hurg, was in town this week. Misses Eula Collier and Ruby W odroof spent a few days in Chase City this week visiting friends and relatives. Mr. Je: sie Roberson, of War • nton, is visiting Mr Grover , Wood roof. Miss Snograss, of Baltimore. « •vas the guest of Mrs. K. Jen- , kins this week. mrs. j. n. iveeie. aim e.augn ter, of Greenville, are visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs H. T. Smith. Miss Rosa Pearson spent the , Christmas holidays with her parents at Valentine. Mrs. A. M. Glover and Miss . C-nie Glover are spending the , week in Swan Quarters with relatives. Mrs. M. D. Collier is visiting friends in Norlina. Mr* Louis Anderson of Trini ty. is spending the Christmas holidays here with his parents. Rev. R. H. Broom spent the Christmas holidays with his daughter in Warrenton. Miss Bessie Hedgepeth, of Greensboro, is spending the holiday here whh her mother. Messrs. Marion Saunders and Julian Allsbrook, of Chapel Hill, are spending the holidays here with their parents. Miss Myrtle Bain, of Laurin burg, N. C., is spending the holi days in the home of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Coltrane and family are spending the holidays out of town. Mrs. C. L. Allsbrook and [laughter Blanch, of Weldon, are spending a few days in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Allsbrook. Mr. John Henry Rook has re signed his position with F. M. Coburn. -Miss Josie Hargrove has ac cepted a position with the Home Telephone Company. Miss Alma Vaughan and Mr. Carlton Taylor spent Tuesday in Goldsboro. Miss Mildred Taylor is visit ing relatives in Lawrenceville. Miss Mary Nellie Holt, of Murfreesboro, is spending the holidays here. Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Lawson returned to their home in Drake Branch, Va., Thursday after spending the holidays here in the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Williams. Miss Emily Davis, of Paris, Texas, is visiting Miss Josephine Gowen. Miss Traynham Wyche and Mr. Francis Wyche are spending the holidays >here. Miss Nell Jones is visiting friends in Wilmington. Miss Ruth Jones, of Murfrees boro, is spending the holidays here. Mr. R. C. Hardy, of S. C. NURSES GIVEN CHRISTMAS DANCE The Roanoke Rapids Hospita. ■ining School gave its annual Christmas dance to the student sex Thursday night, at the •'-is Home on Roanoke Avo. H. dance was by far the most u::ce : ful ever given by the local ho -pital, and was thoroughly en joyed by those attending. The home was fittingly decora ted for the yuletide season, rich only added to the attract ive ness of the ball room, and to the spirit of the dancers. Dancing began at 8 o’clock and lasted until midnight. During rtermission chocolate ice cream und lady-fingers were served. Miss McKennie, superintendent jf the school, chaperone. Miss Josephine Hege, pianist. Those attending were: Misses Gardner, Allen, Flythe, Dickens, lux. Stainback, Mrs. Bross, Misses Herring, Finch, Polk, Dickens, Clark, Etheridge, Lynch. Mills, Freeman and An lerton. All students of the Roa loke Rapids Hospital Training School. Messrs Claude Cannon, N'orfleet Vick, John W. Vick, Herman Medlin, Sidney Matth ews, Herbert Taylor, Robert Medlin, Joe Threewits, Buck diary. Joe Hux, Alger Dickens, Albert Holliday, Norman House, Jeorge Morgans, Wesley Ful rhan. Robert Rawlins, Herbert Scott. Print'd1 Purdy, Lofton Moody, Marion Mountcastle, Lilian Allsbrook, Bernard Ed nondson, Lawrence Smith, Mari >n Saunders, Robert Daughtry ind Robert L. Taylor. Hardy - Saunders Mr. Robert Cecil Hardy, of St. Stephen, S. C. and Miss Sally Saunders, of Roanoke Rapids, vere quietly married in the Mon. icello Hotel, Norfolk, Va. last rhursday morning at eleven •'dock. The young couple left mmediately for Savannah, Ga., 'here they will spend a few days •efore continuing the honey noon which is to be spent in iacksonville, Florida. Mrs. Hardy is widely known n the community and has many riends who wish her well. She s the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ■V. S. Saunders, of Hamilton itreet. The groom holds a responsible •osition with the Camp Manu acturing Company at it’s South Carolina branch. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy will make :heir home in St. Stephens, S. C. Boyd - Stedman A marriage of unusual inter est to many Halifax county peo ple is that of Miss Elizabeth Stedman, of Halifax, the seven ;een year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Stedman to Mr. rohn T. Boyd, of Fayetteville. The yuung couple quite unex pectedly eloped from Halifax Christmas night and went to the home of a friend in Fairmont where they were united in matri mony. The bride was one of the most prominent of Halifax county’s young social set, and was well known throughout this section of the state. The groom was a student of the University of North Carolina and comes from a prominent Fayetteville family. spent a few days here this week. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Waller and little daughter, of Rocky Mount, spent the Christmas holidays here with relatives. • Miss Catherine Moody, of Henrico, is visiting Miss Iva Pitt. Miss Grace Brown is visiting friends in Goldsboro. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Pitt and daughter Iva, have returned home after spending the Christ mas in Norfolk.