VOIiUME XXXI.
OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1916
NUMBER 14
'- 4
PEN PICTURE OF THE COURT
JUDGE DEVIN . AS HE APPEARS
ON THE BENCH
Notes Picked Up Here and ' There
About the Court Room Solicitor
Gattis is a Power in the Land.
Although Oxford is the home of
Judge Devin, no judge of the Super
ior Court ever came to Granville and
so quickly and completely won the
respect, esteem and friendship of the
citizens: as viewed trom the bench.
Judge Devin came among us compar
atively a stranger, but within a day's
time we all felt that the Supreme
Court is none too high for him. If
we had the ability it would be a
nlcasure for us to draw with words
upon paper the character of Judge
Devin as it impressed itself upon our
heart. He is a man of many virtues
of heart and mind, simple in taste,
kind and gentle in manner, courteous.
and considerate of others. He runs
his court easily and smoothly, yet
firmly and orderly. Duty to the law
and tne state, rignt in tne signt or
God, and justice to his fellowmen,
are three characteristics which seem
to guide and control him in the ad
ministration or law. , '
Judge Devin brings to the bench
that dignity of character and learn
ing that establishes the law on a
higher plane. We must go back at
least twenty years to find a man that
will measure up to him, and it is
passingly strange that Judge Devin
resembles very closely in facial ex
presion and physique the most .learn
ed and equitable judge that has grac
ed the bench of the State in the last
quarter of a century We point to
Hon. John A. Gilmer, of Guilford. ,
whose portrait adorns the walls of
the State Library. We shall never
be quite satisfied until the noble son
of Granville is- know as "Justice
Devin." As compared with some of
the fanatics on the bench, the one
word "judge" -is not strong enough
in this day and time to separate the
real from the false.
It is evident to any right thinking
person that Judge Devin means to be
fair and just. . There are times when
he must explain a point of law, and
vre have not seen it happen but that
we were impresed with his good
rense. He leaves no room for the
jury to grope in the dark. If our
cause were just we had rather risk
Judge Devin than any man on the
bench, but justice is not what some
people want. He is merciful where
mercy is due, yet at the same time
the old offenders who are past the re
formatory age must look out, or they
will find themselves breaking rock
for the benefit of the county roads.
We wish we had more Judges of like
nature and the law would be more
highly regarded by the law breakers.
We may be excused for telling one
or two things that took place in court
this week that caused us all to sit
up and take notice. It is a . well
known fact that Judge Devin is not
entirely satisfied until he knows that
none but intelligent, high toned men
comnose the iurv. and when the name
of a good man is called for jury duty
it never fails to bring a smile. in
making up the grand jury Monday
mornine the name of Mr. John weDD
was called. Mr. Webb was none too
quick to take his , seat until Judge
Devin ponited the way. General Roy
ster, with smiles playing about his
face, stated to the court that Mr.
Webb was a tobacco buyer and that
he wishes to be relieved from jury
duty. Although Judge Devin is the
guest of his sister, Mrs. John Webb,
we nntiner that he held Mr. John
Webb to a strict accountability of
what took place in the grand jury
room.
It will be remembered that Mon
day morning was very cold. An old
fellow from up the county came in
and took his seat near the stove. It
was not very long until the corn li
quor under his shirt began to Don.
None of the court officials, it would
spem. noticed the condition ot tne
old fellow and when his name was
called to take his seat in the jury
hmr nrpnnrntnrv to trv causes at bar,
he murmured something to himself
and took his seat and leaning over
addressed the Court: "I can hear ev-
ervthimj? that, is coiner on but I can't
understand." Judge Devin ordered
the Sheriff to take charge or tne om
fellow and place, him where no harm
would overtake him until he was in
his rightful mind.
The more we see of Hon. S. M.
flattie Vi o vpnr able solicitor, the
V,IAW M. J ' ,1
more we are thoroughly convinced
that he is one of the ablest lawyers
in the state. His mind covers the
entire judicial district like a blanket.
He sneaks without notes and if there
are twenty witnesses in the case Tie
calls their names as readily as ir ne
had known them all his life. Here
is a sentence that caps the climax: "I
m a J
tell you, fellows,' said the solicitor,
"that when Sheriff Hobgood, Sam
SPRING CONCERT .
NOTED SOPORANO
"BRIDAL chorus from
ROSEMAIDS."
riTErci
The Oxford Choral Club Will Give
Its Second Concert at the Orpheum
Theatre Next Thursday Night
Noted Singer Coming.
Last June the Oxford Choral Club
presented its first program at the Or
pheum. They sang Braodbury's
Oratoria "Queen Esther," and it was
universally declared to be the finest
choral work ever heard in our city.
Announcement is now made that the
Club will give its second concert at
the Orpheum next Thursday night
at 8:30, February 24th,.
Perhaps the Club feels justly .that
Oxford as a whole has not supported
its efforts properly. A packed house
should greet our Club when the cur
tain rises next Thursday evening.
They will present eight beautiful
choruses, ending with the great
"Bridal Chorus from the Rosemeaid-
ens' anrt hotwopoi tine niimhftrfi as
the star for the evening, Miss Adriana arrest claimed the liquor asbelong
Kuyk of Richmond will sing. Miss mg-to him and that Pendergrass had
TCnvt is onA nf RiVhmAnH's ninst nnn- nothing to do With it, Mr. Victor
lilar. Ronranoa. with a voio.e. of wide
ra.TifrA ari heantv She nlwflvs
pleases and is very gracious in her Henry Clark was convicted of lar
resnonsfis. sineine with rare enthus- ceny of some money from an old ne-
iasm and personality. The Club is a
little in debt at present and hopes
that a liberal response on the part of
Oxford's citizens will put them on a
sound financial footing. I
Tickets will be sold as follows:
lower floor, 50c; gallery, 35c.
JEWELER JUST) OPTOMETRIST
Mr. Knight and Family of Mt. Airy,
" Locate in Oxford. '
Mr. J. W. Knight, jeweler and op
tometrist,, of Mt. Airy, has located in
Oxford. He has leased a room on
Hillsboro street, near the Carolina
Power and Light Company's office,
where he-will carry a line of jewelry
and do repair work, Mr. Knight has
an interesting family and they will
be here as soon as he can make ar
rangements for their reception. All
good people extend a hearty welcome
to Mr. Knight and his, family.
OF GREAT VALUE
Well Established Claims to the Title
of Town Builders
The Oxford Building and Loan As
sociation has well established its
claim to the title of town builder. Its
excellent growth continues one of the
most significant and hopeful indica
tions in connection with the indus
trial strides. We invite attention to
the financial statement of the Associ-
ation elsewhere in this paper
In discusing the influence of build-
ing ana loan associations, jue rew-
i x J xl XT
ark, N. J., Call has the following com
ment :
'The building and loan association
has assuredly been the most effective
agent that this city and county have
known, in promoting frugality and
teaching the desirability of saving a
little each week to get something
worth while afterward. It has taught
self-control and self-sacrifice, and it
has had a tremendous influence in
making citizens careful of their rights
and persistent in their demand for
sound government. Its effect upon all
the body politic has been inspiring.'
Mrs. Easton Improves
The many friends of Mrs. Cam
Easton, who is at St, Lukes Hospital
Richmond, will be glad to learn that
she is improving rapidly. Mr. Eas-
ton spoke very encouragingly of her
condition and stated that it was only
a matter of a few days until she
would be at home.
Wheeler. Hutchins and Babe Hob
good, the policeman, get after you
there is something doing in court.
Of course all witnesses are sworn
tr tell the truth and nothine but the
truth before they take, the stand. It We, the Grand Jury of the Feb
is doubtful that any man in the State r.uary term of Granville County Su-
nnHorct!iTifia human nntnrp hpttpr
than Col. Gattis. He eyes the wit
ness very closely and starts off by
calling him by his given name, and
when he learn that the witness is un
fair to the State he turns on the gal
vanic battery and bucks worse than
a Granville county mule, and he does
n't relent until he sees a tear in the
witness' eye, and then, as if regret
ting the terrible grueling, he mops
his brow and asks tne witness in a
ahrineri tone of voice if he would be
willing to swear to some one of the
- v . I.
statements he made during the ex
amination. Unless he be a very
truthful witness, Col. Gattis is sure
to get him coming and -going.
r.ol. Sam Gattis is doing a noble
ffr ho State. There are a lot
of Deonle in the district that would
W Jl A. J-VX V -- I
like to see nim in uugress.auu ue
- . .. . 1 a T I
Tviairo a fine renresentative.
mv, feil'Tier what will haDDen
some of these .days if he takes off nis
XXXCXC - . I
pont and gets in the field. His
iTH are manv. -
-"' M I
TOE GRAND JURY'S REPORT
THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTY
IN FINE SHAPE
The Criminal Docket Dwindles in the
Hands of the Very Able Judge and
Solicitor. - :
As we go to press Superior. Court
is still in sesion, the criminal docket
beingunccmplsted. NoTcase of great
importance have engaged the atten
tion o f the court. Quite a number
of liquor cases have been tried.
Jacob Tanner, whose case has been
continued from time to time, was ac
quitted at this term. He was accus
ed of having liquor for the purpose
of sale but as the quantity he had
was small and he had previously
borne a good reputation the jury ac
cepted his view of the1 matter. Mr,
Lassiter and Mr. Hicks defended
him. "
Another acquittal - was that of the
white man Pendergrass of Durham
who was on the car of P...D. Farring
ton, seized last summer. It develop
ed that Farrington at the time of the
S. Bryant, of Durham and Mr. Las-
siter appeared for the-defendant
gro at the Owen Warehouse. Walter
Black, his accomplice, hleadeeP guil
ty. Mr. Hicks represented Clark and
Mr. Lassiter appeared for Black.
Baldy Kearsey was ;v before the
Courtcharged with the possession of
liqouT for the puropse of sale. The
evidence tended to show that Baldy
had a quantity of the ardent at the
old Kearsey homestead? hear Bell
Town when the place was searched by
the officers. The jury convicted him.
Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Hicks defended
him. ;i
John Mangum, a young negro of
the town, was convicted of selling
whiskey to Will Covington. York
Allen was also accused of selling to
the same witness but was aquitted.
James Marble was before the court
for having liquor for the purpose of
sale. This is the case whede the of
ficer, Mr. Grover Hobgood, ;in making
the arrest found it difficult to stop
the-'bugy - in-: which -defendant-was- on
account of defendant's whipping the
mule and striking Mr. Hobgood over
the face and neck with his whip, as
a consequence the officer shot the
mule. Quite a fight was put up by
the defendant in this case, Messrs
Graham & Son, T. Lanier and B. K.
Lassiter, appearing for him. The
jury was unable to reach a verdict,
standing evenly divided and mistrial
was ordered. Gen. Royster assisted
the Solicitor in the prosecution.
Calvin Lyon, an old offender from
Creedmoor. was before the court
I : '. .
charged with having liquor for tne
purpose of sale. He found it nec
esary to plead guilty and was given
fifteen months on tfie roads. Mr.
Hester and Graham & Son appeared
for him.
Will Teasley. another Creedmoor
negrb, facedthe same charge and al
though he went to the jury a verdict
of guilty was brought in against him
Mr. Hester represented him.
As we go to press the case against
Sam Callahan. Hammett Callahan
jethf o Wilkerson and Younger Size-
more charged with disturbing
school entertainment at Mountain
Creek School is .before the court and
is being hotly contested. Gen. Roy
ster and !Mr. Brummitt are assisting
in the prosecution, while Graham &
Son. Hicks & Stem are defending
The only . sentence so far imposed
Devin in the liquor cases is
that uoon Cal Lyon. From the term
given him it "may be gathered, that
road sentences face those who have
been convicted.
Grand Jury's Report
The Grand Jury rendered the fol
lowing report:
To his Honor, Judge W. A. Devin,
Judge Presiding:
nenor court, are Dieasea io aavise
that we have reported all bills pre
sented to us, except three which wit
nesses could not be found. We wish
to thank his Honor Judge W. A.
Devin and the Honorable Solicitor,
S. M. Gattis, for the kindly assis
tance rendered us.
We. through a committee, have
examined the Court House and all the
offices thereof, and we find the books
and papers in both the clerks and
the register of Deed's office proper-
ly ana neauy Kepi anu lu oucnua
, i j. j it., m :?
and Grand Jury Room also neauy
kept.
Through a committee we have ex
amined the jail and found itin a
good condition and sanitary.
The County Home was examined
through a committee and the same
was found to De wen Kepi oy m& ou-
,: . . 11 J. 1 11. CI..
y imicuuoui. rt. "
.i.fnnlnnt Warn MlTliOl OTIfl file tr
ceiient. wire. inere are tuirLy uxic
inmates. 11 white and 20 colored, 3
white men, wnne women, coiureu
... n -. ! o 1 -1
men, and iz colored women, muies,
1 norse, a mucfl cows, i ueuci, n
A 21.1. L.fAM T
THE impetus
: TO BUSINESS
THINGS ARE MOVING UP WON
DERFULLY IN OXFORD
Watch the Scroll of Progress Unroll
Between Now and January 1, 1917
The Spirit is Here Good and
Strong. v.
There is a real spirit of working
for Oxford abroad among the people
of our fair little city. The sturdy
business men and the spirited young
men have the spirit and when every
body gets it it can be claimed that
progressiveness and development is
the animating sense fo our people.
Everybody must be obsessed of it in
order that it may be a moving spirit.
'We must not forget that the wo
men of Oxford have the spirit, for
we have been equally impressed with
the manif est fact that they are very
earnest and effective factors in the
present day progressiveness and pro
gress of Oxford. They are looking
after lots of good work that the men
are too prone to leave to them, and
yet while they are busy with their
church, social, literary and civic so
cieties, they are ever ready to lend a
helping hand to the men of Oxford.
They are planning to make a bigger
success this year, and moreover they
are ready to mobolize on about all
the lines of progress that the men
may undertake. Our live women is
an effective prompter, and the Public
Ledger is duly appreciative ' of their
good works. When the streets have
been paved there will be a park ex
tending along either side and in the
middle fo some of the streets. The
good ladies have it in their minds to
make Oxford the prettiest town in
the whole South. ' ;:. ;''-'" ;'
Things are moving up in Oxford
and all we've got to do is to -make it Jhad little difficulty in making to-
it our regular gait. We will soon be- bacco one of the first victims of the
gin to see what Oxford is doing for policy of restricting the importation
herselT in 1916. Watch the scroll of of luuries.
progress unroll between . now and The bulky nature of tobacco made
January 1, 1917. "Get the work-for- it a natural object of restriction, arid
Oxford spirit-good and strong. it is hardly likely to profit much by
The industrial motive behind cer- the license loophole, as all the big to
tain humane work is so apparent bacco ports are also wheat shipping
that it is scarcely necessary to point places, and wheat will always be fa
it out. vored.
- " . ' " "The Imperial Tobacco company,
CONGERT MONDAY NIGHTS tkejargegt, buyer ok American tobac
Local Talent Will Assist Miss Kath-
erine Johnson.
On Monday evening, at 8 o'clock
sharp there will be a concert in the
Graded School Auditorium given by
Miss Katheririe .Johnson, of Meredith
College, Raleigh. The Music De-
partment of , the" Civic Club is espec-
ially fortunate in securing this popu
lar young singer and she will be
heard with great pleasure. Her ac
compainments will be played by Miss
Mary Webb. Miss Johnson will bo. as
sisted by Miss Hankins, of Oxford
College, who has already made a
reputation for herself here, by her
artistic playing. The public is cor
dially invited to attend and there
will be no charge for admission.
MERCHAINTS GO NORTH
Oxford Merchants Will Lay in Good
-1 a 1 . .
Stocks
In our rounds among the mer
chants of Oxford we learn , that" their
stocks are low, and those "who have
not gone North to lay in new goods
will do so within the next few days.
Mr. Oscar Breedlove. . buyer for the
Perkinson-Green Company, will leave
for the northern markets this Friday.
Mr. Josh King has scruples about
traveling on Sunday and has, there
fore, decided to wait until Monday,
and it is stated that Major Landis
will slip out some time between Sat
urday noon and Monday morning.
Well Dresed Men
If the Schloss Bros. Co., of Balti
more or the Globe Tailoring Com
pany, of Cincinnatti, cannot make a
man out of you, there is nothing to
build upon. These well known Tail
ops will be in Oxford, at the Long
Company, Feb. zd-2b. Here is a
chance for young men and old men
to get on a dike at small cost.
Miss Hixie White Entertains
Thursday . afternoon Miss Hixi
White entertained the young ladies
of the Thursday Club. The day being
near Washington's Birthday the place
cards were, hand painted hatchets.
After playing Rook the hostess ser
ved a salad course consisting of cher
ry salad, tomato aspic, sandwiches
in the shape of hatchets, crackers and
coffee. In the salad waved an
American flag.
head of hogs, 30 chickens, 350 lbs.
of lard, 75 bushels of peas, 60 bbls.
corn, 10 bbls. flour, 1500 lbs. meat,
plenty, of dry feed.
We through a committee have ex-
amined the road camp and found it captain, is making an enviable repu
in a fairly good condition. tation. In two games with Kittrell
There are 14 convicts, 2 hired men,
12 mules, 2 road machines and all
other tools in good condition.
JOHN D. WILLI AMS,Forman.
WILL DDRT IDE GROWERS
TOBACCO RESTRICTED FROM
ENTERING ENGLISH PORTS
Largest Buyers of American Tobacco
Will Continue to Buy the Weed
Feeling It is, Necessary to Sustain
the American Market.
A prominent American diplomat
who has been abroad studying trade
conditions returned last week and
stated as a fact' that England was
considering the importance of cut
ting out everything but munitions
and the necessities of life. - Sure en
ough, England has restricted tobacco.
Commenting-on the situation, a Lon
don correspondent of the Associated
Press says:
Tobacco, unlike most commodities
improves with holding and whole
salers and manufactures can await
withequinamity the resumption of re
gular commerce, but the growers
who expect their money every year
for their crops, may suffer by a slump
in prices, it is felt. .
The annual domestic consumption
here is about $100,000,000 pounds
while the amount exported in. manu
factured form is 38,000,000 pounds,
so that the 279,000,000 pounds in the
British warehouses assure a two
year supply for the United Kingdom
Ninety per cent, of this came from
the United States, this amount mak
ing Great Britain America's best in
dividual customer.
. The consumption . . of tobacco in
Great Britain has increased greatly
during the past few years and import
ers have been bringing in huge a
raounts. and until recently storage
space has been at a premium. The
government is well aware of this con
dition, so despite the powerful finan
cial interests involved in the trade
co, is .'not expected to cease- biivfng'
because of the prohibition, as it is
understood it feels it necessary to
sustain the ''American market,' and
therefore will probably store its nur
chases in the United States. This
plan, however, may be upset, as there
is some probability that the govern-
ment will soon forbid the transfer
of money to nav for commodities on
the prohibited list.
The Public Ledger feels it a duty
to, warn the farmers against a large
production of tobacco. A limited
supply will be' taken at good prices,
but a large output means ruin.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A Method By Which Fires Can
be
- Located.
Whenever the fire bell in the tow
er of the old market house rings.
everybody in town either rushes to
i T-n-k tT- rT o r A nolle" n v-v rsw 4- 1 9f
tne pnone ana cans up "central or
go to the door and scan the horizon
with a view of locating the fire.
There is an arrangement by which
the public can locate the fire as soon
as the bell taps. It is an electrical
device so arranged as to strike and
I Pause at intervals, as for instance
1-1 2-2 would mean the east side
of Main street on the square occupied
by the Court House. There are sev
eral systems of alarm, but our per
sonal knowledge extends to the
Gamewell Fire Alarm Company,'
which is very accurate and compara
tively cheap.
As the wires are generally put un
der the ground, it would be well for
the Town Commisioners to look into
the matter before the paving is laid
and give us at least ten boxes at as
many important points.
POST OFFICE BILL UP
Congressman Spill Forth Oratory on
Rural Free Delivery "Feature
- and Pay to the Railroads
The House occupied itself Friday
with consideration of the annual post
office approporiation bill. Slow pro
gress is being made because of the
flood of political oratory on the meas
ure, and the indications are that it
will not be disposed of . before next
week. The fight on the bill centers
on' the rural free delivery provisions
and on new legislation proposing to
change the system of railway compen
sation to a space basis, and to pro
vide for. government bonding of De
partment officers and mail contract
ors. Basket Ball
The Oxford High School Basket
Ball team, of which Robert Kinton is
they broke , even. They had an easy
walkover with Stem and they held
Middleburg. down The Oxford team
will play Stem at Stem next week.
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