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PUBLHSEIEID) SEM-WEEKLY
BHLLI&OT OPPOKTUMinriES A3LL HOME PMOT
5:
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VOLUME XXXI.
OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, APRIL 15th, 1916
NUMBER 30
COUNTY OFFERS
TALE OF "THREE CITIES"
IS WHICH OXFORD HAS HONOR
ABLE MENTION
The Attention of the People All Over
the Country is Being Directed to
Oxford in a Most Striking, Manner
The Raleigh News and Observer
knows a good thing when it sees it
and has no hesitancy in passing it a-
lons:, as follows:
"Oxford, Dunn and Kinston are
three North Carolina towns whose
people have the right ideas about
community progress. The first nam
ed is engaged in a paving project
whose scale is larger than anything
yet attempted by any town we have
heard of. Lvery street in Oxford is
being paved with asphalt. Kinston
has just let a contract for paving
nearly all of its still unpaved thor
oughfares, and Dunn is arranging to
cover all of its streets with some sort
of paving, placing the most service
able surfaces possibles upon its
streets over which traffic is heaviest
Abuot a quarter million dollars
will be expended by these towns in
the improvements undertaken, and
we know of no way in which money
could be expended to greater advan
tage to the people who pay the taxes.
These three places will find real bene
fit in what they are doing, and from
such things as these there will be
found an increasing prosperity. Other
towns in North Carolina can well take
note of what the three are doing.
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
Hon. Ben W. Parham is Handling
Hon. J. A. Hartness'
Campaign.
It is gratifying to know that Hon.
Ben W. Parham, so well and favor
ably known to the people of Gran
ville county, is handling Hon. J. A.
Hartness' campaign in this county.
If we make no mistake, Mr. Parham
was the representative from David
son county at the time Mr. Hartness
represented Iredell. At any rate, the
Public Ledger knows that there is a
close friendship between the two men
ofN long standing, and it is a source
of genuine pleasure to us to "know
that Mr. Parham will speak a good
word in this county for the States
ville man. It is purely a love for
that which is good and true that
prompts Mr. Parham to represent Mr.
Hnrtness' interest in the county. It
will be his aim to speak of the quali
fications, virtues and superior wis
dom of Mr. Hartness.
The Public Ledger, too, will have
something to say frim time to time
about Mr. Hartness. The editor of
this paper was associated with him
for several years in the newspaper
business and we found him to be one
of the truest men we have ever
known. The people of Iredell county
regard him about like the people of
Granville regarded the late Frank
Edwards, ever ready to extend a help
ing hand or to promote a good cause.
There are two men in the field for
Secretary of State. One of them is
a rich man and has held the office for
s'xten years. The other candidate,
the Hon. J. A. Hartness, a lawyer of
ability, is a man of moderate means.
He has been encumbered with a large
family and the most of his accumu
lations has gone into their education.
The Public Ledger would hardly
know where to begin or where to stop
in eulogizing Mr. Hartness. He i9
the son of the late Norman Hartness,
a good old farmer in the foot-hills of
Brushy Mountains. His son, "Jemes"
the subject of this sketch, was edu
cated at Davidson College. He has
served his county in the capacity of
Clerk of Court and in the hall of leg
islation. He has a splendid record,
and withal a true Democrat and has
given liberally of his means to keep
?live the best traditions of the party.
If the people send him to Raleigh
they will have a true friend and an
able advocate at the seat of govern
ment. OFF TO THE ORIENT
Will Make Love to the Almon-Eyed
Daughters.
Messrs. Joe Hunt and Robert
Crews are passing around among
their friends this week and on Satur
day morning will start for San Fran
cisco, where they will embark for
China on Thursday next. These two
splendid young men are wearing
long faces not that they fear sub
marines or sand plots, but because
each will leave a sweetheart in dear
ld America.
ftoth have signed up to remain
jnth the British-American Tobacco
Company in Chnia four years. It
ill be Joe's intention on landing to
Pet acquainted with the almon-eyed
daughters of the Far East and make
ve to them, but Robert is a little
bashful and the chances are that he
return four years hence unmar
ried. The almon eyes, the pretty
little feet, the soft cheek of the dau
ghters and the tom-tom music is well
calculated to enthrall Joe.
The Report of
The Grand Jury
THE VARIOUS OFFICES, BOOKS
ND INSTITUTIONS IN GOOD
SHAPE.
To his Honor Judge H. W. Wheed
bee, Presiding:
We, the Grand Jury for April term,
1916, of Granville County Superior
Court, herewith beg leave to submit
the following report:
We have faithfully reported on all
bills presented to us, we have exam
ined the various offices in the Court
House, the jail, county home, the
camp and the road force. We find
the offices in the Court House in good
condition, books and papers well ar
ranged and kept, we understand that
the roof on Court House is in need of
repair and recommend that the
County Commisioners look after it at
once; we examined the jail and found
it in good condition except there
should be more cells than we now
have. On examination of the County
Home we rind 34 inmates: white 12,
colored 22; all well cared for by Mr.
Sam Daniel and his good wife; we
also find 2 cows, and one good year
ling, 1 horse, 3 mules, 9 hogs and 7
pigs. The home is well supplied with
lard, meat, peas, corn, feed, etc. We
find everything in excellent condition.
We find the road force in fairly good
shape. We examined the reports of
the Justice of the Peace and found
that only 10 out of 31 made any re
port. Respectfully,
L. T. BUCHANAN, Foreman.
BEGINNING COUNTY CAMPAIGN
Important Meeting at the Court
House This Saturday Afternoon
This Saturday, April 15th, at 2:30
p. m., every Precinct in Granville
County will hold a meeting to organ
ize for the coming campaign. Every
voter in Granville County should see
that his poll tax is paid before May
1st so that he can become a qualified
voter in the coming primary. Every
Democrat in Granville County has
the right to participate in these Pre
cinct meetings and a good organiza
tion in the various precincts in the
County in the beginning menas that
the Democratic party will have a suc
cessful campaign.
We cannot exaggerate the impor
tance of every Preceinct Chairman
calling his Committee together at the
time appointed and hold this meeting.
The two things to be done at these
precinct meetings are, first, the elec
tion of a new precinct committee con
sisting of five members and the elec
tion of delegates to the county con
vention which will be held on the
following Saturday, April 22 nd, in
the Court House at Oxford. The
County Convention will organize and
elect Delegates to the State Conven
tion. It is every citizen's duty to at
tend these meetings and interest him
self in seeing that Granville County
has the very best government pos
sible. TOO MANY DOGS
T,et the Police Force Please Take
Notice.
It has been well said that the best
friend a man may have is his dog.but
mark you, that proverb did not apply
its meaning to the stray dog. The
stray dog is like the tramp. He is not
wanted at any place, and always
proves himself a nuisance. One thing
that stands out prominently against
Oxford is the number of stray dogs
to be found in town. Outside of be
ing an eye-sore to any town, the stray
dog is a nuisance which often be
comes a menace to the safety of the
children. It is invariably the stray
dog that goes mad, bites a child, or
several of them, which either results
in death or serious consequences.
Thus, we see that we should guard
children in Oxford against the stray
deg, and it would be well for steps in
that direction to be tatken here.
WILD WEAR SILK HAT
Something Will Happen When
the
Streets Are I'avea.
Dr. Lumpkin,- pastor of the Oxford
Baptist church, in passing along the
street the other day and noticing the
smooth pavement, remarked to a
crowd of men that if this thing
keeps on much longer he would have
to wear a silk hat. The remark,
made in jest, leaves the impression
that Oxford is taking on city airs and
that we will have to wake up and
step a little faster in order to keep
up with the procession.
HESTER SCHOOL CLOSING
Dr. Mcintosh of Raleigh WiU Deliver
Address.
(Correspondence Public Ledger)
The exercises by the children will
be Thursday evening, April the 20th,
at eight o'clock. Prof. C. E. Mcin
tosh of the State Department of Edu
cation, will deliver an address. A
cation, will deliver an address at one
o'clock Friday. A cordial invitation
is extended to the public.
DOWN IN MEXICO
THE UNITED STATES WILD NOT
HEED REQUEST, OF
CARRANZA
1
War Department is Prepared for
Eventualities, and Expedition Will
Continue Chase of Bandit; Car
ranza Note Was Not Unexpected in
Congress, AYThere Senators and
Representatives View Situation in
Critical Manner.
(SUMMARY)
The Mexican government has sent
'to its Ambassador in Washington a
note asking that the American troops
be withdrawn from Mexican territory
and that, the pursuit of Villa be left
to the Mexican Constitutionalist
army.
The note contends that as the A
merican troops crossed into Mexico
without permission they should be
withdrawn until a proper, formal
compact can be entered into between
the two governments.
It is insistently affirmed that the
previous notes of the Mexican gov
ernment, especially emphasize the
fact that permission for reciprocal
crossing of the frontier would be
granted only in the event of the re
petition of a raid similar to that
made by Villa at Columbus, N. M.
Troops WiU Remain
General Carranza's proposal for
the withdrawal of American troops
from Mexico failed to bring from ad
ministration sources any indication
that the troops will be immediately
withdrawn, or that the situation is
expected to result in any serious fric
tion with the de facto government.
The oustanding features gave evi
dence that the expedition has been
carried on with full realization that
objection might arise.
There was apparent agreement a
mong officials that the troops would
remain for the present, but that
from a diplomatic standpoint it might
seen advisable not to risk local clash
es with Carranza forces during nego
tiations.
"MR. '"PARKER' VERY SICK
Oxford's Noble Citizen Not Expected
to Live Through the Day.
Mr. S. W. Parker hovers between
life and death in St- Luke's Hospital,
Richmond, where he underwent a
serious operation a few days ago. The
latest information obtainable this
Friday morning, at the hour of going
to press, is from Mr. D. C. Hunt, who
returned from Richmond Thursday
night. Mr. Hunt states that the hos
pital physicians hold out no hope for
Mr. Parker and that his death is ex
pected at any moment. Members of
the family are at his bedside.
THE LONG COMPANY
Superior Quality of Goods Tells the
Tale.
The Long Company is enjoying a
fine trade this Spring. Their super
ior stock of goods is attracting atten
tion from all over this section. This
is accounted for by the fact that they
anticipated the wants of the people
and laid in a stock that meets the
approval of the general public. Those
who make it a practice to send a
broad for goods owe it to themselves
to visit Long Company's Stores be
fore doing so. The style and quality
is there in plenty and the Long Com
pany was never known to make an
overcharge on the things carrying a
reliable trade marke and backed by a
guarantee. See announcement on the
back page of this paper.
MISS SHOTWELL TO CONFERENC
Will Attend Southeirn Conference in
the Cresent City.
The Southern Sociological Con
gress will assemble in New Oorleans
Sunday and the entire week will be
devoted to community betterment.
Speakers from all over the country
will take part, and in this particular
we are proud to see Miss Mary Shot
well's name on the program. She
is scheduled to speak cm "Commun
ity Building" next Thursday and at
another time on "The Securing of
Competent Teaching Corps."
" EASTER SALE
"Granville's Biggest and Best Store"
is Busy.
Landis & Easton store is the scene
of much beauty this Easter-tide. The
ladies from all over the county are
finding their way to "Granville's Big
gest and Best Store" in large num
bers. Women's Coat Suits, Millin
ery, Women's Ready Made Tailored
Skirts, Boys Wash Suits and num
erous specials are some of the things
mentioned elsewhere in this paper.
Nine Million
Pounds Sold
THE OXFORD TOBACCO MARKET
AGAIN LEADS IN HIGH
AVERAGES
There was all kind of guessing
throughout the tobacco year as to the
number of pounds that would be
raised in Granville and how much
money it would bring. The guesses
ranged anywhere from six to ten mil
lion pounds and it was estimated that
the general average for' all sold
would be about ten cents.
It is now definitely known that
there was a fraction under nine mil
lion pounds sold this tobacco year on
the Oxford market. It wa so close
to that figure that everybody is call
ing it a nine million pound market.
The price paid for all grades averaged
$12.25 per hundred.
If the market had opened as strong
as it closed there would b a differ
ent tale to relate. The general aver
age up to January was about ten
cents, at which time the prices be
gan to soar. Tobacco men state that
if wrappers had been plentiful the
general average would have been
quite as good as it was in normal
times.
DATE OF MEETING CHANGED
Oxford Ladies Will Repeat the
Program.
(Correspondence Public Ledger)
The Providence Community Club
will postpone the meeting appointed
for Friday, April .21st, until Friday,
April 28th, at 2:30 o'clock. At this
time the ladies of the Oxford Club
will repeat the programme given at
the Health meeting during Baby
Week in Oxford. Mrs. Lumpkin, Dr
Daniel and others will give us talks at
this time. We are sure our commun
ity will be glad to come out in large
numbers to hear these speakers.
Under the auspices of our Club on
Friday evening, April 21st, at 7:30
o'clock at the Providence school
house, Dr. Morris wil lgive his ster
opticon views of the "Other Wise
Man."
K.
A MOTHER IN ISRAEL
Highly Ssteemed Lady Called to Her
Reward.
Mrs. Mary J. Crews, widow of the
late Thomas Crews, died at the old
homestead Wednesday night in the
84th year of her age.
Mrs. Crews ate supper as usual
Wednesday night, after which she
was seized with a sinking spell and
passed away at ten o'clock.
Mrs. Crews was a consecrated
Christian lady and thoroughly devot
ed to her children, five of whom sur
vive, as follows: Miss Delia and
Messrs. H. W., H. E., N. G. and S. F.
Crews.
The funeral and interment will
take place at 3:00 .o'clock this Friday
afternoon at Salem church, of which
the deceased was a member.
SMASHED RECORD
Oxford the Scene of a World-Wide
Contest.
The contest pulled off here Wed
nesday will be the means of drawing
the attention of concrete builders and
manufacturers of the entire world to
Oxford. In consequence of the con
test people everywhere will ask where
is Oxford, how large is the city and
what do they manufacture there.
That's the kind of municipal publi
city that builds cities, and old Ox
ford i snow having her share of it.
Mr. W. O. Sanders, concrete fore
man for Mr. R. G. Lassiter, has laid
concrete in eighteen States, working
gangs composed of Italians, Scandin
avians, Chineses and Indians, but the
best gang he ever handled is com
posed of Granville county negroes,
says Mr. Sanders.
In looking over the lay of the land
in Oxford, Mr. Saunders let his force
into his confidence. He told them
that a northern concern, manufactur
ing concrete machinery, had posted
$300 in cash to the foreman laying
the most concrete in one day. Look
ing south from Monument en Main
street, Mr. Saunders saw his chance
last Wednesday to pull in the $300
and establish a world-wide record.
The day was fine and the street was
wide and the task of covering it to
the regulation standard with stone,
cement and sand was begun under
the most favorable circumstances.
Great beads of perspiration rolled
from the brovs of the faithful col
ored men, and on and on spread the
liquid mass, : until Mr. Saunders, at
six o'clock cried out: "Hold, En
ough!!" nneA
The previous record was 2,964
square yards. Mr. Saunders' gang
broke the world record and have to
their credit 3,273 square yards. Mr.
Saunders is an old concrete man,
and he is of the opinion that his rec
ord will never be broken; at any
rate, he says, it will require a gang
of North Carolina negroes to do it.
THE CRIMINAL DOCKET
JUDGE WHEEDBEE AND SOLICIT
OR GATTIS MADE A RECORD
The Most Interesting Case of the
Term Was That of Sam Frazier,
Who Was Adjudged .Insane.
Judge Wheedbee and Solicitor Gat
tis made a record at this term of
court.- The criminal docket was dis
posed of by Tuesday at noon. In
his charge to the grand jury Judge
Wheedbee told them that they ought
to finish their work by noon Tuesday.
They went him one better, passed on
all bills, examined the court house
offices, the jail, the poor house, made
their report and were discharged
within ten minutes of that hour.
True, there was not a large number
of cases, but these could not have
been disposed of in the time con
sumed unless the court and all its
officers had worked with a vim. A
number of civil cases set for Thurs
day and Friday of this week were
coninued for the term and as that
left only a few cases for trial this
week, all the cases were moved up
to next Monday, the court was ad
journed to then and Judge Wheed
bee left for home to return next Sun
cay. The continuance of these cases
was very largely due to the sickness
of Mr. A. A. Hicks. For more than
a week he has been confined to his
bed. He came down town Tuesday
for a short time but was unable to
rork and a number of important
cases in which he is chief counsel
had to be continued on account of his
inability to conduct the trial.
A number of cases of small inter
est which have been on the docket
for some time were finally marked
off. These were principally case3
where the defendants had been plac
ed under bond for their good behav
iour. Practically all of these cases
were marked off.
In the case of James Marable in
dicted for having liquor for the pur
pose of sale there was a verdict of
not guilty. This is the case in which
there was a mistrial at the last term
of the court. A young negro named
Ed Harris was before the court for
stealing corn. He pleaded guilty and
the court ordered him bound out to
Mr. Frank Blackley.
McKinley Climer for carrying a
gun was given three months on the
roads. In the case of David Eaks
indicted for disturbing the Mountain
Creek School there was a verdict of
guilty. Mr. Stem represented the
defendant.
Henry Pearce, the negro who some
time ago stole a cow from George
Burwell down near Fairport, plead
ed guilty and was given two years on
the roads. Erastus Harris rd Mr.
W. T. Dickerson were before the
court for an affray. Both appeared
to be guilty on their own testimony.
Dickerson was required to pay half
the costs, while Harris was given
three months on the roads. This lat
ter sentence was imposed by the
Judge because of language used by
Harris to Mrs. Dickerson. Gen. Roy
ster appeared for Harris. Fleming
Cole pleaded guilty to carrying pis
tol and was fined $15.00 and taxed
with the costs.
The most interesting case of the
term was that of Sam Frazier charg
ed with beating his wife. The de
fendant was without counsel and
Judge Wheedbee asked Mr. Stem and
Gen. Royster to represent him. For
the defendant they entered a plea of
insanity and inability to plead to the
indictment. Dr. Hays had examined
the defendant and testified that in
his opinion the defendant was crim
inally insane. There was other tes
timony to the same general effect.
The jury found that Frazier was in
sane and thereupon he was commit
ted to the criminal insane depart
ment of the state penitentiary. This
does not necessarily free him of the
charge as he can be tried for the of
fense whenever his mind has been
restored.
As stated court adjourned to Mon
day, the 17th. At " -- time the
civil calendar will be taken up and
it is expected that it can be disposed
of in about three days.
"THE REGENERATION"
One of William Fox's Best Coming to
the Orpheum.
A powerful and magnificent pictur
ization of the dramatization of Owen
Kildare's famed romance, "The Re
generation," will be seen at the Or
pheum next Monday night. This is a
play to move and sway with the deep
undercurrents of human life and
emotion. There are 500 vivid scenes
depicting vibrant New York of today.
The whole production is a live bat
tery of thrills, action and romance.
This will be followed on Monday,
April 24th, by one of William Fox's
"story pictures, entitled "Carmen."
St. Stephen's Parish
By reference to the advertising
space of St. Stephen's Parish else
where in this paper will be found the
hours of service on Palm Sunday.
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