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Truth, Honesty of Purpose and Untiring Fidelity To Our Country and Our Flag Is Our Aim and Our Purpose YADKINVILLE, YADKIN COUNTY, N. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1934 No. 52 CAPITAL AWAITS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Washington, Jan. 2.—The eve of Congress found Washington quiet, full of rumors, and wonder ing whether President Roosevelt’s reported decision to deliver his message tomorrow in person pre saged a surprise request for some unpredicted legislation. Government departments held down their usual number of an nouncements, apparentsly await ing the Presidene’s message to learn what to announce. Demo cratic congressional leaders con tinued to promise support for the President’s program, while Re publicans unobtrusively conferred with each other over the dark prospects ahead. MAKES QUICK INEXPENSIVE TRIP Washington, Jan. 2.—Dr. J. E. Owen, of Asheville, has hung up a new record for cheap air trans portation between North Carolina and Washington. Piloting a small two-cylinder plane. Dr. Owen flew from Asheville to Washington in six hours. His gas and oil bill for the trip was only $3.10. Dr. Owen believes that small airplanes, selling for less than $1,000, are going to revolutionize air transportation. DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 38 Los Angeles, Jan. 2.—The toll of a New Year’s cloudburst disas ter in metropolitan Los Angeles stood tonight at 38 known dead and 58 missing, while receding flood waters disclosed the full ex tent of heavy property damage. As rescue crews pressed deeper into flooded communities, the list of missing decreased and the list of dead grew in proportion. WOULD MAKE CHANGES IN NRA Washington, Jan. 2.—Hopes for further recovery progress and re commendations for alterations in the recovery program were com bined by Henry I. Harriman, pres ident of the United States Cham ber of Commerce, in his annual new year message to the mem bers, made public tonight. He had high praise for many sides of the administration pro gram. TAKE OUT PAPERS FOR SCALES Winston-Salem, Jan. 2.—Extra dition papers for Wallace Scales, arrested yesterday in New York for alleged complicity in the $15, 000 Galloway jewel robbery of March 21, 1931, and held for For syth authorities, are now being prepared and will be carried to Governor Ehringhaus today, Sher iff J. Transou Scott announced late yesterday. SAYS .DON’T EXPECT MIRACLES Washington, Jan 2.—Malcolm Muir, division administrator of the NRA, issued a statement to night predicting that 1934 will shaw substantial progress toward recovery but that anyone who ex pects miracles during the year will be disappointed. Negro Burned 2 Years Ago Out of Hospital Jason Cockerham, 18 year old Jonesvllle Negro who was severely burned from his ankles to his mid dle thighs in a gasoline explosion on December 19, 1931, was released from Hugh Chatham Memorial hos pital Saturday of last week. Cock erham had been a patient at the hospital since the accident more than two years ago. The Negro was standing before a fire when a bottle of gasoline in his pocket exploded, and ignited, caus ing serious and probably permanent injury. BUSINESS IMPROVES Greatly increased consumer pur chasing and improved business con ditions in most lines of activity dur ing the second half of 1933 in the Virginias, Carolinas and Maryland was reported Sunday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. First Lynch Arrest I Anthony Cataloi, (above) 19 year old farm boy of San Jose, Calif., who was the first arrested, charged with violating the California lynch law by participating in the mob hanging of the confessed kidnapers and slayers of Brooke Hart at San Jose recently. WATER SYSTEM FOR COURTHOUSE HERE Installation of Both Wa ter and Sewerage Fa cilities Underway One of the many CWA projects approved for this county is the in stallation in the court house here of a water and sewerage system, which is now under way. The project calls for work by about two dozen men, who are now employed and will require about three months to complete. It will cost the county about $1,000, we are told, to buy the necessary material and fixtures. The labor will all be free from the CWA office. This will fill a long felt need and insure a convenience that will be appreciated by everybody who visits the county seat. Mrs. McCollum Is Taken By Death Mrs. Mollie McCollum, aged 59 years, passed quietly away at her home near Union Cross, Thursday of last week, after an illness of one week. She was stricken with para lysis a week prior to her death and a second stroke on the day she died. She was the wife of Mr. Houston McCollum, well known farmer. Mrs. McCollum had spent her en tire life in Yadkin county and was well known in the community in which she resided. Surviving are the husband; six sons, E. F., Wesley, Will and Curtis McCollum, of Yadkinville; and J. R. and E. E. McCollum, of Winston Salem and three daughters. Miss Sarah McCollum, of Yadkinville. Mrs. Tom Adams, of East Bend, and Mrs. Ruth Myers, of Winston-Salem. The funeral was held Friday af ternoon at 2 o’clock at Union Cross church. Rev. W. H. Adams conduc ted the services. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Surry Man Kills Hog Weighing 929 Pounds A mammoth Red Duroc hog, owned by Will Davis, Surry county man, and which had been fed three gallons of shelled corn daily since last spring, was killed last week by Mr. Davis, and when dressed was found to weigh 929 pounds. The hog was three years and five months old and measured 24 inches across the shoulders. In killing him he was shot six times in the fore head with a .38 Smith and Wesson rifle and then it required the hefty swing of a big axe to complete the slaughter. Cycle News Christmas passed very quietly in our community. The death of Clinton Messick in Statesville on Christmas was a shock to friends in this community. Mr. Messick had lived here all his life until a few months ago when he moved to Statesville to make his home. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt Brown, of Meridian, Mississippi, and Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Brown, of Chapel Hill, spent the holidays the guests of their father, Rev. W. V. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell and Miss Hobson, of Campbell’s Mill, visited Mrs. Campbell’s sister, Mrs. Carl Pinnix, Wednesday. One Is Released As Suspect In Wilkes Murder Mystery; Police Investigating Suicide Theory THINK NOTE FOUND IN APRON A BUND: IS PUZZLING CASE Blaine Norman Is Re leased When He Es tablishes Alibi FUNERAL SUNDAY By Alan Browning, Jr. There were no new develop ments in the Childress murder case a few minutes before The Ripple went to press a long dis tance telephone call to the Sher iff’s office at Wilkesboro revealed. Despite reports to the contrary, only one suspect, Blaine Norman, has been released from custody, it was learned. Blain Norman, a suspect in the death of Oda Childress who met death in a mysterious manner Saturday shortly after noon at the home of her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, near Benham, has been released by Wilkes authorities, it was learned late Tuesday afternoon. Taft and Porter Norman and Jesse Brewer were still in custody Wednesday al though their release was not unex pected. Blaine Norman was freed when he established an iron clad alibi in High Point. Officers Wednesday were working upon the possibility that the 20 year-old girl committed suicide and that the note which was left by her, and other evidence tending to show she was murdered, was a blind. They believe that Andrew, refer red to in the note, was Andrew Smoot, a married man and former neighbor of the Tilley’s who is now employed in Danville. Va. Accord ing to evidence revealed, Smoot was separated from his wife but had not obtained a divorce although he had promised the girl that he would do so. It is believed that the informa tion that Smoot was again living with his wife, which was revealed to her Christmas, provided a motive for suicide if such was the case. Mr. and Mrs. Tilley stated that Oda had eaten very little for two or three days prior to her death, and said that she did not eat a bite of breakfast on the morning of the day of the tragedy. Urged to ac company th£ family to Elkin as was her custom, she was said to have refused upon the plea that she was not feeling well. Members of the family stated that the girl’s health was not of the best, but Mrs. Tilley clings to the murder theory while Mr. Tilley is said to be of the opinion that it was suicide. Andrew Smoot attended the fu neral and wept bitterly, according to people who were present. EARLIER REPORTS With conflicting stories making the rounds and rumors of suicide in the ascendacy, the murder of Oda Childress. 20, found dying in the home of her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, near Benham Saturday shortly after noon, contin ues to remain as much a mystery as the moment Nathan Tharpe, a neighbor, rushed into the home to find her almost lifeless body lying on the floor. As a result of the attractive young woman’s death, four men are being held in jail at Wilkesboro, and a note, presumably written by her and giving an account of events imme diately prior to her death, is being held by Sheriff W. B. Somers, of Wilkes county. The note, found in the pocket of the apron the girl was wearing at the time of the tragedy, was found by Mrs. Tilley as she was folding the apron. Addressed to Mrs. Tilley, the note read as follows: “Mrs. Tilley, there are some men here, one Negro and three white men. Said they were going to have $500 of your money and have given me 20 minutes to get it in. I don’t know any of them, never seen them before. I thought they was bird hunters. I took your things to the “C” where we keep it sometimes. I would die in my tracks before I give it to them. They have got all the Death Is Mystery ODA CHILDRESS The above photograph, the first to be published of Oda Childress, was taken several months prior to her death at the home of her foster par ents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, of near Benham. The young woman was found lying on the floor, a bul let in her heart, shortly after noon Saturday. guns in the house. I don’t have a thing to help myself with. I wish I had went with you. My 20 minutes are almost up. They have searched the house over and said if I didn’t get it they kill me. I rather give my life than your money. If they kill me I want to be buried at Ben ham. Tell Andrew goodbye. I want him to be happy. I have tried to get help but I can’t get anybody on the line. I guess my dream has come true. I have seen that money last two nights.” Although it bore no signature, both Mr. and Mrs. Tilley, who were in Elkin at the time of the tragedy, recognized it as being in the girl’s handwriting. The “C” referred to, Mr. and Mrs. Tilley said, was the cellar of a to bacco barn where money was fre quently kept A search disclosed the sum of $610 in cash, and deeds and notes amounting to approxi mately $3,000 where the note said it would be found. The Andrew refer red to in the letter was the girl’s sweetheart, according to neighbors. The four men being held in the case are Taft Norman, 22; Blaine Norman. 26: and Porter Norman and Jesse Brewpr. Taft Norman was ar rested at the home of relatives in Lexington early Monday morning. Blaine Norman was arrested in High Point. Brewer and Porter were tak en into custody Sunday night. They are alleged to have aided the first two Norman boys to make their get away. When questioned by officers, Taft Norman appeared very nervous, it was said. Blaine Norman, who worked on a CWA project at High Point, said he was on the job Sat urday morning and maintained he had nothing to do with the crime. He said his brother was with him all Saturday afternoon in High Point. Sheriff Somers stated that blood hounds had led a direct trail from the Tilley home to the home where the Norman boys, who were reared in that section, stayed on their fre quent visits there. He said that 'a man had seen Taft Norman and two other boys leaving there astride two mules Saturday afternoon and that later one of the boys had come back with the mules. The hounds were unable to pick up any scent beyond the house. Taft Norman is slightly lame and officers said that footprints at the Tilley farm were made by a lame man. Funeral services were held for the girl Sunday at 2 o’clock at Benham church in the section where the Till eys live. Approximately 1,500 people from Wilkes and adjoining counties attended the services, which were followed by burial in the church cemetery. Surviving, in addition to the fos ter parents are the father of the de ceased, Thomas Byrd Childress, and four sisters and one brother, Mrs. Dean Frazier and Miss Maud Child ress, of Mountain Park; Mrs. Kelly Rose, of Elkin; Mrs. Hilary Cox, of Ferguson, and Robert Childress, of Wilkes county. GIRL WAS FOUND ON FLOOR NEAR PHONE; WAS SHOT IN HEART Room Was In Disorder As If Struggle Had Taken Place RIFLE FOUND NEAR By Alan Browning, Jr. A bullet hole in her breast slight ly above the heart, the body of Oda Childress, one leg doubled under her, lay upon the floor of a front room of the home of her fos ter parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, 8 miles west of Elkin, Satur day. Thus was she found when Nathan Tharpe and Kelly Brown, neighbors, arrived upon the scene in answer to a frantic call over the rural tele phone which links the homes of the community. About the room were signs of dis order and indications that a strug gle had taken place. To the left o' the girl’s body a chair was over turned, and a pane of the north win dow had been smashed. As Mr. Tharpe entered he found a .22 rifle laying some distance from the girl’s feet. The receiver of the telephone, of the wall type, was dangling at the end of its cord. Rushing to the girl, Mr. Tharp* listened at her breast for signs of life. He heard the feeble beating of her heart. Immediately a call was put in for Doctor H. C. Salmons of Elkin. But when he arrived there life was extinct. In one comer of the room a chest of drawers stood. Several of the drawers were open and showed sign.1 that someone had hastily pawed through their contents. And from one of these drawers a small treas ure chest, containing $610 in cash | and approximately $3,000 in valuable | papers, was missing. Other rooms of the house also showed that someone had beer searching. Drawers in the kitchen of the home had been gone through. “I answered my telephone,” Mr Tharpe told a Tribune reporter, "and Oda’s voice came over the wire in an urgent appeal for help, heard her say that ‘there are drunk men in the house and they are goinr to kill me!’ Then there was a screan and the phone went silent.” An examination of the girl ais closed that she had been shot bu once. The empty shell from which sped the leaden bullet, was in thr gun. Apparently only one shqt had been fired. Powder stains were upon the giri’f clothes around the bullet hole. Th' fatal wound bled but little. The death of Oda Childress re mains the darkest of mysteries, be coming more so each new develop ment. Why did the intruders allow her to telephone for aid? Why did they allow her to write a lengthy note to her foster parents? Some say they dictated the letter found later. If so, how did they know that the money was hidden in the celler of the tobacco barn? And if the girl was not murdered but committed suicide, why did she make such elaborate preparations, even tc calling the neighbors, before ending her life? Johnson-Williams Wedding Announced Of interest to many people of this county is the following announce ment: “Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Johnson an nounce the marriage of their daugh ter, Pattie Lucille, to Mr. James H. Williams, on Saturday, the eleventh cf November, 1933, Independence, Va” — Adams To Preach Rev. R. E. Adams will occupy the pulpit of the Jonesville Baptist church at the regular meeting on the second Sunday in January. Rev. Mr. Adams will preach at both the morning and evening service. The public is cordially invited to attend. MARIK VESTAL IS KILLED BY OWN CAR AT ROY PENRY HOME Was Pulling Machine When He Fell Un der It FINAL RITES TODAY A. Marler Vestal, 61, was fatally injured late Monday afternoon at the home of Mr. Roy Pendry, two miles west of Yadkinville, when he was run over by his own car. The car wheel struck him on the neck, causing an injured vertrebra, from which he died 24 hours later in a Winston-Salem hospital, where he was rushed in Mackie & Hinshaw’s ambulance immediately after the accident. Mr. Vestal, who was born and reared in Yadkin county, had come up Sunday to visit Mr. Pendry, a relative. Monday afternoon he went out to the garage to get his car and took hold of it, pulling it out of the garage, when something happened, causing Mr. Vestal to fall, and the car ran on to him, stopping with one wheel resting on his neck. Mrs. Pendry, the only one at home, ran to a neighbor’s house for help and it was several minutes before he was removed from this position. Mr. Vestal was born May 24, 1862, a son of the late Solomon and Mary Pendry Vestal. He was edu cated in the schools at Yadkinville and studied music at Hopewell, Va. He had been teaching music for a number of years. Surviving are six brothers. Miles Vestal, of Spray; Henry and Eugene Vestal, of Norfolk, Va.; John H. Ves tal, of Madison, and William and Rev. B. H. Vestal, of Winston-Salem, the latter a well-known evangelist; and five sisters, Mrs. Frank Messick of Danville, Va.; Miss Nell Vestal, of Spray; Mrs. Joseph Schindle, of Baltimore; Mrs. Mary Wooten and Mrs. W. C. Ziglar, of Winston-Salem. The funeral will be held this morning at 9:30 at the home of his sister, Mrs. W. C. Ziglar in Winston Salem, and at Center Methodist church at 11 o’clock. Services will be in charge of Rev. O. L. Brown of Winston-Salem, Rev. I. L. Sharpe of Yadkinville, and Rev. R. L. Speer of Center. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Jasper W. Spencer East Bend, Dec. 30.—Jasper W. tpencer. 71. passed away at 7 o’clock this morning after an ill ness of several years. He had been seriously ill for eight weeks. Funeral will be held Sunday at 2 o’clock at the Friendship Baptist church with Rev. Mr. Stone and Rev. Mr. Key in charge of the ser vices. Surviving are the widow and three sons, H. R. of Winston-Sa lem; B. B. and E H., of Boonville; and three daughters, Mrs. Sam Choplin of Sanford; Mrs. Jim Mil ler. of Boonville; and Mrs. Duke Bowden of Advance. GANGSTERS IN N. C. Gangsters have invaded North Carolina for operations, Dwight Brantley, special agent for the de partment of justice for the Caro linas. told the closing session of the annual police school at North Caro lina State college at Raleigh Friday. AFTER-CHRISTMAS TRADE Following the best volume of Christmas buying since 1928 in many districts, business was further stimulated in the past week by fresh merchandise demands incident to the widespread wintry weather. Dun and Bradstreet said in their weekly trade review Friday. Ripple Is Printed In New News Type: Is Easier to Read With this issue The Ripple comes to its readers printed in a new news type. Although there’s only a very slight difference in the size of the new, as compared with the old type, the new is far more legible, being of. a different and bolder type. It is. the same style type as is used hy ( the Greensboro Daily News.heipg but one point larger, the News using 6% point while The Ripple uses 7%.
The Yadkin Ripple (Yadkinville, N.C.)
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Jan. 4, 1934, edition 1
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