o
ESTABLISHED IN -'.1885
s Oldest North Carolina Newspaper
West of Asheville
1
A A
DEDICATED TO MACON
County and the Welfare
of it Good People
; I u l fo
VVyVWvVv
PROGRESSIVE
LIBERAL
INDEPENDENT
VOL. XLVII, NO. 16
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1932
$1.50 PER YEAR
: 1 v
I ' t :
' : ' ' : : I '. - :
Y01GERB0YS
LEAVE MAXvELL
Transferred to Mountain
Orphanage Near Black
- Mountain v
OLDER B OYS REMAIN
Mrs. Hayne Arthur Writes
Deploring Closing Of .
' 2' ' Institution ' "
A group of the younger boys at
the Maxwell Farm. Home,' ordered
closed by the Asheville Presbytery,
were taken , to Black Mountain
Thursday to be placed in the
Mountain orphanage. - Older boys
at the home, those who are stu
dents, at the Franklin high school,
will be permitted to remain until
the end of the school session be
fore being, transferred., ,
A supper in honor of Rev. and
Mrs. Crockett, with the boys of
the Maxwell Home as special
guests, was given last Saturday
evening atthe home, of 'Ir. and
Mrs. Charles Waldrpop.-The spread
was given' by 'the good people of
the community as a token of their
esteem for the Crockets and their
interest in the Maxwell boys.
A letter-by Mrs. ; Hayne Arthur,
of the Cartoogechaye community,
deploring the decision of the Pres
bytery to close Maxwell, appeared
in the ."People?- Forum'; of the
Asheville Citizen Wednesday. ... Her
letter, which voices the attitude
of ,many Macon county people,
follows: :." - '
Editor of The Citizen
The closing of the Maxwell Farm
Home by the 'Asheville Presbytery
has caused so much high feeling
among the typical mountaineers in
this section that I, 'as one of the
tvoical. wish to exnfess some of
this feeling through your paper,
J think it needless Jo; say that the
-whole community is , pained and
some greatly surprised at.final ac
tion of the anembers of The Ashe
ville Presbytery who have worked
so - zealously to bring about the
closing of this worthy institution
From earliest memories . I have
been taught to believe that right
-will always prevail but this is
- casei where my reason and tny
knowledge oTconditions here throw
out of balance my -lifelong tram
Mr. and Mrs. Slagle gave the
land for Maxwell Farm Home to
the Asheville Presbytery as a me
morial to their little, son. - The
Presbytery could not. accept "the
property unless k was given with
out restrictions. They knew how
ever that the wishes of Mn. and
Mrs. Slagle were- that the Presby
tery was to make a home where
worthy unfortunate boys could have
Christian training under competent
leaders. .They gave in good faith
and their gift was accepted in good
faith by the Asheville Presbytery
at that time. The Asheville Pres
bvtery has not kept faith with Mr
and Mrs. Slagle, One 'would think
that -a sacred wish . would surely
be respected -in our churches and
among, our most exalted leaders
Also our ideals have been shattered
and our beliefs and our-faith are
left in chaos.
Since the news came to us here
(where we have prayed and waited
for good tidings) that Maxwell was
gone Mrs. Slaglelias been in the
minds and hearts of everyone. Her
case reminds me of a great scene
in that . wonderful picture of the
Ten Commandments. 1 his scene
was where ' a deceitful Son was
building a beautiful, building and
the mother was watiching with sue
infinite pride and joy the building
take form and grow., The son
' however, was not using first class
ing mother thought the handsoimfl
stnirture neanv complete u co.
linepfl Thpre was
great confusion.
Stones were crushed down' upon!
each other and debris was thrown
everywhere. When confusion clear
ed away and the son began look
ing things over, In the midst
the ruins of his mother's cherished
dreaius he, found her lifeless body.
J.ife crushed out by the one sh
.had trusted. Only one " of Mrs,
Slave's faith could stilt smile and
" sav my faith looks up to Thee.
Mr Crockett and his family too
have the full confidence and sym
pathy of every one. To many of
(ConllticiJ tn fngi
Judge Harwood, Daughter
Sentenced to Penitentiary
After Dramatic Confession
Miss Lola Harwood, a former
mploye. of the state revenue de
partment, and her father, former
udge John H. Harwood, of Bry-
son City, . have entered upon the
service of .their sentences in State's
rison, Jialeigh she for the em
bezzlement of $4,823 in state funds
and he for the mutilation of of
ficial records jn her case.
Judge Harwood and his daugh
ter went on trial in Wake County
Superior court at Raleigh lastFri
day morning, following a postpone
ment from Thursday. A 13-man
jury, was selected for. the trial,
which the state expected to last
10 days. During the luncheon re
cess Judge Harwood broke down
and said he could not perjure him
self. Wanted To Save Lola
"I realize that a defense in Lola's
behalf could riot be made without
me going on the stand," Harwood
told presiding Judge W. A. Devin,
whose duty it became to pass judg
ment upon a fellow judge."
'To carry out my purpose would
have meant that I would ', have to
NEWS SUMMARY
A Survey of State and National Events Concisely
. - Told in Brief Up-to-Date
News Reports
Justice" Kill Self "'. ' .
Tom Justice, 32, former paper
mill employe of Canton, sought by
Haywood county officers : for five
days for' the murder of Mrs. Alice
Cook, his mother-in-law,, shot him
self through the head at dawn
Wednesday and died two , hours
later without regaining conscious
ness. After evading officers since
Friday, Justice sat down on a bank
. i e t' TT'I
in tnc yara oi Vinson .naynes,
about eight miles from Canton,
put a .38 calibre .pistol to his head
and - pulled the trigger. Haynes,
rushing Into the yard, found the
dying man and notified officers.
JAMES NOMINATED .
Crawford L. James, textile
manufacturer of "Marion, . was '
named the Republican candidate)'
for congress from the new 11th .
district at the C O. P. con
vention held in Canton Wed
nesday. It took four ballots to
select' Mr. James. McKinley
Edwards, - Bryson City, . and
James . F. Barrett, Brevard,
were other Aspirants, for the
nomination. Guy HippS, Canton,
and CoL'' Charles J. Harris,
Dillsboro," were elected . dele
gates to the Republican nation'
al conwntion in Chicago in ,
.June. James F. Barrett was
named presidential elector. Sain
L. Franks, of Franklin, was
' made a member of the state ex
ecutive committee.
Grove Park Inn Brings $525,000
Grove Park inn, Asheville resort
hotel, was jsold under receivership
on Monday for $525,000 to a firm
representing second mortgage hold
ers. The sale is subject to con
firmation of the court. .
Dedication of
Church To
The first Sunday tn May will
bring4 to pass an . event which
has been' long dreamed of land '
hoped for by the members of
' L . Cm Rinlilt rhliwh. Tills
I' event will'be the dedication of
the church. The church is ex-.,
tending a cordial invitation to
everybody to attend this serv
ice. The people from all the
churches of the county and all
former pastors, members and
friends are, urged to be present
and make the occasion a Home
Coining Day.
The Rev. A. J. Smith, of
Goldsboro, will preach at the
morning service and the Rev.
W. W. Marr, of Hickory, will
dallve? the ssrmon during the
ttnlttt Hcftm .-
perjure myself," he continued. "I
did wrong. I , am glad I had the
courage to determine not to go on
the stand and swear falsely.
Tears came 'to the formerjurist's
eyes as he told how "Lola was the
only thing in the world I had to
look forward to." .
Daughter Weep
Miss Harwood. cried profusely
while her mother, also weeping,
and her father, stoical, attempted
to soothe her their only child.
Miss. Harwood, who is 26 years old,
was charged - with having taken
funds from the revenue department
while she was employed as a license
clerk. Her counsel said she lost
the money while playing the stock
market with a man to whom she
was engaged to be married.
R. A. Dotighton, former revenue
commissioner and a former chair
man of the state highway com-missioiv-made
an impassioned ap
peal 'for Judge Harwood and his
daughter. It was Doughton who
recommended to former Governor
LA. W. McLean that Harwood be
.Continued on page ix)
LEGIONNAIRES FAVOR
; BONUS
' Returns from the Legion
round-up' meetings held in al
most every p'ost in the state,
Monday night, indicate that a
majority of the posts and the
Legion members favor, an im
mediate payment of the bonus
in cash. ( v ,
Continue Election Conteit
By P&te of nine to eight, the sen
ate committee on elections, voted
Saturday to continue the fntchard
Bailey contest over the senatorial
election in North Carolina in 1930,
and to ask the senate for funds to
make an investigation.
GEORGIA SENATOR DIES
William J. Harris, ' senator
from Georgia since 1918, died
Monday at Washington from
heart failure. He was
Favor U. S. Control of Busses '
, Gradual formation of a federal
code 'governing bus and truck trans
portation was recommended to the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
Monday, by a committee which has
made a five-year study of the
subject.
Return Kidnaped Girl
After a. vain enort through a
Catholic priest to cttcct a ransom
payment, kidnapers on Sunday
abandoned Hilda Brodsky, nine, on
a Philadelphia street. She had
been kidnaped on Friday in Wilm
ington, Del.
Southern Railway Deficit
Decline in general business and
competition of trucks, waterways
(Continued on page six)
Baptist
Be Held May 1
.."The Baptist church here rep
resents years of struggles, hopes
and dreams on the part of her
members and former pastors,"
commented the present pastor,
the Rev. E. R. Eller. "Many
have lived and died with the
dream yet unfulfilled. . But, as
our Master has said, 'One sow
eth and another reapeth.' This
is the case with those of us
who have recently come to en-
. - joy the blessings of this splen
did church. : We are reaping
the blessings of those who hop
ed and dreamed in others days.
When we as a church dedicate
the house of worship to God
- for Hit glory, let us also dedt
eatt aur lival to His glory."
NORVELL SEEKS
TO BE SENATOR
Murphy Attorney Declares
Tax Relief Is Most
Imperative
Edmund B. Norvell, well known
Murphy attorney, has announced
his candidacy for the office of'state
senator from the 33rd district, sub
ject to the Democratic primary in
June. The district includes Macon,
Cherokee, Graham, Clay and Swain
counties.
While visiting in Franklin Tues
day and Wednesday Mr. Norvr.ll
said that if he is, elected to the
state senate he will devote his prin
cipal attention to tax relief and
economy in government.
"The people of this district just
can't pay our present high taxes,"
Mr. Norvell said. "We have got to
have some relief or many of our
farmers "will lose their land."
Mr. Norvell said he represented
no special interests save those of
the v voters and taxpayers of the
district and that if he is elected he
will go to Raleigh "untrammeled
and seeking only td serve the public."
Legislative business is nothing
new to Mr. Norvell, although he
has never been a member of the
General Assembly. But for 22 years
he was employed as chief clerk of
the enrolling department of the
legislature, responsible for handling
all bills introduced.
R. A. Patton of Macon county
also is a candidate for state sen
ator ""in , the Democratic primary.
The, Rev. A. S. Solesbee, also of
Macon, has entered the contest for
the Republicans. Kelly Bennet, ot
Bryson-City, incumbent, has not
announced whether he will seek the
office again.
J. MORRISON
HEADSBOARD
Made Chairman of Election
Body; Registrars Are
Appointed
J. R, Morrison was. elected chair
man of the Macon county board of
elections and T. S. Munday, sec
retary, at a meeting of the board
Saturday. Fred Higdon is the third
member of the board.
Registrar? and judges for the
June primary and the general elec
tion to be held in the fall were
announced by the board as follows:
Franklin : Fred ArnolQ, . regis
trar; L. W. Long, and Alfred K
Higdon, judges.
Millshoal: Logan A. Berry,, reg
istrar; Jerry R. Franklin and Ad
Kipsland, judges.,
Elhjay: Wille Henry, registrar;
Charles Moore and John Corbin,
judges. .
Sugar Fork, Alex Shook, regis
trar; A. B. Potts and Charlie W.
Henderson, judges.
Highlands: W. A. Bryson, reg
istrar; Koy Fhillips and K. n.
Munger, judges.
Flats: Oden Penland, registrar;
Earl Dryman and Marshall Bur
nett, judges.
Smith's Bridge, J. M. Cabe, reg
istrar; John Norton and R. C.
Patterson, judges.
Cartoogechaye, Dan Sweatman,
registrar; Will Corpening and Bun
Kiser, judges.
Nantahala No. 1, George W.
Stepp, registrar; Charles Jacobs
and Odcll Hall, judges, v
Nantahala No. 2, J. R. Shields,
registrar; Frank Wilson and J.
R. Wilkie, judges.
Burningtown, Ed Bird, registrar;
Robert Parrish and John' Dean,
judges.
Cowee: Robert Bryson, registrar;
Robert Gibson and James H6l
brooks, judges.
Andrews Woman Knife Victim
Mrs. Ed McClure of Andrews
died Sunday afternoon from com
plications said to have developed
from a knife wound inflicted by
Maud . Nelson on April 2. Mrs,
McClure was 35 years old and isj
survived by her husband and seven,
children. The Nelson girl was
placed in the- Cherokee county jail
at Murphy lit dtfkVllt tjf $3,000 Wd.
Franklin's Official
Health Now Improved
' Franklin's town officials are
improving in health, thank you,
after concurrent spells of this,
that and the other malady.
Mayor George Patton, who
has been seriously ill for about
two months, is still not liis old
self but he has recovered suf
ficiently to get about a little.
Sunday his friends were glad to
see him riding abofut town in
an automobile. -
Police Chief Bob Henry fell
victim to influenza and was con
fined to bed for a week, but he's
out again and apparently as
stout and active as ever.
George Dean, town clerk, is
able to be in his office now
after nearly a week's illness
with tonsiliti. He hopes to be
strong enough in a few days
to launch a drive to collect de
linquent town taxes. .
TWO CONVICTED
IN FIRE CASES
Suspended Sentences Given
Wiley Zachary and .
Harry Edwards
Tried in separate rases, Wiley
Zachary and Harry Edwards were
convicted in Macon county super
ior court Wednesday of setting
fire to their woods without notify
ing neighbors and taking proper
precautions to prevent the flames
from spreading to adjoining prop
erty. Each ' was sentenced by
Judge A.. M. Stack to 90 days on
the roads, sentence to be suspended
on payment of a $50 fine and costs
provided they abided in the future
by the state forest fire law.
Mr. Zachary was accused of set
ting fire to his property on Tri
mont without notifying headquar
ters of the Nantahala National For
est, which adjoins his property
near the ridge. Forest officials
reported that the fire spread to
government land and burned over
a small area before it was brought
under control.
Edwards was charged with set
ting out a fire on Iotla.
Aquone Girl Held As
Witness Against Woman
The probation officer of the juv
enile court of Dearborn, Mich., is
holding Hazel Maybelle Totherow,
15,- daughter of, G. T. Totherow,
farmer, of Aquone, as witness in
connection with the arrest of Mrs.
Eva Byrd Barenkoff, 22, according
to a telegram received by the
father.
The message was sent to Mr.
Totherow in care of Professor M.
D, Billings, of Franklin. The mes
sage also asked Mr. Totherow if
he would bear the expense of his
daughter's trip home alter the trial
of Mrs. Marenkoff.
The message answers the ques
tion of the whereabouts of the
Totherow girl. The father expect
cd his daughter home several days
ago, and when she did not arnv
he communicated with Dearborn
police, askifig them to , find out
where she was.
The girl was missing for a week
before the father learned that she
was in Dearborn, where, according
to advices . received from police
there, she was taken by Mrs
Marenkoff on promises of obtain
ing work for her. She and Mrs,
Marenkoff left Andrews a number
of days ago. '.
Chief Asks Cooperation
To Cut
. A request tfaat residents of
Franklin report all street lights
which are not burning was
made Wednesday by Police
Chief R. F. Henry.
Chief Henry believes that if
the public will cooperate with
him in this matter the town
will have better street lighting
service and a smaller electric
light bill each month. He re
ported finding IS street lights
not bjurning on a recent tour
of inspection.
The town hat a contract with
th Nflrthw.it Cafe'lfta UtlU
Belton Waldroop,
Held for Murder,
And 2 Others Flee
GRAND JURY'S
REPORT FILED
Prisoners Make Complaint
Of Insufficient Food
And Dirty Beds
A complaint by some'bf the pris
oners in the county jail that they
were insufficiently fed and that
their bed clothing was unclean was
contained in the report of the
grand jury for the April term of
superior court which was handed
to Judge A. M Stack, presiding,
Wednesday by J. R. Morrison,
foreman of the jury.
The grand jury's report also con
tained a recommeridtion for im
provement of the sanitary condi
tions of the men's toilet in the
courthouse.
Judge's Charge
Judge Stack, in addressing, the
grand jury at the opening of court
Monday morning, called especial at
tention to the increasing number
of highway accidents and the
widespread disregard of the pro
hibition laws. He said that it was
high time that all good people give
thein active support to the en
enforcement of the law. Reckless
driving, and drunken driving have
become so common, the jurist said,
that automobile fatalities in North
Carolina now average two a day.
"The tragedy of 'the whole thing,"
he continued, "is the indifference of
good people. They seem to care
little as long as it is the other
fellow who's hurt or killed. It is
time the good people of this coun
try organize to support the law.
The gangsters and criminals are
organized."
Judge Stack also urged that the
school board have its attorney in
vestigate forfeited bonds to the end
that these might be collected and
applied on the school fund.
. Grand Jury's Report
Following is the report of the
grand jury:
"Hon. A. M. Stack, judge pre
siding:' :
"The grand jury for the April
term of criminal court submit the
following report.
"We have considered all bills
coming before us, and disposed of
all matters except five bills con
tinued for lack of evidence.
'.'We find all the justices of the
peace for Maion county have made
a satisfactory report since last term
of criminal court.
"We find only five administrators
and executors who have failed to I
make a report, and they have been!
notified to file report immediately.
"We know of no minors without
general or testementary guardians.
"Grand jurors visited offices tn
courthouse and found records well
kept. We recommend that some
improvements be made on the men's
toilet as it is not in a sanitary
condition.
"Grand jurors visited the jail, and
some prisoners complained they
did not nave sufficient food, also
that some of the, beds need wash
ing as we found pillows very dirty.
"Grand jurors visited the County
Home, and found everything in
(Continued on page six)
Town Light Bill
ities under which it pays a cer
tain sum for a minimum num
ber of street lights and so muck
more for each additional light.
Chief Henry said there are,
about 80 street lights in town
and that 70 of these lights cost
the town $151 per month, other
lights being charged for at the
rate of $2 each per month.
Chief Henry pointed out that
the town needs every dollar
it can save and expressed the
hope that every resident would
take an interest la Mportint
"di" Unit UtMi.
Saw Through. Bars on Win-
dow Of Cell on Second
Floor
BLOODHOUNDS FAIL7
Four Other Prisoners in Cell
Refuse To Join In
Escape
Belton Waldroop, 17, indicted for
murder, and two other prisoners
escaped from the Macon county
jail about 9 o'clock Wednesday
night after sawing through the iron
bars of a window in their cell otv
the second floor. Three other pris
oners in the cell refused to join
in the escape.'
Those who fled with Waldroop
were Bede Mack, of the Nanta
hala section; who had been found
guilty of receiving stolen goods in
connection with a housebreaking
and larceny case, and Roy Mason,
of the Nantahala section, who was
under sentence of six months on
the roads for hog-stealing.
Escape Discovered
Jailor Edwards discovered their
escape when he went to the cell
on the southwest corner of the
second floor to make up their beds
for the night. The other prisoners
remaining in the cell told them
that Waldroop, Mack and, Mason
had fled only a few minutes be
fore. " The bars in the window had pre
viously been cut and welded back
together. It was a "comparatively
easy job to saw them at one end
with a hack saw arid break them
where they had been welded.
About two feet from the window
is the wall of an old wooden barn.
The prisoners escaped by elbowing
themselves down through this crev
ice. Bloodhounds Fail
Bloodhounds were brought here
from Brevard in an attempt to trace
the escaped trio, but the dogs
soon lost then trail. Thursday
morning the men were still at
large and there were few clues a
to their whereabouts.
The Waldroop youth was charged
with the fatal stabbing of his half,
uncle, James Burch, 23, at, their
home on Cartoogechaye in January.
Burch died two days after he was
taken to the hospital.
it was reportea mat waiaroop
and Burch quarreled over a minor
matter and that Burch struck his
nephew with a razor strap. Wal
droop then took a Barlow knife
from his pocket and stabbed Burch
in thej back while they were scuf
fling. 1
Trial Begun
Trial of Waldroop began in su
perior court Wednesday but Judge
A. M. Stack continued the case
until Thursday in order that more
witnesses could be brought into
court.
Those who weer in the cell with
Waldroop, Mason and Mack who
did not take advantage of the op
portunity to escape were Bill Angel,
held under a suspended sentence
for carrying concealed weapons un
til he could pay fine and costs;
John Cole, sentenced for one year
for a criminal operation; Newt
Browning, serving sentence for
drunkenness, and Ralph Fowler,
held under a suspended sentence
of four months until payment of
costs and fine in a prohibition
case.
Probe Consul's Slaying
, Italian officials are aiding- the
police of Springfield, 111., in prob
ing the Saturday night murder of
Consul John M. Picco, cut down
by shotgun fire from three assail
ants. '
Deadly Quake In China
Details are just trickling into the
outer world concerning a deadly
earthquake on April 6, which kill
ed several thousands in the Hupeh
provincj of China, in th Vangtzi