writ P
Wit Ijigblan Baconian
PROGRESSIVE
LIBERAL
INDEPENDENT
VOL. L, NO. 36
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 193S
$1.50 PER YEAR
CONVICTS GANG
GUARD; 2 SHOT
Attempted Escape .Foiled;
2 Wounded Men in
Hospital
Two convicts are in the Angel
hospital as a result of an attempt-!
ed escape by six prisoners working
on highway 28 near Corundum Hill
late Saturday afternoon.
Virgil Green, 24, Bakersville, was
shot in the back by Jack Cabe, one
of the guards, as he attempted to
escape into the woods. Jesse Brig
man, 24, McCail, S. G, was 'shot in
both feet and an ankle by Jack
Berong, another guard, who aided
Cabe in stopping the break.
Disciplinary measures are being
meted out to the other four con
victs, James Whitmire, Montgom
ery Weaver, George Collins and
Ernest Campbell. None of these
escaped, with the exception of Col
lins, who was caught Saturday
night below Phillips Bridge by
George McGee and Steve Worley.
Cat Attacked
According to officials, the con
victs suddenly attacked Cabe and,
using shovels and wheelbarrows
as weapons, knocked him . 6f f a
bank above the road. Jumping to
his feet, Cabe fired at the escaping
Green, who was found several
hours later in the woods suffering
from loss of blood.
Jack Berong, guarding another
group of prisoners 300 yards down
the highway, was summoned by
Tom Johnson, superintendent. Hur
rying to Cabe, Berong shot Brig:
man as he was escaping into the
woods.
During the fight, Whitmire was
clubbed over the head by Cabe,
who was using the butt of his gun
as a weapon.
Pitts Pmistas Guard
Informed of the incident, Oscar
Pitts, acting director of the state
penal division, Raleigh, stated that
he would come to Franklin and in
vestigate the affair, adding that
"too much credit cannot be paid
the guards for blocking the escape
of five of these men. Their rec
ords show they are bad and dan
gerous." Four of the prisoners were grad
ed as "C and two as "B."
Had Bad Records
Green, convicted in Mitchell
county October 7, 1930, was given
two and one-half to five years for
larceny. He has escaped four
times and has been in solitary con
finement eight times.
Brigman was convicted in Scot
land county during May, 1933, giv
en seven to ten years for assault
with intent to kill. He had escap
ed in October, 1934.
Convicted of highway robbery in
Buncombe county, February 19,
1934, Whitmire was sentenced from
three to five years. He has been
in solitary confinement twice, once
for aiding in a fake gun escape
last year at the Caledonia prison
farm.
Collins had been given ten to 15
years in Rowan, May 25, 1935, on
charges of breaking and entering
and possessing burglar's tools. He
had been convicted once previously.
Campbell was convicted in Guil
ford county July 14, 1934, and was
given five years for robbery with
firearms. He had tried to escape
last December, and has been in
solitary confinement four times,
once for helping two other prison
ers in an attempted escape.
Weaver was given 15 to 17 years
for conspiracy and robbery on Jan:
uary 25, 1932. He has been in soli
tary confinement seven times, hav
ing escaped once and attempted to
escape on four other occasions.
McGaha-Tippett Reunion
To Be Held Sept. 14
The McGaha-Tippett descendants
will hold their annual reunion Sun
day, September 14, at $he home of
Charles McGaha at Oak Grove.
Cattle Sale
To Be Held at Stockyard
Next Wednesday
The Franklin livestock market
will open Wednesday, September
11, with an auction sale of cattle
at the stockyards near the depot.
The auction is to be conducted by
Bob Davis and Bob Patton, who
announced this week that they ex
pected buyers from many sections
to attend.
The sale, it was stated, will start
promptly at 11 o'clock in the morn
ing, but farmers are asked to bring
their offerings to the stockyard
early in the morning so they can
be weighed and marked. All class
es of cattle are to be sold.
Mr. Patton and Mr. Davis said
this would be the only sale they
will hold here this year.
COUNTY FILES
WPAPROJECTS
$62,839.90 Asked for Road
Improvements Town
Asks $11,000
A proposal for widening, draining
and surfacing 64.4 miles of roads in
Macon county has been approved
by the district office of the Works
Progress administration in Ashe
ville and sent to the state WPA
office in Raleigh for approval, ac
cording to information received
here. Cost of the work has been
estimated at $62,839.50, the greatest
part of which is to be supplied by
the federal government out of the
four million dollars allotted for
WPA projects in the 11th con
gressional district.
The road improvement proposal
was the largest of four projects
suggested for this county at a
meeting in the courthouse Monday
afternoon. Attending the meeting
were county commissioners, M. D.
Billings, superintendent of schools;
Herman Plemmons, district WPA
engineer, and citizens from various
sections of the county.
If this project is finally approved
it will put hundreds of men in the
county at work on roads used by
school buses and mail carriers.
Other projects proposed for the
county are:
Repair of rural school buildings
and construction of sanitary and
water supply facilities for rural
schools $1,200.
A librarian and assistant librarian
fort the Franklin and Highlands
public libraries, and funds for re
pairing, rebinding and cataloging
books.
The fourth proposal asks $17,000
for employing 100 women in mak
ing garments for the needy.
Anoroximatelv $11,000 has been
asked in an application submitted
by the Town of Franklin for. street
improvements.
Miss Davis Resigns
As Relief Director
Miss Rachel Davis has resigned
as director of Federal Emergency
Relief in Macon county to accept
a teaching position in the Franklin
school. Mrs. G. A. Tones, case
worker, is now in charge of relief
activities.
Announcement has been made in
Washington that direct relief will
end on October 1 and meanwhile
the ERA is working with a skele
tonized staff, f. E. Lancaster, ef
Franklin, who for some months has
been district relief administrator
with headquarters in Sylva, has
been transferred to Asheville.
Father of Mrs. Sloan
Dies in Virginia
Mrs. W. W. Sloan was notified
Sunday of the death of her father,
E. F. Daniel, at his home at Char
lotte Courthouse, Va. Mr. Daniel
had visited his daughter in Franklin
several times and had a number, of
friends here who will regret to
learn of his death.
Dr. H. E. Wheeler Elected
Director of Highlands
Museum and Laboratory
(Special To The Presi-Msxonien)
HIGHLANDS, N. G, Sept. 4.
The annual meeting, of the High
lands Museum and Biological La
boratory was held in the laboratory
at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Dr. E. E. Reinke, of Vanderbilt
University, resigned as. director of
the museum and Dr. H. E. Wheel
er, of Birmingham, Ala., was elect
ed to succeed him.
The room was filled with a num
ber of visitors and eminent scien
tists, including Dr. Craing Barrow,
of Savannah, Ga., head of the
Alumni Association , of the Uni
versity of Georgia; W. T. Couch,
of the University of North - Caro
lina Press; Dr. Harmon Caldwell
Saturday Ends Extra Vote
Offer in Press Campaign
PLAN JAMBOREE
AT GOLF CLUB
All-Day Program Expect-
ed To Attract Many
Visitors
Plans were announced this week
for an all-day jamboree at the
Franklin country club on Thursday,
September 12,' starting with a
handicap golf tournament at 9:30
o'clock in the morning and wind
ing up with a big dance that night.
The day'g program features a
wide variety of events, and in each
event prizes will be awarded more
than 50 in all.
Invitations are being extended to
golfers, swimmers, tennis fans and
sports-loving folks in general from
all over Western North Carolina
to attend and take part in the
jamboree. The committee in charge
ot the program is planning pieniy
of amusement for everybody, re
gardless of whether they play golf
or tennis.
Improving Course
The club's golf course is being
put in first class condition for the
tournament. Eighteen holes will
be played, all in the morning; but
that won t end the day for the
golfers. For a goofy golf tourney
will be held in the afternoon, start
ing at 2:30. This promises to be
one of the high spots in' the day's
program at least for the onlook
ers. Freak hazards will be arrang
ed to give the players a new thrill
or another headache.
While the men are playing golf
their wives can find entertainment
at bridge, provided they are not
golfers themselves. There will be
a card party, with various prizes
offered, starting at 3:15 in the af
ternoon. Beauty Contest Planned
At 3:30 o'clock a water circus,
with a number of swimming and
diving events, will get under way
in the club's fine new outdoor pool,
a 60 by 120 foot tank unexcelled
in this section. A bathing beauty
contest is also planned.
A tennis tourney planned to start
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon is
expected to attract some of the
best players in this section of the
state
Arrangements are now being
made to get an outstanding orches
tra to play at the dance to be held
in the large club pavilion starting
at 9 o'clock in the evening.
Many golfers, tennis players and
others from Sylva, Bryson City,
Highlands, Clayton and other near
ly fnumc orp pvnprteH tn attend.
'v" i
A group of tennis players from
(Continptd on Page Eight)
and Dr. John Wade, of the Uni
versity of Georgia; Dr. Clifford
Pope, herpotologist of the Ameri
can Museum of Natural History,
New York; Dr. and Mrs. W. W.
Alexander, of Atlanta; Edward Ro
wan, of Washington, D. C; Dr.
L. R. Hessler, of Vanderbilt Uni
versity; Dr. Harper, of the biology
department, Alabama State Col
lege; Dr. H. E. Wheeler, of Bir
mingham, Ala.; Dr. E. E. Reinke,
of Vanderbilt University; Mr. and
Mrs. Clark Foreman, Washington,
D. C; Prof. W. L. Lippincott, of
Clemson College; Prof. T. G. Har
bison, botanical department, Uni
versity of North Carolina; Miss
Albertina Staub, Miss Mary J.
(Continued on Page Seven)
Workers Striving Hard To
Corral Subscriptions
This Week
Members of The Press-Maconian
Salesmanship Club have been ad
vised that this week marks their
last opportunity to get thousands
of extra votes on each subscription
through the final extra vote offer
on $30 clubs. As a result, much
activity isl. being shown by those
who are really serious in their de
sire to win the big. first prize, us
ing every effort to corral as many
subscriptions as possible to turn in
this week.
After Saturday night vote values"
take the biggest drop of the entire
campaign and a subscription this
week counts more than three times
as many votes as the same sub
scription will count next week.
This, of course, is sufficient in
centive to those who wish to win
even second or third prize, to make
their standing more secure this
week while they can still get the
extra votes.
Subscribers Asked to Help
Present subscribers to The Press
Maconian are being notified this
week of the fact that they have an
opportunity to help some deserving
woman win a prize by sending in
their subscriptions at once to The
Press, signifying just which of the
members they wish to give credit
for their renewal. Members of
the Salesmanship Club will be-duly
advised as to who sends in Sub
scriptions for them, and it is hop
ed that the loyal subscribers in
every community will stand by
their favorites by mailing their
subscriptions either directly to The
Press office or to Club members
without delay.
All Members to Report
Every member who wishes to re
main on the list of active contest
ants should make a report not
later than Saturday night of this
week. This is necssary in order to
ascertain just who is still active,
so that subscribers in their terri
tory may not hold up subscriptions
for them in case they have stopped
(Continped on Page Eight)
Funeral Held at Andrews
For, Mrs. Lula Porter
A number of relatives from
Franklin attended the funeral at
Andrews last Friday of Mrs. Lula
Porter, 85, who died Thursday,
August 29, at her home in West
Asheville.
Mrs. Porter, widow of Stephen
Porter, was the mother of T. W.
Porter, Franklin postmaster. Oth
er surviving children are R. S.
Porter, Andrews; J. Q. Porter,
Asheville; Mrs. Martin and Mrs.
Emma Huskins, both of Asheville;
and Mrs. R. H. Waldroop, of Bry
son City.
FRANK NORTON
FUNERAL HELD
Mack Bingham Charged
With Murder as Result
Of Auto Crash
Mack Bingham, 20, arrested in
connection with the death of Frank
Norton from injuries received in
an automobile collision about mid
night Monday at the intersection
of the old Georgia road and high
way No. 28, was released from jail
today under $1,500 bond. He waiv
ed preliminary hearing on charges
of murder and transporting and
possessing whisky.
Funeral services for Norton, on,e
of the best known men in Macon
county, were held at Asbury Meth
odist church, near Otto, Wednes
day morning. More than 300 per
sons attended the rites despite in
clement weather. The Rev. J. B.
Tabor, Jr., pastor of the Macon
county Methodist circuit, was in
charge of the services. Burial was
in the church grave yard.
2 Cera Collide
Just before the accident occurred
Norton had come to town to bring
two friends whose automobile had
gotten out of commission near
Norton's, home, below Otto. He was
traveling eastward on highway 28,
after he had taken the two strand
ed motorists to their homes, when
a car occupied by three young
men, started to cross the road.
Norton's car hurtled through the
air, turning over three times, and
landed in the yard of J. E. Potts'
woodworking .shop. Norton was
thrown through the top of, his
automobile and was found about
20 feet from the wrecked machine.
Taken to Angel hospital by peo
ple living in the vicinity who were
aroused by the crash of the two
automobiles, Norton was found to
be in a dying condition, his chest
crushed, skull fractured and suffer
ing from internal injuries. He died
died at 7:45 a. m. Tuesday.
Whisky Jar Found
Mack Bingham was alleged to
have been the driver of the other
automobile. Charlie Jones, of
Franklin, and Davis Y, Layden, of
Elizabeth City, a member of CCC
Camp NC F-9, were also in the
car, in which officers reported
finding a broken whisky jar. Jones
was arrested and placed under
$200 bond. on a charge of possess
ing and transporting whisky. No
charges were placed against Lay
den.
2 Arrested
Bingham and Jones were arrest
ed in a drunken condition, officers
reported, about 2 o'clock Tuesday
morning. The identity of the third
occupant of the car was not learn
ed until later in the day. Bing
ham told officers he was drunk
and that someone else was driving
the car, but Jones and Layden, of
ficers stated, told them that Bing
ham was driving at the time of
the collision.
All of the boys, it was stated,
fled from the scene of the accident
without attempting to give assis
tance to Mr. Norton.
Bingham suffered minor cuts and
bruises, but no serious injuries.
Surviving Mr. Norton, whose wife
died about two years ago, are his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Nor
ton, of Smith's Bridge township;
three brothers, Ed, Jess' and Earl
Norton, and five children, Norvel,
Coy and the Misses Ruth, Dean,
and Betty Lou Norton. All of the
children are minors.
Pallbearers at the funeral were
John Norton, Roy Carpenter,
Claude Bradley, Arthur Kinsland,
Harley Cabe and W. T. Moore.
Mr. Norton for a number of
years was deputy sheriff of Macon
county. For the past two years
he was employed in the offices of
the Nantahala National Forest,
which closed out of respect for
his memory Wednesday morning.
He was a member of the Junior
order,