V
Ufa M
I'KOGIIESSJVE
LIBERAL
INDEPENDENT
VOL. LIU, NO. 50
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, DEC. 15, 1938
$1.50 PER Yi.
vV
v 1
1
BANQUET GIVEN
FOOTBALL TEAM
Large Number Present At
Legion Hall Last
Friday Night
1 A
The banquet given in the Amer
ioan Legion hall last Friday night
by the Franklin Rotary club for
the high school football team was
attended by about 100 men and
boys, including Rotarians, Univer
sity of North Carolina alumni, the
football teaam and several invited
guests.
Couch Kay B. Wolf, of the Uni-
versity of North Carolina, was ex
pected to attend and make the
principal address, . but a telegram
was received from him late Friday
tatternoon stating that he had
' reached Marion but was unable to
proceed further on account of ice
and sleet which made the highway
too dangerous to travel.
The absence of Coach Wolf was
greatly regretted by those in charge
of the affair, but Coach C. C. Poin-
dexter . of the Canton schools, an
old Macon county boy. was present
and delivered a splendid impromptu
address which pleased the crowd
immensely.
President John Archer of the
.Rotary club presided at the ban
quet and the following program was.
carried out : .
Song, "America." .
Invocation, Rev. J. A. Flanagan.
Introduction of guests and wel
come address,-President Archer.
' Response, J. R. Wells, principal
Franklin school.
Songs, "I'll Take You " Home
Agai Kathleen" and "Silent Night"
High School Double Quartet.
Presentation of awards, Coach
Shuford.
Address, Coach C. C Poindexter.
'Certificates of award were pre
sented to 18 outstanding members
of the team, the letters which were
ordered having failed to arrive in
time. The letters will be presented
as Soon as they are received.
Coach Shuford commended the
boys very highly for their work
on the football field, not only those
-who received the awards, but all
others who have gone out for prac
tice during the season. To a Press
representative Coach Shuford espe
cially mentioned young Logan Al
len, who, though too young, for the
.team, has been on the field every
- day.
The following young men receiv
ied awards: Charles Setser,. Captain ;
John Setser, J. C. Cunningham,
Vercoe Watkins, Harry Higgins,
Curlee Pennington, Carlyle Shep
herd, Grover Arvey. Bert Hall,
Max Raby, Charles Hunnicutt, ohn
Slagle, Roy Fouts, Frank Higdon,
Claud Leatherman, George Sellers,
Joe Pattillo, Fred Guest. Thirty
boys were present, including the
team, " "
The banquet' was prepared and
served by th4 ladies df the Presby
terian church and the menu con
sisted of grapefruit cocktail, con-
gealed carrot-pineapple salad, roast
turkey, cranberry 1 sauce, dressing,
green peas, weet potato souffle,
olives, celery, hot holls, butterscotch
pie, coffee and " mints. , The food
was perfectly prepared and served,
and the ladies were, highly com
plimented by President Archer.
It is hoped that the football ban
quet will be' made an annual affair.
Death Of Little
E. G.V. Ledford
( Little fE. Gr.V" Ledford) seven-inonths-old
son of Mr. 'and . Mrs.
E. G.' Ledford, of Burningtown,
died Sunday, December 11, death
being caused 'by pneumonia.
Funeral services were held Mon-
day at Union Methodist church,
conducted by the Rev. J. C. Swain,
pastor. Burial , was in the church
cemetery.' ,- v' : ' . " . .
He is survived by ."his. parents,
four sisters and one' brother ;i
Sunday School
Association To Meet At
lotla December 18
The Macon County Baptist Sun
day School association will meet
with the .lotla Baptist church on
Sunday, December 18, at 2:30 p. m.,
it, has been announced by Katherine
Bowden, secretary. .
Following is the program :
Song and Special Music lotla
Sunday School.
Devotional Frank ' Browning,
Etna.
Roll Call, and Report from
Churches.
Discussion Lee Crawford, Frank
lin Route 4.
"The Sunday School Superinten
dent's Problems"
Special Music and Offering.
Message Rev. J, G. Ben field,
Highlands.
Benediction.
DEATH CLAIMS
S. P. MIX 74
Widely Known Resident
Succumbs to Heart
Attack Sunday
Samuel Pritchard Neely, 74, died
at 3:30 o'clock' Sunday morning
at his home, Carrington Hall, (for
merly known as the Morrison
school), of a heart attack.
Mr. Neely came to Franklin eight
years ago and formerly operated
Trimont Inti.Mtotd Mrs. Neely
leasea me Aaornson scnooi property
from Joseph Ashear several months
ago and were operating it - as a
tourist home, and planned to oper
ate a store , and filling station in
connection.1' t
Mr. Neely was born in Tennessee
in 1864 and -was a member of the
Baptist church. He was at one time
connected with the sales depart
ment of the Buick Motor com
pany in Atlanta, and was well
known in Atlanta and Barriesville,
Ga.
Surviving are his widow, one 6on,
J. C. Neely, of Atlanta; a grand
daughter and two sisters, Mrs. E.
D. Newton, of Athens,. Ga., and
Mrs. Shepherd, of Nashville, Tenn.
Funeral . services were conducted
in the chapel at, the Bryant Funer
al Home Tuesday afternoon at 2 :30
o'clock. The Rev. J. A. Flanagan,
pastor of the Franklin Presbyterian
church, conducted the services. In
terment was in the Franklin 'cem
etery. Pallbearers were: Henry W.
Cabe, R. S. Jonts,-Emory Hunni
cutt, Joseph Ashear, J. E. Perry
and W. T. Moore.
LEGION TREE
DECEMBER 24
The annual Christmas tree and
party sponsored by the American
Legion and participated in by other
organizations and individuals, will
be held at the courthouse in Frank
lin on Saturday -afternoon, Decem
ber 24, beginning about 2 o'clock.
The Christmas tree is loaded each
Christmas Eve with toys, candies,
fruits and other things for the
needy children of Macon county
and is one of the greatest occas
ions of the year. '
; Through various agencies the
names of .the children are secured
and the' sponsors hope that no
needy child in the county will be
forgotten. . ' ' '.'".
Last year it was estimated that
more than 300 children! participated
in the distribution of gifts, and it
is expected that; the number will
be as large this year, ;
It is hot known as" to. how much
money has been raised to-date, but
sufficient funds will be provided to
take care of jail exptnses connectied
with the party. : : C
CHAIRMEN FOR
BIRTHDAY FOND
C. C. Potts Names Heads
Of Township
Groups
C. C. Potts, Macon county chair
man of 'the Infantile Paralysis
Foundation, has completed his list
of township chairmen which is as
follows: Franklin, Lester Arnold;
Cartoogechaye, Oarl Slagle ; Smith',s
Bridge, Miss Beatrice Alozeley;
Flats, Miss Lucy liryman; High
lands, L. A. Edwards ; Sugar Fork,
Ezra Shook; Ellijay, C. Tom Bry
son; Millshoals, Miss Mary Berry;
Cowee, Frank Gibson; Burning
town, Bill Parrish; Nantahala, J.
R. Shields. ' .
These names have been sent to
National headquarters and litera
ture will be sent direct to the chair
man in each district. 'Mr. Potts is
urging, chairmen to select commit
tees to work with them in this
drive and to have the organization
completed before the, new year, so
that the entire month of January
may be devoted to raising funds.
This work is being carried on in
behalf of the National Foundation
for Infantile Paralysis, and the der
cision to form a permanent organi
zation has the endorsement of phy
sicians, health officers, statesmen,
educators, and business men. Ai
permanent organization in each
county of the nation will help to j
combat this most dreaded disease
of childhood, and will act as year
round centers to raise and aunnn-
ister money; for aiding victims of
4 the malady.
Arthur Carpenter, regional di
rector of the organization com
mittee for the celebration of the
President's birthday, is particularly
interested in the fight against the
dread disease, because he formerly
was one of its victims, and still
bears the effects of its ravages,
much the same as those borne by
President Roosevelt, Now a suc
cessful business man, he is devoting
most of his present time to direc
tion of the drive in the four states
of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Car
olina, and South Carolina.
It is hoped that by December 15
chairmen will have been mamed in
all the counties ' of the United
States, including the 100 counties in
North Carolina.
Fifty per cent of the funds will
remain in the counties where they
are given, to care for victims of
this disease, and the other half will
go to the National Foundation for
the continuation of educational and
research work. Funds will be ob
tained by individual subscription and
by various activities which ' will be
suggested to local committees.
The fear . in the heart of every
mother and father, that their child
may be stricken with infantile par
alysis, has united the nation solidly
behind this great drive.
Community Building .
For Colored People
The colored citizens of Macon
county have raised $200 to . be ex
pended for the flooring, windows,
cement and incidentals essential to
the erection of a community build
ing. The plans have been prepared
at the Raleigh office of the Na
tional Youth Administration, and all
labor will be supplied by the NYA.
The forest service is contributing
logs for the Structure, which will
be '30x70 feet, with roof of hand
hewn shingles; The underpinning
and fire place will , be of field
stone.
The building site is a gift from
the Episcopal church in Western
North Carolina, which has deeded
to Macon county a plot 50x150
feet, adjoining the Chapel school
property. "
CARD OF THANKS
I am deeply grateful to my many
friends for their great kindness
and sympathy extended us during
the illness and death of my beloved
wife, and I hereby thank them all.
ii GEORGE MALLONEE,
Life Sentence for Brendle,
Mrs. Mason Gets 30 Years
Jury Finds Mrs. Mason
Guilty of Second
Legree Murder
What was probably the dirtiest
and most disgusting ca,se ever tried
in -Macon county came to a close
.Monday morning' wnen Judge teiix
Aliey sentenced iathan brendle, 3.5,
to Hie irnpiisonment and Airs.
Lawicnce Mason, ib, to 30 yeirs,
alter lirenuie had entered a plea of
accessory beiore the tact to tirsi
uegree murder, and Airs. Alason
had been found guilty of muider in
the second degree, in connection
with the death Dy poison ot Law
rence Alason, husband of Airs. Ala
son. ihe taking of testimony in Airs.
Mason's case began ' Thursday
morning. Brendle, who was the tirst
witness tor the state, testified that
Mrs. Alason had "begged me on
several occasions to help her to do
away" with her husband. He said
mat on May A), Airs. Alason gave
him some money to go to Frank?
lin and purchase the strychnine
from a drug store. : He said he
bought the poison and took it to
Mrs. Alason and that she mixed
it with some liquor in a bottle.
Brendle also testilied that he and
Mrs. Alason kept tne Dottle or
liquor with the strychnine in it
..u june 45 when they took it to
the home of Walter Pressley, near
iie resmeiice or Mrs. Viney Hac
kett, where Alason, who was sepa
rated from his wite, was living.
r Mrs.' 'Mason" and Mrs. Pressley,
Brendle said, remained at the Press
ley home and he and Pressley took
the poisoned liquor to the Hackett
home. Brendle said that he passed
the liquor to Mason through a
oroken window. After Mason took
"two or three drinks" the bottle
was thrown away near the Hackett
home, he continutd.
Airs., Hackett, who also testified
for the state, "said that, shortly after
Alason drank the liquor that he told
her it "was the meanest liquor I
ever had." She said that within an
hour Mason complained of feeling
ill and that he had four or five con
vulsions during the night before he
died. , .
Other state witnesses included Dr.
W. A. Rogers, county physician;
Dr. N. G. Williams and Dr. Edgar
Angel, who examined Mason's sto
mach after his death and who an
alyzed the liquor found in the bot
tle that was thrown away at the
Hackett home; and T. W. Angel,
Jr., Franklin druggist, who said he
sold Brendle the strychnine.
The three physicians said that
their examination of Mason's stom
ach revealed a quantity of strych
nine and that the liquor found in
the bottle also contained strych
nine. Mrs. Mason Takes Stand
The state rested its case shortly
after 4:30 o'clock .Thursday after
noon and - Mrs. Mason took the
stand. She denied, all the allega
tions and said she knew nothing
about Brendle buying strychnine.
, Mrs. Mason was recalled to the
stand Friday morning, and again
denied that she had anything to do
with the poisoned liquor which
poisoned her husband.
She admitted upon cross-examination
that she had been arrested for
selling liquor and for operating a
disorderly house. .
Mrs. Mason was the last witness
and, argument by counsel began
before, noon Friday and continued
through the afternoon, being con
cluded at a night session Friday .
night.
Judge Alley charged the jury Sat
urday morning and they were given
the case about 11 o'clock. A. ver
dict of second degree murder was
reached at 9 :30 that night, and
Judge Alley stated that he would
pronounce sentence Monday. '.
Brendle Pleads Guilty
Monday morning Brendle, through
his attorney, offered a plea of
.... ' 1 : ' r
guilty as accessory before the fact
in fist degree murder. The plea
was accepted and Judge Alley im
mediately sentenced Brendle to life
imprisonment.
After sentence had been imposed
upon Brendle, Judge Alley took up
the case ot Airs. Alason and stated
that the case was the worst that
had ever come before him during
his experience on the bench, and
also stated that the state had made
out a case of murder against both
parties even without the testimony
of Brendle. He then gave Airs.
Alason a sentence of 30 years in
the state prison,' which is the limit
under the law for second degree
murder.
The state's case was handled by
Solicitor Queen and Attorneys Geo.
B. Patton and Guy L. Houk. Bren
dle's attorney was Hugh Alonteith,
of Sylva, and Mrs. Alason was
represented by J. N. Aloody, of
Alurphy, Grover Fouts, of Burns
ville, and W. L. AlcCoy, of Frank
lin. Court Adjotums Mtctiday
After the murder case had been
disposed of, the case of Harry Hill
oid Airs. Harry Hill, charged with
forgery, was called and a plea of
guilty entered. Suspended sentence
of three years was imposed, the
suspension to be for five years with
the provision that the money al
leged to have been obtained through
forgery from the Bank of Frank
lin be repaid in installments.
The civil docket was then taken
up arid-most of- the cases continued
until the April term, and business
for the term was concluded' by 4
o'clock At onday afternoon.
Christmas Seals
Being Sold In Franklin
And Highlands
The Christmas Seal drive in Ma
con county got off to a good start
last week, with Prof. O. F. Sum
mer, principal of Highlands .school, .
as-county chairman. Prof. Summer
reports $21.00 worth 'of seals al
ready sold in Highlands to date.
The Rev. J. A. Flanagan, pastor
of the Franklin Presbyterian church,
is in charge of the campaign ' in
Franklin, and started the sale this
week through the school children.
He will be able to report on his
sales next week.
The quota for the, county this
year is set at $60.00, and it is ex
pected that all seals received will
be sold before next week. ,
Square Dance Saturday
Evening
A square dance will be held on
Saturday evening in the gymnasium
of the Franklin school which the
public " is cordially invited to at
tend. Proceeds will be for the ben
efit of the P.-T. A.
Only 3 More
Shopping Days
Till Christmas
r