M aeon Highway Safety
Record f or jam to Dale
Stat* iligbfetfy l'?iru| record-)
KILLED t
INJURED 9
Do Your Pari to Keep
. n>e^u Figures Down!
fanRIitt
^ anb
2If|e Macoutan
' So you thknk you are edu
cated? Than let an fifht-jear
ha
old start ukiii( yoj questions.
VOL. LXI1I-NO. 4#
FRANKLIN, N. C., THURSDAY, DEC1..IBKR 2, 1948
TEN PAGES
$13,892 BEER
TAX FOR YEAR
RECEIVED HERE
Rofunids To County, Two
Towns Less Than Half
Total Anticipated
Macon County and the tow s
or Fra.iklin and Highlands have
reiki. ed from the state checks
t jtal.ng $13,392.4J. as their share
?? th? beer taxes collected dur
ing- the year ending September
jj. ' i t
The amounts were:
Macon county, $12,291.90.
iown of Franklin, $1,099.60.
Town of Highlands, $500.93.
The total Is less than half ol
the amount that had been an
ticipated, on a basis of pay
ments to the county and two
towns about a year ago.
At that time, the three gov
ernmental units received a total
of $8,139.47 fftr the quarter July
1 through September 30. On the
same ration, tne total for a
year would have been approxi
mately $32,000.
No explanation of the rela
tively small amount received for
the year was available here.
The refunds to the local gov
ernmental units followed a 1947
statute doubling the tax on beer
and wise, . sir.4 providing for
refunding of approximately half
of the total collected to those
counties ' nd towns in whi.h
the sale of beer and wine was
legal.
This county has voted out
both beverages, and the effec
tive date has been fixed by
court order for midnight, Ce
cember 15. Presumably, the
county and two towns a yjar
hence will receive their propor
tionate share of the revenue
collected during the period Oc
tober 1 through December 15
of this year.
Dr. A. J. Ritchie,
R bun Gap "ich-ol
Founder, Dies At 80
Dr. Andrew Jackson Ritchie,
widely known as the founder of
the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee
school, just across the line in
Oeorgia, died at his home in
Clayton Tuesday night of last
week. He was 80 years of age.
Dr. Ritchie, who was a gradu
ate of the University of Oeorgia
and of Harvard university,
served the Rabun Gap institu
tion for 40 years as president,
and at the time of his death
was president-emeritus.
A book-length history of Ra
bun county, written by Dr.
Ritchie, recently was published.
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
On Thursday evening the
Walhalla mail boy's mule be
came frightened at some hogs
by the roadside. The mule ran
up the mountainside and In his
wild run the saddle girth broke
and the rider was thrown to
the ground; the mule continued
to run, but lost his foothold
on some loose rocks and fell
over a cliff and was killed. The
mall boy came in with the mall,
but was considerably bruised by
his mishap.
25 YEARS AGO
Charles Crawford Polndexter,
who is a student at the Univer
sity of North Carolina, will close
his brilliant football career
when Carolina plays the Uni
versity of Virginia there
Thanksgiving. He began his
football career as a freshman
and has played in every game
since. He holds the unheard of
record of never having to call
time or have a substitute for
Injuries during his entire ath
letic career.
1* YEARS AGO
A total of approximately 871
men employed on various WPA
projects In Macon County were
laid off last Friday, and the
area WPA offices In Franklin
have no Information as to when
Presumed, according
nt made to a Press
e Tuesday. It la
t the lay-off will
luratlon.
Firm Buys, Will Develop'
Whiteside Mountain; Plan
Road To Top, Parking Area
Famed WhLleside Mountain,
near Highlands, has been pur
chased by a newly formed co ?
juration, for the purpose of
developing it into a scenic 1 1
traction, with a motor road to
.he tap, where a parking area
will be maintained, it wts ax.
aou.xed this week.
The new corporation is
Whiteside Mountain, Inc. In
corporators are W. Frank Lewis,
who is the manager of Hi^h
Hampton in-n, at Cashiers, Rich
ard O. Jennings, of Cashier ,
and Dr. William A. Matthews,
of Highlands. Mr. Lewis is presi
dent, Mr. Jennings vice-presi
if/it, and Dr. Matthews sec.e
tary and treasurer of the cor
poration. Some- 10 or 15 bu i
ness men of Highlands and
First 3 Macon Mzn
Drafted Under 1947
Act Leave For Camp
The first Macon County
mem to be inducted into the
armed forces under the 1947
draft act left Franklin Tues
day.
Only three were in thli
first group. They are:
George Richard William
son, 25, of the Carloogechaye
community; Bob Gray Mc
Chire, 24, whose home in on
the Georgia road; and
James WUbert Waldroop, 24,
of Prentiss.
They left here on the 7
a. m. Lus for the indjc ion
station (the army recruiting
station) at Greenville, S. C.
These three were among a
group who went to -Green
ville in October for exami
nations.
Historical Body
Elects Officers For
Coming Year
Gilmer A. Jones was elected
president of the Macon County
.iistorical society, at its annu.i
meeting Monday night. He suc
ceeds Mrs. Carl 8. Slagle.
Other officers chosen are:
Aiss Laura M. Jones, vice-presi
dent; E. W. Long, reelected
treasurer; Miss Cecile Gibson,
reelected secretary; and N.iS;
Lassie Kelly, who was reelectea,
and Carl S. Slagle, addition di
rectors.
Ed McNish, Miss Olive Patton,
and Miss Frances Barr were ap
pointed as program committee
for the coming year.
Mr. Jones read the biography
of Major N. P. Rankin, for
whom the public square here
is named, by his son, Ernest
Rankin.
Also marking the meeting was
a discussion of ways and means
of preserving documents of
local historical Interest, the re
collections of older citizens, and
photographs of landmarks. Mr.
McNish volunteered his services
in making color films of land
marks still in existence.
About 20 persons attended the
meeting. v
Bob Parrish
To Play In Optimist
Bowl Game
Bob Parrish, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Parrish, of Frank
lin, Route 3, will participate in
the Optimist Bowl game to
morrow (Friday) in Ashevi le
vlemorial stadium as a member
>f West squad. '
Young Parrish was an out
standing tackle on this year's
Franklin high eleven and Is es
pecially known for his aggres
sive, hard tackling, defensive
play.
He is a senior in high school
and was co-captain of this
year's team.
Parrish is the third Franklin
boy to be selected to participate
in the Optimist bowl, which was
Inaugurated last year. Larry
Cabe and Harley Moore Stewart,
two of last year's standouts,
were members of the squad last
year.
| C. N. (Joe) Dowdle, who suf
fered a heart attack the latter
part of lut week, U able to be
lout ?y?ln.
elsewhere are stockholders.
'The 160-acre tract was boug.it I
from J. T. Powell, of Cant n,
and the I. H. Powell estate.
Whiteside Mountain, a geo
logical fault, in the past has
been a "hikers jbaradise' . ye 1
after year its three-quarter mile
high sheer rock cliff, said to b
the highest In Eastern America,
and the magnificent views from
its summit have attracted na
ture lovers from all over the
country. But they had to hi..e
to get there.
Trails approaching from the
south end of the mountain leaa
across the precarious crest to
the north end, to Devil's Court
? Continued on Page Seven
COURT TO OPEN
HEREMONDAY
Garland F aces Trial
In Highlands
Robberies
Trial of Bern Garland, held
In a series of Highlands rob
beries, is expected to be a fea
ture of the December term of
Macon superior court, which will
open Monday morning.
Judge George B. Patton, of
Franklin, wi.'l preside, and So
licitor Thad D. Bryson, Jr., also
of Franklin, will prosecute the
criminal docket.
Whether James Floyd Phil
oott, alias Floyd L. Phillips, who
was arrested here with Garland,
will be brought here for trial
was not definitely known. He
s suffer.ig from fractures of
both ankles and a wrist re
delved November 16 when he
lumped from N a second story
window iir a Little Rock, Ark.
hotel in a vain effort to escape
capture by postal inspectors.
There is a question, too, as W
whether federal authorities, who
wanted him in connection with
some 40 post office robberies,
will surrender him to state of
ficers for trial here.
Philpott and Garland and
;heir wives were arrested here
ast summer in connection with
h? robbery of a number of
Highlands business establish
ishments. The two men, placed
in the Bryson City jail for safe- J
keeping, escaped August 21.
Garland was arrested in Cin
cinnati sometime ago, and is
now in jail at Waynesville, j
awaiting trial at next week's
term of court.
HIGHLANDS M \N
NAMED TO H?A9
RABUN SCHIM
Nacoochee T roitees
Elect Skinner
President
O. C. Skinner, of Highlancs
Director of Natural Resou.c s
and Chairman of the Divi ijn
of Mechanics anti Industrial
Arts at Berry Schools, Rome,
Ga., will become President of
Rabun Gap-Nacoo;hee School at
Rabun Gap, Ga.
Skinner's appointment was
announced Monday following a
meeting of the Rabun Gap-Na
coochee trustees in Atlanta. He
will succeed Dr. George C. Bel
lingrath, who resigned to be
come Dean of Presbyterian col
lege.
George W. Woodruff, chairman
of the board of trustees, praised
Skinner's work in the educa
tional field, pointing out he had
been connected with three edu
cational institutions over a
period of 40 years. At Berry
Schools for 24 years, he super
vised mechanical instruction
and maintenance of grounds
and buildings. Before that, be
was for 13 years principal and
head of the mechanical instruc
tion department at Richmond
academy in Augusta. He was
"raduated from Alabam# Poly
technic Institute with honors.
12 Hunters
Get 5 Deer In Second
Forest Hunt
Five deer were killed fcy the
13 banters participating in the
second hunt conducted on the
Standing Indian wild life man
agement area last week-end
Thi?*b rings the total kill to 12
by the 36 hunters pllowed in
the two week-end hunts, Forest
Service officials said.
?* Two local men, Robert Fyrd
and Glenn Holt, both k lied
?ight-potnt bucks which weighed
approximately 128 pounds each,
voodi dressed.
Other successful hunters were
Ernest Lewis, of Sylva, with a
6-point 135-pound buck; Clyde
allard, of Hendersonville, with
an 8-point 136-pound buck, and
John Ash, of Bryson City, with
l 4-point 136-pound buck.
A third hunt will be staged
on the Standing Indian wild
life management area today,
tomorrow, and" Saturday. .This
will conclude the deer hunting
in the game preserve for this
year.
A second state hunt, on non
Forest Service land, however,
will be held Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday of next week.
Depending On Prayer Alone
Father Refuses Medical Aid
For Sick Infant; Baby Dies
Because his father believed
prayer is all that is necessary
to cure illness, a 13-month old
child died here last week with
out medical attention.
The baby, who had been ill
two weeks, was said to have
been suffering from measles,
folowed by pneumonia.
Neighbors, relatives, and
others begged Lyman Ledbetter,
well to do farmer of the Cartoo
gechaye community, to have a
physician treat the child, but
i he turned a deaf ear to all
their entreaties. Prayer was all
sufficient he insLsted.
The child, Turner Daniel Led
better, died Saturday morning
at 10 o'clock at the home of
| his parents.
Several other children in the
family were reported quite ill of
measles but Mr. Ledbetter was
said to have refused medical aid
for them, also.
The Infant's funeral was held
' at the Cartoogechaye Church of
i God at 11 a. m. Sunday, with
? the Rev. Clyde Burton, pastor.
! and the Rev. Jess Willard Shook
officiating. Burial was In the
I church cemetery. .
Survivors, In addition to the
I parents, Include four sisters,
Blanche, Essa Mae, Dorothy, and
Harriet, and three brothers,
Lawrence, Harry, and Charlie;
the paternal grandparent*, Mr.
and Mr*. Harley Ledbetter, of
Franklin, Route 1; and the ma
ternal grandmother, Mrs. Nan
nie Anderson, also of Franklin,
Route 1.
The funeral arrangements
were directed by Bryant funeral
home.
Mrs. E. L. McKee
Dies Suddenly At
Her Home In Sylva
MrSk E. L. McKee, well known
In Macon County for her In
terest In church and school
problems, as well as for her
political activities, died sud
denly Saturday at her home in
Sylva. Mrs. McKee had many
personal friends here and was
known to the general public
for her appearances as a
speaker at various meetings in
this county.
The former Miss Gertrude
Dill, of Dillsboro, she recently
had been elected to her fourth
term In the state senate.
Funeral services were held
Monday afternoon at the Sylva
Methodist church, and burial
was in the Keener cemetery.
WILL HOLD FOOD SALE
The Auxiliary of St. Agnes
Episcopal church will hold a
benefit food sale at the Nanta
hala Power and Light company
first-floor office Saturday, start
ing lit 10 a. m.
LT. GEORGE H. SETSER
Lt. Setser's
Final Rites
Held Monday
Final rites for 1st Lt. George
H. Setser, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joe F. Setser, of the Cartooge
chaye community, who was
til led in a plane crash in Italy,
May 2, 1945, were held at the
Mt. Zion Methodist church
Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Burial was in the church ceme
tery.
Officiating ministers were the
Rev. J. C. Swain, former pastor
of the church, of which Lt. Set
ser was a member, the Rev. A.
Rufus Morgan, and the Rev.
Will\am L. Sorrells.
The local post of the Ameri
can Legion conducted the serv
ices at the grave, with the Rev.
Hoyt Evans serving as chaplain.
Don Allison and Cecil Parker
were the honor guard, and
Robert L. Porter and Horace
Nolen were the color bearers.
Pallbearers were uncles: L. B.
"'hillips, W. R. Waldroop, Char
les Waldroop, Lawrence Setser,
Fred Slagle, and Dr. T. D.
31agle.
Survivors, in addition to his
parents include three sister
Mrs. Bob Sloan, of Franklin,
Miss Jane Setser, of Brevard
college, and Miss Margaret Set
ser, of Cartoogechays; two
brothers, Mack Setser, of
3akersville and Thomas Setser,
of Cartoogechays; and the pa
ternal grandmother, Mrs. W. A.
Setser, and the maternal grand
mother, Mrs. Henry Slagle, both
of Cartoogechaye.
Funeral arrangements wcrt
directed by Bryant funeral
home
Lt. Setser, who was born De
cember 7, 1923, was graduated
from the Franklin High school
and was a sophomore at Brevard
college when he enlisted in Oc
toljer, 1942. He received his com
mission and pilot's wings in
April, 1944, and was sent over
seas in October of that year.
On his first mission, Novem
ber 6, 1944, his plane was shot
down ovxer Yugoslavia, but he
and members of his crew, by
hiding in the daytime and
traveling at night, managed to
work their way back to their
base In Ialy, arriving there 18
days after being shot down.
Choral Groups
To Appear On B. T. U.
Prcgram Monday
The simultaneous south-wide
assoclatlonal B. T. U. will meet
with the First Baptist church
here next Monday night.
Featured on the program will
be choral groups from various
churches over the country. The
Rev. Paul Nix will have charge
of the devotional, and the Rev.
Charles E. Parker, pastor, will
be narrator.
The Rev. J. Alton Morris, pas
tor of the First Baptist church.
Murphy, will speak on the s"b
Ject, "Found Faithful In Our
Task."
Otto P. T. A. Tk> Meet
Next Monday At 1:30
A called meeting of the Otto
P. T. A. Is set for next Monday
at 1:30 p. m. at the school. It
has been announced by Mrs.
Ed Henson, president. This will
take the place of the regular
December meeting, which would
have been held the last Mon
day In the month, but which
thU month would fall during
the Christmas holidays.
WILL ASK FUNDS
FOR MORE HELP
TO NEEDY m
Welfare L e g i s 1 a t i v
Program Outlined
At Aria MLji
The 1949 North Carolina gen
eral assembly will be as'ced o
appropriate enough addition. 1
funds to make possible gra.i s
to the neeay aged In North
Carolina thai will average $p7. 0
per month, Instead of the |,r s*
ent average ol $20, Dr. EU n
Winston, state commissioner of
public welfare, told the West
ern District Welfare conference
in Ashevllle Tuesday.
Dr. Winston, in an address at
the luncheon session of the 19
county meeting, outlined the
legislative program that has
been worked out by her depart
ment and the State Association
of Welfare Superintendents.
Carl S. Siagle, chairman of
the Macon County welfare board
in his capacity as retiring chair
man of the Western Wel.are
District, presided at both the
morning and luncheon sessions,
and introduced Dr. Winston.
Mrs. Eliose Potts, Macon Ccunty
welfare superintendent, was re
tiring district secretary.
Dr. Winston, who is the for
mer Miss Ellen Black, native of
Bryson City, in commenting txn
the request for more funds for
old age assistance, explained
that an average of $35 per
month really should be made
available. About 48,000 are now
receiving aid to the aged.
The state commissioner said
her department and the super
intendents' association also will
ask the general assembly for:
Additional funds to make pos
sible monthly grants to depen
dent children averaging $21 per
month, instead of the present
$14. At present there are about
30,000 children In this state re
? Continued on Page Six
Joe Lassiter
Kills Himself
In Asheville
Joe Spencer Lassiter, 23, of
Franklin, was found dead tn an
Asheville hotel room Wednesday
morning.
Dr. R. P. Terry, Buncombe
county coroner, said It was a
clear case ol suicide.
Mr. Lassiter, the coroner said,
had fastened his belt tightly
about his tnroat, and th> n
loped the belt over a hook In
the door. He apparently had
died of suffocation, Dr. Terry
said, since the feet were touch
ins the floor.
Mr. Lassiter, who had been
selling insurance in Asheville
for several months, registered
at the downtown hotel at 5
o'clock Tuesuay afternoon. He
apparently had lain upon the
bed while he smoked and read
magazines, but the bed had
not been slept in. Dr. Terry said
he had been dead since about
9 o'clock Tuesday night.
No note of explamatlon was
found.
The body, fully dressed, was
discovered by a hotel po.ter
at 8:10 o'clock Wednesday
morning.
Franklin survivors of Mr. Las
siter include his widow, the
former Mlsg Lucille Calloway,
and a sister, Mrs. Kay Monta
gue.
No funerai arrangements had
been made Wednesday, but the
family had arranged to have
the body returned here.
The Weather
Temperatures and precipita
tion for the past seven days,
and the low temperature yes
terday, as recorded at the
Coweeta Experiment stoMon.
High Low Prec.
Wednesday 69 42 .08
Thursday 60 25 T*
Friday ... 50 27 .00
Saturday 67 41 1.32
Sunday 62 46 2.04
Monday 47 40 1.95
Tuesday 48 24 .00
Wednesday 22 .00
?Trace
Total Inches of rainfall .. 5.39