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VOL. LXVII? NO. 49
FRANKLIN, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1952
SIXTEEN PAGES
Mendenhall Is One
Of Six Top Agents
Macon Count-' Agent S. W.
Mendenhall is one of six North
Carolina farm agents singled
out for recognition by the Na
tional Association of County
Agricultural Agents, which is
now holding its annual conven
tion in Chicago, 111.
Also Included in the six is
John W. Artz, a former assist
ant county farm agent here,
who has been county agent in
Gates since 1938.
The outstanding agents re
ceived Distinguished Service
Awards at ceremonies Tuesday.
Mr. Mendenhall was unable to
attend this year's convention.
Each year the association
honors not more than two per
a. w niclMuiJi
cent of Its members (n each
state. The awards are present
ed to agents who have "served
outstandingly at least 10 years
as a county extension worker,
must have worked out and put
into effect a county agricultural
program, which includes carry
ing to completion some con
structive and outstanding work,
should be actively interested in
the improvement of the profes
sion, and should have studied
some specific agricultural sub
ject by group, correspondence,
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 16
Fund-Raising Supper
Planned On Saturday
At The Iotla School
A box supper and cake walk
is planned Saturday night at
Iotla school, with proceeds ear
marked for purchasing a pro
jector and window shades for
the school, it has been an
nounced.
The event will get under way
at 7:30 o'clock and everyone is
invited to attend, it was said.
MEANDERING
ALONG
MAIN STREET
Who won the Negro football
game last Wednesday night?
The weather did, according to
Prof. Hlnes, and he should
know since Chapel school was
sponsoring the grid battle be
tween the Consolidated School
of Sylva and the Boy's Indus
try Institute of Toccoa, Ga.
W tier caused the postpone
ment of the game once, and
when It started raining Wed
nesday Chapel School decided
to chuck the whole deal, at
least for this year. Yep, the
game will still be played? next
year that is, giving the elements
plenty of time to make up their
minds.
? ? ?
There has been plenty of
speculation as to what retired
restauranteer Prelo Dryman has
up his sleeve in the way of a
new business. Well, the word's
out. Mr. Dryman, "Just Call Me
Prelo", who sold his cafe on
Main Street several months
back an<l has been catching up
on fresh air and sunshine since,
is completely reversing his field.
Instead of feedin' 'em, he's go
ing to clothe 'em for a change.
A most reliable source, Mr. Dry
man himself, tells that he is
going to open a men's clothing
store soon in the building for
merly occupied by Reeves Hard
ware Company.
? ? ?
The S and L Store got a face
lifting this week with new
white and red-stripped metal
awnings.
SCHOOL FUND
GETS FORFEITS
Out - Of - Staters 'Give'
$4,610 For Not
Showing Up
Out-of-state law breakers,
who chose to forfeit cash bonds
rather than appear in court,
sent $4,610 into the county
school fund during criminal
proceedings in court here Mon
day and Tuesday.
Solicitor Thad D. Rryson, Jr.,
said 23 cash bonds were for
feited ? money which, by law,
goes to the schools. He explain
ed 'that the court may confis
cate a cash bond if a defen
dant falls to appear in court
for two consecutive terms.
The county education system
stands to profit still more from
the present court term, for. In
addition to forfeitures, fines al
so are earmarked by law for
the school fund. According to
Miss Kate McKee, clerk of su
perior court, fines still are be
ing collected and a total figure
will be ready for publication
next week.
Board Talks
Negro School
Cost Cutting
How to build the new Chapel
(Negro) School {or $40,000 Is a
major problem to the county
board of education since low
bids for the school's construc
tion went nearly $30,000 over
the allocation.
In special session Monday
afternoon, the board authorized
I County School Supt. Holland
McSwaln to work with contrac
tors in revising the present
plans in an attempt to bring
I construction costs within the
$40,000 allocation for building
I the school.
Lowest bids for the job total
ed $66,851.25, In addition to a
1 $4,011.08 architect fee.
One proposal to cut costs was
i discussed by board members,
i That is to eliminate the pro
posed wing on the two-story
i building, which would house a
! combination lunchroom-auditor
ium, and shift the lunchroom
| auditorium to the basement of
I the building. The board pre
viously had discussed using the
basement In the future for high
school students, who presently
are attending the consolidated
high school Jackson County.
When funds are available, the
board reasoned that a new wing
could be added to the building
for high school grades.
G. L. Hlnes, principal of
Chapel School, and Bill Lenoir
were present at the meeting in
behalf of the Negro school pa
trons.
Ed Bradley and Paul Swaf
ford, spokesmen for the Iotla
Parent-Teacher Association, re
ported that improper drainage
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 16
WOMAN'S CLUB 'BABY DRIVE'
IS NOW IN PROGRESS HERE
The Franklin Junior Woman's
Club has babies on Its mind
again ? homeless ones, that is.
Collecting funds for the Chil
dren's Home Society of North
Carolina, Inc., is the top drawer
project of woman's clubs all
over the state and the annual
campaign to assure that home
less babies will have the love
and security of a happy family
life is now under way.
The Franklin club is raising
Its share of the $55,000 state
quota under the leadership of
Miss Lillian Jones, project
chairman.
Proof that the work being
done by the children's home,
which is located in Greensboro
and is supported solely by citi
zens through voluntary contri
butions, is tied directly to life
in Macon County Is the fact
that 59 orphaned babies have
been placed for adoption by the
society In the past 25 years, the
chairman pointed out.
i
Coin collectors have been
placed In downtown stores, she
said, and members of the club
plan to canvass the business
district for donations.
More than 5,000 children have
been helped by the society since
It was established in 1903, and
an average of 300 are aided
each year.
Some of the babies come
from broken homes, some are
orphaned, and others are born
out of wedlock.
"But, the society makes no
distinction," the chairman said,
"for a homeless tot Is not to
blame for what Its family has
done and the Society functions
to give them the hreak they
deserve."
Policy decisions and business
affairs of the children's home
are controlled by a board of di
rectors composed of leading
men and women from all parts
of the. state, she added.
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 16
PHONE RATE
HEARING IS
UNDER WAY
W.C.T.C. Has Amended
Increase Petition
To Commission
Hearings on the Western Car
olina Telephone Company's pe
tition for an increase in tele
phone rental rates In Franklin,
Highlands, and the 14 other
Western North Carolina towns
served by the concern were be
gun by the State Utilities Com
mission in Asheville Tuesday.
The original petition sought
a flat increase of $1.25 rental
per month on all telephones,
but it developed at the hearing
that the petition has been
amended, modifying the pro
posed increases.
Under the amended petition,
the one-party residential
monthly Increase would be 75
cents, rather than $1.25, in
Franklin, Highlands, Bryson
City, and Sylva.
Most of Tuesday was devoted
to hearing testimony of the
company and A. C. Shote, Util
ities Commission auditor.
Wednesday, Harold K. Ben
nett, of the Asheville law firm
of Ward and Bennett, repre
senting Franklin and Macon
County opponents of the in
crease, and other attorneys rep
resenting opponents In other
towns served, resumed the
cross-examination of Mr. Shote,
begun late Tuesday.
NEW POWER
PROJECT SET
N.P.&L. Announces Plans
For Building New
Jackson Unit
The Nantahala Power and
Light company this week an
nounced plans for building a
new hydro-electric plant in
Jackson county, which will com
plete the company's develop
ment of the east fork of the
Tuckaseigee river.
When completed the new
project will bring to 10 the
number of hydro-electric plants
owned by N.P. & L. in the five
county area of Macon, Jackson,
Swain, Cherokee, and Graham.
Contract for the project,
which will be known as the
Tennessee Creek development,
has been awarded to the Har
rison Construction company In
Pittsburgh, Pa., according to
John .M. Archer, Jr., president
of NP. & L., which has its
home offices in Franklin.
Cost of the development will
SEE NO. 4, PAGE 16
BACK FROM KOREA
Lt. James C. Horsley, Jr., has
returned from duty with the air
force in korea and is spending
a leave bere with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Horsley.
BAG DEER
Carey Angel, of Cullasaja,
and Junto Carpenter, of Frank
lin, both bagged deer during
the three-day hunt last week.
Mr. Angel's buck weighed 167
pounds.
Lodge Plans
Centennial
Supper H^re
Junaluskee Lodge No. 145. A.
F. and A. M., will celebrate the
100th anniversary of its char
tering with a dinner meeting
Tuesday evening at the Frank
lin School cafeteria.
The lodge, which was char
tered December 9, 1853 ? more
than eight years before the out
break of the Civil War? is one
of the two or three oldest or
ganizations in the community.
The local lodge, as it begins
its second century, is laying
plans for a new Masonic hall
to replace the present struc
ture on Church street. A com
mittee already is at work on
plans.
Highlight of Tuesday evening's
program will be an address by
Leon Gray, superintendent of
the Masonic Orphanage at Ox
ford. Other program features
are being worked out. B. L. Mc
Glamery will serve as master of
ceremonies.
The dinner will climax a se
ri^ of centennial events, among
which were a picnic at the
Nantahala camp of A. B. Slagle
last summer and a recent mas
ters' night, at which all living
past masters were honored.
Ernest Hyde Is present worship
ful master of the lodge, which
now has approximately 150 on
Its membership roll.
Plans for the dinner, set for
7:30 o'clock, are being made by
a committee headed by J. L.
(Jimmy) Hauser. Other mem
bers are John M. Archer, Jr.,
Harmon H. Onuse, Jr., T. T.
Love, and Hunter Calloway. The
dinner will be served by mem
bers of the Cowee P. T. A.
Attending the dinner will be
Masons, their wives, and their
guests.
'Dear Ruth'
Play Opens
Tomorrow
?'Dear Ruth", a play center
ing around the anxious mom
ents of a teen-age girl, "I con
sider myself quite mature", who
signed her sister's name to love
letters going to a serviceman
overseas, will open at the Bast
Franklin school tomorrow (Fri
day) for a two-night run.
Curtain time both Fridaj and
Saturday will be 8 p. m.
The cast Is composed entire
ly of local talent and the play
is being staged by one of
Franklin's newest organizations,
The Community Players. Pro
ceeds are earmarked for the
Franklin Jaycees' swimming
pool project. The play is the
first of several planned by the
organization.
Admission will be SO cents,
aeeartitag to Mrs. M Reber,
president of the theatrical
group.
Having rolet are:
Miss Margaret Crawford, as
?"Miriam", who throws lier fam
ily into an uproar by carrying
on a V-mail love affair with a
B-26 Conner asing her sister's
same.
E. Carpenter, at "Judge
Wilklns", and Mrs. Joyce Cagle,
as "Editfa WSUdns, Miriam's har
assed parents, who threaten to
have their yewngest daughter
psychoanalyzed.
Miss Inez Crawford, as "Ruth
WUkkiS", Mrlaart sister, who
is in love with a bonk execu
tive, "Albert Kummer", played
by Fred Dowdle, and finds her
life even more complicated
when "Lt. William Sea wright",
J. P. Brady, returns from over
seas to marry the "Ruth" in
Miriam's letters.
The lieutenant's sergeant is
played by Lowell McKee, who
is the ex-flanee of the lieuten
ant's sister, "Martha", Miss
Jenna Sue Cunningham.
"Dora", the Wllkins' maid is
Miss Margaret Jones.
Stage sets are being prepared
by the Franklin High School
Dramatics Class and the play
is being directed by Mrs. Lois
Jones.
BLAINE PROMOTED
Turner H. Blaine, who is serv
ing with the army in Korea,
recently was promoted to ser
geant, according to information
received by his fnother, Mrs.
Earl Blaine, of Franklin, Route
1.
Judge Closes Out
Criminal Session
Grand Jury Reports For |
Two Court Terms
Are Similar
A striking similarity is noted
in the grand jury report of
this term of court and the one
J prepared by the grand jury dur
I ing the August term of super
ior court.
Almost without exception, the
recommendations made by both
court bodies are identical, in
cluding conditions at the coun
ty home, needed repairs at the
jail, and a suggestion that a
new courthouse be built as soon
as funds are available.
Because of weather conditions
Tuesday when the jurors made
Inspections of county facilities,
no visit was made to the prison
camp.
The report follows:
Report of committee visiting
jail: Repairs needed to window
on South side of hall upstairs,
facing and screens In bad con
dition. Screens should be on
inside of windows to prevent
prisoners breaking glass. Cell on
north side of building door
torn off hinges, celling and
windows need repairing. Lock
and frame on outside door in
need of repairs. Bars on west
window In hallway need weld
SEE NO. 5, PAGE 18
I LUNCHROOM
IS OPENED
Cullasaja School Plans
Supper Saturday To
Equip Addition
The concerted push tor a
lunchroom at Cullasaja school,
which started when the school
opened its doors in 1947, is over.
' Yesterday (Wednesday* the
school's children ate their noon
meal in a spanking new lunch
room, which has just been com
pleted at a cost of approximate
ly $8,000.
| Efforts of the community's
citizens and P. T. A. are now
being channeled toward equip
ping the new addition.
Accordingly, Saturday night
from 6 to 8 o'ciock, a benefit
supper is planned at the schocl
and the public is invited to at
tend. The pricc per plate well
. be 50 cents for children and $1
for adults. Tbe menu incluf.es
a choice of turkey, barbecued
ham, m chicken. Mrs. C. T.
' Bryson is chairman of tlx P.
T. A. sapper committee.
Through benefit parties, sales,
SEE NO. 6, FACE 16
Courthouse And Jail !
Are Old Subjects
To The Judge
The county's antiquated court- (
house and inadequate jail are j
old and worn subjects for Judge 1
William H. Bobbitt. '
And in his charge to the j
grand jury Monday morning, he !
touched only lightly on the two,
after explaining that he cover- '
ed them fully during a court '
term here in 1941 and again at
this past August term of court.
For years, grand Juries here
have been inspecting the 71
year-old courthouse and for as
many years have been recom
mending a new structure to re
place It. The old jail ? which
has jumped into prominence in
recent years with its high rate
of jail breaks ? also has come
under steady fire from grand
juries.
Judge Bobbitt called the jail
breaks to the attention to the
jury and said the matter of
providing better facilities rests
with the people of the county.
The courthouse and jail ap
parently are not adequate for
a county the size of Macon, he
< added.
| In his charge, he briefly ex
plained the duties of a grand
jury and its relationship to
criminal law. He emphasized
[that it is not the duty or th?
body to determine whether ?
defendant is guilty or not. but
to decide if the state's evidence
is substantial enough in char
acter to put the defendant on
trial.
The return of a true bill by
a grand jury is not evidence
that a defendant is guilty, h->
said, for the accused may plead
not guilty and the court wl"
proceed on the assumption that
he is innocent until proven
otherwise.
Law is not a standard of
punishment, but a standard of
conduct set up by the people
for their own protection, he ex
plained.
J. N. Fisher, of Scaly, was
appointed foreman of the jury
by the court.
Other membe.rs of the 18-man
body included Lex Angel, V. C.
DeHart, Weaver Gibson. W. S.
Calhoun. Prank Sanders, Henry
B. Cate, D. A. Hall, Cecil Green,
Clayton Bateman, H. D. Dit
more. Packer Raby, Emlis Mea
dows, Ray Franklin, John Bren
dle, D. A. Ledford, Clarence
j Peek, ami Grady Wilkes.
Fifty-two Years Of Tax Receipts
I I * ~
Why would a man keep 52 years of tax receipts? James S.
Grant, Jr., of Nantahala, explains why he has, "Ton never can
tell when you'll need them". He paid his first taxes in 1900 in
the Nantahala Township of Swain Connty and has saved every 1
receipt since then. Mr. Grant, who was reared on Weeser Creek '
in Swain, has been living in Nantahala for the past 30 years, j ]
In his 76 years, he worked for the U. S. Forest Service, has beea I
a powderman, railroad apprentice foreman, foreman on the I
Winding Stairs road project, woods foreman in timber cutting. ]
| talc miner, and rock quarryman. ?
-ourt Opened Monday,
Docket Completed
Tuesday
w'l?am h. Bobbitt, of
charlotte, presiding over the
December term of superior court
tfhich convened Monday morn
ing, moved rapidly through the
d05ket and by Tuesday
afternoon had disposed of all
scheduled cases.
judge plans to
nnflL aHng CiVU C3ses Was
not known when The Press was
printed yesterday (Wednesday)
Moving to clear old cases from
the criminal docket, the state
!;??k -a "ol Pros with leave in
38 of the 105 listed; that is
dropped suit with reservations
th ?.cases listed below were
hrnL^e?,rd Judge Bobbitt
through Monday afternoon and
is not complete.
DISPOSITIONS
James Robert Moore, drunk
costs"g' dayS suspended. $100.
Hrfv^'?s Adams Rogers, drunk
^ g' "01 pros leave.
Everett Jenkins, larceny nol
pros with leave.
Dock Gibson, abandonment,
nol pros with leave.
Leighton Moss, drunk driving
nol pros with leave.
I Ray Fountain, transporting
and possession of whiskey nol
pros with leave.
Roy Fountain, transporting
and possession of whiskev nol
pros with leave.
Rufus A. Askew, fraud, alias
capias ordered.
Cunningham speed
ing, nol pros with leave.
Deiias Holland, drunk driving,
iusPended. J 100, costs.
| Willy Ray Tallent, manslaugh
ter, defendant deceased, action
removed from docket.
I Echel Rowland, forcible tres
( pass, continued.
| Lawrence G. Sanders, aban
I f 12 months suspended,
I f 'sts' c?urt ordered payments
for support of child.
Homer E. Stiwinter, drunk
J driving, nol pros with leave.
I ayne Ledford, abandonment,
capias issued. '
l,nSh?1? Burgess, drunk driv
ing, capias Issued
I ""man Ledford, aiding and
1 with ieaverUnlt no] pros
iin?Ia^V!n McDoweH. drunk driv
g, h?l Pros with leave.
? J. R. Lunsford, no driver's li
cense, nol pros with leave
titT-en?le Queen' Allure to give
S lea^Ut0ln0bile'
. J- B. Hall, transporting whis
key and possession of burelarv
tools, continued. DUrgiary
Hal1' drunk driving
transporting whiskey, carS
concealed weapon, and noSS
siwi of burglary tools, contin-"
David Lee Overman Jr no*_
session of burglary took' ^7
pros with leave. ' 01
I SEE NO. 7, PAGE 9
AN APOLOGY
It was erroneously stated to
last week's issue of The P re?
that Charlie William Paul was
charged with drank Mfinf and
manslaughter. His charge shook#
have read reckless driving and
manslaughter. The error is re
gretted. The grand J wry found
that Mr. Paul's manslaughter
charge was not a true hill and
the reckless driving count was
continued.
The Weather
The week's temperature# and rainfall, m
recorded in Franklin by Man ton 111!?.
IT. S. weather observer, and at the Cowceta
Hydrologic Laboratory:
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 59^ 50 .43
Thursday 50 34
Friday 45 20
Saturday 42 21 trace
Sunday 50 28
Monday 47 18
Tuesday 41 31 .55
OOWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Ram
Wednesday 59 51 1.M
rhursday 44 28 ?
Friday 48 15
Saturday i 41 SO ?
Sunday 50 15 .OS
Monday 44 16 ?
ruesday .! 41 29 .71