ttMift Ipff
nub
$!>? Jftacotxtatv
PRICE
10 Cents
VOL. LXVin? NO. SI
FRANKLIN, N. C.. THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1953
FOURTEEN PAOES
County Moves Into
Christmas Events
Carol Sings, Plays
And Services Slated
To Mark Yuletide
An estimated 125 persons at
tended a Christmas community
sing Sunday afternoon at the
Franklin Presbyterian Church
as Macon County began moving
Into the heavy end of its Yule
activities calendar.
Sunday afternoon's lead-off
event of the season was spon
sored by the county's home
demonstration clubs under the
leadership of Mrs. Robert D.
Burnette, H. D. music leader.
The Macon County Chorus and
group singing was led by S. P.
Beck.
Coming events on the Christ
mas activities calendar include
church services and plays, spe
cial programs, school plays, and
a county-wide carol sing.
Meanwhile, with only seven
shopping days remaining until
the 25th, shoppers are busily
shuttling in and out of down
town stores ? going In empty
handed and coming out loaded
with gifts for young and old.
All county schools will close
tomorrow (Priday) for the holi
days and the week-end will see
college students rolling Into
town. Western Carolina College,
Cullowhee, already has closed
for the holidays.
Tonight (Thursday) at 8:15
o'clock, the pupils of Cartooge
chaye School will present a
Christmas play, "Star of Beth
lehem", following a short meet
ing of the school P. T. A. The
public 1b Invited.
A carol singing will be spon
sored by the Cowee Rural Com
munity Development Organisa
tion Sunday evening at 7:30
o'clock on the lawn at Cowee
School.
A White Christmas will be
observed at the First Baptist
Church Sunday at the Sunday
School hour. A play, "A Little
Child Shall Lead Them", and a
pantonine, "The Christmas
Story", will be presented In the
evening at 7:30 o'clock. At the
Sunday School feature, each
ctaas will bring different Items
at food for the needy. Mrs.
Charles Bradley will read the
scripture and CHis Baldwin will
lead the prayer. The program
la be tag arranged by the fellow
ship ?omvittee.
The play and pantomlne are
being directed by Mrs. M. W.
Chapman, Mrs. C. Banks Finger,
and Mrs. Fred Vaughn. Back
ground music will be furnished
by a group of young people of
the charch
A eonnty-wide Christmas car
ol singing is slated Tuesday
evening at 7 o'clock on the
Town Square under the spon
sorship of the Macon County
Ministerial Association. A spe
cial choir assembled for the
event will be composed of voices
from choirs throughout the
county. The choral group will
be directed by Lowell McKee.
The singing will be moved to
the courthouse if the weather
is bad. The Rev. Bryan Hat
chett, pastor of the Franklin
Presbyterian Church, Dr. A. Ru
fus Morgan, rector of the St.
Agnes Episcopal Church, and
the . Rev. W. K. Shields, pastor
of the Ridgewood Baptist
Church, are in charge of the
program.
The Jaycee-sppnsored Christ
mas program, set for Wednes
day evening at 8 o'clock at the
Methodist church, lists a 33
volce choir from local churches.
G. A. Jones, Jr., will narrate
the program. Gilts collected as I
admission will be distributed to
the needy, according to the
Rev. Bryan Hatchett, Jaycee in
charge of the program.
Making up the special choir
are Mrs. Roy Cunningham, Mrs.
Gilmer L. Crawford, Miss Har
riet Murray, Miss Marianne
Johnston, Mrs. Hyldah Shepherd,
Mrs. Gladys Kinsland, Miss Joy
McCollum, Miss Jean McCollum,
Mrs. Frank Murray, Mrs. E. C.
Harmon, Mrs. Bill Bryson, Mrs.
, John Bulgin, Mrs. Holland Mc
Swain, Mrs. G. M. Slagle, Jr.,
Miss Sarah Smart, Miss Alice
Weaver, Miss Mildred Bryson,
Dick Slagle, Tom Nelson, Phil 1
McCollum, Holland McSwain,
Jr., Miss Eveline Giedinghagen, '
Miss Nancy McCollum, Miss
Edith Christy, Mrs. Neal Johns- j
ton, Mrs. Harold Sloan, Mrs.
Warren Cooper, Mrs. Weimar
Jones, Mrs. C. E. Murray, 8.
W. MendenhaU, G. A. Jones, Jr.,
and Herman ChUdera.
Condemned School
Reopened After
Repairs Are Made
Franklin Elementary School,
condemned as a fire hazard by
Fire Chief A. C. Tyslnger In a
surprise move December 7,
taderwent the necessary repairs
to meet minimum standards
and was reopened before noon
Wednesday of last week.
Most of the repairs were
made In the boiler room, , ac
cording to County School Supt.
Holland McSwaln.
The school's 380 children got
a free holiday the day follow
ing the fire chief's decision to
close the building, while school
officials moved rapidly to re
open the school. While repairs
were being made Wednesday
morning, the children went to
class In the high school cafe
teria and library.
Meanwhile, Coach R. A. Byrd
was trying to reschedule his
basketball teams' home games
away from the old high school
building and gymnasium, which
also was condemned under lim
ited conditions by the fire chief.
Chief Tyslnger gave the school
permission to use the gymna
sium for games, provided the
balcony is not used by specta
tors. The balcony Is In danger
of collapsing at any time, the
chief reported.
Coach Byrd was unable to
change Tuesday night's home
game with Cullowhee, so. only
a limited number of spectators
was allowed to watch the
games.
Lassies Rack
Up 2 Victories;
Lads Lose 'Em
The Franklin High lassies
continued their climb to the top
of the conference loop ladder by
outclassing Cherokee and Cullo
whee in games this week.
Things went the other way
for the local lads, who wound
up on the short end of the
score In both dashes.
In Friday night's game in
Cherokee, the lassies took an
easy 46 to SI victory, with Jodj
Lenoir splitting the strings for
17 points. The lads lost a close
one in overtime, 38 to 86. Dol
pha Fouts hit for 19 to lead in
the local scoring bracket.
The lassies mauled Cullowhee
Tuesday night here by a score
of 76 to 60. Cullowhee's Betty
Jean Taylor hit for an amaz
ing 47 points In the game. The
boys were edged out In a close
game by 64 to 57.
COATES BUYS CAFE
Edd Coates, owner-operator of
the Normandie Restaurant on
West Palmer, has purchased
Doyle's Cafe on the courthouse
square from Doyle Dehart.
State Travel Official Emphasizes Need
For Local Groups To Promote Attractions
Because of the wide scope of
North Carolina's tourist indus
try, there Is a definite need for
organizing on an industry basis
to sell the state's many attrac
tions to the tourist.
This view was expressed here
last Thursday by Fred Whltak
er, manager of the new State
Travel Bureau In Raleigh, an
agency coming under the state
Department of Conservation
and Development. Mr. Whltak
er has been touring W.N.C. for
several weeks, briefing cham
bers of commerce and tourist
groups on the alms and objec
tives of the new agency he
heads.
At a luncheon meeting at
Cagle's Cafe, the bureau man
ager spoke to some 25 Interest
ed persons on how his agency
hopes to tie In with local or
ganizations in promoting the
state.
Mr. Whitaker said the bureau
Is a new approach to the prob
lem and will emphasize service
to the tourist Industry, rather
than confining itself to promo
tion only.
Pointing out that tourists are
big business ($300,000,000 in
1651) the bureau manager said
the tourist Industry must be
solidified state-wide "to make
them want to come here, stay
longer, and come back again."
This can be done, the speak
er said, through active county
tourist organizations working
hand-ln-hand with the state
bureau.
While the new bureau is no
"cure-all" from the state gov
ernment", Mr. Whitaker de
scribed It as a good start in the
right direction.
County organizations working
with the bureau could "give a
firm Identity to the region" and
could set standards of policy
on what to offer the tourist In
a given region, he said, adding:
"The voice of an organiza
tion can be loader than an in
dividual."
Because of the state's diver
sified attrectlons, the average
tourist picks one place to spend
a vacation. However, through a
cooperative effort of county or
ganizations on a state-wide bas
is, the tourist could spend his
vacation, for example, spending
part on the coast, and part In
the mountains, Mr. Whltaker
explained.
If tourist areas can send a
tourist away pleased with what
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 13
BEG TOUR PARDON
In last week's issue of The
Press It was reported that Mar
shall Pettis, of Franklin, was
fined $100 and costs in Superior
Court for drunk driving. The
statement was Incorrect. Mr.
Pettis was arrested April 21,
1953, in his automobile just off
Palmer Street by Policeman
Nelson Ledford and then High
way Patrolman C. M. Byrd and
was charged with drunk driv
ing. However, the state accept
ed a plea of public drunkenness
and Mr. Pettis was fined $10
and costs.
Working On Industry Book
These three members of the Macon County Industrial com
mittee are shown working oyer the final draft for a new book
let on Macon County and its industrial potential. The booklet,
which will be sent to interested industries, is expected to be off
the press soon after the first of the year. It will have more
than SS pictures and up-to-date facts and figures on the coun
ty's economy, including the results of the labor surrey recently
condacted by the committee. (L to R) C. Banks Finger, Mrs.
I aw K. Hondey, and John M. A roller, Jr. The committee is
headed by Frank B. Dooaa
Fred Whitaker, manager of the new State Travel Bureau,
(center) spoke at a luncheon meeting here last Thursday on
how his bureau plans to work with local groups in promoting
the state's tourist industry. At left is William Katenbrink, local
C of C president, who presided at the luncheon. At right is L.
E. DeVous, president of the Haywood County tourist organiza
tion, who accompanied Mr. Whitaker here.
'Aunt Jane' Bryson Celebrates
103rd Birthday With Her Family
A white-haired ~ old lady,
whose love for peppermint stick
candy and determination to
"make sure everyone gets
enough to eat" are almost leg
end here, didn't have her usual
birthday party Monday to cele
brate her 103 years.
"It takes me a week to get
over those parties", Mrs. Martha
Jane "Aunt Jane" Bryson ex
plained to members of her
family.
So, of her own choosing, Ma
con County's oldest citizen
spent a very quiet day with
members of her family without
the frills of past birthdays
when a host of friends and
relatives dropped in at her
modest white frame house on
Bryson Branch laden with pres
ents and wished "Aunt Jane"
best wishes around a dinner
table sagging with enough food
and desserts to feed a small
army.
However, "Aunt Jane's'
thumbs-down on a big party
failed to stem the flood of
greeting cards from all over the
country. She has been blind
for more than 12 years, so the
cards were read to her Monday
as she sat in her big easy
chair before the native stone
fireplace she and her husband
built 79 years ago.
And folks made sure "Aunt
Jane's" sweet tooth, which leans
heavily toward peppermint can
dy, was partially satisfied.
Born December 14, 1850 ? 11
years before the Civil War ?
"Aunt Jane", at the age of 23,
married John T. Bryson, who
died a number of years ago.
Together they built the small
dwelling on Bryson Branch that
has been her home since.
Seven of her eight sons are
still living. They are Will, 78,
Charlie, 76, Sam, 70, Elbert, 65,
all of Cullasaja; George E., 71,
of Sedro Woolley, Wash.; Joe,
63, of Terrebonne, Ore.; and
Beulon, 68, of Whlttler. The
eighth son, Newton, died re
cently in Raleigh at the age of
98.
What about a party next
year?
"We'll Just have to wait and
see," she says.
Evengalistic
Series Date
Is Selected
The week of June 08 to July
4 hu been selected (or the an
nual interdenominational evan
gelistic series here by the Ma
con County Ministerial Associa
tion -and organizations are re
quested not to schedule events
during the week.
Conflicting engagements could
hamper the success of the ser
ies, it was explained.
The visiting evangelist for
the 1954 series will be Dr. Paul
R. Caudill, pastor of the First
Baptist Church in Memphis,
Tenn. An outstanding pastor,
Dr. Caudill Is the author of
"Broadman Comments", a year
ly commentary on Sunday
School lessons.
Gray Elected
To Soil Board
J. S. Gray, of the Hickory
Knoll community, was elected
to the board of supervisor of
the Macon Soil Conservation
District in a week-long election
that closed Saturday.
In a light vote, Mr. Gray
polled 59 votes. His opponent,
A. L. Ramsey, Jr., of the Iotla
community, received 55.
The new supervisor succeeds
Milton Fouts, whose three-year
term expires December 31.
Other members of the board
are Edwin J. Bradley and Frank '
L. Ammons.
What's
Doing?
Dec. 17: Christmas play, Car
toogechaye School, 8:15 p. m.;
Iotla P.T.A., 7:30 p. m.; Union
P.T.A., 7:30 p. m.; Cowee P.T.A.,
7:30 p. m.
Dec. 22: county-wide Christ
mas carol singing. Town Square.
7 p. m.
Dec. 23: Jaycee-sponsored
Christmas program. Franklin
Methodist Church, 8 p. m.
Dec. 18: Franklin P.T.A., 7:30
p. m.
NEXT WEEK 'S
PAPER EARLY
Deadlines For News
And Ads Announced;
Printing Tuesday
In order to (In members
of The Press staff a short
vacation over Christmas, next
week's issue of the newspaper
will be printed a daj earlier
than usual ? that is on Tues
day night Instead of Wednes
day.
All advertising for the is
sue must be in the office not
later than noon Tuesday, De
cember 22. News for the issue
will be handled on a first
come- first-serve basis and no
items will be accepted later
than Monday afternoon.
The paper will be mailed
Wednesday morning for de
livery that day.
The following week's issue
is tentatively slated for pub
lication a day later than usual
? December 31.
COWEE PTA MEETING
A Christmas program will be
presented by the children of
Cowee School tonight (Thurs
day at th? regular meeting of
the P. T. A., it has been an
nounced. The meeting is set for
7:30 o'clock
P. T. A. TO MEET
The Iotla Parent-Teacher As
sociation will meet tonight
i Thursday i at 7:30 o'clock, It j
has been announced. Each room
of the school will contribute to
the program.
December Court
Term Is Ended
Judge's Homespun
Wits Adds Spice
To Court Term
The homespun wit of Special
dge George B. Patton added
welcome spice to ' an otherwise
fairly dull December term of
Superior Court here.
Some of the Franklin native's
quips:
After ordering the revokation
of a defendant's license for
drunk driving: "He's going to
have to get himself a fast
mule."
To a youthful first offender
for speeding: "I'm going to
treat you like a lady, since it's
your first visit with us."
To the court in general:
"Would anyone like to plead
guilty while the court Is in a
good humor?"
After hearing a man explain
he couldn't pay a fine because
he used his money for an op
eration: "My kind of operating
will be less painful."
Stopping Solicitor Thad Bry
son from asking a man where
he bought the whiskey found in
his car: "I know where he got
it ... he found it on top of
a bank where they all find it."
About a man charged with
drunk driving and possession of
whiskey: "He was carrying part
in him and part with him."
When sentencing a man for
assaulting a school principal:
. . your school teaching days
are over."
Concerning a defendant's
drinking habits: "I've known
this man for years. He has
drunk enough whiskey In his
day to float this courthouse
right down to the river."
Young Mother
Gets 2 Years
On TB Charge
A young Macon mother of
two children la going to prison
for refusing to receive treat
ment for tuberculosis.
Mrs. Arizona DUls Blaine, of
the Patton section, Monday was
sentenced to two years In the
hospital section of the woman's
division of state prison in Ral
eigh by Judge George B. Pat
ton, after she refused to heed
a court directive ordering her
to receive treatment for the
disease.
Judge Patton Issued the order
last Thursday, directing her to
accompany Dr. Leo P. McCamp
bell, district health officer, to
Black Mountain for an examin
ation to determine whether she
still has an active case of tu
berculosis.
Dr. McCampbell reported she
went to Black Mountain, but
refused to stay, and as a re=
suit forced Judge Patton to
sentence her to prison.
"It's entirely possible she no
longer has an active case", the i
district health officer said in
an interview Tuesday", but she
refuses to maintain isolation j
and is endangering the health :
of her family and community." |
The doctor explained that the j
young mother was hospitalized j
for a month in late 1952. but j
refused to stay longer.
BUYS WOODS' SHAKE
Frank B Duncan has pur- 1
chased Lee Woods' half-interest f
in the former Baptist property
at the intersection of Palmer
and US 64. The two business- |
men bought the property from
the First Baptist Church last
year.
Basketball Manager Is 'Key
T o Sheriff's Midnight Ride
Franklin basketball manager, Dennis Mehaffey, was the "key"
figure in Sheriff J. Harry Thomas' midnight ride to Cherokee
Friday.
Dennis unknowingly slipped the bolt on Coach R. A. Byrd and
five male cagers when he left the Cherokee game with the
coach's car keys.
The coach broadcast his plight via the long distance operator
and the sheriff took the first step toward unlocking the locklng
up. He drove to Dennis's home, roused the manager out of a
sound sleep, got the keys, and headed for the home of the In
dian In a land-locking (there's that word again) fog.
"I finally got home at 4:15", Coach Byrd sleepily related Sat
urday morning, as he shook a bell In front of the Lions dime
board.
"Never a dull moment", commented the sheriff.
Criminal, Civil
Dockets Finished
By Judge Patton
Far all intents and purposes,
the December term of Superior
Court here Is ended.
Judge George B. Patton pol
ished off a light civil docket
last Thursday and disposed of
a few cases remaining on the
criminal docket in a brief ses
sion Monday morning.
However, under the law the
term remains active through
Saturday In the event so pas
pressing matter arises. The
term opened December 7.
Most of the cases on the
criminal docket were taken up
the first two days of the term.
The court granted four divorces
on the civil calendar.
Judgments for the first two
days of the criminal term ap
peared in last week's issue of
The Press. Cases acted upon
since then are as follows:
Harley Ledbetter, assault with
intent to rape, 24 months sus
penaea, costs.
Albert Dixon Turner, drunk
driving, entered plea of reck
less driving, $100, costs.
Paul Humphrey Chllders,
drunk driving, continued.
Marjorie C. Sutton, aiding
and abetting drunk driving,
continued.
Bobby Jack Reece, drunk
driving, reckless driving, speed
ing, continued.
Robert Warren Munger, drunk
driving, continued.
Arizona Dills Blaine, fail and
refuse to take precaution neces
sary to members of her house
hold and community from be
coming Infected with tubercu
losa, prayer for judgment con
tinued.
Charley Henry, no drivers li
cense, Improper registration, $25,
costs.
Charles Martin Hodgln, driv
ing after license revoked, ?
months suspended. $200, ooste;
drunk driving, 6 months sus
pended, $300 costs.
Troy Crisp, drunk driving, M
days suspended, $100, costs.
Jural Smith and Louise Hall,
adultery, coats, have to April
term to lawfuly marry. _
O. H. Bumside, assault, con
tinued.
Turner C. Anderson, reekloss
driving, 30 days suspended, $??,
costs.
Claude Cowart, violation of
prohibition laws, $1,000, costs.
Charles Kenneth Cloer, drunk
driving, alias capias issued.
Howard Swafford, non-sap
port, continued.
Austin Dills, drunk driving
and hit and run, 90 days sus
pended on condition that de
fendant return to state hos
pital in Raleigh.
John C. Southards, drunk
driving, plea of reckless driv
ing, $50, costs.
Harold Martin, drunk driv
ing. continued.
George Howard Reece. aiding
and abetting drunk driving,
continued.
Belv Davis, possessing and
transporting firecrackers, nol
pros with leave.
Claude Martin, abandonment,
bond set at $500.
E. M. West, drunk driving
and speeding, 90 days suspend
ed, $125, costs.
Verlin Curtis, drunk driving,
nol pros with leave.
Lester B. Chappel, drunk
driving, fqffeit of cash bond.
Henderson Hayes, drunk driv
ing, alias sci fa.
SEE NO. 4, PAGE 15
The Weather
The week's temperatures and rainfall, as
recorded in Franklin by Marison Stile*,
I'. S. weather observer, and at the Coweeta
Ifydrologic Laboratory:
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 55 42 1.72
Thursday 59 31 .31
Friday 50 21
Saturday 55 39 .72
Sunday 51 42 .10
Monday 48 32 .69
Tuesday 40 27 .01
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 58 40 l.lt
Thursday 49 SI 148
Friday 50 22 t ....
Saturday 54 39 1.07
Sunday 52 41 95
Monday U 34 l.M
Tuesday 41 J7 07