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VOL. LXIX? NO. 7
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 1954
TEN rAOBS
LAW PROBING
BREAK-INS AT
SUMMER HOMES
Sheriff Disclose*
Thieves Looted 26
In Macon-Jackson
Officers of Macon and Jack
son and S.B.I, agents are joint
ly probing a rash of summer
home break-ins in the High
lands-Cashiers area, Macon
Sheriff J. Harry Thomas report
' ed this week.
He disclosed that some 26
summer residences in the two
counties have been ransacked
by thieves apparently interested
only in guns, ammunition, and
whiskey.
Twelve homes in the High
lands area have fallen victim to
looters, he said.
Night and day for the past
week, officers of the two coun
ties and the state agents have
been investigating the out
break, Sheriff Thomas said, and
he predicted arrests at an
early date.
A number of fingerprints
"lifted" at some of the homes
are now being studied by the
S.B.I, laboratory in Raleigh, he
said. Also, a number of suspects
have been picked up for ques
tioning.
Highlands citizens are offer
ing $150 reward for information
leading to the arrest and con
viction of the guilty parties.
Sheriff Thomas said he and
the other officers believe all of
the break-ins are the work of
the same individuals. Almost
without exception, entrance was
gained to the homes with a
"pry bar", the officer explain
ed. through the front door or
a window.
And in most cases, the thieves
passed over valuables like sil
verware, radios, and electrical
appliances and took only guns,
ammunition, and whiskey.
At several homes, the sheriff
said deep freezers and food
pantries were raided and the
thieves took time out from ran
sacking the places to prepare
meals
Although the thieves emptied
bureaus and closets and littered
the homes, no serious damage
was done, Sheriff Thomas said.
However, two doors at the
Newton Hardie home near High
lands were completely ripped
from their hinges and had to
be replaced.
The thieves hit the homes of
Dr. Logan Robinson, Mrs. Aud
rey Powell, and Lee Radeker, in
the Ravanel Lake section; the
Chester N. Wright and Botts
homes in the Shortoff section;
and C. B. Henreques, Dr. G. R.
Norton, J. W. Crawford, Jr.,
Frank M. Smith, Lewis Caldwell,
Frank McKinney, and Newton
Hardie. in the Walhalla Road
section.
Sheriff Thomas commended
the citizens of Highlands for
the assistance in the investiga
tion ^nd he said valuable infor
mation. which should lead to
early arrests, has been received.
All of the break-ins probably
happened some time within the
past two weeks, he said.
In addition to Sheriff Thom
as. officers investigating in
clude S.B.I. Agents P. R. Kitch
en, oi Waynesville, and Jack
Thomas, of Statesville, High
lands Chief of Police Russell
Paxton. Deputy Newell Pender -
grass, Patrolmen H. T. Fergu
son A. A. Lewis, and John Sides,
and Jackson Deputy Frank Al
len.
Band Boosters
Meeting Slated
A special meeting of the
Franklin Band Boosters Club
has been called for next Thurs
day night (February 18) at the
high school at 7:30 o'clock, it
has been announced.
Slated for approval of the
meeting is a plan to raise money
for the band through the sale
of memberships to four con
certs during 1954.
Bad Check Passer
Arrested Thursday
Ronald D. Bradford, about 21,
of Asheville, was arrested here
by officers late Thursday night
for passing bad checks on local
merchants.
Sheriff J. Harry Thomas said
the merchants refused to press
charges and Bradford was re
leased after paying the amounts
of the checks.
Miner Hurt
In Cave-In
Goes Home
A. W. Reid, 60, veteran Frank
lin miner who was Injured in a
cave-in February 8 at his Mill
Knob mica mine, was released
from Angel Hospital Sunday
and returned to his home.
However, he is still under the
care of a doctor, according to
the hospital.
Mr. Reld, saved by a quick
thinking miner who uncovered
his face after the slide, receiv
ed a fractured right shoulder
blade and other injuries.
Another miner, Donald Hol
land, 38, of Cullasaja, died in
the cave-in.
Cage Tourneys
Slated In March
March is the month for cage
tournaments, both male and fe
male varieties, in the Smoky
Mountain Conference and the
Franklin lassies are again high
ly favored to cop the girls'
crown.
The girls' tourney is sched
uled March 4-6-10-12 in An
drews. Bryson City will be the
host city to the boys' cage clas
sic, March 3-5-11-13.
Tournament dates were set
Wednesday night of last week
in Sylva at a conference meet
ing. Attending from here were
Coach R. A. (Art) Byrd, Joseph
A. Sterner, and County School
Supt. Holland McSwain.
Tournament drawings are
slated February 24 at a con
ference session in Cherokee.
The meeting in Sylva saw
Highlands lose the chaace to
be host to the tournaments by
close votes. On both, the Ma
con high school missed by one
vote, according to Coach Byrd.
Franklin's high scoring girls'
team ? tourney champ last year
? currently Is leading the field
in conference play. The team
has only one blemish on its
record this year ? a loss to
Hayesville.
The Franklin boys are jockey
ing between 3rd and 4th place.
O.E.S. Chapter Plans
Valentine Party Saturday
A Valentine party sponsored
by the Nequassa Chapter of
Order of the Eastern Star will
be held at Kelly's Tea Room
Saturday night at 7:30 o'clock.
A small admission will be
charged.
Games will be played, prizes
given, entertainment and re
freshments.
? jUff Photo fcv /. P. Brady
The Macon County Chorus, composed of home demonstration club women, has become quite ,
an attraction in the county. On April 8 thfe choral group will add another feather to its cap
when it gives a performance at the district H. D. Federation in Cullowhee. The chorus was
formed in January, 1952, under the direction of OrvaJ Murray. When Mr. Murray accepted a
job out of the county, S. F. Beck, Franklin band director, took over. Members of the chorus are
(1st row ? L to R) Mrs. Jack Cabe, .Miss Gladys Sellers, Mrs. Eugene Couch, Mrs. James Thomp
son, Mrs. Carroll Gibson, and Mrs. Floyd Martin; 2nd row: Mr. Beck, Mrs. R. D. Burnette,
county music leader, Mrs. Frank I. Murray, Mrs. Roscoe Higdon, Mrs. Pearl Troughton, Mrs. E.
C. Harmon, Mrs. E. R. Andrus, Mrs. Jeter Higdon, Mrs. E. J. Carpenter, Sr., Mrs. J. P. Shuford,
Mrs. Wiley Clark, Mrs. Charles Ferguson, Mrs. Roy F. Cunningham, and Mrs. Bill Bryson.
SCHOOLS FIND
POLITICS HOT
Students Preparing
To Take Over Duties
Of Local Officials
Politics ? even more avid and
hotly embraced than in real life
? is raging this week, through
the schools of the county as
students pave the way for elec
tions before taking over town
and county governmental duties
for a day ? February 26.
The Franklin Jaycees are
sponsoring the Americanism
project in the schools with the
idea of giving students some
idea of how their county and
town governments operate.
Parties have been formed in
the schools and pre-election
campaigns are under way. Bal
loting to pick those who will
step into the governmental
shoes of the county and town
officers is scheduled in the
schools next week.
Under the Jaycee plan, two
parties ? .Maconians and Caro
linians? were supposed to be
formed and pick slates of can
didates at each school. But, tak
ing the lead from real-life pol
itics, a group of Franklin High
students broke off last week
from regular party lines and
formed a third party, The Lib
eral Party.
And interest is running high
in all of the . other schools, ac
cording to G. A. Jones, Jr., Jay
cee project chairman.
Officers to take over in Frank
lin and Highlands will come
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 10
? Franklin Press Photo
Pictured above is the new $28,000 three-story addition to the
C'owee Baptist Church, which is virtually complete except for
some work on the heating plant. Future plans call for the con
struction of p. new auditorium. The white frame building in the
background is the old church.
New Cowee Church Building
Nearing Completion - Gales
The new $28,000 addition to
the Cowee Baptist Church is
virtually complete, except for
some work on the heating sys
tem. according to the pastor,
the Rev. M. T. Oales.
Although the three story struc
ture cost only $28,000. Mr. Oales
said it is worth much more "be
cause we've been able to cut a
lot of corners in the building
program". He estimated the real
value somewhere In the neigh
borhood of $40,000.
And the church's building
plans are far from complete.
The pastor said his congrega
tion hopes to have a new $25.
000 auditorium, with a seating
capacity of 400. under construc
tion in the early summer. Until
the auditorium is ready for oc
cupancy, the church will use
the upper floor of the new
building for worship services.
The present frame church will
be removed when the second
phase of the program gets und
erway.
The basement of the new ad
dition contains the young peo
ple and adult departments, the
middle floor three nurseries,
beginner and primary depart
ments, a library, and a study.
The upper floor also Is being
used for the Intermediate and
junior departments.
Dimes Drive Appears Headed
Over Top Of $3,000 Quota
Fried Rabbit'
For Dimes Drive
Tonight (Thursday) rabbits
will march on polio.
The bunnies will strike a lick
?it the crippling disease by be- |
coming part of the menu at a !
"fried rabbit dinner" at the
Franklin High cafeteria at 7:30
o'clock. Proceeds will be turned |
over to the March of Dimes, ac- !
cording to Raymond Led ford, I
president of the sponsoring j
Boys' Council.
Forty-five rabbits ? bagged by 1
eagle-eyed student hunters ?
will be taken out of deep freez
ers this morning and will be
prepared by members of the
Girls' Council.
"They'll serve as long as the
rabbits last", the president said.
The public is invited.
Other officers of the Boys'
Council are Bobby Womack,
vice-president, Mark Dowdle,
secretary, and Bobby Young,
treasurer.
Konda Teague is president of
the girls' organization, Julia
Waldroop is vice-president,
Marjorie Moody, secretary, and
Luana Baker, treasurer.
Practice Room
For Local Band
Being Arranged
lemporary practice quaneiaj
are now being arranged for the
Franklin Band, which found it- j
self a homeless orphan when
the old high school building
was condemned as a fire hazard
early in December.
County School Supt. Holland
McSwain said Monday that a
ground floor room in the old ,
building is being fitted with an j
outside entrance for use by the ,
band.
This measure has been ap
proved by Fire Chief A C. Ty
sl.nger. who closed dowrr the old j
building on the grounds that it j
was a. fire hazard and . was in
danger of collapsing if over
loaded.
The band department was on j
the second floor. Since the clos- |
ing of the building, no practice
sessions have been held, accord
ing to Band Director S F Beck.
Supt. McSwain explained the ]
solution is "purely temporary
and highly inadequate, but we
have to have some place for
the band to practice. The peo
ple of Macon County have too
much invested in their chil- j
dren's musical education to let
interest in the band decline."
The real solution, he contend
ed, is in the construction of a
new auditorium-gymnasium at
Franklin High, with facilities
for a complete music depart
ment. This was included in the
list of needs for the county in
the recent survey conducted in
connection with last October's
school building bond issue, the
superintendent said.
L. M. HANSON DIES
Lonnle M. Henson, 00, died
Wednesday at 6 a. m. at his
home in the Otto Community.
Services are planned today
(Thursday i at 2 p. m. at the!
Asbury Methodist Church.
As things stand now, the an
nual March of Dimes campaign
appears headed over the top of
the $3,000 goal ? thanks to the
aggressive efforts of organiza
tions, businesses, communities,
and schools.
Mrs. G. R. McSween, co
chairman of the drive, said
Tuesday a total of $1,899.97 has
been banked, and that several
hundred more has been report
ed, but not turned in. Also, a
report has not been received
from the Highlands campaign ?
a heavy supporter ? and the
test-tube coin collectors spotted
in businesses throughout the
county have not been emptied.
The co-chairman expressed
confidence that when the final
total is made the county will be
well over its goal.
Mrs. McSween said the bulk
of the credit far the success of
this year's drive belongs to the
schools, organizations, and busi
nesses that staged benefits to
raise large amounts of money.
Following is a list of contri
butors, other than individuals:
East Franklin School, $169;
Cartoogechaye School, $150;
Chapel (Negro) School, $31.75;
Franklin Schools, $180; Otto
School, $100; Iotla School, $150;
Millshoal, $108; Scaly, $4.60;
Cowee, $150; Longview, $21;
Smithbridge, $100; Mulberry,
$35; Franklin Junior Woman's!
Club, $152.96; Rotary Club,
$71.50; Franklin Jaycees, $121.
35; Van Raalte, $50; Franklin
Press, $20; Macon Theatre,
$190; Franklin business district,
$70 39: Rirfepprpst. Rant.ist
Church, $14^22; 5th Sunday
Sing, $109; 1st Sunday Sing
(Walnut, Creek i, $7; and V.F.W
benefit ijarty, $100.
AT BIBLE CLINIC
The Rev. and Mrs. C. T. Tayl
or are attending the Daily Va
cation Bible School Clinic at
Fruitland this week.
Slagle Resigns Post
As Election Leader
State School
Officials Here
On Business
Three officials from the State
Department of Education in
Raleigh are conducting official
business in the county this
week, according to an an
nouncement made by County
School Supt. Holland McSwain.
Miss Gladys Strawn, nutri- '
tionistj arrived here Monday
and, accompanied by .Mrs. Beth
Guffey, elementary supervisor,
is visiting all schools in the I
county helping teachers map
out new nutrition programs.
Tonight (Thursday) Miss
Strawn is scheduled to address
a meeting of the Nantahala
P.T.A., and tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock she will speak to
home demonstration club lead- j
ers at a special meeting at the I
Agricultural Building. In the
afternoon she plans a meeting
with Mrs. Frank Shope. public
health nurse, and all 1st grade
teachers tp lay the foundation
for next year's pre-school chil
dren days.
Tuesday. Fiss Doris Kimel.
music supervisor, arrived to as- i
sist Miss Alice Weaver, county
music supervisor, in preparing j
a music program for the schools. 1
She will leave some time today.
Arriving this morning was Dr.
Arnold Hoffman, head super
visor of music, who will address
a county-wide meeting of teach
ers at 2:30 o'clock at the East
Franklin School.
This will serve also as a meet
ing: of the local unit of the
North Carolina Education As
sociation, Mr. McSwain said,
and will be highlighted by the
election of new officers.
Valentine Bake Sale
Slated On Saturday;
Proceeds For Shoes
Members of the Franklin Jun
ior Woman's Club plan their
annual "St. Valentine's Day
Bake Sale" Saturday at the
Nantahala Power and Light
Company showroom from 9 a.
m. to 1 p. m., it has been an
nounced.
Proceeds of the fund raising
project are earmarked for the j
shoe fund of the club's "Chll- J
dren's Clothing Closet", which |
supplies clothes for needy chil
dren of the county.
Homemade pies, cakes, cook- !
ies, and candies will be on sale.
LIGHTS I P
A four-way traflic light sys- j
tem to control traffic on Frank
lin's Main Street and the Court
house Circl" was installed last
week However, the system is
not in operation yet.
Franklin High Honor Students
?SUH Phf kv /. P. flr.i./ < I
Holland McSwain, Jr., son of County School Supt. and Mrs.
Holland McSwaln, Is the valedictorian and Miss Ruth Edwards,
daucbtn of Mr. ana Mrs. W. R. Edwards, of Franklin, Route 3,
is the salutatorian of the 1954 graduating class of Franklin High
"rhrol. Commencement exercises are scheduled May 25 at the
Mscon Theatre. The Key. Bryan Hatchett, pastor of the Frank
lin Preahyterlan Church, will deliver the baccalanreate sermon
May 23.
Some Unofficially
In Primary Race,
Interviews Reveal
Slier Slagle, chairman of the
county elections board, has re
signed his post, it was disclosed
this week, and the county ex
ecutive committee has schedul
ed a meeting Monday night to
pick his successor.
Meanwhile, the political pic
ture here for the May 29 Dem
ocratic primary is just about as
sharp as it can be, considering
that candidates have no chair
man to file with.
The committee meeting to se
lect a new chairman is set for
the county courthouse at 7
o'clock. The committee's recom
mendation will be forwarded to
Raleigh for approval by the
State Board of Elections, local
party officials said this week.
Action on the recommendation
will be taken by the state board
early in March, according to in
formation received here from B.
Everett Jordan, state chairman
of the Democratic executive
committee.
Precinct chairmen make up
the local executive committee,
and it reported that several men
are being considered for the
post.
To offset the fact that can
didates far the primary are un
able to file, a Press reporter
this week interviewed several
county officials ac to their in
tentions and confirmed several
rumors concerning candidates.
This year's 'off-year'' election
is putting at stake the offices
of Sheriff, Register of Deeds,
Clerk of Superior Court, Com
missioners, Board of Education .
Coroner, ami ipu?Veyor Q/i 'the -
county level.' t)th*r posts to be
filled include 20th District So
licitor, U. S. Senator and Rep
resentative; and 33rd District
State Senator.
Sheriff J. Harry Thomas and
Register of Deeds Lake V. Shope
both declared their intentions
of running in the primary. The
Sheriff is now ending his 1st
four-year term, while the reg
ister of deeds Is winding up his
3rd.
Miss Kate McGee, 1st termer
in the Clerk of Superior Court
post, said she "definitely" is
not a candidate for reelection.
(Miss McGee plans to open a
Main Street dress shop at an
early date>.
Coroner George R. Henson al
so is not running for reelection.
Jack Ragan. Franklin mortician,
said yesterday (Wednesday* he
plans to file for the post.
Congressman George A. Shuf
fo.rd, of Asheville, informed The
Press by telegram this week
that he will run again for the
nomination as representative of
the 12th Congressional District,
of which Macori is a part.
Two men have filed in the
20th Judicial District solicitor
race in the primary, incumbent
Thad D. Bryson, Jr., of Bryson
City, announced this week.
GroverD Davis. Waynesville at
torney and former solicitor, an
nounced several weeks ago Mr.
Bryson was nominated in 1948
to fill the unexpired term of
Dan K Moore, of Sylva, who
is now a Superior Court judge.
In 1950. Mr. Bryson was re
elected to a four-year term.
A state senator for the 33rd
Senatorial District ( Macon,
Swain, Graham. Clay, and Cher
okee i will come this year from
Clay under provisions of an act
af the 1951 General Assembly
rotating the post among the
SEE NO 2. PAGE 10
The Weather
Tlie week's temperatures and rainfall. a?
recorded in Franklin by Manson Stilea.
U. S. weather observer, and at the Coweeta
llydrnloffic Laboratory:
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 53 28 .04
Thursday 46 22
Friday 49 33
Saturday 51 29
Sunday 48 22
Monday 48 15
Tuesday 63 34
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday .... 54 28
Thursday 47 23 .03
Friday 50 34
Saturday 53 27
Sunday 49 SO _
Monday 50 19
Tuesday M S3