Itf If It If g
Wh* ISjiaWanto* JHacntuan
PRICE
10 Cents
70th Year ? No. 50
Franklin, N. C. Thursday, December 15, 1955
Sixteen Pages
Holly Springs Winner Of Area Contest
1 5-Y ear T erm Given
Woman In Slaying
Boy Is Committed
To School For Boys;
Mrs. Shelton Freed
A continuing family squabble
that triggered the pistol slay
ing ol a 55-year-old T. V. A.
lineman on October 22 near
Franklin was resolved shortly
after noon Friday in Superior
Court here.
Branding the shooting as
"unnecessary", Judge Dan K.
Moore sentenced Mrs. Hazel
Stuffel, confessed slayer of her
step-father, Kenneth Tom Shel
ton, to 15 to 20 years in prison.
Mrs. Stuffel's 14-year-old son,
Gene, whom the judge describ
ed as "overindulged" by his
grandfather, was commlted to
the State Industrial School for
Boys for an indeterminate term.
The state settled a nol pros
with leave (case dismissed with
provisions for reopening at any
time) on the third figure in the
trial, the slain man's wife, Mrs.
Gertrude Shelton.
Sentencing of the mother and
her son ended nearly three days
of testimony relating to the
shootin.; at the Shelton home.
Neither registered any emo
tion wh;;n the judge pronounc
ed sentence, but as the tension
in the packed courtroom sub
sided during a recess, Mrs. Stuf
fel dabbed at her eyes with a
crumpled handkerchief. Her 12
year-old daughter sobbed at
her side.
'Bad situation
La a brief resume' of testi
mony prior to passing sentence
on the two, Judge Moore con
cluded that a "bad situation"
apparently existed in the Shel
ton household for the past few
years - "an explosive situation
that was bound to blow up . . .
it did on October 22".
Despite this, however, the
judge said he believed the "kill
ing was unnecessary".
Jury Trial Waived
A jury trial In the case was
waived Tuesday afternoon of
last week when Solicitor Thad
D Bryson accepted a plea of
voluntary manslaughter for Mrs.
Stuffel. one of involuntary man
slaughter for the boy, and a
nol pros with leave for Mrs.
Shetton.
All three had been charged
with murder and the grand
jury indictments so stipulated.
While the solicitor's accep
tance of the lesser pleas came
as a surprise in some quarters,
Judge Moore noted that evi
dence brought out during the
trial indicated the decision was
well founded.
Packs Courtroom
As the most highly-publicized
case in recent years here, the
trial of Mrs Stuffel and her
son packed the courtroom. Be
tween 50 and 75 spectators
-stood along the back wall dur
ing the proceedings.
Wednesday morning saw the
trial go into full swing a.s the
state produced several wit
nesses who described cirq^pi
stnnce.s surrounding Shelton's
death from a .32 calibre pistol
wound in the back.
Dr Edgar Angel testified as
SEE NO. 1. PAGE 4
? ? ?
Judge Moore
Recesses Term;
Cases Listed
Judge Dan K. Moore recessed
the December term of Superior
Court late Tuesday afternoon
and unless some pressing mat
ters arise It will not reconvene.
The recess came at the end
of the trial of civil matters,
which had occupied the court's
time since Monday morning.
With the exception of some late
cases, the criminal docket was
cleared Friday afternoon.
Under the law, the term does
not end officially until mid
night Saturday.
Hospitals Get
$21,400 From
Ford Allocation ,
A total of $21,400 has been -1
received by two hospitals in -
this county, a gift from the '
Ford Foundation. I
Angel Hospital, Inc., gets $11,- "
400 and Highlands Community
Hospital, $10,000. i
The grants are part of a
$200-million appropriation giv
en by the foundation to private- 1
ly supported hospitals in the c
country. '
It is, understood the hospitals
will bp able to spend the sums
as needed.
Contest !
c
Draws 11
Eleven communities are en- (
tered in the Nantahala Power I
and Light Company's annual i
outdoor Christmas lighting con- c
test, according to W. W. (Bill) I
Sloan, director of rural service, I
who Is in charge. t
Displays will be up in the
communities from the 17th
through the 26th.
Five cash awards, totaling 1
$100, will be made this year for *
the best entries. First place will |
get $30; 2nd, $25; 3rd, $20; 4th, '
$15; and 5th, $10. <
As in the past, the names of *
the judges will not be announc
ed, Mr. Sloan said.
Following are the commun- ?
itles entered and the locations '
of their exhibits:
Sethel ? Bethel Methodist
Church.
Carson ? Carson Chapel Meth- s
odlst Church. 1
Clark's Chapel ? Clark's Chap- 1
el Methodist Church.
Cowee ? near Cowee picnic 1
area. c
Cullasaja ? near Womack's c
Cottages (US 64).
Higdonville ' ? at Higdonville >
entrance sign on US 64. g
Holly Springs ? at community .
building.
Iotla ? at home of Jay Hous- c
ton on NC 28. x ' a
Patton ? at community build- b
ing. e
Upper Cartooeechayf near t
Cartooeechayc Baptist Church i:
' US 64 )
Otto? Coweeta Church. u
? ll
THIS COURTROOM photograph shows Mrs. Hazel Stuffel ''
and her mother, Mrs. Gertrude .Shelton (both seated) being com
farted by Mrs. Stuffel's 12-year-old daughter (standing, left) u
and another member of the family. Mrs. Stuffel was sentenced 1
to 15-?# years for the slaying of her step-father. g
? Staff Photo liy J. I*. flrariy
ACCEPTING HOLLY SPRINGS' $500 check for winning the YV. N. C. rural contest is Wood
o? Franklin (left) at Saturday's awaxds lunch von in Asheville. Making the presentation is
rlauriee Pnckett, president of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Looking on is Dr. Paul D.
sunders, editor of The Southern Planter, who who was guest speaker.
Christmas Is In The Air;
Activities Are Scheduled
Christmas is everywhere ? in
he nippy, invigorating air, in
ihurches, schools, homes, and
msinesses.
Here's proof of the spirit:
Pageant Tonight
Tonight (Thursday;, a Christ
nas pageant is to be presented
it the Cowee School. Set to be
fin at 7:30, it is being sponsor
id by the P. T. A.
Yule Bazaar
A Christmas bazaar tomorrow
Friday) at the Nantahala
Jower and Light Company show
oom will be held by the women
>t the Longview Baptist Church,
lours will be 9 a. m. to 4 p. m.
'roceeds will be for the church
mllding fund.
Carson Pageant
Sunday night at 7, the Car
Mo Decision
Dn Spending
School Money
No decision has been reached
is to how Macon County will
pend its $152,027.87 for school
milding expansion, according
o Supt. Holland McSwain.
The allocation is the final
hare of $50,000,000 voted in
953 for schools and It brings
o $315,027.87 the total amount
eceived here. A prior alloca
ion of $163,000 was used to
onstruct 18 classrooms in the
ounty system.
Discussing the amount, Mr.
McSwain commented "we're
;lad to have what we received
. . but we could use more.0
However, he pointed out, Ma
ori's average per child is well
ibove the state average. On the
lasts of present enrollment,
ach child here is getting more
han $80, while the state figure
s about $51.
Projects under construction in
using the allocation include
unchrooms at Cowee and Otto
nd vocational shops at Nanta
lala and Highlands, the super
intendent said.
The final decision probably
.ill not be made until alter
?embers of the board of cdu
ation hold meetings in the
cl.oul districts to discuss needs
_,oca!s Downed
3y Bryson City
Franklin's lads and lassies
ropped their, games Friday
.I'lht in Bryson City, as the
mil season picked up steam.
The boys lost 53 to 39 and
he girls 36 to 19.
Tuesday night in Glenville,
he boys won 51 to 26, but the
;irls made it two in a row by
osing, 48 to 20. Crawford Moore
rd the boys to the win.
Friday night at 7 and 9,
i'clock, the locals will play in
{lghl&nds. This will be the last
;nme until after the holidays.
son Sunday School pageant will
be held at the church.
Baptist Program
Members of thp jflrst Baptist
Church plan weir annual
Christmas program Sunday. It
will begin at 9:45 a. m. with
"White Christmas", and will
run continuously through the
morning worship service, ac
cording to the pastor, the Rev.
M. W. Chapman. Poods and
gifts for charitable purposes
will be contributed by the Sun
day School and church for the
"White Christmas" feature.
At 6:15 the Training Union
of the church will meet as
scheduled.
A Christmas play, "In the
Shepherds' Field", is to be pre
sented at 7:30. .Mrs. Curtis Pear
son and Mrs. M. W. Chapman
are directing. Mrs. J. C. Jacobs
and Mrs. E. W. Fisher have
charge of costumes. Music by
the church choirs will be super
vised by Mrs. Howard Barnwell.
Organist will be Mrs. BUI Bry
son.
Burlington rarty
A Christmas party for the
children of employes of Burl
ington Industries here is set for
2 p. m. Sunday at the East
Franklin School, according to
Superintendent Stephen A.
Bundy.
"Santa Claus" will be on hand
and gift bags of toys, oandy
fruits and a variety of other
things will be distributed to all
children 10 years and under,
Mr. Bundy said. A brief pro
gram of carols also is planned
and the showing of a movie,
"The Littlest Angel". The su
perintendent will speak briefly.
The party is expected to draw
some 300 children and parents
Annual Cantata
The third annual Jaycee
ponsored Christmas cantata is
set for December 23 at the
First Methodist Church. The
choir will be composed of voices
from the Methodist, Baptist,
and Presbyterian churches.
Admission to the cantata will
be a gift for the needy, accord
ing to the Rev. J. Bryan Hatch
ett. who Is in charge for th?
Jnycees.
Benefit Yule Sale
Christmas foods will be fea
tured at a benefit bake sale
Saturday in the Nantahala
Power show room from 9 a. in
to noon. It will bo sponsored
by the Franklin Junior Wom
an's Club
Van Kaalte Party
Employes of the Van Kaalte
plant plan their annual Christ
mas pM'ty Saturday at 7:30 p.
m. at the East Franklin School.
Plant Manager Norman Blaine
reports the program will include
carol singing and gift ex
changes
Play At Prentiss
A play, "King of Bethlehem",
will be presented the night of
December 23 at the Prentiss
Baptist Church. It is being di
SEE NO. 2. PAOE 8
Yule Decorations
Contest Planned
By Garden Club
Five prizes are being award
ed this year by the Franklin
Garden Club to the winning
entries in its annual Christmas
lighting contest, according to
Mrs. E. C. Kingsbery, contest
chairman.
To be judged by a secret com
mittee the night of December
22, the contest is open to all
residents within a radius of
one mile of the city limits.
Judging will be from 7 to 10
o'clock.
Three divisions for judging
have been set up. They are (1)
best lighted and decorated pub
lic building, (2> best store win
dow, and (3) best home deco
rations. The latter category is
divided into three groups ? best
outdoor decorations, best door
decorations, and best window
display.
Other members of Mrs. Klngs
bery's committee are Mrs. J. E.
S. Thorpe and Miss Laura Jones.
Bundy Announces
Christmas Schedule
For Plant Here
A Christmas operating sched
ule for Burlington Industries
here has been announced by
Superintendent Stephen A.
Bundy.
The holiday at the Franklin
plant will be observed from the
end of the" second shift on
Thursday, the 22nd. to the be
ginning of the third shift on
Monday, the 26th.
Circuit Churches Plan
Benefit Sunday Dinner
The churches of the Frank
lin Methodist Circuit will spon
sor a "Sunday dinner", to be
served December !8 from 12 un
til 2 o'clock, at the Carson
Chapel community house
The proceeds will go to furn
ish the parsonage.
The public is invited
Given $500 Check
For '55 Activities
Holly Springs ? the community that pioneered the
rural community development program in this coun
ty in 1952 ? believes in the progress slogan, "There
Is No Limit To What A Community Can Do ? If It
Wants To."
Four years of unlimited wanting materialized for
the 63-family community in Asheville on Saturday
when it was announced as the winner of the 1955
W. N. C. Rural Community Development Contest.
At an awards luncheon at the Battery Park Hotel,
as the list of those competing shortened with each
Lee Reports
County In
Bad Shape'
Macon Is one of three coun
ties in the 14th Highway Divi
sion described in "bad shape"
from the standpoint of mainte
nance funds, according to Dis
trict Engineer C. W. Lee.
Unless additional funds are
received soon to boost the de
pleted maintenance account,
the engineer said the district
maintenance force will have to
be cut.
At present, Macon's monthly
expenditures are running about
double its allotment, he said.
Jackson and Polk are in the
same shape financially as this
county, Mr Lee added
The engineer said he and
Commissioner Harry E. Buch
anan have discussed the situ
ation and the latter has asked
for additional funds for both
the 13th and 14th divisions, un
til appropriations are made by
the next legislature.
Asked what will happen if no
money is available, Mr. Lee
said:
"We'll do the best we can
with what we have . . . just
have to stretch our forces and
equipment".
Higher maintenance costs, as
a result of the secondary road
building program under the
Scott administration, are large
ly to blame for the shortage he
explained In addition, for the
past 10 years the state has tak
en over the maintenance of
about 75 miles of road annual
ly in the 14th division, he said.
Officials in the two divisions
are hoping to receive aid from
the governor's surplus.
Highway Bids
Not Cleared
Bids for construction of the
12.4fi-mile link of US 23-411
from Franklin to the Georgia
state line still have not cleared.
They have been approved by
the State Highway Commission,
subject to the approval of the
Bureau of Public Roads, which
is assisting in financing the link
with the state The latter agen
cy has not approved the project
hut it is expected at anv time,
according to highway officials
MF.ETTNG CHANGED
The Franklin Junior Woman's
Club December business meet
ing. previously scheduled for
December 26. will be held De
cember 19 at S o'clock at the
Presbyterian church
More Jail Space Needed,
Grand Jury Recommends
Additional space is "badly
Heeded" at the county jail, ac
cording t6 a report of inspec
tion liled bv the grand jury of
the December term of Superior
Court.
It hnd this to say about the
jail
Jail is being k-pt in gi>od
manner, but more space is bad
ly needed Oftentimes prisoners
must be transported to other
jails for the simple reason that
there is not sufficient room, ac
cording to the law. to accom
modate them. We have refer
ence to mixed sex and also to
minors and mixed races. Addi
tional space could be made at
a very small expense to the
county."
Jurors inspecting the jail in
cluded Joe Reese, T. A 'Batc
n'fin. rind Wiley Stamev
A group composed of John
Campbell. Don Watson, and B
F Waldroop found the prison
camp in "excellent shape"
"Several window panes need
puttying, some replacing: all of
fices need painting; rest rooms
need some repair," was the re
port of jurymen visiting the
county's venerable courthouse
They were J E Hicks Robs
Roper, and Bert Zachary
The grand jury submitted its
report to Judge Dan K Moore
on Wednesday of last week
Fred Hannah was foreman of
the body
tiic mauuu ucic
gatlon ran the gamut of emo
tion ? from surface nonchalance,
to hopeful expectancy, and,
finally, to an elated whoop of
victory when the closely-guard
ed secret was out.
A smiling Woodrow Franklin,
who was president during the
year, stepped to the speaker's
rostrum to receive the $500
check from Maurice Puckett,
president of the Asheville
Chamber of Commerce.
The first prize was given by
the Farmers Federation.
Balanced Program
In an interview following the
luncheon, Morris L. McOough,
executive secretary of the Ashe
ville Agricultural Development
Council, said it was his under
standing the judges 01 the con
test were impressed by Holly
Springs' balanced program of
improved farm and home man
agement and the emphasis plac
ed on increasing [arm Income
The council sponsors the area
contest.
Tops Projects
Under its 1955 program, the
pace-setting community in
creased hatching egg flocks
from 6,859 birds to 20,805 and
beef cattle from 376 head to
517. Its top projects covered a
wide range in farm. home, and
church life A home was pur
chased and remodeled inside
and out by the community for a
parsonage for the Holly Springs
Baptist Church; seven direc
tional signs were erected on
side roads in the community,
each listing the families living
on the road: several new rec
reational features for young
and old wore pushed to com
pletion at the community build
ing; and a vigorous program
of youth activities. Including
the sponsoring of a Boy Scout
troop, was undertaken.
These projects carried Holly
Springs to victory in the coun
ty rural contest and it auto
matically represented Macon in
the area event.
Attend Luncheon
Those attending the Asheville
luncheon included Mr. and Mrs.
Sam Winkleblack, Mr and Mrs.
Harry Kinsland, Mr* and Mrs.
Woodrow Franklin and daugh
ter. Betty Jean. Mrs. Rita Fer
guson, Jay Deal. Mrs. Effie
Deal, Mrs. Earl Justice, Mrs. L.
A Berry. Dewey Corbin, Miss
Mildred Corbin. Mr. and Mrs.
Don Seagle. Mr. and Mrs. James
P. Wurst, County Agent T. H.
Fagg. and WW < Bill ? Sloan.
Guest speaker at the lunch
eon was Dr. Paul D. Saunders,
SEE NO 3. PAGE 5
( IOS1NG FOK HOLIDAYS
County school .11 close to
morrow (Friday .or the holi
days Classes will bo resumed
January 2
The Weather
>.!
ri.fal!.
Wed . Dei
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesdax
Wed , Dec
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
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. llh-hlitul !'V
ml \V < N.-wlon. TV \
? J it ?!,.? r.vwifU llyilmloiric
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
8. W 53 23
52 24 .20
42 25 25
'42 11
45 15
45 10
48 8
COWEETA
Temperatures
Hlfjh Low Rain
8 52 26 .18
50
35
40
43
41
45
26
32
U
14
11
10