North Carolina Newspapers

MOORE COUNTY’S LEADING NEWS WEEKLY THE A Paper Devoted to the Upbuilding VOL. 12, NO. 36. ^LAKEVISW £NO manlbv aOOTMePM JACKSOM SORIM08 PINCS ASHLEV HEIGHTS PtMCBUlFF PILOT FIRST IN NEWS, CIRCULATION & ADVERTISING of the Sandhill Territory of North Carolina Aberdeen and Southern Fines, North ( arolina, Friday August 5, 1932 C Or PISTOL BULLET ENDS LIFE OF SHEFFIELD MAN Jonah Davis. Young White Man, Shot by Companion Mon day Night HAD BEEN DRINKING Widespread Interest in Tax Matters News Reports from Many Sections of State Indicate That the Taxpaying Public Is Aroused Over the Matter of County Government Expense Jonah Davis, a young white man of about 22 years of i age, was shot through the jugular vein near Dover church in Sheffield township between sunset and dark Monday evening and died within a few minutes. A coron er’s inquest was held about one o’clock that night and the jery’s verdict was that Davis came to his death by the hand of George Brewer. Brewer was arrested at 5:30 Tuesday morning and is in the Moore county jail. There were no eye witnesses to the shoot ing. The report of the affair as brouirht out at the inquest was that Davis and Brewer went to the Davis home in the late aftenioon and stayed for about 30 minutes. A young man by the name of Wright was at the Davis home and the three left together go ing in the direction of Wright’s home. They went about 150 yards to a point where the road forked, one part leading to the Wright home and the other to Brewer’s. Here (they chatted for a few minutos after which Brewer walked around behind a to bacco pack house and lay down among the weeds. Wright and Pavis talked for some twenty minutes longer, af ter which Davis went around to get Brewer to go With him and Wright to the letter’s home to listen to a “tlak- ing machine.” Brewer was asleep, and failing to awaken him, Davis called t(i Wright that if he could get “George” awake they would go to bed. Wright then left for his home and after going some 200 yards, he heard a pistol shot. Attracted by the shot, he returned to tbe pack hou.'se where hr heard someone ."say: “You won’t! You won’t” Then a second shot sounded. W’right went around the house to where he could see the men Perusal of newspaper headings in the state pajKTs would seem to in dicate that tax matters and budgets are the things most in the minds of the people just now. Cutting the budget and reducing the tax rate appears to "be thefavorite pastime of county governing boards from one end of the state to the other. Hoke county has cut around $3,000 off its general fund; Bertie county cut salaries of all county officers l.‘> per cent, fees of list tak ers 50 per cent and fees of jurors and coroner from $3.00 to $2.00 a day; in Durham county all but two of the county officials accepted a voluntary cut of 10 per cent in s&lary, the two dissenting being the judge and prosecutor of recorder’s court. This cut was one-half that asked by the Durham County Taxpayers’ League. Down in Hert ford county they are discussing the question ol' abolishing the fee system. Down in W'ayne county the negioes protested agbinst the discon tinuance of county agent work an(^ the work will be continued for four months. In this case the negroes themselves raised the county’s share of fhe salary of the county agent. Small cuts in the tax rate are noted in many counties, but in no county yet has there been a report of any tax reduction approaching the Hrastic cut demanded by the Moore County Taxpayers’ League. It is, however, a hopeful sign when interest in a subject becomes so wide spread. At the regular commissioners meet ing in Carthage Monday it was or dered that W. H. Hasty be relieved of a valuation of a real e; tate mort gage in the amount of $(>,000, this beinp listed by error. On account of damage to the house by storm, a reduction of $1,000 in the valuation of the Swett property lii'ted in the name of the Citizen’s Bank and Trust Company was allow ed, this to apply to 1932 taxes. It was ordered that three lots and dwelling in McNeill township listed listed in the name of H. L. Gibbon be increased from a valuation of $1075 to $2500 for 1932 taxation; that Dgll and Dell Air cottages be listed in the name of N. L. Gibbon at a valuation of $1,500; that IG lots and Cousey house be listed be li.sted in the name of Mr. Gibbon at a valuation of $2,- ^ instead of $1,000; that the Stutts ' I house be listed in the name of N. L. Week’s Games Make No Change Tentative Figures Are Released ] Gibbon at a valuation of $2.500, and VASS-LAKEVIEW AND ABERDEEN IN CLOSE RACE COUNTY BUDGET CALLS FOR RATE OF 71 CENTS TAX VALUATIONS GET ATTENTION COMMISSIONERS FIVE CENTS Taxpayers’ League iil Unnecessary Expenditures Order Change in Pay of Juvenile Judge and Recorder’s Court Held Every Week REWARD AUTHORIZED I’reliminary Reports Indicate Several Possible Avenues of Tax Reduction NAME LOCAL COMMITTEES The league is a non-political, non- lartisan organization of the taypay- ers ot the county organized for the following purposes: To investigate and ascertain spend- League Platform Taxpayerw’ Organization Is sues Statement of Purpose and Plan of Work Reduction of county taxes by 25 per cent, ultimately the reduction of taxes in the state and nation, the elimination from government of things that are not governmental, the cutting out of all functions that do ' not definitely pertain to the real pur- ing of taxpayers money by the coun- government as laid down in ty, state and national government. A constitution of state and nation, permanent secretary and record.- will economies that will bring taxes be maintained, and the members and relatively the basis of twenty all citizens will be continuously in-, thirty years ago, a business basis formed of all government expenses in „i- operation for state, county and na- detail, county state and national. tional government, and probably a To organize the citizens to enforce county manager and a business con solidation of county departments with a smaller number of employes, seem ed to be the note that dominated the meeting of the executive committee ol nine of the Moore County Tax League at its session Monday after noon in the court house. an immediate reduction of expenses of the county and state, and thereaf ter to exert the utmost vigilance to keep these expenses within the means of the pt'ople. To nuike a .steady and faithful en deavor to eliminate all unnecessary and paternal functions of both state and national government—as well as i all forms of subsidies, graft, privi-' Uses and free disti-ibution of our ^ money and government assistance to in Relative Standings of League Leaders STANDINGS TO DATE The scrap between Aberdeen and \ ass-Lakeview for the leadership of the county league continues to be the main item of interest in baseball cir cles in the Sandhills. As a result of the week’s games Vass-Lakeview and Aberdeen are still separated by half a game. Va.ss won from Pinehurst while Aberdeen won from Thomas- town and Cameron and also lost to Cameron. The Thomastown-Vass game scheduled for Wednesday was postponed. Southern Pines Wins and Loses Southern Pines on the home grounds lost a game, and won a game. Saturday W'est End with a bat- Brewer was getting up off the ground | streak aided by costly fielding and Davis was sitting on the ground, ■ <‘i'i'ors romped home to the tune of failing to his left. Wright rushed up| to 4. Wednesday, a revamped team and -said to Krewer that he, Brewer,! f^t'liling fautlessly defeated Pinehurst had killed Jonah and Brewer is said' 1- to 3. Neither side scored in the to have exclaimed: “I hate it! I hate inning, Utley of'Pinehurst mak- it.” Brewer left immediately in the | the fir.«t tally in the 2nd, while oirection of his home. | McCormick and Millar came in for By this time the dying boy’s fath-1 Southern Pines. Cole and Currie each made a run for Pinehurst in the 3rd (Please turn to page 10) Crowds Throngring” Typhoid Clinics Increasing Interest on Part of People Makes Serious Epi demic of Fever Unlikely The clinic at Southern Pines last Wednesday for an hour or two gave the Public Health Officer a hot time, or rather a wet time as the perspira tion was visibly dripping from his face, owing to the crowd gathered in the library of the school house to be vaccinated in a certain space of time, as another clinic on schedule for Aberdeen was on for the same after noon. The crowd, however, was jovial and good natured in spite of the nee- rile pricks. A large crowd turned out at the dinic in Aberdeen held at the Spin ning Wheel, where there were so many new ones that the vaccine gave out, and another cdinic was held next morning to finish those left unvacci nated that evening. For the week ending July 16, 1932, there were 39 new typhoid cases throughout the state, and for the week ending July 23, 1932 there were 61 new typhoid fever cases reported. During these week we are glad to be able to report that no cases oc curred in Moore County. The latest addition to the clinics are High Falls and Hemp. At High Falls there was a splendid turn out, 137 being vaccinated. At Hemp Tues day 111 people took the vaccination. “W’e realize that with this increasing interest being taken on the part of the part of the people there is not likely to be a serious epidemic of ty phoid fever in Moore County,” says Dr. Symington. while Webster, Montesanti, Wil.son, .McCormick and Harris crossed the plate for Southern Pines. Webster, Wilson and McCormick added three more in the 4th, and Wilson and Phillips the final two in the 5th. Cameron Defeats .Aberdeen On W'ednesday afternoon the cel- Jarites defeated the league leaders 10-3. Yow, pitching for Aberdeen, pitched a good game but received al- (Please turn to Page Seven) Peaches Moving to ‘ Market Freely Despite Shortage of Crop Price Has Shown Tendency to Weil ken for Publication by Board of Commissioners LOWER THAN LAST YEAR A tentative budget given out by the Board of County Commissioners for publication this week, calls for a tax levy of 71 cents per $100 of real estate valuation in Moore coun ty. This is a reduction of two cents, that the valuation on 172 acres listed in the name of X. L. Gibbon be in creased from $1700 to $2500 in order to equalize values. All of this proper Leads Under Investigation The subcommittee appointed to be gin an incjuiry into county affairs (ffered a report of some things anv business of groups or individuals "‘th the statement that con- whatsoever. Our purpose is to be tax-j ve.,uired. ed the minimum for the legitimate' furctions of the government, and to i expenses might be re tv is in McNeill 'township and the.se | contribute no money for the benefit;«re in the abolitmn of county valuations are to applv to 1932 tax- of any. section, business or person.,-^.ch m.ght save Every citizen of Moore is entitled I* thousand dollars, in the lengthen- . , . f 1 i ing of term of office from two to It was ordered that the valuation to become a member of this league'^ . ' liiur years, saving elections, and also avoiding the breaking in of new men on the residence and other buildings '■'■Pon signing a membership card and of Walter S. Halliwell and Lillian J. I’fying the sum of twenty-five cents. Halliwell be increased from $18,9(10] The annual dues will be twenty-five every two years as it takes about a year to make a new man efficient. last year’s rate being 73 cents. The' to $3.5,000, formerly reduced be error j cents, the fund so obtained to be used <,ale from June to estimate of prt>perty valuation is giv en as $20,000,000. The budget must lie over for twenty 'days before its final adoption. The levy ip the tentative budget is apportioned as follows: SCHOOLS—State — 15.5 cents. Count—six months — 1 cent. Capital outlay—5 cents. Debt service— 5.5 cents. COUNTY—General—15 cents. Poor— 5 cents. Health—2 cents. Debt service—S cents. HIGHWAY—Debt service—14 cents. The following changes from last year’;- apiiortionment are noted, mak ing the difference of two cents be tween the previous rate of 73 cents and the proposetl rate of 71 cents: One cent of the $100 valuation added for county six months schools; a tvvo- cent reduction on the capital outlay, schools a one-cent reduction in the health deiiartment. There has been a downward trend in the tax rate for the last two years and if this proposed drop becomes a certainty, the reduction will be the most welcome at this time of econom- on January (i, 1932. This valuation I exclusively in the expenses of the is to apply to 1U32 taxation. | secretary in gathering and advertis- The Board ordered that the com- inK the facts necessary for the • pensation of the Clerk of the Superior | League’s action. Court as Juvenile judge be fixed at ^ The League shall be governed by $10 per case for each case handled, a Board of Directors consisting of by him. The compensation heretofore j members from each township in has been $300 per year and as the the county. number of cases handled is compara tively small, a savins;' to the county is expected to result from this change. It har. been the custom to hold Re corder’s court each Monday except The duties of the Executive Com mittee are primarily to ascertain ac curately and in detail every item of txpense incurred by the county, whether authorized by the County when the Superior court is in session Commissioners or established by log in the court room. The commissioners | illative act in Raleigh, to publish and ordered that it be held every Monday keep these items continuously before and that the library room in the base-hbe taxpayers; and working with the ment be used during the time thejf'ounty Conimis.^ioners and with rep- court room is in use by the higher j' esentatives at Kaleigh, to lecom- ; mend, and with the approval of the The Board voted to recommend to j members of the League, to demand the State Highway Commission that: the reduction of th^ise items that ap- the road leading ' from highway 70 ' ! f-xcessive or not, the people lack about three miles east of Aberdeen to money to pay for. and the elimination the Hoke County line, about one mil«'|f''' «ny expense that appears to the in length, be taken over by the state. I i-'ue, after presentation, to be un- j necessary to the taxpayers paying Plan Field Day to i Further, to present to the League Celebrate Labor Day ; the items of state expense and to re- ! commend eliminations and economies ic stress. The 1929 rate was $1.08, | pyjj Program of Athletic Events ' !=‘*t forth in the purposes of the Elbertas and Georgia Belles are moving out freely from the Sandhills peach belt, but shipments of peaches to date from Nm-th Carolina are well below last year. Last year at this date 948 cars of peaches had been shipped as against 380 cars this year. The difference in the Georgia crop is still more marked, the figures being 11,251 cars last year and 140B cars this year. Despite the shortage of the crop there has been a sharp drop in prices since the first of the week when the main crop of peaches started to move. The rain last week w'as a great help to the orchards in this im mediate territory and the quality of fruit being harvested here is of ex ceptionally fine quality. There has been no hail damage in this vicinity and some of the orchards, where prop- or care has been exercised, are pro ducing large, well colored peaches. Culls are selling well and trucks are absorbing all of this grade avail- fcble at most pack houses. the 1930 rate $1.05, and the 1931 rate 73 cents, so if the 71- cent rate be adopted, a total reduction of 37 cents will have been effected in three years. The present board of commission ers has throughout its tenure of of fice had “economy” as its watchword, and is doing everything possible to bring relief to the tax payers with out sacrificing those agencies that are so necessary to the well being of the citizens of the county. Every de- pai'tment of county government has been closely scrutinized and cuts have been made here and there, resulting in substantial savings in salaries ,a reduction of almost one-half in the cost of the upkeep of the county home and in a material decrease in jail fees. FORMER RESIDENTS GUESTS OF KIWANIS Barbecue and Basketball on Schedule Plans are under way for a field day celebration to be held at the Pine hurst Race Track on Labor Day, Sep temper 5. The contemplated program includes a full schedule of Athletic I government. League— an<^ with the approval of the members,vto demand, their adop tion. To take whatever action is neces sary or useful to further the purpos es of the Ijeague, and to reduce the burden of taxes and the incubus of Thomas Creekmore, a former res ident of Aberdeen and now an attor ney in Raleigh, and George Ross, of Raleigh and Jackson Springs, w’ere guests of the Kiwanis Club at the regular weekly luncheon Wednesday. Willard Dunlop, vice-president, pre sided. James Tufts gave a very comprehensive report on the activi ties of the Moore County Taxpayers’ League, after which Dr. Medlin in troduced George Ross, who was the speaker for the occasion. events, barbecue and a ball game be tween two teams of the Moore County League to be selected later. Prizes will be given in all events. The field day is being sponsored by the Joseph G. HensQn and Sandhills Posts of the American Legion. Full information regarding entries, etc., may be obtained from Chas. C. Pic- quet or the commanding' officers of either Legion Post. WATCH THE SKY NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT Next week, about August 11 and 12, comes the climax of the meteoric display in the constellation of Per seus. Not much brilliance will be seen until around midnight, but then if the observer is watching the sky near the horizon, in the north east he will see a succession of shooting stars that will last much of the balance of thi right. This August display is the most interesting of the year with the exception of the November display in the constellation of Leo, which surpasses anything of its kind known. A coupon appended to the state ment of purposes will be found on page nine. ANNOUNCE MARRIAGE OF MISS NELLIE GRAVES Mr. and Mrs. George Calvin Graves of Carthage announce the marriage of their daughter, Nellie Hamilton, to Dr. George Heinitsh on Friday, July 29th. Dr. Heinitsh is the son of the late Dr. George Heinitsh and Mrs. Ade laide F. Heinitsh of Spartanburg, S. C. Dr. Heinitsh is the son of the late University of North Carolina. He also attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and is now on the surgical staff of Duke Hospital, Durham. Mrs. Heinitsh is a graduate of Peace Institute and, since receiving the bachelor’s degree and the Mas ter’s degree from the University of North Carolina, has been a member of the faculty of Chapel Hill High school. October costs about $450 which is needlessly spent, accodring to the report. The wisdom of cutting out the $1,000 for fire control was sug- ges'ted, home demonstration and farm f'emonstration were mentioned as a source of saving if the farm sections desire to save in that quarter. Reduc tions have been made in the solioi- tor’s office of the recorder’s court and the sheriff’s office, but study of the county fee system was recom mended, and that will be taken 'up. The jail came in for a close scrutiny, with the opinion that too many pris oners are there waiting trial, and a Monday and Friday session of the re corder’s court was mentioned as a possible means of getting these peo ple out of jail and off the board bill. Another item mentioned is that of increasinj: the jurisdiction of the re corder’s court to civil cases up to $1,- 000, and the possibility of gaining the interest of the Superior Court in making court more of a business mat ter, with less lost time and more economical operation. Juvenile court was recommended to be added to the recorder’s court, and the solicitor of that court to take on the county at torney’s work. The fee for capturing stills struck the committee as a mat ter that could be settled by the rev enue officer doing the job. Further inquiry into the health department is scheduled, as into all the other subjects. This meeting was a pre liminary one to report progress and confidence in the outcome of the work. Township Meetings This Week The committee instructed its mem bers to go back home and call meet ings of the township and to invite the people to the meetings and to form township leagues, and to go into all the matters under discussion and come back Monday for a further meeting, when a conference with the commissioners will be held to submit recommendations that may be useful to the commissioners in making up the budget for the coming tax levy socr to be made. Wilbur Currie, chair man of the board, has asked the Lea gue to have ready anything they care to offer so that it can be con- .siuered at once, and this will be the work of the meeting of the commit tee next Monday. From the tone of the committee at it? meeting last Monday the meeting next Monday will be a decisive one. Much enthusiasm is reported from (Please turn to page 10)