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VOL. 20. SMITH FIELD. N. C'? FRIDAY. OCTOBEK 95. I!)07. NO. 8^
DIES BY HIS OWN HAND.
Has Gone to Stand Before The
Great High Court.
MURDERER NOW GETS JUSTICE.
Ranson Godwin, Who Embrued His
Hands in the Blood of His Aged wife,
Killing Her on August 7th, Finding
the Task Hopeless to Hide Him
self Longer from the Law
Shoots a Bullet Through
His Heart and Ends All.
Iveulv, X. C , Oct 22.?Hansom
Godwin, the aged white man who,
on August 7th last, brutally mur
dered his wife at his home near;
this place, committed suicide
early this morning by shooting
a bullet through his chest with a;
pistol.
He bad been in hiding ever since
the murder was committed, none1
but hisimmediaterelativesknow-1
ing of his whereabouts. Special j
efforts had been made by the of
ficers of the law to apprehend
him, and Governor Glenn a few
weeks ago offered a reward of
$100 for his arrest, but he con
tinued successfully to elude the
clutches of the law, and now he
has cheated the machinery of the
law out of the task of bringing
him to justice and executing the
same.
The suicide was committed at
a place in his held where it had
been his custom to feed his hogs,
only a few hundred yards from
his residence.
The information was given out
today by a son of the deceased,
that the old mao, who was 76
years of age, had never left his
neighborhood since the murder,
as had been the opinion of some,
but that he had kept himself in
hiding in one place and another
near his old home, being fed and
looked after by his children and
near relatives.
It developed also today God
win's action this morning was
not his first attempt to end his
life. On the night of the same
day 011 which he had murdered
his wife, he attempted to commit
suicide by shooting himself
through the left shoulder with a
rifle. Failing to accomplish his
purpose, but seriously wounding
himself, and no one knowing of
his whereabouts, be lay wounded
in the woods without food or
water for four days, ac the end of
which time he was found by rel
atives who have since looked af
ter him.
Id the meantime he has told
his son Richard that he was go
ing to kill himself and one time
since the unsuccessful shooting
he had tried to kill himself by cut
ting his throat.
He had a pistol with him all
the time. At first he had a rifle
also, but a few days after the
murder was committed the rifle
was found.
Early this morning the old
man's son, Richard Godwin, went
out to where his father was in
hiding, to carry his breakfast.
The old mau refused to eat any
thing and told his son that he
was going to kill himself. He
also told his son where to find
him during the day if he wished
to see him for any purpose, (it |
having been a custom that he
would tell his son where he would
be for a day or more ahead) The
young man left him and while at;
his home eating his own break-!
fast he heard the report of a pistol
in the direction of the place where |
he had left his father He went
to see what had happeued and j
found the old mau lying dead J
with his pistol lying by his side,
aud a bullet hole through his chest
The remains were t aken up and
carried to his son's home aud j
will be buried tomorrow. No oue
has lived at the old homestead
since the awful tragedy of August
seventh, when the old man bru
tally and wilfully, according to
all reports, murdered his aged
wife in their home while his sons
tried to intervene.
Godwin was well-to-do, and has
left good property worth several
thousands of dollars.
He has a son in Texas who is a
successful practicing physician,
aud it had been thought by some
that the old mau had gone there.
Wanted to Start Even.
A story is told of a Nebraska j
farmer who had a sub for dam
ages against a Nebraska rail
road. As the cause approached
the day of trial, the farmer learn
ed that the judge who would
preside over the trial carried an
annual pass over the defendant j
railroad's lines.
This information worried the
soil-tiller. He thought about it
by day, eogi ated over it by night.
He figured out that the annual
pass must be worth abont $500
a year to the judge. He had
confidence in the judge, but little
in the railroad, and he pondered
the query in his mind whv the
railroad gave the judge $500 a
year for nothing.
He finally concluded that the
railroad must know what it was
about, and he sat down and
wrote the judge the following
letter:
"Dear Judge: lam told that
you carry an annual pass over
the Burlington railroad. As
near as I can figure it, this pass
is worth to vou about $500 a
year. 1 don't believe that this
will influence you in favor of the
railroad and against me in my
case, but to be on equal footing
with the railroad, 1 enclose my
check for $500. I do not do this
to influence your decision in any
way. 1 do not ask you to retain
my check. But if you return
this check, please return the rail
road pass, if you keep the pass,
keep the check."?Farm Imple
ment News.
The question that bobs up
after reading the above is What
did the Judge do? Can any of
our readers tell?
Thieves Steal a Whole Church.
Thieves of Chicago and vicini
ty, notorious for many remark
able deeds, eclipsed all previous
efforts some time yesterday when
they stole bodily the Presby
terian Church, seating 200 peo
pie, from River Grove, on the
Desplaines River. The church
had no regular pastor, but itine
rant ministers would address the
farmers in the edifice occasionally.
This morning Z A. Rosi, a
farmer living across the river,
missed the church. He rubbed
his eyes and called his family.
Then thev crossed the river to
make certaiu the chu~ch was
gone. It had been stolen, down
to the last splinter, and there is
no trace of it, although active
search has been kept up all day.
?Chicago Inter Ocean.
Stingy Man's Estate Settled.
Heirs of Patrick Cooney reached
an agreement today in the Pro
bate Court by which the way is
opened for the settlement of his
estate after five years of legal
warfare. Cooney was a section;
hand on the Valley branch Kail
road, and saved $15,000 from
pay that never exceeded $1 50 a
day.
To save car fare he used to |
walk twenty-five miles to Hart-;
ford. Fearing damage to his|
boots, he removed them, one cold
day, to work in a trench half filled
with water, and caught cold and
died?a bachelor with fifteen
heirs,?Had don (Mass ) Dispatch
to the New York Tribune.
Notable Medical Discovery.
A notable medical discovery j
and one that appeals especially'
to many people in Smithtield is
the combination of stomach reme- j
dies in the Mio-na treatment.
This preparation has worked'
wonders in cases of indigestion
or weak stomach.
It acts specifically upon the
walls of the stomach and bowels,
strengthening and stimulating
them so that they readilv take
care of the food that is eaten
without distress or suffering.
So positive are the good effects
following the use of Mi o-na that
the remedy is sold by Hood Bros,
under an absolute guarantee to
refund the money if it fails to
cure. With an offer like this,
none can afford to suffer with in- j
digestion or stomach troubles.
A 50 cent box of Mi-o-na will
do more good than half-a dozen
boxes of ordinary digestive
tablets.
Clayton News.
Mr-. Young, "f Charlotte, N.U.,
is visiting Mr. Ashley Home.
Mr and Mrs A..I Harbour are
visituifcr the Jamestown Kaposi-,
tion this week.
We are triad to note that all
the sick folks hereabouts are
getting along nicely.
Miss J no. \V Harden aud chil
dren spent a part of this week
the guests of Mrs Charles W. j
Home.
There was over two hundred I
more tickets sold to the State!
Fair from here than were sold j
last season.
Work on the Liberty cotton
mills is going along nicely uow.i
The building is beginning to look
business like.
Mrs. Dewey llicks aud child, of
near Garner, speut several days
here.this week, theguests of Mrs.
John Robertson.
The Brooinell-Reed Company
entertain at the Academy Friday
night. The Press speaks in high
terms of these young ladies.
Miss Carlotta Barbour, who is
attending G. F. C. at Greensboro,
after attending the Fair, came
on home and spent a few days.
There was a slight "rucus"
among the darkies recently. One
or two were cut a little and as a
const queuce one negro man went
to jail without bait.
The congregations at t he Bap
tist churcn, was delightfully en
tertained Sunday by Rev. (). \V.
Henderson, of Wake Forest, who
preached twojtermous.
There was more cotton here
i his week than we have had for
the same length of time this sea
son. VVe are sorry to see Che
price lower, but still the farmers
are getting a good deal more tor
the crop than they expected
Clayton, Oct. 23. Yeliii
Benson News.
Miss Lillian Markham, spent
last Saturday in Smithfield.
0. A. Barbbur made a business
trip to Smithfield last Tuesday.
Miss Paulyne Renno, after
spending several days here visit
ing frieuds, returned to her home
in Smithfield last Saturday.
Dr. Edwin "Cyclone" Southers,
the noted lecturer, will address
the people of Benson with his
famous lecture "If 1 were the
devil" at Benson Graded School
hall on Friday night, October,
25. Dr. Southers comes to us
highly recommended, and we
think all who can should avail
themselves of the opportunity of
hearing this lecture.
October, 23.
Get Thirty Cents For Cotton SeeC.
We were glad to see the mills
start cotton seed this fall at thir
ty cents per bushel. When they
bring that price the farmer gets
a good sum from the seed of his
cotton crop and we do not see
how he can use them for manure
after they reach that price. We
hear that on last Monday the
mills cut the price of seed several
cents per bushel. We think it is
time to stop selling until the price
goes back up. We advise every
farmer to hold his seed for thirty
cents per bushel and not sell them
at all unless they bring that price.
The loss in weight and hauling
seed and hauling meal which the
seed pay for is considerable and
we are sure they should not be
sold for less thau thirtv cents.
No farmer need fear to put thirty
cents as a price on his seed. Oil
aud meal and hulls are much
higher now than for most of the
time for several years and there
rarely ever comes a year in which
seed do not go co thirty cents.
Out of Sight.
I
"Out of sight, out of mind," is
an old saying which applies with
special force to a sore, burn or j
wound that's been treated with
Bucklen's Arnica Salve It's out]
of sight, out of mind-and out of
existence. Piles too and chil
blains disappear under its heal-:
ing influence. Guaranteed by
Hood Bros., Druggists. i23c.
Horrible Wreck Near Greensboro.
North bound passenger train
No. ill, of the Soutnern railway,
traveling at thr rate of (10 miles
an hour, ran into au open switch
at Rudd, a email station four
tuilee north of Grtensboro, Thurs
day night about 10:20, striking
a freight head on and killing four
pereous and injuring 20 or 25.
The firet day coach was entirely
eplit open and the engine of the
passenger was completely demol
ished. The wreck did not catch
tire and the Pullman coaches and
passengers therein did not suffer.
Practically all the persons iu the
tirst dav coach were injured,
about 25 iu number Another
person died later as a result of
injuries received.
Among the killed was Mr. B.
Allen Bryant, aged 23, a repre
sentative of the Richmond f'aper
Company. Mr. Bryaut was a
popular salesman aud was well
known iu North Carolina. He
was iu Smithtield live days before
the fatal accident. He was mar
ried on September 4th, to Miss
Sterns, aged 18, of Asheville. The
youug bride did not learn that
her husband was killed uuti! she
reached Richmond, iler grief,
when apprised of his death, was
indescribable.
On the fated train were Mr. and
Mrs. W. C. Davis, who were mar.
ried that afternoon at Winston
aud had started North on a bridal
tour. Mr. Davis was injured
slightly, while his bride was very
seriously hurt, having oue of her
legs broken in two places, receiv
ing several bruises and cuts. It
will be several weeks before she is
well again.
Wyatt Day at Selma.
Tue people of Selma are plan
ning another Wyatt entertain
ment for to-night. Governor
Glenn and Congressman Pou will
make addresses. Oysters and
other refreshments will be served,
the proceeds to go to the Wyatt
Memorial Fund. A good time is
promised those who attend.
Rev. R. L. Davis Here Sunday.
Rev. R. L. Davis, the State,
Anti Saloon lecturer, was here |
Sunday, preaching iu the Metho j
dist chuich in the morning and
lecturing on temperanoe iu the
evening at the Baptist church
Good congregations greeted him
at both services. He made a j
strong temperance speech Sun
day night and many who heard 1
him realized the temperauce situ
ation in North Carolina as never
before. Mr. Davis says that
State prohibition is the only
remedy aud he firmly believes
that the next Legislature will
give us a chance to vote on the
question. If it does, North Caro
lina will surely go prohibition.
Mark the prediction.
Who Is Responsible?
It has been stated that Leon
ard, the flagman, who is charged
with being responsible for the
terrible wreck near Greensboro
last week, had been on duty 23
hours. This is too bad. The
nvlroads regret wrecks as much
as any one, yet they could better
safeguard the lives of their
human freight if they would give
their employes shorter hours
and more rest. No man who has
been on continual duty for nearly
24 hours is fit to be entrusted
with the cares incident to such
responsible positions, and doubt
less many grievous accidents
might Jhe avoided if greater con
sideration were given those who
operate trains.
The Modern Version ot It.
"What little boy can tell me
the difference between the 'quick'
and the 'dead'?" asked the Sun
day-school teacher.
Willie waved his hand franti
cally.
"Well, Willie?"
"['lease ma'am, the 'quick' are
the ones that get out of the way
of automobiles; the ones that
don't are the 'dead'."?Every
body's Magazine.
Read about Durability on page
five. m?
I
State News.
.New liern has voted #.">(),000
of bonds for street improvements
| and Greensboro has voted $125,
, 000 of bonds to pay off the Hoat
1 ing debt.
I There are 010 inmates ip the
white blind and colored deaf and
dumb institution at Italeigh, and
212 in the deaf and dumb school j
i at Morgantou.
A gold brick weighing 217
ouoces and valued at$3 7(H) was
| exhibited at Thomasville a few
davs ago. The material was I
taken from Caut. M. L. loues'
| tuiue near Thomasville and was1
the work of one week.
An exchange says: In Cleve-I
land county last Saturday four;
negroes were playing cards in the
woods and booze and pistols were
j "in their midst."' Ward Thoinp- j
; son ha* been buried and Tom
Falls is in the tall timber.
Near Blue's bridge, Scotland
county, a few days ago, John |
Black killed Hector Stewart by
st riking him with a piece of plank.
The parties were from Moore j
county and were operating a tar i
kiln in Scotland. Booze figured
in the trouble. At last account
Black had not been arrested.
Br. It. H. Lewis, of Raleigh,
was unanimously elected Presi-1
dent of the American Public}
Health Association, which repre
I sents this country, Canada, Mexi
! eo, and Cuba, at the thirty-fifth
annual meeting held at Atlantic |
| City recently. Only three South- j
| eru men have ever been I'resident
of this organization.
At the annual meeting of the
North Carolina Literary and Hit -
torical Association in Raleigh
last week the Patterson loving
cup, awarded each year for the
best work of the year, was award
ed to ex-President Battle, of the
University. The feature of the
meeting was the address of Hon.
Hannis Taylor, of Alabama.
The chairman of the prohibi
tion executive committee of Ashe
ville has filed a sworn itemized
statement of the receipts and ex
penditures incident to the recent ]
successful prohibition campaign j
Asheville. The statement shows
that the prohibitionists expend
ed approximately four thousand
dollars, the exact amount being}
$.'l,7H7.52.
It is understood that the next >
sessiou of the Western North!
Carolina Conference, to be held j
in Salisbury next month, will)
pass on the question of establish
ing at^orphanage for the Western
North Caro.lina Conference, the
one at Raleigh beiug considered
the special property of the North j
Carolina Conference. It is believ
ed that the Conference will take |
favorable action on the orphan-!
age matter.
In regard to the probability of
an early prohibition election in
?Salisbury, a Salisbury correspon
dent of the daily papers says
that an anti-saloon league has
been organized there with VV. I).
Smoot president and P. S. Carl
ton secretary, and that the ques
tion of asking for an election on
saloons or no saloons will be de
cided soon. It is added that "a
number of leading citizens, are
anxious to make a vigorous tem
perance campaign."
It is with keen personal sorrow
that we chronicle the death of Mr.
Ren 11. Raiford, und this sorrow
will he shared by hosts of our
readers who knew him. He was
an unpretentious but noble soul
?a Confederate Veteran, who
wore tbe Southern Cross of Honor
and who never dishonored it in
thought or act. He fell dead ou
the roadside yesterday after
noon, uear Mt. Olive, while walk
ing from his son John's home to
his own, about a mile apart. He
was 07 years old, and is survived
by his wife and several' children,
a wide circle of relatives and a
legion of friends.?Goldsboro Ar
gus, 19 th.
Temperance Speaking at Selma.
Ou Sunday, October27th, Rev.
R. L Davis, State organizer for
the temperance forces, will speak
in Selma in the town hall at 3
o'clock in the afternoon. Every
body invited to hear him.
Kenly Items.
Mr*. J. P. Pate, of Micro, was
here Wednesday.
Mr*. C. ('. Teague and Mrs VV.
L. Thomas went to Fremont
Wednesday.
Mr. ami Mrs. Z. V. Barnes, of
Wilson, are visiring at tne Mer
chants Hotel this week.
Mr. M A. Hooks, cotton buyer
lor Messrs. Alex Sprunt A Son,
of Selma, was here Tuesday.
Mrs. Z V. Snipes, who has been
visiting friends at Uichmoud.Va.,
for the past two weeks, returned
home last Thursday night.
Messrs. C. W. Elgerton, and
J.J. Edgerton. and Miss Emma
Matthews are spending the week
at Jamestown Exposition.
Prof. It T. Teague and Mr. M.
A. Pennington spent Saturday
and Sunday with Mr. Penning
ton's father, in Southern John
ston.
Messrs. C. W. Edgerton and C.
C. Teague, went to Smithfield
Monday in behalf of Kenly Acad
emy, and secured one of the
County High Schools for our pro
gressive town.
Mrs. John A. Gulley died at her
home about four miles north of
here Wednesday and was buried
at the family burrying ground
Thursday. The funeral services
were conducted by her pastor,
Rev. It W. Horrell, of Selma.
Kenly, Oct. 23. X. Y. /.
Over The River News.
Mr. Henry Stephenson took in
the Raleigh fair last week.
Miss Eula Mitchell visited rela
tives in Wayne County Saturday
and Sunday.
Mr. Clifford Austin from near
Clayton spent Saturday night at
Mr. W. J. Talton's.
Mr. and Mrs. I). A. Thompson,
visited Mrs. Thompson's father
Mr. I. Stephenson last week.
Mrs. G. L. Jones and daughter
Miss lluth, from Smithfield, spent
Sunday afternoon in this burg.
Master Erwin l'ittman, from
Smithfield, spent last week with
his grand parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Israel Stephenson.
Messrs Israel Stephenson, Her
mon Talton and Misses Lola
Talton and Emily Stephenson
took in the fair at Raleigh last
week.
Xerxes.
His Dear Old Mother.
"My dear old mother, who is
now eighty three years old,
thrives on Electric Bitters,"
writes W. B. Brunson, of Dublin.
Ga "She has taken them for
about two years and enjoys an
excellent appetite, feels strong
and sleeps well." That's the
way Electric Bitters affect the
aged, and the same happy results
foilow in all cases of female weak
nessand general debiluy. Weak,
puny children too, are greatly
strengthened by them. Guaran
teed also for stomach, liver and
kidney troubles, by Hood Bros.
Druggists, 50c.
Experanto Forever.
"Now, Jimmy, repeat a sen
tence embodying the word 'sel
dom'."
"Mv father used ter 'ave a
couple of pigs, but he selled 'em."
?London Tatler.
Hard Times In Kansas.
The old days of grasshoppers
and drouth are almost forgotten
in the prosperous Kansas of to
day; although a citizen of Codell,
Earl Shamburg, has not yet for
gotten a hard time he encoun
tered. He says: "I was woru
out and discouraged by coughing
night and day, and could find no
relief till I tried Dr. King's New
Discovery. It took less than one
bottle to completely cure me."
The safest and most reliable
cough and cold remedy and lung
and throat healer ever discover
ed. Guaranteed by Hood Bros,
drug store 50c and f 1.00. Trial
bottle free.
See "Durability" on page 5.