Sljr vmitijftrld Hrralft.
Price One Dollar Per Year "TRUE TO OURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOD."
single Copies Five Cents.
VOL. 28 SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1909 Number 43
COOK BRANDED
AN IMPOSTOR
THE DANISH COMMITTEE RE
JECTS HIS CLAIMS.
.Rector of Copenhagen University
Says the Degree Conferred Upon
the Explorer May be Withdrawn
A Danish Explorer, Member of
Examining Committee, Declares
Cook's "Papers Convict Him of
Being a Swindler."
Copenhagen, Dec. 21.?The report
Of the special committee of scientists
which the University of Copenhagen
appointed to scrutinize Dr. Frederick
A. Cook's claims that he had discov
ered the North Pole was submitted
to the consistory of the University
this morning, endorsed by that body
and given to the public
The report shatters completely, al
most contemptuously, the American
explorer's title to such discovery, and
fills the officials and people of Den- j
mark with chagrin at the figure |
Denmark is made to assume in the '
eyes of the scientific world. The
public was prepared for a verdict
of "not proven," but did not expect
its recent hero to be branded as an |
imposter. Many still cling to the |
belief that Cook acted in good faith, t
but harbored a delusion.
Explorers and scientists almost u
nanimously have lost faith in Cook's
honesty, while one of his warmest
supporters, Knud Rasmussen, help
ed to frame the report. The even
ing papers attack Cook and severe
ly reproach him for hiding, which I
they regard as a sign of a guilty
conscience.
May Cancel Honor.
The hecor of he University, Dr.
Salomonsen, when questioned as to
the possibility of the university can
celling the degree which it conferr- 1
ed on Dr. Cook, said that no decision j
had been reached, but he thought
that the degree could be withdrawn in
the same way as a government could ;
deprive a person of an order obtained
under false pretenses.
Commodore Gustav Holm, the
Arctic explorer, and a number of the i
committee said: "Cook's claim that
he made the observation 89 degrees ;
69 minutes 46 seconds near the pole
proved immediately that he was a bad
Observer, but nothing indicated that
he was a swindler. Now his papers
convict him of being a swindler. We
examined Cook's observations first,
antt agreed unanimously that they
were worthless. It is not unlikely that
Loose made the observations. He is
a clever man, just the sort that Cook
could use."
Professor Olufsen, secretary of the
Panish Geographical Society, said:
"It is the saddest event in my life.
As an explorer there seems to be
no doubt that Cook is absolutely un
reliable."
The National Tidende, while de
ploring that the university conferred
the degree in a moment of enthusi- j
asm, finds consolation in the fact that
others honored Cook when he re
turned to civilization.
The President of his own country
and its envoy at Copenhagen," says
the paper, "were the guarantors for
him. Denmark did not blunder alone.
Our country must now leave this sad
Affair to America and Cook."
The Findings.
First?The report of the expedi
tion sent to the university by Dr.
Cook is the same as that printed in
the New York Herald during the
months of September and October
last.
Second?The copy of Cook's note
books does not contain any original
astronomical observations whatsoever
but only results.
Third?The documents presented
are inexcusably lacking in Informa
tion which would prove that the as
tronomical observations therein re
ferred to were really made; and also
contain no details regarding the prac
tical work of the expedition and the
sledge journey which would enable
the committee to determine their re
liability.
The committee, therefore, is of the
opinion that the material transmit
ted for examination contains no proof
that Cook reached the Pole.
The report is signed by all six
members of the committee ,who were
assisted in their inquiry by Knud
Rasmussen, he explorer.?Baltimore
American
BIG SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE.
Our Imports Expected to Reach
More Than $260,000,000.
Washington, Dec. 19.?Every Amer
ican who takes his cup of coffee
might like to know that in the ten
months of this year he has helped
use just $64,000,000 worth, or 845,
000,000 pounds, and that eight-ninths
of it came from South America. Bra
\ zil furnishes more than 600,000,000.
Coffee is only an indication of the
proportions which the trade between
the United States and South Ameri
ca has assumed this year. All pre
vious records for South American
Imports will be passed, according to
the calculations of the Bureau of
Statistics of the Department of Com
merce and Labor. The total value
of all the imports will be more than
$260,000,000. The imports in general
show an increase of 40 per cent, over
last year.
In return our exports to South
America will probably equal if they
do not exceed the high mark made
in 1907, when they touched $86,000,
000.
STATE NEWS.
A bank has been organized in
Hookerton, Greene county, with a
capital of $15,000.
sansDury naa a tnirty tnousana dol
lar fire Friday night. While rushing
to the fire on one of the hose wag
ons, R. H. Pender, a railway clerk,
was thrown off and instantly killed.
Spencer Hughes, aged 77, of Lee
county, was thrown from his buggy
in a runaway one day last week, re
ceiving injuries from which he died.
New Berne is talking about build
ing a Union Depot in the near future.
Plans are on foot to build a two
hundred thousand dollar cotton mill
at Bladenboro. This will be the
first mill of its kind in Bladen coun
ty.
Mr. Isaac S. London, editor of
the Siler City Grit, is authority for
the statement that during the past
year Siler City has shipped 45,000
rabbits to the northern markets.
William Sutton committed suicide
at his home in Lenoir county test
Friday by shooting a pistol ball in
to his brain. He was 37 years old
and leaves a wife and two small
children.
Prof. E. C. Brooks, of Trinity Col
lege, has been appointed head-master
of Trinity Park School at Durham,
to succeed Rev. Harry M. North, who
has been appointed pastor of the
Edenton Street church at Raleigh.
Dr. S. A. W. Haines, a practicing
physician of Rutherford county, has
been sent to the penitentiary at At
lanta for fifteen months for violation
of the internal revenue laws. He
happened at a blockade distillery just
once too often.
Senator Overman has introduced
bills i->r public buildings at Washing
ton, Shelby and Rocky Mount. An
appropriation of $80,000 Is asked for
each place.
The United States Senate has con
firmed the nomination of Thos. J.
Jackson to be postmaster at Dunn.
Mr. R. D. W. Connor, Secretary of
the North Carolina Historical Com
mission, nas ueen appoimeu a aeie
gate from the United States to the
International Congress of Archivists
which is 'o be held next May in
Brussels, Belgium.
Revenue officers raided the bed
room of W. A. Curtis, a negro who
runs a pool room in Raleigh, one
day last week, and found 250 bot
tles of whiskey and some 500 empty
bottles. He was evidently prepar
ing for an hilarious Christmas.
The Norfolk and Southern's five
and-a-half mile trestle across the Al
bemarle sound has been completed.
Frank Fry, 15-year-old son of Mr.
Govan Fry of Hickory, accidentally
shot himself Tuesday afternoon while
hunting and died instantly. The
boy was crossing a fence and in
some manner the gun was discharged,
the load taking effect in the throat.
The gun was a single barrelled, 12
gauge shotgun. It is said that the
boy always carried his gun cocked.
Peary Is undoubtedly a great ex
plorer and has won a secure place
in the history of his nation, yet
many are inclined to believe his
manners are not much improved since
that day when he sent that mes
sage from the bleak Labrador coast
that Dr. Cook had handed the public
a gold brick. His only comment up
on the findings of the Danish scien
tists, was In eHect, "I told you so."
BELGIUM'S KING
DIED FRIDAY
A PROMINENT FACTOR IN EURO
PEAN POLITICS.
???
The King Was Born in 1835 and As
cended the Throne in 1865. He
was the Founder of the Congo
Free State in Africa. Prince Al
bert Succeeds to the Throne.
King Leopold, of Belgium, died at
Brussells early Friday morning. He
had been critically ill for several
days and an operation was perform
ed as a last hope. He survived the
operation but a short time. Prince
Albert, a nephew of Leopold, suc
ceeds to the throne of Belgum.
King Leopold was born in 1835 and
succeeded his father as King in 1865.
Though the ruler of one of the small
est European States, he was a prom
inent factor in European politics.
Though a pleasure-loving monarch,
he was a hard worker, a good busi
ness man and exploited public im
provements. He was best known,
and unfavorably, to the country at
large as the founder of the Congo
Free State in Africa, which was un
der his personal sovereignty. He
was harshly criticised for alleged
heartless cruelties in the Congo. It
was declared tnat ins work was not
that of a colonizer imbued with the
desire to uplift the inhabitants from
their depraved and benighted con
dition, but that his sole aim was to
advance trade and gather gold at
the expense of the life and liberty
of the blacks. Tales of horrible
cruelties practiced, of slavery and
murders innumerable were told. That
there was some foundation for these
stories there can be little doubt.
That King Leopold's agents resorted
to severe measures to bring about
the end they sought was not wholly
denied, but the King's friends de
nied that he deliberately set about
to wring money from the natives, to
exploit the country because of his
greed. The fact remains, however,
that the cruelties were practiced
and the King could have prevented
them had he desired to do so.
PRICE OF EGGS GOES UP.
Cold Weather and Bad Roads Rea
sons for Highest Advance in
Years.
Chicago, Dec. 18.?An advance of
four cents a dozen was made in the
price of eggs by members of the
Butter and Egg Board yesterday,
bringing the cost of fresh-laid eggs
to a point not attained in years at
this season. Cold weather and bad
country roads, impending the move
ment of supplies, were given as the
reasons.
Housewives who have been pay
ing 38 and 40 cents for "prime first"
will be compelled to pay 42 and 44
cents a dozen today.
Marriage at Benson.
Benson, N. C., Dec. 22.?This even
ing at 7 o'clock at the residence of
the bride, Mr. R. E. Morris, of Dele
ware, and Miss Susan Holmes, of
this place, were married, the cere
mony being performed by the Rev.
N. H. Gibbs. The bride wore a love
ly creation of white serge with orange
blossom ornaments. The groom was
attired in the conventional black.
The bridesmaids were Misses Laura
Canaday, Nora Hawley, and Bessie
Johnson. Mr. E. N. Matthews was
best man. The other waiters were
Mr. J. C. Warren and Mr. Rosmal
Smith. There was a large crowd in
attendance. Including many visitors
from a distance, some of whom
were Mr. N. O. Shelburne, of Nor
folk, M-. C. O. Wiggs, of Selma, and
Mr. J. L. Brltt, of McCullers. After
the ceremony the entire crowd was
invited to Mr. I. C. Hall's residence
where an elegant supper with all
the delicacies was served. Afterwards
music and games of all kinds were
Indulged in until the wee hours. The
bride and groom will make Benson
their home, where Mr. Morris is
engaged In business. Mr. Morris is
a brother of our well known towns
man, Mr. Wlnc,?te Morris.
The, Senate has confirmed, wltkov
opposition, Judge Horace H. Larto
|0C Tennessee, to be a Justice of tfc.i
I nited States Supretoe Court.
ATKINSON TO
j PAY PENALTY
BROKE DOWN AND CRIED WHEN
VERDICT WAS RENDERED.
Several Sent to Roads at This term
Among them John Hudson. A
Verdict of $5,000 in Railroad Case.
After deliberating for about six
hours, the jury returned a verdict of
murder in the first degree against
John Atkinson, charged with the
murder of Gerney Davis, of Kenly,
on the 23rd, of September.
The trial of Atkinson began last
Thursday at eleven o'clock and the
State had rested its case by four
o'clock in the afternoon. There was
no evidence offered in behalf of the
defendant.
The evidence as offered by the
State was in substance as follws:
Gerney Davis came to Kenly about
a week or two prior to the murder,
for the purpose of working with the
Dennis Simmons Lumber Company,
and was boarding at Atkinson's house
Atkinson soon began to suspicion an
intimacy between Davis and his) wife.
Upon questioning his wife, she denied
it.
Coming home from his work on the
afternoon of the 23rd, of September
he saw his wife coming out of the
woods near their home. He asked her
as to why she was there, she ad
mitted that improper relations existed
between her and Davis. Atkinson then
went to his house got his pistol and
went in search of Davis. He found him
at the church. One of the ministers
was singing when he entered the door.
He waved his right hand and told
the preacher to stop singing. The
preacher stopped, and Atkinson turn
ing to Davis said, "What was that
you did to my wife," and Immediately
opened fire on him. He fired four
times, three of the shots taking effect
though only one was sufficient to
prove fatal, the other two being only
flesh wounds. Atkinson then turning,
walked out of the church. Davis was
then taken to the office of Dr. Cole
man, where his wounds were dressed,
but he died the next afternoon. At
kinson was arrested and placed in jail.
With six others he succeeded in
breaking jail but was captured, several
days later about six miles from Ken
ly.
When the jury returned their ver
dict Atkinson broke completely! down
and cried like a child. He was then
taken back to jail where he remained
till Saturday, when he was brought
In to the court room to receive his
sentence. Just prior to receiving the
sentence he was asked if he had any
thing to say why sentence should
not be passed upon him.
He then told of the whole story,
which although told by a nftgro and
In very bad English, was full of pa
thos, and created much sympathy in
his behalf with those who heard it.
After finishing his talk, he again took
his seat and received his sentem
without showing the least emotl.
Although many murders have '
committed in this county, not
August 1899 has there been a er
diet of murder in the first < . i'e<
when Tom Smith was corv "d ?
the murder of Charles Cp.? Uorn
State vs John Moore ' liv
tense. Not guilty.
State vs J. T. Lee, pr ? "? '? >
, peal from costs. Judgm nt . -
State vs Mrs. M. A. Holl pio>
ecutrix. Appeal frori con ludg-;
ment reversed.
State vs John (. an*pt? .! False
pretense. Defendant ??*'' ? guilty. |
Twelve months < to id wit leave
to hire out.
State vs Joe and Walter
Wallace. Hot' i<i*atoug. Not guil
ty.
State vs I W'lllauifl. A. D. W.
Guilty. El oaths tn jail with
leave to ' ? t
State i > ' ?<*? N-.nn. R. W. L.
Guilty, i: ? -w tha in jail and as
signed t " 'i%An
Stat<' i cjp fe&yner. C. C. W.
Defer ' 't p. no* guilty. Judgment
j $10/> OSt?
fu. v* Kfank Simms. Appeal
fr?? ue Major's court of Selma.
|G?". y. Jtt<* oent suspended upon
I (? of costs.
;*.to ?s Len Chappell. Appeal
tr- m y court. Guilty. Judgment
?wl upon payment of coats,
vs Arthur Lee C. C. W.
| 1 > ijmeni. reserved.
I
State vs William Boylan. A. D. W.
Judgment suspended upon payment
of costs.
State vs David Hulls. R. W. L.
Guilty. Six months In jail.
State vs John Majett. Dls. Mort
gaged property. Guilty. Judgment
that Majett pay to W. T. Kirby,
landlord the sum of $20.00 and the
costs.
State vs Tom Powers. Resisting
officer. Guilt*'. Ninety days in Jail
and assigned to the roads.
Of the cases tried here last week
lu which Judgment was reserved have
been disposed of as follows: John
Hudson who was found guilty of re
tailing without license was first giv
en a sentence of eight months on
the roads, but this was later changed
to seven months. Great pressure
was brought to bear on the Court in
the case, but the road sentence was
allowed to stand.
D. J. Y. Thurston, who was con
victed of a similar offense, was sen
tenced to 12 months in Jail, after
serving 60 days of sentence in Jail,]
to be hired to his sou in Burlington
for the remainder of the term.
Owen Ashford was convicted of
larceny and given a sentence of six
months on the roads.
Robert Stanley who was convicted
of an assault with deadly weapon,
was ordered to pay a physician's bill
of $25 and to pay $50 to the prose
cuting witness and to pay the costs
I in I
On account of the death of Miss
Delia Wellons, sister of Mr. .las. A.
Wellons, court adjourned for the
day Tuesday, and all cases in which
Mr. Wellons appeared were continued
to the next term of the Superior
Court.
All day Wednesday was consumed
with the trial of Lillie Caudill and
husban T. H. Caudil, vs A. C. L.
R. R. Company. Mrs. Caudill was
injured on the 24th of December,
l'J07, while attempting to get off
the train at Benson. As she stepped
from the top step of the car the
train gave a sudden jerk, throwing
Mrs. Caudill to the ground. She s if
fered only slight external inju- .e?,
but so frightened was she fror > h
fall, that she became a complet
ous wreck. The plaintiff s>;rd >r
$10,000; the Jury returned ; vt - licfc'
In favor of the plaintiffs < 1 .000
Attorneys for the defen I un<
motion to set the ven' 8 ie.
being excessive and f< i ef l!
for errors committed : ? c :" '*?*?
The Judge took the ?>? n < no
tice of appeal up ? jimi' ' 'on
and to announce <n* ic*c on
January 4th.
Court adjourr tl W sday.
T
Dea' in Jcr
Monday :gM >>e-. uber 13, Mrs.
Nancy I' . am t v .on Hill, passed
away, ' - -AlVit Nf years. She was
strlck' wit < pur ilysis about four
teen until ago and had been prac
tice heV ??<*? 'ver since. For the
gr ?? itr' of the time during the
r i nx 1 of her life she was Un
as. i She was burled at Selah
Uur< yurd in Wayne county.
M Ingram was a member of the
frit' 1 and neighbor. She leaves
M lodist church and was a good
; o? . 'aildren?Mr. C. M. Ingram, of
.pi. ., Mr. Zeb Ingram, of Boon llill,
jua airs, i^oma j. lyner, aiso oi
/'.'ion Hill. She left about thirteen
grandchildren.
The surviving members of the
family desire to thank the neigh
bors and friends for their kindness
and devotion during the long illness
of their loved one.
The President's Promises.
President Taft based his campaign
for election upon two claims or pro
fessions, one that he favored a gen
uine downright revision of the tariff
and the other that he would carry
to completion the policies Initiated
by President Roosevelt. What he
accomplished with the tariff is known
to all men.?New York Journal of
Commerce.
Death in Sanders Chapel Section.
Wo learn that Mr. Pink Woodall
died Tuesday morning at hia home
in the Sanders Chapel Section, age
about 50 years. He leaves a wife and
four children. He was a member of
Sanders Chapel Methodist church and
lived a consistent Christian life. He
was a good man, a good neighbor
and a kind friend. He will be great
ly missed by those who knew blm
b*JL
GINNING FIGURES
SHOW LOSS
ONLY 9,362,222 BALES GINNED TO
DECEMBER 13.
More than a Million and Half Lea*
Than the Amount for Correspond*
Ing Period Last Year.
Washington, D. C., Dec. 20.?Cen
sus reports 9.362,222 bales cotton
ginned from the growth of 1909 to
December 13. Compared with 11,900,?
565 baleB for 1908.
The proportion of the crop ginned
to December 13, 1909, is 90.9 per
cent, of the crop on the same day of
1908. Round bales included this
year are 139,967, compared with 216,
059 for 1908, Sea Island, 85,184 baler
for 1909; 80,316 In 1908.
The number of bales of cotton r (p
ned from the growth of 1909 in ;i
] several states compared with ie
(Corresponding date of 1908 f . *s:
State. 1909. 190*
Alabama 986,099 I,' 3,Sod
Arkansas 642,784 i *47,3*
Florida 59." 04
Georgia 1,765 ? 1,86 6J
Louisiana 2' ui'
Mississippi !' ,'j!6 J. -
North Carolina
Oklahoma .14 TiK 4f'U>84
South Carolina l,0i>t>,CS -><*,183
Tennessee 221,4f 302,077
Texas 2.24J 3.368,183
All other Stu f 63,943
The distr'i ion of 'e Sea Island
cotton for J by i Is: Florida,
26,871; p. igia, ' '*>?' and South
Carolina. 7 :*7
The b ilsiics this report for
1909 *ut>o. ? lieht corrcetloaa
when kef* ?ftst the individual
reti, , ? dinners being tran?
8 t, |,v r The corrected total
j,) nfd this season to De
nber " ' R.818,886 bales.
f JFOAL NEWS NOTES.
*ir olty of Walla Walla in the
Si <j of Washington has gone "wet"
f ? iocal option election.
nree men lost their lives in a fire
,i Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday.
Congress adjourned Tuesday for
the holiday recess. It will reassem
ble January 4th.
Mrs. Sarah E. Walls, of Suffolk,
Va., died Tuesday of Pellagra.
Judge Lurton is expected to take
the oath as an associate Justice of
the Supreme Court of the United
States on January 3rd.
The President has appointed Robert
Bacon, of New York, to be Ambassa
dor to France. The Senate has con
firmed the appointment.
William J. Calhoun, of Illinois, has
been appointed Minister to China. It
will be remembered that the Presi
dent's first appointee, Mr. Crane, of
Chicago, was recalled upon the ere
of his departure from San Francisco
to China because he talked too free
ly. Mr. Calhoun will hardly make
the same mistake.
AUSTRALIA'S BIG WHEAT CROP.
Has 25,500,000 Bushels, 13,000,000 of
Which Is Available for Export.
Sidney, New South Wales, Dec. 21.
?The New South Wales government
statistician estimates the wheat yield
for the year at 25,500,000 bushels,
which exceeds the yield of the pre
vious year by 10,000,000 bushels.
Between 13,000,000 and 14,000.00#
bushels will be available for export.
Mr. Roosevelt's Escapes.
Although Roosevelt has ventured
Into the zone of sleeping sickness,
bubonic plague, and tribal hostility
he can felicitate himself on eecapt
the hook-worm, pellagra and
Peary-Cook controversy. ?B
Transcript.
If Republicans in the T
growing lukewarm toward
ident in consequence of
tariff. It Is no more
have been expected, t
report sentiment am
publicans that mov
to pledge tariff <^>
Taft's campaigr
revision as r s*.
be wrung ?'
Aldrlch, bo*
i good his '
adelphla
##