VOL 30
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1911
Number 25
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR.
EDUCATION GOOD ROADS GOOD HEALTH PROGRESS
FIVE CENTS PER COPY.
TURLINGTON GRADED SCHOOL
FINE OFENINO MONDAY WITH
ABOUT 250 PRESENT.
Several Patrons Present to Witn .
jhe Beginning of Another
Term.
On Monday morning, August the
j/ab, Turlington Graded School op
ened the session of 1911-1912. In
spite of the fact that the weather
is oppressively warm, patrons show
ed their interest and co-operation by
sending their boys and girls the
very first day of school. Long be
fore time for the “silence bell”
the bright smiling faces of the chil
dren were to be seen here and there
about the campus and jin the build
ing. Happy, indeed, was the reunion
of school-mates and teachers.
Greetings and talk of the summer’s
vacation were brought to an end
promptly at 8:30 o’clock when the
familiar sound of the bell called the
different grades to their respective
rooms. In a few minutes the proces
sion to the chapel began, led by the
tiny tots of the first grade, in charge
of their capable teacher, Miss Mar
tha A. Hudson. The faces of these
reflected all the wonder, timidity and
awe apt to be called forth in their
little minds by this, their first day
at school. On and on went the dif
ferent grades in order up the stairs,
and took their seats for the chapel
exercises.
The exercises were oeguu uy
song followed by scripture reading
and prayer. There were present sev
eral visitors, mostly patrons and for
mer teachers, all testifying to their
Interest by their presence. Mr. Ver
mont, our superintendent made some
very appropriate remarks, introduc
ing the new members of the faculty.
These new members are Mr. G. C.
Mann, Miss Mildred Midget, and Miss
Janie Kitrell, the last named haviny
charge of the music department. All
come very highly recommended, and
in league with the other teachers of
last year and supervised by the
splendid man now in charge, make
UP a corps of teachers worth while.
Several of the visitors were call
ed upon to say a few words, and of
these Messrs. F. H. Brooks, Hubert
Woodall, Robert Parrish, Wm. D.
Avera and Revs. T. H. Spence am
T. H. King responded in a pleasing
manner, all expressing good wishes
for the session being entered upon
Mr. Mann, the new principal express
ed bis appreciation for the warm
welcome tendered him in entering
upon hia work.
The attendance was more than had
been hoped for, numbering some
thing like 250. The pupils looked
bright and cheerful, the teachers
enthusiastic, and everything seemed
to indicate the beginning of the
best year's work ever done at T.
G. S. And why should it not be?
With such bright minds receptive
for the instruction given by the best
of teachers, with enthusiasm which
surmounts even the hot weather,
an.} with a new school building loom
ing up in the near future. What is
the inevitable result? Surely noth
ing but Turlington Graded Success,
'he real meaning of T. G. S.
Death of Little Festus Pleasant.
On Saturday morning, August 12,
the death angel visited the home of
Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Pleasant and
hore away the spirit of their dar
ling boy Festus.
Festus was just ten years old and
his quiet disposition, kind ways and
obedience had always made him, it
seemed, the favorite one of the
children. He was a child who tried
to do what was right always. His
death was caused by whooping cough
and bowel trouble. Every thing
possible was done to save his life,
hly medical science and loving rela
tives and friends, but God the great
Creator, who knows what is best, had
a better place prepared for him than
<iiis sinful world and called him homi
to receive his reward.
He leaves a heart-broken mother,
a father, three brothers and three sis
ters and a host of relatives and
friends to mourn their loss which is
his eternal gain.
The bereaved ones have our heart
felt sympathy.
3 hall we meet beyond the river,
’^here the surges cease to roll!
Where in all the bright forever,
Sorrow never shall press the soul!
A FRIEND.
*
SPEAKER CLARK DINES THE
TAR heel congressmen.
Washington, Aug. 11.—Speaker
amp Clark had as his guests at
meheon in the house restaurant to
day Representatives Webb, Page,
Godwin, Doughton, Stedman, Pou
and Gudger; Senators Simmons and
Overman and Uncle Joe Cannon, for
mer speaker of the house. It was
strictly a Tar Heel crowd with the
exception of the speaker himself,
Uncle Joe being a former North
Carolinian.
The 80-pound watermelon which
was sent to the speaker by State
Senator Cobb, of Lumber Bridge,
was brought forth, and then Mr.
Clark personally superintended the
“slicing” of the melon which was
more than enough to “go round.”
Mr. Clark says the melon was equal
to the famous “Pike county” melons,
which have quite a reputation in Mis
souri.
LOOKS IN MIRROR AND FAINTS.
First View In Looking Glass After
Lapse of Forty Years Sends Him
To a Barber Shop.
Pittsburg, August 13.—For the
first time since 1870, Jacob Steinman,
man, a hermit, living back of
Reserve Township, saw himself a
few days ago in a mirror. He im
mediately fainted, and when revived
hustled to a barber shop and got a
shave, an experience he had not
had in forty years.
For the first time since he was a
young man, Steinman came to town
and visited his cousin, Mrs. Sarah
McCune, in Perrysville Avenue. It1
was there by accident that he glanc
ed into the mirror.
“Great Scott! ” he exclaimed, and
toppled over. When revived he re- j
marked: “What a great change has I
come over me since I saw myself j
in a fishing pond just forty years j
ago.” Then he seized his hat and
ran to the nearest barber shop, where
he was shorn of his beard, which
was three feet long.
SHARP TACK BRINGS
EACK POWER OF SPEECH.
Nashua, la., Aug. 12—A sharp lack
whicxi penetrated his foot through
the sole of his shoe, suddenly re
stored to Hen*y Rickhoff his pow
er of speech. He had been unable to
talk since about a month ago, when
he was knocked senseless by a
stroke of lightning.
Rickhoff was at work in the black
smith’s shop when he stepped on the
tack. The pain caused him to cry
out, and he is now able to converse
normally.
A Daring Hold Up by Robbers.
On Wednesday night of last week
two negroes held up and robbed a
drummer at the junction of the
Southern and Atlantic Coast Line
railroads three miles east of Prince
ton. The drummer travels for a
Chicago jewelry house and had left
Princeton to go to the junction to
see a country merchant. After see
ing the merchant he went to the
junction to take a train for Golds
boro. While waitting for the train
two negroes came up to him and
pointing pistols at him demanded
what he had. They took from him
his watch and coat, his mileage book
and about forty dollars in money.
Next they went through his suit
case and took from it such articles
as they desired. Having accomplish
ed the robbery they sent him toward
Princeton with instructions to run
for his life. This was done on a
bright moonlight night within two
hundred yards of a dwelling in this
civilized country of ours. This man
went to princeton and reported what
had been done. The train he ex
pected to take was late and so he
reached Princeton in time to go to
Goldsboro from there. Next day he
drove from Goldsboro back to the
* place where he was robbed, om
could find no trace of the negroes.
It is thought they are some negroes
living near the junction.
_ m , ^ | ■+
Conductor Walter Finch, who was
badly scalded last Friday evening bj
the crown sheet blowing out of a lo
comotive on the Seaboard near Ral
eigh, died Saturday morning. It was
an extra freight train and the con
ductor was riding in the cab witl
the engineer and fireman, who wer<
both badly injured but will recover.
PRESTON BLACKMAN MURDERED
TRAGEDY AT SELMA EARLY WED
NESDAY MORNING.
Joe W. Whitley Charged With the
Crime According to Evidence Be
fore Coroner's Jury.
A shocking tragedy was enacted at
the town of Selma in the early morn
ing hoursing hours, on August 16,
and as a result, W. P. Blackman is
dead and Joe W. Whitley is a fug
itive from justice.
The news of the tragedy was re
ceived here early Wednesday morn
ing and Coroner James H. Kirk
man went to the scene of the kill
ing and held an inquest over the
dead body of W. P. Blackman, a
white man, about 42 years old. The
following jury, was empanelled: L. G.
Patterson, D. W. Parrish, W. R.
Long, C. F. Kirby, E W. O’Neal and
Fab B. Whitley. The jury render
ed their verdict as follows: “That
the deceased, W. P. Blackman, came
to his death on the 16th day of Au
gust, 1911, at about 4 o’clock A. M.,
at his home by a wound in the back
of his head made by some strong,
sharp instrument in the hands of
Joe W. Whitley.”
Several witnesses were examined,
but the principal ones were Mr. A.
M. Branch and Mrs. Mollie Black
man. Mr. Branch testified among
other things, that he and Mr. Joe
W. Whitley, at Whitley’s sugges
tion, went to Mr. W. P. Blackman's
sometime during the night (Tuesday
night) and knocked at the kitchen
door. Blackman opened the door
and invited them in. They walked in
and asked W. P. Blacittaan if he
wanted a drink. He replied in the
affirmative and both he and - his
wife took a drink. Branch, the wit
ness says that after being there
awhile, he asked Whitley to let’s
go. Whitley said, let’s not. Branch
urged him as he said he had to work
next day. Blackman also asked
him to go on with tsrancn. vvmuey
said he was not ready, and Branch
walked out. As he left, he says he
heard Blackman tell Joe that he
would put him out if he didn’t go on,
but Branch says he thought the re
marks all in fun. Joe had a buggy
whip in his hand. He and Blackman
got into a tussle in a playful way
and Branch says that he heard a
light lick. He then went on home.
This was somewhere after 12 o’clock,
according to the witness’s story.
Mrs Mollie Blackman, wife of
the deceased, testified that on the
night of August 15, at about 3:30
o’clock, Mr. Branch and Mr. Joe
Whitley went to Mr. Blackman’s
home, that Mr. Branch had a gallon
jug with about six pints of whiskey
in it. That “Mr. Branch and Preston
(W. P. Blackman) went into the
kitchen and took a drink of whiskey
together and Joe Whitley came in
and said it was his whiskey and they
took two drinks together and Pres
ton told them he had to lie down
and for them to go home. Joe and
Mr. Branch went on out into the
| yard quarreling and Preston went
out and told them they must leave.
Preston called me and says 1 am
killed, and I ran over to the first
house and told it and then up to Mr.
Liles’ house and told them.’’
Blackman was stabbed in the back
of the head about one inch above the
ear and about an inch and a half
back of it. He died in about twenty
minutes after the stabbing took
place.
Joe Whitley left about eight
o’clock Wednesday morning for parts
unknown. He is a son of one ol
Selma’s well known citizens, Mr. T
H. Whitley, and the family has th<
sympathy of the community in theii
trouble. Much sympathy is als<
felt for the family of the deceased.
It is another sad chapter in th<
history of Johnston County and ii
the result of the demon, whiskey.
Alleghany county has joined th<
progressive counties in the Stab
along lines educational. The towi
of Sparta has voted a special ta:
for schools, this being the first dig
trict in the county to vote such i
j tax. Only one other county in th
I State—Graham—has no special ta
i district.
The population of Paris within th
1 fortifications that encircle the cit
> is 2,847,000. With the suburbs i
numbers about 4,000.000.
- — __
A SUNDAY MORNING HOMICIDE
GEORGE STEPHENSON SHOOTS
AND KILLS ED JONES.
The Coroner’s Jury Declares That
Deceased was Killed by Stephenson
In the Defense of His Home.
One more distressing tragedy has
been added to the large number al
ready charged up against Johnston
county. In this case the killing was
justifiable according to the verdict
of the coroner’s jury.
Early Sunday morning, August 13,
Ed Jones was killed in Pleasant
Grove township by being shot with
a gun by George Stephenson at the
latter's home.
County Coroner, Mr. James H. Kirk
man, was sent for and held an in
quest, the following jury being em
panelled to pass upon the matter:
H. L. Skinner, Charles Register, D.
D. Braswell, W. H. Flowers, G. H.
Roberst, and J. R. Beasley. After hear
ing the evidence the jury found as
follows: “That the deceased, Ed.
Jones, came to his death by gun
shot in the hands of Geo. Stephen
son on the 14 day of August, 1911,
and the same being in the defense of
his home, wife, children and him
self.”
According to the evidence brought
out before the Coroner's jury the
sad affair was about as follows: Ed
Jones went to Benson last Satur
day and when he came back he drove
up in front of George Stephenson’s
house and called him out saying that
he had something to tell him. Ste
phenson and his wife both went out
and after the exchanging of a few
words Jones fell out of his buggy. It
is stated that he was about half
drunk. Asked if he was hurt, he an
swered by cursing and drove off back
to his house which was near Stephen
son’s house. He was heard to go
and kick open his front door and ask
I his wife for a knife. In about ten
minutes he went bn -k to Stephen
son s nouse. The iamiiy was evi
dently frightened and George Ste
phenson asked his wife, “What must
we do?” Mrs. Stephesson locked the
back door and her husband the front
one. Jones went around to the
back door. Seeing there was trouble
ahead Stephenson took his gun from
the rack and when Jones began to
knock down the door Mrs. Stephen
son raised one of the windows and
George got out. Having broken in
the door Jones reached up for the
gun from the rack, threatening to
kill George if he found him. He then
started around the house and ran
George through the house two or
three times. He then went out and
started off his mule, and it was
thought for a little while that he
was gone home. But later Mrs. Ste
phenson saw nim in the weeds near
the house. Seeing Mrs. Stephenson,
Jones told her to leave and attend
to her own business. She then went
into the house and told her husband
that Ed. Jones was coming back. Geo
went out at back door and Jones
coming on to the front picked up a
chair and threw at Mrs. Stephen
son. He called on her to get him
some matches and she being afraid
not to obey, got them for him. He
then struck them, going into all
the rooms looking for George. All
this time he was cursing and swear
ing and saying “I will kill you if 1
can just find you.” He then went
out at the back door and about this
time the shot was fired which killed
him. When George saw v.'hat h«
had done, he cried out, “I have
killed him, What shall we do?’ ’ Ec
spoke about the same time, declar
ing that he was killed.
Jones was a tenant on the lant
of Stephenson and it is said tha
there had been trouble between thi
men before this, and that Jones hai
' made threats that he would kill Ste
phenson.
The verdict of the coroner’s jur;
is one that exonerates Mr. Stephen
s son and no arrest has been made. I
} is another one of those sad affair
1 that are but the result of wickednes:
L _, m _
WOMEN JURORS IN THE WES1
i _
' | Thirty-four of Them in a Venire c
4! 129 Citizens Drawn in Tacoma.
__
Tacoma, Wash., August 13.—Thirt
s , four women are included in the v
y | nire of 129 jurors drawn for the Se]
t tember term of the Superior Court i
1 this city.
FLOODS CAUSE GREAT
SUFFERING IN CHINA.
Victoria, B. C„ Aug. 14.—Floods
have caused loss of hundreds of
lives and great suffering in China,
where several of the rivers have ov
erflowed along the Yang-Tse. Ar
rivals from Shanghai by the Empress
of Japan state that the distress which
followed the floods is so great that
children are being offered for sale.
The district of Huang suffered
most, the river having swept away
a great number of houses. The riv
er rose to the city gate, which was
shut and banked up in order to keep
out the waters. Water was three
feet deep in the city. From Lonk
onkoll it was reported that following
the great rains of July 14 and 15
the crops have been swept away for
forty mile3 on either bank.
TO BE 50,000 POSTAL BANKS.
One Hunndred More Just Designat
ed, Making the Total to Date
1,590.
Washington, D. C., August 13.—Of
the 60,000 post-offices of all classes
in the United States, it is expected
that approximately 50,000 eventual
ly will be designated as postal sav
ings depositaries.
Including 100 additional second
class offices designated yesterday by
Postmaster-General Hitchcock as de
positaries, the total number of pos
tal banks established to this date
is 1,590. By September 1 all the
1,800 second-class post-offices will
have been designated as postal banks.
It is the intention of the Post-Office
Department then to begin designat
ing the 6,000 third-class offices as
banks, probably at the rate of 500
a week. Gradually the system will
be extended to offices of the fourth
class, including only those which are
money order offices,
i At about 10,000 fourth-class of
i fices money orders are not issued.
REVISED LIST OF DEAD
FROM TRAIN WRECK.
Fort Wayne, .Ind., Aug. 14.—A re
vised list of the dead and injured as
a result of the eastbound 18-liour
! Pennsylvania flyer from Chicago to
j New York leaping the track one mile
west of here last evening, shows
that two are dead, two missing and
thirty-three injured. It is practi
cally certain that the two missing
men, a fireman and an engineer, are
dead. Wrecking crews are to-day
searching the debris for their bod
ies. None of the injured will die,
physicians say.
STRUCK DEAD BESIDE COFFIN.
Lightning Stuns Four Other Women
And Interrupts Funeral.
Milwaukee, Aug. 12.—An Evening
Wisconsin special from West Bend,
Wts., says:
Mourning for Phillip Brissel, whose
I body lay in a coffin before the altar
'of St. John’s Evangelical Church, at
Kohlville, Mrs. Henry Conrad was
struck dead and four other women
rendered unconscious when a bolt of
lightning pierced the house of wor
ship yesterday.
Rev. John Frank had just started
the sermon when a vivid flash of
flame and a deafening crash seemed
to paralyze the entice congregation.
Pastor Frank’s words of compassio
for the sorrowing family were never
uttered. Mrs. Conrad and a dozen
other women lay prostrate on the
floor, while near them writhed a
dozen others, their shrieks of terror
precipitating a panic which only cool
headed men, hardly yet comprehend
ing the situation, prevented.
1 In this church the men sit on one
' side and the women on the other.
! Hence, when the lightning struck the
1 steeple, entered the church and hurl
ed down a chandelier under whicl
sat Mrs. Conrad the lightning founc
f only feminine victims.
t Stanley county has postponed the
3 Farm Life school election to No
>• vember 1st. The election was to
have been held in August but it
’. was found that the people had beep
too busy to inform themselves on
f the question. It is said that inter
est in the measure is growing and
the friends of the movement are very
y- hopeful of succeeding at the polls,
i- Winston has voted $350,000 of
)- bonds for additional school buildings,
n water and sewerage and street im
provements.
A LIVE SENATORIAL SITUATION
ONE MAN SAYS GOES FOR SEC
OND CHOICE.
Talk at Washington Abuot the Sen
atorial Fight In North Carolina a
Leading Topic.
Washington, Aug. 12.—E. B. Lew
is. of Kinston, sovereign manager of
the Woodmen of the World, who
stopped over in Washington for a
few days, says that Governor Kitch
in will surely be the next United
Start.es Senator from North Carolina.
He says he has traveled extensively
in the State and he is convinced that
the Governor will win over all con
testants. Mr. Lewis thinks that for
mer Governor Aycock will run a
close second to the Governor and that
it may be necessary to hold a second
primary In order to decide the con
test.
Mr. Lewis has just returned from
Omaha, Neb., where he attended a
meeting of the Woodmen of the
World. He says at the meeting
which has just closed that it was de
cided to build a large office build
ing which will cost over a million
dollars when completed.
There were several other visitors
in Washington to-day who are equal
ly as confident of Senator Simmons’
success as Mr. Lewis is of the Gov
ernor’s. One man sized up the sit
uation up thusly:
“There are some strong shots be
ing fired at both Kitchin and Sim*
' mons by the leading Democratic
j organ. I think Simmons has the
strongest working organization in
j the State—more compact and one
that will stand by him to the last.
Kitchin’s organization is Ueing
pretty well built., but not in as good
shape as the senior Senator.
“The popular movement in gen
eral is for Aycock. He is the man
! who is generally spoken well of by
all. But it must be admitted that
| Aycock has stood for a number of
i issues that Senator Simmons has
j been allied with.
I “I believe that this campaign for
i Senator will be, by far, the most bit
! ter the State has ever seen. I be*
; lieve that the candidate who has the
largest number of second choice
votes will go to the United States
Senate. I do not believe that it
will be possible for a choice to be
made in the first primary.”
The man who expressed this opin
ion has traveled from one end of the
State to hte other. He is a non
partisan. He frankly admtis that he
is not decided for whom he will
vote.—Parker A. Anderson, in Char
lotte Chronicle.
GREAT FALLING OFF IN
KANSAS WINTER WHEAT.
Topeka, August ^13.—The State
Board of Agriculture’s report on win
ter wheat says that inquiry reveals
that the winter wheat crop was ap
proximately 51,365,000 bushels, or
nearly 9,000,000 bushels under that
of 1910 and the smallest since 1899.
It is one-+hird less than the aver
age yearly production for the decade
ending with 1910. This, although the
acreage sown was the greatest in
the history of the State. Of the
7,260,000 acres sown the growers now
estimate that nearly 37 per cent was
a failure.
SELMA NEWS.
Selma, Aug. 17.—The Selma Grad
ed School bond election passed off
very quietly last Tuesday. The re
sult was that the bonds were defeat
ed, not receiving a majority of the
registered votes. They also did not
receive a majority of the votes cast.
The vote was, for bonds, 107;
against bonds, 113.
The mill owners and the corpora
tions did the business for the schools.
Mr. Charlie Richardson is here vis
iting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Richardson.
The article in the News and Ob
server Wednesday from Smithfield,
and a previous article in the same
paper from Selma ought to forever
put a stop to ball games between
the two towns.
I The Commissioners of Cumberland
' County have ordered an election to
be held on the second Tuesday in
E November on the question of a
, $200,000 bond issue for public roads.
- The petition asking for the election
contained more than 700 names.