tficlft
VOLUME 39
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1920.
Number 63
GRAND JURY REPORT
FOR AUGUST TERM
Commends County Commission
ers for Planning to Build New
Courthouse and Jail—Recom
mends That County Home Be
Sold—Hospital be Built.
The Grand Jury at the August term
of court completed their labors and
made their report Wednesday after
noon and were discharged with the
thanks of the Court. The report is
to the point and congratulates the
Board of County Commissioners on
their action relative to new courthouse
and jail. It also calls attention to
the need of repairs at the County
Home and recommends that the pres
* ent home and farm be sold and that
a site more convenient to the public
be purchased near the county seat
and that a modern and sanitary hos
pital be erected. Some criticism
about conditions at the Smithfield
convict camp is made. The report
follows: •
To His Honor, W. A. Devin, Judge
Presiding:
The Grand Jury begs to submit the
following report:
Bills of Indictment
We have passed upon all bills of
endictment sent to us, where the wit
nesses were present or obtainable, to
the best of our ability, and reported
our action to the Court. In several
instances, however, the witnesses
were not present, and did not answer
after being repeatedly called.
, County Offices
We have visited all the County of
fices and were greeted with uniform
courtesy by the several officers. We
find that the records and offices are
as neatly and accurately kept as pos
sible, with the inadequate facilities
at hand.
Court House.
• We believe the citizens of the coun
ty gladly join us in congratulating
our able Board of Commissioners up
on their recent action relative to a
new modern Court House and Jail,
and urge upon all to give the Board
their hearty support in the undertak
ing, in order that Johnston may have
its proper rating among the progres
sive counties of the State.
County Home.
We visited the County Home ano
were given a cordial welcome by the
efficient keeper, Mr. Hinton. The un
fortunates seemed cheerful and hap
py. They are well cared for; the
wards are as clean and saAtary as
possible, under existing circumstan
ces. The buildings are in bad repair
and without an exception the roofs are
leaky and rotten. To repair them
would mean practically the cost of
new buildings. We are informed that
the farm contains about 240 acres,
which at present prices of land in that
vicinity would bring an amount suf
ficient to purchase a site convenient
to the public, near the county seat and
erect thereon a modem sanitary hos
pital that our citizens would be proud
of, as well as give to our unfortunate
poor, the comforts and care they so
richly deserve. We earnestly'recom
mend this course to the County Board.
County Jail.
We visited the County Jail and find
same as clean and sanitary as seems
possible under the existing condition
of the old building.
Convict Camp
We visited the Clayton Camp and
found the facilities totally inadequate
for the care and comfort of prison
ers. The only means of caring for
them is a filthy cage and a small dirty
kitchen. We think conditions should
be materially improved beore they
are allowed more prisoners. We visit
ed the Smithfield camp, and while
they have a building sufficient for
their needs, the condition is no bet
ter. The sleeping quarters are filthy,
the floors are dirty, the blankets show
the need of washing, the mattresses
are old and tom, and more suitable
for hogs than humans. We recom
mend that they be required to pur
chase new bedding and bum the old,
as well as do general house cleaning.
The kitchen was clean and in good
order.
Justice of the Peace.
The list furnished us contains sev
enty-three names. Only nine made
reports which we have examined. Six
ty-four have not reported, whose
TENNESSEE RATIFIES
SUFFRAGEAMENDMENT
Speaker Walker Changes Vote
So As to Get Privilege for
Reconsideration of Action Of
Lower House—Vote Stood 50
To 46 After Walker Changed.
Nashville, Term., Aug. 18.—Tennes
see today ratified the Federal woman
suffrage amendment, the lower house
of the legislature by a vote of 50 to
46 concurring in the action of the
senate, which last Friday adopted the
ratification resolution by a vote of 25
to 4.
Although it was the thirty-sixth
state to act favorably and the amend
ment should become effective as soon
as certified by Bainbridge Colby, Sec
retary of State, whether 17,000,000
women of the country would vote in
the Presidential election in Novem
ber remained to be determined. The
house still has an opportunity to re
scind its action and preliminary steps
for testing the legality of ratification
by the legislature, if reconsideration
should fail to upset it, already has
been taken by the Tennessee Consti
tutional League on the ground that
the assembly had no authority to act.
After the ballot today Seth Walk
er, speaker of the House and leader
of the opposition, changed his vote
from “no” to “aye” in order to avail
himself of the privilege of moving for
reconsideration and announced that he
would do so. Under the rules only
Mr. Walker can offer this motion and
it may be done at any time he so de
sires. He must act, however, either
tomorrow or Friday.—Associated
Press.
Bentonville Township Fair.
The fourth annual meeting of the
Bentonville township fair will meet
at Mill Creek school house October
7. The officers of the Fair Associa
tion are: Seth W. Lassiter, Presi
dent; H. C. Williams, Vice President;
W. A. Powell, Secretary and Treas
urer. The Herald is now working on
the premium list which will be out in
a few more days.
The Bentonville Community Fair is
one of the real agencies for building
up the county. It is conducted by the
Bentonville people for the Benton
ville folks. Heretofore the fair has
been a success. The promoters are
hoping to meet with greater success
this year and the outlook is promising.
Some of the people of the township,
and the ladies especially, are already
taking pains to make a good show
ing. They are putting up well select
ed fruits and preserves. The fair is
a fine builder of the community. It
promotes and encourages a live com
munity spirit without which no com
munity can thrive in the truest sense
of the word.
Ten Rules for Happiness.
One of the first rules is to feel fit.
But there are others. Here are some
of the others as evolved by Japanese
medical students and so sensible and
practical that they have come clear
across the Pacific and finally got into
Capper’s Weekly. They are:
Be out in the opea air as'much as
possible.
Eat meat once a day.
Take a hot water bath each day.
Wear clothes of coarse weave.
Stay in bed at least six, but not
more than seven hours. The bedroom
should be darkened and the windows
wide open.
Rest one day a week.
Avoid extremes, whether in passion
or in intellectual work.
Marry.
Refrain from overwork.
Don’t talk too much.—Capper’s
Weekly.
names you will find on attached list.
Guardians and Wards.
We have examined the records to
the best of our ability, and can find
no abuses or mismanagement.
We wish to express our appreciation
for the uniform courtesy and help ex
tended us by the County Officers, the
Court and its officers in the perform
ance of our duty.
* JNO. 0. ELLINGTON,
Foreman
TEACHERS SUMMER
SCHOOL AT SMITHFl’LD
The Teachers of Johnston Who
Have Not been Able to Attend
Any of the Various Summer
Schools Have Opportunity to
Raise Their Certificates.
The teachers of Johnston county
now have an opportunity to prepare
themselves for better work the com
ing fall and winter. The County
Board of Education has authorized a
County Summer school of six weeks
to begin at Smithfield next Monday,
August 23. In a letter to the teach
ers of the county among other things
Supt. Hipps says:
“The purpose of the summer school
is, for teachers to take courses so
that their certificates may be renew
ed or converted into higher certifi
cates. For example: a teacher who
holds a second grade certificate can
raise that certificate to a provisional
B by simply attending a County
summer school provided, such teacher
passes four courses in the summer
school. A temporary certificate is
sued upon a County first grade cer
tificate may be converted intb an
elementary certificate by attending
the County summer school and pass
ing four courses in the summer
school. The county summer school
gives any teacher who holds any cer
tificate from the elementary to the
second grade county certificate an op
portunity to either renew such cer
tificate or convert it into the higher
certificate. The County summer
school does not allow a teacher to
convert an elementary certificate in
to either a grammar grade or pri
mary certificate. This can be done
only in the state summer schools.
“If you are planning to teach this
year and do not have your certificate
in force it will be best for you to at
tend the county summer school. You
can take an examination upon the
Reading Circle work and renew your
certificate. This examination will be
given the second Tuesday in October.
There will doubtless also be given a
State examination the latter part of
August. In my opinion it is best for
all teachers who have certificate dif
ficulties to attend the County sum
mer school in preference to taking
the examination upon the Reading
Circle work. The courses which will
be offered will prove to be invaluable
throughout the school year to the
teachers who attend. Let me urge
you to make your plans to be pres
ent the first day and remain through
out the entire summer school. You
will be required to attend regularly
to receive any credits.
“It will save you an expense if
you will bring your public school
books. Those who are planning to
take primary work should bring the
readers and other books that are used
in the first three grades. Those who
are planning to take grammar grade
work should bring the books that are
used from the fourth to the seventh
grades inclusive.”
The school will open next Monday,
August 23, in the Turlington Graded
school building.
Edwin Smith Pou Memorial Hospital
To the Editor:
Sometime ago I saw in your paper
an invitation to the readers of The
Herald to suggest a name for the new
hospital that has recently bee* open
ed in Smithfield, and I am writing to
suggest th^t it be named the “Edwin
Smith Pou Memorial Hospital,” in
memory of Smithfield’s beloved boy
who so willingly and bravely gave his
young life in the World War.
It is well known to the readers of
The Herald how Edwi* without hesi
tation enlisted for service in the ar
tillery, a branch of the army service
that called for front line action, but
not being satisfied with even this ac
tive branch, obtained a transfer to
the Navy so that he could get i»to the
“flying game” and how he made the
great sacrifice in France.
I think it would be fitting to name
the hospital as I have suggested, as
a tribute to the memory of one known
and loved by all, both young and old,
who knew him.
S. W. MYATT.
New York, Aug. 17, 1920.
FARMERS CONVENTION
RALEIGHNEXT WEEK
Eighteenth Annual Convention
North Carolina Farmers And
Farm Women Begin at 11:00
O’clock Tuesday, August 24—
Will Last Through Aug. 26.
—•—
(By S. J. Kirby, County Agent.)
The Eighteenth Annual Convention
of the North Carolina Farmers and
f arm Women will begin at 11:00 o’
clock Tuesday, August 24, at the
State College, West Raleigh. This
Convention will last through Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, August 24,
25 and 26, with evening programs on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
The subjects on the program this
year are very practical in their nature
any deal with the important every
day problems of the farm and home
of our North Carolina folks. The
men and women will have separate
divisions in the forenoon of each day
in which to discuss problems peculi
ar to their own work. In the after
noon they will hold joint sessions in
which big North Carolina problems
will be taken up by men and women
of national reputation. On Wednes
day morning the men will have two
separate meetings: one in which prob
lems of Eastern North Carolina will
be discussed and the other in which
the problems of Western North Car
olina will be considered.
Dr. Clarence Poe, President, and
Mr. W. F. Pate, Secretary of the
Convention, have succeeded in secur
ing some of the most outstanding
men and women in this country to
address the Convention. Among them
are Hon. E. T. Meredith, Secretary of
Agriculture; Dr. C. V. Piper, Prof.
N. E. Winters, Dr. J. H. McCain, Dr.
C. K. Galpin, and Mr. D. S. Murph, of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture;
Mr. Wayne Dinsmore, Secretary Per
cherson Society of America; Dr.
Ruby Green Smith, head of the Home;
Demonstration work in the State of
New York; Mr. J. R. Howard, head of
Farm Bureau of the U. S. and several
others besides a host of the leading
farmers and farm women in North
Carolina are on this year’s program.
In addition to these a large number
of practical demonstrations will be
given and a splendid collection of ex
hibits of farm and home conveniences
has been collected which will make
the trip to this Convention in many
respects superior to attending a large
fair.
The Convention should be of speci
al interest to the people of this coun
ty because of Johnston’s position
among the agricultural counties of
the State and because of problems to
be discussed, such as, boll weevil,
tile drainage, farm financing, com
munity building, live stock farming,
vocational agricultural and home
economics for the rural schools and
a great list of others too long to men
tion will be of great interest to us
during the next few years if we hope
to hold our own with regard to the
other counties in the State.
Personally, I want to urge every
man and woman, boy and girl in
Johnston county who can do so to at
tend this Convention. Let’s meet ir^
Smithfield on Tuesday morning at
9:00 o’clock and drive through to
Raleigh in one long procession. You
will be furnished rooms at the Col
lege. These rooms are equipped with
furniture, but it will be necessary for
the people to take along bed linen,
towels, etc. Meals can be had at 50
cents each. Be sure to register and
help win the beautiful loving cup giv
en to the county having the best at
tendance.
Comes to the Citizens National
Mr. Frank C. Sweeney, of Wilming
ton, N. C., has moved to the city and
has accepted a position with the Cit
izens National Bank. Mr. Sweeney
is a banker of experience and ability
whose past career in the banking
business gives great promise of much
success ia his chosen field. He has
been with the Murchison National
Bank of Wilmington for the past four
years and comes highly recommended.
His addition to the force at the Citi
zens National will strengthen this ia
stitution which is making great
strides as a factor in the financial
life of Smithfield and Johnston coun
ty.
OFFIE TYSON TO PEN
15 YEARS FOR MURDER
Killed Constable Stroup of Four
Oaks Early Last Year When
He Went to Arrest Him.—
Tyson Escaped and Was Not
Arrested Till Few Weeks Ago.
One of the trials at this term of
court in which great imterest has been
manifested is the case of Offie Tyson
who killed Constable J. S. Stroup
near Four Oaks on February 26,
1919. Armed with a warrant for Ty
son, who was charged with stealing
a buggy robe and raincoat, Constable
Stroup and Condary Stanley went to
Tyson’s home seeking him. Not find
ing him at home, they left and start
ed by a near way to the school house
where a box party was being held that
night. On the way they met him
coming home with two of his children
with him. They stopped and after a
word or so Mr. Stroup told him to
consider himself under arrest, where
upon Tyson said, “Wait a minute,”
and reached around to his pocket,
whipped out a pistol and before
Stroup knew he had a weapon, Tyson
shot the officer back of the left ear.
At the time Stroup had his hand on
Tyson’s arm and when he fell Tyson
fell with him. At the shooting Stan
ley ran and Tyson shot at him. He
then stopped and turned back when
he heard a third shot. This shot
took effect in the top of Stroup’s
head, killing him instantly. The
trial began here Wednesday morning
when the following jury was select
ed to try him: L. M. Littleton, R. L.
Pittman, Milton Durham, C. C. Hath
away, T. C. Pounds, Eddie Oliver,
Solomon Daughtery, J. G. Dixon, Jas.
Ransom Creech, A. R. Hatcher, W.
P. Reaves, and J. T. Jones.
After selecting the jury the case
was postponed until yesterday morn
ing when the taking of evidence was
begun. The first witness on the
stand was Condary Stanley who was
with Stroup when he was killed. Af
ter hearing a number of witnesses
for the State, the State rested. After
dinner the trial was resumed and
soon an agreement for second degree
murder was reached and the case did
not go to the jury. The judge sen
tenced Tyson to fifteen years in the
penitentiary.
After Tyson killed Stroup he made
his escape and was not apprehended
until a few weeks ago when he was
taken near Grimesland in Pitt county
by Johnston County officers who had
learned that he was there and had
written his wife to go to see him.
She went and on the same train the
officers followed. The same auto
that took Mrs. Tyson to the place
where her husband was, also took the
officers out there the next day. He
resisted arrest by trying to escape
and ran across a field but fell in a
ditch and when he rose the officers
were right on him. He was com
manded to throw up his hands and
surrender. Fearing immediate death
he surrendered and was brought to
Smithfield and lodged in jail where
he has been since.
Tyson was a bad character and had
.been arrested a number of times for
various offenses. It has said that he
said that the next man who tried to
arrest him would be killed. He was
as good as his word and when J.
S. Stroup went after him he killed
him and now must serve fifteen years
for his crime.
Tyson was well represented by
counsel, Messrs. Parker & Martin, of
Smithfield; Ezra Parker, of Benson,
and Frank Taylor, of the law firm
of Langston, Allen & Taylor, of
Goldsboro, appearing for him. The
Solicitor was ably assisted by Col. Ed
S. Abell, of the Smithfield bar.
Moved His Family Here.
Mr. W. H. Lyon, who located here
for the practice of law a few weeks
ago, has moved his family here. They
are living in the new residence on
East Caswell street, near the Selma
road. For the past two or three years
they have been living in Washington
City where Mr. Lyon has been con
nected with the Navy Department.
We gladly welcome them to our pros
perous little city.
: NEGRO GOES TO PEN FOR
BURNING SELMA SCHOOL
Oscar Melvin Found Guilty and
Given an Eight Year Term in
State Penitentiary—Convict*
Upon Evidence Which Wan
Largely CircumstantiaL
The negro Oscar Melvin, who haa
been in the State Penitentiary for the
past several weeks oa the charge of
burning the hantjgsome high school
building at Selma last April, waa
found guilty in the Superior Court
here yesterday and given an eight
year sentence to the penitentiary.
.Melvin had been the janitor of the
school building for sometime and had
been recently discharged for impu
dence by Supt. Crumpton. The cir
cumstantial evidence which waa
brought out on the trial was suffici
ent to convict in the minds of the
jury and they brought in a verdict of
guilty.
The Selma School building was the
best in the county and was completed
three years ago at a cost of more
than fifty thousand dollars.
PRINCETON—BOON HILL.
^ Princeton, Aug. 18.—Miss Flossie
Stallings from Pine Level has been
spending a few days with her sister,
Mrs. Murray Lynch.
Misses Bernice ami Zilla Dew from
Florida have been visiting for the
past few days at the home of Mr. G.
T. Boyett.
Mrs. Leiia Woodard and Mrs. I. B.
Smith have gone to Baltimore to vis
it relatives.
Mr. W. C. Massey and Mr. C. SL
Massengill have returned from a trip
to Baltimore bringing back a new
auto.
Ransom E. and Elmer Holt have
gone to Mars Hill for the fall term
of school.
Mrs. L. A. Raney from Goldsboro
is visiting relatives in town.
Mrs. J. H. Harrell from New Bern
is visiting Mrs. Will Wiggs.
The conditio* of Mr. J. W. Perry
continues to grow worse and there
isn’t much hope of any improvement.
Mr. and Mrs. William T. Whitley's
children and grandchildren gathered
at their home a few days ago for
their annual reunion. Among those
present were Mr. and Mrs. W. T.
Mitchell and children from Durham,
Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Whitley and chil
dren, Durham, Mr. and Mrs. W. K.
Whitley, Raleigh, Mr. and Mrs. Ar
thur K. Eason and children from
Selma, Messrs. Roy, Melvi* and Clar
ence; also Miss Hattie Lois Whitley
and some others.
The Boon Hill delegation of young
men who will attend Buies Creek next
term continues to grow. At present
there are six, as follows:. Howard
Oliver, Joe Boyette, Frank Pearce,
Harvey Wellons, Richard Braswell
and Caspian Holt. Miss Lissie Pearce
is expected to join the school later.
In speaking of his experiences on
the ocean, Caspian Holt was an elec
trician on one of Uncle Sam’s largest
ships for two years, and on which he
crossed the Atlantic ocean eight times
and also made several trips to South
America, states that he does not re
call any time in the two years
he ever heard it thunder or that he
ever heard or saw any lightning on
the ocean, and his ship was in a great
many heavy storms at sea.
Mrs. Charles M. Kelly Dead.
On the morning of August 12 at
2:30 o’clock, Mrs. Charles M. Kelly,
wife of Policeman Charles M. Kelly
of this city, died at the residence of
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Ray
nor, in Johnston county.
Mrs. Kelly’s illness was of short
duration, lasting only a few hours.
She left a little daughter less than
one day old. She also leaves her
husband, father, mother, three sis->
ters and four brothers.
Mrs. Kelly died in the very bloon
of life, being but 17 years and •
months old. She was a loving and
dutiful daughter and a devoted and
faithful wife.
Deceased was laid to rest at Hodges
Chapel near Benson, beside her
ter, Mrs. J. H. Horton.—Fayettevillo
Observer.