Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Dec. 7, 1920, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
VOLUME 39 SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1920. NUMBER 94 CONGRESS HOLDS BRIEF SESSION Harding Answers to Roll And Makes Brief Speech —Many New Bills. Washington, Dec. 6.—Congress re convened today with the customary brief and routine opening sessions which were attended by great crowds and marked by an address, in the Senate, by President-elect Harding as a unique and historic feature. Senator Harding took his seat, answered his name when the Senate roll was called and made a brief ad dress from the rostrum. Other features of the opening of the third and final session of the Sixty-sixth Congress, were receipt of annual' appropriations estimates ag gregating $4,653,000,000 and intro duction in the House of an unusual volume of new bills and resolutions. Senators held up their bills until to morrow in accordance with the cus tom of limiting the first day to for mal convocation. More than 350 new bills and reso lut’ons were dropped into the House hopper today and a flood of similar proportions is expected tomorrow in the Senate. The new House measures dealt with almost every conceivable subject, including proposals for re peal of war laws, for appropriations of millions of dollars for a myriad of purposes, pensions and many mea sures for farmer’s relief. CLAYTON NEWS Clayton, Dec. 4.—Miss La Rue Williams, of Princeton, was the guest of friends here for a few hours to day. Miss Gladys Barbour will leave to morrow morning for a few days at Roanoke Rapids. Rev. and Mrs. T. C. Thrift and fam ily have arrived in town from their old home at Graham. Mr. Thrift will succeed Mr. Hinson as pastor of the Methodist church here. We welcome them to our town and hope for them success and happiness. Mr. P. A. Wallace spent a few days this week in Baltimore buying goods. Mr. S. G. Phillips who has had his shoe shop in the building joining the Barnes-Duncan store will on Monday move to the old Clayton Bank Build ing. At this place he can better serve the public as he needed more room for the new machinery he has recently added. Mrs. J. W. Pittman of Oxford is here for a few days. The young folks of Clayton are working very hard for a ministrel show to be given here at a very early date. Mills quartette and a guitar specialists from Raleigh will assist the home talent and this promises to be one of the best entertainments ev er held in our town. Proceds go to the Organ Fund of the Baptist church. On Thursday afternoon about three o’clock, John William the infant baby of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Turley died. He was about four months old and had only been sick for a few days. Mrs.*C. W. Home entertained the Halycon club at her home, “Box borough Hall” Wednesday afternoon from three to five o’clock. The Ladies circle No. 6, of the Bap tist church were very delighted at the results of the dinners they served at Barnes-Duncan Company’s store on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The town people enjoyed the good eats and have been very liberal in this, also the Bazaar which was held at the same time in the building joining Clayton Banking Co. The proceeds go to the Organ Fund of the Baptist church. Fifty Millions in Bets Baltimore, Dec. 2.—The stupendous sum of $50,000,000 or more passed through the betting machines of the four big Maryland racetracks during the season of 110 days just ended, ac cording to figures obtained today. The new State Racing Commission has not yet made its report to the Government on the first six months of its operation, covering only the autumn meetings, but the figures giv en are regarded by persons in close touch with racing affairs as being, if anything, under the real amount.— Philadelphia Record. PRES. BANK COATS SHOOTS HIMSELF Bank Insolvent; Gives Over Entire Property Includ ing Insurance Dunn, Dec. 6.—Telling a?i'eloquent ly tragic story of his vain fight to stave off the closing of his bank, the dead body of H. T. Patterson, presi dent of the Bank of Coats, Coats, N. C., was found in a bam behind his home this morning. He killed him self, according to the coroner’s ver dict, by firing a revolver bullet thru his heart. A young son, engaged in the morning chores about the horn*, found the body shortly after 8 o’clock. It was resting in a little pool of blood with the weapon lyi lg between his feet. It is not known what time the tragedy occured. Mr. Patterson arose early this morning and left the house but his wife did not suspect anything wrong until his failure to ccme to breakfast. The Bank of Coats was closed Sat urday afternoon when it was learned that it was insolvent. Mr. Patterson sacrificed his entire private fortune in an effort to save the institution, and is said to have assigned all of his life insurance for the same purpose. The insurance is believed to be at1 least $65,000. There has been no inti mation of a shortage of the dead man’s accounts. Worry over the con dition of his institution and the loss the failure would bring to those who had entrusted their funds to his keeping, is assigned as the reason for his action.---Greensboro News. LIVING COSTS WILL DROP Predicts New Year Will See Prices Down. Business Men Must Pre pare for New Era. People Are Re fusing to Buy at High Prices, Washington, December 3.—Practi cally every class of business or agri cultural enterprise which has been hit by the drop in prices has appealed to the government at Washington for aid in some form or other. And while proposals for relief are being urged upon Congress through the political influences of the various business groups affected, the executive branch of the government has taken a deter mined position, viz., that intervention by the government to stop the fall in prices means a maintenance of the high cost of living. The government view is that busi ness of all kinds had been warned re peatedly since the armistice that a crash in high prices was coming soon er or later and that caution should be exercised. Those who refused to heed the admonition and have been holding their goods for high prices ignoring the downward march of prices are suffering the consequences. Opinion in government circles inclines to the view that in most commodities the bottom has been reached in the price curve but that the consumer has not felt the drop in prices materially be cause so many retailers have natural ly enough sought to get rid of their goods at prices somewhere near their original cost. i i i i iNoDoay in tne government Diames the retailer for his human desire to get back what he paid for goods on his shelves but at the same time of ficials point to the strike that the con sumer himself initiated against high prices. For months people have been refusing to buy until prices came down to reasonable levels. Govern ment officials think the Christmas shopping will naturally help out the retailer in clearing his shelves for new purchases after the first of the year. In order to promote business next year, buying is expected to be re sumed after New Year with intensity yet with conservatism. Manufacturers who have had orders cancelled be cause retailers were holding their goods in a vain effort to compel the consumer to buy are expected to ad just their prices to fit the new condi tions and the prediction here is that the cost of living will come down ev en more in the first months of 1921 than ever before.—David Lawrence in Greensboro News. -_ • “Have we everything here? What is in the small box?” “The ward-; I robe.” "And in the large one?” “Our paper money!”—Lustige Blatter, Ber | lin. WORK OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS County Officers for New Term Sworn In—New Supt. County Home The County Commissioners met in regular session here yesterday and reorganized the board for the coming two years, by electing Mr. D. B. Oliver, of Pine Level, Chairman. The board is composed of the follow ing: D. B. Oliver, H. M. Bai’bour, J. Wilis Creech, W. H. Upchurch and P. B. Chamblee. Mr. H. M. Barbour of Cleveland township is a new mem ber all others having served before. The folowing county officers were sworn in and filed their bonds: W. T. Adams, Register of Deeds; J. A. Keen, Auditor; W. J. Massey, sheriff; R. Lambert, county surveyor. The other officers who were elected will qualify later. The First National Bank of this city was named as financial agent for the county. Mr. Ed S. Abell was appointed county attorney. A change was made in the manage ment of the County Home. Mr. G. N. Hinton who has been in charge for several years will be succeeded by Mr. J. 0. Stephenson. He is elect ed for a term of two years which will begin January 1, 1921. The County Comissioners decided to re-establish the work of a finance committee who will look over the fi nances of the county quarterly and re port to the commissioners. The fol lowing were named on the committee, I). B. Oliver, Sam T. Honeycutt, and Charles M. Wilson. Of the constables who were elected in November, the following were sworn in and gave their bonds yes terday: L. H. Me Lamb, Banner; W. F. Cook, Wilders; Charles E. Ed wards, Boon Hill; W. T. Johnson, Cleveland; J. O. Hinton, Oneals; L. H. Johnson, Ingrams; A. H. Mor gan, Meadow; J. H. Marshburn, Ben tonville. SERIOUS CUTTING AFFRAY IN TOWN OF FOUR OAKS. Laura Edwards, Colored, Becomes Enraged Over Talk as to Differ ence Between Whites and Negroes and Takes Revenge on Mr. Preston Allen—She is Now in the County Boarding House Here. Saturday night, December 4th, there was some talk in Four Oaks as to the difference between white peo ple and negroes. Laura Edwards', a negro woman about 25 years old be came greatly enraged at the talk and made two heavy strokes with a knife or razor on Mr. Preston Allen who lives on the Charley Woodall farm about three miles from Four Oaks. She tried to cut Mr. Allen’s throat but missed her aim and made a deep gash across his left shoulder. The! next stroke took the knife into his body under the left arm. He was taken home and is still in bed under the care of a doctor. The case aroused considerable race feeling and for awhile it seemed there might be trouble between the races. Three car loads of negroes left the town to await on the high way for the constable who was to bring the negro woman to jail. The negro woman who had been arrested was taken through Elevation town ship a circuitous route to Smithfield. She was brought here and lodged in jail withoixt any further trouble. The trial was set for today buL Mr. Allen is noi able to be here. Greeks Vote for Constantine Athens, Greece, Dec. 5.—The ple biscite held today has shown an ov erwhelming majority in favor of the return of former King Constantine to the Greek throne. Inface of the expressed opposition of the allied governments the ques tion was put squarely before the Greek people and the indications prior to the balloting were that the Greeks would return Constantine who is now in Switzerland. “Jack, how is it that you never bring any good marks home from school?” “Oh, papa, there are such a lot of us that when my turn comes there are none left.”—Edinburgh Scotsman. CITIZENS NAT. BANK MAKES A CHANGE W. M. Sanders Resigns As President; N. B. Grantham Elected His Successor On account of the condition of his health, Mr. W. M. Sanders, last week, sold a part of his stock in the Citizens National Bank of this city to Mr. N. B. Grantham and Mr. W. Austin. A directors meeting was held yesterday, and Mr. Sanders re signed as president of the Bank. Mr. N. B. Grantham was chosen as his successor, and Messrs Grantham and Austin were added to the list of di rectorjj, and made members of the finance committee. Mr. F. H. Parrish is Vice-President of the Bank and Mr. H, C. Cooper is cashier. The as sistant cashier is Mr. F. C. Sweeney. The retiring president, Mr. Sanders in resigning said that while quitting the active management of the bank, he will co-operate to the fullest ex tent for the continued success of the institution. The recent bank state ment published in these columns show the condition of this bank to be as good as any in North Carolina. This speaks well for the men who have had it in charge. Mr. Sanders who has been president since its establish ment has pursued a policy which meant for efficiency and success. Mr. H. C. Cooper, the cashier, ha^ done much for the bank since coming here a few months ago. He is the son of the newly elected Lieut.-Gover nor, W. B. Cooper, of Wilmington. He is showing the same rare busi ness judgment and ability which has characterized his father’s business career, and which has given him such marked success. The new president, Mr. N. B. Grantham, is known as one of the best business men in the county, and undoubtedly the Bank will go ahead under the very best business manage ment. GOLDSBORO IS QUIET AFTER ATTACK ON COURT HOUSE. Mob Attacked Court House in Effort To Lynch Five Negroes Being Tried for Murder of Herman Jones. Two Get First Degree Murder. Everything was quiet Friday after an attack on the Wayne County Courthouse Thursday night by a mob of from 100 to 200 armed men bent on lynching five negroes charged with the murder of Herman Jones, country merchant of Wayne county, who was shot to death two weeks ago. A hundred state troops soon arriv ed to restore order, and the trial of the negroes proceeded. The jury, af ter two and half hours consideration, returned a verdict of first degree mur der for two of the negroes, and second degree murder for the other three. Judge Devin passed the sentence of death on them to be done in Raleigh on January 7. Twenty years of hard labor was imposed upon the other three. Herbert Futrell, who was said to be one of the leaders of the mob, was shot and slightly wounded on the night of the attack. He was report ed as resting well, and will likely be brought to trial as soon as he is able. Judge Devin indicated that the next step would be the bringing to account the men who led the attack upon the jail. Desultory firing, it is said was heard in the vicinity of the court until after three o’clock Friday morning, and the windows on one side of the Courthouse were practically all brok en. Watchman Stops Burglars Bailey, Dec. 3.—F. R. Poole, town night watchman, interrupted bur glars in their work of breaking into the store of Tomlinson & Co., early yesterday morning and they left be-1 hind a car and their tools. They j fired several shots at Poole, and one' of the bullets went through his rain-; coat but left him unscathed.—News; and Observer. No Recreation There. “What be you fishin’ fer, mister?” “Oh, only for recreation.” “Well, you won’t catch any there; there be only minnows and eels in that pond.” IC. DEMOCRAT ASS’T SEC. TREAS. W. McLean Appointed To Serve Remaining Three Months Washington, D. C., Dec. 4.—Angus iVilton McLean, of Lumberton, Dem >cratic national committeeman from Morth Carolina and director of the »var finance corporation, was ap pointed today by the President as issistant secretary of the treasury, rhe appointment surprised Washing ton as Mr. McLean was not mention ?d for the place. Mr. McLean took the oath this af ternoon and immediately entered on lis new duties. He succeeded Jouett Shouse, of Kansas, who resigned ibout two months ago to resume the practice of law. Mr. Shouse was a member of the house from Kansas when apointed. It is understood that the appoint ment of Mr. McLean was made upon the recommendation of Secretary Houston, with whom the North Caro lina man has been associated while jcting as director of the war finance corporation. Mr. McLean will continue to act in the latter capacity, it is said, as the duties will not conflict and the finance corporation has prac tically been inoperative during the past year. Though the Senate Republicans have put a virtual embargo on all Wilson appointments for the re mainder of his term it is likely that Mr. McLean will be confirmed. His tenure of office, naturally will be for j only three months and while the sen ate is expected to hold up all Wilson appointments that might extend be yond the present administration the belief of Mr. McLean’s friends here is that the senate may make an ex ception in his case.—Theodore Tiller in Greensboro News. MURDERER KILLS HIMSELF Hangs Himself in Jail After Killing His Wife. First Attempt to Kill Himself Frustrated by Other Pri soners. Act of Remorse. Within twenty-four hours after he had killed his wife in a period of drunken dementia, Charles E. Davis, properous farmer of New Light township, in Wake county, hanged himself by his undershirt in his cell in the Wake county jail yes terday morning. Davis who was placed in the jail Monday morning, did not recover from his stupor sufficiently to realize that his wife was dead until late Tuesday afternoon. When informed of the tragedy by Jailer Jordan, Davis ex pressed great surprise and remorse. Within a ew hours he attempted to hang himself by his suspenders, but this attempt was frustrated by other prisoners. At the first moment he was free from the surveillance of the four men detailed by Jailer Jordan to furnish him medicine and watch him, he hitch ed his undershirt to the bars of his cell at about the heigth of his waist, and tying the garment around his neck, lowered his body until he was in an almost prone position. The body was found by Charlie Patterson, a prisoner, at 3:15 yesterday morning. The coroner's jury yesterday ex pressly exonerated Jordan of negli gence in connection with Davis’ death. Sam P. Shadrick, a former inmate of the State Hospital for the Insane who also shot his wife at his home near Wake Forest Monday morning, is be ing closely watched to prevent a simi lar occurrence. “I would do the same thing if I had nerve enough,” was Shadrick’s state ment yesterday morning, but he after" wards denied any intent to commit suicide. Davis’ body will be removed to his home from a local undertaking estab lishment today and will be buried in the family burying ground this after noon at 1 o’clock.—News and Observ er, December 2nd. December drops no weak relenting tear— By our fond Summer sympathies ensnared— Nor from the perfect circle of the 4 year Can even Winter’s crystal gems be spared.—Christopher Cranch. COUNTY TOBACCO GROWERS ORGANIZE Smithfield and Wilders Townships Organize to Reduce Acreage During last week two townships, Wilders and Smithheld, were organist* ed and a Secretary-Treasurer employ ed by the township committee of each to secure the pledges of the tobacco growers for a systematic reduction of acreage for 1921 crops and the whole hearted support of the members for the association as a means of reliev ing the present situation and prevent ing forever its unfortunate reoccur ence. Mr. Julius Williamson, is the Secretary-Treasury of Wilders town ship and Mr. R. E. Whitehurst is the Secretary-Treasury of Smithheld township. The other townships will be organized this week, the dates and place of meeting to be announced else where in this paper. A township committee and Secre tary-Treasury will he elected in each township of the county, the lat er of which, will be paid for his time in making a house-to-house canvass of the tobacco growers of his town township to secure the membership of the association. To date not a single tobaeco jgrower has refused to cooperate in this work and become an active enthusiastic member of the association. The people realize the importance of standing together in this crisis as they have never realiz ed it before for the protection of their mutual interest, and it is doubt ed if there will be as many as five out of each hundred asked to sign who will refuse to sign the pledge and live up to it. Individualism has cost us too severely already and the man who fails to stand by his brother in a common cause in this serious cri sis is an unusual man. The constitution, by-laws and rules and regulations of the association when read will prove that the as sociation stands solely for the pro tection of the tobacco growers who have been at the mercy of not only the speculators in the past, but also, of each’ other. It i:4 altogether pro bable that the growers have worked greater harm to each other in tjle past than has come from any other source. The committee in charge earnestly requests the fair and im partial consideration of the motives and purposes of the association by every tobacco grower in this county. If we stand together along with the other tobacco growers of the flue cured tobacco belt the possibilities for bringing permanent relief to the men engaged in growing tobacco will be unlimited. Let us think only of this side of it because we know what the contrary will bring to us. When your Secretary comes to you and says “sign up,” SIGN! Reduce your acreage and back up the assoc j iation. Sincerely yours, S. J. KIRBY, Secty.-Treas. County T. G.A. — Folk Lore Society Meets The annual meeting of the North Carolina Folk-Lore Society, held Fri day, in Raleigh, in the Senate Cham ber, was opened by the address of the president, Hon. Francis D. Winston, of Windsor, after which a program followed in which discussions of local superstitions, the recital of a trial for Witchcraft, held in Kinston in 1916, and “sho-nuff nigger' singing were the features. The meeting closed with the election of officers for the coming year. A dramatic and highly amusing re ntal of a trial for witchcraft which : was actually held in Kinston in 1916 j was given by Mr. Henry E. Shaw, of ; that town, who was the prosecuting 1 attorney in the case, which ended in ! the supposed “he-witch” admitting in : court before the harrr.ssed victim that | he was possessed of no supernatural 1 power, and thus saving the “bewitch ed” from an untimely grave. Two superstitions popular among | the Cherokee Indians; the charming ■ of the rattlesnake and the killing by j fire-coal were described by Colonel I Fred A. Olds. Colonel Olds also pre ! sen ted to the society a photograph of | Toel Chandler Harris made in 1875 and given by Col. Marcellus Thornton, of Hickory, one of Mrs. Harris’ chase friends.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 7, 1920, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75