NUMBER 28
JOHNSTON MEDICAL
SOCIETY MEETS
Dr. Root of Raleigh Ad
dresses the Society; Take
Up Marriage Law
Dr. Albert S. Root, specialist on
diseases of children, of Raleigh, was
the guest of the Johnstcn county
Medical Society which met here Fri
day afternoon in the office of Dr. A.
G. Woodard. The meeting was call
ed to order by the president, Dr. G.
S. Coleman, of Kenly, and the min
utes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
The following was the program for
the afternoon: “Diseases of the In
testines in Children” by Dr. G. B.
Woodard, of Kenly; “Etiology” by
Dr. Thel Hooks, of this city; “Diffe
rential Diagnosis” by Dr. Albert S.
Root, of Ralegh—“Can we lower the
infant mortality rate in diarrhoeal
diseases?”
After the above papers were read
the president called for a discussion.
Drs. Wharton, Grady, Noble, Ho
cutt and others made interesting talks
proved benefiicial in their practice
with children especially in acute Eu
teric Intoxication( Acute Colitic, and
allied diseases. Several questions
were asked Dr. Root in regard to sug
gestions as to the treatment of arti
ficially fed babies when associated
with bowel trouble, all of which he
discussed, the same being helpful and
interesting to those present.
After the papers were disposed of,
Dr. Vick, of Selma, suggested that
the society set a fee for the examina
tion of applicants for health certifi
cates to procure marriage license.
After some discussion by Dr. Utley,
of Benson and others, a resolution
was passed to the effect that in cases
where there exists ho history that
the applicants had been associated
with tuberculosis or a suspicion of
veneral disease, the minimum fee of
$2.50 each would be the rule. How
ever if there be a history or a sus
picion that either of the above named
diseases exists, and the physician is
required to make a thorough exami
nation the minimum fee should be
$5.00.
The society then adjourned until
the first Tuesday in June, the next
regular meeting.
Those in attendance here Tuesday
were: Dr. B. A. Hocutt, of Clayton;
Dr. G. A. McLemore, of the Polenta
section; Drs. J. C. Grady, G. S. Cole
man and G. B. Woodard, of Kenly;
Drs. J. B. Person, R. J. Noble, Geo.
D. Vick, I. W. Mayerburg, of Selma;
Drs. G. B. Parker, H. H. Utley, A.
S. Oliver and J. F. Martin of Benson;
Dr. C. M. Bynum, of Princeton; Drs.
L. D. Whartont Thel Hooks, Carl V.
Tyner and A. G. Woodard of this city.
Shooting in Meadow
In a raid against blockade rs near
Mr. John Allen Tart’s farm in the
lower part of Meadow township on
Tuesday morning of this week, Deputy
Sheriff J. Mang Wood and Mr. Harold
Morgan were fired upon at a close
range by members of a clan of block
aders who have been operating bn
rather a large scale for the past sev
eral months. The officers returned the
fire and for a few rounds the affray
had the proportions of a^regularly
planned battle. Deputy Wood receiv
ed a few shots in the legs and the
wind shield of his car was shattered.
Gun shots from the officers were also
effective. Elbert Lee, who fired the
shot into the car at Wood and Man
gum, was fired upon by another offi
cer and was felled to the ground. It
is thought that he was shot pretty
seriously, but he succeeded in making
his escape.
There seems to be quite a number
of men connected with the manufac
ture of blockade liquor in that par
ticular part of the county. One of
Meadow’s best citizens stated in some
remarks connected with this affray
that the crowds that gathered around
some of the places where the whiskey
is made and dispensed “looked like an
association.” Thore seems to be
good evidence against a white man by
the name of Elbert Lee and 9 Croatan
Indian called Rube, and while they are
still at large. it is thought that their
arrest will soon be made.
There must be something wrong
somewhere when the night latch fails
to tumble to a buttonhook.
APRIL MEETING OF
THE WOMAN’S CLUB
Cemetery Work Resumed;
Library Makes Report;
Lyceum Next Year
Wednesday afternoon the Woman’s
Club with a large number of ladies
present held its regular monthly meet
ing with the new president, Mrs. Thel
Hooks, in the chair.
An important announcement by the
civic department was the fact that
the work in the cemetery has been re
newed after the winter months, and
the work is again in the charge of
Mr. Sellers. The work of cleaning up
broken limbs, leaves and other refuse
is going forward and the cemetery
will soon take on a much more attrac
tive appearance.
In connection with the “clean up”
campaign put on this week, one step
at least was made to make “cleaning
up” a permanent thing in our town.
The Lyric theatre will give a matinee
one afternoon a month to which the
admission fee will be fifteen old tin
cans, the woman’s club to pay for the
advertising of that program. It was
decided to do this because of the Ye
sults obtained Tuesday when the
movie management used such a plan
to assist in the “clean up week.” Any
one passing the Lyric will be con
vinced by the pile of cans. It was
pointed out, however, that the cans
must be obtained from home premises
and vacant lots and not from places
where the town carts have dumped
trash.
Other business of general interest
trasacted was the appointment of a
committee to present resolutions to
the Fair Association in regard to the
shows to be engaged for the next fair.
Last year similar resolutions were
adopted but the ladies were too late,
the association having already signed
up for the attractions and had to
stand by the contract.
The ways and means committee
made a report on the canvass for
season tickets for a Lyceum Course
next year, and it was thought a suf
ficient number has been promised to
justify booking the course for another
year. The attractions next time will
include a play.
That some of the people of our town
appreciate >he library which the Wo
man’s blub maintains here,is evidenced
by the fact that during the month of
March ninety-six books were taken
out. The library is open every Thurs
day afternooon from 3:15 to 5:15 o’
clock, and some one is there to aid in
selection of books and to keep a rec
ord of those taken out.
During the month thirty-five new
books were donated by the following
persons: Mrs. E. S. Abell, 20; Gilmer
Wharton, 2; Mrs. Thel Hooks, 7; and
Mrs. Bobbie Smith 6.
The library will be glad to receive
donations at any time. If there are
books in the home which the family
has read and would like to pass on to
others, Mrs. H. L. Skinner, chairman
of this department of the club, will be
glad to have them sent to her either
at, her house or at the library on days
when it is open.
James Fields Dead
On Tuesday morning, April 5, in
Bentonville township, the sudden
death of Mr. James Fields occurred at
about 6:30 o’clock. He had gone out
to work and was burning brush when
he fell dead. He had been in usual
health up to the time of his death.
He was ab^out 68 years old.
The funeral services were conduct
ed Wednesday afternoon ar the home
after which the burial took place in
the family burying ground Rev. H.
W. Rhodes conducted the service us
ing as a basis of his remarks Job
14:10. Mr. Fields was a member of
the Freewill Baptist church and lived
a consistent life.
He leaves to mourn his loss a wife,
Mrs. ^lancy Fields, two daughters,
Mrs. Katie Wise and Mrs. Thenie
Jackson, of Wayne county and one
son, Mr. Tim Fields. Three children
had preceded him to the grave.
Yes, She Figured It All Out
That Mother Eve was up to-date,
You really must confess,
For did she not originate,
The “loose-leaf” style of dress?
HARDING HONORS
N. C. DEMOCRAT
A. W. McLean, Lumberton,
Tendered 1st Assistant
Sec. U. S. Treasury
(Special Correspondent)
Washington, April 7.—At least one
North Carolinian has been offered re
cognition by a Republican president.
President Harding during his recent
“weeding out” in the Treasury De
partment in Washington found a
competent man who was a Wilson ap
pointee, a life long Democrat and a
Tar Heel. Most any man with these
proclivities would have instantly
been “swept aside” by Mr. HaTding
during his “Spring cleaning.” But
this man’s record was so preponderent
with efficiency of administration that
Mr. Harding felt the continued need of
his services.
Therefore, Warren G. Harding, Re
publican President tendered to Hon.
Angus W. McLean, of Lumberton, N.
C., the post of First Assistant Secre
tary of the U. S. Treasury, it being
the most important position in the
Treasury department, excepting the
Secretary himself. Mr. McLean how
ever, declined the appointment it be
ing his desire to return to his business
in North Carolina as soon as possible.
Mr. McLean is continuing his ser
vice as Director of the War Finance
Corporation, and has been urged by
President Harding to retain this posi
tion. Mr. Harding’s recognition of
Mr. McLean’s splendid business and
executive ability is not only an honor
to Mr. McLean, but a distict honor to
the State of North Carolina, an honor
to the State Democratic party and
another of the long list of slurs cast
by the President upon the Republican
Party of this State. It will be re
membered that President Taft was un
able to find a Republican in our State
fit to be appointed a Federal Judge,
and he therefore appointed Judge
Conner. President Harding is run
ning true to form when he acknow
ledges that he has more confidence in
a North Carolina Democrat than in
any member of “Boss” Morehes.d’s and
“Ex-Bpss” Marion Butler’s organiza
tion.
There are a few interesting inci
dents in connection with Mr. Mc
Lean’s career, which every North
Carolinian should know and of which
we should be proud. The history of
his life should serve as an inspiration
to the young manhood of our State.
Mr. MbLcan is a lawyer, banker,
cotton manufacturer, farmer and rail
road man. He is a “topnotcher” in
every one of them. He is Director
of the War Finance Corporation,
Washington, First Assistant Secre
tary of the Treasury under Woodrow
Wilson, formerly General Counsel for
Alien Property Custodian, and a mem
ber of the Railway Advisory Board.
At the age of 26, he formed and was
elected President of The Bank of Lum
berton, and at that time was the
youngest bank president in this coun
try. He remained as its President un
til it became a National Bank and still
serves in that capacity.
He is a Trustee of several colleges
in the State and was formerly Presi
dent of the Scottish Society of Amer
ica.
To Mr. McLean is due a great deal
of credit for the passage of the Farm
Loan and Rural Credit System. In
1908 Mr. McLean wrote and published
a book, entitled, “The Need For Farm
Land Banks and Rural, Credit So
cieties.”
Mr. McLean is universally admired
for his keen insight and his sterling
integrity. His choice by President
Wilson as one of four men to orga
nize the greatest financial undertak
ing of this country during the war
was a well deserved honor. And Mr.
McLean did not fail to “measure up”,
as he was later made Managing Di
j rector of the great War Finance Cor
poration.
Although one of the busiest men in
our State Mr. McLean does not neg
lect his religious duties. He is a
regular church attendant, an Elder in
the Presbyterian church and a Trustee
of Union Theological Seminary. To
his religious duties he gives unstint
edly of his time and means, and here,
as elsewhere, he is a tireless and effi
cient worker.
Mr. McLean owns and operates one
of the largest cotton and tobacco plan
stations in the Southland,
His name has been prominently
i mentioned by the Press as being em
REDUCTION OF 331-3
PER CENT IS MADE
Township List Takers And
Assessors Appointed; J.
A. Keen, Supervisor
The County Commissioners of John
ston county met here Monday and
Tuesday of this week. On Monday
their regular routine business was
done one special matter of general im
portance being passed upon. It was
ordered that Mr. J. A. Keen County
Auditor, be appointed supervisor for
listing personal and real property.
The request of the people of the
county for a revision of revaluation
was taken under consideration.
On Tuesday morning the above mat
ter was taken up, and it was decided
to make a horizontal reduction of thir
ty-three and a third per cent of the
value put on real estate a year ago.
List takers and assessors for the dif
ferent townships were appointed as
follows:
Wilson’s Mills, J. A. Wilson; Clay
ton, L. H. Champion; Cleveland, F.
H. Weeks; Pleasant Grove, Claude
Stephenson; Elevation, J. Shep John
son; Banner, A. E. Surles; Meadow,
R. E. lee; Bentonville, S. G. West
brook; Ingrams, W. E. Barbour; Boon
Hill, Harry Watson, Micro, J. D.
Creech; Beulah, A. G. Hooks; Oneals,
J. Willard O’neal; Wilders, W. M.
Nowell; Selma, H. G. Easom; Pine
Level, Alex Wiggs; Smithfield, C. V.
Johnson.
Important Meeting in Smithfield
Rev. H. W. Baucom has arranged
for an important meeting to be held
in the Smithfield Baptist church Sun
day and Monday April 11 and 12th. We
are informed that morning and after
noon services will be held each day.
Mr. Harry Strickland, of Nashville,
Tenn., and Secretary Middleton, of
Raleigh will have charge of these
meetings. Preachers, teachers, and
all who are interested in the Sunday
School work are asked to attend. A
large number of people from various
parts of the county are expected to
attend. While Baptists arranged for
these meetings they are not limited to
any denomination. People of all de
nominations are asked to attend. The
men in charge are capable men and
the meetings will be well worth while
to all who attend. You are invited to
come out and bring another with you.
Kenly Entertainment
Kenly, April 5.—Last Friday night
the Golds of the eighth grade algebra
class entertained the Purples in the
Kenly high school basement.
After the guests arrived, games
were played, and several contests
were engaged in. Later in the even
ing, lemonade and candy were served.
! Those present were Misses Beulah
Bailey, Ollie Moore, Mabel Womack,
Ruby Watson, Clyde and Margaret
Hooks, Bessie Eloise and Cornelia
Alford, Ossie Overman, Jessie Narron,
Verona Lasiter and Eunice Ward, and
Messrs E. N. Booker, Harvey Hardi
son, Kenneth Kirby, Glen Edgerton,
Kenneth Watson, Balbus Leeson,Ar
thur and Boyce Crumpler, Verlie,
Barnes, Rasba Watson, Lemuel Phil
lips, Robert Richardson, George Bal
lance and Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Burle
son.
New System of Irrigation
“What’s the best way to grow pota
toes?” asked the amateur gardener of
his mor e experienced friend.
“Flint onions above them,” was the
reply. “The onions will make the po
tatoes’ eyes water, and that’ll save
you a lot of work with the watering
can.”
minently qualified in every respect to
head the State of North Carolina as
Governor. As the next Governor will
be elected from Eastern North Caro
lina, Mr. McLean’s friends are urging
him to allow his name to go before
the people, but so far he has not com
mitted himself. Should he decide to
make the race he will undoubtedly re
ceive the nomination.
BENSON ORGANIZES
A SINGING CLASS
Fifth Sunday in May Sing
ing Convention Will Be
Held in That City
Benson, April 6.—The John Charles
McNeill Book Club enjoyed a most
delightful meeting at the home of Mrs.
M. T. Britt on last Thursday after
noon. After routine business was
disposed of Mrs. E. M. Hall charming
ly sang a brace of songs by American
composers, about whom she told some
thing concerning their life and work.
Mrs. Britt then played Chopin’s Fifth
Nocturne and Mrs. Barbour made a
short talk on the influence of music,
after which Miss Annie Lee Webb was
prevailed upon to play one of McDowT
well’s numbers. Hand painted cards
were distributed for a contest) the
answers to each question being names
of Spring Flowers. Mrs. I. P. Roberts
proving to be the lucky one was pre
sented with a lovely one rose vase. Af
ter refreshments consisting of block
ice cream and hortiemade cake were
served, the hostess presented each
guest with a beautiful carnation and
sprig of fern. Those who enjoyed
Mrs. Britt’s gracious hospitality wpre
Mesdames W. D. Boone, I. P. Roberts,
E. M. Hall, Preston Woodall, J. L.
Hall, A. T. Lassiter, J. H. Rose, C. C.
Canaday, Chas. Johnson, J. R. Barbour
and Miss Annie Lee Webb.
The “District School” was present
ed in the school auditorium last even
ing with a large attendance. It was
given under the direction of tl\e Soc
ial Service Department of the Mission
ary Society of the Methodist church.
The prime object of the play was to
cause a laugh and in this it fully suc
ceeded. It would be hard to tell who
the Star of the evening was, probably
Mr. H. A. Parker as the four year old
boy created the biggest laugh with
Miss Love Stephens, as Miss Simple
a close second, though the entire cast
was fun provoking from start to fin
ish, and we hear that a neat sum was
realized from the entertainment.
Prof. Wells has written Josephus
Daniels to deliver the Commencement
address and it is earnestly hoped that
he will accept. The commencement
program promises to be unusually in
teresting this year and large crowds
are expected to attend.
Mr. Ed Hill was in Raleigh Monday
on business.
Mrs. W. T. Martin returned Monday
from several days visit to relatives in
New Bern.
Messrs J. R. Barbour, Almond Par
ker, Ira Raynor and Dr. Oliver were
in Smithfield Monday on business.
Mrs. T. T. Lanier has returned after
an extended stay at her home in
Chalybeate Springs.
Mrs. J. L. Hall visited relatives in
Dunn Monday.
Mrs. Belle Bingham and Masters
William and Tom Lassiter of Smith
field spent the past week end in town
wit]y relatives.
''An organization of singers has been
perfected here whose object, is to sing
when their services are need for such
occasions as may arise in Benson or
immediate vicinity.
The organizers were S. P. Honey
cutt, Parlia Hudson, Paul Stephenson,
Willie Dixon, Mrs. E. M. Hall and J.
H. Rose, who asking for four other
singers from each of the four churches
of Benson, which will make a total of
about twenty voices for the class.
They have one of the best new song
books ever used in this section and
there is more new music in it than in
any song book ever seen in this com-^
munity. NEW—means songs dated
1921.
On the 5th Sunday in May they are
expecting to be honored with a Sing
ing Convention with a large number
of classes from nearby in attendance,
to be held in Benson. Several clas
ses have already expressed a desire to
be here for the occasion and are al
ready making preparation for this
event on May 29th, 1921.
Invitations will be mailed to all
classes wishing to be present, and to
those classes who are intending to be
present we ask you to communicate
with Mr. S. P. Honeycutt, Secretary,
giving the number in class, so that
proper seating arrangements may be
made.
The following men will be asked to
serve as arrangement committee for
the fifth Sunday gathering: Messrs
Chas. Johnson, M. T. Britt, C. W. An
(Continued on page 8)
NEGRO TELLS STORY
OF ELEVEN DEATHS
Declares That He Helped to
Kill Farm Hands Because
Of Fear for His Life
Covington, Ga., April 6.—Fear for
his own life was the motive that
prompted Clyde Manning, negro farm
boss to help kill 11 negro farmhands
employed on the Jasper county plan
tation of John S. Williams, the negro
told the jury trying Williams in New
ton county superior court here today.
Manning asserted on cross-examina
tion he did not want to help kill them
but was afraid to disobey Williams,
who, he declared, was trying to do
away with the negroes for fear they
might testify regarding peonage con
ditions on the Williams farm.
“They wasn’t abothering me,”
said Manning, a coal-black, short
stockily built man of about 150
pounds, “and I didn’t want to get ’em
out of the way,” but, he added, a few
moments later, “Mr. Johnny said,
‘It’s their necks or yours.’ ”
The negroes met death shortly after
federal authorities started an investi
gation of alleged peonage on the farm
six of them, according to Manning,
being chained to rocks and thrown
alive into rivers, and five knocked in
the head or shot and buried on the
farm.
Williams is on trial charged with
the murder of Lindsey Peterson, one
of three negroes alleged to have
been brought into Newton county and
drowned. The defense sought to con
fine the witness to his account of Pet
erson’s death and to bar him and two
federal agents from testifying to
peonage conditions. Judge John B.
Hutcheson overruled both motions and
Green F. Johnson, chief counsel for
Williams, indicated he would appeal
on these grounds to higher courts in
event of conviction of Williams.
Throughout an hour of cross-exam
ination the negro who was indicted
jointly with Williams stolidly denied
any pressure had been brought to bear
on him to make him tell the story. It
was only after long questioning by
officers, he said, that he first told the
story, but he denied lie had been
beaten, threatened with drowning or
promised a light sentence if he would
help convict Williams, as the latter’s
counsel intimated.
“I’m just telling the truth,” Man
ning told the attorney, and added that
he had not talked when first arrested
“because Mr. Johnny told me not to.”
“Well drilled,” was the only com.
ment that could be obtained from
Williams after the trial. He had
watched the witness closely through
out the day, and on one occasion smil
ed broadly when Manning described
how, in his attempt to operate his
employer’s automobile, he had run in
to a mail box.
Huland, Marvin and Leroy Williams*
three sons of the defendant, for whom
Governor Hugh Dorsey has asked in
dictment in Jasper county when the
grand jury there takes up on April
11 investigations of the deaths of the
eight negroes in that county were not
in court again today, but Dr. Gus
Williams, the oldest son, flatly de
nied reports they had left the state.
They probably will attend the trial
later, he said. —
The state put up four other wit
nesses besides Manning—two federal
agents; Clyde Freeman, a negro farm
hand and a negro woman cook, and
was expected to conclude its case by
tomorrow night. The defense indicat
ed it would conclude its testimony
in about one day and that the case
should go to the jury Saturday.
Manning was the state’s chief wit
ness and during his testimony the
courthouse was packed to capacity,
Judge Hutcheson permitting all who
could to stand in aisles and around
the bar after all seats had been filled.
The court asked for order and again
today, as was the case yesterday,
there was hardly a murmer from the
crowd as men and women leaned for
ward to catch every word.
Manning seemed little affected by
his recital, and rarely changed the in
flection of his voice. He is unable to
read or write, he said, and gave his
age as about 29 years, but did not
know where he was bom.
“When I first remember myself,”
he said, “I was in Jasper county.”
During some three hours of direct
examination the negro told in detail
(Continued on page 8)