VOLUME 40
COLLEGE STUDENT
WILL FACE COURT
Wake County Grand Jury
Returns True Bill Against
N. C. State Junior
The Wake County grand jury yes
terday returned a true bill charging
hazing against R. H. McComb, of
Hickory, a junior at the State College
of Agriculture and Engineering, the
indictment being an outgrowth of the
recent outbreak of hazing at the in
stitution. Solicitor Norris asked for
an instanter capias for McComb with
instructions to the sheriff that the
student give bond to the extent of
$200 for his appearance for trial at
the next term of criminal court in
May.
Judge George W. Conner called in
the grand jurors at the opening of
court yesterday morning and made
some observations regarding hazing,
the liquor traffic and the law regard
ing purchase and possession of pistols
and other weapons. Judge Conner
condemned hazing, especially in State
institutions, but made no reference
to a specific instance. He read the
statute making hazing a misdemean
or, and told the grand jurors that it
was not necessary for them to wait
for a bill from the solicitor, but that
any instances of hazing that comes to
their attention. The true bill against
McComb was returned later in the
day.
j
The bill of indictment charged that
McComb by “force and arms unlaw
fully and wilfully did annoy, frighten,
scold, beat, harrass and subject to
personal indignity orife W. R. Loftin,”
a freshman at the college, and “did
advise, procure, abet and assist other
persons whose names are to the jur
ors unknown to annoy, frighten, beat,
harrass and subject to personal in
dignity one W. R. Loftin” in violation
of the State statute against hazing.
No other names of college students
were sent to the grand jury in the
solicitors’ bill of indictment. Whether
or not the investigation of the hazing
outbreak has been completed by Mr.
Norris was not made known. As the
grand jury adjourned yesterday, it is
not known whether or not they will
pry further into the matter at the
next term of court. Witnesses be
fore the grand jury yesterday in re
gard to the indictment against Mc
Comb were W. R. Loftin, Ivan Holle
man, W. T. Price and R. C. Stephens.
In view of the indictment of Mc
Comb, Dr. W. C. Riddick, president
of the college, last night stated that
he hoped the “people of the State
would give him such consideration as
is given all youths, who are accused
of violating a statute.” Continuing
his statement, in regard to the haz
ing outbreak, Dr. Riddick said:
“This matter, after being investi
gated by the faculty, was turned over
to the solicitor by the college authori
ties. It was not an unusually barbar
ous exhibition of hazing. It looked
to the faculty that they would be un
able to discover the guilty parties
and they decided to take advantage of
the law passed in 1913 for the pur
pose for which it was intended —to
protect boys from their own folly.
“Several other colleges in the
state have previously appealed to the
law after a death or serious accident.
This law was passed in order that
colleges might not have to wait until
the ordinary criminal law was violat
ed. Profiting by the experiences of
other institutions, the college authori
ties were trying to prevent similar oc
currence at the State College. While
hazing taken in a spirit of fun, never
theless if as we all know,is sometimes
' under continued it invariably leads
to some serious accidents.
“This so-called outbreak of hazing
does not mean that rowdyism is ram
pant at State College. It was the
second instance since about the first
of last October, the other instance
having occurred on the same night of
the regrettable incident at Trinity.
There is definite information that
only seven or eight students engaged
in this last episode of hazing at State
College, which is not a large per
centage in comparsion with the
thousand or more students now at
tending the institution,!. The vast
majority of the studens knew nothing
about the outbreak and did not en
dorse it.
“The college authorities have al
ways done everything in their power
to prevent hazing and this last step
REVIVAL AT BAPTIST
CHURCH TO BEGIN
First Service Sunday—Mr.
Wolslagel Have Charge
Of the Music
The revival services will begin at
the Baptist Church next Sunday
morning, April 17th. Mr. E. L.
Wolslagel, one of the best evangelistic
singers in the country, who was here
last year, and whom many Johnston
county people heard, will arrive early
Sunday morning and will have charge
of the music.
Dr. W. F. Powell, the gifted and
powerful pastor of the First Baptist
church of Asheville, will be here the
greater part of the meeting, but will
not be here for the first few days.
The pastor of the Baptist church
wishes that this meeting be thought
of not as a Baptist meeting, b\*t that
ev$ry Christian in town will feel that
it is their meeting and will cooperate
for the salvation of souls.
Everybody is invited to attend
these services.
PHYSICIAN DIES WHILE
WAKING UP HOTEL GUESTS
Entire Block of WTooden Buildings
Wiped Out by Fire at Southern
Pines—One Man Injured
Southern Pines, April 13.—Dr. W.
P. Sweet, well-known local physician
died of heart failure while arousing
guests of the Southland Hotel early
this morning, when fire broke out in
a business block, causing a loss of
approximately $75,000, partially cov
ered by insurance. Dr. Sweet came
here a number of years ago.
Miss Eva Payne, pretty young
telephone operator, stayed by the ex
change sending out warnings while
the rear of the building in which she
was located was burning. She was
finally removed by force, but not be
fore she had sent out the alarm to
all her patrons.
The fire started about 2 o’clock in
the vicinity of the Perkins Hotel and
quickly swept thru the block. The
volunteer fire department was aug
umented by those from Pinehurst and
Carthage, but with little success.
The losses as near as can be es
timated are: Harry Lewis, stock of
goods and building $15,000; R. E.
Wiley, $1,500; The Perkins Hotel,
$25,000; Home Furniture Company,
$5,000; J. F. Reynolds, $7,500; H. F.
Howe, $1,000; J. M. Windham, $1,000;
Tom Cameron, $1,500; E. C. Eddy,
$3,000. Other smaller losses were
suffered with no large amount of in
surance. The entire square was of
wooden buildings and it is all gone
with the exception of the Mills’
building.
A Mr. Ferguson, of Pinehurst, suf
fered slight injuries while fighting
the flames.
V __
Effects of the Frost
The effects of the cold weather the
first of this week are hard to deter
mine. Reports come from all quar
trs of damage to fruit. The damage
in western North Carolina was much
greater than here. Below we give
two reports from the western part
of the state:
was taken to further carry out this
purpose.”
Judge Conno^r in his talk to the
grand jury in regard to hazing called
attention to the fact that hazing in
colleges and other institutions be
came so widespread that it was neces
sary for the legislators of the state
to provide a law making it a misde
meanor. He read the statute to the
grand jurors that it was within their
authority to make a general investi
gation of any hazing, if they deemed
it advisable, without waiting for a
bill from the solicitor, as it was some
times difficult for the solicitor to se
cure enough definite evidence in cases
of this kind to warrant indictments.
Judge Connor stated that hazing out
breaks had aroused the people to the
point of indignation, and he condemn
ed such practices in educational insti
tutions, especially the institutions
maintained by public taxation.
MR. E. L. WOLSLAGEL, OF ASHEVILLE, N. C.
Mr. Wolslagel will arrive in the city early Sunday morning and will have
dharge of the music at the Baptist church during the revival.
FIND TROUBLE IN BORROW.
ING MONEY IN NEW YORK
_
New York Bankers Will Lend, If
Money Is Kept on Deposit
With Them.
,
Unofficial reports form the mission
of Governor Cameron Morrison and
State Treasurer B. R. Lacy to New
York to market several million dollars
of State bonds for road building and
institutional buildings, indicate that
little progress has been made toward
placing the securities, and that they
will return later in the week to lay
the results of their trip before a meet
ing of the Council of State.
No present market has been found
for five per cent bonds, the interest
rate fixed by the General Assembly
in the instrument by which they are
authorized and the counter proposal
has been made to lend the State mon
ey at 6 per cent on short term notes
with the provision that the money will
be kept on deposit in New York banks
until it is aieeded in the State.
No surprise is expressed in any
quarter at the inability of the Gov
ernor and the Treasurer to negotiate
the sale of bonds at five per cent and
to many municipal and county officials
the proposal to keep money loaned in
New York banks is not new. Many
bonds brokers have tied such condi
tions to money let out on county and
municipal bonds, it was said yester
day by a well-known banker in Ral
eigh on business.
Probable return of the Governor
and the Treasurer and a meeting of
the Council of State Saturday morn
ing to discuss the report they will
bring with them was forecast in ad
ministration circles yesterday. No
member of the Council cared to dis
cuss either the report that comes back
ahead of the mission, or to hazard a
guess as to the probable attitude to
v rd maintaining all borrowed money
on New York deposit. It is expected
that some opposition will develop.
Except for roads and custodial in
stitutions, iti was suggested by a
member of the Board of Trustees of
the State University that university
alumni would buy State bonds to the
extent of half million dollars, or
enough to get the improvements at
Carolina well under way before win
ter. How far this program might be
followed by other educational institu
tions is a matter of conjecture.
Little difficulty has been experienc
ed by county and city officials in dis
posing of considerable issues of six
per cent bonds authorized bjt the Gen
eral Assembly, and some of them have
been sold at k premium, it was point
ed out yesterday by the visiting bank
er.—News and Observer.
Epworth League Council Meeting
A council meeting of Centenary
Epworth League will be held Friday
night at 7:30 at the church. Every
officer of the League is urged to be
present.
KENLY HAS ALL DAY SES
SION OF MAYOR’S COURT
Monday Was Biggest Day of Mayor’s
Court Ever Held in Kenly
—Ten Cases On Docket
Kenly, April 12.—Last Monday
was perhaps the biggest day of may
or’s court ever held in the town in
Kenly there being ten cases on docket
all of which were disposed of as fol
lows:
Case vs. John and Sam Jones for
assault on Herbert Lamm and were
bound over to Recorder’s court under
bond of $200 each.
State vs. Jesse Jones for interfer
ing with an officer while in the dis
charge of duty.
State vs. Joe Lamm for fighting one
John Jones a prisoner in custody of an
officer anti bound over to Recorder’s
court under a $200 bond.
Case against Herbert Lamm releas
ed on verdict of not guilty.
Case against Sam Jones for being
into an affray while under arrest,
dismissed.
Case of State vs. Charlie Bryant
(Colored) for an assault with a dead
ly weapon bound over to Recorder’s
court under a $200 bond!
Case of Frank Locus (Colored) for
fighting dismissed.
Cases against Jack Edwards and
John Cuddington for being drunk each
fined $10 and costs.
State vs. H. S. Stewart for being
drunk and disorderly and driving an
automobile while drunk was given 30
days on the roads under a suspended
judgment. Notice of an appeal being
given. Bond was fixed for $200 for
his appearance at "the next term of
Johnston County Superior court.
Town attorney, Paul D. Grady pros
ecuting all cases for state. Attorneys
W. J. Hooks and Charles H. Grady
appearing for a part of the defend
ants.
Death of Mr. J. M. Weaver
Mr. H. C. Williams of the Mill
('reek section in Bentonsville town
ship was in town Thursday. Mr. Wil
liams reported that Mr. J. M. Weaver
of Harnett county died on the 12th
instant and was buried in the Weaver
family burying ground near Mill
Creek church on the 13th. Mr. Weaver
had been in failing health for a year
or more^ but death was caused by
paralysis. Mr. Weaver was a native
of Johnston county and was about 50
years of age. When but a young
man he married Miss Winifred Lee, of
Johnston and for several years lived
in Bentonville township. About 15
years ago he moved to Harnett coun
ty where he has since lived. He is
survived by a wife and several chil
dren. He has many friends in John
ston county who will regret to learn
of his death.
Priscilla Club Meets
The Priscilla Club of Kenly held one
of its most successful meetings at
the home of Mrs. A. J. Broughton
last Wednesday, there being almost
the total membership present.
FINAL REJECTION OF
VERSAILLES TREATY
President Says Acceptance
Would be Betrayal of
November Election.
Washington, April 12.—Final rejec
tion of the Versailles League of Na
tions by the American government
was proclaimed to the world today by
President Harding in a solemn pro
nouncement of the foreign policies of
his administration.
Speaking before the new Congress,
assembled to write a program of po
litical and economic reconstruction,
the President declared acceptance of
the league would be nothing short of
betrayal of the mandate of the No
vember elections. Instead, he asked
for a Congressional declaration of
peace and for ratification of those
sections of the Versailles treaty which
protect specifically American rights
and interests in the war settlement.
“In the existing League of Na
tions, world-governing with its super
powers, this republic will have no
part,” he said. “It is only fair to
say to the world In general, and to
our associates in war in particular,
that the league covenant can have no
sanction by us.”
The declaration was answered by a
tremendous demonstration, in which
Republican senators and representa
tives led, while most of the Demo
cratic colleagues sat silent and un
smiling. After weighing the words
of the Chief Executive, the Senatorial
group of treaty Irreconcilables tonight
was claiming a complete victory, pre
dicting that even the parts of the
treaty endorsed by Mr. Harding never
would receive Senate approval.
In his recommendation for domestic
legislation, the President gave great
est attention to tariff and tax revis
ion and to the railway situation, tho
he. endorsed a list of lesser measures
which Congressional leaders declared
might prolong the special session un
til the snow flies. He also took oc
casion in his address of nearly an
hour to declare his faith in a main
tained merchant marine and in the
principle of armament reduction with
out asking for legislation on either
I subject.
An emergency tariff to correct seri
ous disorders in American industry
was placed at the head of the Presi
dent’s requests and within an hour af
ter he finished speaking, the House
ways and means committee agreed to
report tomorrow the emergency meas
ure passed at the last session and ve
toed by President Wilson. For the
tariff bill that is to be frame d
later, Mr. Harding made no specific
suggestions except that it follow the
principle of protection.
Similarly^ the President refrained
from detailed recommendations on
taxation, contending himself with a
general discussion of the situation
with an added reminder that his par
ty pledged itself in the last campaign
to repeal the excess profits tax. He
also recalled the campaign promise to
organize a separate Government De
partment of Public Welfare, but made
no recommendation whether a cabinet
official should be placed at its head.
Declaring that rates and operating
expenses, of the railroads must be
lowered, Mr. Harding asked that Con
gress investigate the whole transpor
tation problem. He recommended co
ordination of all governmental agen
cies dealing with former service men,
strengthening of the Federal laws af
fecting highway construction and
maintenance, enactment of budget leg
islation, and a Congressional inquiry
into lynchings and race relations in
general.
Mr. Harding’s definite stand against
the league covenant was not a sur
prise to Republican leaders of the Sen
ate, altho the exact wording of the
declaration was an unsettled question
until shortly before the executive left
for the Capitol to deliver his address.
Here is briefly what the North
Carolina senators have to say of the
message:
Senator Overman: “The message of
President Harding was full of plati
tudes. As to the League of Nations
nobody even now knotfs exactly what
he will do.”
Senator Simmons: “I was very
much disappointed in what he had to
say of the League of Nations. I had
expected him to present some concrete
plan for our consideration, some plan
for our part in stabilizing world af
GREAT MEETING OF
S. S. WORKERS
Prominent Baraca And Phi
lathea Workers to Speak;
Henderson Apr. 21-24
The program for the Eleventh An
nual Convention of the North Caro
lina Baraca and Philathea Union fair
ly bristles with subjects of interest
to church and Sunday school workers
of every denomination.
Advance portions of the program
among the galaxy of prominent
speakers and teachers with their sub
jects are:
Dr. Hubert M. Poteat, Wake Forest
College; Dr. Forrest J. Prettyman,
Knoxville, Tenn., “What Think Ye of
Christ?”; A. B. Saleeby, Salisbury,
“Taking Inventory”; Dr. J. Kenneth
Pfohl, Winston-Salem, “The High
Service of Fellowship”; Dr. Millard
Knowlton, Raleigh, ‘The New Cru
sade”; Mrs. T. W. Bickett, Raleigh,'•
“The Girl Worth While”; Hugh Lati
mer, Winston-Salem, “Soul Winning
Our Important Task”; Mrs. H. M.
Finch, Rocky Mount, “Secret Service”
Prof. G. B. Phillips, Greensboro,
“Motive Power”; Mrs. Will D. Up
shaw, Asheville, “Imitation”; Miss
Kate Renn, Greensboro, ‘Youth, The
Springtime of Life”; Dr. Gilbert T.
Rowe, Greensboro, "How to Handle
the Handbook of Democracy”; Dr.
Henry Louis Smith, Lexington, Vir
ginia, “A Winning Personality”; Dr.
Joel S. Snyder, Fayetteville, “Our
Part in Bringing The Holy City
Down”; Mrs. N. Buckner, “At His
Bidding,” and others.
THE PRITCHARD ESTATE
WORTH ABOUT $30,000.00.
Will of Jurist Divides Property Be.
tween Widow and Four
Children.
Asheville, April 13.—The last will
and testament signed by the Late
Judge Jeter Conley Pritchard on De
cember 1, 1920, consigning all of his
personal and real property to the wid
ow and four children, was probated
in Superior court this morning. James
J. Britt was named in the will as
executor. The will conveying to his
heirs his worldy goods, estimated at
around $30,000,was simple in its word
ing. In part it was as follows:
“It is my will that all personal and
real property be sold at my death, and
after paying all funeral expenses and
my debts, whatever residue jnay be
left shall be divided equally between
my wife, Lillian S. Pritchard, and
my children, Ida Pritchard Rollins,
Arthur T. Pritchard, George M.
Pritchard and McKinley Pritchard.
On leaving the Supreme court of the
District of Columbia, a beautiful sil
ver loving cup was presented to me
with appropriate inscription, recog
nizing the service I had rendered
while on the bench. It is my earnest
wish that this piece of silver be plac
ed somewhere, either in the state his
torical society building or elsewhere,
where it may be kept as a testimon
ial.”
No Mid-Week Service at M. E. Church
On account of the revival meeting
which begins at the Baptist church
next Sunday, there will be no mid
week prayer services at the Metho
dist church until after the meeting
has closed. This announcement was
made by the pastor of the Methodist
church last Wednesday evening, and
at the same time he urged his congre
gation to cooperate fully in the meet
ing at the Baptist church.
fairs and bringing about peace in
co-operation with our allies. Instead
we have some platitudes about his wil
lingness to co-operate without out
lining any definite plan. The sub
stance of all he had to say on this sub
ject was that he will ‘scrap’ the
League and have nothing to do with
it. The balance of the message was
interesting along lines expected. Some
things suggested were very good and
I presume that some of the legislation
he intimates he favors will be passed
with the co-operation of both p .rties
while some will meet vigorous opposi
tion.”