NINE MEN HELD IN
THEATRE INQUIRY
Coroner’s Jury Returns A
Verdict in Connection
With Recent Disaster
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—Nine
men were ordered held for the grand
jury by the coroner’s jury which
brought in a verdict tonight in con
nection with the collapse of the roof
of the Knickerbocker motion picture
theatre January 28, resulting in the
death of 98 persons.
The nine men all of Washington:
R. G. Geare, the architect of the
building; J. H. Ford, the engineer who
designed the roof structure; Morris
Hackner, building inspector when the
theatre was constructed; Frank L.
Wagner, the builder; Donald Wal
lace, general superintendent of con
struction; R. G. Fletcher, superin
tendent of the Hammett Fire Proof
ing Company, which built the walls;
John L. McDonald, the contractor who
erected the steel; Thomas L. Costi
gan, engineer and computer for the
District of Columbia Building De
partment who passed on the plans,
and Julian R. Ronman, the assistant
building inspector, when the building
was constructed.
The inquest was begun last Tues
day and scores of witnesses were
heard before the jury began its delib
erations behind closed doors. It was
out seven hours before it returned its
findings.
The coroner’s jury, in its verdict,
declared that “the collapse of the roof
was due to faulty designing and
construction and inadequate super
vision and inspection.”
It also submitted a number of
recommendations, one being that “all
theatres and places where the public
assembled be closed and kept closed
until such time as their safety is
assured.”
District Attorney Peyton Gordon
said tonight that the case would be
submitted to the grand jury “as soon
as possible.” That body is in session
now and the opinion was expressed
informally that it would be in a posi
tion to take up the Knickerbocker
findings by the last of this week.
Those who were recommended held
for the grand jury were not taken
into custody tonight but it was said,
they would be given an opportunity
to appear at the district attorney’s
office the first thing in the morning.
Their bond, Mr. Gordon said, would
be five thousand.
The jury, in its findings, recom
mended that there be a thorough re
vision of the building code in the
District of Columbia with heavy pen
alties provided for violation of any
of its clauses.—News & Observer.
WAKE FOREST LAW CLASS PASS
Annual Inter-Scholastic Declamation
Contest To Be Held Mar. 16-17.
WAKE FOREST, Feb. 11—When
the Supreme Court convened in Ral
eigh on January 30, the twenty-seven
men and two representing Wake
Forest College coir posed the 18th
* Supreme Court class of this institu
tion which has made a one hundred
per cent record in receiving licenses
from the court for the practice of
law. The Law School here was es
tablished tb^ty years ago by Dr. N.
Y. Gulley. Since mat time it has
turned out 871 lawyers and numbered
in the list are three North Carolina
governors and many other prominent
men.
Secretary T. D. Collins of the Alu
mni association is to raise funds for
equipping the new athletic field. At
a recent meeting of the construction
committee of Gore Athletic Field
plans were inaugurated to put the
grounds in shape for baseball this
spring. A thirty foot section of con
crete bleachers is estimated to cost
$800. The present Senior class has
voted to construct one such section
of the new stadium as its share in
this work. Last week Mr. Collins
was made responsible for raising $•>,
000 for equipment. He intends to
appear personally before the alumni
organizations over the entire State
presenting this and other important
alumni problems.
Only last Saturday Mr. Collins vis
ited the Wilmington Alumni Asso
ciation. Here he secured $300 as a
hearty response to his call for their
part of the $5,000. At small meet
ings of one or two other local asso
FIRST TITULAR CONTENT
ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Raleigh High Will Meet Smith
field Quint at Raleigh In
First of Series.
The first championship game
in the elimination series to de
termine the winner of Eastern
North Carolina in the annual
high school basketball race will
carry Smithfield to Raleigh as
the opponent of the Raleigh
quint.. The game will be play
ed in Raleigh (tomorrow) Satur
day night on the auditorium
court. The winner of this game
will play either Benson or Wil
mington February 23 in Chapel
Hill.
The schedule was arranged at
a meeting of representatives
from twenty-eight high schools
Tuesday night in Raleigh. Only
fifteen teams were schedu'ed as
it was found necessary to divide
'the conlestants into four groups.
Two groups were assigned games
Tuesday night.
The final game for the cham
pionship of the East will be play
ed March 3 in Chapel Hill, while
the deciding game between East i
and West champions will be stag
ed March 10 or 11.
The Smithfield Highs have not
been defeated by any high school
team this season. They have won
eight games from six different
high schools including two from
the strong Wilson team and one
from Benson, which is acknowl
edged as being one of the best
teams in the state. Raleigh’s
record is more doubtful. She was
l defeated by Wilson and split ev
en with Clayton whom Smith- j
field defeated twice in a two
game series. But Raleigh has
since defeated the strong San
ford team. The game will be hot
ly contested. The rivalry be
tween the two schools has been j
greatly increased since Smithfield
defeated Raleigh in the State
Football Championship race last
fall.
__
A Birthday Celebration.
On Sunday, February 12th, much !
to the surprise of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. 1
Powell, all of their children met at
their home to celebrate Mrs. Powell’3
sixty-first birthday. They got there
i about ten o’clock each carrying a nice
basket containing chicken, ham, sau
sage, eggs, pickles, loafbread and
several different kinds of cakes and
custards. They sat around the fire
! and spent the time in conversation,
j At noon the dinner was spread on
I two tables and served in picnic fash
ion. After dinner was over, the
! young folks played and sang several
, hymns. Those present to enjoy the
birthday celebration were: Mr. and
Mrs. J. L. Johnson and children, Mr.
J and Mrs. T. E. Powell, and baby, Mr.
5 and Mrs. R. L. Powell, Mr. and Mrs.
! C. C. Champion and children, of
Smithfield, Mr. M. D. Johnson and
Miss Eula Johnson, Miss Fern Steph
enson, of .Pleasant Grove, and Miss ;
Ila Champion of Smithfield.
Presbyterian Church.
There wil be regular preaching
! services at 11 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sun
; day school will be held at 10 a. m. The
public is cordially invited to all of
these services.
| ciations he has raised the sum of $550.
| Dr. W. L. Poteat attended the alum
ni banquet at Wilmington last Satur
day at which he was the principal
speaker of the evening. On the fol
lowing Sunday afternoon he address- '
ed a mass meeting of the men’s or
ganizations of the First Baptist
Church there.
Don’t forget the annual Inter- '
Scholastic Declamation Contest which 1
will be held March 16th and 17th. Ev- •
ery high school is urged to send a |
representative. Each representative ■
will be royally entertained. The Con - <
test Committee has spared no pains j
in securing the best possible enter- j
tainment—reception, baseball, auto
mobile rides, movies, all free. There
will be no expense to contestants aft- j
I er their arrival here. The only neces
sary requisite is a good declamation
not exceeding 1100 words. Get in
the race and win a fifty-dollar schol
arship and a twenty-five dollar medal ,
For complete information write T. S. j
Graham, Jr„ Wake Forest, N. C.
PROGRAM STEW
ARDSHIP MEETING
Rev. Neill Mclrmis and Rev.
A, T. Lassiter on Program
At Fayetteville
By JOHN A. McMURRAY
Wanted Men! 1000 officers, minis
ters and laymen of the Presbyterian
Church in Fayetteville Presbytery to
be present at the three district con
ferences on Stewardship to be held
in the bounds of the Presbytery. This
district comprises the counties of
Cumberland, Harnett and Johnston,
and the conference will be held at the
First Presbyterian Church, Fayette
ville, Friday, February 17th at 1:00
P- m. An interesting program has
been arranged dealing with vital
questions of the Kingdom of Christ,
and an urgent call is made to the
laymen of these counties to attend.
The program deals with the ob
jectives of the Progressive Program
as outlined by the General Assembly
on the four-fold plan of: Evangelism,
Stewardship, Spiritual Resources and
Missionary Education. The Progres
sive Program inaugurated 5 years
ago has gone steadily forward, and
its aim this year is an increased at
tendance upon the worship of the
sanctuary; a Sunday School enroll
ment at least equal to the church
membership; an increase for candi
dates for the ministry; a family altar
in every home; a church paper in
every home; adequate financial sup
port for the approved Causes of the
Church; the establishment of Sun
day Schools and mission points where
needed.
The program is as follows:
1. Spiritual Resources—A. R. Mc
Queen, Dunn.
2. Evangelism—C. M. Gibbs, Lin
den,
3. Missionary Education— G. F.
Kirkpatrick, Lillington.
4. Stewardship—J. M. Wilson, Fay
etteville.
5. Ministerial Support—C. G. Rose.
6. Echoes from the Home Mission
Fields—
(1) C. E. Clark, Kenly.
(3.) A. T. Lassiter, Benson.
(4) Neill Mclnnis, Smithfield.
7. The “Every-Member Canvass
How to Conduct it—
(1) In a town church, F. H. Sted
mar., Fayetteville.
(2) In a country church, C. M.
Gibbs. Linden.
(3) In a vacant or pastorless
church R. A. McLeod, Fayette
ville
8. Will i ayetteville Presbytery do
its part?—W. E. Hill, Fayette'”1 e
Responsive Reading.
10. The t all V Laymen—J. B Spnl
man, Synodical Manager.
The program will only last two
hours enabling those who come in
cars to return home before night,
and those who come on the train can
make their return on schedule.
It will be an open meeting to the
public and a general invitation is giv
en to all to be present. We are count
ing on YOU.
Bucket Shops in New York.
The bucket shop has been exposed
as often as wood alcohol has been,
but men crave financial and alcoholic
stimulation, and if the genuine thing
is out of reach, or is beyond their
means, a good many people are reck
less enough to take their chances with
fatdl imitations. It is now estimated
that the victims of bucket shops in
New York number more than 100,000
and a great many poor people who
did not know the difference between
a bucket shop and legitimate broker
age have lost the savings of a life
time. The bucket shops do not deal
in the commodities at all, though they
often pretend to. At best they bet
on market prices with earlier infor
mation than their victimfe can have,
and at worst, they are plain swindles.
—Philadelphia Record.
************
* NEGRO LANDS JOB AS
* RECORDER OF DEEDS *
* _ *
President Harding has ap- *
* pointed and the Senate has *
* confirmed Arthur G. Froe, a *
* negro lawyer and politician of *
* Welch, Virginia, as recorder of *
* deeds for the District of Co- *
* lumbia. *
************
DEMONSTRATION
AGENT ACTIVITIES
Despite Bad Weather and
Bad Roads Miss Garri
son Makes Rounds
Despite the unfortunate weather
and the bad conditions of the roads,
Miss Minnie Lee Garrison, Home
Demonstration Agent, makes her vis
its to different parts of the county,
helping the club girls in their work,
giving suggestions for making homes
more comfortable and attractive.
There is hardly any subject pertain
ing to the home on which Miss Gar
rison cannot give helpful advice. And
not only does she tell what and how
to do things, but as her title implies,
she shows how. Below are some re
ports which show how her work is
appreciated:
Pomona Home Demonstration Club
Miss Minnie Lee Garrison visited
Pomona School Friday, February 10,
from 9:30 to 10:30. We discussed
home gardening, poultry raising and
the family cow. The benefit of each
in the home, and the value if we
were marketing the product. Some
pamphlets were handed out telling
how to set hens for the best results.
Miss Garrison also demonstrated
the making of rag rugs, and showed
how a room could be made more at
tractive by using these and the un
bleached sets.
We enjoyed her visit very much and
I wish for her to visit us often.
NELLIE HILL, Sec. Pomona club.
New Hope Sewing Club.
Miss Minnie Lee Garrison visited
New Hope Sewing Club girls Janu
ary 20, 1922. She first talked to all
. the school about what we ought to
j ca.rry for our school lunch. After
the boys left, our club met and we
talked about sewing. Miss Garrison
had two aprons which all the girls
thought were very pretty. The next
lesson on sewing we will make our
| aprons. Everybody enjoyed her talk
' and visit very much.
FLORENCE LEE.
(Miss Siler and her associate
: teachers are having meetings with
j the New Hope girls between the vis
j its by the Home demonstration ag
j ent.)
Miss Siler writes:
“Our club is enthusiastic and live
now, and we are anxious for you to
visit us again. We have made sew
ing bags, learning to make French
seams and several stitches. We have
| made fudge and cocoanut candy to sell
J to the boys. We made enough money
to buy nails for our new basketball
back boards, and to pay freight on
a traveling library. We have a little
money left, and we are going to try
to make enough to buy some song
books and a dictionary.
“At our next meeting we will begin
j to study the bulletins you gave us.
“Thanking you for your help and
| hoping to be of help to you.”
Jazz Music and Liquor.
In a recent speech made recently
i before a thousand public school
teachers in Kansas City, Mo., I. I.
i Mammack, superintendent of county
| schools there asserted that jazz music
I has about the same effect on young
, people that a drink of intoxicating
liquor has and should be legislated
I against. He said:
“The nation has been fighting
■ booze a long time. I am just woner
; ing whether this jazz isn’t going to
1 have to be legislated against as well.
It seems to me that when it goes into
| the blood of some of our young folks,
! and I might add older folks, too, it
| serves them just about as good as a
I stiff drink of booze would do.
“I think the time has come when
I teachers should assume a militant
| attitude toward all forms of this de
| basing and degrading music.”
---
!************
I MR. GAITHER TO BE HERE *
i * - *
| * On Tuesday night, February *
! * 21st at 7:30 o’clock Mr. E. W. *
* Gaither will be at the Commer- *
* cial Club rooms to discuss the *
* sweet potato—its growing, *
* housing, keeping and selling. *
I * Mr. Gaither is a government *
j * man and has large experience *
| * in connection with sweet pota- *
j * toes and may be of great help *
i * to those who hear him. *
************
SMITH FIE LI) HIGHS DE
FEAT “INVINCIBLES,” 31-30
Score Was Tied When Whistle
Blew; But Ellington Won
Game By Shooting Foul
Smithfield won from Benson the
closest and best game yet played on
the local court here Monday night,
when Ellington shot a foul after the
whistle had blown. The final score
was 31-30 in favor of the Smithfield
boys. The score stood 21-13 in fav
or of Benson at the end of the first
half. But Smithfield, with Brown
playing stationary guard to a per
fection and Ellington and Caudill
caging the onion with veterans skill,
woke up and took the game out of
the very hands of Benson.
Ellington was the star of the game,
scoring five field goals (against his
guards none) and seven out of nine
fouls making a total of 17 points. He
played over the entire court. Just 1
as the time of the last half was up
a foul for hacking was called on
Benson. Elligton was given the ball j
but missed the first shot. All the '
warehouse was breathless with anxie
ty over the next shot. If he missed
it the game would have to be con- !
tinued by another period of five min
utes. But he caged it and the game
was won for Smithfield.
Caudill guarded by the famous
Talton, played a fine game. He scor
ed three field goals against Talton s
one. Brown played a fine game. His
men secured four field goals. God
win’s men secured six but he evened
up with Brown by scoring two him
self. Stephenson and Stone each
secured four points at center. Hud
son for Benson scored six field goals,
more than any other one person.
Line up and summary:
Smithfield (31) Benson (30)
Caudill, E. -Johnson
High Forward
Ellington - Hudson
Left Forward
Stephenson, R.-Stone
Center
Godwin -Parker
Right Guard
Brown- Talton
Left Guard
^ Scoring for Smithfield: Field goals,
Ellington 5; Caudill 3; Stephenson 2;
Godwin 2. Foul goals Ellington 7 out
of 9 chances.
Scoring for Benson: Field goals,
Hudson (i; Johnson 4; Talton 1; Stone
2. Foul goals, Talton 2; Johnson 2.
Referee Tiner. Umpire Wheeler.
Scorer Wharton. Timekeeper Ennis
and Johnson.
Other Contributions to Jewish Relief
Contributions to Jewish Relief re
ported since our last issue bring the
total above $500, just a little more
than half the quota for Johnston
County. The exact amount reported
to date is $536.07. Below is a list of
those not reported in Tuesday’s issue.
Collection Smithfield M. E.
Church _$40.77
Miss lone Abell_ 1.00
Miss Corinna Sanders_ .50
Miss Minnie Lee Garrison _ 3.00
Mr. W. C. Coats _ 1.00
Mrs. Swannie Tart_ 1.00
Mrs. C. V. Johnson_ .50
Mr. H. V. Rose __ 1.00
Miss Lucile Johnson_ 2.00
Carry the Schoolhouse to the Home.
To the Editor: The great number
of illiterates in North Carolina, as
recently stated, challenges attention.
About thirty years ago in the inter
est of better education, a movement
began to consolidate school districts.
This was directly at variance with
my notion of what the conditions in
the State required. The illiteracy
that had long afflicted the State, it
seemed to me, could be eradicated
more surely by neighborhood schools
than by removing the schools to a
distance. Apparently our system- •
providing for better education, has re
sulted in a great sacrifice.
The State has gone into the busi
ness of educating every child to
some extent—but we are not polish
ing up half the children beyond the
reasonable limit and leaving a large
number of illiterates.
As an incentive for children to
acquire enough education to enable
them to read with understanding, I
proposed in 1897 a constitutional
amendment that no person coming
of age after a few years should be
allowed to vote unless he could read
and write. That I believe is now
I the law. The result is not satisfac
! tory. We should carry the school
house to the home.—S. A. Ashe, Ral
eigh, N. C., in News and Observer.
JUDGE BROOKS IN
FAVOR STATION
Matter Considered Favorab
ly by Railroad Authori
ties Before War
During the summer of 1922 the At
lantic Coast Line Railroad Company
should take some steps looking to
ward giving Smithfield an adequate,
comfortable and modern passenger
station, in keeping with the progress
of the town.
This matter was taken up with the
railroad authorities “before the war”
(I mean the “World War” though
the buildings might lead one to be
lieve I meant the Civil War) and the
Company took the matter under con
sideration and Col. Newell talked very
favorably about the proposition.
The War came on and the railroads
were all taken over by the Govern
ment and everything was side-tracked
until the war could be won and the
railroads turned back to their origi
nal owners. This has been accom
plished and it seems to me that now
is the time to again take up this
matter of .new passenger depot for
Smithfield.
Few towns in the State of the size
and importance of Smithfield have
such poor and inadequate passenger
facilities. I believe if the matter
is brought to the attention of the pro
per authorities ofthe Railroad Com
pany that they would give the matter
consideration and at an early da*.e
give us a new depot.
How about the Chamber of Com
merce getting behind the project, se
cure the facts relative to the passen
ger and freight receipts, etc., and
submit a strong petition to the man
agement of the Coast Line “making
our wants and wishes known,” and
who can tell what the result will be?
We cannot expect a limestone buif
ding with granite base and terra-cotta
furnishings in keeping with our new
Court House, but we might expect,
yes, not unreasonably demand, that
the Company would give us an up
to-date brick building with modern
conveniences in keeping with the spir
it of progress evidenced on every
hand around little city.
We’re united; let’s move onward
and upward!
F. H. BROOKS
Nixon-Munden.
Mr. J. W. Nixon, of Wilson receiv
ed a handsome Valentine, February
14th in the person of Miss Vida Mun
den. In other words, this couple was
quietly married at the Pisgah par
sonage Tuesday afternoon at one o'
clock. Rains and roads prevented the
attendance of a number of friends and
rendered the occasion less elaborate
than was anticipated, but did not pre
vent a happy and interesting mar
riage. Mr. Nixon presents a strong
arm and a dependable character to
support his bride along life’s rugged
road, while she will be a perpetual
sunbeam to cheer and gladden his
home.
I he groom wore the conventional
black and appeared a handsome speci
men of stalwart manhood. The bride
was becomingly gowned in a beauti
ful traveling suit and never looked
prettier than on this occasion. Mr.
Nixon is a prosperous farmer living
near Wilson. The bride is well known
in this and surrounding communities.
Among other accomplishments, she is
an authoress of real merit.
Immediately after the ceremony
the couple hastened away to catch
the*l:30 train, followed by the good
wishes pf a large circle of friends.
“R.”
Stealing Autos in Philadelphia.
Sunday seems to have been rather
a red-letter day for automobile ban
dits in this vicinity, three policemen
who interrupted their activites having
been shot by them. Never in the old
days of horse stealing was there such
bold defiance of the law. What will
be the end if justice does not deal
with these outlaws with the utmost
severity?—Philadelphia Record .
No Recorder’s Court Tuesday.
On account of the illness of Judge
P. H. Brooks, there was no Recorder’s
Court held here last Tuesday. Judge
Brooks has been confined to his room
with a deep cold but is much better
now.
i