CONSOLIDATION
GETS HARD BLOW
Supreme Court Reverses
Wayne and Bladen Cases;
Clears Up The Law
RALEIGH, April 26.—Consolida
tion took more punishment from the
Supreme court today than it has re
ceived from all sources since it be
came an educational policy to place
schools on the earth and run trucks
to fill them.
Twice today the court nullifies
district elections and starts the dis
trict business anew. The two ap
peals coming from Wayne and Bladen
counties happen to violate the same
principle of law laid down in the
legislation creating these consolida
ed districts. It is local self-govern
ment vigorously applied. In each in
stance the enterprise failed because
territory circumscribed included peo
ple who had not voted any tax on
themselves and the court voids the
whole business.
There is nothing revolutionary in
today’s decisions; rather will the ef
fect be otherwise. The school law
is in confusion. The courts are
seeking to disentangle themselves.
The consolidation plan which is
sweeping the state will be arrested
only where the law is loose. In the
Wayne and Bladen cases the senti
ment was strong enough for the big
ger and better school. In the Wayne
case an agreed state of facts brought
the litigation to the highest court.
The election was nullified. In the
Bladen controversy the injunction
was applied. Judge Walker writing
the Wayne opirtion reverses the find
ings of the lower court and Judge
Stacy laying down the law for Bla
den says the court should have
granted the permanent restraining
order.
The effect of the court’s opinion
•today, however, is not to nullify the
acts themselves. The decisions show
plainly that so far from being radi
cal statutes, these plainly prohibit
the method of consolidation employed
in these two districts. Judge Walker
rests his opinion on the invalidity
of the election which grew out of
the insufficient compliance with the
written law.
The facts in the Wayne school
election are simple. Pikesville town
ship, a portion of Stoney Creek in
cluded in Mt. Carmel district and
that portion of Buck Swamp town
ship included in Pleasant Grove dis
trict, sought to establish at Pikes
ville a standard high school. A tax
of 30 cents was needed.
Prior to this move Pikesville had
voted a special tax. In December,
1919, Mt. Carmel did the same thing.
But the new territory taken in had
never voted any tax. But it was
agreed that there should be no re
straining order and that the case
should come to court in October.
There were other elements in this
agreement, but these are the vital
facts. October 22 the case was heard
and Judge Cranmer decided it against
the plaintiffs, the election having
been held without restrain and pro
nounced valid.
The strength of the plaintiffs con
tention is that the election was not
held in accordance with the law, but
in contravention of two complete
statutes relating to special school
tax districts and that the effect of
the election would have been the
abolition of three existing special
school districts within the territory
of the proposed district. It was fur
ther contended that the election vio
lated the provision that elections
shall not be held oftener than once
biennially. Mt. Carmel and Pleasant
Grove having held such elections
within two years. Not only does the
poll abolish these two districts, but
it makes Pikesville take tribute of
Mt. Carmel and Pleasant Grove, and
does it without allowing those out
side the original Pikesville district
an opportunity to vote separately on
the proposition whether they shall
be added to the Pikesville district or
not, as prescribed m section 5,530
of the consolidated statutes.
The Bladen case has much the
same facts. Council, Carver’s Creek,
and Boggy Branch until consolidation
nearly a year ago, three continuous
and adjacent districts. In 1905
Council voted 30 cents on property
and 90 on polls. In 1920 another elec
tion raised it to 50 and $1.50. In
1917 a school bond election of 15
MR. ASHLEY POWELL SHOT
BY THURSTON BREEDLOVE
Early Wedesday morning about
six o’clock Mr. Ashley Powell, of
the Sander^ Chapel section, was
shot two times by Mr. Thurston
Breedlove, both ^>alls passing
through and out of his body. Mr.
Breedlove, we are told, worked
on the farm with Mr. Powell, and
as they were hitching up a team
Wednesday morning, Mr. Powell
suggested that Mr. Breedlove’s
work had not been satisfactory
and that he must change his way
of doing. After a few words,
Breedlove whipped out a pistol
and fired at him two times. One
ball grazed the body of Mr. Pow
ell and passed through the mus
cle of his right arm. The
other ball passed through the
thigh. Breedlove made for the
woods. Mr. Powell came to
Smithfield and had his wounds
dressed by a physician.
Government Operation and Accidents
According to the statistics of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, the
year 1919, when the Government was
operating the railroads, was t1 e best
up to Chat time in their history, so
far as fat;1 accidents were concern
ed. Only 6,978 persons, including
employees, trespassers and passen
pers, were killed, as against 9,286
in the previous year and 11,839 in
1907, which held the record for cas
ualties. Since then the railroads have
been doing fine work in reducing ac
cidents, and last year only about 6000
persons, including 205 passengers,
were killed. If it were not for reck
less automobilists, who have a cur
ious weakness for disputing grade
crossings with moving trains, the
showing would be far better. If the
drivers of motor cars took as great
precautions as the railroads to avoid
accidents the record would be won
derfully improved. — Philadelphia
Record.'
Murphy-Barber.
A quiet but pretty wedding was
that at the home of Mr. T. D. Barber
on North Main street Satui'day night
when Mr. J. H. Barber, of Salisbury,
and Miss Mary Murphy, of Smithfield,
were united in marriage. As the
wedding march was being played by
Miss Frances Barber, the bride, ac
companied by Miss Otelia Barber,
and the groom accompanied by Mr.
C. B. Poplin, entered the room where
the ceremony was performed by Rev.
A. C. Tippett, pastor of North Main
M. E. church, South.
The bride is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Dolsy Murphy, of Smith
field, N. C., and is a young woman of
charming personality. She has, by
her lovely disposition, endeared her
self to a large number of friends.
Mr. Barber has made his home in
Salisbury for several years, and is
holding a responsible position with
the Southern railray at the transfer
sheds. He is a most excellent man,
and has, by his genial disposition,won
a large circle of friends. Mr. and
Mrs. Barber will make their home
with Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Barber on
North Main street.—Taken from a
Salisbury paper.
A mistake, when discovered, al
ways looks stupid.—Dunn Dispatch.
cents on property and 45 on the head
was held in old Council, Carver’s
Creek and Boggy Branch, being
somewhat in the mire educationally,
had never voted a tax. June 6, 1921,
the board of education consolidated
the three districts and an election
with 30 cts. on the $100 property
and 90 on the poll was ord red. It
was carried. The Carver’s Creek and
Boggy Branch folks were swept in.
The court adverts to the fact that
the Creekers and Branchers were
still against the levy “now sought to
be enjoined.”
This is all that allied the election
The outsiders were taken in against
their will. And in the Bladen case
the vote has the effect of allowing
one set of electors to vote off a
portion of the tax now against them
and to vote it on to electors who had
not hitherto placed any burden on
themselves.
Wherefore the court clears up sec
tions 5,530 and 5,526, the latter gov
erning the creation of original dis
tricts.—Wr. T. Bost, in Greensboro
News.
A LETTER FROM
WILSON’S MILLS
Dr. Brewer of Meredith Col
lege Delivers Group Com
mencement Address
WILSON’S MILLS, April 26.—Mr.
Carl K. Parrish made a business trip
to Raleigh Wednesday.
Mrs. Lelia Williamson, of Louis
burg, is a guest of Mrs. A. O. Holt.
Lloyd Chapman of Grifton visted
friends here during the week end.
Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Davis of Micro,
were guests of relatives here on
Friday.
Mrs. Herbert Benton and children,
Annie May and Herbert Jr., of Spen
cer, have been visiting Mrs. P. H.
Massey for several days.
Visitors to Smithfield on Thurs
day afternoon were: Misses Mamie
Moore, May McIntosh, Myra Nixon,
Helen Dickson, Evelyn Wilson, Lottie
Wilson; Mesdames D. O. Uzzle, H.
N. Wilson, Carl K. Parrish; Messrs
J. A. Wilson, D. O. Uzzle, and Joe
Parrish.
Misses Margaret Wilson, Nellie
Wellons and Sadie Puckett, of Smith
field, were guests of Mrs. W. G. Wil
son during the week end.
The following attended the group
commencement at Polenta on Satur
day: Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Barbour.
Miss Mable Barbour, Mrs. E. E. Par
rish, Miss Mamie Moore, Messrs Wil
son Uzzle and Robt. Uzzle.
Leonard Massey, of Clayton spent
the week end with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. P. H. Massey.
On Friday Misses Myra Nixon, Hel
en Dickson, Lottie Wilson, Messrs
Noah Wilson and Otha Ellis attend
ed the Selma vs. A. C. C., of Wilson,
ball game at Selma.
John Turley of Clayton, was in
town on Monday.
Mrs. W. M. Sanders and Miss Min
nie Lee Garrison, of Smithfield were
visitors here Tuesday.
Mrs. J. A, Wilson, Mrs. Harfy
Wilson, Miss Evelyn Wilson and Mr.
J. A. Wilson spent Monday afternoon
in Clayton.
Misses Lillie Parrish and Viola
Todd, of Goldsboro spent Sunday
here.
J. H. Atkinson and Miss Helen At
kinson recently visited friends here.
Messrs Walter Pett, Oza Cole, of
Goldsboro and Joseph Cole of Clay
ton were recent guests of friends
here.
Dr. Brewer, president Meredith
College, Raleigh, delivered a forceful
address at the group commencement
exercises at the Wilson’s Mills school
on last Friday. The subject of edu
cation from the standpoint of mean
ing and far reaching effect was one
of vital interest to the large audi
ence. The people of this community
will always be glad to welcome Dr.
Brewer in their midst.
Miss Carrie Bell Youngblood was
the efficient leader of the Christian
Endeavor organization on Sunday
evening. The program follows:
Subject: Difficulties.
Scripture: Leader.
Prayer: Mr. D. O. Uzzle.
Difficulties that interfere with
church work: Mr. W. T. Wilson.
How to face a difficulty: Mr. D. 0.
Uzzle.
Poem—Miss Ida May Youngblood.
Christian Endeavor Prayer.
Pershing Coming to State in May.
WASHINGTON, April 26.—Gen
eral Pershing is to be a visitor to
North Carolina in May. He has ac
cepted an invitation to attend the
celebration of May 20, Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence Day at
Charlotte, and will be accompanied
by his aide, Major Marshall. The
Charlotte celebration will be under
the direction of the American Ixgior.
post there.—Edward E. Britton, in
News & Observer.
Methodist Church.
“The Unfolding Life” is the topic
to be presented by members of the
M. E. Sunday School Sunday morn
ing at the 11 o’clock hour. It is the
annual Sunday School Day program,
and a talk appropriate to the oc
casion will be made. The offering
will be used for needy Sunday Schools.
There will be no service at the eve
ning hour on account of the revival
services being held at the Baptist
church.
NEWS FROM THE
CAPITAL BANKER
Union Service of All The
Churches to be Held;
McNeil Book Club
BENSON, April 26.—Mr. Elton
Neighbors, of Kenly, visited friends
here Sunday.
Mr. E. S. White spent Sunday in
Raleigh.
Misses Ruth Poindexter and Pat
tie Hunter spent Friday night in
Greenville.
Miss Ruby Hobbs has returned
from a visit to friends in Four Oaks.
Messrs M. T. Britt and Carroll
Morgan are attending the Bankers’
Convention at Pinehurst this week.
Mrs. Rowland Covington, of Laur
inburg returned to her home Satur
day after visiting her sister, Mrs. J.
R. Barbour for a few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Barbour, of
Four Oaks attended the exercises of
the graduating class Tuesday night.
Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Martin were
guests of friends in Smithfield Sun
day.
Mr. H. A. Parker, president of the
Citizens Bank & Trust Co., left Tues
day afternoon for Pinehurst where
he will attend the State Banker’s
Convention.
Mlisses Mary Turlington and
Churchill spent Sunday in Siler City
with friends.
Rev. A, T. Lassiter and Mr. Pres
ton Woodall attended the meeting of
Fayetteville Presbytery, which was
held in Red Springs last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kanoy and
Rev. and Mrs. E. M. Hall visited in
Raleigh Monday.
Mr. William Woodall visited his
sister, Miss Clara Woodall, who is a
student at Peace Institute, Raleigh,
Saturday and Sunday. While there
he attended the annual reception giv
en by the students of the college.
Misses Vermelle High and Minnie
Love Stevens, who have taught here
this year, left for their homes Sat
urday.
Mrs. A. S. Oliver was hostess to
the John Chas. McNeil Book Club
Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock.
The program topic was “Oscar
Wilde, Social Satirist.” Mrs. Lassi
ter’s paper, a discussion of Wilde as
a Dramatist gave description of his
peronality, outlined his plays and
depicted phases of English society.
Mrs. O. A. Barbour led in the dis
cussion of “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
which proved very entertaining. Aft
er the program the hostess distribut
ed papers for a “key” contest. Aft
er the fun of working out these ques
tions was over the hostess assisted
by Mrs. W. H. Royal and Mrs. J. R.
Barbour served a delightful salad
course with coffee followed by cream
and angel cake.
Unique Easter favors added to the
attractiveness of the plates.
Those besides club members en
joying Mrs. Oliver’s hospitality were
Mesdames W. H. Royal, D. W. Ka
noy, W. T. Martin, and Rowland Car
ington of Laurinburg.,
Union Service Sunday, April 30.
There will be union services for
all the churches of the town held in
the Presbyterian church Sunday, Ap
ril 30, at 7:30 o’clock. Rev. E. M.
Hall of the Methodist church will
preach the sermon. Members of the
choirs are invited to be present and
take part in the song services. This
is the beginning of union services
which are to be held here during the
spring and summer in preparation
for a series of evangelistic union ser
vices. A qordial invitation is ex
tended to one and all to attend this
service.
Woman’s Auxiliary Hold Meeting.
The Woman’s Auxiliary of Benson
Presbyterian church held its regular
meeting Tuesday afternoon, April 25
in the church. The subject for the
meeting was Africa. Several inter
esting papers describing the mission
stations, and work beir^g done in the
Belgian Congo were re<Sd by members
of Auxiliary.
A business meeting followed which
was presided over by the president.
Several plans were discussed for the
work of the year.
Death of a Child.
On Monday morning, April 24, the
Death Angfcd ^isited the home of
Mr. r.nd Mrs. Birchel Barefoot and
took from them their infant child.
All was done by loving hands and
medical skill that could be done. But
HUGE WAR PAINTING
COMING TO AMERICA
PARIS, April 23.—The Pantheon
de la Guerre, the huge panoramic
painting of the war, which has* been
housed in a special building here
since soon after the armistice, is
soon to be taken to America for ex
hibition.
The gigantic canvas, 402 long and
48 feet high, was painted by 50
French artists, under the direction of
Pierre-Carrier Belleuse, under the
patronage of the French government.
It contains 6,000 life size portraits of
allied heroes, including Gen. Persh
ing and Major-Gen. O’Ryan, as well
as of the leading political figures of
the war period—former President
Wilson, former Premier Clemenceau,
Prime Minister Lloyd George and
others. In the background is por
trayed the battle front from Calais
to Verdun.
Myron T. Herrick, the American
Ambassador, viewed the mammoth
painting today and congratulated M.
Belleuse on this work of art, intend
ed as a lasting memorial to the world
war heroes.—Associated Pres^.
A Prisoner of Science.
CHICAGO, April 25—Science,
taking upon itself the triple role of
judge, jury and jailer, has sentenced
Mrs. Jennie Barmore to life imprison
ment!
Mrs. Barmore is guilty of no crime
but she must isolate herself in her
cottage. She must remain alone. She
can prepare food for no one but her
self.
Because science says Mrs, Barmore
is a typhoid carrier!
She is not herself a sufferer from
typhoid. But scientists say that
coursing in her blood stream are
myriads of the dread germs that
cause typhoid.
They say she might transmit this
malady to others if any contact
with the outside world were allow
ed.
Her case is one of the most un
usual on record. It marks the first
attempt by local health boards to
use their broad police powers in
isolating any one who might en
danger the health of the commun
ity.
What Official Says.
Here is the final pronouncement
on the case by Herman Bundensen,
health official:
“Mrs. Barmore will be locked up
permanently if she refuses to stop
handling food and does not sterilize
her hands.
“Meanwhile she can come and go
under these provisions with due in
spection of health officers. We could
lock her up permanently but we do
not wish to be severe.”
But even this small degree of
freedom is only theoretical and
means nothing. Mrs. Barmore says:
“For when I venture forth, people
flee from me. Even my closest
friends shun me. I intend to stay in
doors—make myself a voluntary pri
soner until I die.”
Mrs. Barmore lost her last at
tempt at unrestricted freedom when
the Illinois supreme court denied a
petition for rehearing in a long fight
to secure a writ of habeas corpus
which would remove Mrs. Barmore
from jurisdiction of Chicago health
authorities.
“Rather Be Dead.”
“I reared two children and sent
them forth into the world as happy,
normal human beings,” Mrs. Bar
more says sadly. “Neither child con
tracted typhoid nor did my husband.
“Yet here I am a prisoner in my
own house, permitted to go outside
only like a convict freeing from his
cell.
My friends and relatives shun
me like one accursed. I should
rather be dead.”
Mrs. Barmore’s case has aroused
widespread dissension in medical cir
cles. Some physicians hold there’s
no such thing as a typhoid carrier.
But while the scientific fight
rages, its central figure remajns in
her cottage alone, unable to enter
tain friends, and fearing to leave
her shelter because very appear
ance strikes terror in the hearts of
those she loves.—Roy Gibbons, in
Charlotte Observer.
God saw best to take it home to be
with Him.
The remains were laid to rest in
the cemetery at Grove Presbyterian
Church.
MORE THAN 50 LOSE
LIVES IN FLOODS
Property Loss Estimated at
Over $1,00,000; Think
Levee Dynamited
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 26.—
Continued reported dead missing
in the flood that has gripped Fort
Worth for two days, tonigut had
brought the list to 59. A check is not
yet possible and verification of the
ur.cflicial reports are held up while
t'lc flooded areas are searcned by
rescuers. Three bodies have been
recovered.
The list of injured remained at
29, according to reports from the
hospitals. The property loss is esti
mated at $1,000,000.
The levee board will investigate
the reported dynamiting of the em
bankments in several places Monday
night as soon as the flood waters re
cede, according to M. L. McCain,
board chairman.
Board members, he said, did not
believe that the water could have torn
the holes in the levees which were
pronounced in excellent condition re
cently.
Action looking to the prevention
of future flooding of the city’s utili
ties plants probably will be taken
after the flood recedes, Mayor E. R.
Cockrell stated tonight. Water serv
ice was made available today when
the flood water which put the plant
out of commission yesterday was
pumped out by the fire department.
The latest report of the river stage
was 36 feet, but recession since this
afternoon was expected to bring it
down rapidly. All railroads report
ed improved conditions today and
operation on schedules is expected by
tomorrow night.
BREAK OCCURS IN LEVEE
ON LOWER MISSISSIPPI
NEW ORLEANS, April 26.—A
section of the Mississippi river levee
four miles north of Ferriday, Louis
iana, in Concordia parish, went out
at 4 o’clock this afternoon and to
night is flooding that parish and
eventually will spread into parts of
four other parishes. Catahoula is
one of the richest farming sections
of Louisiana and it is certain that
the loss will reach into hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
The break ocurred without warn
ing and tonight had widened to 200
feer. Several important towns are
in tW immediate path of the flood
waters. No loss of life had been re
ported.
Three hundred men with flood
fighting equipment were rushed to
day to Marrero, on the west bank of
the Mississippi river, opposite New
Orleans, and after a hard fight, pre
vented what seriously threatened to
be the first break in the embank
ments in the vicinity of this city.
The levee at that point is com
paratively narrow and has been
under the constant surveilanee of en
gineers. Serious trouble began to
develop there last night when a
crack appeared in the earthworks
and a cave-in appeared imminent to
day. Engineers declared late today
that the situation was under control.
A break at this point would have
flooded several towns.
Strawberry Short Cake (Biscuit).
Mash 1 qt. berries, sweeten; let
stand for II hours. Into a pint of
flour sift 1 teaspoon baking powder
and I teaspoon salt. Chop into this
1 tablespoon butter. Add enough
milk to make a soft dough. Turn
this upon a floured board, roll light
ly into 2 biscuits as large as a pie
plate. Put into a greased pan one
on top the other and bake in a quick
oven. When done, separate quickly,
spread with butter, then thickly with
the mashed berries, put together
again, pour the remaining mashed
berries over the entire cake and
serve either hot or cold.—Progressive
Farmer.
D, G. S. Girls Meet.
Mrs. Clifton Beas’ey delightfully
entertained the D. G. S. Girls last
evening. Rook and other games were
enjoyed. Delicious refreshments
were served during *the evening.
“Rich people are just poor people
with money.”