North Carolina Newspapers

VOLUME 41 SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1922 NUMBER 100 COMMUNITY XMAS TREE DECEMBER 22 Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and Kris Kringle Will Distribute Presents The Community Christmas Tr<e sponsored by the local Kiwanis Clab will be given on Friday night, De cember 22, at 5:30 p. m„ on the Court House square. Everybody j-> urged to be present and help give these little folks some of the joys the more fortunate children of the com munity always receive at home. There will be a large tree well deco rated and lighted and presents there on given to these children receiving special invitations. A program as follows will begin promptly at 5:30 P. M.: Invocation _Rev. Fred T. Collins Song—"Joy to the World Origin of Christmas_Rev. D. H. -Tuttle. Christmas Story_Miss Mary E. _Wells. Song—“Hark, the Herald Angels -Sing’’ Benedictory Prayer_Rev. W. C. _Cumming. Mr, and Mrs. Santa Claus and Kriss Ki ingle will then arrive and distribute the presents. The committee will appreciate the names of worthy children with their •tge and sex. Am' donation will be thankfully receded The hymns on the pvogran are well known and everybody is urged to join in the singing. Mr. I. W. Medlin will lead the songs. He is training a selected choir and Miss Margaret Newell, music teacher in the school, is training the school children. SHARK HITE PROVES FATAL TO TARBORO WOMAN TARBORO, Dec. 15.—The commu nity was shocked Thursday by the intelligence received by Henry C. Bourne from Bishop Colmore, of Porto Rico, that his sister, Miss Katherine Wimberly Bourne, had been bitten by a shark while in bathing and that she died soon afterwards. Miss Bourne was engaged in teach ing school in St. John’s school, a mission school of the Episcopal church at San Juan, Porto Rico. This was her second year there. Previous to this, she had taught school at North Hampton, Chapel Hill and Sal isbury, where she was held in the highest esteem by all with whom r^e came in contact. In Tarboro, her home town, she was loved and ad mirec by a host o'" friends and rela tives. She leaves one brother, Henry C. Bourne, and one sister, Miss Mary P. Bourne, and a half brother, Louis Bomne, of Asheville. Her remains will be brought to Tarboro to be buried in Calvary churchyard. No j details of the tragedy have yet been j received. MEXICO EXPLAINS HER STAND : ON PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS MEXICO CITY, Dec. 17.-—A!- j though the Mexican government has not yet officially accepted Chile’s in vitation to be represented at the Pan-American Congress to be held in Santiago in March, the foreign of fice has published a long statement explaining why Mexico is entitled to a seat in the deliberations. The statement, coming after President Obregon’s declaration that he thought it quite possible the invitation would be accepted is taken to indicate that , Mexico will be represented. No dele gations, however, have yet been 1 named. TWENTY-SEVEN PERSONS ARE REPORTED MISSING SAULTE, STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 17.—Twenty-seven persons are' missing and are believed to have drowned or have died from exposure following the disaster, which over took the t ig Reliance, when it hit the rocks to Lizard Island four days ago This was the fear exprefed by officials cf the S rjcior Pape' Company, owners of the tug, who to night for the first time admitted that in addition to the crew of 14, the Reliance carried 22 passengers. A Consistent Advertiser, No Doubt We heard of a certain local merch ant who has become so prosperous he washes his windows with Gold Dust. Oh, gee!—Zebulon News. BENSON’S POLICE SHOOTS DRIVER Mr. Paul Stephenson Gets Fatal Shot While Riding In Automobile Mr. Paul Stephenson while riding on an automobile in the streets of Benson late Friday night, was fired at by the chief of police Perry, of Benson, and received a wound from wh;ch death resulted some 24 hours later. | Mr. Stephenson and a Mr. Od 1 om were returning from an out of-town carnival and had reached the home of Mr. R. F. Smith. Mr. Odom was driving the car and ; asked Mr. Stephenson to guide it while he lighted a cigar. In j changing hands the car swerved which attracted the attention of j Chief Perry. He ordered a halt | but the occupants of the car eith | er failed to hear him or disre | garded his call. He thought they “were speeding” and think ing he would stop them, he fired | a pistol, aiming at the rear tire ! of the moving car. His shot went wide its mark and struck Mr. ' Stephenson in the back. The bul I let lodged against the spinal col umn which caused instant paraly sis of the lower limbs. Immediately after the shoot ing Dr. Utley was summoned to ! attend the wounded man, and it was apparent that a serious wound had been inflicted. The wounded man was taken to (he Fayetteville hospital and remain ed there until 11 o’clock, Satur day night, when death claimed him. Mr. Stephenson is a native of Pleasant Grove Township and a son of Mr. and Mrs. B. I. Steph enson. He was about 27 years of age and is survived by a younger brother and two sisters. He was a nephew of Ex-Sheriff W. F. Grimes, of Smithfield. For the past seven years he has been in business in Benson. He has been for the most of the time in the employment of Mr. Preston Johnson. His rise in the business life of Benson has been rapid and death claims him just when suc cess seemed most certain. MYSTERIOUS FLEET ON THE HIGH SEAS PERNAMBUCO, Brazil, Dec. 17.— The captain and passengers of the British steamship Almanzora, which arrived here today, report having seen last night on the high seas ,t fleet of 12 warships of the destroy er type, steaming southward, con voying a merchant vessel, presum ably a collier. The nationality of the fleet was not ascertained The semaphore station this morn ing also reported observing a fleet, the vessels of which flew no flags. As far as is known no fleet at pres ent is navigating htese waters. Therefore, the reported presence of the ships is causing speculation. BOLL WEEVIL MEETING AT THT FROST PLACE Mr. W. M. Sanders has arranged for a meeting to be held at his Frost place near town Thursday morning at 11:30 o’clock at which Mr. Franklin Sherman, State .Enftonjologisfr', and Mr. Mabee, his assistant, will discuss the boll weevil. This is a vital ques tion to farmers of cotton growing sections and they should avail them selves of every opportunity to learn how to combat this enemy of our chief money crop. The public is in vited to attend this meeting. The ! speaking will be held at Johnson ! Union church near Mr. Sanders’! place. After the addresses by these j boil weevil specialists, Mr. Sanders j will serve a barbecue din-.er. HARDING WILL SUPPORT BONUS IF IT CAN BE FINANCED CINCINNATI, Ohio, Dec. 17.—A direct message from President Har ding pledging his support to a bonus ! for ex service men providing a feat | ible means of financing the burden can be found, was presented by Cnl. ' C. R. Fortes, director of the Vet°r ! ans’ Bureau at Washington, before ; a jo nt conference of Nati :na'. and 1 State Executives of the Veterans’ of Foreign Wars here today. CHARLOTTE VISIT ED BY A BIG FIRE Large Trust Building Is De stroyed; Loss Estimated At $440,000.00 CHARLOTTE, Dec. IT.—The six sroi j- Trust building on South Tryon street here containing the Keith Vaudeville theatre, and a large num ber of offices was destroyed and two other structures seriously damaged by fire early today with a total loss estimated at more than $440,000. The roof was burned off an ad joining three-story building occupied by Brockman’s Retail and Mail Order Book and Stationery store and a number of offices and practi cally all the contents of the struc ture were a total loss due to fire and water. The Piedmont building on the other side of the Trust build ing was water soaked from roof to cellar. It was headquarters for the Piedmont Fire Insurance Company, the Morris Plan Bank and contained number of other offices. The fire was believed to have origi nated in the furnace room of the Trust building and had gained great headway before it was discovered. Save for one or two minor injuries to firemen, there were no casualties in the fire which attracted hundreds of persons. One of the heaviest down pours of rain Charlotte has had this year began to fall about the time the fire was under control. Had it not been for the hea’t' rains of the last week which left nearby buildings soaked and the aid given by the torrents of rainwater that fell this morning. Fire Chief Wallace said the blaze might have proven as disastrous as the recent one at New Bern. Tons of water were thrown into ! the smoking ruins throughout the } clay and South Tryon street was hioeked to traffic until the late afier ' noon as part of the structure of the 1 Trust building fell into the street. The scene of the fire was between Third and Fourth streets on the west side of South Tryon, within a block of where the famous Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is said to have been signed. In addition to the losses to busi ness men and others whose offices | and equipment was destroyed, the lodge rooms of the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, which were in the Piedmont building, were water soa.1 ed. The Trust building, which also was known as the Academy of Music had nothing left tonight but tottering walls, the front part of which bad partly fallen out. It was erected 18 years ago and was the first office building in Charlotte to he equipped with electric elevators. Within recent months it had been purchased by C. Wr. Johnson at a pri'i said to be $253,000. Total loss in the building occupied by rockman’s store and offices was pi; d at more than $100,000, while thousands of dollars of damage was done by water in the Piedmont buil< ing. Other nearby structures escaped with a few panes of broken glass or scorched awnings, from the flames which were discovered about 4:30 a, m. The losses generally were said to be well covered by insurance, although there were numerous indi viduals who had no such protection against fire.—News and Observer. ONLY ONE TUBERCULAR COW IN WAYNE COUNTY GOLDSBORO, Dec. 16.—Wayne county has one of the best reports in North Carolina in the tubercular testing of cows, it was stated yes terday by Inspector Kerr, in sub mitting the month’s report of tin eterinarians w'ho have been testing cows now for several months in the county. The report shows that out of 276 herds and 578 cow's tested only one has had tuberculosis. During the early days of the testing in the city many cases of tuberculosis wer 1 found, but the tubercular cattle ha -c been all weeded out as the veteri narians have gone along. All test- 1 ing in the city was finished s f netime ago INFLUENZA IS CHECKED; CLOSING ORDER REVOKED STATESVILLE, Dec. 16—Improve- I ment in the influenza situation was such here today that the Mayor res- ’ cinded the order igsued last week closing all places of public assembly. THE TURLINGTON CAMPAIGN NOW ON Committee Prepares Sketch Of Prof. Turlington Tell ing of His Work For some time a movement has been under way to honor fittingly the educational work of the late Prof. Ira T, Turlington, who for a quarter of a century devoted his energies to i the edutation of the youth of Johns j ton and surrounding counties. His school, Turlington Institute became known over Eastern North Carolina and many of his pupils in and out of the county are anxious to perpetuate in some suitable way. Last June a meeting was called in Smithfield. A number of interested former students responded, and a de cision was made to erect a life size bronze statue on the court house square. A sculptor was consulted and ^10,000 was the sum designated as the requirement to place this memorial, and Mr. W. H. Austin was made chairman of the committee to raise the funds. At a recent meet ing of the committee, it was deeid , ed to begin the drive at once and as a starter January 20 has been set apart in the schools to be known as “Turlington Day.” In view of the fact that the campaign is now on, , it seems proper to review the life of this man whose influence in Johns ton County will never cease. Ac cordingly the following sketch has been prepared: Ira Thomas Turlington was born in Elevation Township, Johnston County, North Carolina, August 28th, 1859. His faSheu, EH Turlington, was a leader in the social and edu cational life of the community. His i yhood days were spent on his fath er s farm, and his early education, ; whkh fitted him for the State Uni | vers;ty at Chapel Hill, was received at Pleasant Hill School near his ; home His father’s home was usually | the teacher’s home, and it bravely and | courageously performed its duty as | helper and loyal supporter of the ( school, where the foundation was laid which enabled him to build firm ly for the great and mighty work which he so successfully accomplish ed throughout his educational career, In 1879, while Dr Kemp P. Bat tle was president, he entered the State University at Chapel Hill, where he became loved and honor- J e;l by the faculty and student body At the University he was faithtul and studious and pursued his college course until his graduation in 1883. Soon after his graduation he took up his life work, that of teaching, at his old home school Pleasant Hill. The j next year, 1884, he became Super)n- | tendent of Schools of Johnston Coun- ■ a position he held continuously! until he gave it up in 1907. In 1886 Professor Turlington came to Smithfield, and, with Prof. John L. Davis, established the Smithfield Collegiate Institute. Within four years this school had outgrown its accommodations and Prof. Turlington realizing the necessity of providing better school facilities for those seek ing instruction at his hands, with limited means, but with undaunted courage and brave heart, undertook the erection of a new and more commodious building, which was com pleted in 1891, and became known as Turlington Institute. A military de partment was added to the school and the best teachers of the day were secured. Here, perhaps, Prof. Tur lington did his best work, preparing large numbers of boys and girls for college and for life. At one teim his school had a larger number of hoys at the University 'than any other preparatory school in the State. During all these years, while he was building up a strong school, he was also carrying on the work of County Superintendent of Schools. These combined duties were a constant tax upon his physical strength, but his love for the work in which he was engaged was so great that in their performance he had no mercy on his health, forgetting self when some school task loomed up before him, and due to overwork he had his first 1 reakdown in 1904. Recoveriig his health, in 1905 he again went at his task as teacher and school man as energetically as ever. For the next few years he did a prodigious amount of work for edu cation and temperance, making speeches for the prohibition cause in 1907 in nearly every section of (Turn to page four.) ' WILL ORGANIZE A MILITARY COMPA’Y St. Julien L. Springs Has Al ready Received Commis sion As Captain j For some time, some of the young , men of this city have been interest j ed in the organization of a military | company. A letter was received this week by Mr. St. Julien L. Springs an nouncing the fact that he has been made captain of the proposed com pany, and the work of organization will proceed as rapidly as possible. Ihe letter to Mr. Springs is as fol low's : j “Under the provisions of the Act j Congress approved June 3, 1913, j (as amended) the following appoint.* I ment is made in the North Carolina j National Guard subject to such ex , animations as may hereafter be pre ; scribed by the War Department: St. Julien L Springs—to be Cap I tain, Artillery. (aptain Springs is assigned to j command of Headquarters Detach i ment and Combat Train, 2nd Bat talion, 117th Field Artillery, N. C. 1 N. G., now being organized at j Smithfield, N. C. j By order of the Governor: J. VAN METTS The Adjutant General. ‘ About 100 men have already signi | tied a desire to become members of the proposed military company, and j as many as can successfully pass the j examination will now have the op ! portunity. Dr. Thel Hook has be • • appointed examining physician. | From 00 to 90 men between the ages , of 18 and 35 are required for th's ' unit. Contrary to the former custom I the members of the company will re ceive pay throughout the year in stead of the time spent in camp, j The amount which the company will receive will aggreiate $8,100. The members of the company will join for a period of three years, and each year for fifteen days, they will be ; required to go to Fort Bragg for spe I ejal training. Throughout the year | one hour per week will be spent in drilling. The company will be a part of the regular army to be called out in time of war, rioting or special emergencies. FARM CROP THIS YEAR SHOWS VALUE INCREASE WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—The na tion’s crops this year are worth $7, 572.890.000 based on their farm value r.s of December 1, the department' of agriculture announced today in its final crop report for the year. Their value is $1,842,978,000 more ! than last year’s crops, reflecting im provement in prices for farm prod ucts prevailing now as compared i with a year ago and increased pro- ; duction in some crops. This year’s J farm production is worth about the ! same as that of 1916 but is lower j than 1920 by about $1,500,000,000, ard j lower than any year since 1915, ex- j cept last year. It is only a little , more than half as much as the rec- ! ord-value year of 1919. Record production was made this year in rye, white potatoes, sweet po- j tatoes and hay. Other bumper crops ! this year were rice with the third 1 largest production, tobacco with the j fourth largest crop in history,, wheat1 with the fifth largest production and corn with its seventh largest croD. Cotton this year is the fourth most valuable crop of that staple ever grown, although a small crop in point of production. Corn, as usual, is the country’s most valuable crop, being worth this year $700,000,000 more tfhan fast year, with a total value of $1,900, 287.00 Cotton stands second with $1,.168,511,000, the lint being valued at $1,190,761,000, and the cotton seed $177,756,000. Haw is the third most valuable crop with a total of $1,331, 679,000. No other crop reached a billion dollars in value this year. Wheat was valued at $864,130,000, standing as fourth most valuable crop of the country. — Associated Press. Baptists Will Meet at Gastonia. The nex! meeting place of the Baptist State Convention will be Gas tonia. Rev. B. W. Spillman was re elected president of the convention and Rev. L. R. Pruett, of Chariot*, was chosen to preach the annual ser mon. SHEPPARDS SENT TO PENITENTIARY Elder Man Given 18 Years; His Son 21; Submitted to Second Degree ^ The December term of Superior j Court adjourned Saturday, the Shep pard murder trial being the last case disposed of. It was thought about the middle of last week that this trial would come up on Monday and a special vesire was issued for a 150 men to report on that day. How : ever, on Friday Martin Sheppard j an(l John Sheppard, through their I attorneys, S. S. Holt and W. S. O’B. , Robinson, of Goldsboro, tendered a plea of murder in the second degree ! which was accepted by the State | through Solicitor Siler. The case j was continued until Saturday morn ing when all the evidence was in troduced. I A brief review of the case will re call to the minds of the public the ! circumstances of the affair. Martin Sheppard, aged 60 years and his son, John Sheppard, aged 23 years of Wilders township, were indicted la3t August for first degree murder charged with the killing of ex-deputy i sheriff James O’neal. The evidence introduced brought out the fact that ' as O’neal was returning from Wen dell whore he had been to the to ! bacco market, he passed the store of Martin Sheppard. O’neal was stop ped by John Sheppard and they were engaged in conversation when the elder man sprang out of the store got a gun and fired at O’neal, hit ting him. As the mule ran off, John Sheppard fired at the dying form of O’neal with a pistol. There were eye witnesses to the tragedy who told the story in court. When the Judge had heard all the evidence, he pronounced a sentence of 18 years in the penitentiary for Martin Sheppard and 21 years for his son, John Sheppard. Thirty years is the maximum sentence which the Judge could give. During the trial it was brought out that Martin Sheppard has been in the “pen” be fore, having been charged with' kill ing a negro in South Carolina. Yes terday, he, together with his son turned his faced toward that insti tution again to begin service on the sentence imposed by the Judge. NO ACTION TAKEN BY FRANCE ON REPARATIONS PARIS, Dec. 16.—After listening to a statement from Premier Poir. care outlining the reparations situa tion and the prospect for agreement at the resumption of the A,,: Premiers’ Conference, the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon decided, by a vote of 289 to 253, to proceed with the order of the day. This practically means postponement of all interpellations on the govern ment’s foreign policy until after New Year’s. Not once did he mention the even tual occupation of the Ruhr, although he said the government’s plan call ed for the sending of engineers and customs officers “into the occupied legions of Germany and elsewhere," instead of soldiers. M. Poincare expressed confidence in the success of the forthcoming Premiers’ meeting, as well as oo tfmism that the peace signed at Lausanne would clear away the clouds in the Near East. Former Premier Briand declared himself in full accord with M. Poincare and moved his assistance. TEST PACKING PLANT IS BEING BUILT AT EDENTON EDENTON, Dec. 16.—A test pack ing plant is an assured fact for Eden ton, the building being very neat ly ready for occupancy; the ma chinery ordered and promised here January tenth, with a capacity of 3000 hogs yearly and an expert curer from the Smithfield district under contract. BOY ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS AND KILLS HIMSELF SALISBURY, Dec. 17— Carl Bost, 14-year-old son of Labon Bost, living between Barber and Woodleaf, Rowan county, accidentally shot himself with a shotgun Saturday, inflicting a fa tal wound. The boy was taken to a hospital in Statesville, where he died Sunday.—Greensboro News.