LUCAMA IS VISITED
BY BAD CYCLONE
Number Houses Are Blown
Down Causing Heavy
Property Damage.
The people who suffered in Sat
urday afternoon’s cyclone that start
ed ir the Southwest corner of Wil
son county near the Wayne county
line and went in a northerly direc
tion spending its force somewhere in
the head of Contentnea Creek are
this morning rapidy repairing their
homes.
The wind was of the cyclone or
twister variety, and was accompanied
by a heavy rain from a hlack cloud.
It struck the ground near the Bap
tist church in Lucama and damaged
property over an area of 200 yards
wide and a half mile long. It then
went in a northerly direction and
struck the earth again at Tommy
Lamm’s store about six miles from
Wilson. Here it destroyed property
covering an area of 200 yards wide
and a half mile long.
It then went in the direction of Mr.
Sells Smith’s place about a mile be
yond the Country Club.
In Lucarna where is vrst struck
the cyclone blew' down the tobacco
barns on the farm of Mr. McRae
Boyett causing about $500 damage.
It tore down a large pack house
on the farm of Mr. Ambrose Lucas
and damaged his property about $200.
It blew down some outhouses on the
farm of Mrs. Nellie Moore’s farm,
causing damage to the extent of $300.
At Tommy Lamm’s place where it
struck the earth the second time it
destroyed the dwelling of Mr. J. W.
Matthews, his outhouses, tobacco
barns, with damages amounting to
$2500.00.
It blew down Tommy Lamm’s
store all his out houses, tobacco barns
and a part of the roof of his dwell
ing house and porch and one tenant
house. His damage is estimated at
$2000.00.
The storm also on Mr. Connor
Lamm’s farm blew down several to
bacco barns.
Here it did several hundreds of
dollars in damage. It also broke the
leg of William Woodard’s wife wiio
lives on Mr. Lamm’s place.
The storm when last seen crossed
the Lucarna road, and the Smithleld
road which circles the mill pond, and
w^as about a half mile from the bridge,
and disappeared in the upper part of
the pond.
The storm struck a shed under
which a man driving a horse and
buggy had taken shelter. The shed
was blown down and the horse and
buggy with the man sitting in the
buggy were blowm about fifty yards.
Neither were injured.—Wilson Daily
Times.
TWO IMMENSE STILLS
FOUND NEAR WENDELL
Wendell, April 29.—Two of the
largest whiskey stills ever seen i
around here, were captured late Sat- 1
urday afternoon on the farm of E. \
G. Richardson, two ytailes east of 1
Wendell. Besides the two large 80- !
gallons stills captured, nine hundred
gallons of beer was captured from 1
14 sugar barrels. The raid was lead
by Julius Williams, chief of police of 1
Wendell, assisted by E. V. Andrews.
The tip was given to the chief of 1
police several days ago, and plans
were made to capture the stills and
operator. When the raid was made
the operators had just left the still as
indications showed. The still and !
beer was found in a tobacco barn, one
hundred yards from the Richardson
home. Beside the stills and beer, a
quantity of bottles, jugs and jars were
found on the place that had been used
in storing the whiskey. Warrants
have been issued for Mr. Richardson
and his son, Edgar, who lives on the j
place with his father. Mr. Richardson
and his son are prosperous farmers,
living on the main Raleigh-Wilson
highway, and are prominent in their
neighborhood.
The citizens of Wendell are proud
of the efficient work of Chief Wil
liams. He has always been on the ;
job when the scent of whiskey was
around. He is considered fearless
among the bootleggers.
Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Lore and little
daughter, have returned from a visit 1
to relatives at Concord.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN
SPEAKS IN RALEIGH
Great Commoner Offers
Faith in God as World’s
Greatest Need.
When William Jennings Bryan is
announced to speak 'n public there
is always an. audience f listen. The
Commoner as he is familiarly known
’ is Raleigh Frijay nig't under
the nus| . es of th > Raleigh Kiwanis
Club. Q it< a number of Smthtieal
citizens ■ nt to Raleigh Frid ’ even
ing to hear Mr. Bryan, and accord
ing to those who went, the audience
was not disappointed in his ad iress
on “America’s Greatest Needs.” I he
following account is taken from The
News and Observer:
Beginning with some pleasantries
about bis relations with North Caro
lina rnd Raleigh.
“I know of no place where they
have bwod me more or longer chan
in Rale’gh and North Carolina,” Mr.
Bryan declared and then referred to
Josephus Daniels and the presidency.
Discusses b ive Problems.
It was the beginning of an address
that for fervor and conviction will
rank well up with the best of those
he has delivered on the n:ne occa
sions of his former visits. Frequent
ly he v as interrupted by cheering
while his humor never failed to draw
its ripple of laughter.
Starting with taxation as the easi
est one of the world’s five greatest
problems to understand, he scored
the Republican record on the bonus
and referred to his own seventeen
ye.ar fight for an income tax.
“I had the pleasure of seeing men
vrho called me an anarchist for ad
vocating the payment of a two per
cent tax, walk up to the tax collec
tor and pay sixty-five,” he declared.
“It was a long time coming, but it
was worth waiting for.”
His own bonus pian, he explained
provides for the payment of the just
dues to the men who fought the
war by taxing the incomes of those
who got rich out of high profits.
The Harding administration, wTith
its seven million majority vote, and
its two-thirds Senate and House, had
more trouble with the revenue bill
than any other administration since
Washington, he said.
“I w^as looking for trouble, I was
expecting trouble,” he said, “but it
was worse than I expected. And
when anything gets worse in the Re
publican party than I expect, it’s bad
to say the least.”
He discussed the battle around the
retroactive clause and the reduction
of the surtax and the unique ex
perience of 95 Republicans joining
the Democratic party and holding the
surtax at 50 per cent in spite of the
Republican leadership.
Labor Problems Serious.
More serious even tnan tne ques
tion of taxation, is the labor problem,
Mr. Bryan declared, pointing to the
development of class consciousness
in this country, the rule of one class
in a European and the growth of
uneasiness in all other nations of
the continent. The United States has
this protection, he declared. No class
is strong enough to fasten itself up
on a country and force its govern
ment upon the remainder of the peo
ple.
“A recent decision of the United
States Supreme court,” he declared,
‘in my opinion, will do more to stir
up class consciousness than any other
thing I know. It was a decision de
nying the right of Congress to fix
a minimum wage for women workers.
“It wasn’t long,” he continued “be
fore the efect was manifested by
a man named Vauclain, president of
the Baldwin Locomotive Works, who
said workers working ten hours in his
plant in the day could work longer
if they wanted to, and workers work
ing fourteen hours at night could
work longer if they wanted to.
“You will search in vain before
you find a more cruel statement than
that,” was Bryan’s comment.
Law Enforcement An Issue
Becoming an issue for the first
time in the nation's history, law en
forcement, said the speaker, has
broken down the precedent of acqui
escence, ar.d now the three mile limit
is perfectly familiar to men who a
few years ago did not know it ex
•sted
He advocated the appointment of
dry officers to enforce dry laws and
more active efforts against the smug
(Continued on page 8)
Hood Brothers’ New Building on Corner of Third and
Market Streets.
-----
WELFARE BOARD WILL
INVESTIGATE PRISON
| Will Undertake Thorough Investiga
tion of System On Request
of Governor.
The State Board of Charities and
Public Welfare, upon the request of
Governor Morrison, will proceed as
soon as practicable with a thorough
investigation of the entire prison
system of the State and counties fil
ing a report with the Governor, ac
cording to the formal announcement
which followed the conference be
tween members of the Board and
Governor Morrison yesterday after
noon.
“You can say for me,” said the
Governor commenting on the action,
“that we’ve got the finest Welfare
Board in the South, barring none and
with that board we don’t need the
help of Mr. Dudding or anybody else
in handling our prison situation.”
Plans for the investigation will be
worked out at once. Mrs. Kate Burr
Johnson, Commissioner of Welfare,
stated after the meeting, and will be ;
submitted to a later meeting of the !
board. The method to be used in
the inquriy has not been determined,
but E. E. Dudding, president of the
Prisoners’ Relief Society, of Wash
ington, D. C., whose charges of cru
elty to prisoners started the agita- '
tion for a prison investigation, will
not be asked to come to the State. 1
Another thing is certain: There
will be no formal sitting of the
board or officials of the Welfare '
Department as an investigating body
with the examination of witnesses
unless the investigation, as it pro- j
gresses, shows the need o fit. In such
case, the board is amply provided
with authority to take such measures 1
as may be necessary.
“I requested the board,” said the
Governor to make a thorough in- 1
quiry to get down at the bottom of
the prison situation in the State I
an dto furnish me a report, giving '
all details together with names.
“If there are instances of cruelty
to prisoners in North Carolina,” he !
said, “I want to know. And I prom
ise to hire extra counsel and pay :
some more big fees if necessary to
put the men wrho are brutal to con
victs in prison where they ought to i
be.”—News & Observer.
FLORIDA TO ABOLISH
LEASING OF CONVICTS
i ALLAHASSEE, Fla. April 27
It wa sconvict day in the Florida
legislature today, virtually every
piece of business relating to them
and all of it was brought on or
at least given impetus by the ex
cursions to Florida more than 15
months ago of Martin Tabert, a
North Dakota boy who met death
in a private camp.
The house passed in amended
form the senate bill that, when
its final passage is effected, will
mean the end of leasing convicts
to private firms or individuals in
the state.
GOLDSBORO GETS
W. M. CONFERENCE
Is Next Meeting Place of Methodist
Women's Missionary
Conference.
HENDERSON, April 27.—Golds
boro won yesterday in the contest for
the next meeting place of the Wom
an’s Missionary Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
North .Carolina Conference in session
here. Stirring invitations were pre
sented also by Greenville, Wilmington
and New Bern.
’"he afternoon session was filled
with reports on various projects of
the conference. Mrs. F. B. Mc
Kinne, Louisburg, read the treas
urer’s report which she characterized
as representing a great work accom
plished the past year, placing the
North Carolina woman’s conference
third in all Southern Methodism.
The conference voted to donate
$25,000 in the next three years to
The Belle H. Bennett Memorial
school, following appeals by Mrs. J.
H. McCoy and Miss Elizabeth Lamb.
At the suggestiin of Mrs. N. H. D.
Wilson, the conference agreed to col
lect a large quantity of supplies for
the Virginia School in Huchow,
China, to be taken by Miss Sallie
Lou McKinnon, of Laurinburg, who
has served seven years at that insti
tution and who is now on furlough
and attending the conference and
who will shortly return to Huchow
for another period of seven years.
With not a Henderson lady in the
church this afternoon, the confer
ence took a collection of $75 to be
given the local missionary society
toward the new $150,000 church now
getting under way in Henderson. It
was a mark of appreciation. Tonight
a pageant is being given by the Hen
derson societies in honor of the con
ference.
WOMEN’S CLUBS VOTE
TO BOYCOTT SUGAR
BALTIMORE, Md., April 2G.—“No
icings on cakes” is the slogan of
Maryland women as declared today
in the boycott of sugar and sweets
except for necessities, vote by the
State Federation of Women’s Clubs,
representing a membership of 15,000
women. The boycott is to continue
until sugar prices come down to
normal.
Th eresolution failed of being
unanimous by only three votes. Mrs.
Edward C. Wilson thought the club
women could accomplish their pur
pose in some other way by “bringing
pressure to bear upon the Legisla
ture.”
Mrs. Thomas G. Winter, President
of the General Federation of Wo
men’s Clubs, believed in giving the
Government a chance to do what it
could to remedy the situation.
Mrs. Brown who named the slogan
also urges a rigid “no candy” diet.
Mr. W. D. Avera returned Saturday
from Winston Salem, where he spent i
a few days with his son, Mr. John '
Avera.
HOOD BROS. HOUSE
WARMING IS SUCCESS
The Hood Family Has Been
In The Drug Business For
Half a Century.
The “house warming” given by :
Hood Bros, here last Friday marks ,
the culmination of a dream of one j
of the most successful business en- !
terprises of Johnston County, and >
the fact that between two and three j
thousand visitors called at that drug j
store on their opening day is evidence
enough that the proprietors have .
numeorus well wishers for continued
success.
For fifty years the Hood family has
conducted a drug business in Smith
field. In 1871 Mr. J. C. Hood, father
of Mr. T. R. Hood moved to Smith- j
field from Bentonsville township.
Two years later he together with !
Dr. L. E. Turkman, a young physician
of the town, bought out the stock of
drugs owned by Dr. Telfair. It was l
customary in those days for physi
cians to carry a stock of drugs be-j
cause the business of mixing medi
cines by pharmacists was not develop
ed sufficiently for drug stores to be
numerous. This stock of goods which
included a pair of scales now in use
by the present proprietors, probably
caused the investors to expend as
much as $250.00 and perhaps included
as many as 500 items—an amazing
contrast to the present stock which
represents an expenditure of certain
ly between twelve and fifteen thou
sand dollars with a total of not less
than fifty thousand items. The first
stock of goods was housed in a wood
en building about sixteen by twenty
four feet located on the spot where
the building known as the “Grice
house” now stands. The present
handsome new structure, three stories
high with underground basement, is
built or red pressed brick, with sand
stone trimmings; a plate glass front
furnishes plenty of light; a tiled floor,
new mahogany finished furniture and
a handsome soda fountain makes a
most attractive interior for the drug
store quarters; and the two upper
stories form ideal quarters for offi
ces of any kind. The older citizens
are able to appreciate the progress
which has been made in the business.
However, this jump in improvement
was not made all at once. In 1878
Mr. T. R. Hood having come of age,
was taken into his father’s business
who in the meantime had purchased
the interest of Hr. Kirkman. Later
another son, Mr. John E. Hood, pur
chased an interest and the firm was
known as Hood Brothers. By the time
of the fire which destroyed most of
the business section of Smithfield,
Hood Brothers was ocupying a brick
building on the present site of Mr.
F. H. Brooks’ office. Mr. T. R. Hood
and another brother, B. R. Hood own
ed at the same time a business locat
ed on the corner of Third and Mark
et streets, where the new structure
now stands. This building was de
stroyed by the great fire. Changes oc
cured as the result of the conflagra
tion and when the buildings were re
built, Messrs. B. R. and T. R. Hood
were located in the corner building
and Mr. J. E. Hood went to Kinston
where he established a drug business
of his own.
Finally Mr. T. R. Hood bought the
entire business here, but continued
to use the firm name Hood Bros. In
1911 Mr. Hood sold his son, Hal C.
Hood an interest. In January 1,
1923, the firm became in reality again
Hood Bros, when Mr. Will D. Hood,
the older son of Mr. T. R. Hood,
bought the other part of the business,
Mr. T. R. Hood retiring to devote
his time to his duties as president of
the First and Citizens National Bank.
Messrs. W. D. and H. C. Hood are
both registered druggists. They re
ceived their education at Turlington
Institute of this city, at Trinity Col
lege, and later took a course at .the
State University. They have a price
less heritage in the good name and
good will of their father who through
honest dealings and untiring efforts,
built up one of the most substantial
business enterprises of the county.
Not to know “Tom Hood” is to mark
one a stranger in Johnston County.
Hood Brothers have most brilliant
prospects for continued success and
they have the good wishes of a host
of patrons.
It was somewhat to show their ap
preciation of the patronage which has
been accorded them that a formal
opening day was set apart. On that
(Continued on page 6)
OLD TIME FIDDLERS
CONVENTION ENJOYED
Full House and Plenty of
Music; Liberal Cash
Prizes Awarded.
Something unusual and unique a
mong feature of entertainment was in
Smithfield last Friday night. It was
“Ye Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention.”
The event had been promoted by Mr.
Simon Honeycutt, of Benson, who had
well advertised its coming. Liberal
cash prizes for the participants and a
chance for the spectators to hear
again the sweet tones of the old fiddle
in the hands of the old fiddler in the
old-fashioned way were enough to
fill the opera house full, and melody
that night from 8:30 to 11:00 sat in
the saddle in the Smithfield opera
house.
Those participating in the fiddlers’
contest were Messrs. W. P. Butler, of
Dunn; D. H. Stephenson, of Wilson’s
Mills; L. D. Jackson, of Dunn; Vestal
Jones, of Newton Grove; I. G. Jack
son, of Dunn; Claude Westbrook of
Newton Grove; and C. R. Pittman,
of Smithveld. “Each lddler had a
fiddle, and a very fine fiddle had
he,” and a very fine sportsman was
he as well. No attempt at high art
violin playing was made. This was
a fiddlers’ convention in which each
one played after his own fashion and
the skill and technique of the real
artist were in every piece. Every
thing was played: jigs, polkas, horn
pipes, cake walks, waltzes, marches,
fox trots, and blues. Banjo, guitar,
and piano accompaniment were em
ployed.
Mr. W. P. Butler, accompanied by
Mr. I. C. Jackson with guitar, opened
the ball with “The National Emblem
March,” which was enough to pul
the audience in the right afrme of
mind to enjoy all that followed. This
piece was followed by a sort of bird
song-like selection played by Mr.
Claude Westbrook with piano accotn
painment by his sister, Mrs. Vestal
Jones. Each selection received hearty
cheers and applause but the first en
core came when Mr. L. D. Jackson
came to the front with “Chocolate
Drops.” Mr. W. P. Butler put on the
only stunt of the occasion, using as
his selection, “Hop Goes the Weasel,”
and which he began by placing the
bow between his toes and so moving
both how and fiddle during the play«
ing that the instrument literally
crawled all over him. Mr. C. R. Pitt
man got a big volley of applause
when he came forth with an old fa
vorite, “The Smithfield Breakdown.”
The judges of the contest were
Messrs. J. D. Stephenson, Milton
Coats, Johnny Hobbs, J. P. Parker,
and J. W. Perkins. Each contestant
was entitled to four selections, and
the soul of the fiddler went into the
very last one of those twenty-eight
pieces. Sampson County, far-famed
for its pretty girls and “Big Blues,”
had another star added to its crown
that night. It was Claude Westbrow
with a little piece he called “The Fa
vorite Hornpipe” that took the belt
off I. G. Jackson, Harnett’s best fid
dler and veteran champion of many
a state fiddlers’ convention. Sampson
now leads the State in fiddling—a
Johnston verdict says so. The win
ner of the second prize was W. P.
Butler and the winner of the third
prize was Vestal Jones.
Following the fiddlers’ contest
was the guitar and banjo pickers’
contest and the clog dancers’ contest.
The first prize in the guitar contest
went to W. P. Butler and Mie first
banjo-pickers prize went to C. R.
Pittman. Percy Pittman, the eleven
year-old son of Mr. C. R. Pittman,
was declared the winner in the clog
dancers’ contest.
STOCK GOODS OF WARD
EARP COMPANY SOLD
The stock of goods here belonging
to The Ward-Earp Co who operated
stores at Selma and Wendell, was
sold at auction yesterday bringing
$3,250. The purchaser was M. Nel
son of Norfolk, Va. The stock was
said to have inventoried about $15,
000. This firm went into bankruptcy
sometime ago, Mr. W. H. Poole, Jr.,
of Selma having been appointed re
ceiver, and the sale was in accordance
with bankruptcy proceedings. Sales
were also conducted yesterday at Sel
ma and Wendell.
Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Honeycutt, of
Benson, visited relatives here yester
day.