FARM CONDITIONS
REPORTED GOOD
Planting is Progressing; N.
C. May Have More Cotton
Than First Thought
The crop reporting service of
North Carolina through its statistic
ian Frank Parker, has compiled “cer
tain facts concerning farm work in
the state which will doubtless bo i f
interest to our farmer readers. The
report is as follows:
With the weather so pleasant and
favorable for farm work, planting of
crops is now progressing nicely al
though the season is late. Grass
es, clovers and grains are growing
nicely.
The stir over the report of expect
ed crop acreage has resulted in an
investigation concerning cotton,
which seems to show that North Caro
lina may have more than was esti
mated. This state showed the low
est increase (2 per cent) of any other
cotton state. The fine facilities es
tablished for arriving at reasonable
estimates is partially accountable for
this. Also the knowledge of condi
tions has deterred the large increase
in cotton and tobacco shown in other
states.
The annual farm census will be list
ed this month through the tax-listers
and judging from the present interest
it will be well developed. Each farm
owner should prepare a list of his
own and tenants acreages before visit
ing the lister. This is not taxable
information, but for farmer’s bene
fits.
Watauga County reports that they
have 150 acres of certified Irish Cob
blers this year for seed potatoes. The
whole mountain area is peculiarly
suited for this purpose, as tests have
shown these seed to be equal to any
Main potatoes. The prospects for
the early or truck potato crop in
eastern counties are good.
The fruit situation shows That'the
apple crop has a good prospect while
peaches will have about one-fourth
crop in the Sandhills area and more or
less in other sections. Wayne has
good prospects as has Surry and Co
lumbus, and parts of Wake.
The Hay acreage seems to be
somewhat reduced from a year ago
although less than one-fifth of last
year’s crop is now remaining on the
farms. The spring plowing is about
four-fifths done and two-thirds of the
work of spring planting is done.
All livestock is in good condition,
having experienced no epidemics or
shortage of feed during the winter
The rate of deaths is from two to
five per cent annually from disease.
The new building for the Depart
ment of Agriculture at Raleigh is
very imposing and even before com
pletion the 3rd and 4th, floors arc
being occupied by the divisions who
have been cramped in the museum
halls.
Plans for the State Farmers’ Con
vention at the State College in July
are getting big results. The Crop
Reporting Association holds its an
nual meeting then. The state farm
census work will by that time show
up remarkably well.
MULATTO WOMAN
BEAT BY 4 WHITE MEN
KINSTON, May 6.--The sheriffs of
Lenoir and Greene counties today
took seriously the story of Mary Hag
en, 52, a mulatto that four masked
men had hauled her from Greene in
to Lenoir in an automobile, severely
beating her and left her bruised and
bleeding on a road. She stumbled in
to the home of a negro family short
ly before daybreak. Investigation by
authorities revealed that the woman
had made remarks reflecting upon the
reputations of certain white persons
near Snow Hill.
Evidence in the hands of the Lenoir
sheriff may result in two arrests. The
woman declared that three of the men
criminally assaulted her. The fourth,
she said, interceded to save her life.
The woman is being detained here for
further investigation and medical ex
amination. The men were white, she
said.
Hospital Returns Thanks.
The management of the Smithfielc
Memorial Hospital wishes to return
thanks to the Missionary Society oi
the M. E. Church -for their recent lib
eral donation of useful linen. Suck
gifts are always appreciated.
MYSTERY OF DEATH OF
YOUNG MOUNT DEEP’NS
Testimony At Inquiry Into Death
Of Student Indicates He Killed
Himself
Chicago, May 4.—The mystery of
the death of Leighton Mount, Noi-th
western University student whose
skeleton was found beneath a pier
near the lake at Evanston Monday,
was deepened today by questioning
at the state’s attorney’s office of more
than 100 under graduates.
After insisting for days that Mount
who disappeared in September 1921
after taking part in a class rush
had met death as a result of hazing
and that his body had been hidden by
fellow students, officials tonight said
the theory that he committed soicide
“does not now seem to be so improb
able as it did at first.”
That a number of times during* the
summer of 1921 Mount had told her
he was dissatisfied with conditions in
life and had a “good notion to do
away with himself” was the testimony
of Miss Doris Fuch’s a friend of the
dead student. The girl testified
Mount had told her the night he dis
appeared that the class rush with its
attending excitement might give him
an opportunity to “do away with
himself.”
“That night he sent me a note in '
which he warned me to keep ‘as quiet
as a snake’” she said.
Mrs. J. L. Mount, mother of the
1 dead youth, said Miss Fuchs had told
her these conversations with her son
at the time of his disappearance but
added that in her worry she probably
did not give the words a great deal
of attention.
A new angle was uncovered when
! evidence was found that there was no
hole in the planking of the pier where
the skeleton was found until three
months after the student’s disap
pearance. O. L. Olson, the contrac
tor who-built the—pier, said be had
inspected it in December, 1921, and
at that time there was no hole
through which a body could have been
I dragged to concealment.
Similar testimony was given by a
life guard at a nearby beach.
John Tomilson, son of an Evanston
banker and believed to have been one
of the last persons to have Ifeen
Mount alive, testified he knew Mount
well, was with him the night of the I
class rush but did not se him hazed, i
He said he had left Mount after the j
rush was over about 3 a. m. that i
morning.
A search was ordered for J. Allen j
Mills, former student at the Univer- ]
sity and now said to be some where
i in the west. Mills was one of the
j leaders in the rush, it was said.—
! Greensboro News.
! CHAMPION MARATHON
| DANCER IN HOSPITAL
| WILMINGTON, May 6.—J. P. Lew
j is, winner of the marathon dancing
contest that was stopped by the chief
of police on instructions from Mayor
James H. Cowan, Saturday midnight,
is now undergoing treatment in James
Walker Memorial Hospital.
His condition is not regarded as
being serious, it was stated at the
(hospital tonight, as it was reported
at the institution that “Mr. Lewis
| walked in and he is able to walk out
| any time she wants to” and Thomas
| Shepherd, manager of the pavilion,
awarded him 25 per cent of the gate
I receipts, or approximately $170.
! Lewis is now champion marathon
i dancer of North Carolina.
NEGRO SHOT TO DEATH
IN WILSON COUNTY
WILSON, May 6.—Walter Bethea,
a negro, who shot and killed Peter
Fields, another negro, at a barbecue
, and “festibule” at Scott’s church, a
, few miles from here, was arrested this
i afternoon at Rocky Mount by Lloyd
j Lucas, of the Wilson police force, and
j his brother, Ernest Lucas. Bethea
j when arrested is said to have admit
I ted the killing. Bethea’s father and
mother and another negro witnessed
the shooting and are being held as
material witnesses.
Workers of the State College and
State Department of Agricuture find
that good purebred sows have larger
litters, which grow rapidly into pork
use less feed per pound and gain
more in doing so.
MR. VINSON LEAVES
A LARGE ESTATE
_ i
Donates $5,000 For Hospital
To Be Built as Memorial |
To His Mother
Because of the large holdings of the
late Arch Vinson of Clayton whose !
estate has been estimated at between
a million and a million and a half
dollars, and because of certain do
nations or certain welfare, we are
publishing herewith the last will and
testament of the deceased, which has
been recorded in the office of the
clerk of the court in this city.
Life being uncertain, this is my
last will and testament:
First—I want all my just and hon
est debts paid.
Second.—I want a good, decent
burial.
Third.—I have twenty-five hundred
dollars to be loaned out at interest,
the interest on same to be used for
the maintanance of the family ceme
tery each and every year.
Fourth.—I give to Walter P.
Creech, a tract of land known as a
part of the W. J. Smith tract and j
further known as the Ed Exurn tract, '
containing fifty-four acres and situ- •
ated on the South side of the road. '
Also another tract containing about
46 acres known as a part of the Ward \
land bought of N. E. Ward. Also j
another tract containing 24 acres 1
right in the forks of the road right
at the Iron Bridge. All three of I
these tracts of land are right in the
forks of the road and around it right
near the Iron Bridge going to W. J.
Smith place. Also one of the tracts
known as the John O’Neil tract of
land adjoining Millars Sasser, Neuse
River and Luther Edgcrton tract,
less 30 acres on the upper end of
this tract given to Ranee Davis and
his wife their life time and 50 acres
next to Ranee Davis 30 acres for C.
R. Talton and Joe Mullen and their
wives mentioned below. Said Walter
P. Creech is to have and to hold these
four tracts of land as long as he and
his wife shall live at their death the
land shall come back to my bodily
heirs.
Fifth.—I give to C. R. Talton and
Joe Mullen and their wives to be
divided equally between them a piece
of land known as the Luther Edger
ton tract containing 100 acres, and
50 acres of the John O’Neil tract
(the 100 acres and 50 acres) they
are to have and to hold as long as
they shall live, and at their death to
come back to my bodily heirs.
Sixth.—I give to Ranee Davis and
his wife a piece of land 30 acres ly
ing on the upper end of the John
O’Neil tract above refei*red to, to have
and hold as long as they shall live,
and at their death to come back to
my bodily heirs. Each, W. P. Creech,
C. R. Talton and Joe Mullen, and
Ranee Davis is to pay the taxes on
the said lands mentioned after they
get possession, so long as they shall
live, and hold same.
Seventh.—I have a cousin at Dur
ham, N. C.—Mary Ferrell—I give to
her One Thousand ($1,000.) Dollars.
1 also give une nunarea uuna^ w
Etta V. Johnson Ipock.
Eighth.—I give to the Clayton Bap
tist church, Clayton, N. C., Two
Thousand ($2,000.) Dollars to be
loaned out at interest and interest
on same to be used each year to help
pay the pastor’s salary.
Ninth.—I wish also to make some
provision for a hospital for Clayton
and I give Five Thousand Dollars
to be kept for this purpose and if they
want to build a hospital in or near
Clayton, N. C., I wish same built as
a memorial to my mother and named
for her, Mary Elizabeth Vinson and
this fund Five Thousand Dollars, to
be used for this purpose.
Tenth.—I give Two Thousand Dol
lars for the benefit of the needy peo
ple of Clayton Township, said Two
Thousand Dollars to be loaned out at
interest and the interest from same
to be used for this purpose. This
money is to be handled by three dis
interested men appointed by the Ex
ecutor of my will.
Eleventh.—All the rest of my real
estate and personal property of every
kind and description, I give to the
following:
J. Tom Vinson—one half—and the
other one-half equally divided be
tween Bosa Duncan—one third—Mar
celine E. Cox—one third—Thelma
Johnson—One third—but from Thel
ma Johnson’s part deduct ($21,000)
Twenty-one Thousand Dollars, said
$21,000 to go to J. Tom Vinson, Rosa
REVIVAL MEETING
GAINS IN INTEREST
Numbers in Attendance and
Interest Growing; Will
Close Friday Night
The series of meetings which have
been in progress here for the last
week are staedily gaining interest.
The morning services which are held
in the Presbyterian church are well
attended. Rev. Sam K. Phillips, of
Fayetteville, who is doing the preach
ing, is delivering splendid sermons
and is greeted by a large crowd every
night.
One of the outstanding sermons
which Mr. Phillips has preached was
the one full of inspiration and en
couragement delivered Sunday morn
ing at the Methodist church from
Deuteronomy 32:11, 12: “As an eagle
stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her
wings, taketh them, beareth them on
her wings: so the Lord alone did lead
him, and there was no strange God
with him.” From this beautiful pas
sage of Scripture, Mr. Phillips told of
how God led Moses, trained him, and
changed him from a man of slow
speech, and a man who was afraid
to undertake leadership, to the strong,
eloquent leader of Israel. He told of
how tenderly God led Moses, and
thrilled his he'arers with the story
of how the mother eagle teaches her
yqung to fly. His picture of the
mother eagle first coaxing and per
suading again and again, then resort
ing to the stern method of tearing the
nest away if they still refuse to at
tempt the flight; of how the mother
will then fly with them, over them
under them, and finally bear them
up on her own wings if they begin
to fall, was most effective. With
this beautiful illustration, he showed
how Moses was helped and strength
ened by God at every critical period
ija his life.
Large crowds attended church Sun
day night and his sermon upon the
conversion of Paul held the rapt at
tention of the congregation to the
close of the service. Special music
was rendered by Messrs. W. C. Coats,
; Paul Eason, Dr. A. H. Rose and Rev.
1 Phillips.
I Much interest has been manifested
j in the meeting The services will con
1 tinue through Friday night.
Rev. J. A. Russell, of Four Oaks,
was in town Saturday.
Duncan and Mareeline E. Cox. In
case of Rosa Duncan’s death before
her daughter Lillian Duncan dies,
(who is now crazy in the Asylum) the
Executor to my will must look after
her and help with some of the funds
left for Rosa Duncan that she might
enjoy the benefits from same. The
Executor is to handle this as he sees
fit. I give Thelma Johnson, daugh
ter of Etta V. Johnson Ipock, the
aforesaid interest in my estate but
with the understanding that she (Thel
ma Johnson) is to give her mother a
home and a living out of this por
tion of my estate as long as she lives
in case she needs it. Thelma John
son referred to on page 2, is the same
as referred to on this page (daugh
ter of Etta V. Johnson Ipock). In or
der that no mistake, may be made,
I repeat that I wish J. Tom Vinson
to receive one half of all the real
estate and personal property covered
by this Eleventh paragraph and the
other one half equally divided be
tween Rosa Duncan, Mareeline E.
Cox and Thelma Johnson (daughter
of Etta V. Johnson Ipock) as before
mentioned. All of my real estate
and personal property referred to in
this Eleventh paragraph of this my
last will and testament, is to remain
together for five years unless it is
deemed best to sell certain lands or
porperty and I do hereby appoint J.
R. Williams, Attorney, B. M. Rob
ertson, Charles W. Horne as advisory
committee with whom J. T. Vinson
is to consult for advice and they
agreeing before any sale can be
made during the five years. Only
the income from said property to be
distributed each year to the heirs
mentioned and in proportion to then
interest in my estate above mention
ed. I do hereby appoint J. Tom Vin
son as Executor to this my last will
and testament, (without bond).
J. A. VINSON.
Witness my hand and seal this the
26th day of April, 1923.
J. A. Vinson (Seal)
Witness: G. Thurman Smith.
Witness: B. M. Robertson.
ASHEVILLE GETS
TRAINING SCHOOL
Plans Made To Remove Veterans’
Bureau Vocational School
From Wayneeville.
ASHEVILLE, May 4.—Removal of
the Veterans’ Bureau training school
from Waynesville and its re-location
in Asheville in a new plant has been
recommended by officials of the Uni
ted States Veterans' Bureau, Fifth
District, after exhaustive study of
the facilities offered by both the old
and the new location. If the recom
mendation receives the approval of
Washington authorities, the change
will be made July 1.
This information became known to- j
day upon the conclusion of a joint j
conference here of the government i
representatives with citizens and of- ■
ficials of Waynesville and of the 1
Asheville Chamber of Commerce.
Fred Kent, pron.inent business
man of Asheville, has agreed to con
struct immediately upon his summer
home property in West Asheville a !
modern school plant, capable of ac- :
commodating between 350 and 400 ,
pupils and instructors, together with
conversion of the ten-room residence
into an administration building. The
plant, it is understood, will repre
sent an outlay of around $60,000. As
i soon as the recommendation receives
the approval of Director Frank
Hines, immediate construction of the
two modern schodl buildings will be
started by Mr. Kent, with completion
scheduled within 60 days.
Enlargement of the training school
from its present capacity of about
200 trainees to between 300 and 350
is planned upon the removal to the
new site, and the addition of a num
ber of vocational courses will like
wise be made. From the present
teaching staff of 25 an increase will
be made to 35 or more, if the re
moval to Asheville is carried out as
every indication now points.
WAKE FOREST LAD
DROWNED IN POND
Wake Forest, May 7.—Curtis Fow
ley, 13, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. J.
Fowley, was drowned in Holden’s
pond near here while swimming this
afternoon. Heroic efforts at resuci
tation by physicians and college
students proved futile, and the boy
was pronounced dead, although he
was in the water less than ten min
utes. The boy was the oldest child
of his parents.
The boy, with several others, had
climbed the enclosure around the
pond, and had gone into the water.
He was not a good swimmer, but his
distress cries when he got into deep
water were not taken seriously by
a group of older boys sitting on the
bank nearby. His younger com
panions were alarmed and called to
several college students passing near
by. They immediately went to his
rescue, but he had disappeared. Ten
minutes later his body was found at
the bottom of the pond and brought
to the surface. Hastily summoned
medical help was without avail.
MELLON SAYS JUNE SEE
TREASURY SURPLUS
Washington, May 6.—Bringing to
an end the first phase of re-financ
ing the government’s great war
time debt, the Treasury tonight an
nounced a new offering of $400,000
| 000 in Treasury notes to complete
j the refunding and retiring of the Vic
i tory notes which when issued aggre
gated more than four billion dollars.
The new issue will bear four and
three-quarters per cent interest and
will mature March 15, 1927.
Secretary Mellon, at the same time
i isued a statement on the governments
I fiscal situation in which he declared
| the Treasury’s refunding operations
j had worked out so successfully that
all of the short-dated debt might bo
retired gradually from surplus reve
ues of the government prior to 1928
and without embarrassment to the
heavy refinancing necessary in con
nection with maturity that year of
the third Liberty loan.
The bravest battle that ever was
fought;
Shall I tell yoif where and when?
On the maps of the world you will
find it not;
It was fought by the mothers of
men.—Joaquin Miller.
CHINESE BANDITS
TAKE AMERICAN
Miss Aldrich of New York is
Among 150 Passengers
Taken From Train
Pekins, May 6.—Bandits killed one
foreigner and carried off 150 passen
gers in a raid near the Shantung bor
der on the Tien Sien Pukow railway
today. Miss Aldrich, of New York,
sister-in-law of John D. Rockfeller,
Jr., and daughter of former United
States Senator Nelson W. Aldrich,
was among the passengers, but her
fate is unknown.
Foreigner A Russian
The foreigner killed is believed to
be a Russian. The minister of Com
munication late today telegraphed
General Tesao Kun and the civil mili
tary governors of Shantung, asking
that troops be sent to surround the
bandits.
The express train was northbound
from Soochow when attacked by the
bandits, who disarmed soldiers esti
mated at 1,000 strong and tore up a
stretch of the railroad track. Fifty
first class and 100 second class pas
sengers were carried off, it was re
ported here. Six foreigners escaped.
Waits For Report
Washington, May 6.—Pending an
official report from diplomatic or
consular agents in China regarding
the bandit raid on a train near the
Shantung border today, the state de
partment is reserving comment. Of
[ ficials expect, however, to hear, prob
I ably tomorrow, from Minister Schur
| man at Peking.
| On the report made by the Amer
| ican minister, the department will
! base its action with regard to the
| affair, probably sending him instruc
! tions to make representations to the
those made in connection with the
Peking government as strong as
death at the hands of Chinese sen
tries of Charles Coltman, an Amer
ican merchant. The Chinese govera
ftient recently- among ~ott»lLw.
things, to have an idemnity paid
Coltman’s heirs, to have the offend
ing troops and their officers pun
ished, and to obtain an apology from
the province in which the American
was killed.—Associated Press.
ORPHANAGE BARN IS
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Thomasville, May 4.—The Baptist
orphanage horse barn was destroyed
by fire this morning between eight
and nine o’clock. The orphanage driv
ing pony was burned, it being the
only animal in the barn at the time,
all the others having been removed
and in use on the farm when the fire
occured. The origin of the fire was
thought to have been due to a defec
: tive wire at some point inside, as no
other cause could be assigned.
The loss is estimated by Treasurer
Hamrick to be at least $3,000, with
j only $275 worth of insurance. The
I discovery of the fire was made by a
j little boy on his way to the barn
! to get the pony out, intending to hitch
it to the buggy.
No other building was damaged,
the cow barn and other buildings
in connection being a safe distance
1 away.
The city fire company, with the
fire engine and attending apparatus,
soon arrived on the scene, but the
house was too far gone to save any
pait of it.
The barn was well filled with much
valuable hay, alfalfa and other kincs.
most of which had been held in re
serve for the stock through the
heavy work season, all of which was
! of course a total loss.
j ---
LIFE RESTORED BUT
DEATH WINS AT LAST
DALLAS, Texas, May 6.—The
i infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
S Jack Ginn, seemingly dead at
' birth, its latest life vivified by an
, injection of adrelin hydrocholin
by physicians at Baylor hospital
Friday night, yielded finally in
the struggle for existence dying
early today. Continued efforts to
prolong its life were futile, use of
the heart reagent, resorted to by
Dr. Warren B. Massey, of the
Baylor hospital staff, at the di
rection of Dr. J. B. Smoot, the at
tending physician, was at first
thought to have aided the child
suflkiently to give it a chance to
j live.