VOLUME 42
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1923
NUMBER 64
PLANS FOR SERVICE
TO GIVE THANKS
Planning for a Musical Pro
gram as Well as Speak
er for the Occasion.
The Program Committee appoint
ed at the meeting fo the C
of the Thanksgiving Service, which
met at the Court House on Monday,
August 6, sketched out a tentative
program, but left the matter of set
tling the program until the Music
Committee, headed by Mrs. Charles
G. Gulley could arrange the musical
part of the program. A letter from
Mrs. Gulley states that they are or
ganizing a meeting of the singers of
the county which is to be held at the
Methodist Church at Smithfield, on
Sunday afternoon, August 19, at 3
p. m. Therefore the completed pro
gram cannot be made
date. The chairman is calling on the
program committee to meet in Smith
field on Sunday, August 2bth, 1923,
at 3 p. m. for the purpose of com
pleting the program, and giving it to
the county papers, so thta they may
publihs the same during that week.
From all over the county goes up
Thanksgiving to Almighty God for
the bountiful crops which we are now
enjoying, from the deliverance of
the county from cyclones or storms,
deliverance from any great curse or
scourge and the people are unanimous
in the desire to come to the county
seat on September 3rd, at 11 o’clock,
to show in a concrete way this feel
ing of Thanksgiving that they hold.
It is expected that there will be 10,
000 citizens of Johnston County, yea
there should be even more, who will
come here on that day for the purpose
of rendering Thanks to the Maker and
Preserver.
The Chairman has been disappoint
ed in not getting Rev. John E. White,
but he received a telegram Wednes
day stating that prior engagements
on that day prevented him from ac
cepting the invitation. Another great
speaker of note will be secured, how
ever, and those who are planning to
come will not be disappointed in hear
ing a great speech. The music will
be especially good and all together
the people of the county will feel
greatly repaid for their taking off
one day, to say nothing of the serv
ice that they will render in ac
knowledging the Graciousness of
God in dealing with Johnston County
and its people. Begin now to make
your arrangements to take off Mon
day, September 3rd, and come to
Smithfield. Let every Preacher and
Sunday School Superintendent, urge
their congregations to be in Smith
field on this day, and let every one
constitute himself a committee of one
to take up this meeting, and urge
the people to recognize the Giver of
these Great Gifts by participating in
this Thanksgiving Service.
The Chairman of the Music Com
mittee has extended an invitation,
through Mr. J. M. Beasley, President
of the Johnston County Singing
Union, for all singing classes of the
country to be here on that day. We
want to have a song and praise serv
ice, and we know that every one will
enjoy this part of the program.
F. H. BROOKS, Chairman.
NEW CLOTHING STORE
OPENED IN SMITHFIELD
As will be seen trom an advertise
ment elsewhere in this issue, a new
clothing store has been opened up in
Smithfield, the proprietors being
Messrs. R. S. Smith and John A.
Coats. The firm, which will be known
as R. S. Smith & Co., is occupying
the store on Third street formerly
occupied by the Ward Earp Co., this
building having been recently repair
ed and painted. A complte line of
men and boys clothing and shoes will
be carried. Mr. Coates knows the
clothing busingss well having been
with the Davis Stores for the past
seven or eight years, and having
worked in a clothing store practically
all of his life before that. Mr. Smith
has conducted a tailoring business
here for a number of years and this
feature of the business will be con
tinued.
The WTeatber: Somewhat Unsettled
today; Local Thundershowers Prob
able.
I
CARS DO NOT HAVE TO
STOP ON MARKET STREET
At the last meeting of the
Board of Commissioners of the
City of Smithfield, N. C., in
regular session assembled, the
ordinance prohibiting the pass
ing at the intersection of Mar
ket and Third Street without
stopping at said intersection,
has been by action of the afore
said board repealed, now in the
future automobilists and other
vehiclular conveyances will not
be required to stop on Market
Street either going north or go
ing west.
__This August 10th, 1923.
JOHN A. NARRON.
By the Mayor.
W. L. FULLER, City Clerk.
ISLAM HOLLAND RUN
OVER BY OIL TRUCK
Escapes Death By a Miracle and Is
Now at Home With a Sprained
Hip and Several Bruises
Escaping death almost by a miracle
when a heavy Texaco oil truck driven
■ y his friend, Paul Brown, passed
over him yesterday afternoon, Islam
Holland is at his home with only
slight injuries consisting of a sprain
ed hip and several bruises and
scratches.
The accident occurred directly in
front of the residence of Mr. T. S.
Ragsdale on South Third street at
1:09 p. m. Thursday. Mr. Holland
was returning from his home on a
bicycle and riding up South Third
street toward the business section
while Mr. Brown was approaching
him in the big, red, oil truck which
he drives for Holt Oil Company.
From the tracks on the pavement
it appears that the truck was on
the left hand side of the street when
passing Mr. Skinner's house but wras
steered to the right side to avoid
hitting Mr. Holland. Evidently Mr.
Holland ^’nought the truck was not
going to turn out, and turned to his
left, only to be hit by the approach
ing vehicle.
The truck passed over the body of
Mr. Holland without any wheels
touching him but the bickcle was
smashed beyond repair. Mr Holland
was knocked on the grass between
sidewalk and street, the impact on
the coping spraining his hip.
The truck continued down the side
walk for about 30 yards before it was
brought to a halt, skinning one of the
young trees on its way.
Mr. Holland was found lying on the
grass but wTas able to walk to a car.
SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC
AT CARTERS CHAPEL
Thursday, Aug. 16, there will be
a Sunday school picnic at Carter’s
Chapel in Micro township. Every
body is cordially invited to come and
bring a well filled basket.
J. R. ATKINSON, Sec.
MEADOW HIGH SCHOOL
TO OPEN OCTOBER 1ST
A protracted meeting will begin at
the Freewill Baptist church at Pine
: Level on Sunday, August 12. Rev. R.
F. Pittman, of Ayden, one of the best
singers in North Carolina, and also
a very strong preacher, will assist the
pastor, Rev. D. H. Styron, in this meet
ing. You are cordially invited to at
tend.
Rev. Mr. Camming To Sail
Rev, W. C. Gumming -who supplied
the IVesbyterian church here for the
past year, will leave Wilmington next
week for China where he expects to
take up mission work. A farewell
service was held last Sunday in his
honor in the Frist Presbyterian
church of Wilmington. He will start
for the Pacific coast on Monday and
will sail from Vancouver, Canada, on
Aug. 23. His many friends who may
desire to send greetings may write
to him in care of C. P. S. S. “Empress
of Canada,” Vancouver, B. C.
Oakland Presbyterian Church
Rev. J. R. Woods will fill his regu
lai appointment at Oakland Presby
terian church Sunday evening at 8
o’clock.
HARDING S HOME
TOWN IN MOURNING
Simple Service To Be Held
Foi Marion’s Most Dis
tinguished Citizen.
Marion, Ohio, Aug. 8.—Warren
Gamaliel Harding is on his last jour
ney home and Marion, shrouded in
mourning, awaits his coming.
Unlike his arrival and his depart
ures in the distant pass when little
notice was taken of his movements,
and also unlike the near past when
they were announced with rejoicing,
tomorrow’s arrival will be heralded
by the tolling of the bells.
Bells Will Toll
When the nation’s funeral train
bearing the late President in its
flag-draped coffin crosses the Marion
county line and begins to traverse
the county where he laid the founda
tion for a character which made him
the nation’s beloved, Marion’s bells
will begin to toll at 30 second inter
vals until the body has been set at
rest in Vhe home of his father.
As soon as the body is placed in
the Harding home, the utmost pri
vacy will be maintained there for a
few hours. It will be a sacred hour
in that home in East Centet street,
for there sits the aged father bowed
in grief, who, for seven days, will
have been waiting the time, counting
the hours and the minutes, when he
again might be with his son, even
though there can be no spoken greet
ing, no returned smile, no gentle
handclasp.
Silent Communion
After this silent communion the
doors will be thrown open from 2 to
10 p. m., and friends of the dead
President will be permitted to pass
by his bier. They will also be al
a. m. to 1 p. m., before the body is
lowered to pass again Friday from 9
removed to the cemetery for brief
funeral services.
The nation having today held fun
eral services for its President in all
stateliness and honor due his exalt
ed position, Marion Friday will con
duct funeral services for its most
distinguished citizen.
In striking contrast to the serv
ices in the nation’s Capitol today,
when state honors were paid, will be
the plain and simple service conduct
ed here at the vault in the “city of
the dead.”
No Pomp or Ceremony
Without pomp or military display
of a single sort, the service at 3 p.
m., central standard time, will con
sist only of the singing of two hymns
by the^hoir of Trinity Baptist church,
of which Mr. Harding was a member,
the reading of a few passages of the
Scriptures by Rev. George W. Landis,
pastor of the Trinity Baptist church,
and a prayer by Dr. Jesse Swank,
pastor of Marion Epworth Methodist
Episcopal church. The hymns to be
sung are ‘Lead Kindly Light” and
“Nearer My God To Thee.” With
this simple service concluded, the na
tion’s President will have been laid
to rest, and as the world moves on,
the only indication that another of
the nation’s Chief Executives sleeps
in Ohio’s bosom will be the military
guard stationed there ot see that the
(Continued on page four)
-MRS. HARDING
BEARS ORDEAL WELL
Spends Quiet Moments in
East Room of the White
House With Her Dead
Washington, Aug. 8.—With the
fortitude that already had won her a
gret outpouring of the sympathy of
a nation, Mrs. Florence Kling Hard
ing today passed courageously
through the ordeal of the solemn
state funeral of her husband. To
night she again was alone with her
dead as the funeral train sped west
ward toward Marion where for her
j must come an even greater trial as
| the body is consigned to its last place
of rest.
Although plainly showing the
| strain of the long and painful jour
ney across the continent, Mrs. Hard
ing who only a brief time ago made
a l rave fight for her own life, still
maintains the control of an iron will
ihr t enabled her to say when first
the tertible blow struck at.San Fran
I cisco that she would not break down.
/ r.d, so, in her public appearance
today, she permitted to escape her
no manifestation of the grief that
tea 's at her heart. Both Brigadier
General Sawyer, and old friend from
Marion and physician to Mr. Harding
and Geroge Christian, secretary to
the dead President, declared after
Mrs. Harding returned , from 'the
Capitol that she was bearing up well
under the strain. General Sawyer
said she “was holding up wonderful
ly well,” adding that she was “a re
markable woman.”
After luncheon with members of
the immediate family this afternoon,
Mrs. Harding received Mrs. Coolidge,
! the wife of the new President, who
remained at the White House for half
an hour. Wives of the Cabinet of
i ficers also were received during the
afternoon. Many government of
ficers ar.d members of Congress visit
I ed the White House to leave their
i cards.
During the few hours the body of
the President remained at the White
House before the state funeral, Mrs.
Harding twice gazed upon the face,
noble in life, majestice in death. At
| one o'clock this morning after offi
als and visitors had left the White
H "re she went quietly to the East
Room to spend half an hour alone
I the^e save for the silent staturesque
figuroc of the guard of honor around
the casket
For a time she stood beside the
| bier in silent prayer and meditation.
Then she examined a rumebor of
j floral pieces banked against the
walls and selected several to be laid
near to her seeping husband.
Returning to her apartments or.
the second foor, Mrs. Harding retir
ed at 1:30 o’clock. She aros.: at
7:45 o’clock aftor what apparently
hda been a fairly refreshing rest, uV
had breakfast in her room. During
i the meal Laddie Boy came in for a
time to receive a kindly pat from his
mi res*.
She remained alone until b.45
o’clock, when she was escorted to the
East Room for the simple praye:- ser
vice htt preceded the claiming of
the I odv by the nation to 1 estow upon
it the homage befitting h mghet es
(Continued on page four)
By the .Mayor of the City of Smith field
A JJrorlamatimt
To the People of Smithfield
The untimely death of our late Chief Executive, Warren Gam
aliel Harding, has wrought upon our nation and the civilized world
a great sorrow, at his unexpected demise, and in which the na
tions of the earth are mourning with us.
The President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, and our
Governor, Cameron Morrison, have by proclamation, designated,
Friday, August the tenth, as a day of Mourning, and
Norn thrrrforr, John A. Narron, Mayor of the City of
Smithfield do hereby proclaim that all business and social activi
ties will suspend from four until Ive o’clock in the afternoon, and
that further, the bells of the different churches in our City be tolled
at intervals of five minutes beginning at the hour of the funeral
services in Marion, and that all traffic in the city be stopped for
three minutes at the beginning of the funeral services.
Done at the City of Smithfield, the ninth day of August, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three.
, JOHN A. NARRON.
By the Mayor.
W. L. FULLER, City Clerk.
JOHNSTON & STEPHENSON
NOT TO OPEN SUNDAYS
According to an action taken
by the board of town commis
sioners at their regular meeting
Tuesday evening, the drug
stores of the town will be al
lowed to keep open on Sun
days, one store each Sunday, ro
tating in order. Wednesday,
the proprietors of Johnston and
Stephenson’s drug store request
ed us to announce in our col
umns that their store will not
open on Sundays except for the
purpose of filling prescriptions.
They asked us to state that they
will gladly serve those needing
medicine, but the store will not
be open for the sale of other
Merchandise.
POST OFFICE HERE
WILL CLOSE TODAY
Will Be Closed From Four to Five
P M., During Funeral Exercises of
the late President Harding.
The city post master, Mrs. D. T.
Lunceford, has received the follow
ing communication from the Central
Accounting Postmaster of Wilming
ton which asks that this office be
closed today, Friday, from 4 to 5 p.
m. during the funeral exercises of
the late President Harding.
The Department has wired me to
repeat the following instructions, by
first mail, to every office in this cen
tral accounting district:
“As a further mark of respect to
the memory of the late President, it
! is hereby ordered by the Postmaster
General that all United States Post
Offices be closed for one hour during
the exercises attendant upon the
burial of the late President at Marion,
Ohio. Burial will take place at Ma
rion, Ohio, at three o’clock central
standard time on Friday August 10,
1933. Adapt your hour to Marion
Central standard time so that all will
be concurrent.”
This means of course, that all of
fices in this section of our State will
be closed Friday, August 10, 1923,
from 4 to 5 p. m.
W. G. ELLIOTT,
Central Accounting Postmaster.
MRS. HARDING TO RECEIVE
PENSION OF $5,000 A YEAR
—
Washington, Aug. 4.—If precedents
are followed, Mrs Warren G. Hard
ing will receive a life pension of
$5,000 a year from the government.
Mrs. Grover Cleveland and Mrs.
Theodore Roosevelt received aunities
by vote of the House and Senate, and
members of Congress said today there
was little doubt of similar action in
the case of Mrs. Harding.
MEETING TO BEGIN AT PINE
LEVEL FREEWILL CHURCH
Due to the fact that the upstairs
rooms of the school building at Pea
cock Cross Roads in Meadow town
ship has been condemned by ihe In
sura; ce Department of the State of
North Carolina the rumor has gone
)Ut that the high school at this point
will be discontinued. We wish to
make 4he statement that this rumor
is without foundation. We plan to
r.ahe temporary arrangements for
housing the high school this year. Mr.
B. K. Miller has already been secur
ed as 11 incipal. The school will open
about October 1st.
Rev. Mr. Tuttle Back In Pulpit
A card from Rev. D. H. Tuttle,
pastor of the Methodist church, who
is now visiting his daughter at Ashe
boro, requests us to announce that he
will be back in the city today and will
preach both Sunday morning and
night at the usual hours.
Struck By Lightning
Mr. Will Stanley, who lives in the
Southern part of town toward the
cotton mill, was stunned by lightning
Wednesday afternoon while standing
in the door of his home. Medical as
sistance was called, but the injury did
| not prove serious.
Prominent colors for this fall will
be smoke gray, seal brown, beaver,
sailor blue, camel’s hair a nd terra
! cotta.
MRS. CARL GORDON
HURT IN ACCIDENT
Auto In Which She Was
Riding Hit by Another
Car in Raleigh.
News reached here Wednesday aft
ernoon of an automobile accident in
Raleigh which resulted in the serious
injury of Mrs. Carl Gordon of this
city and Mrs. J. J W renn of Raleigh
and minor injuries to other in the
car when the accident happened.
Mr. J. J Wrenn of the Raleigh Es
s.x Sales Company was demonstrat
ing a new Essex touring car, when
at tlu* intersection of Blount and Polk
streets, a Paige touring car driven by
Alfred Haynes of Raleigh, crashed
i; to bis Essex. The Essex being
hurled against a telephone post and
turned on its side was almost com
pletely wrecked. The Paige was enly
slightly damaged. The noise of 'he
collision attracted a large crowd and
the injured were rushed to Mary Eliz
abeth Hbspital. Mrs. Gordon and
Mis. Wrenn were the most seriously
hi - Mrs. Gordon suffered the frac
ture of one lung. Mrs. Wrenn suf
fered a broken collar bone, a gash in
her forehead which required several
stitches and the loss of several teeth.
Mrs. Gordon and children went to
Raleigh Sunday to visit Mrs. Gor
don’s sister, Mrs. Scott Green. Mrs.
Green and her child and also the two
children of Mrs. Gordon were in the
car when the accident occurred.
The acident took place shortly aft
er two o’clock. Mr. Gordon being
notified as son as possible. He left
immediately for Raleigh but return
ed late in the evening and tok Mrs.
Gordon’s mother, Mrs. R. L. Sand
ers to her daughter’s bedside.
A telephone message yesterday
morning stated that Mrs. Gordon was
resting as well as could be expected,
hut the extent of her injuries other
than those already mentioned was
still unknown.
It is understood that Haynes, who
driving the Paige car, will be prose
cuted for reckless and careless driv
ing.
MR. JAMES M. PARRISH
DIES AT HIS HOME HERE
The death of Mr. James M. Parrish
occurred at the home of his son, Mr.
M. B. Parrish, in this city, Monday,
Aug. 6, after a lingering illness of
several months. The deceased wTas
eighty-one years old. The funeral was
held Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock
and interment was made at Little
Creek Church. Rev. Elijah Pearce of
Princeton conducted the service. He
was assisted by Rev. M. Barnes.
Mr. Parrish was a member of the
Primitive Baptist church at Little
Creek, having been a member for
about thirty years.
The deceased leaves seven children
as follows: L. A. Parrish, J. B. Par
lish, H. G. Parrish, of Clayton; Mrs.
N. C. Stephenson of Pleasant Grove
Township; Mrs. J. W. Powell, Mrs.
W. C. oJrdan, and Mr. M. B. Parrish
of this city.
RECORDER’S COURT
HAS LIGHT DOCKET
The following cases were disposed
of this week by Judge Noble:
State vs. S. Boykin charged with
assault. Defendant pleads guilty and
was fined $5 and costs.
State vs. Fred Hughes charged
with beating a ride on a train. De
fendant pleads guilty and is sentenc
ed to thirty days on the roads and to
pay the costs.
State vs. Robert Surles and i .. '
Carter charged with affray. Guilty.
Robert Surles was fined $25 and one
half costs; Dave Carter to pay one
half costs.
State vs. Thurman Blackman
charged with assault. Guilty. Judg
ment suspended on payment of costs.
State vs. Walter Eason charged
with cursing on highway. Not guilty.
State vs. Robert Tyner charged
with assault with deadly weapon.
Guilty. Judgment that the defend
ant pay prosecuting witness $37.50
for loss of time from work as result
of injury; $15 to Dr. Thel Hooks for
medical attention rendered prosecut
ing witness; $10 for board of prose
cuting witness while recovering from
wounds; and court costs. ,