VOLUME 43
Larcest Circulation of anv Newsnaoer
Published in Johnston Countv
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 1924
Published Tuesday and Friday
Price: .1.200 the year
NUMBER 28
PROMINENT WOMEN
OF STATE SPEAK TO
Mrs. Johnson, Miss Rid
dick, Mrs. Rickett
and Miss Lewis Meet
With Woman’s Club
HOLD BANQUET MEETING
The Smithfield Business and Pro
fessional Women's Club had a most
auspicious launching with four dis
tinguished business women of the
State present at the banquet given
Tuesday evening at the Woman’s
club. Miss Elsie Riddick, President
of the State Federation of Business
Women's clubs, Mrs. Kate Burr
Johnson, State Superintendent of
Public Welfare, Mrs. T. W. Bickett,
of the State Department of Health,
and Miss Lottie Lewis, treasurer of
W’ake County, were present and
made talks. Miss Cora Belle Ives,
president of the local club, presided
over the session, various stunts giv
ing variety to the first part of the
program. As soon as the dessert was
served, Miss Mary E. Wells, assist
ant County Superintendent of schools,
introduced Miss Riddick, who spoke
interestingly on the value of a Busi
ness and Professional Woman’s club.
She told how women proved during
the war that they were capable of
entering many new vocations, and
that since the war, they were still
exercising their new freedom in this
respect. The value of business wo
men banding together, she said, had
bee nproven. Cooperation, efficiency,
education constitutes the program
which these clubs strive to put over.
Cooperation along the lines of rec
reation, keeping physically fit, train
ing for work one loves, providing edu
cational facilities for those who want
to keep studying are some of the
things that these clubs promote.
“Better business women for better
business” is their motto.
.hollowing Miss Riddick, Mrs.
Johnson spoke particularly of the leg
islative program that women can fur
ther. She stressed the importance of
women using the ballot, but pointed
out that cooperative methods in get
ting laws passed was the wise course
to pursue. She brought a new thought
to many present as she told of laws
already on the statutes which are
not functioning.
Mrs. T. W. Bickett was the next
speaker, and made a plea for the
home. She said too many girls, in
these days when business opportuni
ties call, say “no” to marriage pro
posals, whereas she would like for
business girls to carry the same ef
ficiency which they exercise in their
offices into well regulated homes.
Miss Lottie Lewis, was the last on
the program, and her talk was rath
er a personal experience as to what
the Business and Professional Club
has meant to her. She referred to
her campaign as candidate for treas
urer of Wake County and paid trib
ute to the Women who helped her
win out. The keynote of her talk,
however, was for women who enter
the business world to preserve their
womanliness. A woman can enter
any field of endeavor, said Miss
Lewis, and yet re nain a womanly
woman.
Motor Club Will Open
Office At Goldsboro
Goldsboro, April 2.—The Carolina
Motor club, with headquarters at
Greensboro, will open an office here
this week. It will be the official au
tomobile license bureau of the de
partment of state which Secretary
Everett has authorized for the handl
ing of automobile license tags. Com
plete information may be obtained at
this office at any time an da full time
man will be placed in charge of the
office.
McLean Supporters of
Smithfield Township
Elect Their Officers
At the meeting of the friends
and supporters of Hon. A. W.
McLean for (governor held in the
court house on Tuesday, April 1,
the following officers were elected
for Smithfield township:
J. W. Stephenson, chairman; J.
A. Narron, secretary; Judgei F.
H. Brooks, chairman advisory
committee, to work with township
organization in Smithfield town
ship.
Also the following were elected
as members of the advisory com
mittee: Mrs. T. J. Lassiter, Mrs.
L. G. Patterson, Mrs. Jas. H. Kirk
man, Mrs. E. F. Crump, Miss Cora
Belle Ives, Charles A. Creech, R.
A. Wellons, E. S. Abell, and W.
H. Austin.
LITTLE WILMOTH
VAN ALLEN VICTIM
OF A FAMILY FEUD
Booneville, Ark., April 1.—Lick
Creek Valley, a little community
seven miles from this city, turned out
Monday for the funeral of Little Wil
moth Van Allen, 3-year-old victim of
the McCarson-Van Allen feud, who
was killed Sunday in a clash between
the two families on a highway near
the McCarson home.
The body of the little girl, who
was shot four times, was buried in
the little country graveyard near
her home. Hundreds of men and
women gathered for the ceremony.
Reports from the hospital at Paris,
Ark., where six of the seven persons
wounded in the battle were taken for
treatment were to the effc-cet that
all probably would recover although
the conditions of Mrs. Burley Van
Allen, and Charles and Ruby Allen,
the latter half brother and sister, re
spectively, of the dead child, w'ere
said to be serious.
County officers said last night they
had failed, after a day of investiga
tion to fix responsibility for the
clash. Warrants have been issued for
all the principals involved and will
be served today, it was said, unless
the men surrender.
Thirteen members of the Van Al
her family were on their way to the
home of a relative when the clash oc
curred. Sam McCarson and his fami
ly live on thS road over which the
wagon bearing the Van Allen family
passed.
Conflicting stories of the shooting
were told by members of the two
families. The 12-year-old son of Sam
McCarson declared that Dewey Van
Allen precipitated the fight when he
drew a shotgun from the wagon. Mrs.
Geary Van Allen, however, asserted
that McCarson fired the first shot.
The Van Allen and McCarson fami
lies are related by marriage. Bad
feeling is said to have existed be
tween the two families for some tim%
the feud having been renewed sev
eral days ago by a school yard fight
among the children.
Will H. Hays Extends
Film Contract 3 Years
At $822 Daily Salary
The Motion Picture Producers and
Distributors of America, comprising
most of the important film makers
of the United States, will be guided
until March, 1928, by Will H. Hays,
its present President,
At the annual meeting of the
Board of Directors Monday Mr. Hays
signed a three-year extension of his
contract which has a year to to run.
When Mr. Hays was elected in
1922 The World’s exclusive story
said his salary was to be $300,000
a year, or $821.92 a day. This, it is
understood, is the salary stipulated
in the extension contract.
The announcement allays rumors
which ranged from the return of Mr.
Hays to politics to a resignation ow
ing to internal disturbances in the
industry because of policies on which
he has insisted.
The reason some people don’t smile
oftener is because they’re not sure
their teeth will stay in place. •
Elevation Township Girl
Visits Nation’s Capital
Miss Pearl Johnson, a Student at East Carolina Teachers College
at Greenville Writes Interestingly of a Sight-Seeing Trip
to Washington, D. C.; Shakes Hands With President
The following letter to her parents
from Miss Pearl Johnson, daughter
of Rev. and Mrs. J. Ruffin Johnson
of Elevation Township, who is a stu
dent at East Carolina Teachers Col
lege at Greenville, will be of inter
est to a number in the county, and
we are glad to pass it on.
Dear Mother and Daddy:
I have returned from my trip to
Washington, D. C., and wish I could
tell you all about it but it would
be impossible to write it all even if I
had time.
There were forty-five of ous col
lege girls and ten high school girls
who went on this sight seeing trip.
Just the right number of us to have
a good time and I think every one
had a good time, too.
On our way to Washington, we
j spent one day in Norfolk, Va. While
! there we visited the Naval Base and
learned something about life in the
navy. We saw the boys studying in
the various rooms in which we went.
One very interesting thing was the
observation of a class of beginners
in radio. While there we were shown
some very pretty loving cups that
had been won in various contests.
Tn the afternoon we visited the
navy and U. S. Naval hospital, Tn
the navy we saw and went on the bat
tleship Texas, the fourth largest ship
in the navy. It was there being re
paired. We were allowed to go on
it and the guide explained many
things about a ship to us. In addi
tion to seeing the Texas we saw there
a number of other ships out of com
mission undergoing miscellaneous
minor repairs.
At 5:30 o'clock Monday afternoon
(Continued on Page five)
Governor Morrison Marries
Mrs. G. W. Watts of Durham
RECORDER’S COURT
HAS LIGHT DOCKET
The following cases were disposed
of in Recorder’s court here Tuesday.
I State vs. E. V. Barbour, charg
with giving worthless check; defend
ant plead guilty. Judgment suspend
ed upon the defendant’s making good
check and paying the costs.
State vs. Vassie Jordan, violation
of prohibition laws. He was found
guilty on three counts and was fined
$150 and costs on the first count. On
second and third counts he was sent
enced to three months on roads. Road
sentence was suspended during good
behavior for a term of two years.
Capias to issue at the request of the
solicitor.
State vs. McCoy Crawford, abond
onment and assault. Not guilty of
charge of assault. Guilty of aband
onment. Judgment that defendant be
confined in jail for six months and
pay costs, and the defendant < nter
ing into a bond of $500 payable to
the prosecuting witness to be null
and void upon his paying to his wife
I $30 per month. The defendant ap
I pealed to August term of Superior
Court under $500 bond.
State vs. Exum Johnson, charged
with violation of prohibition laws ard
auto laws. He was found guilty on
all three counts; fined $25 on first
two counts. On the count violating
auto laws, prayer for judgment was
continued during good behavior and
without prejudice.
State vs. Walt Lee, peeping. Guil
ty; $10 fine and costs.
Presbyterian Church
__
Rev. J. R. Woods, of Richmond,
Va., will preach here Sunday morn
ing and night at the usual hours. The
public is invited to these services.
MOTOR DEATH CLAIMS OVER
MILLION IN 1 COMPANY IN 1923
For the first time in its history
the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com
pany paid more than $1,000,000 in
1923 on claims arising from automo
bile mortalities. The total was $1,
144,304, as against $867,000 in 1922,
the previous,, high mark.
The curve for automobile mortality
continues to show a rising trend, the
company announces, the percentage
of mortal accidents from this cause
last January having increased by
more than 17 per cent., over Janu
ary, 1923. Thi sfigure is based upon
the experience of 15,000,000 indus
trial policyholders of Metropolitan in
this country and Canada.—N. Y.
World.
Mr. B. L. Jones spent Sunday in
Louisburg.
Gov. and Mrs. Morrison
Leave for New York;
Quiet Ceremony; A
Surprise to Friends.
i
i Durham, April 2.—Governor' Cam
eron Morrison and Mrs. Sara Ecker
| Durham millionaire financier, were
| married here this afternoon at 4
! o'clock at the Watt* mansion on
South Duke street. Rev. Dr. David II.
| Scanlon, pastor of the Durham First
| Presbytei’ian church, officiated at 1he
ceremony which was witnessed by the
| Governor’s sister, Miss Ida Morrison,
' and a few personal friends. Immedi
ately after the ceremony, Governor
\ and Mrs* Morrison motored to
Greensboro where they were to have
I taken a New York train for their
honeymoon trip.
The bride one of the wealthiest
women in North Carolina, is a native
of Syracuse, N. Y., and was married
to. the wealthy Durham capitalists
in that city on October 25, 1917? Some
years ago, she was a trained nurse,
but had given up that profession pri
or to her marriage to Mr. Watts.
Since taking up her residence in
Durham, Mrs. Watts had made n any
friends and was the center of social
activity. Her attractive manner won
for her a host of admirers. The Watts
mansion on Morehead Hill is one of
the most beautiful estates in this sec
tion. Here, it is predicted, the Gov
ernor of North Carolina and his bride
will spend a great part of their time
on their return to this state, until the
expiration of his term as Governor.
Governor Morrison had been a
widower since 1920, his first wife
having died during his gubernatorial
campaign. His daughter, Angelina,
and his sister, Miss Ida Morrison,
have made the Governor’s Mansion in
Raleigh their home since the inaugu
ration in January, 1921, although the
Governor has spent much of his
summers in the western part of the
State.
Although the Governor and Mrs.
Watts had known each other for sev
eral years, it was only in <he past
fortnight that the intimation of their
romance was learned by even their
closest friends. During the past two
months, however, the Governor has
been a frequent visitor in Durham.
He has often visited his sister-in-law
Mrs. Gilbert C. White, in his city.
It was in the middle of the after
noon that the Governor and his party
comprising state officials, and the
daughter and sister, motored to Dur
ham. The license was issued at 3:10
o’clock by Deputy A. J. Busbee, of
the register of deeds office. The li
cense application was signed by Gen
eral J. Van Metts, Adjutant General
of the State.
(Continued on page four)
Miss Dora Barbour
Wins Prize In Ford
Salesmanship Club
Women are proving efficient in
a great many vocations, and Miss
Dora Harbour, the newest addition
to the sales force of the Sanders
Motor Co. is certainly no excep
tion to the rule._ Miss Harbour has
just been awarded a $23 bonus for
making the highest average for
the month of March of any sales
men as to the number of cars,
weekly purchase plans, and num
ber of Dearborn Independent sub
scriptions._ There are twelve oth
er salesmen. Miss Harbour being
the thirteenth, but she has no,
foolish fear sas to thirteen being
an unlucky number.. She has been
an employe for only two months.
Mr. T. E. Talton made the sec
ond highest average, and was pre
sented with a $15 bonus
AUTO AND BICYCLE
CRASH; A. C. L. MAN
INSTANTLY KILLED
Wilmington, April 2.—D. Adrian
Matthews, 33, married, of Audubon
freight conductor on the Atlantic
I Coast Line yards, was struck and
; killed by a city-bound automobile at
7:30 o’clock last night on the
Wrightsville turnpike, opposite the
Delgado cotton mills and just out
i side the city limits.
Three hours later what is believed
to be the death car was located on
Grace street, between Front and Wa
ter, by Sheriff George C. Jackson
and his deputies, and within another
half hour II. A. Boyd, said to be the
assistant manager of the local stores
of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea
Company, was placed under arrest
and formally charged with murder.
II. C. Spooner, well known young man
and a former manager of the South
Front street store of the same com
j pany, who admits being a passenger
i nthe Boyd car, Sheriff Jackson said,
and who is alleged to have confessed
the whole affair to the sheriff, is be
ing held without bail as a material
witness. A partly filled bottle of
Gordon dry gin w'as found in the
car, the front of which was badly
bent and bore< evidence of having
been in a collision.
Dog And Man
A starving pauper, picked up un
conscious in a New York street, re
fused $500 for is d(/k- He says the
dog is his only friend. Polie gave
him the price of a beef stew. He
goes his way and saares the stew
with his dog.
A loyal friend, dog or man, is a
priceless possession. In a whole life
time, few of us make more than half
a dozen such friends. Yet there
are plenty of men, who down-and-out,
would sell their las thuman friend
for $500 or less.—New Orleans State
Biblical Story Of The
Destruction Of Sodom
And Gomarrah True
St. Louis, April l.—The lower Dead
Sea regon of Palestne has been
scientifically explored for the first
time and with great success, Melvin
Grove Kyle, president of the Xunia
Theological seminary, of Missouri,
and head of the research expedition,
writes from Jerusalem.
The expedition, which acted in co
operation with the American School
of Archeaology of Jerusalem, reports
the discovery of the old fortress of
Kir of Moab, and the region of Sodom
and Gomorrah is determined. Graves
of a cemetery there yielded fine pot
tery of the days of Abraham and the
“glory of Sodom.”
Dr. Kyle writes tha tthe mysterious
rising of the Dead Sea can now be ex
plained and the bibical story of the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
is fully confirmed, but withholds de
tails of his discoveries.
The legend of intolerable weather
in the Dead Sea region is not true,
Dr. Kyle declares and predicts the
growth of a winter health resort
there in the future, that will surpass
in its ideal climate and romantic
scenery that of Luxor, Egypt.
FIRE DESTROYS BARN
AND GARAGE OF DR.
MORE TUESDAY
Dodge Roadster B e
longing to Mr. A. G.
Johnson Among the
Articles Burned.
LOSSES WELL OVER $1200.00
A large part of Smithfield’s popu
lation streamed into the streets Tues
day morning about eleven o'clock,
when the shrill notes of the fire si
ren gave notice that something was
on fire. A dense black smoke and
leaping flames in the north western
part of town was further proof that
it was no fake alarm, and it seemed
at first as though the residential sec
tion of that part of town might be
endangered. When the scence of the
fire was reached, however, it r,roved
l •
to be only a barn and garage belong
ing to Dr. G. A. McLemore being a
part of the property which he pur
chased some time ago of Mr Turner
Barnes. The out buildings were
built largely of fat lightwood, hence
the black smoke and bright blaze.
The building was valued at around
$500 and there was no insurance.
Mr. A. G. Johnson, who lives at the
place, was the biggest loser, his
j Dodge roadster valued at about $S00
! being burned. His loss however was
partly covered with insurance.
It is not known how the fire origi
nated. There was according to re
port, shavings, broom straw and oth
er trash in the building, making it
easy for a blaze to get started.
Leaguers Have Good Program
One of the best missionary pro
grams ever given by the local Ep
worth Leaguers was the one given
Monday evening. Miss Carrie Young,
who was the leader, had chosen is
the subject for the evening, "Our
Missionaries and Their Work.” Aft
er singing the hymn, “The Kingdom
is Coming,” with Miss Lucile John
son at the piano, the Scripture les
j son from the fifteenth chapter of
. Mark was read. Miss Young gave
| special emphasis to the Great Com
I mission. An appropriate poem was
j read by Miss Pauline Bradhurst,
and Miss Young told a missionary
! sto. A Japanese story was impressive
ly told by Miss Lorene Leonard, and
Mrs. Clifton Beasley made an inter
; esting talk on numberless duties of
a missionary. Capsules containing
the names of the League missionaries
! were then passed and each one pres
I ent was asked to pray daily for the
one whose name he received.
! The young people are urged to at
tend the League meetings every Mon
day evening and invite others to go.
Baptist Church Sunday
Sunday school 930—note the
! change to fifteen minutes earlier,
j The pastor, Rev. S. L. Morgan, will
preach at 11 a. m. and 7:30 p. m.
Miss White will sing. Everybody in
vited.
State Federation of
Womens Clubs to Meet
The Sixth District of the State
Federation of Women’s clubs will
meet at the court house on Friday,
April 11. There will be both morn
ing and afternoon sessions. Mrs.
Palmer Jerman president of the State
Federated clubs, will speak in the
afternoon. There are eighteen clubs
in this district and a large crowd is
expected to attend. Lunch will be
served at the Woman's Club room.
All the club members of Smith
, field are especially asked to be pres
i ent.
I