Smithfield Needs:
—Bigger pay roll.
_Modern hospital.
—Renovation of Op
® era house.
—More paved streets.
^-Chamber Commerce
Forty-fourth Year
Johnston County’s Oldest and Best Newspaper-Established 1882
* * SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 3, 1925 * *
“We Like
Smithfield—
You will too”
Number 66
WRITES LETTER ON
CROP CONDITIONS
Mr. Wright Edmlundson, of
Waco, Texas, Tells of Out
look For Crop In Cotton
Producing State
EXPECTS HALF A CROP
The following letter on crop con
ditions in Texas, written by Mr.
Wright Edmundson, of Waco, Tex
as, who formerly lived in Johnston
County, and who is a brother of Mr.
E. S- Edmundson, of this city, will be
of interest to the people of this coun
ty. It was written on June 27, and
is as follows:
“Thinking, perhaps, that your
readers would be interested in con
dition of the cotton crop in the big
gest producing state in the Union, we
are outlining conditions gained from
travel and observation. If you think
this would be interesting rending
matter for your patrons, kindly ask
that you publish same.
“I have traveled over quite a great
deal of the cotton belt of our State
and am in position to furnish reliable
information regarding present con
ditions. No doubt, your readers are
somewhat familiar with the cotton
growing section- We, have always
found within a radius of 150 miles of
Waco 75 percent of the entire cotton
crop of the State is growln. Seventy
five percent of this area is in the
extreme dry section. It has been fair
ly acurately estimated that we have
an increase in acreage over last sea
son of from one and a half to two
million acres, and I know almost 1
can say with some- degree of accuracy
that there is just about this one and
half or two millioin increase in the
ground without sufficient moisture tc
germinate seed. This vast acreage
not being up, and we are now intc
what we term the dry season, as we
have rarely ever had any rain tc
speak of from July to October. Per
haps we will get rain in the Inear fu
ture, as the very unusual seems to be
happening this year. Crops over the
entire belt are from four to six weeks
late that have been fortunate «BOS|l
to have moisture to bring them up
Plant very small with a bloom in the
top. Cotton growers of Worth Caro
lina, can we expect a cotton crop un
der these conditions? However, £
Texas cotton crop cannot be estimat
ed with any degree of accuracy un
til is is gathered. It is possible for us
to make a three or four million bale
crop this year, but not probable.
“The worse feature is we had nc
winter rains. Consequently, we start
ed into the crop season with the
ground dry, 'practically six or eighl
feet deep. South and East of Waco
the fields and ranches are as barren
almost as in December. No fed crops
of any kind in this section, and the
biggest percent of the cotton seec
still in the ground as above mention
ed.
Your readers who know me person
ally, know thmat I am no pessimist
but must see conditions as they visi
by confront us, and I cannot see al
this time how we can make more
than 50 percent of the crop.
“North of Dallas and West of Fort
Worth including the plains and Pan
handle section have had enough rain
Very little cotton raised in the Pan
handle. This section includes all thai
portion North and West of Hale
county.
“I am sending you a map of Texas
outlining the extreme dry portions
in blue pencil, showing you where
the bulk of the crop is produced
Hope you have some way of repro
ducing this map in your paper, and ir
this way you can give a more defi
nite idea of the section suffering
from the drouth. No complaint oi
boll-weevils or grass-hoppers to date
Entirely too dry for them to thriv*
“Since living in Texas thirty
two years there has been one time
that pretty good cotton was growr
planted the first week in July, bui
was under vastly different condi
tions. Had abundance of rain th{
winter preceding Texas may wine
up with a pro£jy good crop, but I dc
not see how it can be done
“Will attempt to find time to give
you the crop news about Augusi
first. ®
“With best wishes tor the Smith
field Herald readers->v
L
“Baby Farm*’ Head
:v: lA^oc^cT^Bj.)
Helen Geisen-Volk, is under
arrest and N. Y. City authori
ties are investigating the
deaths of 23 babies in 17
months at her “baby farm.”
It is charged babies left there
were starved and brutally
treated.
todrTve AUTO
BLINDFOLDED HERE
Dr. Keystone, The World’s Most
Famous Blindfold Auto Driver
To Do His Spectacular Stunt
Here At 4:30 P. M. Sat
urday, July 4
Keystone, the marvel of the world,
will give Smithfield, Four Oaks, and
Dunn a thrill Saturday at 4:30 p.
m. when he will drive a Chrysler
car from Four Oaks to Smithfield and
back to Dunn while he is heavily
blindfolded.
Dr. Keystone has done this st<unt
in many large cities and countries
all over the world and thousands
have marveled at his prowess. He
has a very high development of the
! subconscious mind and has received
much publicity in newspapers and
magazines all over the U. S. A. Dr
Keystope extends an invitation to
any lady to make this trip with him
in the Chrysler car. He will be ac
companied by newspaper reporters
and a Chrysler car representative of
the local dealer at Four Oaks, N. C
Dr. Keystone has driven the car
over sixty-five miles per hour over
dirt roads and over 90 on pavement
and over one hundred miles per hour
on race track while blindfolded.—Ex
tract from Hendersonville Nfews,
Gastonia Daily GJazette, and High
Point Enterprise.
WHISKEY CASES
TAKE COURTS TIME
The following cases were disposed
I of in Recorder’s Court here Tuesday:
State vs Henry Waller, violating
the prohibition laws. Guilty. Reserve
judgment until July 7th. Thirty days
in jail. Judgment subject to be
changed.
State vs Julius A- Lewis, violating
the prohibition laws. Guilty; four
! months in jail to be worked on roads
of Smithfield township and to pay
\ costs.
State vs D. C. Byrd, violating pro
hibition laws. Guilty. Suspend sen
tence of 60 days upon payment of
cost.
State vs Thoburn Johnson, drunk
and disorderly, assault. Guilty. Fined
$25 and cost. Damage to property of
Jim Morgan to be paid out of fine.
State vs Tom Wiggins, violating
the prohibition laws. Guilty. Dis
charged upon payment of cost.
State vs Walter Evans, breaking
jail. Guilty. Sentenced to sixty days
in jail to be worked on roads.
State vs Ben Everett, Andrew San
ders, Hallie Sanders and Darsey Fel
lows not guilty and discharged- Ben
Everett guilty. Sentenced to five
months in jail to be worked on roads.
Ben Everett appealed to Superior
; Court.
State vs Lonnie Boyett, Lew How
ley, Cob Howell and Vernon Howley,
Lew Howdejy and Vernon Howley,
discharged. Lonnie- Boyett guilty,
assault and disorderly. Cob Howell,
PROMINENT COUPLE
WEDS IN ASHEVILLE
Miss Sadie Puckett Of This City i
Becomes The Bride Of Mr.
W. M- Palmer
A marriage that will be of interest
to relatives and friends in North and ;
South Carolina and Virginia was sol
emnized in Asheville yesterday, the
contracting parties being Miss Sadie
Spiers Puckett, of Smithfield, N. C., j
and Mr. Winfree Murray Palmer, of:
Bennettsville, S. C.
The ceremony was performed at
Central Methodist Church at 6 o’clock i
with the bride’s uncle, Dr. Edward
Leigh Pell, of Richmond, noted Bible!
student and lecturer, known through-;
out Southern Methodism and in other
churches, officiating.
Simple decorations of palms, ferns j
and baskets of cut flowers were plac
ed around th ealtar for the nuptial
service and lent dignity and charm j
to the unpretentious taking of the
vows.
Mrs. Burwell Edgar Blanton, churcn
organist, and Mr. George Hurt, vio
linist, rendered an appropriate pro
gram of wedding music, and also ac
companied Mr. Horace Easom, an old
friend of the bride, who sang, “At
Dawning,” and “Because” immediate
ly prior to the ceremony. During the
ceremony Mrs. Blanton softly render
ed McDowell’s “To A Wild Rose.”
The taking of the vows was wit
nessed by a small gathering of rela
tives and intimate friends, who had
come from several States. There
were no attendants, the bride and
groom entering together from the
Pastor’s Study and taking their places
before the prayer desk with groat
simplicity.
Little Miss Sarah McLean Hipps,
of Asheville, was the ringbearer an<i
was dain|y in poudrje bli}e voile
frock.
lhe bride wore a modish afternoon
gown of blonde georgette with lace
trimmings, quite smart and becom
ing. Her hat was a poke bonnet of
orchid georgette and tulle with a
large French rose as adornment. She
carried a shower bouquet of sunset
roses and delphinium.
Immediately after the ceremony
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer left by motor
for a honeymoon trip through the
mountains after which they will go
to Bennettsville, S. C-, to reside.
Before leaving, the bride donned
a stunning traveling ensemble of
natural Kasha cloth with lanvir,
green trimmings, and a small cloche
hat of the same pretty shade of green
straw.
Mrs. Palmer is the daughter of
Mrs. Alice Pell Puckett, and the late
Rev. W. H. Puckett, well remembered
Methodist minister of the North Car
olina conference. She is the niece of
Dr. Edward Leigh Pell, of Richmond,
Dr. R. P. Pell, president of Converse
College, Spartanburg, and Judge
George Pell, of Raleigh, member of
the State Corporation Commission.
She is petite and winsome and a
favorite with her relatives and
friends.
Mr. Palmer is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Horace W. Palmer, of Ben
nettsville, S. C-, formerly of Warren
ton, N. C., and is connected with the
Imperial Tobacco Company. He is a
young man of fine characteristics
and of great promise in business.
The entire bridal party were guests
at the George Vanderbilt Hotel, and
the party will dissolve today, each
leaving for his or her home-—The
Asheville Citizen
Note.—The bride, who for several
years has held a position in the office
of the County Superintendent of
Schools here, went to Asheville the
first of June on and vacation, and
while away sprung quite a surprise
upon her many friends by her mar
riage. Mrs. Palmer is quite a favo
rite in this city, and the best wishes
of a large circle of friends go with
her to her new home. Mr. Palmer
was on the tobacco market here for
several seasons past.
1'resDyterian Church
There will be no preaching service
at the Smithfield Presbyterian church
on Sunday, July 5. This being the
last day of the Ham-Ramsay^,revival
the congregation will worship at the
tabernacle where Mr. Ham preaches
at eleven o’clock a- m.
Sunday school at 9:45
Tabernacle Overflows When Mr.
Ham Speaks to Colored People
Tobacco Market Will Open In
Smithfield On September 1st
The tobacco season will open in
Eastern North Carolina <m Tues
day, September 1. In a communi
cation to Skinner and Patterson,
local warehousemen, S. T. Corbell,
secretary of the Tobacco Associa
tion of the United States, announc
es the following dates fixed for
opening the markets this season:
Eastern North Carolina, Tues
day, September 1; Middle Belt,
North Carolina, Tuesday, Septem
ber 15; Georgia, Tuesday, July 28;
South Carolina, Tuesday, August
4; Old Belt, Thursday, October 1;
Dark Virginia, Wednesday, No
vember 4.
The Middle Belt North Carolina
includes Durham, Henderson, Ox
leigh, Fuquay Springs, Aberdeen,
Carthage, Sanford, Youngsville
Smith field, is in. the Eastern
North Carolina district.
Quash Indictment Against
Wyatt On Pure Technicality
Spectator Throws
Cup At Solicitor
Solicitor W. F. Evans was the
near victim of a would be practical
joke during one of the lulls in the
Wyatt trial, which indicated some
of the feeling prevalent among
spectators.
The court had just taken its
first recess for the day, shortly
after convening at ten o’clock and
the solicitor was seated at his table
near the jury box, when some one
from the gallery hurled a loaded
paper cup of water, which narrow
ly missed Mr. Evans’ head, struck
the rail of the jury box and splat
tered. The spectator ran end could
not be identified.
DENTAL CLINIC AT
KENLY AND MICRO
Dr. J. S. Moore, who has been
working in this county for the past
few weeks under the State Board
of Health, will be at the Kenly high
school building Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday, July 6, 7, an d8, to con
duct a dental clinic- It is desired that
as many children as possible between
the ages of six and twelve take ad
vantage of this clinic and have den
tal defects remedied.
A similar clinic will be held at the
Micro school Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, July 9, 10, aAd 11. Dr.
Moore begins his work each morning
at 9:30 and closes at 5:30 each after
noon except on Saturday when he
closes at 12:30.
STILL DESTROYED
NEAR PRINCETON
Booze that was said to be carcu
lated to kill the cotton as it was
poured down a cotton row was cap
tured Wednesday afternoon about
three o’clock about one mile east of
Princeton near the railroad. Five and
a half gallons of whiskey were found
and a complete 1925 model 50-gallon
copper still. Rodger Pearce, a man
forty-five years of age, was arrest
ed and bound over to court under
$300 bond. It is said that the man
was very reluctant to see the whis
key destroyed, and asked even for
half a gallon of it. The officers natur
ally refused his request. The plant
was a new one. having been used on
ly about three times.
BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday School 9:30. Rev. M F.
Ham will speak and conduct an evan
gelistic service after a short lesson
period. An opportunity will be given
all who wish to unite with the church
to present themselves. The regular
church offering will be taken in the
Sunday school. Let all members
bring their church envelopes- No
service at the church at 11 o’clock,
all the congregation taking part in
the service at the tabernacle.
Watch the date on your label.
h -
Will Draw Venire Today Under
Special Statute And Present
Bill To New Grand Jury
At July Term
Because the Wake county board
of commissioners last December al
lowed a boy over ten years of ago
to draw the venire from which the
grand jury was taken, Judge Frank
Daniels in the Wake County Superior
; court yesterday sustained a motion
; by the defense bo quash on that
technicality the indictment returned
by the grand jury against Jesse
Wyatt, suspended Raleigh police cap
tain, for the murder on June 1 of
j Stephen S. Holt, prominent Smith
! field attorney, whom Wyatt mistook
' for a rum runner. The grand jury
'has functioned without question for
a full six months and hundreds of
defendants have been convicted on
its indictments
Judge Daniels sustained the motion
| to quash after he had denied re
Ipeated motions for continuance and
also a motion to quash because of al
| leged irregularities in the procedure
under which the true bill for mur
!der was found.
lne quasmng oi ine jauicunKiin
yesterday will carry the case over
to the July term of court which be
gins July 13. Defense counsel con
tended yesterday that since the same
boy had drawn the new grand jury
the case could not under the law go
to trial until the September Term. It
developed yesterday afternoon that
through an error in the office of the
clerk of the Superior Court no grand
jury has been drawn for the July
term but that the venire drawn was
ordered to report on July 6. Since no
term begins July 6 the venire was
discharged. Under a special statute
provided for use where no venire has
been drawn a new venire will be
drawn today.
Judge W. A- Devin, of Oxford, will
preside over the July term of court
at which Wyatt is expected to come
to trial. Judge Garland Midyette who
is scheduled to hold the Wake courts
during the next six months is ill and
Judge Devin will substitute for him
i at his term.
Wyatt Under Same Bond
Wyatt was released pending the
presentation of a new bill against'
him to the grand jury under the same
bond of $10,000 which his friends gave
soon after the shooting.
The trial was to have begun
Wednesday morning but was delayed
on account of the absence of J. Will
White, an important witness of the
state, White having been one of Mr.
Holt’s companions at the time of the
shooting- It was two o’clock in the
afternoon before the case was really
1 begun. Counsel for the defense asked
•again for a continuance of the case
which was denied by Judge Daniels.
Defense Seeks Delay
Defense attorneys frankly admit
ted that their purpose in making the
'motions was to delay the trial. Mr
i Pou stated that if a continuance had
been granted they would have waived
the technicality. At the suggestion
of Col. E. S. Abel, of th# private
prosecution, it was agreed that the
motion, with regard to the age of
the boy who drew the venire, would
be heard first. The hearing recessed
(Turn to page eight, please)
Around 1500 Men Attend Ser
vice For Men Only; Preached
Tuesday On Booze and
Bootleggers
WILL CLOSE SUNDAY
T4ie prediction that the warehouse
would overflow with people before
the revival came to a close was ful
filled Wednesday night when more
than four thousand persons were
present to hear Evangelist Ham
preach a special sermon to the col
ored people. This was the largest
crowd that has yet assembled in
j Smithfield to hear Mr. Ham, and ma
jny were standing, being unable to get
seats. Quite a number were turned
away. A negro choir sang the gospel
songs with a zest that matched the
I “amens” of the brethren as the ne
; gro preachers led in prayer.
Several outstanding services have
been conducted during the week, one
S of which was the service for men on
ly, on Wednesday morning, when a
(crowd variously estimated at from a
| thousand to 1500 heard the Evangel
ist on a subject of vital importance.
Another service w’hich was among
the best since the revival began was
held Tuesday morning, the subject
discussed being “Booze and Bootleg
gers.”
feome people, declared tne evan
gelist, “have tried to argue that the
! Bible does ,not teach total absti
i nence,” but when Mr. Ham was
I through, there were a number who
i shook his hand pledging themselves
jto let alcoholic drink alone in the fu
ture. “Wine,” said the preacher, “is
a generic term. Just as there are dif
ferent kinds of animals, different
kinds of vegetables, there are dif
ferent kinds of wines, varying in al
coholic strength.”
The subject was discussed from
seven standpoints: (1) the Bible en
joins men to let strong drink alone;
' (2) it is a useless waste; (3) it clos
es the door of opportunity to every
body; (4) health demands abstinence;
(5) a strong character demands it;
(6) it is the right of a man’s wife
and their offspring; (7) and lastly
society demands it.
Drinking and adultery are the two’
sins that have characterized the
downfall of every civilization, warn
ed Mr. Ham. No man ever took a
drink that his character did not
weaken. America’s finest institution
the home, is broken and cursed when
strong drink rules the head of the
home. Not only are homes menaced,
but society is menaced by the drink
ing man. Since the day of automo
biles it has become impossible to re
; turn to the open saloons. The over
whelming majority of accidents to
day may be traced to drink. Anyone
riding on the highways is unsafe
“Some of you folks in Johnston Coun
ty,” declared Mr. Ham, “are respon
sible for bootlegging simply by not
lifting your voice against it.’ *•
“A whiskey drinker is a danger
ous character,” continued the preach
er. “Drinkers are worse than lepers,
and ought to be colonized. If a man
is going to drink he ought to have a
urunaen wne
On Tuesday evening the preacher
Used the subject: “Why People Go
To Hell.” It was a powerful sermon
and the inquiry room was crowded at
the close of the service.
On Wednesday morning while the
men’s meeting was in progress at the
warehouse, Mr. W. J. Ramsay
preached to the wome.n and girls in
the Methodist church
The meeting will come to a close
Sunday night and three services will
; be held at the warehouse during the
day. The churches of the town have
called in their eleven o’clock services
in order to have a union service at
the warehouse. Mr- Ham will also
preach at three in the afternoon, and
at 7:45 in the evening.
The Ham-Ramsay party goes from
I here to Anchorage, Ky., the home of
Mr. Ham, where a meeting starts
, next week.
God has never commanded you to
do a thing that He didn’t ytfe yoet
the strength to do it.
m
§