| BMITHFIELD NEEDS:
i
—Bigger Pay Roll.
—A Modern Hotel
—Renovation of Opera House.
—More Paved Streets.
—Chamber of Commerce.
Johnston
Know Your County
Do yon know that Johnston, Wil
son and Pitt ounties raised more
produce per acre in 1922 than any
like area in the United States?
Forty-third Year
* *
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING DECEMBER 18, 1925
* *
Number 112
ARE THE! ID,
ARE THEY HR
irw --
, The Legality of Ceremony
Performed a t Court
house Wednesday Is
Questioned.
I COURT WILL DECIDE
l • _
“Wedded but Parted,” “Wife in
Name Only,” or “Loved and Lost,”
would probably would have been
the title that Laura Jean Libby
would have chosen for the ro
mance, one scene of which was
staged in this city Wednesday af
ternoon, when, not the cruel and
disdainful rival, but the beautiful
and attractive deputy in the reg
ister of deeds office, snatched the
marriage license from the very
hands of the officiating magis
trate, and thus put a stop to a
marriage between a thirteen-year
old girl and her lover.
Miss Mildred Braxton, aged 13,
and Cary Harrison, some years
older, accompanied by Mr. and
|Mrs. Luby Cade, came from Lenoir
county to Smithfield Wed
nesday and tried to obtain a li
cense to get married. It seems that
they had been to Wayne county
and had failed, but the persistence
of Cupid caused them to speed on
to Smithfield where they made an
other effort. As Miss Luma Mc
Lamb, clerk in the register of
deeds office, was working away at
her books, a man and woman came
to' the office and inquired where
the health officer might be found.
She gave them proper directions,
but in a few moments they re
turned, asking if a Wayne coun
ty health certificate would not do.
It was the noon hour and Miss
McLamb was the only official in
the office but she never once lost
control of the situation. She told
them that they would have to hunt
a Johnston county physician. In
a short while they returned, flung
down a health certificate from
Dr. A. H. Rose and asked for a
marriage license- The young dep
uty inquired who was to get mar
ried. The man answered that he
! was the fellow. Miss McLamb,
told him that the bridegroom
could not procure his own license.
Nothing daunted, he stepped to
the door and called in another man
who gave his name as Duberry
Langston who swore out the li
cense, stating that the age of the
oride was eighteen and the bride
groom twenty-three. They were
hen ready for a preacher or a
magistrate. They left the register
of deeds office, found Mr. D. T.
Lunceford, a justice of the peace,
who has his office in th^ court
house, and w-ere ready for the
“lived happily ever after" chap
ter when the proceedings which
frustrated the marriage plans took
place. About this time some one
casually called to Miss McLamb
to come see what a baby she had
sold a marriage license for. Miss
McLamb rushed into the hall, saw
She bride-to-be a different person
than the one for whom she though'1
she h*d sold a license, and as the
justice of the peace was pronoun
cing them man and wife, tore the
license from his hands.
“Hold them until I get the sher
iff,” urged Miss McLamb, and she
hastened to the sheriff's office.
In a few minutes passers-by in
front of the courthouse saw four
fleeing figures cross the street to
the postoffice with Deputy Sher
(Turn to page five, please)
AUNT ROXIE SAYS—
By Me
For my ole Man’s Chris’mus
presunt I thinks I’ll gin him n
ortomatic rockin’ cheer.
Buys Whole Town
SCuTocactcr
WHEN THE government decided
to abandon Nitro, W. Va., Ham
ilton G. Scott bought the entire
town and turned it into a flourish
ing industrial center.
Dr. Orr To Head
Medical Society
Other Officers Chosen At
Recent Meeting; New
Members Are Enrolled.
At the recent meeting of the
Johnston County Medical Society
held in this city officers for the
new year were elected. Dr. W. J.
B. Orr of this city was chosen to
head t-hc society during the com
ing year with Dr. J. H. Stanley
of Four Oaks, as vice president.
Dr. C. C. Massey, county health
officer, was re-elected as secre
tary-treasurer. Dr. B. A. Hocutt,
of Clayton, Dr. A. S. Oliver, of
Benson, and Dr. A. H. Rose were
selected on the Board of Censors.
Delegates fb the State Medical
Society were chosen and Johnston
county will be represented by Dr.
B. A. Hocutt, or in case he is
unable to attend, his alternate is
Dr. Orr.
Two new members were added
to the roll at this meeting. Dr. J.
H. Fitzgerald, eye, ear, nose and
throat specialist who has moved
back to Smithfield after a year’s
sojourn in Raleigh, again joined
the society, and Dr. W. G. Wilson,
who has recently located in this
city as general practictioner and
Dr. F. M. Aycock, of Princeton,
were enrolled.
The interest in this meeting of
the medical society was unusual
ly keen, a number of topics be
ing discussed with profit. The so
ciety has as its aim a close co
operation in rendering high class
professional service. Plans were
formulated for the society’s ac
tivities for the ensuing year.
Morrison Says He May
Want Support Again
Charlotte, Dec. 15—Former
Governor Morrison last night told
the members of the Men’s Club of
the Second Presbyterian church
that he might want them to vote
for him again. His assertion was
regarded by members of the club
as significant, although he did not
clarify it.
The remark was wedged in fact
down in his speech appealing for
a progressive ballot) in North Car
olina.
Smithfield Hi School
Quints Split Even
Smithfield High basketball
team pried the lid off the basket
ball season Wednesday by win
ning and losing in a double-header
with the quints representing Four
Oaks High School.
The Smithfield girls were no
match for the visitors from Four
Oaks and the local girls went down
in defeat, Four Oaks marching oTf
with the game by the score of 18
to 7. Fitzgerald played a beautiful
game for the local team, while
Adams and Johnson were tl\e stel
lar players for Four Oaks.
In the boys’ game, Smithfield
emerged winner by the score of
24 to 15 Four Oaks waiting too
late to get started. Keen ran wild
for Four Oaks, while Honeycutt
and Parrish caged many beautiful
shots for Smithfield.
Renew! If your time is out!
Selling Agency Is
Very Successful
Sales Corporation Handles
The Cotton of N. C. Cot
ton Growers Association
Raleigh, Dec. 17—“Striking
success has followed the organiza
tion of the North Carolina Cotton
Growers’ Sales Corporation, a sell
ing agency of the Cotton Growers’
Cooperative Association,” said
General Manager U. B. Blalock to
lay. This agency was organized
by and is the property of the Cot
on Growers’ Association and is
managed by the officers of the as
sociation and does not cost the far
mers a single cent for operation.
The purpose of the Sales Cor
poration is to handle cotton of
the association, selling direct) to
mills. In previous years, the Co
operative Association has not been
able to do an extensive business
with the mills—the records show
ing that the sales were divided
ught per cent to the mills, twen
ty-two per cent to exporters, and
seventy per cent to cotton mer
chants and shippers. Since the or
ganization of the Sales Corporation
the percentage of sales to mills has
jumped to forty-three per cent—
a remarkable demonstration of the
value of the Sales Corporation to
the Cotton Cooperatives.
Mr. Blalock is very much pleas
ed with the result of the Sales
agency and believes that the Co
jperative Association will find the
new method of marked benefit to
the membership. The selling agen
cy doing this work without any
additional expense to the farmers
is a big feature.
Speaking of the progress made
by the Cotton Growers Associa
tion, Mr. Blalock said that the
management is much encouraged
because vf the general tone and
morale of the membership—out of
38,000 members the Legal Depart
ment has found that legal pro
ceedings to compel delivery was
necessary this season in only elev
en cases. In fact, the membership
is so well satisfied that resort to
the courts, to enforce the con
tractus passing away.
Last season the Cotton Coopera
tive Association handled a little
less than ten per cent of the to
tal crop of the South, with the
North Carolina Cotton Growers’
leading all of the States in per
centage of deliveries. The receipts
by the North Carolina Association
this season have already gone be
yond- the receipts of any former
year, having reached approximate,
ly 145,000 bales, and General Man
ager Blalock expects the 160,000
bales will be delivered before the
season closes.
“The most serious condition that
confronts North Carolina cotton
growers,” said Mr. Blalock, “is in
the matter of the type of cotton
grown on North Carolina farms.
For some years, Dr. R. Y. Win
ters, the seed specialist of the De
partment of Agriculture, has urg
ed farmers that onlythe best seed
be used and that every effort be
made to select the seed suited to
each section. The Cotton Growers’
Association has heartily cooperat
ed with Dr. Winters in this work
and has kept the matter before the
38,000 cotton growers who are
members of the association. So
far, there has not been the result
that the matter deserves.
“The mills of this section, North
and South Carolina,” said Mr. Bla
lock, “have been forced to turn to
other states for the proper staple
for uie in cloth mills, using North
Carolina cotton only for the rath
er coarse numbers of yarns. The
American Spinning company, with
headquarters at Greenville, S. C.,
sends' to Texas, Oklahoma and Ar
kansas, for cotton to be used in the
cloth mills, and in a recent letter
said, ‘the farmers (of North Car
olina) have allowed their cotton to
deteriorate in length of staple and
body so that we could not use it.’
In this same connection, the In
ternational Cotton Committee of
the Spinners and Manufacturers
Association, of England, an organ
ization controlling practically all
of the mills of the world outside
of the United States, has made an
urgent appeal to the Cotton Grow
ers’ Association for more care in
the varieties of cotton grown. The
Turn to page three, please
Forty-Six Deaths By
Automobile Accidents
Raleigh, Dec. 15.—Automo- j
bile accidents cost 46 lives in
North Carolina during the \
month of November, according
to a report of violent deaths
given out by the vital statis
tics bureau of the state board
of health. Accidents on streets
and highways caused 36'
deaths, while 10 occurred at
grade crossings.
Fire caused the next great
er number of deaths. 37 per
sons having died of burns dur
ing the month. Other causes
of violent deaths were: sui- i
cide, 7; homicides, 15; acci
dental gunshot wounds, 14;
drowning, 2.
DEPUTY CAPTURES
A WHISKEY STILL
Warrants Issued For Six Men
That Were Found At
The Still
Single-handed, Mr. 0. II. Bare- |
foot, deputy sheriff in Meadow
township, captured a fifty-gallon
capacity whiskey still Monday
evening just about dark. Mr.
Barefoot located the still, after he
quit his work, about two and a
half miles north of Peacock’s Cross
Roads. A number of men were at
the still when the deputy sher
iff went up on them, and warrants
for six have been issued. One was
said to be so full of the blockade
stuff that he was unable to make
his get-away. One of the men as
he ran shot at the deputy, but
failed to hit him.
Mr. Barefoot destroyed two
barrels of mash that had not been
run, and one barrel that was in
the still. Five gallons of what ap
peared to be corn whiskey was
captured.
Mr. Barefoot says that since
his appointment as deputy sheriff
in Meadow township last Febru
ary he has taken or helped to
take twelve copper stills.
Fifth French Cabinet
Member Resigns Post
Paris, Dec. 15.—France’s finan
cial troubles today caused the
downfall of the fifth minister who
has grappled with thhm during
the past eight months. Louis
Loucheur failed, as did Caillaux, to
propose solutions that) the prin
cipal elements of the government
emergency in the chamber of dep
uties would accept, and was oblig
ed to resign, after receiving from
the finance committee of the cram
ber, the second rebuff in two
days.
The opposition to Mr. Loucheur
came froA the same groups that
obliged M. Caillaux to retii-e,
itemely, the socialist and extreme
radials—Associated Press.
Presbyterian Services
Smithfield Presbyterian church
Sunday morning 11 a. m. Sunday
evening 7 p. m. Special Christmas
messages. Public cordially invited.
her nuns
ROSY PICTURE
Joseph G. Brown, of Ral
eigh, Says Favorable
Conditions Beckon Us
Onward.
FARM CROPS BASIS
The following article, written by
Mr. Jospeh G. Brown, of Raleigh,
for the next issue of the “Tar Heel
Banker” will be of interest to our
readers and we are publishing it
for their information:
It would be imposible to sepa
rate entirely the local business
outlook from that of the National.
They are closely intertwined, and
especially so in these latter days
when the progressive North Caro
lina spirit makes it one of the
integral factors of general busi
ness life.
A state cannot be localized that
presents the startling facts and
figures required to indicate its ac
tivity, and activities, that North
Carolina does, namely:
First in value of tobacco manu
factured annually.
First in value of tobacco pro
duced annually.
Second only to Massachusetts in
value of cotton textiles manufac
tured annually.
First in value per acre of farm
crops producdd annually.
Fourth in agregate value of farm
crops produced annually.
Eighth in manufacture of furni
ture.
Fourteenth in population.
Fifteenth in value of all manu
factures.
Twenty-seventh in area.
Federal taxes paid for year end
ing June 30, 1925—$166,962,875,
00, only four states paying more,
New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
and Michigan.
Estimated true value of prop
erty in 1900—5681.982,000,000.
Estimated true vale of property
in 1922—54,543,110,00000.
It takes a vivid imagination to
visualize the busy workers, whose
hands made possible such a show
ing, and with these facts before
us we can readily comprehend tie
outstanding position oc-rpy
among our sister states.
As to the prospects for the com
ing six months—the opinion of one
man is worth about as much as
the opinion of another. One watch
man can point out the “signs of
promise” of the night or of the
season about as well as another.
The trend of things may be noted,
but the final results depend upon
the crops, and they upon the sea
sons of rain and sunshine no less
than upon the industry and faith
fulness of the farmer.
Undoubtedly, favorable condi
tions beckon us onward. Money is
plentiful and in the "Rands of men
who recognize the necessity of
providing for the planting, culti
vating, gathering and marketing of
the crops—and they are ready to
join hands with responsible far
(Turn to page five, please)
She’s 100 Per Cent. Are You?
IL
BUY THESE LITTLE HEALTH SEALS
AND SAVE LIVES.
White Schools
Selling Tags
To date the following amounts
have been reported by the white
schools of the county for the new
hospital, the funds derived from
the sale of hospital tags:
Kenly, $7.00.
Meadow, $5,40.
Benson, $1.00.
Princeton, $8.10.
Pine Level, $1.90.
Clayton, $2.00.
A donation to this fund was
made by Miss Emily Smith, of
Elevation township, who gave
$5.00.
Dodge Brothers
To Cut Prices
Reduction Applies To All
Cars Purchased Since
Midnight December 15.
According to an announcement
made here recently there will
soon be a considerable reduction in
the price of Dodge cars. The re
duction will not only apply to cars
purchased after the date of the an
nouncement, but to all cars pur
chased since midnight of Decem
ber 15. The new prices on the cars
will be announced on January 7
At that time an immediate refund
will be made of the entire amount
of the reduction to owners of cars
purchased since Wednesday.
Dodge Brothers, Inc., state that
the reduction is due to the recent
ten million dollar expansion pro
gram which will almost double the
capacity of the Dodge plants for
1926. There is no change in the
policy of the Dodge ^Brothers
Company—the policy of constant
improvement without yearly mod
els.
Burlington Votes For
$100,000 Publicity Fund
Burlington, Dec. 15.—Voters of
the city of Burlington today ap
proved a plan submitted to them
to provide $100,000 for a publicity
fund, when a special election was
carried by a safe majority. There
was a total of only 812 registra
tions in the four wards of the
city, and at a late hour the num
ber of votes of the eligible reg
istration was sufficient to cause
an announcement that the meas
ure had been carried with only 22
votes against it. According to the
law not more than one fourth of
one per cent may be levied as a
special tax to raise this fund.
Ford Sales Surpassed
November Year Ago
All records for early winter
Ford sales were broken during No
vember when 146,788 passenger
cars and trucks were delivered to
retail customers in the United
States. This is an increase of ap
proximately 25,000 over the No
vember sales a year ago.
Another evidence of the popu
larity of the improved Ford pas
senger cars is shown in the en
rollments in the Ford Weekly
Purchase Plan, which have risen
to unprecedented numbers. Dur
ing November a total of 31,425
persons enrolled under the plan and
began paying on cars, more than
twice as~many as enrolled during
the same month last year.
As the holidays approach de
liveries of cars to customers who
have been buying them under the
weekly purchase plan are increas
ing. Some began paying on their
automobiles as long as a year ago,
others during the early spring and
summer months, long before the
Improved Ford types were intro
duced. All now benefit in the con
venience and comforts afforded by
the improved cars and their in
creased value, witoout any addi- J
tional cost.
A CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our apprec
iation for the kindness of our
friends and neighbors who render
ed service at the death of our
dear father. May God bless each
und every one.
MISS NAOMI VINSON
GASTON OLIVER TO
BE TRIED IN MARCH
Champ Fiddler
NEAR NORWAY, Maine, lives
“Mellie” Dunham, seventy, who
won a silver cup for being; state’s
best fiddler. He also claims dis
tinction for having made snow
shoes Peary wore when he discov
ered North Pole.
Employment Conditions
Good at End of Nov.
Washington, Dec. 15—Despite
seasonal recessions in building ac
tivity, and the suspension of an
thracite mining due to labor con
troversy, the United States em
ployment service reported today
that workers throughout the coun
try generally at the end of Novem
ber were fully employed.
Little, if any increase in the
actual number of workers on pay
rolls was recorded between Octob
er and November but both months
were declared to show returns that
could be considered satisfactory.
Textile industries in most sec
tions of the country, bituminous
coal mining, i-ailroad maintenance,
and construction and general man
ufacturers were all described as
continuing the high rate of pro
duction established during Octo
ber. Few signs of labor shortage
howev<£, were reported from any
part of the country—Assciated
Press.
Father of Dr. J. W.
Whitehead Is Dead
New Bern, Dec. 14.—Abner P.
Whitehead, 79, prominent citizen
of the county, died Saturday night
at the home of his daughter at
Bachelor. The funeral service was
held Sunday afternoon, with inter
ment in Cddar Grove cemetery
here. Surviving him are his wife,
five daughters, Mrs. Willie Biggs,
of Bladen county; Mrs. E. S. Han
|cock and Mrs. Nellie Thomas, of
Wilmington; Mrs. J. B. Becton and
Mrs. C. C. Smith of Bachelor and
four sons, Dm J. W. Whitehead,
i of Smithfield; Dr. A. P. White
head, of Rocky Mount; Carl White
head, of Morehead City, and Earl
Whitehead, of Los Angeles, Calif.
Halt! Attention!
Making Daddy Behave
Micro, Dec. 15.—The faculty of
Micro graded school will present
“Making Daddy Behave,” a roy
alty farce in three acts, in the
Micro school auditorium Saturday
evening, December 19, at 7:30 o’
clock.
Bring a car full of friends and
enjoy two and one-half hours of
real fun. Laugh until your sides
hurt while Grandma and Daddy’s
two daughters give him “some
much needed lessons in good be
havior.”
More men than one tremble from
fear when Ardita, the world-to-be
renowned-vamp pays a visit to
her admirers who have written
her such thrilling love letters. She
finds that their letters and actions
don’t correspond. Nevertheless her
appearance gives Grandma, John
and Daddy’s two daughters the op
portunity to make “Daddy Be
have.” How did they make use of
this opportunity? See for yourself
Saturday night.
Watch the date on your label
and don’t let your subscription ex
pire.
The Case Is Postponed
On Account of the Ill
ness of the Boy’s Memb
er.
IS ALLOWED B/ r.
The Superior Court in sess hi
here is speeding away with
possible haste, and several ca
are being disposed of daily. 0:i
Thursday of court week the e
taking up most time was that
state vs. Reddin Cobb, of Prin •
ton, charged with abandonme.
The jury after deliberating sev
al hours, acquitted +he defe -
ant.
After hearing the evidence
the case of state vs. M. C. Ca
of Elevation township, charj
with violating the prohibition If
the solicitor took a nol pros.
Gaston Oliver who is char
with the killing of James W< m
ard, which resulted from a g
shot wound inflicted on Than
giving day near the home of
boys near Pine Level, was rep
sented by Judge F. H. Broo h
who stated that owing to the
ness of the boy’s mother at
present time that the defendi
would not be ready for trial
this term of court. After a sta
ment from the solicitor that
defendant would not be tried
any greater crime than second .
gree murder, the boy was alio
to give bail in the amount
$1,000. Judge Brooks annou’
that he could give the bond
that all would be ready for
at the March term of court.
__
Pou-Parri»h Post
* Elects Its Office
! The Pou-Parrish Post of
American Legion held its meet
Tuesday night at the eourtho
with a large number present,
this meeting new officers w
elected, the following being ch -
en: D. Carlton Stephenson, c
, mander; Jas. H. VVigsg, vice-c
mander; S- E. Hogwood, adjut
and H. V. Rose, historian,
chaplain will be appointed at t
1 next meeting of the post.
At the next meeting a din
will be served and State C
mander Henry L. Stevens,
I Warsaw, will make an adres?
full attendance is expected at
time.
Teachers Leave For
Christmas Holic
I The teachers in the gi
school are leaving this week
spend the Christmas holidays
their respective homes as folic
Miss Glenn Ward, Edenton; ?'
Eunice Boyette, Chadbourn;
Minnie Woodard and Mrs. J.
Ashley, Black Mountain; M
I Virginia Strange, Richmond; V
Ruth Poindexter, Franklin; J
Leah Love, Monroe; Miss Ki
rine Brown, Mocksville; Miss E'
Craig, Gastonia; Mrs. JsJula
King, Garnet, S. C.; Miss Ho
Matthews, Black Mountain; M
Jeannette Plowden, Manning,
C.; Miss Cary Heath, Harmd
Miss Frances Burton Crews,
ford; Miss Estelle Fitchett, Tkn
Fla.; Miss Vera Pritchard, Ch t:
Hill; Miss Beulah Creigler, A'
son, Va.; Miss Helen Baker
Miss Sallie Wiley, Greensb
Richmond and New York; J
Frances White, Scotland Neck,
Miss Georgia Pearsall, 1
Springs.
Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Shuford
leaving today to spend the h
days at Black Mountain.
Christmas Sermon At
Methodist Chu
There will be a Christmas
mon at the Methodist church
Sunday at 11 a. m. by the p;
Rev. A. J. Parker. You are in
If you enjoy good music you
be glad to be present.
At 4:30 p. m. will be the w.
gift service. There will be an
teresting program. The offer'
will be for the local poor,
night there will be no service,