k, SMITH FIELD NEEDS:
—Bigger Pay Roll.
r «■ —A Modern Hotel
—Renovation of Opera House.
—More Paved Streets.
—Chan;her of Commerce.
Forty-third Year
* *
Johnston Coun
SMITHF1ELD, N. C., TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 22, 1925
Know Your County
Do you know that Johnston, Wil
son and Pitt ounties raised more j
produce per acre in 1922 than any
like area in the United States?
_ ■ 1
^Number 11
Dock Hill Murder Trial
Opened Here Yesterday
Early Part of the Day Is
Spent In Selecting Jury
— Begin Prosecution
For Second Degree
Murder.
[OUTSTANDING CASE
The second week of the Johnston
County Superior Court was open
ed here yesterday. The case of
tate vs. Dock Hill for the mur
er of Sam Barbour, which took
dace at the defendant’s home
ij early last spring, was staged to
day. Most of the forenoon of the
day was required to secure a jury,
and the rest of the day in the ex
amination of state’s witnesses. At
the outset of the trial, the solic
itor began the prosecutions for
the verdict of second degree mur
der. Just before the close of the
day the state rested, and the x
amination of the defendant got
started. Both Hill and his wife
were examined. There are several
more witnesses in this case and a
good part of Tuesday will be re
quired in the taking of evidence
for the defense.
Solicitor Williams was aided in
the prosecution by Judge Brooks
and James Raynor. The defendant)
is represented by Col. Ed S. Abell
and Mr. E. F. Wax-d, of Smith
field, and Mr. James H. Pou, of
Raleigh.
No other case w'as attemepted
on Monday and with the Hill case
now on trial, it is thought that
only a few more cases will he
disposed of during the present
term of court. An unusually large
crowd of people from the various
parts of the county have been in
town this week and many ’ are
showing considerable interest in
this murder trial.
White Girt Service
Pieases Congregation
The White Gift service presentl
ed at the Methodist church Sun
day afternoon by the Sunday
jchoo!, was enjoyed by a large
:ongregation. Decorations of green
''and white were quite effective.
The musical program included sev
eral special numbers, and the story,
Van Dyke’s “Lost Word,” by Miss
* Mary E. Wells was particularly
appropriate. Instead of the Christ
mas tree at which the Sunday
school scholars formerly were
wont to receive gifts, this White
Gift service offers opportunity
for the scholars themselves to
give. The offering taken in white
envelopes, will be used for the
needy in the community.
METHODIST CHILDREN
TO HAVE PARTY
A Christmas party for the Ju
nior and Primary children of the
Methodist Sunday school will be
held in the basement of the church
Friday evening at 6:30 o clock. It
Will be given by the teachers and
I officers of these departments.
I __
f
Mr. Moore Kills Large Pigs
Mr. H- B. Moore, ojf the Johns f
ton school section, killed three Du
roc Jersey pigs Thursday, Decem
ber 17, whose total weight was
919 pounds. One weighed 300, an
other 309, and the other 310.
AUNT ROXIE SAYS—
By Me
►
vr bju~
Ef enniebody has a sneakin’ no
tion o’ makin’ me a Chris’mus
presuht of a dress, dey ort ter be
able ter git redoosed price on dat
quan’fty.
Chiidren Capture
Whiskey Still
(Special to The Herald)
Four Oaks, Dec. 21—Unarm
ed, and without fear or trem
bling, four youthful self-depu
tized officers of the law, cap
tured a whiskey still in In
grams township last week, j
These four officers, Mildred j
Keene, Maebell Grant, Almond i
Keene and Derwood, are all be
tween the ages of seven and
eleven. They were out one mile
east of Four Oaks gathering
holly and preparing for a
Christmas tree which will be
given at the Baptist church on
Wednesday night, when they
came across 3c moonshine still
thought to be well hidden in I
the brush and leaves. These lit- |
tie officers without a weapon of
any kind, but with a bravery of
experienced officers, captured
the still, and no doubt they
would have captured the oper
ators just as easily had they [
been there. They carried the
still home on a cart and left it
the possession of Mrs. R. A. |
Keene, and they are awaiting
their reward which is justly due
them. The good citizens are pre
dicting a quiet Christmas and j
congratulations are in order. If
these children capture one still
without weapons, Sheriff Par
ker and his deputies ought to
be able to capture a hundred
with weapons.
Select Tobacco
Beds With Care
Plant Bed Is Most Im
portant Factor to Begin
Tobacco Crop.
Raleigh, Dec. 21—“The plant
bed is t'he most important factor
to begin with in a tobacco crop.
If you fail bn plants, the chances
are that you will fail on a crop,
that is, so far as the best quality
of tobacco is concerned,” says E.
Y. Floyd, Tobacco extension spec
ialist for State College. “So every
precaution should be taken to get
the best quality of tobacco rgth
er than quantity for the year 1926
Good tobacco will bring a good
price any year.
“The selection of a suitable soil
should be given first considera
tion. In the heavier soils especial
ly, we should select a soil that
will not get too hard or bake be
fore the plants get a start. A
well drained soil with a southern
or southeastern expbsure should
be selected, with the cold winds of
the North and West broken off
by trees or hills where this is
possible. Moisture is very essen
tial in selecting the bed. You will
find it a good plan to select some
of your beds near a running
stream, if possible, then if we
should have a dry season as we
did this year you could conveni
ently water the beds, which will
mean success in some cases.
“The preparation is next in im
portance. Leaves, sticks or stumps
if they are present, should be re
moved from the surface of the
soil. Brush should then be piled on
and made to lie as close together
as possible so that it will burn
easily. After the burning is com
pleted all the coals should be
raked from the bed. A colter, disc
harrow or a light plow should be
used to break the top layer of
soil, being careful not to turn up
any clay. Any commercial fertili
zer recommended for plant bed
use should be applied at the rate
of two pounds per square yard
with the addition of one pound of
cotton seed meal. This application
of fertilizer should be sown broad
cast and thoroughly mixed with
the soil to prevent the top of the
soil from becoming crusty * and
killing the plants. After the fer
tilizer is mixed well with the soil,
the soil may be raked with a very,
small tooth rake before sowing
the seed.”
J. D’s Grandson
.:^£g&^SSS«gS83g^
EACH YEAR Yale University
fives a scholarship to the student
needing financial assistance. John
It. I’rentice won it. He is the
grandson of John D. Rockefeller
and is working as a telephone op
erator to pay his way through col
lege.
Nearly $1000 For
Community Chest
The United Welfare Asso
ciation Has Received
Approximately $1000
For Local Charity Work
The United Welfare Association
of Smithfield met last Tbuxs^X
night to mature plans for the re
lief work of the year before them,
and among the business taken up
was that of informing the com
munity more accurately as to how
it is proposed to carry on this re
lief work. The following paper was
issued with a view bo giving the
public such information as it was
felt is needed:
“The United Welfare Associa
tion wishes to express its sincere
appreciation to the City Council
for its generous appropriation of
$50.00 a month for relief work, and
also to the many individuals who
have contributed to the fund for
this purpose. Not all asked for has
as yet been subscribed, but the
response was indeed gratifying.
Counting the subscriptions, which
it is hoped will be paid as soon as
practicable, the amount in sight is
approximately SI,000. This is a
community fund, and the Welfare
Association feels it proper for the
public to be taken into its confi
dence and to know in detail how
the fund is to be disbursed.
In the first place, we wish it
to be made plain that the United
Welfare Association aims to rep
resent the entire community. It
urges that every church, every
club, every lodge, and every other
benevolent organization in the
community shall see to it a mem
ber shall be definitely elected and
asked to represent the organiza
tion in the meetings of the Unit
ed Welfare Association. Wre wish
every group doing benevolent work
in the community to have a voice
in deciding how the money shall
be spent, and what cases should
have aid from the community
fund. The Welfare Association
wishes to work in the closest with
the county welfare officer and
with all other groups in the com
munity doing charity or benevolent
work, so as to have their advice,
and to avoid all overlapping of
effort. Any cases that are being
helped privately by individuals or
by cfuirehes, we feel should be re
ported tc us to make sure that
there will not be a duplication of
effort. Any cases needing atten
tion should be promptly reported
to us, preferably to Mr. H. V.
Rose, our treasurer.
We take it to be a matter of
much importance that all persons
applying for aid at your door or
on the street shall be sent to Mr.
Rose. We think the wisdom of this
will be apparent to dll. It will of
(Turn to page five, please)
Brit
ilne
{jmtntas
(LUKE II)
torn
7\ ND it cainc to pass in those days, that there went out
(*■*’ a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Jiuiaea, unto the city of David, which is call
ed Bethlehem; (because he wag of the house and lineage of
David).
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
with child.
And so’it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her* first-born son, and v/rapped
him in swaddling clothes, and Ibid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them inlthe inn.
And there were in the same [Country shepherds abiding in
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round] about them: and they were
sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lyint; in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
And it came to pass, as angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let
us now go even unto Bethlehem,; and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hajth made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
*«4 the babe lying in a manger/1
State* Commander
Wiil Address Ex-Soldiers
In Town Hall Tonight
—Other Benson News.
Benson, Dec. 21.—Mr. Stevens,
state commander of the American
Legion will deliver an address to
the ex-service men of Johnston
county Tuesday evening, Dec. 22,
at eight o’clock, in Benson in the
town hall. All visiting ex-service
men are cordially invited to at
tend this meeting.
A beautiful operetta, “The Gifts
We Bring,” was given Tuesday eve.
ning in the school auditorium. The
cast consisted of seventy-five pu
pils from all the grades in the
school. The musical accompani
ments ranged from the most clas
sical sonatas to lullabies and
Christmas carols. Special numbers
were given by the Glee club and
orchestra.
The Parent-Teacher Association
held its regular meeting this week
in the school auditorium with Mrs.
J. W. Whittenton, president, pre
siding. Mrs. A. S. Oliver had
charge of the program. Miss Hes
sie Bager, of the high school fac
ulty, Mesdames A. S- Oliver, W.
T. Martin, and Supt. H. C. Rene
gar gave a very interesting pro
gram. Christmas carols were sung
by the audience. The president
plans to put on a splendid pro
gram during the spring months.
Mrs. A. S. Oliver was hostess
to the John Charles McNeill Book
Club Friday afternoon at 3:30 o’
clock. The house was elaborately
decorated in holly and other
Christmas suggestions. Mrs. O. A.
Barbour gave an interesting Christ
mas story. Mr. J. B. Faireloth
read two of Edgar Guest's poems,
“Christmas,” and '“At Christmas.”
Mrs. J. T. Morgan was soloist. At
the close of the program, Mrs. J.
W. Whittenton presented the
president, Mrs. M. T. Britt, a love
ly hammered silver vase as a gift
of the season from the club. The
hostess served chicken salad, sand
At
(Turn to page five, please)
CHECKS 001 10
CO-OP MEMBERS
Cotton Association Pays
December Distribution
Except For Some Un
classed Cotton.
TO PAY THIS LATEJR
Mr. J. W. Stephenson, director
from this district for the North
Carolina Cotton Growers Associa
tion, has received a letter from
Mr. U. B. Blalock, genera'.mana
ger, in regard to checks for cotton
delivered to the association. The
letter which 'explains itself is
quoted as follows
“By the time this report reaches
you, we hope that practically all
checks covering the December dis
tribution will be in the hands of
our members. This total distribu
tion amounts to about $1,068,000.
As you have no doubt noted by
the article in the Cotton Grower,
there is a certain amount of un
classed cotton on which we were
unable to make distribution at
this time at a 15c per pound basis.
However, just as soon as all of
this cotton is classed, and it is
practical for us to do so, we will
even up with these members on
an equitable basis.
“Up to date, we have received
148,826 bales, and in accordance
with your instructions we have
fixed prices on about 14,000 bales
since the last meeting of the
Board of Directors, making a to
tal of 38,634 bales with prices fix
ed out of total sales of 52,234
bales. This puts us in what we
think is a aafe financial position
after making this distribution. The
average price on these fixations
since the last meeting of the Di
rectors is 18.80 base month.
“On account of so much low
grade cotton coming in now, we
have thought it advisable to re-)
duce our advance to $55, per bale,
eective Dec. 21, and cards have
already been sent to the banks,
notifying them of this reduction.
“At the last meeting of the
•
Boom For N. C.
Next On Program
Florida Developers Pro
phecy This State Sched
uled Fdr Era of Pros
perity.
Miami, Fla., Dec. 21.—Many
Florida developers are prophesy-!
ing that North Carolina will be
the next state to experience a na
tion-wide boom with an attendant
era of prosperity and growth un
precedented in the history of the
commonwealth, according to Rob
ert S. Clary, of Greensboro ifhd
Miami.
Numerous large subdividers and
real* estate devolopers now oper
ating in Florida have signified
their intentions of "stablishing of
fices in North Carolina at an ear-i
ly date', says Mr. Clary, in order
Ur'be prepared for the tremendous
development certain to be attain
ed by the Old North State.
Because of the state’s superb
economic location, wonderful ag
ricultural and manufacturing po
tentialities, and unequelled year
round climate. North Carolina’s
mountains, beaches, and Piedmont
hills will soon be in almost as
great demand as the palms and
sunshine of Florida. This predic
tion is made by a native North
Carolinian who has made an in
tensive study of the two states re
spective resources; for Mr. Clary
is president of the Robinson
ipiary Advertising Agency, with
headquarters in Miami.
“All that North Carolina needs,”
says he, “is advertising. Every city
in the state should follow Miami’s
lead and provide funds for this
purpose, by imposing a publicity
tax of two mills per dollar on the
assessable valuation of all proper
ty within the corporate limits. Ev
ery property owner is glad to spend
a fifth of a cent per dollar for
advertising, as soon as he realizes
that by so doing the value of his
property will be doubled.
“Florida is booming because
Floridians know that it pays to
advertise. Single real estate com
panies are spending as much as
$2,000,000 per year for publicity;
and practically evejry town and
village in the state, as well as all
of the large cities, are making
appropriations with which to tall
the world about Florida.”
Methodist Church
There will be regular services
at the Methodist church Sunday
morning and evening. The sermon
will very likely deal with some of
the things that have been accom
plished during the year and with
the outlook for the future.
Stolen Car Is
Quickly Recovered
Friday evening about dark, the
Ford car of Miss Lallah Rookh
Stephenson was stolen from the
street) in front of her residence
where it was parked. Officers were
notified and by midnight the
thief, a negro by the name, of
Cooper, who had recently come to
this city, was apprehended in Fay.
et'teville. The negro was brought
back here for trial, and Miss Ste
phenson has her car again in her
possession.
Carolers Asked To
Meet At Courthouse
Those who will hel|> in the
Christmas caroling on Christmas
-eve night are asked to meet at
the courthouse at nine o’clock that
evening. The plan is to sing carols
to a number of shut-ins in this
city, and a large chorus is de
sired. The music department of
the Woman’s Club under the di
rection of Miss Lallah Rookh
Stephenson, is sponsoring the
caroling.
Presbyterian Services
Oakland church Sunday morning
11 a. m. Smithfield Sunday night
7 p. m. New Year message. Good
music. Public cordially invited.
Board, it was understood that there
would be no meeting of the Ex
ecutive Committee on Tuesday, the
22nd, unless something should de
velop that would necessitate the
calling of this meeting.”
Can You
rO WIN the World's speed typist’s
championship, Albert Tangora
kicked the keys at the rate of 130
»nd a quarter words per minute
George Hossfeld, former cham
jion, was but a fraction of a word
dower than Tangoi-o's lightning
fingers.
Industrial Tour
Piedmont Section
Smithfield One of “Pick
Up Points On Tour
That Starts Jan. 12th..
Kinston, Dec. 21.—One of the
mportant matters decided upon at
he meeting of the Directors and
officers of the Eastern Carolina
Chamber of Commerce in Kinston
Friday night, was the determining
if the itinerary for the Industrial
rour bo be made through the
Piedmont section of North Caro
lina in January. The dates are
lanuary 12-13-14-15.
The first group, consisting of all
:hose representatives nearest to
Kinston, will assemble at Kinston
an the morning of the 12th at 9
i’clock. The next “pick up” will be
it LaGrange, then Goldsboro,
Smithfield, and the final concentra
tion point will be in Raleigh. The
party will reach Raleigh about
11:45 and will proceed on the
tour.
The following route will be fol
lowed: Raleigh out route 50, mak
ing Sanford and Rockingham first
day. The first riight out will be
in Rockingham where there are
more than a dozen cotton mills.
Route 20 will be taken from Rock
ingham to Charlotte, stops being
made at Wadesboro and Monroe.
The second night out will be spent
in Charlotte, where the party will
be the guests of the Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce at a ban
quet. The proceedings of this meet
ing will be broadcasted by radio.
From Charlotte Route 15 will be
followed to Salisbury and Route
10 through High Point', Greens
boro, Burlington, Durham and on
into Raleigh. The third night out
will probably be spent at Burling
ton. The total mileage will be about
550 miles. Each car will bear its
own expenses. All cars will have
a uniform sign to show that the
tour is being conducted by the
Eastern Carolina Chamber of
Commerce, and will carry the
names of the town represented in
this tour. “We are not making this
trip to advertise Eastern North
Carolina, but to get acquainted
with our Piedmont Neighbors,”
John W. Holmes said recently.
This will be the first tour of its
kind to be made from Eastern
North Carolina into the Piedmont
qpptinn.
Special Music In
The Churches Sunday
The church services at the var
ious churches Sunday were char
acterized by special Christmas
music. Mrs. W. J. B. Orr and Miss
Ruth Brooks sang a duet at the
Presbyterian church; a quartette,
Messrs. A. J. Parker, Marvin
Woodall, Paul Eason, and I. W.
Medlin, sang a special selection
at the Methodist church; a trio,
by Miss Lucy Talton, Mrs. Carlton
Stephenson and Mr. A. M. Calais,
and a duet by Mrs. Stephenson
and Mr. Calais were much en
joyed at the Baptist church.
WYATT DRAWS
EIGHT MW:.
Is the Minimum Sentence
For Manslaughter; Will
Not Take An Appeal.
FREE UNTIL JAN. 2
Raleigh, Dec. 17.—Jesse Wyatt
goes Saturday, January 2, to the
State’s Prison to- serve a minimum
of eight months for killing Attor
ney Stephen S. Holt.
Judge Garland A. Midyette, end
ing his six month’s stay in the
seventh district, imposed the sen
tence this afternoon following an
hour and a half of argument in
which the defense, through James
H. Pou, sought, to save the former
police officer from a prison judg
ment. The prosecution was in no
great mood for mercy and Colonel _
Ed S. Abell, of the private inter
ests in this trial, urged Judge
Midyette not to forget the Holt
family, widowed and orphaned by
a “murderer’s bullet.”
Judge Midyette, however, did
not regard Jesse Wyatt a murder
er. His honor said that the offense
of the prisoner was manslaughter
and manslaughter is the “lowest
form of killing.” This homicide,
the judge declared, is involuntary
and that form was the lowest in
manslaughter. “Tomorrow when I
leave for ray home in Jackson, I
am liable to commit involuntary
manslaughter if I get on the
wrong side of the r6ad,” he said.
There was an inference that Jesse
Wyatt was oh the wrong side of
tlie highway. He was there with
a pistol. He handled it carelessly,
but not with criminal intent. The
jury did not believe him guilty of
voluntary homicide, .Judge Midy
ette said, for near midnight when
it brought in its verdict its last
act was a recommendation fo:‘
mercy.
Mangum Stands With Wyatt
While the court was strugglh’.n
wifh a case which had made ;
remarkable appeal to the corpor
ate emotions, Officer Will Man.yurs .
almost slain by Slim Anderson or
the day the defense rested its tes
timony in the case, came in ar.
stood while the lawyers pleads;
for “mercy” and “justice.” Ther
never was any doubt that Wil
Mangum was the second victim c.
Wyatt. The officer in accidental
ly killing the Smithfield lawyer
had shot considerable fear into
his'brother policemen. They were
taking unusual chances with crim
inals because there had been so
much agitation ^against policemen
and other officers who used their
gifnsh Mr. Mangum listened ill
through the entire appeals. He
stood with Wyatt to the last.
Mr. Po{u in presenting the cause
for his client declared that which
ever the court’s judgment. Jesse
Wyatt would not appeal. “We who
have defended him have been will
ing to go to- the limit’ for him and
to see him through,” Mr. Pou said.
“But Mr. Wyatt knows that he
had a fair trial and that he is be
fore a merciful judge. He has ex
hausted his resources and he can
go no further,’ Mr- Pou said, de
claring the willingness of all Wy
atts attorneys to see him to the
end.
jrou mattes riea
Mr. Pou then appealed to the
court in the name of the defend
ant’s unborn son, the pre-natal
i right of children. He urged the
judge not to let this baby first
see its father in prison stripes. A
man who had 51 years conducted
himself so finely ought to be al
lowed to participate in govern
mental affairs since so much of
his service has been for the gov
ernment, Mr. Pou suggested. Be
sides, humiliation of the defend
ant and his family cannot held the
prosecution's side. Mr. Pou said
that everywhere he goes people
tell him- how much they hope for
mercy for Wyatt. “Let him work
for somebody like Mr. Briggs and
he can pay into the county treas
ury much of the cost of this case,
a cost not made large by any
thing that he did in the trial of
this cause,” Mr. Pou said.
Colonel Abell broke his lo’ng rule.
He had asked but once before in
(Turn to page fou?j please)