North Carolina Newspapers

SMITH FIELD NEEDS: A Modern Hotel. Chamber of Commerce. JOHNSTON COUNTY NEEDS: Equal Opportunity for Every Schuol Child. Better Marketing System. More Food and Feed Crops. VOLUME 45 Johnston County’s Oldest and Best Newspaper - Established 1882 IF IT’S FOR THE GOOD OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, THE HERALD’S FOR IT. -NO. 46 * * * SMITHFIELD, N. C„ FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 10, 1927 * * * $2.00 PER YEAR Robert Separk and Parker Are Back In Johnston County Jail Give Themselves Up; Stephenson Shot and Now In Erwin Hospital; Adams Still At Large After two days and three nights of carrusing over various parts of Johnston County, Robert Se park, and Rosser Parker, two of the four prisoners who escaped from the Johnston County jail Sunday night, returned to the jail and gave themselves up. Mr. Weav er, a courthouse attendant, was aroused about three o’clock Wed nesday morning by the two men, whose intoxicated condition was* evidence of their carousal. They asked to be put back in jail, and Mr. Weaver with little ado placed them behind the bars again, but it was not until morning came that the second chapter in their sensational escape became known. Separk stated that instead of leaving the courthouse grounds in a high powered car, as was first thought, that they left walk ing, he and Parker going in one direction and Robert Stephenson and Paul Adams, the other two men who escaped, going in another direction. Separk said he and his partner walked for about fifteen miles when they were able to se cure a Dodge car. He state that they never left Johnston county. Separk appears to have been dis satisfied with the table d’ hote of the Johnston county jail, this be ing the only reason assigned for his escape. He seems t ohavc found plenty to eat and drink during his sojourn away from confinement, I and was in a particularly jolly mood Wednesday morning. He was i free to talk of the “good times” he j had while out of jail, but was mum j as to who took them on their joy j Just before midnight Tuesday, j Robert Stephenson was shot by ; Harnett County officers and taken to the Erwin hospital. Adams, however, was not recaptured. Stephenson bore out the statement of Separk that they had not been together since the escape. The shooting occurred near Neill’s Creek church about seven miles from Lillington. The bullet enter ed the left side of the back of Stephenson, passed through his small intestine and emerged in front. The small intestine was punctured in four places. Dr. Wil liam P. Holt, who performed the operation, said that it would be a day or two before it would be known whether the patient would be likely to recover. If peritonities should set in, his chances would be very slim. Deputy Sherriff Tal ton is guarding him at the hospi tal. Stephenson and Adams were surprised by the officers at a road side gas tank. It was thought that they were headed for South Car olina, a sack of meat and food stuffs being found in the car in which they were riding. The men were evidently planning to stop in the woods and make no stops in towns and cities. Officers engaging in the man hunt were: Sheriff Kyle Mat thews, and Deputies Biggs, Up church, and Broadwell, of Harnett county; Deputies Ellington and Talton, of Johnston county; and the following township and special officers: Chief of Police Hunnicutt, of Dunn; Lonnie Jackson and L. R. Price, Dunn; and special offi cer Watson of Smithfield. Stephenson and Separk were be ing held without bond charged with the death of “Mighty” For sythe, who was carried to a Ral eigh hospital on the night of No vember 22 after being dumped out of a rum-running car belonging tr Separk. After a coroner's inves tigation in Wake county the case was turned over to Johnston coun ty authorities because the mur der was alleged to have been com mitted in or near Clayton. The trial is set for the special terrr of Superior court which begins here on June 27. # n Without Cents. Use the word senses in n sen tence.” •Fives senses make a nickel.” Gone Eight Years Joseph Franklin Stone joined the U. S. Army in 1919, serving in Cob lenz, German)-. Last heard from in February, 1923 at Ft. Moultrie, Charleston, S. C. Parents dead. His aunt, Miss Nancy McPhail, Lumber ton, N. C., R. No. 5 wants to hear from him. Do you know him ? Have rou seen him? Miss Cora Creech Wins Pou Medal Miss Addie Barber A1 Close Second During the Four Years Work; Literary Address By R. B. House Mr. Robert B. House, of the State University at Chapel Hill, delivered the literary address be fore the members of the graduat-! ing class of the Smithfield high school here Monday evening in the ; school auditorium. A class of thir ty young men and women were awarded their diplomas by Mr. James A. Wellons, chairman of the school board, and their superin tendent made the statement that it had been a very fine class. The program opened with'a piano solo played by Miss Murphy Hall, a member of the music faculty of the school. Mr. I. W. Medlin sang a solo, after which the invocation was pronounced 'by Rev. D. F. Waddell, pastor of the Selmla Presbyterian church. The class salutatorian was Miss Addie Bar ber, who extended a cordial wel come to the large crowd that had gathered to do honor to the class of ‘27. -Superintendent Shuford introduced the speaker of the eve ning as one of his college class mates, who had been a public ser vant of North Carolina since his graduation from the State Univer sity eleven years ago, the very year when the class of ‘27 began its school career. Commencement | occasion, said Mr. House, cele brates the resolute character of the people of North Carolina. This state was settled because of the pioneer spirit. She arose after the Civil War to heights hitherto un known. Through the years her courageous spirit has1 been shown. North Carolina is now on the main highway of progress. Schools have I been established, but the eternal problem is to make use of the schools. A commencement occas ion is evidence that boys and girls ! are taking advantage of their op portunity. i Since lifzu wnen nwn. *-<• • Pou established the Edwin Smith Pou medal in memory of his son who gave his life in the great World War, this medal has been a coveted honor. It goes each year ito the member of the senior class who, over a period of four years, has made the best scholastic rec ord. This year this honor was con ferred upon Miss Cora Creech, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Troy 'Creech of the Sanders Chapel sec tion. Her average was 94 and 23-32 for the four years. 'Miss IAddie Barber, daughter of Mr. H. M. Barher, of the Polenta section, gave Miss Creech a close race, her iaverage for the four years being 94 and 8-32. This medal war i awarded by Mr. II. V. Hose clerk ^urn to page two, please / Three Houses In Benson Entered Officers Find Stolen Loot In House of Negro at Pine Level; Negro Es capes Three houses in Benson were entered by a robber Tuesday night, and officers late Wednes day afternoon located the man, who was a negro by the name of Arthur Rogers, but he made a dash for the woods and made his escape. The houses entered w'ere the residences of H. B. Brady, Ed Wall and T. R. Young. The negro entered the room of Miss Thelma Brady and stole practical ly every article of clothing which she owned together with a wrist watch. He entered the bedroom oi mr. i oung aim iuuiv ms tiwus ers into another room, from which he got eight dollars in money. No one was awakened and Mr. Young did not know of the theft until next morning. The thief entered the room of the daughter of Mr. Ed Wall, but she awoke and made an alarm. Her father got up and shot several times. The man made his escape from Benson in an automobile which he stole from the car shelter of Mr. A. T. Ryals. He came as far as Smithfield in the car, but aban doned it at the cotton mill. The car was reported to the sheriff’s office and Mr. Ryals who is a rural mail carrier now has his car back. Mr. Ryals states that his gun has also disappeared, though whether it was taken from his home or his car he does not know. A bill was found in the car by the officers which was made out by a grocery firm in Pine Level to Arthur Rogers. Constable L. D. Parker, Chief Stevens, Night Policeman Croon, of Benson, and Deputy John O. Ellington went to Pine Level Wednesday afternoon to investigate this clue. They found Rogers chopping cotton for Mr. Watson^ He and his wife were in the act of getting on a truck to return to Pine Level, 1t being time to quit work, when the officers announced that they had a search warant for Rogers. The negro lost no time in breaking and running. The officers followed in hot pursuit, but were unable to overtake him. The officers then went to the home of Rogers and found the wearing apparel which had been stolen from Miss Brady. Rog-ers came to Johnston coun ty with a highway force. Last February he married Mozelle Barnes, a Pine Level negro. He is very black, has high cheek bones, sunken cheeks, prominent eyes, and is a little dish faced. He weighs about 150 pounds and is about five feet and six inches high. When he made his dash from the officer's he was wearing a white shirt and blue trousers but no coat. ►TOWN COMMISSIONERS HOLD REGULAR MEETING The town commissioners met in regular session at the city clerk’s office Tuesday night. Only items of routine business were dispos ed of. Mr. G. R. Langston was appointed street foreman, Mr. S. IE. Hogwood, fire truck driver, ana Mr. w. Li. mutton, mgnt po | liceir^in. ! At this meeting the town attorney, Mr. J. A. Wellons, presented a petition asking that the section of the Henderson Clinton highway between Zebulon and Newton Grove be taken over by the State Highway Commis sion The petition will be sent to j highway officers. WORTH BOYETT TAKES SOPHOMORE HONORS The list of honors given out (from Duke University and pub lished in yesterday’s News and Observer contained the name of a 'Smithfield boy, Mr. Worth Boyett, ja member of the sophomore class the past year. Mr. Boyett also made freshman honors last year. FARM SCENES IN MEADOW TOWNSHIP Kenly Exercises Unusually Good Sixteen Boys and Girls Receive Displomas— Senior Play Enjoyed —KENLY, June G.—The last of" the closing1 exercises of the Kenly high school were held at 10:30 'o’clock on Friday morning. The program was opened by the sen ior class song and prayer by Rev. A. C. Summers. Miss Annie Nich olas, assistant county supervisor of schools, then gave out some pleasing facts about the school’s part in the seventh grade county examinations and presented to the thirty-three members of this grade (certificates of promotion into the high school. This was followed by a song by the grade arranged for i the occasion. Paul P. Grady, chairman of the school board, in his forceful witty style introduced W. A. Graham, State Commissioner of Agriculture. Speaking to a largely rural audi ence, Mr. Graham made an ad dress on the various phases of agriculture. He brought out the fact that Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and other great statesmen had made notable con tributions to agriculture. “Agri cultural interest must keep pace with the industries,” said he, “for the best welfare of the nation.” As his parting words to the sen iors he urged each to choose his profession early and then to make the most of it. Mr. Grady gave out the diplomas to the sixteen members of the grad uating class, G. T. Whitley read the scholarship honor roll for the school, and Rev. F. B. Joyner pre sented music prizes offered by Mrs. J. J. Edgerton for the most improvement during the year to Miss Elsie Grady and Miss Melba Watson. The Charles William Edg*erton Scholarship award Was won by Velmon Atkinson. Rev. W. B. Everett in behalf of the Kenly order of the K. K. K. presented to each graduate a copy of the New Testament. The fare well song of the seniors and the (benediction by Rev. Mr. Joyner i brought to a close another success ful year’s work for the Kcnly school. CLASS DAY EXERCISES. Before an audience that taxed the capacity of the auditorium on Thursday evening the members of the senior class presented their class play, “At Graduation Gate,” in which the class day exercises were incorporated. Written and elaborately costumed and staged by Mrs. Beulah Bailey Woolard, it came up to and exceeded the ex pectations of those who had wit nessed her former plays of this nature. Marching along the aisle through the auditorium formed by their (Turn to next page, please) / Two Days Meeting Co Commissioners Defer Action of Tax Col lector Until Wednesday June 15; R. E. Holt Suc ceeds Jesse Daughtry As Jailer The authorization of a county revenue tax-in accordance with the Revenue and Machinery Act of the recent legislature, a discussion of possibilities for County Tax Col lector, the selection of a new jail er, the ordering of four school elections, tax releases, and the us ual routine of hills were the high spots in the meeting of the coun ty board of commissioners which consumed two days here this week. The order passed authorizing the county to assess and levy a rev enue tax for the county was in the ■full amount prescribed and au thorized under the Revenue and Machinrey Acts of the General Assembly of North Carolina for the session of 1927. There is considerable intreest in who shall be made tax collector, and several applications were filed with the board this week. The matter was deferred for final dis positoin untli Wednesday, June 15. Among the applicants are W. F. Grimes, W. E. Barbour, Jerry George, and D. O. Uzzle. The new' jailer to succeed Mr. Jesse Daughtry, who resigned this week following the escape of four prisoners from jail, is R. E. Holt, former nightpoliceman of Smith field. Mr. Daughtry has served as jailer since last December. During the past two weeks, two members of his family have died and he has been forced to spend a good bit of his time away from the jail. Mr. Holt took over his duties Wed nesday. The four school elections order ed were in Bentonville, Selma, Mi cro, and Pine Level. Tax releases included the fol | lowing: John H. Jones, released of $1,750 tax valuation on town lots in Southfield listed through error. ! E. R. Gulley, Clayton township, released of $5,000 valuation town lot in Clayton. E. R. Gulley released of $3,625 on 60 acres of land in Clayton township which had been sold. A. M. Noble refunded $33.97 for 1921, 3922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 taxes listed through error in Sel ma township. S. :E. Lassiter Ingrams town ship, released $810 tax valuation listed through error. H. J. Corbett, of Micro town ship, released $900 tax valuation. C. R. Bridgers released of tax valuation on 36% acres of land in Beulah township in 1925 and 1926. S. H. Turner released of $950 on two lots in Selma. D. H. Stephenson, of. Pleasant . . ' t\ TOP—Left: Residence on "White Rose Farm,” belonging to W. V. Blackman, of Meadow Township. (Right): Flourishing field of Irish potatoes. Cotton is planted between the rows. (Bottom): Mr. Black man sell dewberries from this acre field in Raleigh, Durham and on local markets. MEADOW FARMER FINDS DIVERSIFICATION PAYS Walter V. Blackman Raises A Variety of Crops on His “White Rose Farm”; Puts Busi ness Into Farming Newton C. Myers, president of the East Tennessee Farmers Con vention, in a >ecent address at Knoxville made the statement that the farmers of that section have withstood the effects of the re cent agricultural depression bet ter than any in the United States, and he attributed this to a con structive, diversified program of ftfrrn, profits and livestock hus bandry. Wherever farmers have practiced diversification, whether in East Tennessee or in Johnston county, these are the farmers who nave weathered the storms of fi nancial difficulties best. Johnston coupty furnishes a splendid example of diversified farming in the farm of Walter V. Blackman, in Meadow township. With hay and £rain, hog-s and poultry, fruit and truck crops, and a surplus of everything to sell, it has not meant so much to him if cotton and tobacco have sold at low prices. Mr. Blackman’s success in farm ing, however, does not just happen. He does not depend upon legisla tion. He does not depend upon a time merchant. He does not de pend upon his banker, but he takes hold of the job himself and works his own head to solve his prob lems. He plans his farming pro gram ahead of time and knows approximately what is to be done before the time arrives to do it. By the tenth of last February he had his 1927 crop planned to the acre, and if one walked over his plantation today he wot$a find growing crops in something like this: Thirty-five acres in cotton; seven acres in tobacco; thirty in corn; four in peanuts; four in strawberries; two in watermelons; one each in apples, peaches, pe cans and dewberries. He also has oats and feed and sweet potatoes. He plants Irish potatoes for mar ket. In addition to pecans he has other nut trees which include the Japanese walnut and hazel nut. His orchard contains cherries, plums, apricots, pears and figs, besides three varieties of g-rapes— Concord, James and scuppernong. IA year round garden furnishes j vegetables for the table and a ■ milk cow and chickens supplement this diet. He raises his own meat, and raises more than enough for; home consumption. This year Mr. Blackman is con ducting what promises to be. an interesting experiment. Under the direction of Harvey Jordan, of Greenville, S. C., who is promoting the American Cotton Association and Better Farming Campaign, Mr. Blackman has planted two acres in cotton. He planted pedi greed Coker Cleveland No. 5, full one and one-sixteenth inch staple cotton seed. The seed were plant ed on April 16. On one acre he was instructed to use 200 pounds of kainit and top dressing after chop Please turn to page three Grove, released of $1,500 tax valu ation listed through (error. E. S. Edmundson Writes About Trip Visits Cotton Growing States and Passes Through Mississippi Flood Districts Mr. E. S. Edmundson, who re cently attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church at |E1 Dorado, Ark., and later visited |his brother, Mr. Wright Edmund son, at Waco, Texas, writes in terestingly of his trip. He pass ed through most of the cotton growing states and through the flood district of the Mississippi Valley on this trip. In an inter esting article written since his re turn Mr. Edmundson says: “As I’ve just returned from a trip through most of the cotton growing states I am writing to let some of my farmer friends know ■What I think of the 1927 crop. Or course we all know that our opin ion of the crop at this time of the year cannot be more than a guess. “The crops in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia arc good. I rode something like 3,000 miles through the cotton belt go ing and coming, and I doubt if any man ever rode this distance and saw any more fields of cotton and corn than I did. The crops in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louis iana are very poor on account of so much rain and floods. “I spent about a week in El Dorado, Ark., at a meeting of the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian church. El Dorado is certainly a prosperous city. It has a population of about 40,000. Six years ago there were only 4,000 people living there. This rapid growth was caused by the finding of an enormous amount of oil and g-as in this immediate sec tion. Every one seems to be prosperous and having a good time and they certainly gave us a good time in return. There is very little farming done in this section of the state as about all they think about is boring a hole in the ground. : “After leaving Arkansas I went I over in Texas and spent about a I week with my brother, Wright .Edmundson, who lives at \yaco in tne central part of the state. I went to Waco via Palestine and Valley Junction, which is about eig-hty miles south of Waco. I went this way because I could see more of the crops. From Arkan sas to Palestine, Texas, which is about 200 miles, the crop is late on account of too much rain, but around Palestine and on to Waco the crops are good in many places. On the 26th of May the cotton was high enough to hide a rabbit. My brother and I drove j out in the country and visited jsome of the best farmers. They all said that their prospects for | a crop were good. West Texas was very dry when I was there. |The farmers had not commenced to j plant cotton on account of the lack I Turn to page two, please i t\ Singing Society |,| Again At Benson Seventh Annual Meeting Will Be Held On the Fourth Sunday; About a Dozen Choirs Have Already Entered The public in this community is asked to remember the annual meeting- of the Tri-County Sing ing Society which meets at Benson on the fourth Sunday in June. This meeting will be the seventh annual meeting of the soaiety and indications are that there will be a larger attendance this year than ever before. The object of the Tri-County Singing society is to footer and encourage singing, both at church and at home to the end that ours will be a happier and more care free people. According to a statement by the secretary, Mr. J. B. Benton, of , Benson, there are already about a ‘ dozen choirs who are preparing music to be rendered that day. Mr. Bob Thomas will be on hand again this year with a super-excellent choir and new music. Mr. J. M. Core, with his Greensboro choir will also be oh hand. This choir won the loving cup last year and it is going to make a strong ef fort to keep it again. Mr. Henry Royall of Tees Chapel, winner of the cup year before last will be on hand with a choir. He has re cently returned from West Point Military school, being at home on leave of absence. He is among the best singers in the society and his choir is trained to render only the highest class of music. The Phillips Home choir, Mr. Milton Phillips leader, noted throug-hout this section for its beautiful ren ditions of popular and sacred mu sic, will also be present. This yeiir Mr. Phillips has two or three of the most beautiful selections ever heard which will be used on that day. These are only a few of the choirs which will be present. Last' year it was estimated that there were 15,l|00 people present in cluding local people, coming in a few over 1,600 automobiles. The order was good as always, there having been only one arrest dur ing the seven years existence of the society. Secretary Benton also announces that the contest for the loving cup will take place immediately after the lunch hour at 12:80, each choir to .sing two songs. A piano will be at the disposal of the choirs a!L day which may or may not be used in the discretion q( the lead er of the choir. The exercises will begin prompt ly at 10 a. m. One of the features of the meet ing this year will be the quartet singing by members of the Greens boro and other choirs. This will be worth coming miles to hear. It is also announced that the Hip- ' gins sisters of Greensborq, cele brated quartet singers, will he present and take part in the pro gram. There is every indication that all the music this year will be fat above the average. Services at Brogden There will be preaching at the Brogden school house at 3:30 next | Sunday afternoon by Rev. D. E. Earnhardt, pastor of the Methodist .'hurch of this city. The subject > will be “The Salt of the Earth.'* ; Advertise in the Herald AUNT ROXIE SAYS—i By Me— .. ■ ww Mi man has a lot uv faith woman suffrage an fish oil. In