Newspapers / The enterprise. / May 7, 1925, edition 1 / Page 3
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Don't Forget Mothers' pjay, Sunday, May 10 Obey That Impulse and Attend Church Services - : i - • ' _ - - I .. . .1'•" _ . .. ' ' ; A. " : . SPECIAL MID-WEEK i EDITION VOLUME XXVI—NUMBER 23-* GURKIN TELLS HIS STORY OF CRIME _ _ _ - ■ * - *• J O O _ _ © O 1 O ■ ll © O " O 0 1 O O O ■ ■O* ■ Q- . Education Is Subject of Governor's Oak City Address Puts Entire Responsibility For Crime On Dennis Griffin; Young Sparrow's Case Is Postponed on Account Illness V Only Complete Examination of Two Witnesses Wednesday Afternoon; Gurkin Claims That Dennis Griffin Performed Operation After spending Wednesday morning in the se lection of a jury, the special term of court called to try the alleged mob members got down to the cases proper at the afternoon session. John Gurkin was the first witness called by the State, and his story puts the responsibility for leadership of the mob, as well as for the criminal operation performed on Joseph Needleman, on Denhis Griffin, Robersonville barber. When court adjourned for the day, only one other witness besides Gurkin had been examined, and present indications are that the tMal will con sume the balance of the week, at least. Court wu convened promptly u the clock struck nine. The courthouse was so crowded that it took consider able tine to meke room for the at torneys and defendants. The names of the 200 special venire men were citlled and all answered ex cept two. The State then called for trial Claro Heath and F. W. Sparrow, of Kinston, E. C. Stone and Johnny Gurkin, of Griffins Township, and H. D. Griffin, Boy Gray, and Mtn M lock, of Sobenenville. The eeliettor announced the Illness of F W. Spar row, Jr., and open motion of his coun sel his trial wm continued temporar ily. « TW selection of a Jury was than be*# and the B)nt* passed the Jury from the twelve regular jurors and eleven of the special venireman, con suming only about an hour. 1 Defendants Have M Challenges , After the State had been satisfied, each defendant, thrawgfTELs attorneys, began to call over the names and pass on them. F. W. Sparrow, sr., by his counsel, F. L Sutton and G. W. Cooper, only consumed ten minutes, and wed but one eh&lleDf* with cause and two for cause. A. R. Dunning, of counstl for Stone Gurkin, and Gray,~paae«4 the Jury Stubbs and Stubbe than took the Jur ors in behalf of Dennis Griffin and Julian Bullock. They made mwd challengee without cause. Criteher A Criteher and John Daw son passed the Jury far Claro Heath. The court had ruled that each de fendant might halve four peremptory challenges, which would make 28 for the defendants; and "that the Stote should have two for each defendant, or 14 challenges. Neither side, how ever, exercised its full rights by set ting aside as many as it was allo#et. The foUowing Jurors were-chosen to pass on the fato of the defendants: H. B. Barber, of JamesviUe; Jack Leg Rett, J. B. Harrison, 8. H. Mob ley, and J. D. Cherry, Wiiliamaton R. F. D.; Paul- Edmondson, a H. ssls bury, W. A- White, L *». Flaming, and H. J. HaisUp, of Hassell; C. D. Perkins of Hamilton; and W. S. White, of Williamstoi B. F. D. ' , Strand Theatre TONIGHT Ramon Navarro and Alice Terry in "THE ARAB" One of the most entertaining pi c - tures to be presented Show Starts 8 P. Special Mmtff 25c and 50c THE ENTERPRISE After the jury ww completed and sworn court recessed until 2.30. Afternoon Sees ion Yesterday afternoon wnen court convened it was impossible to begin proceedings until a part of tho crowd had been cleared out of the court room by rder of Judge Sinclair, who Insist by order of Judge Sinclair, who insist hosts which thronged the court hall. With everyone standing court was | fltnanllp opened and John Gurkin was saftad aa • witness for the State. Solicitor Gilliam made the direct ex amination. He testified that he was 88 years old, and married to Chloe Griffin, the sister of Miss Effie Griffin, new Mrs. F. W. Sparrow, jr. According to his story, on Friday before the mob took Needleman out of Jail Elder Stohe and Dennis Griffin came to his home late in the after noon and told him to come to Griffin's barber shop in Bobersonville that night. H«, with Mr. Stone, went a* planned, and beaides himself, Grfffin and Stone, six or eight others were """"piaas Made Friday Night At this nweting plans were made to do aomething to Needleman, but rain kept them hone that night. The nett day he met D. Griffin and Tom Lilley in front of Culpepper Hardware Co., of this place, and they had a conver sation in which they decided to let young Sparrow know about their plans. At this time some one asked if Sparrow was a member of the Ku KlujT Elan. Gurkin said he then went to Kin ston, accompanied by his brother Clarence, They told him to get all the crowd he could and come J o this coun ty that night and meet them at 12.30 at Bhewarkee. His fathei, T. W. Sparrow, sr., said that Saturday ni fht would be a bad night for him to get away. That night, Gurkin says, ha went to Skewarkee at 12.80 and drove his own car. He was accompanied by Eldei Stone and J. T. Smithwick. When In arrived there he found a erowd wait ing among whom were Albert Gurkin, Clarence Gurkin, Alfred Griffin, V» il aon Griffin, Hubert Griffin, Allen Grif fin, J. H. Coltrain, Ben Lilley, John G. Corey, Tom Lilley, also F. row, Jr., F. W. Sparrow, sr., Claro Heath, and Dennis Griffin, and some others whom he did not recognise. Griffin Takes Leadership Yeung Sparrow introduced hie father to Elder Stone and John A. Griffin, and after a few minutes con sultation, Dennis Griffin lined the men np, and there were around 48 in the crowd. Someone told D. Griffin to give or ders and he would see that they wen* carried eat Wilson Griffin at this time said that they all ought go home, who roup J. 9. Coltrain said, "John Grey, let's gs." A voice replied to ♦his, "No one leave, or ton get hurt.'* After taking off the car liences Gur kin said he went to the home. t Prior to going, hpwever, it was dis cussed as to what ta. da to Neadlo nian. Some said to kill him and eeid to mutilate him. Dennis ftfi suggested taking him to the river, killing him, *«d throwing him in. To which Gurkin says he answer ed "For God's sake, dont do that" tmm ta-M* 0» *. Willianiston, Martin County, North Carolina, For Thursday Morninir, May 7,1925. Weil-Known Weather Prophet Visitor Here Mr. J. E. Monarch, who lived in Wil liams on several years ago, now a resi dent of Lynchburg, Va., has been in town this week exhibiting two strange animals, a ground hog and an arma dillo. The armadillo, a native of Idexico and northern South America, is a pe culiar-looking animal, having neithei hair nor hide, but is covered with shell from the end of his tail to the end of his nose, and being from two to three feet in length. It is said that the little animal can travel 20 miles an hour. The ground hog is a native of North America, and is far famed as a weather prophet. and other said to get the keys. Just before leaving Gurkin said he saw Claro Heath, who stayWf with the crowd all the time. Albert Gurkin directed the crowd to the sheriff's home. Sheriff Refused Keys About eight or ten cars were in the crowd which went to the sheriff's. They asked thp sheriff to come out, and he answered that his wife was afraid and asked them to go away. He did not give them the keys. John Grey Corey and J. H. Coltrain said to him, "Johnnie, go get those fellows and let's leave." He says he tried to get them to do so, but they would not. After leaving the sheriff's residence he followed the Buick, which went to the Jail. There he saw Al bert Gurkin, Henry Griffin, F. W. Sparrow, sr., F. W. Sparrow, jr., and Claro Heath. Gurkin claims he did not go to tlie jail and did not know what became of Smith wtck at the jail. Eight or ten men came out with tho prisoner and four men got in the Buick with him. The car, he thought, was driven by Sparrow, Jr. They went back to the church near the grave yard, and he, still accom panied by Smithwick and Stone, got out, and all of the occupants of the Buick got out except Claro Heath, who was sitting at the wheel when seen. The two Sparrows, D, Griffin, and others that he did nofltnow were hold ing Needleman in the road. Griffin Performed Operation Dennis Griffin looked up at him and asked him to perform the operation; to which he replied, "I can not." Den nis then said, "Damned, if I cant do jt." He gave Needleman his choice of death m castration. Needleman lay down, after taking out h's handkerchief and spreading R on the gsbund under him. Griffin pulled down his outside clothing and then ripped his underclothing, took out his knife and performed the op eration. Meanwhile the Sparrows were nearby. Gurkin says .he was about 7 or 8 feet away. After the mutila tion Griffin 'old Needleman that if he got on the stand and swore against an American girl, he was dead. Gurkin testified that he left right then and picked up Smithwick about 46 yards up the road, gert'ing home abont 2.80 or 8 o'clock. He said that Smithwick had a gun. Ilia witness also said that Dennis Griffin had been to hia home since the affair and asked him to deny all that he had told and get tho othvrs to do so, too. 1 This was the substance of John Gar ldn's testimony. He has msde a very complete confession to the aoHeifor since he first turned State's 'tridance. Cross-Examination \ Upon cross examination the witness held substantially to the same story he had made on direct examination. He stated that no one was masked at the church grove, but that later most of them put on masks of various kinds. He said ha did not know how many wen present at the grove, but that h$ heard some one say 28 or 24. He did not know whether that meant the number present or not, but supposed (Continued on page four) F. W. Sparrow Jr., Very Much Better Tonight F. W. Sparrow, jr., who i>. in the county jail await in* trial, was acutely aick Tuesday night. The attending physicians thought it might be scariet fever or dip t her is, but h« was very much bet tar Wedneaday, and they have di agnosed Ilia trouble as an acute attack of tonailitis. TOBACCO CO-OPS ELECTION MAY 9 Farmer Members Will Cast Ballots Saturday at County Seats in Three States The election of directory for the To bacco Growers Cooperative Associa tion for the season of 11)25 2ft begins next Saturday, May 9, when fhe to bacco cooperatives in Virginia, North Carolina and South Cnrolina cast their ballots for the delegates who are to name the association directors from the twenty- wo districts in the States. The counting of the ballots will be gin at noon of next Saturday in the courthouses of every important to bacco-producing county of the Caro lines and Virginia, and all ballots must be in by noon of i.hat dny. The dele pates who are elected at this meeting will gather in district meetings within the next few days to nominate the di rectors from their districts for tTie coming season, and members of the as sociation from every county in the to bacco belt are being urged to attend the annual mee'ing at Raleigh on May 19 to conflrm the nomination of the directors from the entire area. There is much interest in the elec tion, and the annual meeting of the tobacco growers cooperative associa tion this year, and a large attendance is looked for wfcen the members from three States will meet fif Raleigh to discuss with the directors and general manager of the association the plans and policies for the comlngseason. The tobacco association is already partially putting into effeA the policy regarding directors that was recom mended by the committee which it in vited to investigate its affairs, and it has been known for some time that several heads of departments in the association Thrre voluntarily declined reelection. Tt was pointed out by the investigation committee in connection with its criticism that "the highest percentage of deliveries has been made in the sections where directors are employed on a full-time basis.' Notwithstanding this fact, the with drawal of heeds of depanments from the associate's directing board marks a very definite step in a poli cy which the directors believe will work for the eventual good of the association. The tobacco association has an nounced other changes in policy, and the practise since inviting the public officials of three States to make a frank criticism of its management and urging a full attendance by it* members for further discussion of plans and policies at the annual meet ing in* Raleigh on May 19. More than 60,000 member* of the association live within a hundred miles of its headquarters at Raleigh, and with the present keen interest In the affairs of the association a record breaking attendance at the annual session is looked for thii" month. 1 ■ f "J t Mrs. Charlie ATColtrain Dies in Robersonville i Mrs. Charlie A. Coltrain died at her home in Robersonville Monday morn ing at the age of 87 years. Old age may be said to have been the cause of her death. Mrs. Coltrain was at one time a resident of Williamston, living here for several years. The funeral was held at the Chris tian Church fy Robersonville Tuesday and burial was made at the J. A. Roebuck farm in Cross Roa«» Town ship. Shoppers Here Yesterday Mesdames L. W. Gurldn, E. R. Jackson, Jerry Hayes, and Don Davis, of Plymouth, were shoppers hare ye#-' tArdftv. leraay. TOWN ELECTION QUIET AS USUAL Women Vo.er* Show Two Hundred IVr Cent Increase in Number, Three Voting This *ear The town flection yesterday" was, "as per usual," very quiet. After the exci>ement of the convention of some weeks ago was over little attention has b» en turned to the election. There was a quiet whimpering in the air sev eral days ago that there would be an independent ticket brought out, but it never materialized, so there was only the ticket, indorsed by the convention 'o vote on. K. L. Cobrurt was elected mayor, and W. T. Meadows, 0. O. Moore, G. H. Harrison, E. P. Cunningham, ami C. B. Hasseirwere duly elected town commissioners. Fifty-six votes were cast, a net gain of five votes over the election of 1923. The percentage of women voters in creased 200 per cent at this election. In 1923 one lone vote was cast by a woman; yesterday three visited the polls and voted. This brings the per centage of inicrease of women voters this year over last quite a bit over that of the men. J. S. Cook and T. W. Thomas were poll holders for the day. Robbers (Jet .115,000 From Sheriff Harris Washington, May 4.—The office of James- H. Harm, sheriff of Beaufort County, was entered and the sufe rob bed last night of $5,000 in cash, in cluding S2(A) in gold, the latter the property of the sheriff's wife. The balance was tax money. There was no clue to the robbers. It was discovered this morning that the looters used no explosives, but worked the combination of the safe." Modern Woodmen Meet Held in Elizabeth City Messrs. M. L. Tremain, of Winston- Salem, K. M. Brown, of Greensboro, ft. S. Owen*, of Lexington, «uul H. V. liees, of Oakland, Calif, wore in town this week en route to Elizabeth City, 4 where they will attend {he Statu council of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Tremain is State deputy, Messrs. llrown and Owens are district deputies and Mr. Itees is national deputy of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Roes slated that he found North Carolina ranks among the great States of the Union. In road building, schools, public building, and many other things it apparently out classes any of the many States he has visited. Benjamin S. Clark Dies in Chester, Va. Mr. J. B. Clark, of Belhaven, passed through town Tuesday morning on his way to Chester, Va., to attend the funeral and be tot the bt(rial of his brother, Benjamin S. Clark, who died early Tuesday morning. He was buried at Petersburg c|n Wednesday, at 2 p. m. Mr. Clark, for many years cashier of the Bank of Roper, became ill about, four years ago and has since been an invalid. His wife, who was Miss Lee Roberson, of Martir. County, survives] him. , - Elm City Physicians Visit Doctor Warren Dr. W. E. Moore and Dr. S. Putney and wife, of Elm City, visited Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Warren here Tuesday. Dr. Moore is not only a practicing physician "tout is a real orator and stands high in the political councils of the State. Dr. Rhodes Taken ta Hospital Dr. J. S. Rhodes was taken to the Washington Hospital yesterday after-' noon and operated upon immediately after his arrival. The latest news from his bedside Is that he Is getttfcg along very well. He was accompanied to Washington by Bra. D. T. Tayloe, D. T. Tayloe, Jr., and J. H. Saunders. Oak Ctiy High School Is Host To Many Distinguished Guests Gathered for Commencement Highlights From Governors Talk The following are a few high .lights and observations from Governor McLean's address at Oak City Wednesday: " "1 have plowed in new ground ♦ behind air but the days of the ■" ox cart are gone, and Uie'diys of good roads :.nd eutom ibiles have come." '"I *ui: raised on a farm and raised to work; I am jiroud of it." "True education contiisfs .in ex , - perimontal u« .veil, as academic learning." "No man tan be...a successful farmer without keeping books. It is necessary to know the cost of • ■— produc'ion; the coat of marketing - hef re you can tell whether you haver a profit or loss," county needs* a farm demonstrator." "My grandfather was one .of the kind who believed in education for -the doctor, the lawyer, the preach er, but not for the farmer. He provided for Ihe education of three of bin sons whom lie be lieved would enter the profits-' » sional'life, but the fourth, Allen, ' who was to h" a farmer, ha said leeded no education. Hut un farmer needs education in order to take advantage of the best"; in order to learn to produce a crop at the least expense and tn market that crop to fhe iiesV ad- ' ' vantage; in order to use the lat est and best modern method.-, ot farming. "I wan to see a broadcasting station at the . State college in Raleigh, and a receiving set in .every rural achool house in North Carolina. let the people hear «ver the radio Ave best lectures and instructions from thtf depart ment of, economic* from the of revenue." Chief* Justice of the S ate of lowa, the Hon. F. F. Faville, in comparing North Carolina add lowa, said: "North Carolina has 100- coun ties and lowa has practically the same. We have {W "North Can/Tina has two and a half million so has lowa -"North Carolina has its prob lems in rural life and so has fowa. North Carolina*has a wonderful system of hard-surface roads and , —lowa hopes to have some day." Wili Not Serve Meals At Shrine Ceremonial (Special to The Enterprise) Wilson, May ti.--Thi \»dsop Shrine Club wants to infoini uli Nobles of Sudan Temple that the noonday luiul-| eon, also the bani|uet, has been cut out, and that no meats will lie staved at the spring ceremonial to in Wilson May 20th. . in accordance with what they be lieved to be thd views ol tiie Divan, the Wilson Shrinp„Club extended the invitation for this year s ceremonial with tha'understunding that the noon day meai would be elimina ed as part of the official program. The membership "f Sudan -Temple has inci*euscd to sucii proportfons that the expense in connroiten with the banquet has become so great that the Divan of Sudan Telaple decided to eliminate ,the banquet in the future SB a part of the official programs of Shrine Ceremonials. The Wilson Shrine Club has engag ed the Woman's Club and other or ganizations of Wilson to prepare and serve food at a nominal cAst, fii order 'to »ake care of the visiting Nobles and their friends. The hotels and restaur ants of the city will also open their doors and take care of a? manf as possible. (All paper* within jurisdiction of Sudan Temple please publish.) " • " v .SPECIAL MWWEEK EDITION ESTABLISHED 1898 ( hief Justice Faville, of lowa, Also Present and Makes Short Address to „ . Tht;"gradu.Uing exercises of the Oak t r y H ijjh. School yesterday morning ivi ie A lie ino.si auspicious ever held in the progressive town of Oak City. It is indeui rare that sucli a gather ing of notables iaki an active part in the graduating exercises of a high >c'hool. * V\ hile a, , processional was being played by the Tarboro eichestra Gov ernor A. VV McLean, the graduating class,, Hon. li. U. Fverett, Kev. C. 0. I'ardo, Supt. H. A. Fope, Judge F. F. Faville, of .lowa, and Col lieneham ( amyron. ,'aterod the auditorium anil took tlicjr places oil the stage.: The invocation was made by Rev. ~ Mr. l'aido, preceding a chorus by the membeis of the senior cluss. Then Professor It. M. Ailisley, sup erintendent of the Oak City schools, introduced Hon. U O. Everett, a Mar tin County ami Oak City citizen origi- who i> considered one of the pending vit/.ens of the Stal*, and wRo is now living in I>urham. ..... xiiuitD uvvmiiiM .u 01. v«i> pieasinig ami grand in.tioui nc iiuiu.iu>.eu mo governor, v y..ipui uicj linn .>.iii .IJIVCK, UMJ w|m.s.ic *vlio .aVtii ItnJ Svaie I linn 1h ... !.«!.> aiiu . luucuiiduai ti.icuwaiu- IH.W., uiuv ni law sui.ie way mmioui itici.ean woUUI itguiate (tnu .iii.iouutft- (.tuciei o> in our State gov- Ci iiuieiit Uy iijssituting suunu business piinnpies Tn us opemiyni and savo oe jiieat conniionweali.li from tinan .ll destruction. Continuing he said J in, the vvisilotiv t>i tlu people was .. iiov.il when they made A. W. McLean u I adiiig business man of Hie State, ihnr governor. '"He is a national tig- IIIIH attaining proiiuuiuii;- as head of Uu: War Finance Hoard, his work in th..-. capacity having been the salva tion. ot the country.- —. , 1 lia-gpvernor iii a few words, which i. H;; with sincerity, expressed his I, at being ^ — pi ionised, lie outlined a piactical ■ pi'V'cli, having previously said that he uould iioi, make any* formal address. Kduca'ion broader thun academic i., ning wa.- the basis ol his remarks. the word with so many dili'erent meanings, is u development of all the faculties so that they, may -bi of use to the individual ami to the Sta e. Gpd has provided other means of education other than book learn ing. The three It's are no more. TnV ■fact, one of the most essential phases of education, the naceaaitv far train: ing in citizenship, i; almost overlook efl. Like training should be givengall the people, equal opportunities pre sented all chiihiren, which would give the rural districts better schools." . Healthy Living Important "AnVither phase of education which .-.houlil be oP vital importance," he said, "is training in principles of healthy living. Healthy men and women make the best citizens." —lndustrial training was a third phase of .education which he men tion*..i" -I,'ov. er to capitalize our ma teriai r Atiuiees bringfe prosperity anil adviinligeH. Our good roads are a r .'suit of th educational crusade nade by Aycock. Agriculture is the found*! ion . itone far development in out; section 0 f the State, and It has RY»t been BO prosperous *s it should! have been. The remedy is agricul tural education. Need Good Marketing System The Governor stressed the need of a marketing system by saying that "if the farmeis and producers had a fcoed maiketing system, they would get resul s. As it is, the producer averages getting only 3S "ppr cent of the dollar that his produce sells for. A rfother mark of iKsificiefSf Is ina bility to produce at a minimum coat. "Farmers must be educated. Old methods are gone. Wo must adopt modern methods. H'he days of the ox cait are gone. Siip-abod methods are gone. The farmed must understand | business methods or they are loJt This is one of the prime needs of th* State today and education thr/iugh th* (Continued on page foir) J
May 7, 1925, edition 1
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