Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / May 7, 1925, edition 1 / Page 5
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Don't Forget Mothers' Djay, Sunday, May 10 Obey That Impulse and Attend Church Services VI ' 1 » . * ' * * \, I ■ ■ I SPECIAL MID-WEEK EDITION VOLUME XXVI—NUMBER 23—a GURKIN TELLS HIS STORY OF CRIME ■g § a a jo v o —o— »' • —o— —o— —o— —o— —o— —o— —q — —o- - —»■ i■- —»— - —«*— —o— 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 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 trial will con sume the balance of the week, at least. ' i . Court waa convened promptly as the clock struck nine. The courthouse was so crowded that it took consider able time to make room for the at torneys and defendants. The names of the 200 special venire men were called 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 Towgship, and H D. Griffin, Roy Gray, and M lock, of Robersonville. Tho eelMtor announced the illness of F. W. Spar row, jr., and upon motion of his court sel his trial was continued temporar ily. t ■ V Thfc selection of a jury waa then bogv and the State passed the jury from the twelve regular juroif and eleven of the special veniremen,- con suming only about an hour. Defendants Hsve 28 Challenges H After the State had been satisfied, each defendant, Jus attorneys, began to call over the names and pass on them. F. W. Sparrow, sr., by his counsel, F. 1. Sutton and G. W. Cooper, only consumed ten minutes, and used but one challenge with cause and two for cause. A. E. Dunning, of counsel for Stone Gurkin, and Grsy,"passed the jury Stubbs and Stubbs then took the jur ors in behalf of Dennis Griffin and Julian Bullock. They made several challenges without cause. Critcher A Criteher and John Daw son passed the jury for Claro Heath. The court had ruled that each de fendant might have tour peremptory challenges, which would make 28 for the defendants; and that the State should have two for each defendant, or 14 challenges. Neither side, how ever, exercised its full rights by set ting aside aa many as it waa alle#ed. The following jurors were "-chosen to pass on the fate of the defendants: j H. B. Barber, of Jamesville; Jack Leggett, J. R. Harrison, S. H. Mob ley, and J. D. Cherry, Williamston R F. D.; Paul Edmondson, R. H. Sals bury, W. A. White, L Fleming, and H. J. Haislip, of Haaaell; C. D. Perkins of Hamilton; and W. S. White, of Williamstoa &. 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 Must* 25c and 50c THE ENTERPRISE! HF . * «• « • * After the jury wa» completed and •worn court recessed until 2.30. Afternoon Session 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 nler of Judge Sinclair, who insist by order of Judge Sinclair, who insist? hosts which thronged the court halL With everyone standing court was fipnaally *aaned and John Gurkin was •■Bad as • witness for the State. Solicitor Gilliam made the direct ex amination. He testified that he was M years old, and married to Chloe Griffin, the sister of Miss Effie Griffin, now Mrs. F. W. Sparrow, jr. According to his story, on Friday before the mob took Needleman out of jail Elder Stone and Dennis Griffin came to his home late in the after noon and told him to come to GrifflnV barber shop in Robersonville that night. He, with Mr. Stone, went as planned, and*besides himself, Grtffln and Stone, six or eight others were pi esent Plans Made Friday Night At this meeting plans were made to do aomething to Needleman, but rain kept them home that night. The nelt 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 Klux Klan. f Gurkin said he then went to Kin gton, accompanied by his brother Clarence. They told him to get all the crowd he could and come 'o this coun ty that night and meet them at 12.30 at Skewarkee. Hie fathei, F. W. Sparrow, sr., said that Saturday nifht would be a bad night for him to get away. That night, Gurkin soys, he went to Skewarkee at 12.30 antt drove his owti car. He was accompanied by Eldei Stone and J. T. Smithwick. When hi arrived there he found a crowd wait ing among whom were Albert Gurkin, Clarence Gurkin, Alfred Griffin, V, il son Griffin, Hubert Griffin, Allen Grif fin, J. H. Coltrain, Ben Lilley, John G. Corey, Tom Lilley, also F. W. "§par row, jr., F. W. Sparrow, sr., Claro Heath, and Dennis Griffin, and some others whom he did not recognise. GriOa Takes Leadership Young Sparrow introduced his father to Elder Stone and John A. Griffin, and after a few minutes con sultation, Dennis Griffin lined the men op, and there were around £6 in the treed. Someone told D. Griffin to give or ders and he would see that they were earried out Wilson Griffin at this tine mU that they ail ought go whereup J. H. Coltrain said, "John Grey, let's go." A voice replied to this, "No one leave, or get hurt." After taking off the car liences Gur kin said he went to the sheriff's home. - Prior to going, however, it was diss cussed as to what to do to NeMle rqan. Some saidW kill him and said to mntmte him. Dennis QHSS suggested fating him to the river, killing him, and throwing him in. To which Gorkin says he answer ed "Per God's cake, dou,*t do that" Some suggested breaking the jafl, Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, For Thursday Moi ninp, May 7, 19>>i n 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 oT Mexico and northern South America, is a pe culiar-looking animal, having neithet hair nor hide, but is covered with shell from the enjl of his tail to the end of £is 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 Baid to get the keyi. Just before leaving Gurkin said he saw Claro Heath, who staySff 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 usked Hje sheriff to come out, and he answered that his wife was afraid, and asked them to go awuy. 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 ihey would not. After leaving the sheriff's residence he followed the lluick, which went to the jail. There he saw A'" bert Gurkin, Henry Griffin, F. W. Sparrow, sr., F. W. Sparrow, jr., and Claro Heath Gurkin claims he did not go to the Jail and did not know what became of Smithwtck -at the jail. Eight or, ten men came out with the prisoner and four men got in the Duick with him. The car) he thought, was driven by Sparrowrjr. They went back ttr the church near the grave yard, and he, still accom-1 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 can't do jt." He gave Needleman his choice of death or castration. Needleman lay down, after taking out h s handkerchief and spreading K on the ground under him. Grflfin pulled down his outside clothing and then ripped his underclothing, took I out his knife and performed the op- I 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 45 yards up the road, gating home about 2.80 or 8 o'clock. He said that Smithwick had a gun. The witness also said that Dennis Griffin had been to his home since the affair and asked him to deny all that he had told and get the Others to do so, too. *» This was the substance of John Gur kin's testimony. He has made a very complete confession to the soßeifor since he first turned State's evidence. .Ciw Fmliilfaw 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 he did not know how many were present at the grove, but that he heard some one say 28 er 24. He did not know whether that meant the number present or not, but supposed / JSSI ■■■■ (Continued en pig* four) F. IV. Sparrow Jr., Very 1 Much Better Tonight F. W. Sparrow, jr., who in in the county jail awaitinK trial, was acutely nick Tuesday nigh!. The attending physicians thought it might lie scarlet fever or dip theria, but he was very much bet ter Wednesday, and they have di- ( agnoaed his trouble an an acute attack of tonailitis. TOBACCO CO-OPS ELECTION MAY 9 Farmer "Members Will fast Ballots Saturday at County Seats in Three States The election of directors for the To bacco Growers Cooperative Associa tion for the reason of 1925-26 begins next SatilfHay, May U, when fhe to bacco cooperatives in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina cast their ballots for the delegates who are to name the association directors from the twenty- wo districts in the tiyree 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 that day. The dele gates 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 tlie coming season, and members o? the as sociation from every county in the to bacco belt are bring urged to attend the annual mee'ing at Raleigh on May 19 to confirm 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 whan the members from three States will meet fif Raleigh to (liscusa with the directors and general manager of the association the plans and policies for the coming season. The tobacco association is already partially putting into effect the policy regarding directors that was recom mended by the committee which It tn- I vited to investigate its affairs, and J it has been known for some time that several heads of departments in the| association ftjrr£ voluntarily declined j reelection. It was pointed out by the i Investigation committee in connection j with its criticism that "the highest j percentage of deliveries has heen made in the sections where directors' are employed on a full-time basis.' Notwithstanding this fact, the with drawal of heads of depan ments from the associa'ion'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 practice since inviting the public officials of three States to make a frank criticism of its management and js urging a full attendance by its members for further discussion of plans and policies at the annual meet ing in Raleigh on May 19. V ** More than 50,000 members of the association live within Sft 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 this" month. "y 1 - - - Mrs. Charlie AT Coltrain Dies in Robersonville ,' Mrs. Charlie A. Coltrain died at her home in Robersonvjlle Monday morn ing at the age oi 87 years. Old age may be said to have been the cause of her death. Mrs. Coltrain was at onr time a resident of Williamston, living here for several years. The funeral was held at the ChHs tian Church in Robersonville Tuesday and burial was made at the J. A. Roebuck farm In Cross Roa». ■ Town ship. " _ \ ' Shoppers Here Yesterday Mesdames L. W. Gurkin, E. K. Jackson, Jerry Hayes, and Don Davis, of Plymouth, were shoppers here yes terday. | rOWN ELECTION QUIET AS USUAL Women Vo.ers Show Two Hundred Per lent Increase in Number, Three Voting This \ear The town election yesterdn> was, 'as per usual," very ijuijH. After the exci.ement of the convention of some wwks ago was over little attention has bi en turned to the election. There was a quiet whispering 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 to vote on. — K. L. Cobrun was jelected mayor, and W. T. Meadows, U. O. Moore, G. 11. Harrison, K. I*. Cunningham, and C. 11. Hassell"were 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 19211 one lone vole was cast by u woman; yesterday three visited the I 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 $5,000 From Sheriff Harris Washington, May 4. -The office off James H. Harris, sheriff; of Beaufort! County, was entered and the safe rob bed lust night of $5,000 in cash, in cluding S2OO 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 useil no explosives, but worked the combination of the safe. Modern Woodmen Meet Held in Elizabeth City Messrs. M. L. Tremain, of Winston Salem, F. M. Brown, of Greensboro, I It. iL Uw uiia, of Lexington, and H. V. Kees, of Oakland, Calif, were in (own this week en route to- Elizabeth City, where they will attend fhe State council of the Modern Woodmen of America. ' . , Mr. Tremain is "State deputy, Messrs. Brown ami Owens are district deputies and Mr. Kees is national deputy of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Kees stated that he founii North Carolina ranks among the great Slates of the Union. In road building, schools, public building, and many other thingH it apparently out-! classes any of the many States he has visited. Benjamin S. ('lark Dies in Chester, Va. Mr. J. B. Clark, of Belhaven, Uiissedl through town Tuesday tnorning on his way to Chester, Va., to attend the] funeral and be at the burial of his brother, Benjamin S. Clark, who diedj early Tuesday morning. He was buried at Petersburg on Wednesday, at 2 1 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 Jloberson, of MartfrT County, survives] him. Elm City Physicians Visitl>octor Warren Dr. W. E. Moore and Dr. S. Putney j and wife, of Elm City, visited Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Warren hew Tuesday. Br. Moore is not only a practicing physician hut is a real orator and stands high in the political councils, of the State. Br. Rhodes Taken to Hu^itsl 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 bat he is getHfcg alongwvery well. He was accompanied to Washington by »rs. D. T tayloS, D. T. Tayloe, Jr., and J. H. Saunders. Oak Ctiy High School Is Host To Many Distinguished Guests . Gathered for Commencement Highlights From (iovernors Talk The following are a few high lights and observations from Governor McLean's address at Oak City Wednesday: "I have plowed in n-w ground ♦ behind an ox; but the days of the ox earl are none, and lire, days. O.f j good roads eutoui ibiles -have comer 11 — -r~ - f "I wh raised on a farm and i raised (o work; I ant proud of it." [ "True education consists in-ex- ,1 periinental a.. .veil as academic | Igarning." "N r o man can be a successful farmer without keeping books. It is necessary to know tjie cost of produc'ion; the coet of marketttur In f re you ciii tell whether yot,t havw n profit, or loss." "Kvery 1 county "needs a farm demonstrator." "My grandfather WHS one of the kind who believed 111 education fi«r h«* doct( I, ''. he lawyer, the pie.tch er, but not for.the farmer. Ih' provided for the education of three of liTiv -sons whtvfli lie' be lieved would enter..the profe-, i sional life, but the fourth, Allen, | who was to h"' iPfa.iinut'v h" uid .leeded no education. I till na farmer needs education in order to take advantage of the be>t; „ in order to learn to produce a crop at the least expense aiM to j market that crop to the best ad-, vantage; in o>der..to use the "lat est and best modern mi;tlin]:. id farming. "I wan to see a broadcastinir statiun .i>t the State college in ' Kale -igh, and a receiving set in every rural schoolhou.se in Norih Carolina. Let the people hear over 'lie radio the best lectin t'*-r and instructions from the 'depart ment of agriculture; economic" from the department of revenue." .! "* Chief Justice, erf the Safe of 1 owa, the Hon. F, I''. Faville, iii comparing North Carolina and lowa, saiil: "North Carolina has UK) coun ties and liyva has practically the name. We have 90 "North Carolina has two kind a half million punply'wj has lowa "North 'Carolina has its prob .. Icms in rural life and so has lowa North Carolina has a-wonderful system, of hard-surface roads atuf . lowa hopes to hq,ve. some day." Will Not Serve Meals , At Shrine Ceremonial (Special lo The Enterprise) Vyilson, May ti. Tin .\«rUou Shrine Club wants to inf.oihi iili .»Viblt.s of Sudan Temple that flu. noonday lunct eolij also the banquet, has. been cut j out, and that no meabvWill he jtived at the spring ceremonial io be held in Wilson May 20th„ In accordance with what they be lieved to be tha views of the t)i\an, the Wilson extended the) invitation for this year s ceremonial ■ witjh the understanding that the ndon-j day meal would be elimina ed as part Of the official jjngrapi. . - ! • The membership "f Sudan has increased to suc.i proportions that the expense in connexion with the banquet has become so great ihat the Divan of Sudan Temple -decided to eliminate the bauque,. in the futtTre'as a part of the pflkial programs of Shrine Ceremonials. The Wilson Shrine Club ha: engag ed the Woman's Club and other-or ganisations of WHson to prepare and serve at a nominal cftst, Ki order 'to take care 9/ the Visiting Nobles and their friends. The hotel., and restaur ant 6f the city will also open their doors and take care of as ninny as possible. (All papers within Jurisdiction of Sudan Temple please publish.) SPECIAL MID-WEEK EDITION EST \ISI.IK11KI) 18!» ( hie!' Justice Faville, of low a, Also Present and Makes Short Address l'lie graduating of the Oak ' ■ J liivjli School yesterday morning H.e most auspicious ever held in the progressive town of Oak City. It i . tndei d rare that such a gather- ' iiik V»f nwtittotoip Lake )>n active part in the gi-adu.aing i ot' a high •sclniol. V\ liile a processional 'was being I hived by thi' lathoro'elchestra Gdv efiuir A. \\ Mclitan, tie- graduating 1 la. . Hon. Tl. O. Kverett, Hev.. C. O. t'ardu, Kupt. IT. A. I'ope, Judge F. F. Faville, of lowa, and Col Ueneham j-uiuecuu JiitL-icd.liie tmiliUiruuu and look their places on the stage.. The . invocation wa.- made by Rev. *l. I'aido. precVding a chorus, by the nioaiheis ol' the senior class. ' Then I'fol'-TsSdr tl. M. AillStev, sup- - erinti lulent of (lie Oak City schools, .jut I'iidur'd Men K t). Kverett, a Mar tin Counts and Oak City citizen origF •null.v. .vim is considered one of the leailin.i- citzens-of the-StaJi?, and wfio is ni\w. Iniuir in I >urhanL* 1 *—• ..•-•iiUuith liu,c, urn ... 01. \AI ) piCHsiOig add* gland . m. IU.HI iuii'u cno governor,' ■. .*i(i.»i iii h nit.. ....a . eu'ovK, nic . 1 . »lli) ..s - u 100 vtmv 1(0111 U-- ..-I.n.v. ami n,UCU V ionai 0.1-Kwaiu . a., aj, h'u, ui tin. same way ' •'.miiii.in .u.l.eaii woum insulate ami .1, I'ninc-.. -eiuc ei is,- ,ir our i?i.ale gov v. 1 .ailei.L 11,. HIUg so Ulllt bUsltiebs (i, iiu iplj.s in 1, s opeiauou and aavo ei' great' oonniionwealsii iroiu tuian .ll ite-sUmlieii. Couutiuing he salU -1 .... iw leiuo urfu.ll they made A VS. McLean .. iHi.-iuess mull of Uio State, ihe.r Koveuioi. "lie is a national t'lg i.iii nuuiniit« promiiituce as head of" , Ua 1 Finance Hoard, "bis work' in in eapatiiy having been the salva- . ;jwi/ot the country." • I lia'goveritor in a lew words, which 1, --. with sincerity, expressed bis ' ui beiijg |ne. i'iil. —.As he hatl v piouiisi'd, he outlined 'i pi actical eeli, having previously said that he wnubl iioi niake any fonnal address. -iaiuea 10(1 broader thun acadenMC • Irr-r-tme. wa.'' the trasifr-rrt tirs TCrTTaTkn. "Kducation, the so many different meanings, is a development of all Ihe faculties so thai they may In of use to the individual ami to the Sta e. tiod has provided other means i.f education other t-han book learn ing The three It's are no more. Tn fact, one of the most essential phases of education, the nicossity for train ing in ci l izensPrip, i-i almost overlook ed. I.ike training should be given till the people, equal opportunities pre sented ;il(, cbiildren, which would give the rural districts better schools." „ Healthy laving linporlant "Another phase of education which should lie of vital importance," he sfeid, ":is training in principles of healthy I,vine. Healthy men and women make the best cilizens." ' • Industrial' training wits a third_ phase 'of education which he men lioiM.,. I'ov.er to capitalize our ma terial i soun-es hrintrSi prosperity anil advHi is ges. Our good roads are a > 'suit of .th ■ educational crusade nade by Avcock. Agriculture-is the fnrmlaittm stoi,.' for development in our section 6f the State, anil it has tti>! been S'i prosperous as it should 'have been. The remedy is agricul-t tural education. Need Good -Marketing System The Governor stressed the need of a marketing system by saying that "if the farmeis arid producers had a got'd maiketing system, ihey would get resul s. As it is, the producer averages gett.ing only STI pet cint of the dollar that his p»«iluce sells for. Another mark, of is ina bility to produce at a-minimum cost. "Farmers must be educated. Old methods are gone. We must adopt , modern methods. i*he days, ot the ox cait are gone. Slip-shod methods are gqne. The farm rs must umhrstand business method* or they are lodt This is one of the prime ne»w!s of the - State today and education through th« (Continued on page f»r)
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 7, 1925, edition 1
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