North Carolina Newspapers

Don't .Forget Mothers' Day, Sunday, May 10 Obey That Impulse and Attend Church Services 1 »' ■ 1 I WATCH THE LABEL ON YOUR PAPER, IT CARRIES TRE DATE | YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRES VOLUME XXVI—NUMBER 24 GRIFFIN DENIES EVERYTHING , - "• * • • • • o • • ■ • • v ° # I # . o O —-O —" —o — —o— —o— —o— —o- Claims He Was Not In Mob Which Mutilated Needieman Both Sides Complete Taking of Evidence; Begin Rebuttal Testimony Saturday Morning SMALL PROSPERS OF FINISHING UP CASE BEFORENEXT WEEK Three Mcnduta, Julian Bul lock. Dennis Griffin, and Uaro Heath look the stand today. Thek statements and thoee of their wit aessse were all in when the court adjourned tonight. Dennis Griffin became confused by the strong at' tack of A. D. McLean, of the proe ecntion, and doee not make aa atrong an appeal to onlookers Julian Bulleck'a teatimony did not require much time. Clare Heeth makes out a atrong caae, and he established a good alibi. The State will begin rebuttal to—TOW morning at t o'clock. It ia net ex peeled by thnae connected with the trial that the ceee will he completed this week. Attorneys will require six hoars and it ia understood that the State will re quirf several hours asore la com plete He rebuttal. Shortly after the climax in the evi dence for the State had been reached him, the state rested its caae, and the " yesterday, when Needleman took the stand and told the tragic story of his arrest, his stay in jail, and the ex perience of the night when the mob look him front the jail and mutilated defense took the raim*. Only a few more witnesses appeared for the Slate, and thoae only bronght out identifications of Griffn, the Sper rows, and Bullock, defendants. Thoae .testifying were Wilson and Hubert (Odffin, John Grey Corny, and Bon iLdllq*. (Corey stated why he "told jdl," being the first man from his to do so. Ma aaid that he felt it was his duty to toll everything and He did it that he would fool "right" nnee more. Sartor Sparrow First Defendant F. W. Sparrow, sr., tbe first defend ant to come up entered a denial, and gave hia story, practically as follows: Ho saw John Gorkin and his son talking about throe o'clock Saturday afternoon and Gurkia told him tbe circumstances, making the remark, "1 could cut Needleman from ear to ear." To this Sparrow replied "That is too bad." According to his story, he .old the boys that Martin County ecu Id get up its own mob. t.e claimed that he was in his store at 12 or 12.1* Saturday night, after wa.da putting up his truck and going home. This statement was borne out by several witnaases. His wife snid that she worked with him and that he came home shortly after she did. W. J. Croom, a Kinston motorcycle policeman, declared that he saw Spar row at 10 or 12 o'clock, and hia-car was standing in his yard at 1) min utes to 1- Two other policemen gave substantially the same testimony. The officers' statements were weak ened whop it waa developed by crtie examination that Sparrow's nephew was police commissioner in Kinston and that theee man owed their jobs to him. A. M. Eaaon, Albert Brown a whole sale grocer, H. B. Harrison, insurance agent, a Mr. Hedgepeth, J. C. Ken nedy, eity alderman of Kinston, B. T Jones, attorney, and C. W. Howard, ■ Jr., a* ot Kinston, we*oehar*cter wit nesaea for Sparrow, and all of them gave him a good name. The evidence of Sparrow completed the day's work and court was ad journed Just before nightfall Friday Mruing BeociOfl Judge Sinclair knd called court foi • o'clock this morning, and at the ap pointed hour ho' b*gnn nnother lonj day's work. He ia Ihfcig op to hit State-wide reputation of "gettinj things done." Thaw to no thne k» on account of noiae and hubbub. A 1 those who can comfortably get inald. arc allowed to com* in r ® om - Ikjj ■pribiii T 1 ** few but who have ad gran THE ENTERPRISE respect for the operation of the law that they keep their seat or stand until a session is finished before they move. , i Bullock Makes Denial Julian Bullock, of Robersonville, who is in no way connected with the fam ily of the young woman, but who worked in • barber shop with Dennis Griffin, in Robersonville, was the sec ond defendant to come to the stand, Bullock is only 23 years of age. His testimony was that he left their batber shop at 1 o'clock with Griffin and went around to Jessie Ben Rober son's, Griffin's father-in-law. He and Griffin stayed there until about 3 o'- clock ST quarter past, when he and several others went home. The witness was then turned over to the State's attorney*. He denied to them that he saw either policeman of Roberaonville or any of the boys who had "submitted and said they came to Skewarkee Church." He also denied making a statement to Police man Coltrain in which he alleged to have said to have been to William ston and helped to emasculate Needle man. He admitted, however, thai Dennis Griffin went off for an hour and a half Saturday morning. Dennis Griffin Denies Everything Henry Dennis Griffin, a native of Martin County, 39 years old, who lives and runs a barber shop in Roberson ville, was put on the stand to answer the charge of jail breaking and mu tilation, he having been identified by a number of witnesses as the man who performed the criminal operation upon Needleman. His story, as he related it, was that he was asked by Elder Stone and John Gurkin on Friday night to come down here that night, but he refused. He did not see Roy Gray nor call to him on Saturday night. He says he work ed fairly hard all that night, and when he began shaving Joe Abram he looked at his watch and saw it was 12.M. Being tired h« worked slowly. About one o'clock he says he and Bul ioek left the shop, went to Mr. Rob erson's, and met Mr. and Mrs. Tom Barnhill ami others. He left there a boat three O'clock and did not come to Williamston until Sunday afternoon. Cross-examination was begun by A. D. McLean. Griffin became so rat tled and ill at ease that it was evident to every spectator that he was sled ding on mighty thin ice. His voice quivered and became husky when the questioning would put him "through such rigid tests that he was hopeless ly confused. "I heard the testimony of the wi - nesses yesterday. Some of them were r my Wnspeople, but they did not Ap pear to be friends. I see no reaa n why they should lie on me unless It waa. to save themselves," ha began. He then went ahead with his story, being led out by Mr. McLean. It was a rather humorous situation when the witness was asked if instead of mu tilating Needleman he was circumcis ing the young child of Jesse B. Rob erson en the memorable night. He was prompt in replying to this, "I am no doctor, and did not prescribe for the baby and did not suggest giving it paregoric." He said that he came to /William ston Saturday morning to be at the preliminary hearing of Needleman (which waa never held), who was eharged with assaulting his cousin, Effle Griffin. White here he saw john ny Gurkin and Tommy Lilley and they told htm the plan which was to get Needleman out of Jail. Gurkin said he was going to Kinston, but did not say what for. Before leaving Wil liamston he visited the jatt and then returned to Robersonville. He ad mitted telling Grady Smith, Edgar Johnson, and Sherwood Roberson what Gurkin had told him, but de nied mentioning it to Bollock. At few minutes later he became eonfueed and said that he did tell Bollock, bet cor rected that statement and again said he did not. Griffin stated that plane for Um mob ware talked in hi* ahop during the * Willianiston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 8,1925 dt.y r and severalVxpressed a desire to join it. He also said that he saw Hoy Gray, but he was drunk and on the street. In substantially the sanu words, he told about going to to Jessie Ben Robersons as did Bullock. He added t|)at he went 'o Mrs. Stone's the next day—Sunday—and yhile there Sparrow made the state ment that he held Needleman but he could identify' no one there'. "Elder Stone also said his eyes were bad, and he could tell no One there. "If 1 quivered when Needleman pointed at me yesterday, I did not know it yet such an accusation against anyone, guilty or innocent, would make him shudder," he said when asked why he apparently lost his nerve when Needleman racogniied him yesterday as the man who had oper ated on him. Until the last the defendant-tlaimed that he was not guilty of being a member of the mob. He claimed that he did not even know what the war rant was for when he was in the Tar boro and Nashville jails. the last question, "would you admit it if you had been a member if the party ?" he replied, "1 don't know, but I was not in it." Clarence Taylor, Charlie Vick, Jessie Ben Roberson, father-in-law of Griffin, Tom Banihill, Mrs. Tom Barn hill, Miss flattie Andrews, and Mrs Emma Andrews, of Robersonville o nearby, all testified that the testimony of Dennis Griffin and Bullock was cor rect, that they saw them from 1 until 3 o'clock Saturday night at Mr. J. B. Roberson's. The occasion of them all being there was the critical illness of Mr. Roberson's baby. Mayor Cox and J. M.'Sparks said they saw Mr. Tom Barnhill on Sat urday night, and he was getting a pe tition signed as he had stated ia, his evidence. At this point court recessed for the lunch hour. Friday Afternoon Session In the afternoon session OUie Rog ers was the first witness called. He testiAed for the defense, saying that Dennis Gviffin had tried to get bolt clippers on Tuesday before the affair. At this point the Sta'e called char acter witnesses against Mr. and Mrs. (Continued on page 4) THE ENTERPRISE WEEKLY SERMON Honor ihy hither and thy mother. —Eiodu >0:12. "If I were hanged MI (he highest hill. Mother •'■be, O mother u'mine, I 1 know whow love would (ollow me •till, J Mother o'mine, O Bother o'mine. If I were drowned in the deepest sea. Mother o'aUne, O Mother o'mine, I know whoae teara would come down tO M*, Mother o'mine, O Mothrr o'mine. By REV. C. O. PA KIM > Next Sunday is recognised through out this land as Mother's Day. That is, it is one day out of the year when the mothers of our land are honored «nd revered. To the man and woman who has shared the joys of life with mothers—those of us who have any sense of our debt to mohterhood—we know that not only in our land; not only to our own mothers but to mothers everywhere, living or dead, the deepest respect, admiration, and pure wholesome love is the smallest and least we should bestow upon them. Perhaps none of ua fully realise the debt we owe the motherhood of our country. For all thnt many of us are, in the truest and beat sense, is due to the careful training and unceasing prayers of our mothers. In our child hood days it was mother who was closest to our lives, sharing our joys and happiness, banishing our cares and sorrows, and with her gentle kiss healing our bruises and bringin l smiles out of tears. • , The mothers are perhaps the biggest things God hi-s ever made. For no true mother heart but is big enough to hold her child and her child's welfare or disgrace, no matter how latae and awful that diagrace might be. This has kept many men and women from giving up in despair This mother love and mother heart has saved many from ruin. The coming Sunday—Mothers' Day —there will be many mothers' hearts sad and heavy, because of the care less lives of their children. Many mothers now living will not be here on Mothers' Day next year to caution and plead with their sons and daughters; can't we men and women—on this Mother*' Day—make their fieart* glad by letting them know of our love for them. If your mother is living near you, pe to see her and spend the day close by her aide. Give up your other plans and give the day to mother. Take her to church; spend the hours of Mothers' Day with her; carry her some little present—she will think it the finest | EVERETTS SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT Will Begin Tuesday With" Baccalaure ate Sermon, and Continues Through Friday Special to The Knterpriae) f Everetts, May B.—Commencement will begin at the Everett* High School on Tuesday evening, Muy l'2th, at which time we will have the bacca laureate sermon. On Wednesday even ing, May 13th, there will be an op eretta; on Thursday evening, May 14, the commecement address and presen tation of diplomas. Also on Friday morning, May 16, Ihere wilkbe an adu cational address at 11 o'clock, follow ed by picnic on the grounds and a ball game at 3.30. Grimesland will play Everetts at this time. The public is cordially invited to attend all these exercises. Mrs. I.ouis Bennett Entertains Philatheas The I'hilathea class of the Baptist I Church were delightfully entertaine last Friday night by Mrs. Louis Ben nett, at her home in the Tar Heel j Apartments. The North Carolina Baraca-Phila-1 thea convention to be held in Kaleifcli June II to 14 was generully discussed. Mrs John Ward arid Mrs. Lcwrence Peel were selected as delegates to at tend 'lie conventior. A very interesting flower contest followed anil was enjoyed by all Mi** Margaret EveretCwon the prti", which was a box of DeCoty's Powder. The hostess, assisted by Mrs, Joe l'eiulej.,. served delicious ice cream und cake. thing possible, no matter what it ntay be. If she is away in some other town "or city, write her and tefl her your love for her. Spend the day just as you would if she was with yo.u. An.! if Cod, in His love and greater under standing, has caught her up to give her the eternal joys of His prese'H'e, then in memory of her und for her sake do the finest and best you can for mother. Every mother wants her boy or girl to lie a true, good man or woman. If in the past year you have been careless and neglectful, have failed to live right and good, then on Mothers' ** Day—trusting in your mother's God—place yourself the tender mercies of Christ, and live in his heart, in his way, for mother. Let Mothers' Day this year be the biggest and best day in your life, and you can do this if you will try. want you to do. Local Schools to Hold - Closing Exercises All Next Week; Beginning Sunday KLAL BAKBIXi iii IS SERVED ijiO\ iMSO.i Everett iiome Near l ulmyru.Sieue ot Distinguished Uailu-riiiK Aim Commencement at (lak l it> The country hollk' 'of tlie laU 1u .. 'u ' Everest, on ihe ' road, now owned In h.s chrldien, w.; the scene of the hospitality t*xi■ lu Governor Angus \\. .Mrl.i'.m a.. 1 Cniet Justice ami Mix i. I tavilu, i»I lowa, wiih abiiut UK) oilier iniiu-l guests from all Over the State, when ilie Misses Everett entertained with a real .Martin County barhoiue'oll Wed 'lii'wlaj af el- the gradua'inx e at the Oak City High School. When you mention tin- Kvercit | home in this section of the State tli.e first thing hat conies 10 imiut > an home, a vtry line l.trm.' and the hofne of nine typical -North. (' ii olinians yjf the old school; Ttrr~rlTTl"' dof the late Justus Everett and .Will'. There are tive sons, S. ,J. EVere U_ Ciiie.iville, It. O. Everett, Durham,, lit 11, Alphonso, and Uobert. W. liur ell. all of I'ulmyra, and four wirls„> Mn i rlrtti» Kverett., Mrs. Eltei j -Kett, Mrs. Blanche Harrison, and Miss Mnrgaret Everett, of Pulrpy ia. The farm is operated by Robert \\ -K V|i| V~t,- -yoUUM the Slate's best, farmers. Hen and Alphonso are also farmers and just as ' K'll ones as Robert. S. J. Everett is 11 successful lawyer of (ireenv»!!••, end has been chosen, to represent his j di.'trlct in the State Sella'e for the lust two terms, which position lie now hojds. H. 0. Kverett, .the bachelor of the lamily, lives in Durham, and is one of the leading lawyers in that set won of the Stale lie has represented; Durham County in the legislatiHe i n , several terms, lie also take.-, much interest in the big prohlms all'fftiu»r! the uplift of the people Upon arrival at the home-lemonade was served.: ttovpynor Mfj.ean, Ind ;e Eaville and Cilonel Benehani Cameron | each planted a white oak i ntlie lar • ({rove fronting the home. An-orches tra wan on hand to (five its touch -to the occasion. This was nut, howevi 1 1 an equal'competitor for applause with a negro quartette, Which was coin-' posed of four yountf ne(fro men who live and work on the farm. The 'old Southern melodies were the most popular songs. The call for dinner drew the hun gry nuests unnei a beautiful arbot specially designed and , covered and decorated with North Carolina pine, the nectar of health and base of wealth. The table was neau'ifull decorated with (he na'ional color- and at each plate was a b|y«utifut hand-painted lag of North Cuioliiia. "Mai -'.ill, 1774," and the Words "lowa-North .Carolina"' were oh eitli ■ of the flag in honor of the giii'si The dinner consis'ed of ic-k 'n dle, Martin Count* buibecuo, wi'b 'I the dresSiltgs*, anrt fleam, rakf', Jtirt j strawberries. S, J. Everet', on behalf of the fain ily, gave a a hearty welcome to ■ V present! Mr. Ashby Dunn, of Seo land Neck responded. Judge Faville was called on ate' - made a very catchy speech, finishing with an original poem tlt»iliea li*>l lowa and North Carolina Colonel Benehani Cameron made 1 short talk on the Western 'Hemisptv'r, and international good roads, 'which was followed by a t» T >i hv Cove nor ' McLean. After this Rev. C. O. Pardo dismissed thfr«ssembly with a prayer Among the distinguished guests from outside the State was Mr S. H. Venable, of Atlanta, Oa. Mr. Vennble is the donor of Stone Mountain as a Confederate memorial, the memor ial of whieh so much has be»n said in the press recently. THE WEATHER For North Carolina: Partly cloudy end nrobablv occasions I showers to niich* and aSturday, preceded by fair in w*t fwrHwi totiiah*.— northeast and east winds. ;;i; t !>»■ ks u li.l. find oi'R .1 Vv - \ t \l« HhfOY 10,IStiO ' )>' ■\\l! II \ (oiN r> . AliU.ilU:!) 1898 Dr. I okm to iViake Ad orers t»« (iruduuies . s hitrs.ilay Ni^ht n.i'k- tii" liev.mitiii(i ot tlie ■ t ;• . of the Wil j V.o j' 'i ' : L 1:1: iiiy h .Si; I i 11. ij-s At- I '" chinch ' '> Aim lit on Sun.il/iy 11.-v. Morn ifn E. Vi' 01 oT the Episcopal •>'' ' 1 i' lira, will preach • ■> 1 -i." *.• • iiion I. th'j grad ii ! 'i. • 1'! 1 *ll ili ■ hii 1 , Ii -el lon I \1 r. ' '.v j 1' >ri ■ iy I '. !..* of Hie lo- I 1 ! ..!• t li. mi * 1 1 ■ i.f ' iie stronif i. t (uracil- 1 - and iijoAt popular min .. -t-::-1-" I, ■ V" -11!ilr'ls1011. I I In. ii ... •'% 1., ;i s.i.'i, a 1 the ■ ' pi no pupils of 1 ■ AI: 'l* Mi -1 • i-, will ifive j I In* r .I'lii.i.d recital. The following rpi ..If r-' 111 ,1 ili tv reiid"i ei|: 111 11 u 1.1 rt .11 ...| I ,ui ia," Lucille r./serl. -- ' Is luniintal iiii'l-, "Stand 'by the Jii V.'i in.} I Vtry and Josephine Harrison. TT> ti;.m iit.d solo, "Murche .Nfili , ii Maiy Mi'li.s.a Andrews, Irfs'ruinentui solo, "Merry Games," 1 ili.nlryij C.ji'nai.u;,. \ u-ai sole, "pr.'fty l ittle Solig . I. -* I," 1 ■ 1 ace Barnliill.' LiiUiuneriUU— duet, "Capricante," ■II . 1 d Miriam Courtney-, 'e -illo, "S'irle by Side,'' .1 >ll., Moo. e." Ills' 1 union al sol r, "VV lie+e the Blue .j It'll,- llioiin. I.l'tl-ie Joll) - =. \ .rill' >olo, "l 'i- Hoot i w 1," Ui'bec i ,1. H .1111. 01.. I h ~i u 1 neii lal *>olo, " I - X\ allz,' 1 1 nft 11 ii a M.nu'iiu • . - to, H,ta|ips Houj M i lag 1 ( oui 1 ne\. \ui.il .-■ 010, "Ti,,l, Uehin, ' Sum-' M; > llainhill.. . »• . Instrumental si,hi, "M rch," ;-;[die IVrry. .... . * Insti unieWtal solo, "V rise," Susie j M. Hai^ibill. Instruiiiental dlie , "I p-To-Daie March, N. I'errv and .1 nTifri.-on. Instrumental solo, "Autumn Blox -ogis," l!u It Ward. " Instrument al djuel, "I'olonaise Mary M - and I. ui.i ('ilea. i , Lihuriis, "SprniMtiine." . . — l — the recital is. over cerioicaies will be (jiven to the members khhlu atiii(; from the granrmur sclioof to the hijiri school. . •• Tlie rl.'f. of the griul tla'ii'liii. class--will be held Wednesday nildit, 8 30, TI " program vyiU be 111111 (iii and ori«inaf. The members of the cla-s will be tried in tlie court of tductt iiinal JtljiiHtmi nts for vurioui. oitence-. Mia' occurred during their four yeai 1 of high school. It will be hiriiiorou.i" 1 limitifhoul'and thoroughly eniirynlile. Tliursdin nil ht a' (he -same hour tlti- jfr-tittt-r'-imr TrsVrciwrr of the high - I.no' will hi held. Dr. Hubert M: po i';, , of T\r«k • Eorest College, spn of lh., VV. I I'oteat, president, antl hint In-■ r- Wfiealer Martin, jr., will I'. 'h. literary address. Dt. j I'li'it, a *v -)lLknown man, in wluca-' ' 1 ioiiy] il-of t' e fSouth, is the l ai ■: 0 C.f v evejr(l textbooks, lie is a In 111 of fhi clsssicJ, a fluent itijd itlricti've" n'ake.'e and the address is :mi to 1 • very y.oml • .•. • Aftci; tin' "speech the _clasV, coiii p.y il ~.f Mls.se • l«tuia Orleans, Mar l'iiim Mnnn'ng, T6sr[ihinie Sykes, i'at t . l .iimond.Min, \'Lvinn Taylor, Prances H i I l-'llei! Cowi n, ;tni|; Messrs R, Cf. M l ' I•rtf,.!ii, ir., Will'.im H. Harrison, , 1 I M Taylor, Cedrge Harris, 3 r -» I' I, rt M .-■ iinin'' ""iijamin .Cour'ney, ; a>i I John I'. Book-r, jr., will receive 14ne?i' diploimi IV! 4 r4»r Al 1 odjre Next Week Brother K. W. assistant grapd lecturer of the (Iraiid. Loilge of North- tlnroHna. will be in "Willtam sttai ne*twai:k. He wilL lecture at pigh* and day ltiritig that >veek All Muster Masons and especially tho.i# compi -imr 'he teams are urireil .1 1» bo night at , clock This is most important.