ladison County
Library ;
wai. -c- 23783
BO
VOLUME 71
MARSHALL, N.C. THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1972
NUMBER I
Davis Trial
Nears End
Here
Testimony was completed
Wednesday afternoon in the
trial of Earl Davis, charged
with the murder of his wife,
Mrs, Ruby Jean Plemmons
Davis, on December 26, 1966 at
their home in Walnut.
The trial started here Monday
morning in a special term of
superior court with Judge
Thomas W. Seay, Jr., of
Spencer, presiding.
The 'jury is composed of
Buncombe County residents.
Davis, who has been a patient
in Dorothea Dix Hospital in
Raleigh, is represented by
Attorney Joseph B. Huff.
Solicitor Gyde M. Roberts and
Robert "Bob" Swain are
prosecuting for the State.
Lawyers are scheduled to
start their arguments to the
jury this (Thursday) morning
and the jury will start
deliberations following Judge
Seay's charge, expected today.
Rural Housing
Specialist Here
Next Week
Thurman Burnette, Rural
Housing Specialist from the
Farmers Home Administration
in Raleigh, will be in Marshall
in the afternoon of February 3
and the morning of February 4
untO 11 ajn. at the Farmers
Home Administration office in
the Citizens Bank Building.
Burnette wil be availabe to talk
with builders and developers in
regard to developing rural
housing sites for non-profit
developers and all developers
who are interested in helping
applicants '.obtain building sites
as weI as all people in the area
who are interested h housing.
The public is invited to come
and make suggestions which
will improve the Rural Housing
program of the Farmers Home
Administration, voice any
complaints' or ask any questions
they might have. The session is
to be veryiiformal with no set
program-Anyone fciterested in
rural bousing; is invited to come
by sndwith Burnett.
p ii ;m h'i i ii i i I i in i. ii mm. 1 1
CMgressmaa Roy A. Taylor of
Black. Mountaia Tuesday an
nounced bit candidacy for
reelectloa as Representative tf
the 1Kb Congressional District
in Congress. He has forwarded
fcs ri'. rg fee t the State Board
f I'.Vc :i.ns in Ralc'ra.
County Red Cross Goal Exceeded;
$3,235.55 Raised
The latest ideas and
materials for building and
remodeling will be on display at
the 1972 Housing and Building
Products Show in Charlotte on
February 8.
The annual event, co
sponsored by the Carolina
Lumber and Building Material
Dealers Association and the
North Carolina and South
Carolina Agricultural Ex
Building And
The recent membership drive
fat 'Madison County for the
American Red Cross for the
local branch was highly suc
cessful, it was announced at the
annual meeting held at the
French Broad EMC lobby
Wednesday night. -
Norris Gentry chairman of
the local brand) of the Ashevifle,
Area Chapter, stated that latest '
reports Indicated J3.235.55 was
raised. This exceeded the goal
of $3,150.00 by $84.45. ;
Chairman Gentry told the
directors and other kiterested
citizens that he was more than
t
tension Service will contain
some ISO exhibits featuring the
latest in home building, major
components and related ser
vices. It will be held in the
Charlotte Merchandise Mart,
located at 2500 East In
dependence Blvd.
According to Linda Harrell,
Associate Home Economics
Extension Agent in Madison
County, the exhibitions will be
Remodeling Display Feb. 8
pleased with the fine work done
by the workers in various areas
and especially thanked donors
for their contributions.
"All workers did a marvelous
job and 1 would especially like
to thank the workers and donors
of Hot Springs, Shutin and
Spring Creek for their generous
contributions,'? Gentry said.
' In : other official business,
Mrs, James Cody, of Marshall,
was elected to fill a two-year
vacancy on the Madison County -board
of directors. Other 1
members of the local board'
were re-elected for . their
1
designed to give people a
chance to compare the latest
ideas and materials used in
building or remodeling a
house from the luxury type to
the modest dwelling. Con
siderable emphasis will be
given to getting the most for the
housing dollar.
Complimentary passes are
available from the local County
Extension Service Office
previous respective terms.
Nominees to the Asheville
Area Board of Directors were
elected and will be announced
next week following the Area
meeting in Asheville.
Time No
.Stands
. . Page 2 -
17 Freight Cars Derail.
.Here Saturday
Marshall residents living
along Main Street and nearby
areas were suddenly
awakened about 4 o'clock
last Saturday morning by the
deafening noise of crushing
metal, steel and iron as 17 cars
of a Southern Railway freight
train heading toward Asheville
from Knoxville derailed here.
Two buildings near the track
were heavily damaged as cars
plowed into the rear of each
building. A retaining wall
between the building was also
damaged.
Fortunately, no one was in
jured in the early morning
wreck which was by far the
most sensational train wreck in
Marhsall's history.
Five of the cars ran into the
French Broad River and others
were tilted on their sides from
Upper Bridge Street to the
railroad depot.
Traffic was stalled for hours
at the crossing on Lower
Bridge Street and the bridge
across the river.
The derailed cars carried
general merchandise, including
lumber, twine, and hundreds of
tons of U. S. No. 2 yellow corn.
Cargo was scattered around the
derailment scene.
An estimated 300 feet of rail
were torn up and more footage
bent, arp .otherwise, damaged
Various parts of freight cars,
including wheels, springs and
debris were strewn along the
railroad.
Girl Scout
Cookie Sale
Starts Friday
The annual cookie sale by Girl
Scouts and Brownies will get
under way Friday, Jan. 28. The
scouts will be taking orders for
cookies from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11
Cookies will be delivered from
Feb. 28 to March 18.
The cookies come in five
flavors: mint, butter flavored,
pecanettes, peanut butter and
assorted sandwich. The cookies
are delicious fresh and freezer
wrapped. Each troop receives 5
cents for each box sold. The
remaining profit is used for our
local camping programs such
as Day Camp and Resident
Camp at Brevard. Almost 4,000
scouts attended these camps
during the 1971 summer.
Camping equipment is also
purchased. For example 12
boxes will buy a baker tent, 60
boxes a mountain tent, 14 boxes
a 3 gallon water jug.
Anyone interested in buying
cookies may contact any Girl
Scout or call 649-2593 or 649-3602.
Please buy and support this
wholesome program for girls in
our community.
Huey Attends
Installation
Charles W. Huey, President of
Madison County's Young
Democratic Club, attended the
installation of statewide officers
in Charlotte Saturday.
At the Charlotte session, the
keynote address was delivered
by presidential hopeful Sea.
Hubert H. Humphrey. National
YD President Bob Allen of
Ariaona presented to outgoing
N. C. President Charles Win
berry a plaque honoring foe Tar
Heel Club as the nation's moat
outstanding dub, as chosen at
the national convention last
November la Hot Springs, -Arkansas.
Longer
Still"
Today.
A large derrick arrived on the
scene about 10 a.m. and
crewmen worked all day and
late Saturday night getting the
wreckage cleared away and
repairing the tracks. Cars
blocking the main track were
lifted to the side in order that
trains could start moving.
THOUSANDS
VIEW WRECK
Thousands of persons flocked
to Marshall Saturday to view
the wreck and watch workmen
clear the debris and cars from
the tracks. Ropes were quickly
put up in certain areas so
spectators wouldn't hinder the
work or get too close to the
leaning cars and the damaged
buildings. Main Street was
jammed with cars but traffic
was kept moving smoothly by
overworked policemen. Some
motorists, however, showed
little feeling as they pulled up at
service stations and other
vacant spots, some locking their
cars for hours.
Many persons were still
viewing the results late
Saturday night, Sunday and the
first of this week.
A battery of Southern
Mausbie Ball
4-H Fund
Project To
A 400 pound steer calf has
been donated to the Madison
County 4-H Clubs to be used as a
fund raising project. Tickets
will be on sale beginning
Monday, Jan. 31, and may be
purchased from 4-H club
members, leaders, and Ex
tension agents for $1.00 each. In
addition to the steer, there will
be a second and third prize.
Second prize will be an RCA
seventeen inch, portable, black
and white TV set, and third
prize will be an RCA clock
radio. All prizes will be given
away Saturday, April 15, at 2
p. m. at the Courthouse in
1
IX M. ROBINSON st ManaaB,
kai bee re-elected at director
of the Asheville AgricvJtorat
Development Council for D7I
representing Madam Denary.
The efectiea leek place at the
annual meeting at the 18-raaty
area development atsedatiea
hi Aibevffle last week. Charles
L, Rassell ef Traasylvaala
Ceaaty, pablle relations
supervisor ef the OUa Car
poratioa was elected president
of the , rgaaUatlea.
a mi nn... in
By early Sunday morning the
expert Southern crews had laid
new rails and train traffic
resumed. Several more days
will be required to completely
clear the wreckage.
Most heavily damaged was
the rear portion of Coal, Feed
and Lumber Company. The
Railway policemen were on
hand to prevent looting.
Many youths found "one-day
employment" as officials hired
them to salvage hundreds of
cones of twine scattered along
the block-long wreck area.
Local telephone workmen and
crewmen from the French
Broad EMC also assisted in
disconnecting lines and
replacing them when
necessary.
One Southern Railway of
ficial stated that he ap
preciated the fine behaviour
and cooperation shown by
spectators.
Huge vacuum machines
arrived Sunday to draw tons of
yellow corn from the derailed
cars and load into trucks.
Mausbie Ball Dies At 76;
Headed French Broad REA
Mausbie J. Ball, 76, of Rt. 5,
Marshall, died early Tuesday,
January 25, 1972 in Oteen
Veterans Hospital after a
lengthy illness.
He was president and one of
the organizers of French Broad
Electric Membership Corp., a
veteran of World War I, a
member of French Broad
Masonic Lodge No. 292, AF and
AM and a 3&id degree Scottish
Raising
Begin
Marshall. You do not have to be
present to win.
Money received from the
project will go to the N. C. State
4-H Development Fund as part
of Madison County's share in
the State-wide Development
Fund drive to raise $750,000 to
be used in expanding and
developing new and better
camping facilities and ex
panding the Youth Exchange
Programs for 4-H youth in
North Carolina. Madison
County's goal in this drive has
been set at $1,800. Plans are
being made to reach this goal
during 1972.
Genell Fox Retires From ASCS
Miss Genell Fox, Chief Clerk
and Chief Program Assistant at
the Madison County ASCS office
in Marshall, retired last
Thursday after 32 years of
1 faithful service.
Members of the local ASCS
personnel honored Miss Fox
Friday afternoon with an in
formal party at which time she
was presented gifts and red
, roses by the staff.
Ralph Ramsey, county ASCS
director, lauded Miss Fox on
her accomplishments and
expert work and stated that the
i entire personnel would greatly
" nussbar, X.-V-.V'.''j;
, Miss Fox, the daughter of the
; late Mr. and Mrs.! J. Everett
Fox, who resided in the Tillery
Branch section, began working
in the Madison AAA (since
changed to ASCS) office In 1938.
In 1946, she moved to Asheville
where she worked with the ASC
as secretary and treasurer. She
returned to Madison County
.office in 1SD5 where she has
worked since that time.
strongly built brick building
crumbled in the rear when a
freight car crossed the side
tracks and plowed into the
structure. At the other end of
the row, the back of Buckner's
Electric Co. was smashed by
derailed cars. Both damaged
buildings are owned by C. L.
Kudisill, Jr., Marshall banker
and businessman. A retaining
wall, owned by L. B. Ramsey,
Housing Atmosphere
Is Good In Madison
By LINDA HARREL,
ASSOCIATE HOME
ECONOMICS EXTENSION
AGENT
The consensus of the Madison
County Builder's Meeting, held
January 11 was that through
cooperative efforts among the
county builders, electric coop,
loaning agencies, and the
Extension Service, every
family in Madison County would
have the opportunity to live in a
comfortable and modest house
within a decade.
Over 45 building industry
people crowded into the
Madifion Grill to ci bHrfc5 on
the various housing programs
Rite mason. He was also a well
known farmer of the Little Pine
section of Madison County.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs.
Eunice Davis Ball; a son, M. J.
Balljr. of Rt. 5 Marshall; four
daughters, Mrs. Fred Sluder
and Mrs. Lon Sluder, both of Rt.
5Mar shall; Mrs. Bill Laughter
of Arden and Mrs. Robert
McKay of Springfield, Mo.;
three brothers, Roy of Kansas
City, Mo., Lida of Rt. 5 .Marshall
and Garland Ball of Rt. 1
Alexander; a sister, Mrs. Carl
Roberts of Rt. 1 Alexander; and
seven grandchildren.
Services were held at 2:30
p.m. today in Marshall
Presbyternia Church, of which
he was a member.
Dr. Arthur F. Williams and
the Rev. Dearl Brevard of
ficiated. Burial was in
Ashelawn Gardens of Memory.
Pallbearers were Norris
Gentry, Cline West, George
Fisher, Craig Rudisill, Jr.,
William Roberts and Glenn
Reeves, Jr. Honorary
pallbearers were directors of
French Broad Electric Mem
bership Corp. Masonic
graveside rites were conducted
by members of French Broad
Udge No. 292.
Bowman-Duckett Funeral
Home was in charge.
Before starting work with the
ASC, she taught school in
Madison County for six years.
A member of the Victory
Baptist Church of Erwin Hills,
Asheville, Miss Fox has served
as Sunday School secretary for
more than 20 years.
When asked what she planned
to do now that she is retired, she
replied that she Intended to
relax, sleep late,, and enjoy
televisJon-ov, .,.,;.
was also damaged in the wreck.
No estimates were available
as to the damage resulting from
the wreck.
Various opinions were ex
pressed as to the direct cause of
the derailment. An in
vestigation is underway to
determine the cause of the
wreck, according to the
railway's Washington
spokesman.
in relation to the needs of
Madison County.
Among the programs with
such funds available is the
Farmer's Home Administration
with Mr. Eldridge Hill, County
Supervisor, and the Federal
Land Bank under the local
direction of Mr. Cloice Plem
mons. James O. Buchanan of
Raleigh, chief real estate of
ficer with the FHA, said, "For
th first time in histuryAwbaiig
sufficient funds to take care of
most of the people who come to
us for housing assistance. He
said the state had been
allocated $100 million in FHA
monies for housing loans.
"Enough for each of the 103
counties in North Carolina to
have a $1 million FHA
program," he said. -
Paul Laughrun, Westers
District Farmer's Home A&
ministration Supervisor,
encouraged the builders to
discuss their views on building
with the local Farmer's Home
Administration officials, fle
also pointed out (he need for the
carpenters to work within the
county if at all possible. One of
the Farmer's Home Ad
ministration programs that
received a good deal of at
tention was one on land
development. It was learned
that a non-profit corporation
could be formed that vWould
receive 100 per cent financing
for building site development
with paved streets, water and
sewer. A county group is now
looking into this Dossiblflity, Jt
would provide a service (po
Madison County families.
During the windup questicB .
and answer period, the par
ticipants agreed that there
existed the right combination of.' -desire,
need, and funds to make
possible housing inrnrovemenU.
for the county.
Adequate housing is one of the
foremost needs in Madison'
County with 70 per cent of ,tb
homes being considered sub
standard. Woodley C Warrick,
Extension Housing Special ,
explained the Agricultural
Extension Service's hou -g
program from the tfciiv y ',
level to the local county c e. .
Ron Baker, represents- e
Tarheel Electric Memb p
Corp. spoke on the mere
role electric coops were p' .
in bousing throughout ' i
CaHilB.y?.vw'f!;.-'.'- V
" Cloice Plemmons spoke ' t
new bousing loan progr f
me Federal Land Bank C 1
be forthcoming to M i
County.