1
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9
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6th, 1948
No. 32
VOLUME NUMBER SIXTEEN
K KN ANS VILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Son Shoots Father At Hallsville
A Funeral Taking Place Nearby
Joe Houston, ige -'50, was instant
ly killed Sunday afternoon by his
son at his son's homo. The coron
er's inquest was held Tuesday night
and the jury ruled it was murder.
. The story given the Times was as
follows:
Mr. Houston, his wife and 5
year old daughter went to visit his
son, Leamon, Sunday afternoon.
Both families lived at Hallsville.
Joe's son lived within 300 yards of
the Hallsville Presbyterian church
cemetery. The funeral of Clarence
Sandllng was taking place. The
Houston group and acme neighbors
were sitting on Leamon s back
porch. Some drinking was going
on. No fussing or arguing was re
lated. Leamon left the porch, went
into the house and secured a single
barreled shot gun He returned to
the porch and his father told him
he had better put the gun up be
fore someone goc hurt. Then Lea
mon drew up the gun and shot his
father i; the chest, killing him
'hitantly. It is re ,rted his father
committed a murder in Duplin
some years back.
Deputy Sheriff W. O. Houston
was notified and immediately went
to the scene. Sheriff Ualph Jones
was called and Coroner C. B Sil
ter.son was called. Leamon was im
mediately lodged in. jail in Ke
nansvillc withoutlirivilege of bond.
Also West Williams was jailed as
a material witness. He is now out
under bond. Hobson Scott, it was
reported, also was jailed for re
fusing to cooperate with officers.
He was tried in Coumy Court Mon
day for refusing to cooperate and
was given 90 days on the roads by
Judge West. Suspended on condi
tion he pay a fine of $50 and costs.
He is now free.
Some people attending the San
dlln funeral heard the shot and im
mediately rushed to the scene.
Enjoy Trip
To New York
Lions Gilbert Alphin and D. If.
McKay of Kenansville represented
the local Lions Club at tlv! Intel -national
Convention of Lion.-, Clubs
in New York last week. They re
port a very interesting and enjoy
able trip, however, will not tell
their wives everything they did.
The Convention was held at
Madison Square Garden. They re
port that North Carolina made a
very good showing. The North
Carolina band was recognized as
the best one there. An attractive
display advertising Wallace as the
World's Largest Strawberry market
attracted quite a bit of attention.
This display was made possible
through efforts of the Wallace
Lions Club. Other Dupllnltca were
supposed to have gone but Gilbert
and Heinle did not see thorn. They
stopped at the Taft Hotel which
was headquarters for the North
Carolina delegation. They went up
on the train and flew back to Ral
eigh on plane.
Coroner's Report
Death Joe Houston
'Jury Return at the inquest of
Jooe Houston, deceased, read as
follows:
We the undersigned Jury after
viewing the deceased body and ma
king inquiry as to how he came to
bis death, and after hearing the
evidence, we find that Joe Houston
came to his death by a gun shot
wound in the hands of Leahman
Houston, causing Instant death.
And we further recommend and
order that the defendant, Leahman
Houston be held without bond for
Grand Jury Action.
P. E. Rouse, Biilie Brock,
Frank Rhodes, E. J. Johnson,
Hez Dobson, Jack Griffin,
Jurors.
This Return made August 3rd
1048.
- .v. C. B. Sitterson, Coroner
of Duplin County.
Local Lions
Enjoy Seafc
On Wednesday night of last week
the Kenansville Lions Club held
its meeting in More head City. Moat
iesmd a m aatfhml illniiT
INVESTIGATED KILLINGS - Deputy Sheriff Murray Byrd, above,
of I'alson, is shown examining the pistol with which Milford James
Cobb, Calypso Negro, killed Lizzie Williams Robe rs on, and then shot
hfntself. The bodies wen found near Faison city dump about two days
after Hie killings. Staff photo by Brock.
Duplin Has New Welfare Supt.
Mrs. Highsmith Took Over Monday
Mrs. Juliette Highsmith, widow
and native of Maine took over on
Monday as acting superintendent
of Duplin's Welfare Department.
She is replacing Mrs. Harvey Bo
ney who has been given a six
months leave of absence due to
her health.
Mrs. Highsmith's late husband
was from Atkinson, in Pender
County. Her eldest son, L. A.
Highsmith, Jr., married Mary Ells
worth Jones of Wallace.
Beulaville Presbyterians Planning To
Build New Manse; Money
Raising Now Underway
Members of the Beulaville Pres
byterian Church have been raising
money for a manse for 8 months.
The women of the church sold
Christmas Cards and two pigs were
donated which were barbecued and
sold with a profit of $294.87.
The Woman's Auxiliary served
the Junior-Senior Banquet this
past spring at $1.25 per plate. All
food being donated. Bntk, donated
by the Kenansville church profit
$285.25.
During the summer the ladies
of the church had a barbecue sup
per on the church lawn with plates
selling at $1.00 and $1.50. Every
thing was donated except two of
the pigs which had to be nought.
$359.35 profits were realized from
the supper. The church now has
It's Grand Old Opry Time
Night; Come Out; Leave Kids Home
"The Grand Old Opry" of Beu- seem a little unfair not to let them
laville will be in town Saturday come out but medical authorities
night. The Leary Boys' band, who advise against it. The older folks
can put on as good a show as the , seem not quite so susceptible to
"Grand Old Opry" rf Nashville, Polio as youngsters.
Tennessee, will be here and strut "Terbaccer puttin' in time" is
their stuff i about over, so let's all come to
Hundreds of folks from all over , Kenansville Saturday night and en
Duplln are expected to attend. 1 joy ourselves dancing the "Vlrgi
Many of their kith and kin from far j nia Reel" and other old time dances
and wide aim are expected to at-1 on the street. Get here when you
tend. But please, folks, leave the can. Especially we want to see
children under tit'tA home. It may Faison Smith and his attractive
Mrs. Highsmith has moved to
Kenansville and is livig in the
home of John Currie.
She did graduate work in Wel
fare at the University of North
Carolina. Before coming here she
was doing child welfare work in
New Hanover County.
Members of the Duplin Welfare
Board are Mrs. John D. Robinson
of Wallace, John Croom of Mag
noli, and Roy Cates of Faison.
over $900 on the manse builtfing
fund and there are many donations
promises.
The Wilmington Presbytery has
promised to double any amount
for the manse tiiat the members
raise.
The members greatly appreciate
all donations and the help Jhat has
been given by members of other
churches in the community.
NEW BOOK
''Fishing & Huntingi n the Great
Smokies", by Jim Gasque, of Ashe
ville, has been published. It is both
descriptive and anecdotal and
gives definite information on where
and how to enjoy the western North
Carolina outdoors.
BOB ORADy
says
This may seem a little out of the
ordinary for a business man to be
telling the world about his com
petitor. As a rule we are all too
selfish, wanting everything Cor our
selves. I have published newspapers
in Duplin, Halifax, Warren, Jones,
and Pender counties and associated
with papers in Wilson county.
Throughout my experiences I have
found that the Wallace Enterprise,
published by Harry Oswald and,
the Mount onve irinune, ownea
by Homer Brock ant now managed
by his son, Cletus Brock, are the
cleanest competitors I have ever
encountered. In reality I wouldn't
call them competitors but con
temporaries. Preacher Morrison said he was
going to get me for blackmail for
publishing the story last week
about his fishing expedition. Does
n't that go for all of us? The edit
or is "cussed" If he doesn't print
the news and he is "cussed" If he
does. So what? We all like to read
the news, particularly if it con
cerns us. Folks send your news in.
It is impossible fcr us to get around
to see all of you. What you know
that is interesting to you is inter
esting to your neighbor. Jot it
down and mail it in. That's what
the mails are for. And PLEASE
remember that we must have copy
in as early as possible. Thanks, Bob.
Incidentally the bank has just
I called about a note that is due We
I have other bills that are due. If
I folks who owe us would have paid
I on time, our bills would havo been
paid on time. We have been send
ing out notices to most of you
readers that your subscription is
due. The amount isn't much. If
2000 of you would send in your
remittance NOW we would be out
of the hole. And this appliees to
all businesses. If you pay your bill
when if. is due, t!ien the other
fellow can pay his bill and life
will be much happier all around.
We then can pay our preachers
and keep our conscience clear, if
we have a conscience.
The other day I was reminiscing
over days gone by, particularly the
days when I was studying Bible in
College.. Yes, I studied It, but
learned very little. Cardinal New
man, the old Catholic Cardinal,
said you could not reason with re
ligion. We just had to accept what
we were told, and make the best
of it Most of us do not really
study the Bible and at times ques
tion the authority of the Book. So
what car. one do? Accept the Birjle
and tre.t your fellowmen as you
would want to be treated.
I have in my possession a poem.
I don't know who wrote it or who
printed it. It came into my pos
session while I was a patient at
Rex Hospital. It was entitled "The
Epic Of The Bed Pan". It is rich
reading. Many who have read it
suggested that I publish it in the
Times. I think best not to do so.
I am going to print some copies
and they will be for sale for 25
cents each. That's what I paid for
the one I have. If you have read
"The Passing of the Old Back
house", attributed to James Whit
comb Riley, you will get the idea.
If you send in orders include an
extra nickei to cover cost of mail
ing. Duplin Health Dept.
The Times has had an oppor
tunity to observe the work and ef
forts of the Duplin Health De
partment in its efforts to eliminate
T.B. in Duplin County. They have
had a hard job and each worker
has given his or her sincere efforts
to the task. They are due many
thanks from everyone in Duplin.
In Town Sat.
wife Susie of Albertson and see
if Faison can cut the capers he used
to cut when he was a few years
younger. You folks in Albertson
will recall what we are talking
about. Also, Ed Grady of Albert
son, you and Bee come, and let's
hear you fiddle some. I can recall
many other dancers of Duplin
whose faces we would like to see
here. You know who you are,
come on out and let's "make whoo
pee", but
DUPLIN BOOKMOBILE The
entirely new Duplin County Book
mobile, under the supervision of
County Librarian, Miss Dorothy
Wightman began operation on regularly-scheduled
routes over Du
plin county last week. Incorpora
ting many new features, the Chev
The above picture shows a healthy chest. It is hoped your's is
healthy. Last Saturday morning about 11 o'clock Evina Smith, colored,
of Deep Bottom was brought to Kenansville for a chest x-ray. She was
so weak two people had to carry her upstairs to the Health Department
office. She was carried down and into the x-ray trailer. She was placed
before the x-ray machine and fell sprawling on the floor. Operators
finally succeeded in making a picture. It was developed immediately.
It revealed one lung practically gone and the other very spotted.
Doctors said she couldn't live much longer. Her case could have
been arrested if known in time. Last March she gave birth to a baby;
3 weeks later she contracted pneumonia. The idea folks, is that if you
have a suspicion have an x-ray. It's better to know than take chances.
Murder - Suicide Ruled In Faison
Death Case; Reasons Unknown
A grim spectacle faced the peo-1 were dead; Cobb having been shot
pie of Faison on Thursday of last ! in the left chest and Williams shot
week. A town employee drove to 1 in the left chest. They were both
the town dump pile. There he saw ! colored. Later a colored under
two bodies, lying close together in j taker from Mt. Olive, on removing
a decomposing condition, beside : the bodies, found a pistol under
an old Chevrolet car. Deputy Sher -
iff Murray Byrd was notified. He
investigated and called Coroner C.
B. Sitterson of Kenansville, Mr.
Sitterson went to the scene and the
odor was so terrible he had to put
on a gas mask in order to get close
enough to the bodies to make an
examination. He found Lizzie Will
iams Roberson, about 25, and Mil
ford James Cobb, also about 25.
Superior Civil Court
Jurors For Sept. 6
Jurors for the one week term of
Superior Civil Court, Sept. 6 are
listed as follows:
James C. Kitchin, John Spouse,
Wilbert Jennettc, John E. Brown,
H. T. Murphy, Jarvis Mobley, L. R.
Whitfield, Edward B. Hawes, W. J.
Baits. Ralph Maready, Judson Kin
ney, L. R. Shaver, G. P. Rhodes,
D. Y. Hollingsworth, Almon James,
C. K. Wilson, W. A. Smith, Mrs.
Hattie Lewis, Tyson Harrell, Guy
Sanderson. G. M. Bell, N. A. Ken
nedy, C. L. Ritter, Sam Rivcnbark,
J. C. Byrd, Burke Grady. C. B. Ay
cock, Edmon Dixon, E. L. Hunter,
nu Mrs. Mary Ann Boney Newkirk,
W. S. Kornegay, Joe N.
Waters.
H.
rolet panel-type truck will soon be j
a familiar sight among Duolta':
rural communities. Miss Wightman,
second from left, in the above pho
to, hopes lo cover the county at
least once each month. Shown ma
king tl-.eir selection of books are
Cebron Fussell, of Clinton, who
. Cobb. Mr. Sitterson empaneled a
jury whose findings were that the
tragedy was murder-suicide.
A report said that Cobb had
j told his aunt in Sampson County
i that he was in trouble and that he
was going to kill himself.
Lizzie's husband lives in Phila
delphia. She was visiting relatives
in Faison. Her husband had just
sent her money to return home on.
L. Register, Tobie Mercer William
Taylor, and Gaston Kelly.
The Rev. Sharpes
Move To Town
Rev. and Mrs. Lauren Sharpe
have moved to Kenansville and are
the first ones to occupy the new
Baptist manse.
The very attractive, brick veneer
ed home is located on the old Al
bert Williams place near the Meth
odist church.
Rev. Sharpe is a young native of
State&ville and a graduate of Wake
Forest College. He will have charge
of the Kenansville, Alum Springs
and Jones Chapel Baptist Churches.
(See church page for his schedule.)
Mrs. Sharpe is the former Miss
Betty Jackson of Gainer.
was visiting his grandmother. Mrs.
E. B. Sides of near Warsaw, shown
behind Miss Wightman, and Char
les Hales. Between 500 and 600
volumes are carried on each trip.
Staff photo by Cletus Brock.
Arthur Kennedy
"Tiere is a new-comer to the
Board of County Commissioners.
He is Arthur Kennedy of Beula
ville. He replaces Tyson Lanier of
Beulaville. Tyson is a swell fellow
as we see but the folks there de
cided they wanted Arthur.
Arthur is a merchant and farmer
of Beulaville. His reputation is ex
cellent ind his business reputation
is good. He should make a fine
member of the Duplin Board of
Commissioners. His father is a
preacher and his training, there
lore, should be instilled with
honesty.
Assinine?
I have a picture on my wall. It
shows a brown-faced country boy
with an expression that says "I
told you so." The contour of his
face and the sharp look in his
eyes are typical of one who is
sure he has made the right deci
sion. The picture is from a calendar
of A. Brooks in Warsaw and was
sent to Bob Grady with the special
compliments of Moman Barr, for
mer clerk at A. Brooks.
J. R. G.
EDITORIAL
If there is a rattlesnake in your
back yard you know where to kill
it or where to stay away from it.
So it goes with T.B.
In the recent T.B. examination
program in Duplin County more
than 13.000 people were x-rayed.
On re-checks about 400 people
were re-examined. Of this group
more than 200 were found to be
positive. Assuming this to be true
throughout North Carolina, more
T.B. Sanitoriums are going to have
to be built.
Information received indicates
the State Health Department is
going to ask the next General As
sembly to build at least one 1000
bet T.B. hospital. The Duplin Times
suggests that Seven Springs is an
ideal location for such an institu
tion. It is quiet, it is nature's own
health resort. We suggest the folks
in Duplin. Wayne, Lenoir and other
adjoining counties get behind the
idea and see what can be done.
J. R. G.
G. V. Gooding
Dr. Guy Vernon Gooding has re
ceived criticism and praise from
most everyone in Duplin. Our in
tentions here are not to praise or
to blame. But as we have observed
the man, he has conscientious con
victions. At times we have not
agreed with him but he has done
some good work for Duplin.
He has worked for the best in
terests of the county, regardless of
his renuraerations. At times, to has
been right and at times wrong.
Haven't we all? He la doing a
good job at Health
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