PUBLISHED EVERT MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY,
vol. xxxvm. NO. 131.
GASTONIA, N. C MONDAY AFTRERNOON, DECEMBER 17, 1917.
$3.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE,
IIEAIIS ACQUHTED; ' ...
Ill SOCIAL CIRCLES
FOUR WEEKS TRUCE
HEWS OF THE G0UH1Y
UTEST FROM OUR j CORRESPONDENTS
ANNUAL IIEETKC .,
. OF CHARGE OF MURDER
GOES INTO EFFECT TODAY
BROW NIGHT
LATEST EVENTS IN WOWS WORLD
Concord, Dec. 1 6. Gaston B
' Means, acquitted of the charge .of
the murder of Mrs, Maude A. King,
forwhlch 1 he has been on trial the
. last three weeks, spent today a free
man with his family at the borne of
bis father, and going about' the
: streets! of Concord,, his boyhood
bome, receiving the congratulations
of friends, "Not guilty"' was the
verdict rendered by th Jury this
morning vat 10:22 o'clock berore
; Judge Cline, members of counsel, tbe
; defendants bis 7 wife and father, and
'other relatives, and a considerable
number of spectators who had gath
ered In the Cabarrus county court
room. ,
The Jury, having had tbe case
over night, sent a message by Sheriff
Caldwell to Judge Cline at tbe hotel
at 9:30 o'clock asking him to come
" to the courthouse. The Judge - was
eating bis breakfast, which be finish
ed, -proceeding to the courthouse at
, lfr o'clock. To the crowd that had
. gathered, Judge Cline stated that he
did not know whether or not a ver
dict bad been reached, but in the
event that such was the case, regard
less of its nature, there must not be
any demonstration upon its an
nouncement. He instructed Sheriff
Caldwell to arrest any person violat
ing' this instruction. He gave posi
tive instruction also that the Jurymen
should not be approached after a
verdict -was announced before the
Jury was dismissed. Judge Cline's
instructions evidently were effective,
for there was absolutely no demon
stration. IIEAIIS FACES CHARGE
OF EMBEZZLEMENT
New York, 'Dec. 16: Gaston B.
Means, acquitted of the murder of
Mrs. Maude A. King, faces indict
ment in this county for forgery and
embezzlement, District Attorney
Swann announced tonight.
'."There Is concrete evidence in our
hands tanriin tn ahnw that Means
forged many documents, on which be
obtained large sums of money rrom
"Mrs. King's estate," said Mr. Swann.
"and there is evidence pointing to
him as the embezzler of the major
. portion of Mrs. King's wealth.
"Until I hear from Assistant T)is
trlct Attorney Dooling, who aided in
the prosecution of Means in Concord
and who worked on the case against
him, I shall be unable to say Just
when we shall take the evidence be
fore the grand Jury. I believe, now
ever, that Mr. Dooling will arrive to
morrow or Tuesday at Uuulatest, and
that before the week Is over the bulk
of the evidence will be laid berore
the grand Jury.
, "The people of New York can rest
assured that all the facts in the
Means-King case will be brought fo
light in this county. Forgery and
embezzlement are extraditable offen
ses, and if any person outside tbe
Jurisdiction of the State is Indicted
for these crimes in this county be
will be brought here for trial."
WILL GIVE ASSISTANCE
fn DrcicTFRFn lira
IV IlLUIUIUILV I1U1
- Judge A. C. Jones, chairman of
the county advisory board recently
appointed to give legal advice and
assistance in filling out tbe questlon
alrea to the drafted men, asks Tbe
Gazette to state that he or some
member of the board will be in his
office on the second floor of tbe Real
ty building each afternoon this week
between the hours of 2 and 6 o'clock.
'Registered men who have received
their questionalres and who desire
advice should call at Judge Jones' of
fice between the hours mentioned.
This board acta without compensa
tion and there is no charge for the
services rendered.
attd;ds;Im:g
hi wAsnii
' President J. H. Separk of tbe
Chamber of Commerce returned I
Thursday and Secretary Fred fsVAKU
len Friday from Washington after atyl
tending the sessions or tne National
Anti-Saloon League and looking1-after
other matters of Interest to Gas
tonia in tbe capital. .Congressman
E. Y, Webb briefly told tbe story of
Gaston's change from a whiskey; to
an industrial county in most compli
mentary manner before the league.
Tbe secretary looked after publicity
matters along many lines. Data of
value to tbe merchants was secured
in a conference with the chairman of
a committee of the.7?ationaI Council
of Defense having-retail matters In
charge." A conference of profession
al and trade paper men was also at
tended by tbe secretary.
TO MEET WITH
MRS. 11ALTUIS.
Tha MnaM P.lnh will hnld ltd reCTU
lar meeting with Mrs. W. L. Balthis
at her bome on South Chester street
Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o ciock
WEST 'VIRGINIA COUPLE
WEDS HERE.
A romance of Interest to the spec
tators culminated in the office or
Register of Deeds Carpenter Thurs
day afternoon when Mr. John ti.
Miller, of Parkersburg., W. Va., a
member of the seventh Infantry now
stationed at Camp Greene, was unit
ed in marriage to Miss Lottie G. Bald
win, an attractive young lady whose
home is also in Parkersburg. They
had decided some time ago to be
married this month, and after her
fiance was removed to Camp Greene
they decided to have the ceremony
performed at once, as there is likeli
hood of an early removal of the regi
ment to some port for embarkation
for foreign service.
VISITOR TO GASTONIA
Mr. iR. E. Boiling, a brother of
President Wilson's wife, was a visi
tor in the city Saturday, spending
several hours here. Mr. Boiling Is
vice-president of the Chatham-Phoenix
National Bank, of New York
city. While here be was a visitor at
the local banks.
POSTAL EMPLOYEES ASK
FOR BURLESON'S REMOVAL
(BY International Mews Service.)
CHICAGO, Dec. 17. 'Demands for
the removal of Postmaster General
Burleson are on the way to Presi
dent Wilson today from Chicago.
This action was taken because Mr.
Burleson recommended to Congress
that a union of government employ
es b eforbidden.
SAMMIES SMOKE
CIGARETTES FROM BERLIN
(By International News Service.)
AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN
PRANCE, (Dec. 17. The American
troops are now smoking cigarettes
made in Berlin and Sarajevo. They
were supplied by the French govern
ment which captured them several
months ago from the enemy.
GERMAN PEOPLE (NOW
IN DESPERATE CONDITION.
(By International Newsservice.)
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 17. Despite
the German peace offer and the sep
arate peace with .Russia, today's ad
vices from Germany state that
Prince Max, of Baden, declared In
an address that the German sword
would never be victorious in the
hands of unscrupulous statesmen.
The Lokal Anzelger is quoted as say
ing that the German people are now
In a desperate condition.
Personals and Locals.
Just six more shopping days un
til Christmas. t
Gastonia Lodge 'No. 53 Knights
of Pythias will do work in the first
rank tonight.
"Don't put your Christmas shop
ping off until the last minute. Po It
now.
Despite the snow and cold Gas
tonla merchants bad a splendid trade
klast week. They are expecting rec
ord-breaking sales this week.
Because of fuel shortage
public schools at Mount Holly
Charlotte closed Friday until
the
and
after
the Christmas holidays.
; Mrs. Mattle Turner spent the
week-end In Greenville, S. C, at
tending .the textile exposition, ' and
was the guest of Mrs. Tom Bynum.
Messrs. Fred Dunn, Willard Par
ker, E. H. Sisk, Elijah Bridges and
John Lynn, Gastonia boys who are
members of Co. A, 115th Machine
Gun Battalion, stationed at Camp Se
vier, Greenville, S. C, spent the week
end here with . homefolks.
Speaking
of the sugar famine
which has prevailed in Gastonia for
the past week or so a prominent re
tail grocer says that in many Gasto
nia homes there Is, in all probability,
more sugar than , usual.- "A - man
came Into my store yesterday be
said, "and wanted to buy a quarter's
worth of sugar. When informed
that we dldnt have any he said.
'Well, I guess I can make out. I've
got a hundred pounds at home." Sev
eral similar Incidents have been re
lated by local grocers. While the
majority of Gastonlans are undoubt
edly abort on sugar or entirely out,
others bave more than their share.
By reducing the size of their sam
ples wholesale dealers will save this
year S419.50O worth .of doth, repre
senting enough wool to provide uni
forms for 67,509 soldiers.
J By International News Service.)
AMSTERDAM. Dec. 17. A tour
weeks truce went into effect on tbe
Eastern front today, says a Berlin
dispatch. This armistice takes tbe
place of the temporary truce signed
earlier in the month. The cessation
of hostilities extends from the Bal
tic to the Black sea and affects the
Roumanian, German, Austrian, Bul
garian and Turkish forces. The dis
patch indicates that negotiations for
a separate peace with Russia are al
ready under way. By the terms of
this truce Germany was allowed to
move heavy forces from the Eastern
to the Western front before the for
mal protocol was signed.
CONGRESS WILL SUSPEND
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
( By' International News Service. )
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Con
gress will close up shop for the hol
idays tomorrow afternoon. An un
precedented amount of work has
been accomplished for tbe period of
time the body was In session. The
high spots In the record of Its achieve
ment are the declaration of war a
gainst Austria, the inauguration of
a sweeping investigation into tbe
conduct of war, passage of tbe Webb
Export Bill, the urgent request by
the President for the adoption of
the Senate of a measure suspending
parts of the anti-trust bill for the
benefit of tbe railroads, tbe passage
by the Senate of the waterpower and
mineral lands bill. Before night tne
House will have acted on the nation
wide prohibition amendment. Con
gress will convene again Janaury 3.
In the meantime tbe various investi-
gations will be vigorously pushed
during the holodays.
WESTERN FRONT IS QUIET.
(By International News Service.)
LONDON, Dec. 17. Nothing im
portant is reported from the Western
front.
BOLSHEVIKI LEADERS
MAKE STRONG THEATS.
(By International News Service.)
STOCKHOLM, ec. 17. A threat
to drench Russia In blood if neces
sary to uphold the Bolsbeviki is con
tained in a speech by Trotzky, ac
cording to dispatches received from
Haparanda. The Lenine-Trotzky re
gime is making wholesale arrests in
an effort to coerce dissenters.
THOUSANDS ARE 8TARVING
IN PERSIA.
fBy International News Service.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Hun
dreds of men, women and children
have already starved to death and
thousands are literally without food
at Tehean, Persia, according to a
dispatch to the State Department
from -the American vice-consul. He
asks that aid be sent at once.
MRS. M. H. BAUKNIGHT.
Mrs. M. H. iBauknight, grandmoth
er of Mr. J. M. Holland, died Friday
at her home in Statesboro, Ga., fol
lowing an illness of some time. Mr.
Holland left Saturday morning to
attend tbe funeral and burial, which
took place at the former bome of tbe
deceased at Walhalla, S. c. Mrs.
Bauknight lived in Gastonia for sev
eral years with her daughter1, Mrs.
B; M. HpMand, and tbe news of ber
death will be beard with deep regret
by her many friends here..
Scouts to Meet.
We are requested by RevW. J.
Roach, scoutmaster, to announce
that there will be a called meeting'
of Troop No. 4 at the Central school
at0 7 o'clock Tuesday night. All
members are urged to be present.
Hoard of Directors Meet.
The board of directors of the
Chamber of Commerce are to meet
this afternoon at 5 o'clock at the of
fices. Many matters of interest will
be brought up for discussion.
Municipal Christmas Tree.
Tbe special committee of tbe
Chamber of Commerce, eo-operating
with the Woman's Betterment Asso
ciation and the Music Club regarding
a Municipal Christmas Tree, will
meet at the offices of the chamber
this afternoon at . 4 : 4 S o'clock.
Members of the committee are Fred
D. Berkley, chairman, W. 11. Morris
and Col. T. L. Craig.
- TODAY'S COTTON MARKET.
i By International News Service:)
? NEW YORK, Dec. IT. Tbe cotton
market opened with' January . con
tracts selling at 28.85 and May con
tracts at 28.25. j v
"When is that car load of su
gar going to get here" Is the ques
tion which housewives have been
putting to tbe grocers this morning.
It is expected to reach here today or
tomorrow. ,
Mount Holly Matters.
Correspondence of the Gazette.
i MT. HOLLY, Dec. 17. On account
of a shortage of fuel and bad weath
er school closed here December 14tb,
and will resume work again on De
cember 31st.
The following teachers bave re
turned to their, respective homes
Miss Neal iRoseman to Uncolnton,
Miss Racbel Freeman' to Dobson, and
Miss Sprinkle to Mars HUI. Miss Sa
die Dunlap will spend the holidays
with relatives in Greenwood, S. C,
Among the college students ex
pected home the latter part of this
week are Misses Gertrude Belk and
Grace Kohn. of Lenoir; Misses Ila
Kale and Inez Abernethy, of the
Normal; Miss Sarah Rankin, of
Greensboro Female College; Mr. Eu
gene Craig, of Wake. Forest, and
Messrs Magnus Edwards and George
Black, of 'Davidson.
Rev. W. G. Moore, pastor of the
Baptist church, Is on the sick list.
His many friends wish for him an
early recovery.
Invitations have been received an
Bouncing the wedding ot Miss Essie
Green, who resigned as music teach
er a few days ago, to Mr. James
Locke Williams on Saturday, Decem
ber 29th, at Richmond, Va. -Rev.
and Mrs. E. H. Kohn announce
the engagement of their daughter,
Gertrude Elizabeth, to Mr. Karf Kel
ler, lieutenant in U, S. N., the wed
ding to take place Saturday, Decem
ber 22, at 12 o'clo6k in the Church
of the Good Shepherd, Mt. Holly.
Miss Kohn is the daughter of Rev.
and Mrs. E. H. Kohn. of Mt. Holly,
and Is a talented and accomplished
young lady. For the past two years
she has been teacher of English In
the Mt. Holly high school. Mr. Kel
ler Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Keller, of Greensb'urg, Pa. . He was
graduated from the U. 6. Naval Acad
emy in the class of 1917. He is sta
tioned at present at the Philadelphia
navy yard.
Cherryville Chat.
Correspondence of The Gazette.
CHERRYVILLE, Dec. 16. Messrs.
Ezra Moss and Garrie Kendrlck, two
of our young men have recently vol
unteered lor service to tneir country.
Mr. Moss came home from the Uni
versity and spent several days with
his mother, Mrs. Jane A. Moss, and
left last week for Raleigh to enlist in
the navy. Mr. Kendrlck is the son
of Mr. and Mfs. N. B. Kendrlck. He
has Joined the Aviation corps and
has gone to Texas for training.
Mr. J. P. Hull, who has been con
ducting a public draying business,
has sold to Mr. Carl Beam and will
devote his time to the market busi
ness.
Messrs. J. C. Ballard. D. R. Mau-
ney, C. A. Rudlslll, Mr. and Mrs. D.
Aj Rudlslll and Miss Iva Thornburs
attended the Textile Exposition in
Greenville, S. C, last week.
Mr. James D. Hobbs spent Friday
In Charlotte.
The Methodist Sunday school here
will forego -tbe usual custom of treat
ing this, year and will make their
contribution and offering to the Chil
dren's Home.
The Lutheran congregation has
postponed the building of an addition
to their church until spring.
Mr. Ben Boyles and Miss Marie
London, two of our prominent young
people, were married last Friday
night. Rev. J. F. Moser, pastor of
the bride, officiated. The bride is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T
London and was formerly employed
by the Eagle Publishing Co. and is
a young lady of modesty and good
graces. Mr. Boyles is one of our
most likable young men, the son of
Mr. F. A. Boyles, and is known for
his sturdiness of character and hab
its. He is in the employ of R. Hope
Brison ft Co. Both have the well
wishes of their numerous friends. .
Mrs. Henry Carpenter was taken
to the Lincoln Hospital Friday for
an operation for appendicitis. Much
sympathy Is expressed for her from
the fact that her husband, Mr. Henry
Carpenter, is In Florida and cannot
reach here to be .present for the
most critical condition.
. Officers for the ensuing term bave
been elected by CherryvHle Lodge
No. 174 K. of P.: David P. Dellln
ger, C. C; M. A. Stroup, V. C; P. C.
Dellinger, prelate: T. C. Summer, K.
of R. and S.; C. O. Robinson, M. F.;
Carson Dellinger. M. A.; Stephen
Stroup, I. G., and Durham Dellinger,
O. G.
News has been received 'from
Camp Jackson that. Mr. Clyde Har
relson continues to improve from an
attack of meningitis, which Is most
gladly received by his relatives and
friends. . ':
Mr. Charles H. Homesley, who is
In the employ of the Seaboard Rail
way and located in Raleigh, is spend
ing several days with bis parents,
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Homesley.
WORLD'S CHAMPION WRESTLER
KNOCKED OUT BY DEATH.
- (By International News Service.)
HUMBOLDT,- IOWA. Dec 17.
Frank Gotch. tie world's champion
wrestler, is dead of uraemlc poison
ing. He leaves a wife and - four-year-old
son. His. fortune Is estima
ted at 1250,000.
Mrs. George McKee Cad as her
guests Sunday her brother, Mr. GeoJ
Stowe, and Miss Carrie Merrltt, of I
Charlotte.
The annual meeting of the Gasto
nia Chamber of Commerce will be
held at the offices tomorrow night at
7:39 o'clock. Officers for the year
beginning January 1st will "be elect
ed, plans for an annual banquet dis
cussed and various other matters of
Interest to the organization discuss
ed. Every member is urged to be tn
attendance. 1 '
W WEATHER
IS PROMISED
Promises of warm weather for to
morrow are held out by the weather
man and the neoule in this "neck o
the woods" will be delighted if tbe
prediction , comes true. Gastonlans
have been sufficiently amused with
ten days of weather considered Un
usually cold for this section. To
day's sunshine Is melting the snow
some and tomorrow's promised
warmth will probably do away with
most of "the beautiful."
Hundreds of homes in the city
have been contending for days with
frozen water pipes and tbe plumbers
will probably be busy for some days
repairing tbe damage.
The bursting of a steam boiler at
Main Street Methodist church early
Sunday morning rendered it impossi
ble to hold preaching services yester-
'day in that edifice.' All of the church
es were closed last night on account
of the cold.
Gastonia has been more fortunate
than many towns in that It has had
a sufficient supply of coal. Local
dealers have been receiving enough
coal to supply the demand. Wood,
however, has been a little scarce .be
cause of the condition of the roads
which made hauling difficult.
Numbers of pedestrians were trip
ped by the ice on the pavements dur
ing the past few days. ' None. how
ever, was seriously injured.
L
WILL BE NECESSARY
(By International News Service.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. Com
plete relief from famine can be at
tained only through immediate and
radical improvement in tike railway
situation, officials of the fuel admin
istration told Senators and Repre
sentatives today. There Is a big
shortage of cars and other freight Is
given preference over coal shipments.
Congressmen are not satisfied with
the explanation given .and plan to
visit supposed centers of congestion
during the holidays. The White
House remains mute on the subject
of railway reorganization.
Alterations are being made which
will double the seating capacity ot
the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
ANOTHER LADY MAYOR '
Lady mayors certainly are making
good, for now that one. baa success
fully held down tbe post others are
ready to follow suit Florida had the
honor of electing within Its bounds
the first lady mayor In the country.
Now Warren, Illinois, quickly follows.
electing Mayor Canfield. who has al
ready proved ber executive fitness.
With the war In full swing, we will
probably bave ladles holding down the
various municipal offices, . from city
chief to doorkeeper of the municipal
building.
I!
JBy International News Service.)
SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17,- It has
been said that the Kaiser has some
friends whether, they Intend to be
or not in Congress, but one thing la
certain. Senator' Henry, Cabot Lodge,
of Massachusetts, is not one of them.
Senator Lodge has been one of the
bitterest enemies the Kaiser has had
to reckon with. . He has been strong
ly anti-German since the beginning
of the world war In 1914.
The power of ft United States Sen
ator is great enough In itself, but
Senator Lodge's power in the Senate
l aAAaA A Ittf tiiinn Af him ttaafim..
ment to three of the most Important
committees, those on iForelgn 'Rela
tions, Finance and Naval Affairs. .
If Senator Lodge. chose to do so.
he might place a long string of let
ters back ot his name, tor he has
been awarded degrees by many unl-
verslties and colleges-; He is some
literary light too, besides being a -
statesman. He is the autbor or ."Life
and Letters of George Cabot," "Short
History of the English Colonies in
America," "Life of Alexander Hamil- .
ton," "life ot Daniel Webster," "Ufe
of Washington," co-author with The
odore Roosevelt in "Hero Tales from
American History" and the author ot
many other works. ; .
Henry cabot Lodge was born . in
Boston. May 12," 18S0. He graduat
ed from Harvard College in ,1871
ana irom narvara unw wcnooi v in
1875, with the degree of LL.B. In .
1876 he was given the degree of Ph.-
D. by Harvard University. He serv
ed two terms In the lower House or
tbe Massachusetts Legislature, for
being literary by disposition, he was
popular in tbe Bean City,, , After sev
eral terms in Congress, Massachu
setts elected him to the Senate. That
was in 1893, and he has been there
ever since. If it will encourage tbe
Kaiser any, it is permitted to an
nounce that Senator Lodge's term of
office will end. on March 3, 1923.
which, doubtless, Insures his being .
on the Job until the end of the war. .
BRITISH RECAPIU.1E
so;;e lost crxiD
(By International News 8ervlce.l
, LONDON, Dee. IS. Most of the
ground lost to the Germans on the
Flanders front yesterday was recap
tured during last night, the war of
fice announced. There was sharp
fighting around Poelderhok and
heavy artillery dueling northeast of
Ypres and near Messlnes.
PAY INTEREST Oil ;,
FIRST' LIBERTY 10ATI
(By International News Service.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. The
Government paid the first war Inter
est today when $35,00-0,000' became
due on coupons attached to the first
Liberty Loan.
GEN. CR0ZIER FCIISIiES -.
HIS ARIIY TESTL"::,7
(By International News ' Service)
WASHINGTON,' Dec. 15. Gen.
Crozier today finished his testimony
before the Senate Probe Committee.
Tbe hearing was behind closed doors
but Chairman Chamberlain announc
ed that the committee "found. In a
general way, that conditions were
better than expected.". It is under
stood that Gen. Crozier gave : tbe
committee a detailed statement re
garding the supply quartermaster's
department which will probably, be
taken up Monday.
150 ram of i. v. i:
' Oil TRIALCI te3'
(By International News Service.)
CHICAGO, Dec. 15. A hundred
and five members of the I. W. w.
heavily 'guarded, went on trial be
fore Judge 'Landis today for conspir-.
acy to obstruct the war operations cf
the Government. . All . plead not
gnllty. . . '.', .
: HOUSE ADJOURNS TOMOr.I.C .7.
, (By International Mews Service.)
WASHINGTON, Dec 15. 7
House will adjourn. -Tuesday ur'l
January third. , .