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HEjUORDING
H0KE[ COUNTY’S
* PRESENT
-WITH ■ -
A JUSTICE^
THE HOKE COUNTY NEWS
SiVME XXVII—Number 4
THE HOKE COUNTY JOURNAL
Sl.50 YEAR, IN ADVANCE
Superior Court Disposes
Of Six Criminal Cases
Tpi Medlin Acquitted of Murder Charge^
Thieves Go To Penitentiary and Roads
Much Public Interest In Several Cases
SENATE AND HISEIREORGANIZE IRCAl
MAY AGREE SOON SCODT COMMITTEE
TTie April term of superior court
H for Holce County convened at tlie
court house at Raeford on last Mon
day niornlng; The session up until
Wednesday was concerned with the
criminal docket and disposed of, six
cases. Late Wednesday aiternoon
with tlie verdict in the Swanson
. X case, the criminal doclcet was fln-
^ ished and the civil docket was be
gun.
•v «Iis Honor Judge Frank A. Oan-
lels presided over the term which
• j^eveloped in its criminal docket
^ more than tje average amount of
interest on the part of the citizens:
Two murder cases, one embezzle-
ment, one violating of the prohibi-
tii^ law, and, one housebreaking
and larceny, composed the criininal
docket.
Medlin Case Draws Attention
Much interest whs manifest in
the case of the State- versus Ted
Medlin, Little River'young man wlio
on February 22, shot and killed
Colonel Larrimore, his brother-in-
\ law. Medlin was exonerated aJter
an „ intense legal battle. Character
Witnesses gave 'Medlin a splendid
reputation in his community aiii
established , a reputation for vio
lent 9 ■ when intoxicated for the
slain man. Medlin himself took
the st-^nd and gave his version of
the affair, asserting that there was
no fuss between the two and tnat
l he shot in defense of his stppson
^ and himself. The jury, after a re
latively short period of delibe:atioit
returned a verdict of not guilty.
Accused Men Exonerated.
Jim Graham, colored, was accused
of receiving stolen goods. The case
was the result of the discovery of
a large quantity of merchandise in
Graham’s home by the local offi
cers. Three mien were accused with
him of housebreaking, larceny and
receiving stolen good!!. These three
Luxury Tax Sten As Grounds
On Which • Warring Fac
tion? Pday Come Tq Terms
Forces Now Divided.
highway patrol
IS REAL.—
A quick, stop was put to all the
speculation as to whether, the
State Highway patror really func
tions in this part of the State,
when a mass’ve itiember of the
patrol scuttled around on the,
highwAays near Raeford on his
1 merry little motorcycle Thursday
night and rounded up several
I r.nd sundry ' minor offenders
] against the/laws that govern the
. operation of vehicles on- public
roads.
j. Magistrate J. E. Conoly was
host to the patrolman, and his
• round-up, hearing the charges
and administering Admonitions
and minor penalties. Due to the
lack of knowledge as to when
the court would be over and the
officer would reappear to adjure'
r'eta'Ief respect for law, several
prominent citizens were encour
aged to linger down town, with
out starting their cars, until the
rear light of the motorcycie fad
ed into the darkness.
The climax of the evening
came when a workman, tremb- ^
ling in fear for the consequences ■
of his trial, called to his em-'
ployee to come post haste to
5 his rescue. He came, only to be
j called himself into court for the
; lack of a tail light on the car
i wh’ch he ' drove to the rescue.
Kiwanis Club Members Will
Serve As Advisory Board—
Scouts Prepare for Jaunboree
Next Week.
Court Confirms Fall Sale
Of Raeford Cotton Mills
Judge Frank A. Daniels Confirms Receivership
Sale—^Wilmingtcii Man New Owner—
Operation cf Mill Would Be Aid to Town
VICTIM OF PIAV
Young Colored Girl Shot To
Death By Brother, / Playing
plea l guilty an4 were sentenced as j With Gun Thought To Be
^follows: John Turnage, not more| Unloaded.
tliamHlirse and a lialf and not leas ^
Xhai two and a half years in the, ,pj^g county officers were
state penitentiary; Will Turnage, | tg Bowniore last Saturday
twelve months on the roads; John ^fjej-noon to investigate a tragic
W. Graham, prayer for judgment j^j^ooting which had occurred in that
(Continued on page six)
Wars and rumors of wars set the
capital city of. North Carolina in
a continual uproar as the joint con
ference committee of the senate
and the house failed to agree with
each other or among themselves on
the Revenue bill, which was submit
ted to them in the faint hope that
they might be able to do somethin
about it. Hope having been long
ago given up that any sort of -ami
cable settlement of the Revei^ue
bill could be reached in the respec
tive bodies of the state legislature,
a joint committee composed of mem
bers of the two houses was ap
pointed to see what could be done
to induct both pro and anti sales
factions to give in and think at the
same time that they were carrying
the day.
The joint conference committee is
considering the Revenue bill as a
unit but significantly enough the
general disagreement hinges upon
the question of to put into the bill
a sales tax or to put into it in
stead a thirty’ cent ad valorem tax.
However the old antagonism between
the sales tax financier's who cannot
agree whether it shall be a onc-
percent gross sales tax or a luxury
tax. (this latter name is very de
ceptive), is still pxtant. There is
an absolute necessity to raise by
some a dit onal tax other than the
normal sources of revenue incor
porated in the Revenue bill, about
ton millions of dollars to financ-^
the six months school term provid-
cj; for in the McLean School bill.
The legislature and the press have
furnished quite an entertaining
spring for the land owners, holding
before them always th^ succulent
lolly-pop of reduction of ad valorem
tales on land. Now it appears that
the lolly-pop will be put back into
its slick paper wrapper and stowed
away. until the next political cam-
. a-oH.
Rumors float that the hitherto
unpierced armor of the senate with-
rsgard to any form of sales tax is
now vulnerable. Proponents of the
‘duxury’^jtax claimed Wednesday to
(Continued on page six)
The Kiwanis Club, sponsors of the
Raeford Scout Troop, reorganized
the Scout Committee at the meet
ing of the club last Thursday. The
scout committee is a group of Ki
wanians who have various duties
to perform in helping the scout
master carry on his work. The Ki
wanians appointed and the duties
assigned to them are: R. B. Lewis,
ebairtaan of the committee; Paul
Dickson, publicity; Ryan McBryde,
promotion; W. F. Trawick, camping
and hiking; C. E. Upchurch, inspec
tion.
The scout troop is active this
week and next making preparations
for the Jamboree to be held by
the Scouts of the. Cape Fear Coun-
lil in Wilmington on May 1 and 2.
The Raeford Scouts are much in-
1 terested, .organizing teams for com
petition with the other troops and
maWng plans for thorough enjoy
ment of the Jamboree.
NE7/ MEMBERS SWORN ON
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
nsighborhood. Informants stated to
the officers that a young negro boy
lltul shot, probably fatally his young
er sister.
The officers upon arriving at the
scene found Maggie Covington, six
teen year, old colored girl in a crit
ical condition, suifering from severe
gunshot wounds in the side, inflict
ed according to eye witnesses, by a
Officials of the Cape Fear Area
Council, the scouting organization
of which the Raeford troop is a
part, assert that this year’s Jambo
ree will be one of the largest
events of its kind ever held in
North Carolina. It is estimated
that at least six hundred scouts
from the district will be in atten
dance. The scouts will stay in
tents and the time will be well fill
ed with activity, camp fires, parade
and inter-troop competition. Each
troop --will be strictly graded in in
spections, appearance and excel
lence in the wide variety of com
petitions.
The present troop is the first
Raeford troop to take part in a
Jamboree of this kind. The scouts
will carry with them the interest
and good wishes of a large number
of the people- of the community,
who hope that they will continue
their good showing in Scouting.
Nineteen permanent pasture dem
onstrations have been started in
Lee County this spring with the
idea of giving impetus to the live
stock industry of the county.
The county board of education
met in an adjourned session on last
Monday. The following members ^
were sworn into office for a. term discharge from a shut gun m the
hands of her brother, Howard Cov-
ingten, aged eighteen.
According to the story told to the
officers by the children and by the
yoiith himself, there was^ a gen
eral frolic in the y^rd of the home,
The youth had procured the shot
gun and was playing with it. The
girl is said to have made some re
mark about the appearance of the
boy at which he playfully pretended
to become enraged and raised the
gun to pretend to shoot her. It was
more than pretense, however, for
the gun was loaded and went oft,
(Continued on page six)
^f two years; Jesse Gibson, Louis
Parker, M. W. McLean, A. P. Stubbs
and H. F. Currie. Mr. Gibson was
unanimously re-elect' d chairman of
the board. He w as olect®d chair-
|7f 4 man on July 7, 1924 and has been
' serving '0't chairman since that’
time. He served an unexpired term
and. this election makes the begin
ning of the fourth full term as
chairman.
\ W. P. Hawfleld was re-elected as
county superintendent to succeod.
^ himself. The term begins July the
first and this will mak% the sixth
term for him.
Mr. Thomas McLaughlin was ap-
olnted on the committee of the
itioch school for a term of three
irears and 'Mr. P. McN. Gibson was
re-appolnted for a term of three
years. Mr. J. W. Russell and Mr.
D, J. Loye were re-appointed for a
^ term of three years for the Blue
Springs school and Mr. M. L. Max
well was appointed ta fill out an
unexpired term. Mr. H. O. Wooten
was re-appolnted for the Little
lUver schooL Mr. W. W. McCrlm
' mon was re-appolnted for the Ros-
endale school. Mr. D. K. Parker
and Mr. T. G. W6od were re-ap
f ointed for the Rocfcfish school. Mr.
. B. Womble was appointed for a
term of three years for the Ashe-
mont schooL Mr. Ryan McBryde
was re-appolnted for the Raeford
^ooL Mr. J. D. McBryde was re-
appolnted for the- MUdouaon school.
CORRECTION
Mr. H. C. Bethea, police chief of
St. Pauls, who shot and killed Jud
Dean, on April 11th, and who was
freed of all blame by the Robeson
County Grand Jury, was a Raeford
visitor Sunday and called to 'the
attention of the News-Journal that
the account published last week
was In error in that the statement
was made that he was confined to
jail. The News-Journal regrets
making this statement which was
done on misinformation. As a mat
ter oi^ct Mr. Bethea was not con
fined to Jail at'all and-received a
complete exoneration by the author
ities of the county. A large number
of frlAds In 'RaSford were very
much pleased at the outcome of the
hearing.
fv
YOUTHFUL HOKE COUNTY FIDDLER
CARRIES ON IN BROTHER’S PLACE
Dewey Sessoms, Twelve Years Old, Plays the Fiddle Like An
Old Timer—Pairs With Man Who Formerly
Was His Brothers Partner.
Dramatists, poets and story writ filing who has been to every con-
ers have for many ages depended
on the old scheme of “carry on”
for the element of iutei'est in many
"vork in their iridivi.:u,vl fields.
The mind fails warn it attempts^
to number the stories in Avhich the^
height of interest ’s reached when
the hero intuitively exhibits some
characteristic of the father or the
family and thus saves the family
Lcncr) homestead or cabbag» patch.
P'ew things are more interesting
than the transmission of talent
from older to younger, whether it
be in athletics, business, music,
drawing or any talent toat may be
noted by the public. The younger
brother who steps into the place at
shortstop which another member of
his family held years before, the
Junior ’ busihess man In whom the
older associates recognize the
characlsrlstlcs of the father, the
younger man In any field to whom
the characteristics of an older seem
to have descended in renewed
force — these persons are focus
points of interest.
Patrons of the newly revived
square dance in Raeford have been
interested In the expert and ma
ture fiddling of a twelve year old
boy who calmly takes his place
with an orchestra of mature men-
The .boy has never taken’ a music
lesson In his life. He has simply
picked up. the talent t^t enables
him to fiddle with the, ability and
indifference of the master of fid-
.-i.n event that may mean much
for this community came to pass
Wednesday when Judge Frank A
Daniels, presiding over the April
term of Hoke County Superior
Court here, confirmed the Receiv
er’s sale of the Raeford Cotton
Mills. F. B. Harris, of the Wil
mington Savings Bank and Trust
Company was the buyer and the
consideration was $35,000.00, thus
taking out of the hands of the
courts a piece of property which
has been idle for more than a year
during the receivership. Just what
the sale portends for the future* is
not known at this time: the prop-'
erty is in hands that have the
right to make disposition of it. and
the tedious process of going through
a receivership has been passed and
whatever disposition of the prop
erty is to be made can now be
made. It is hoped and believed by
many that this mill, once a great
financial asset to Raeford and the
county, will again be put into op
eration and become again a great
business asset.
This mill was founded in 1903
by Hoke County business men. with
Messrs. T. B. and W. J. Upchurch
the leading men in the orgAftzation.
For fourteen years it was an ideal
mill community and one of the
most successfully managed to be
found anywhere. A high type of
labor was employed and a fine
spirit prevailed between employers
and employees. In 1920 the mill
was sold to interests headed by Mr.
Claude Gore of Rockingham for
$420,000.00 and with the slump in
textiles following soon thereafter
began to have hard sledding, cul
minating in a receivership early
last year.
With the abundance of electric
power available' here, the abundance
of labor and the low living costs
in this community, many believe
that this mill, properly financed and
with the low capitalization neces
sary at the price paid for it, should
The annual spring services of the; able to make necessary improve-
Raeford Presbyterian church will | ments and operate on a firm basis,
begin Sunday, April 26th, with the: Should such be the case it will
eleven o’clock service. The ser- j pi-ove a big boon to business here.
vices will continue through the fol- j
lowing Sunday with, two servicer,
daily during the week, morning ser
vice at ten-thirty and eyening ser-
PACK LAYER
jiVFTER LAYER.—
Criticism of the weather these
fine, warm days I has been very
rare, the officials of last week's
poultry car being some of the
first to lodge complaint against
the present happy fusion of sun
shine and light breezes.
This very fine vweather how
ever wap given as the reason for
the light shipment of fowls on
the April excursion fostered by
the State Department of Agricul
ture. Two thousand five hundred
and thirty-three chickens show
ed up at the station dressed in
their finest feathers and cack
ling with the excitement of the
occasion. Several cliques were
evident in the crowd, by far the
most numerous being the colored
hens, who numbered two thou
sand and ninety-eight. Leghorns,
broilers, duckS , and assorted
classes made the final number a
little ovec twenty-five hundred.
The receipts to citizens of the
county from the sale of poultry
was three hundred and seventy
one dollars ^and eighty six cents.
The final excursion for the year
will be toward the middle of
May.
The lightness of the latter
shipments is additional proof
that fair weather is not fowl
weather.
DR. HARDIE DEGINS
MEETINGJIERE SOON
Is Pastor of Large Charlotte-
Church — Wyi Hold Ser
vices Here Beginning Sun
day.
vice, at seven-thirty.
The bringing of Dr. James F.
Hardie td Raeford is an occasion of
much pride to the members and
officers of the Raeford Presbyterian
church. Dr.. Hardie is pastoi' of the
Second Presbyterian churcli of
Charlotte, one of the strongest
Presbyterian churches in Nortli
Carolina. This position Dr. Hafdie
accepted when it was left vacant
by the death of Dr. McOeachy, ■ the
virile and beloved minister who
was pastor of the church for many
years. Dr. Hardie felt the call to
the ministry after he had decided
upon a career as a business man.
Leaving his business he went to
the seminary and prepared himself
for tlie gospel ministry. Since go
ing into this -work he has held!
(Continued on page six)
WILL ROGERS PAYS FLY
ING VISIT TO RAEFORD
SOLDIERS CELEBRATE
vention and square dance in the
country. When he was ten years
old he won the fiddle which he now
plays, at a fiddlers convention. Ask
en those who know him well how
learned to play a violin and they
ll tell you again that he just
“picked it up.”
The boy is Dewey Sessoms, who
lives about seven miles East of
Raeford. The ability to play the
fiddle runs In the ‘ family. Several
years ago his brother, Francis Ses
soms was well known in the county
and many surrounding coimties for
his dexterity with the fiddle. "With
Alf McFayden he played all over the
countryside until his untimely death
a few years ago.—But Alf has an- The two military companies cele-
other partner how. The twelve brated the promising outcome ' of
year old brother of his old part- the recent InspecUon at a fish fry
ner, who no doubt used to Uste-a at the Country Club this week. The
with rapt attention as his brother perspunel of the two military or-
played, has now taken the place' ganlzations was on hand almost one
which he held, and, the music goes hundred percent and enjoyed the
on, hands clap and feet tap on the fare of fried fish and catfish stew
floor In time with the swift rhythm, prepared for them under the sn^r-
Hoke County’s twelve year old vision of Hoke County’s pre-eminent
musician plays a violent violin. The social cook,
rabid rhytHms of the square dance Work in the military companies
are not the' work of a languid or has been slackened tor several
lethargic bow. Those who have weeks In deference to the Inten
seen him play remember a sandy sive work that was necessary to
head, a slight body held stiffly up- prepare the units for the inspection,
right, a fiddle resting not under his The local authorities were well
chin, but In a socket formed by pleased with the spirit of the corn-
crossed legs and a bow flying -pfmy during the hard work and de-
dcross the strings like a shuttle creed two weeks respite from hc-
across a loom. • five work. i
Will Rogers, notable humorist,
philanthropist. philosopher, actor
and writer, the lovable non-such of
modern- America, payed a flying
visit to Hoke county and Raeford
on Monday, April 20, according to
information gleaned from Will’s
daily articll in the state press the
following day. According to this
article, Will Rogers traveled from
Jacksonville to Washington on one
of the air liners of the East Coast
Air Line, whose route oj ^ travel
passes Just to the Elast of Raeford.
Some local citizens aver that they
deduced the news from the smiling
skies but those citizens must have
caught Monday’s skies at an off
moment; or perhaps the skies were
hysterical. That might account for
It )
At any rate Will’s daily article
«8 printed Tuesday gives ample
proof that he got a good glimpse of
Hoke\ county for ho refers nnthua*
iastlially to the beautiful land Ae
passed over. Hoke county citiMis
have ample reason to say that ^V.l
was all up In the air over our scen
ery when he saw It Monday.
SUGGEST FISHERMEN
TO WEAR TAIL LIGHTS
Some guy. asked Mr. Henry TesL
of Blue Springs Township, Tother
day if he had a license to fish. He
replied that he didn’t need any ll>
cense to fish, .but that he thoesht
it would be a good idea for aU nlsht
fishermen to wear tail lights so M
not to be bumping into each other*