|m A I ELKIN
"The Best
Little Town
f^P ME I" North
- ~ Carolina"
VOL. No. XXIII, No. 13
Luther Tilley Said To
Have Demonstrated
How Body "Was Laying
YET DENIED GOING
INTO THE HOME AT
TIME OF KILLING
Coroner's Jury Charges
Tilleys With Con
spiracy, Murder
FIVE ARE IN JAIL
Although Luther Tilley, held in
jail at Wilkesboro as a participant
in the murder of Leoda Mae Child
ress, is alleged to have denied en
tering the home of his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, on the day
the girl was killed there, he never
theless gave a demonstration of
the exact manner in which the girl
was lying on the floor when found,
for the benefit of a number of local
people who were gathered in a local
store a few days after the murder, it
was learned Wednesday.
In addition, he was said to have
described the condition of the dis
ordered room and to have expressed
his opinion that Leoda did not com
mit suicide but that Taft Norinan,
one of the earlier suspects in the
case, killed her and placed her body
in the position in which it was found
when the crime vas discovered.
At the time he was said to have
given the demonstration he and his
father, W. W. Tilley, were in a local
store and were answering questions
propounded by a group of curious
gathered there. Mr. Tilley was quo
ted as having expressed his belief
that the girl committed suicide.
Solicitor John R. Jones, who has
worked night and day in an effort
to solve the murder, stated Tuesday
while in Elkin that a letter had come
to light which had been written to
Tom Childress, father of the mur
dered girl, about a year prior to her
death. He said the letter was in
reference to Leoda Childress having
caused trouble between a man and
wife. Although Mr. Jones would not
commit himself as to the writer of
the letter, it was learned Wednesday
morning from a reliable source that
the letter was written by Mrs. Lu
ther Tilley.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley were
arrjfcted shortly after the hearing at
Wilkesboro Saturday by Sheriff W.
B. Somers, and placed in jail. They
are charged with conspiracy and
murder, as are their sons, Luther
and Clyde, and Luther's wife, Mrs.
Minerva Tilley, who were in jail at
the time. The couple were taken in
to custody on the street near the
courthouse, they having left the
hearing before the coroner's jury ar
rived at a verdict.
It was learned Wednesday morn
ing that date for a preliminary
hearing has not been set, and it was
intimated that such a hearing would
be waived by defense counsel.
Solicitor Jones, who was confined
to his bed Wednesday with a
cold, stated here Tuesday that he
has much evidence of a damaging
nature that has not yet been di
vulged. He was quoted as saying
(Continued on Last Page)
DR. DERENDINGER
SPEAKS TO CLUB
Member of Catawba
College Faculty Dis
cusses Art
The local Kiwanlans were enter
tained lest Friday night at their reg
ular meeting with a short but well
appointed speech by Dr. Ernst
Derendinger, director of Catawba
College Extension Department. He
was introduced by Kiwanian Walter
R. Schaff.
Dr. Derendinger pointed out that
the attitude of the people of Europe
toward art is on* of respect, devel
oped from babyhood. In America, It
is different, he said. Europe has
learned to look upon things in terms
of beauty while Americans view
things in terms of their usefulness.
In glviilg a brief history of Ameri-
which is about 90 years old,
he pointed out that Art is now as
suming a large place in the life of
the American public schools 'as well
" as the American home.
THE ELKIN TRIBUNE
Mrs. W. W.Tilley Was
Carrying Knife When
Arrested Saturday
Mrs. W. W. Tilley, when ar
rested in Wilkesboro Saturday,
together with her husband on a
charge of conspiracy and murder
of Leoda Childress, their foster
daughter, was carrying a knife,
it was learned from Sheriff W. B.
Somers, who made the arrest.
Mr. Tilley was not armed, as
had been reported here, the sheriff
said. The knife Mrs. Tilley was
carrying was of the pocket variety.
I ATE NEWC
from the
State and Nation
Serious Riots
In Paris
Paris, Feb. 7. (Wednesday.)—
Furious mobs in a revolt against
the government battled with po
lice and troops through Paris
streets into the early morning
hours today, set fire to the min
istry of marine and paid with a
death toll which may reach a
score or more.
Machine-gun fire raked the
front of the American embassy
as mobs charged across a bridge
leading to the chamber of depu
ties. Many were reported dying.
An estimated 100 to 200 were
gravely injured. Thousands re
ceived minor hurts.
All Paris sensed this to be a
grave night in the history,of the
republic. Thousands of stores
closed early and put up wooden
shutters or used their iron cur
tains. Cafes cleared their side
walk terraces of tables and chairs
which previously had been used
as missiles, and locked their doors
as the rioting grew.
Hope For
10% Raise
Raleigh, Feb. 6.—Hope of a 10
per cent teacher salary raise
shortly through a gross gift of
about $1,500,000 from Washing
ton, is read in letters going out
to teachers and superintendents
from Raleigh appraising them of
a $50,000,000 federal proposition
to aid the common schools in
their "cricis" as their plight is
described in Washington.
Charge Woman
With Murder
■ High Point, Feb. 6.—Mrs.
Emma Pulliam, 58-year-old keep
er of a boarding house on South
Main street here, was arrested at
12:40 o'clock today for murdering
Lee ?. Harvell, whose charred
body was taken from the ruins of
his burned home just east of
High Point, on the Greensboro
road December 22.
Take Gold
To London
London, Feb. 6.—Gold estimat
ed to be worth more than $24,-
825,000 at today's closing rate
was landed in London this after
noon during an unprecedented
gold rush by airplane from the
continent.
The greater part of the yellow
metal was believed ultimately
destined for the United States.
Prominent Harmony
Physician Is Dead
Dr. L. P. Gross, 36, widely known
physician of Harmony, Iredell
county, died at his home Friday
from an illness of about one hour
from a heart ailment. Dr. Gross
was a graduate of Wake Forest Col
lege and later studied his profes
sion in Baltimore. He was the son
of Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Gross of Har
mony. Surviving is his wife and
two small children, his parents, four
sisters and three brothers.
Funeral services were held at Har
mony Saturday.
ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1934
I I Murdered Girl and Those Charged With Her Death
Large drawing is of Leoda Mae Childress, whose mysterious death at the home of her foster parents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, of near Benham, on December 30 has resulted in the arrest of (1) Clyde Tilley, (2)
Luther Tilley, brothers, and (3) Mrs. Luther Tilley on charges of conspiracy and Mrs. Luther Tilley,
who has refused to be photographed, is also charged directly with the murder of the girl in another warrant.
Luther Tilley faces a second charge of murder in connection with the death in June, 1927, of Andrew Eld
ridge. In addition to the three TUleys pictured above, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley, parents of the two men,
are also being held in JaiL
YADKIN MAN BLOWS
OFF TOP OF HEAD
Crockett Barber, 62,
Commits Suicide Sun
day Afternoon
Crockett Barber, 62-year-old ten
ant farmer, living Just west of
Brooks Cross Roads, committed sui
cide Sunday afternoon by blowing
off the top of his head with a 12
gauge shotgun.
Other members of the family said
they were in the house asleep but
were awakened by the report of the
gun. Rushing to the yard a son
found the body by the side of the
smokehouse, his body in a pool of
blood and his brains scattered on the
ground. Part of his head and hair
was some 20 feet up in a locust tree
lodged on a limb.
Dr. W. G. Leak, Yadkin county
coroner, could not be located and
W. E. Rutledge, Yadkinville, w&s ap
pointed a special coroner to investi
gate the death. There was no rea
son to believe he had been killed by,
anyone else and an inquest was
deemed unnecessary. The body was
removed to Mackie & Hinshaw's un
dertaking parlor where it was pre
pared for burial.
Burial followed in the cemetery at
Mountain View church, near the
home, Monday afternoon. He is
survived by his wife and three
children.
VOTE TO WITHDRAW
APPROPRIATION
Hampton Tells Commis
sioners Slot Machines
Should Go
Meeting Monday night in regular
session, the Elkin board of commis
sioners voted to withdraw further
appropriations to county health work
until a county health officer is em
ployed. Dr. T. C. Britt, former
health officer, having resigned dur
ing the latter part of last year.
It is understood that several ap
plicants for the job of county phy
sician are, under consideration but
as yet no one has been appointed.
The matter of outlawing all slot
machines in town, brought before
the board by Parks Hampton, local
attorney, was referred to Mayor M.
A. Royall for investigation.
Miss Elkin for 1934 will be selected
at the Lyric Theatre this evening.
Be there and assist in the coronation
of the "Queen of Elkin."
Foster Parents Held For Girl's Murder
'" — " " ;
*m
i J^HHn
WK\ JB %££*; * tM
S' * 8
H| f ® &Hn»| .^Pg
«f \w t- m
Eg£-» \ Sk .J -, &Bky. J|j
Kv
.... : . .... . .i.'
Mr. and Mrs. Warwick W. Tilley, photographed at their home the day
the body of Leoda Mae Childress was exhumed at Benham church, who
were placed in jail at Wilbesboro Saturday afternoon on warrants charg
ing: conspiracy and murder. ✓
ALLEGHANY MAN IS
DEAD AFTER FIGHT
Passes In Local Hospi
tal After Game Fight
For Life
Rufus D. Watson, 48, died in the
local hospital Sunday night after
making a desperate fight for his life
for two weeks following severe skull
injuries received when he was hit
over the head with the butt of a
pistol 4n a light in the Bull Head
mountain section of Alleghany coun
ty. The fight is said to have occur
red at a dance and the fatal blow is
alleged to have been dealt by Pholey
i J
(Continued On Last Page)
LOCAL HOSPITAL
HAS FINE RECORD
During Past Year Total
Of 629 Patients Were
Discharged
The results of the Hugh Chatham
Memorial hospital here are hardly
appreciated in their fullest meaning.
The following figures will enable lo
cal people to understand more clear
ly the splendid work that is being
done by this group of workers and
the way in which a long felt need in
Elkin and the surrounding com
munity is being met in this institu
tion.
During last year 029 patients were
(Continued On Last Page)
I
EIJtIN lyAl
Gateway to
RoarW
Gap and the
Blue Ridge «»•«»"
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
EXPERT IS WARNED
NOT TO TESTIFY IN
ELDRIDGE MYSTERY
He States Luther Tilley
Wrote Andrew Eld
ridge Note
PROBABLE CAUSE
Another note, equally as myster
ious as the two which have featured
the Childress-Eldridge murder case,
came to light Friday morning during
the preliminary hearing for Luther
Tilley and Winfield Stanley before
Magistrate A. E. Spainhour, at
Wilkesboro.
Tilley and Stanley, charged with
the death of Andrew Eldridge in
June, 1927, were bound over to su
perior court without benefit of bond.
The note, which was rnsigned and
printed in pencil on a scrap of ruled
paper, was placed between the screen
door and front door of the home
of E. B. Brooks, handwriting expert
of Winston-Salem, who has given
damag.iig evidence in the case
against Luther Tilley and Stanley.
The note read as follows:
"If you know what is best for
you you won't tell who wrote that
note. And you won't show this
note. You think yon dam sharp."
Mr. Brooks testified he found the
note Saturday night following the
coroner's hearing at Ronda Wednes
day a week ago ki which he was a
witness.
The Winston-Salem handwriting
expert, when placed upon the stand
Friday morning, testified that the
note presumably left by Andrew
Eldridge the day he disappeared
from home in 1927, was written by
Luther Tilley.
Upon being cross examined by
Hayden Burke, Tilley's attorney, it
was revealed Brooks was carrying a
pistol. He stated that he had se
cured a permit from Winston-Salem
police to carry a gun after he found
the note. He testified that the com
munication "scared me."
Although Mr. Burke endeavored to
confuse Brooks as to his testimony
regarding the handwriting of the
Eldridge note, the expert refused to
become mixed up.
The first witness to be called to
the stand during the hearing was J.
F. Eldridge, father of Andrew Eld
ridge. Mr. Eldridge testified that the
last time he saw his son alive he left
him at the house while he and his
wife went into the fields to work. Up
on returning about dusk he stated he
found the note upon the kitchen ta
(Continued on Last Page)
CRIMINAL COURT
CONVENES MONDAY
Shipton Case Is Sche
duled To Come Up
Friday
The February term of Surry coun
ty superior court for the trial of
criminal cases convened Monday at
Dobson before Judge Felix A. Alley
with Solicitor Caflysle Higgins pros
ecuting the docket.
Up until Wednesday few cases had
been disposed of, "k. portion of the
time having been consumed in call
ing the report docket.
Several cases of local interest are
scheduled to conje up, one of which
is the Hasten Eldridge case in
which Eldridge is charged with rob
bing the Reece Barber Shop here
last Tuesday week.
Trial of Windy Shipton, of the
Mountain Park vicinity who on the
night of November 13, 1933, severe
ly cut Deputy Sheriff R. C. Wood
across the abdomen with a knife
while resisting arrest, is scheduled to
begin Friday.
Trial of a theft case which occur
red in Mount Airy, was under way
Wednesday.
All In Readiness
For Men's Beauty
Contest Tonight
Plans are all set for the Men's
Beauty contest at the Lyric Thea
tre, which is sponsored by the
Woman's Auxiliary of the Georre
Gray Post of the American Le
gion. In addition to the contest
there will be choruses and dances
by students of the local school and
a feaidre attraction on the screen.
"Miss" Elkin win be chosen from
the rrvup of entrants, which in
cludes some of Ellda's meet
charming "belles."