THE TRIBUNE HOLDS THE TROPHY CUP (SSSSTJSS) AS THE BEST NEWSPAPER IN NORTH CAROLINA OUTSIDE THE DAILY FIELD
. I ELKIN
"The Beet
V# Little Tqym
In North
Carolina"
VOL. No. XXIII, No. 40
Childress Murder Case
Remains Mystery As
Tilleys Are Set Free
CASE THROWN OUT
OF COURT; EVIDENCE
IS NOT SUFFICIENT
State Unable To Link
Tilley Family With
the Crime
JONES COMMENDED
The death of Leoda Mae Childress.
20, Wilkes county farm girl remains
a mystery.
Five members of the W. W. Tilley
family, who had been held in jail
for the past seven months charged
r with her murder, were found not
guilty in superior court at Wilkes
boro Saturday afternoon at 4:45
o'clock by a directed verdict from
Judge John M. Oglesby.
The state, after nearly three days
in which it attempted to weave a
net of circumstantial evidence about
the defendants, rested its case at
4:45 o'clock Saturday afternoon. A
motion to dismiss the case, made by
J. Hayden Burke, of Taylorsville,
counsel for the defense, was inter-
L rupted by Judge Oglesby, who said
there was no reason for a lengthy
argument.
"There is some evidence tending
to arouse suspicion," the court said.
"There is some evidence tending to
show dissention in the Tilley home.
You have not established a con
spiracy, and lacking that, you have
failed to show that any member of
the family indicted here committed
the crime. I will have to dismiss
the case on both counts as to all
defendants."
The Tilleys were charged with
murder and conspiracy to murder.
The court commended Solicitor
(Continued On Page Four)
NOT TO TEAR DOWN
J. F. RUSSELL BARN
Barn And Pool Not
Health Menace, Health
Board Says
* The. J. F. Russell barn, located on
North Bridge street, which was or
dered torn down not later than the
15th of this month by the board of
town commissioners, was given a
clean bill of health Tuesday by the
county health department which,
after an inspection, stated that it
did not constitute a health menace.
The board of health, represented
by Dr. N. Thomas Ennett, Surry
r health officer, and Edwin C. Hale
Surry sanitary inspector, also held
k that the pool on the Jack Ray place
p in West Elkin was not a menace to
health. As a result, the commis
sioners have no right to either tear
down the Russell barn or to drain
the pool as they ordered at their
meeting August 6, it was said.
In regards the pool, it was sug
gested that it be sprayed with oil
every two weeks in order to prevent
the breeding of mosquitos. It was
also suggested that danger signs be
ij. posted nearby in order to safeguard
children inasmuch as the pool is re
ported to be 17 feet deep.
In discussing mosquitos, Mr. Hale
pointed out that all house gutters
should be inspected and cleaned of
trash and leaves in order to prevent
the pests from breeding in stagnant
Abater which gathers when drains
are closed.
Successful Revival
Ends At Elkin Valley
A successful revival ended Sunday
at the Elkin Valley Missionary Bap
tist church. Rev. R. E. Adams, pas
tor, was in charge.
The revival, which began the first
% Sunday in August, resulted in be
tween 30 or 40 professions of faith
and the addition of 65 new members.
When Rev. Mr. Adams became
pastor of the church nine years ago,
it had a membership of only 120
members. Today it has a member
, ship of 318, the majority of whom
are residents of the immediate com
munity.
THE ELKIN TRIBUNE
NolProsTaken
In Eldridge
Case
Winfield Stanley and Luther
Tilley Are Freed
Monday
A nol pros was taken in the case
charging Luther Tilley and Win
field Stanley with the murder of An
drew Eldridge, whose body was found
floating in Klondike lake in June,
1927, when the case came up for
trial in Wilkes county superior court
at Wilkesboro Monday morning.
That the case would gq the nol
pros route was predicted by W. M.
Allen, attorney for Stanley, and The
Tribune two weeks ago.
Tilley and Stanley were placed in
jail February 2, this year, under a
murder warrant sworn out by Jeff
Eldridge, father of the dead youth.
At a preliminary hearing held short
ly after their arrest probable cause
was found and they were ordered
held for trial in superior court with
out benefit of bond.
Stanley was arrested when it was
learned that he allegedly had stated
that Eldridge was not drowned, but
that "they" hanged him to a tree
to scare him and that "they" left
him hanging too long and scared,
"they" threw his body into Klondike
lake.
Stanley's arrest and the arrest of
Luther Tilley for the alleged murder
of Eldridge came during the investi
gation of the mysterious death of
Leoda Childless. The state attempted
to link the two deaths on the theory
that Luther Tilley killed Eldridge
and then killed Leoda Childress, who
it was supposed knew of the Eld
ridge killing, in order to seal her
lips.
However, Mr. Allen, who repre
sented Stanley, was prepared to pre
sent evidence that Andrew Eldridge
was drowned as was the verdict of the
coroner at the time the young man
was found in the lake. The nol pros
was taken without evidence being
offered.
DUKE POWER CO.
SLASHES PRICES
Will Effect Saving Of
Near Million Dollars
In State
Reductions in rates of the Duke
Power company and its subsidiaries
in North Carolina, which will effect
an annual saving of $957,000 to con
sumers of gas and felectricity in the
state beginning October, was an
nounced in Raleigh Thursday by
Stanley Winborne, utilities commis
sioner.
The reduction is the second ef
fected by the commission within the
past two years on rates of the pow
er company. A slash of the same
amount, $957,000, was made effec
tive in November, 1933.
The cut in electric rates in the
Carolinas was brought to $1,335,000,
as South Carolina announced a
similar reduction there of $380,000
on rates of the Duke Power com
pany and the Southern Public Utili
ties company. The rates of reduc
tion were figured on the basis of 1933
sales.
The slashes in North Carolina
were agreed upon a week ago, but
announcement was held up pending
the announcement from South Car
olina, it was pointed out.
In the Southern Public Utilities,
the saving to residential consumers
in this state, including $44,000 in the
use of gas for wateiT heating, will
amount to $368,000, while the com
mercial reductions total $316,000.
Holding Revival
A revival meeting began Tuesday
evening, August 14, at Mount He
bron church, near State Road. The
services are in charge of Rev. Mrs.
Etta Nichols, of Leaksville, and Rev.
Miss Julia Klouse, of Roxboro. A
cordial invitation is extended the
public to attend the services.
Walking puts about 300 muscles
in the human body at work.
ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1934
£"*|Hppr
When Professor Nemar, famous blindfold automobile driver, performed in Raleigh recently, the wel
coming committee immediately escorted -the famous driver and Madame Nemar to the executive mansion 011
North Blount Street, where they were greeted by Governor John C. B. Ehringhaus and city, county and state
officials. The group includes Prof, and Madame Nemar, the governor, Secretary of State Stacey W. Wade, State
Auditor Baxter Durham, Mayor George W. Isley of Raleigh, and many other state, county and city officials.
The Nemars will give a free performance of blindfold driving here on the streets of Elkin Friday afternoon,
August 24, under the sponsorship of The Tribune.
To Make Blindfold Drive
Through Streets Here As
Part of Big Trade Event
Professor Nemar, WorlH Famous For His Ability To Drive A Car
Through Crowded Streets While Blindfolded, To Give
Free Exhibition Here Friday Afternoon, August
24, As Part Of Two Big Trade Days.
Friday and Saturday, August
24 and 25, will be gala days in Elkin
for the citizens of the community
and those from the surrounding ter
ritory when the local merchants of
fer special values and bargains in
merchandise, and Professor Nemar,
the world famous telepathic author
ity making one of his sensational
blindfold drives here through the
streets of Elkin Friday afternoon,
August 24.
A signal exhibition of co-opera
tion with President Roosevelt's na
tional program to stimulate buying
among all classes to further aid in
the recovery program will be given
TO CONDUCT CLINIC
FOR TUBERCULOSIS
Examinations Will Be
Made Free For Period
of Two Weeks
Starting Monday, August 20, the
Surry county health department will
conduct tuberculosis clinics in the
county for a perfod of two weeks,
with Dr. W. F. Thornton, of the state
sanatorium, in charge.
The clinics will be held on the fol
lowing schedule:
Monday, Aug. 20, Mount Airy;
Tuesday, Aug. 21, Dobson court
house; Wednesday, Aug. 22, Low Gap
high school; Thursday, Aug. 23,
Comb's studio, Elkin; Friday, Aug.
24, Pilot Mountain high school; Mon
day, Aug. 27, Tuesday, Aug. 28 and
Wednesday, Aug. 29, Mount Airy
health department; Thursday, Aug.
30, Comb's studio, Elkin; Friday,
Aug. 31, Mount Airy health depart
ment.
(Continued On Last Page)
County Tax Rate
Set At 85 Cents
The Surry county tax rate has
been set at 85 cents on the hundred
dollar valuation, it was learned fol
lowing a meeting of the county com
missioners at Dobson Monday, at
which time work on the county bud
get was practically completed. The
budget was named at $179,000, al
though a few minor changes may be
made at the September meeting, it
was said.
Approximate valuation of taxable
property in Surry county is estimated
at $22,000,000.
Governor Welcomes Nemar to Raleigh
by the Elkin merchants and business
concerns by offering unusual bar
gains and values to the public for
these two days. These two days
will serve also to attract the good
people of the surrounding territory
into Elkin as a sort of "get acquaint
ed-friendship" feature to stimulate
mutual interest in this city as a logi
cal and provident trading center,
and as a marketing place for coun
try produce and farm products.
Professor Nemar is expected to at
tract one of the largest crowds to
ever gather here to see his marvelous
(Continued On Last Page)
Management and Date
of Masonic Picnic
Not Yet Decided On
Contrary to state press reports
the date and management of the
annual Surry-Wilkes-Yadkin Ma
sonic picnic has not been decided
upon, according to R. J. Barker,
master of the local chapter of the
Masonic kodge. However a class
of fourteen children from the
Masonic Orphanage at Oxford will
present a program in the school
auditorium Thursday evening,
August 23, at 8 o'clock, to which
the public is cordially invited.
On Friday evening August 25,
J. H. Anderson of Raleigh, Grand
Secretary of the Grand Masonic
Lodge of North Carolina will meet
with the local lodge in the Ma
sonic Hall at 8 o'clock. All mem
bers of the Masonic fraternity are
requested to attend.
MARY RUTH JOINES
DIES IN HOSPITAL
Miss Mary Ruth Joines, 15, passed
away at the local hospital Friday,
following a major operation. Her
condition had been considered criti
cal from the outset of her illness,
five days prior to her death. The
deceased was a resident of Traphill,
and a daughter of Wesley Joines
and the late Mrs. Joines. She was a
member of the Union Hill Baptist
church. Funeral services were held
Sunday morning at 11 o'clock from
the Roaring River church.
She is survived by her father, four
sisters, Mrs. Raymond DeJournette,
Thurmond; Mrs. John Smi,th. Cher
(Continued On Last Page)
[ATE NEWC
from the
State and Nation
RATTLESNAKE BITE
NOT SO BAD
Bites from rattlesnakes prove
fatal only about 15 per cent, of
the time. Dr. R. L. Carlton, city
health officer of Winston-Salem,
stated Tuesday afternoon in an
interview.
In other words. Dr. Carlton sta
ted, only about one out of every
six persons subjected to the poi
sonsous venom from this type of
snake succumbs to the poison.
Dr. Carlton ventured the opinion
that Rev. Albert Teester, Sylva
Holiness minister, who allowed a
snake to bite him during church
services more than one week ago,
is a hardy individual, and was in
excellent health when the snake
sank its fangs into his body.
HITLER AIDE
IS INJURED
Munich, Germany, Aug. 14.
General Hermann Wilhelm Goer
ing, Prussian premier and chief
aide to Chancellor Hitler, received
injuries in an automobile accident
tonight which necessitated a two
hour operation.
Dr. Adolf Seltsam operated on
Goering in the hospital at Rosen
heim. He appeared to have with
stood the operation well.
The Nazi leader received pain
ful cuts about the face and knees
and his back was injured. After
an X-ray was taken at the Rosen
heim Hospital, his physician said
there "is no special cause for im
mediate concern."
RICH CANADIAN
IS KIDNAPED .
London, Ont., Aug. 14. A
meeting in or near Toronto to
morrow to arrange negotiations
for paying $150,000 ransom was
directed in a note left by the kid
napers of John H. Labatt, million
aire brewer, today.
The note was addressed to the
victim's brother, Hugh and was
left on the steering wheel of the
brewer's automobile, abandoned
by the kidnapers after abduction.
The note threatened death to the
finder, as well as to the million
aire, if police were notified.
BYRD RESTING
COMFORTABLY
Little America, Antarctia, Aug.
14. (Via Mackay Radio)— Anxiety
for Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd
was relieved today when Dr.
Thomas C. Poulter, second in
command of the South Polar ex
pedition, reported by radio from
the advance weather base that
the leader was "resting comfort
ably'' and gives every evidence of
being able to make rapid recovery.
Whale skin takes the place of
chewing gum in Greenland.
RLKIN IMP A!
Gateway to
Rottrifti
Gap and the
Blue Ridge ->•»«•>««
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
SWAN CREEK FARMER
DIES BY OWN HAND
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Fires Bullet From .22
Rifle Into His Brain;
Funeral Sunday
WAS IN THE YARD
David Mathis, 54, prominent farm
er of the Swan Creek community of
Yadkin county, ended his life Friday
afternoon by firing a bullet from a
.22 calibre rifle into his brain, about
four o'clock. Mr. Mathis died about
three hours after the self-inflidted
fatal wound'
According to the report of Coro
ner S. A. Rash, who investigated
the tragedy, Mr. Mathis was in the
back yard of his home when the
shot was fired. The Mathis children,
playing nearby, said they heard the
shot and heard their father crumple
to the ground.
The children screamed, and Mrs.
Mathis, who was nearby, rushed to
the home to find her husband in a
dying condition, with the rifle lying
beside him. A physician was sum
moned immediately, but Mr. Mathis
died without regaining consciousness.
No cause for the rash act is known
unless he became suddenly unbal
anced mentally. No note or mes
sage was left. Thursday he is re
ported to have told Mrs. Mathis that
he had some difficulty in collecting
his mind and that something was
wrong with his head.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Dora Mathis and three daughters,
Louise, Maxine and May. The fol
lowing brothers and sisteivs also sur
vive: Fletcher Mathis, Ohfo; John
Mathis, of this city; Jones and Joe
Mathis, of Jonesville; James Mathis,
of California; Fayette Mathis, of
Oklahoma; Mrs. John Mcßride, Mrs.
Landon Mendenhall and Mrs, Wiel
Walker, of Ronda.
Funeral services were held Sunday
afternoon at one o'clock from Swan
Creek church.
MAN IS ARRESTED
FOR DRIVING DRUNK
Collided With Parked
Car On Main Street
Saturday
Manley Richardson, Wilkea-county
man, faces trial at the next term of
superior court on a charge of driving
while intoxicated and reckless driv
ing as the result of sideswiping an
automobile on Main street Saturday
night driven by Miss Edith Neaves,
of this city.
After hanging the Neaves car
Richardson rocked his machine back
and forth until he jerked it loose
and then attempted to get away.
He was foiled, however, by A." L.
Griffeth, local man, who jumped up
on the running board and succeeded
in turning the car into the curb.
Richardson was arrested and
locked up for the night. He is now
at liberty under bond.
To Assist In Revival
Rev. W. T. Baucom, of Dallas, a
former pastor of the First Baptist
church in this city, will assist the
pastor, Rev. Eph Whisenhunt, in a
revival meeting at the local church,
beginning August 26, and continuing
for ten days. Rev. Baucom will
preach at all services ..during the
meeting.
A cordial invitation is extended
the public to attend the services.
The average life of an automobile
is six years and nine months.
Blanketeers To Face
Craddock-Terry Here
Friday And Saturday
The Chatham Blanketeers, fresh
from a win over the Home Chair
Co. team at North Wilkesboro
Tuesday, return to the home
field Friday and Saturday for two
games with the Craddock-Terry
nine, of Lynchburg, Va.
To date the local team has
played four games with the Vir
ginia team, winning one and los
ing three. Since the last games,
which were played here, Chatham
has added to its pitching and
catching staff and hopes to take
a scalp in each of the forthcom
ing contests.
Each game will get under way
at 5:53 o'clock.