North Carolina Newspapers

I ELKIN The Best Little Town In North Carolina ELKIN Gateway To Roaring Gap And The Blue Ridge The Elkin Tribune VOL. No. XXXV No. 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1947 $2.00 PER YEAR 16 PAGES—TWO SECTIONS SCOUTS ARE TO TAKE OVER FOR WHILE FRIDAY Will Climax Observance Of National Scout Week PROGRAM IS PLANNED Highest Ranking Scout To Serve As Mayor, Others Town Commissioners PLAN WIENER ROAST Observance of National Boy Scout Week, February 7 through i February 13, will reach a climax * here when members of local troops take over thfe duties of mayor and other town officials on February 14. The highest ranking scout will serve as mayor, with other members acting as commissioners and other officers of town govern ment. A week-long program has been planned for local troops in keep ing with the observance of the 37th anniversary of the Boy Scout organization according to Paul Price, chairman of camping acti vities for scouts here. ^ Sunday, February 9, is ‘‘Church " Day." Local scouts will wear uni forms to church services. Monday, February 10, has been designated as “School Day," and scouts will participate in school programs. Tuesday, February 11, is “Home Day,” when scouts will help with work in their homes. Wednesday, February 12, is “Good Turn Day,” on which scouts will make an ef g fort to do more than their usual number of good turns. Thursday, February 13, is “Sponsoring Institution D a y.” Scout programs will be given for sponsors of local troops at their meetings. Friday, February 14, is ^ , “Civic Day,” when boy scouts will ’ run the town. Saturday, Febru ary 15, is "Rally Day.” All troops in the Elkin-Yadkin district are invited to attend a weiner roast in Neaves Park. Following the weiner roast, scouts will be given free * passes to a movie at the State | theater. On Sunday, February 16, ' at 2:30 p. m., a special scout ser vice will be held at the Pleasant Hill Baptist church. Troops in Sparta, Boonville, Jonesville, and Yadkinville are ex pected to follow similar programs, and scouts will also take over as officials in those towns. Scouts | from Ronda, Mountain Park, and Pleasant Hill will participate in the Elkin’s “Civic Day.” There are 11 scout troops in the Elkin-Yadkin district with 285 members, and two cub packs. “Scouts of the World — Build ing for Tomorrow” is the theme of the observance of Boy Scout Week. GAME BILL IS NOW IN HOPPER Future Of Fish And Game In This State Now In Hands Of Legislature SEPARATION IS SOUGHT Raleigh, Feb. 4.—The future of game and fish in North Carolina and the happiness and confidence of thousands of sportsmen in the State now rest in the hands of the 1947 Legislature. This week, following an enthus iastic meeting here of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the game and fish bill went into the hopper. This is the Federation’s measure to separate the Game and Inland Fisheries Division from the .De partment of Conservation and De velopment and create a new North Carolina Wildlife Resources Com mission. The bill, the result of a careful two year study by some of the state’s ablest legal minds and by men who know wildlife and what is needed in an effective program, is now being considered by the House and Senate Conservation and Development committees. Signed by 70 representatives and 17 senators, many of them mem bers of the committees, it is a foregone conclusion that it will rteach the Assembly floor. Sponsors are confident that it will pass and become lAw. P. K. Gravely of Rocky Mount, one of the State’s best beloved sportsmen and who was re-elected president of the Federation, which numbers nearly 20X100 members, said: “If the bill passes, it will be the biggest break the State’s wild life and hunters and fishermen ever had. We can go ahead with a long needed program of conser vation.’’ Each year, the governor of Canade selects a day fop Thanks . fivlng, usually a date in Oct-ojper. COMMITTED TO ASYLUM — Gene Scales, colored tenant farmer of Yadkin county, is pictured above as he, flanked by Sheriffs officers, was led from the Yadkin county courtroom after Judge Hoyle Sink had ordered him committed to the Negro State Hospi tal for Insane at Goldsboro. Scales threw his three children into a 75-‘foot well during a religious frenzy and then jumped in himself. The children drowned. Huge Fines Slapped On Liquor Runners John Hudspeth Pays Total Of $7,000 In Case j John Hudspeth, of Eikin, and William M. Hanford, of Burling ton, were fined $6,000 each in Yadkin county superior court Monday after conviction on sev eral charges in connection with prohibition law violations. Huds peth also paid $1,000 to recover a pick-up truck which had been confiscated at the time of his ar rest, and Hanford paid $1,500 to recover his automobile which was taken by arresting officers at the same time. Hudspeth and Hanford were ar rested December 16 by State Highway Patrolman E. L. Smith, who was accompanied by two Al cohol Tax Unit agents. It was reported that Hudspeth and Han ford were riding in a 1946 car on the Winston-Salem road to spot trouble for the pick-up truck, which was loaded with 252 “fifths” of sealed liquor. The driver of the truck prevented Patrolman Smith from passing | several times before he finally stopped the truck and ran away. Patrolman Smith overtook the car and arrested the two men. Hanford was placed under $2,000 bond pending trial, and Hudspeth was released under $500 bond after the arrest. Hudspeth entered a plea of guilty to the charge of unlawful transportation and possession of liquor. Hanford was found guilty of violating the prohibition law, transporting liquor, aiding and abetting in the liquor violation, and interfering with an officer in the discharge of his duty. DISCUSS PUNS FOR BUILDING Agricultural Exposition Building Is Proposed For Near School Ground COMMITTEE IS NAMED Plans for the construction of an agricultural exposition building were discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the town commissioners Monde y night. Mayor Garland Johnson appoint ed W. A. Neaves as chairman of a finance committee to raise funds for the building. Other members of the committee are: E. W. Mc Daniel, E. S. Spainhour, J. D. Brendle and Claude Farrell. Public donations and subscrip tions will be solicited to finance construction of the building. No tax money will be used. The site of the proposed build ing is the city property adjoining the athletic field near the high school. British Girl’s Romance Further Complicated The romance of Eileen Ed wards, 17-year-old British girl who jilted one fiance in Yad kinville to go to Superior, W. Va., to marry a second fiance, met a set-back this week when her parents in London refused to consent to her marriage to the West Virginia man. Miss Edwards’ parents, it was reported, were in favor of her marriage to Arnold Buesing, who had paid her passage from England, but balked when the girl changed her mind and went to West Virginia to marry Theodore Crabtree, a coal miner. Miss Edwards had cabled her parents for permission to marry Crabtree upon discovering that a West Virginia law required parental consent for daughters under 18 years of age to marry. SURRY AWARDS 7 CONTRACTS To Construct Agricultural And Mechanical Shops For County Schools TO PILOT MOUNTAIN CO. Contracts for the construction of seven agricultural and me chanical shops for Surry county schools have been awarded to Fulk and Needham, of Pilot Mountain, it was announced last week by Superintendent of Schools John W. Comer. The buildings are to be con structed at Flat Rock, Beulah, Copeland, Pilot Mountain, Frank lin, Mountain Park, and White Plains schools. Construction of the Flat Rock building, which is to cost $14,134.88, is scheduled first. The total contract for the seven buildings amounted to $99,500. Electrical and other auxiliary In stallations will cost $4,375. The contracts specify buildings 38 by 60 feet, with standard agri culture] and mechanical subjects. Funds from a $310,000 bond is sue will be used to finance tire building program. No special elec tion for the bond issue was needed since legal provisions permit the issuance of two-thirds of the bond amount retired during the pre vious year. The Surry County Board of Ed ucation recently announced plans to hold an election, probably in March, on a proposed million-dol lar bond issue for a large school building and expansion program ! in Syrry Cdunty. NAME OFFICERS AT MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS A. L. Butler Reelected Presi dent Of Chatham Co. CHATHAM IS CHAIRMAN Report States That Demand For .Chatham Products Continues Satisfactory directors ARE NAMED The annual stockholders meet ing of the Chatham Manufactur ing Company was held at the company offices here Tuesday afternoon, and the directors of the concern met immediately fol lowing the adjournment of the stockholders. Thurmond Chatham was re elected chairman of the board of directors, and A. L. Butler was again elected to serve as presi dent. President Butler reported to the stockholders on operations of the company for 1946, the first full peace-time year of operation since 1940. He stated that the com pany had enjoyed a successful year in sales and profits. Chairman Thurmond Chatham and President Butler commented on the business uotlook for 1947 and said the demand for Chatham products continued at a satisfac tory level. The following directors were elected: Thurmond Chatham, A. L. Butler, Thomas J. Sheehe, W. A. Neaves, R. W. Harris, C. W. Poor, J. W. L. Benson, John D. Eller, John D. Clark, R. M. Hanes, Ralph P. Hanes, James Harrison Lassiter, Hugh G. Chatham, Wil liam M. Butler and Earl M. Ho del. Officers elected at the board of directors meeting were: Thur mond Chatham, chairman of the board: A. L. Butler president: James Harrison Lassiter, assist ant to the president: W. A. Neaves, Thomas J. Sheehe, J. W. L. Benson and Eleanor S. Taylor, vice-presidents; W., R. Hartness, Jr„ treasurer; James A. Boohcr, secretary; N. J. Blackwood, as sistant treasurer; Charles F. Dix on, assistant secretary; J. Milton Cooper, general counsel; R. W. Harris, general superintendent; Fred L. Neaves, superintendent; and Earl M. Hodel, Thomas M. Roth and Howard C. Hatch, as sistant superintendents. WOULD PERMIT MANUFACTURE However, Under State Bill, County Boards Could Ban Fireworks Sale JONES OKEYS PROPOSAL By MARJORIE RAGAN Tribune Raleigh Bureau Senator R. Posey Jones of Surry county voted Monday night to ac cept a committee substitute pro posal that would permit the man ufacture of fireworks, but would allow county commissioners to ban them within the county’s borders. A bill authored by Senator Weathers of Cleveland county had been reported unfavorably in committee, but the substitute was allowed, when the measure came up in the Senate Monday night. At the motion of Senator Julian Allsbrook of Halifax county, vot ing on the measure was postponed at least until next week. This Senator hopes to get a ban on the manufacture of fireworks. The committee substitute left out a previous provision that would have forced fairs and other shows to obtain special fireworks permits from law -enforcement of ficers. Senator Jones says that he will introduce legislation designating that Surry county forbid pyrotech nics if the Senate bill fails to pass. Monday night, Senator Jones asked that Solicitor Ralph Scott of the 21st district be extended courtesies of the Senate lobby. Lieutenant Governor L. Y. Ballen tinc recognized Solicitor Scott as a visitor to the session. Blaze Razes Stock Bam, Kills 2 Mules A blaze of undetermined origin destroyed two mules and a seed and stock barn last week on the farm of Vance Brown, three miles north of Boonville. The fire start ed after Mr. Brown had retired, and had gained too much headway to be extinguished when he dis covered it. The loss was estimated at about $2,000 and included a quantity of hay and fanning tools, as well as tire two mules. The property was hot ctr.'sjrsd by insurance. Local Man Learns His Former Car Up To Bad Tricks Zeno Dobbins, respected Elk in man who is employed with Butner-McLeod Motor Com pany here, didn’t figure when he sold his automobile several months ago that he would ever hear from it again. So his surprise may well be imagined when it was found wrecked and abandoned late Monday after noon just off the Lexington Winston-Salem highway with the remains of 50 to 75 gallons of non-tax paid whiskey found in the wreckage. Mr. Dobbins would probably have never learned of the sad remains of his former car if investigating officers hadn’t found an old registration card, bearing his name, among the debris. However, a telephone call here quickly cleared up the matter and absolved the Elkin man from all suspicion. FREE POLICE OF CHARGES Officer Hugh Laffoon Found Not Guilty In Hearing Last Thursday HEAR MANY WITNESSES Hugh Laffoon, local police of ficer, was cleared of a charge of assault and forcible trespass at a hearing before Justice of the Peace J. L. Hall Thursday night j in the city hall. The warrant had been filed as; a counter-charge against the of ficer by M'ac Shaw Holcomb, who | was arrested by Officer Laffoon in December and charged with in terfering with the arrest of Bill Holcomb, brother of Mac Shaw. Hearing for the Holcomb broth ers was held at the same time. Bill Holcomb was found guilty of illegal possession of liquor, engag ing in an affray, and public drunkenness. He was fined $5 j and costs on each of the three J counts. Mac Shaw was fined $5 and costs upon conviction on the charge of engaging in an affray. The count against Mac Shaw of inter feting with an officer acting in the line of duty was dismissed, and Bill was cleared of the charge of resisting arrest. Officer Laffoon had arrested the Holcomb brothers about mid night on December 4 near the Bon Ton Grill on Main Street. It was alleged that Bill had been drinking and that Mac Shaw and a friend were leading him out of the cafe to take him home. Ac cording to testimony, a scuffle was in progress when Officer Laffoon arrived on the scene. The Holcomb brothers were arrested and placed in jail on the several charges. At the hearing they stated that Officer Laffoon had struck Bill in making the arrest. Bill Holcomb testified that he had had a drink and admitted having liquor in his possession, but he denied that he was drunk or that there had been a fight. He was (Continued On Page Four) Coble Dairies May Erect New Plant The Coble Dairies, Inc., of Lex ington, may erect a large dairy processing plant in Boonville if an adequate milk supply can be assured, it was reported yesterday. The Boonville Business Men’s Club, which was recently organiz ed to encourage new Boonville in dustries, was informed by Gay lord Hancock, general manager of Coble Dairies, that the town was a logical location for a Coble Dairy plant. Machinery for the plant is al ready available, and the dairy could be put into operation in 90 days, according to Mr. Hancock. MARCH 1 SET AS NEW DATE FOR HEARING Magistrate Hears Coroner’s Testimony In Wood Case TWO WITNESSES SICK Dr. Woltz Testifies Bullet Which Killed Harvey Wood Touched Heart BULLET IS INTRODUCED Hearing for Mrs. Lavora Marion Wood, of Crutchfield, at liberty under $2,000 bond for the alleged murder of her husband. Harvey Wood on January 5, 1947, was continued until Saturday. March 1 here last Saturday when it was disclosed that two of the state’s leading witnesses were ill and un able to attend. However, Magistrate C. A. Mc Neill allowed the testimony of Dr. 7. L. Woltz, Surry county coroner, ;o be heard so that Dr. Woltz would not have to return to Elkin from Mount Airy at the later date. Dr. Woltz testified that he was called to the home of Mrs. Wood, where the killing allegedly occur red. between 10 and 12 o’clock Sunday night, January 5. The body of Wood, he said, was found laying across the front seat of his car, located five or six steps from the front porch of the home. He said an examination of the body disclosed a bullet hole in the left breast which went straight through, touching the heart. The bullet was lodged at the back just under the skin, and when removed was found to fit an empty .32 calibre shell found in the home. The death weapon, a Smith & Wesson .32 calibre pistol, was placed in evidence and was de scribed as the pistol Mrs. Wood gave to the coroner. An old rifle, allegedly found in Wood’s car, was shown to Dr. Woltz, but he said he had not seen it before as he did not examine the car, only the body. The coroner also testified he saw the hole in the glass of the front door of the home, through which Wood was allegedly shot as he stood on the porch outside. He said in his opinion the body had not been dead over lined or four hours when he made his examina tion. In response to the question of Wood being able to get back, to and into his car after being wounded in such a manner, Dr. Woltz stated that in his opinion he could have. Mrs. Wood was arrested Sunday night of the day of the shooting after officers had been called to (Continued On Page Eight) POLIO DRIVE FUNDS RAISED Total Of $2,005.71 Contribut ed In Annual March Of Dimes Campaign ALL IS NOT IMPORTED A total of $2,005.71 was con tributed in the local March of Dimes drive which ended last week, according to a report by Chairman Sam Neaves. A break-down of the contribu tions shows $433.00 contributed by Elkin merchants and professional offices, $617.64 from Chatham employees, $600.00 from the Reeves, State and Lyric theatres, $168.86 from the high school, $159.80 from dime banks and $26.41 from miscellaneous sources. Elkin over-subscribed its quota of $2,000 slightly, and contribu tions not yet reported may boost the total to a larger figure, Mr. Neaves said. Jaycee Tourney Is Off To Good Start At YMC A The Elkin Junior Chamber of Commerce Invitational Basketball Tournament got off to a. good start Tuesday night with a larger* than-usual crowd for the opening games. Three teams clashed on the YMCA court in the opening matches. The Elkin girls defeat ed the Brawley girl cagers, 22-0; Gamcwcll won a 28-21 decision over Ronda in the second girls’ contest of the evening; and the Sparta boys winning on a forfeit from Shoals, rode over the Jun ior “Y” team, 21-4. Games scheduled for last night were: Moorcsville girls vs. Shoals girls; Mooresville boys vs. Nancy Reynolds boys; and Taylorsville girls vs. Sperta girls. Tonight (Thursday), the Union Grove boys meet the Stony Pomt boys at 7 p. m ; the Harmony girls clash with the Stony Point girls’ six at 8 p. m.; and the Har mony boys play the Honda boys at 9 p. m. Twenty-five teams arc entered in the Jaycee Tournament, which will continue through Tues day, February 11. Prizes of $200 in cash will go to the champion boys’ and girls’ teams, and run ners-up in both divisions will be awarded $100 cash prizes. The Jaycces recently •voted to sponsor the tournament as an an nual affair in the interest of im proving athletics and good sports manship. Killed Three, Yadkin Negro Found Insane Young Democrats Postpone Meet Until Later Date The “kick-off meeting” of the Young Democrats Club, which was originally scheduled for February 8, has been post poned due to the fact that the speaker invited for the meeting will not be available on that date. Frank Freeman, chairman of the State Organization Com mittee, stated that March 1 had been set tentatively as the new date for the meeting. Re organization week, which is scheduled to follow the “kick off meeting,” will be the first week in March if that date is confirmed. JAYCEESHOST TO GRIDSTERS Elkin High Teams Are En tertained At Regular Din ner Meeting Of Group THANKED FOR SUPPORT Monday night the Elkin Junior Chamber of Commerce was host to the Elkin high school boys’ football and basketball teams at its regular dinner meeting. The meeting was presided over by the vice-president. Dr. Vernon Taylor. The report of the Third Annual Basketball Tournament was given by the chairman. Dr. Taylor. Lewis Alexander, the new Jaycee Bul letin editor who replaces Roger Marshall who left town to assume another position, had a few words to say. The meeting was then turned over to N. H. Carpenter, a Jaycee and principal of the high school and football coach. Mr. Carpenter thanked the Elk in Junior Chamber of Commerce for its fine co-operation in money and support. He stated that through the efforts of the Jaycees, Elkin high school had the best equipment that money could buy, thus giving the squads ample pro tection on the field and court. Then Mr. Carpenter awarded let ters and monograms to the follow ing boys for their athletic ability: T. M. Eldridgc, Fred Hemric, Sam Shugart, Robert McCann, Kitchel Adams, G. Johnson, Hal Stuart, Benny Gross, Paul Black burn, Bob Ratledge, Claude Eld ridge, Gilmer Phillips, Bob Law rence, Fied Ratledge, Jack Parks, Sam Adams, Bob Harris. Honorable mention was given to the following boys: Jimmy Crater, Jim Chipman, Bobby James, Alvin Eldridge, Sam Transou. Kitchel Adams, an outstanding guard on the football and basket ball teams represented the boys and thanked the Jaycees for their support. He praised Mr. Carpen ter and Coach Abernathy as the two best coaches in the country. He then presented Coach Carpen ter and Coach Abernathy with a gift as a token of their apprecia tion. Dr. Seth Beale then introduced Toney Webb and Crowell Little, members of the Coaching Staff of the University of North Carolina, two ex-greats in football. Mr. Webb expressed his thanks and appreciation for being invited and congratulated Carpenter and Abernathy on doing a fine job. Mr. Webb and Mr. Little then showed the group the picture of the Sugar Bowl game between North Carolina and Georgia ex plaining the plays as the picture was shown. 45 Jaycee members were present Recover Stolen Truck Near Here Chief of Police Corbett Wall and Sergeant Mitchell of the State Highway Patrol went to State Road yesterday afternoon to re cover a truck which was reported ly stolen and abandoned in that vicinity. The truck bore a Virginia li cense plate and was said to have been stolen on the Lee highway in Virginia. The truck owner’s name and other details of the alleged theft were not available when The Tribune went to press yesterday afternoon., Numerous Cases Heard Before Judge H. Sink The February term of Yadkin superior court got under way early Monday morning with Judge H. Hoyle Sink of Greensboro pre siding and Solicitor Avalon E. Hall prosecuting the docket. First business of the court was selection of a grand jury and Judge Sink’s charge to them. Rufus Casstevens is foreman of the grand jury and W. B. Brandon is secretary. C. M. Vestal is officer in charge of the grand jury. The first three days of the court have b;en busy ones for all court officials and considerable progress has been made. Scales Insane One of the cases palled Monday was that of Gene Scales, negro, 31, charged with killing his three children by throwing them in a well on the back porch of his hdme on the Paul P. Davis farm east of Yadkinville Monday night of last week. He was charged with first degree murder, but when the case was called his attorney, for mer solicitor J. Earle McMlehael of Winston-Salem, informed the court that Scales was unable to plead to the indictment because he was insane. The court then ordered a sanity hearing before a jury. The jury heard four witnesses and retired, returning in five minutes with a verdict that the negro was of un sound mind. Judge Sink then ordered him sent to the criminal insane department of the necrro state hospital at Goldsboro. Scales sat through the proceedings un moved and without show of emo tion. Scales went suddenly insane while sitting by the fire in his home on the night of January 27. He began quoting scripture and (Continued On Page 4, This Sec.) CHATHAM HAS FINE RECORD Best Safety Achievement In History Is Made During The Past Year HYSLUP MAKES REPORT The best safety record in Chat ham Manufacturing Company his tory was made during 1946, ac cording to a recent report by C. J. Hyslup, safety director of the plant. Only 14 lost-time accidents occurred during the year, as com pared to 31 accidents in 1944 and 15 in 1945. Fourteen department* complet ed the year with a perfect safety record, and 12 of these have com pleted two or more years without any lost time due to accident*. The number of days lost by em ployees due to accidents was 527 for the year. This figure was re duced from 962 days lost in 1945 and 935 days lost in 1944. The accident frequency rate was the lowest since the safety program was organized five years ago. In September, the company was presented the Distinguished Ser vice to Safety Awrard and Flag by the National Safety Council. This award is the highest honor in the safety* field that industrial estab (Continued On Page Four) Soil Conservation Contest To Be At Dobson Tonight Wilma Lou Nichols, Elkin high school student, wfll rep resent Elkin hi the soil conser vation speaking contest which will be held in the court house In Dobson tonight at 7:S0 p. m Speakers from various schools in the county will com pete for the honor of repre senting Surry in the regional contest to be held in North IVUkesboro on February 13. The regional winner will be selected from speakers repre senting Surry, Alleghany. Ashe, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Finals in the contest will bo held at tbo YMCA here on February 20. ; ri i 1 > i> l4a»l i «iin» «tnji ii>