ONE OF THE FUNNIEST STORIES EVER WRITTEN, “ TOO MUCH EFFICIENCY”, IN EACH ISSUEOF THE STAR.
A LAUGH IN EVERY LINE.
reliable home paper
Of Shelby And The State's
pertile Farming Section,
Modern Job Department,
VOL" XXXIII, No. 107
Utoelanft
tar
SHELBY’S POPULATION
1925 Census_8,854
Where Industry Joi.is With
Climate In A Call For You, .
“Covers Cleveland Completely.’
SHELBY, N. C.
MONDAY, DEC. 14, 1925. Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday Afternoons. $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
Water Service
Is Extended
|ncj, Main Through South Shtl
®IX Ln is |'ut in Operation—Ap
proximately 1,400 Patrons
H Now
a six inch water main extending
. nl'the South Shelby Pharmacy
reariy to the new corporate limits
'n(i branching out a new street to
‘;.VP the new South Shelby School
building was put in operation Friday,
g{,-„rding owners living in that vl~
■nit}. an opportunity to secure water
t"‘ in addition to the water main,
a sewer line was laid, thus improving
sanitary conditions. Tim riew
water and sewer system v.ere laid
bv‘ l; J. and F. L. Wagner, local con
tractor-. Along the water main there
five fire hydrants which afford
fire-.protection to the citizens living’
j., that vicinity. ?
It is estimated that the city water!
Svstem now has 1,400 patrons and
this number is being added to every
week. Supt. W. V. Toms stated yes
terday that 134* water connections hnd ,
been made so far this year and that I
237 light connections had been added,
showing that these facilities are be
ing gi'cn to the property owners as
rapidly as possible. This large num
ber of new services connections is fine
indication of the rapid growtl of the
town and it looks as if records this
year will exceed any previous year.
Putnam Will Leaves
$1,000 To Church
The Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Rev.
Will Walters, pastor, of the Cherry
vine section, has been willed $1,000
to be used by its deacons “to do as
they think best” by the late M. A.
Putman, who died last week in the
Lincoln ton hospital, it was learned
Saturday from Clerk of Superior
C urt S. C. Hendricks, 0f Gaston
County..
The will, in the form " of a letter,
was addressed to the deceased's bro
ther. George Putman. Fifteen shares
of Building and Loan stock were be
queathed to two of the man’s nieces
a-Hl nephews, John William and May
Putman. They will receive this amount
when they become 21 years of age.
Mr. Putmann, lived in Shelby for
5cars and was engaged in the meat
business here. He left Shelby about
months before his death going to
Cherryvilie and entering busi
iie.'v with his brother.
Ideal Ice To Build
Dressed Poultry Plant
Special Building With Cold Storage
for Dressed poultry to be Erect
ed Here.
' • B. Cabaness, secretary-treasur
er °f the Ideal Ice and Fuel Company
announced yesterday after a visit to
!' llkesboro where he inspected a
dressed poultry plant, that the Ideal
h’e Company will begin right away
^he erection of a similar plant for
this territory, the same to be run in
connection with the present Ice and
cold storage plant here. Live chick
ens, turkeys, ducks geese will be pur
*d5.ea trom the farmers, killed,
ressed and placed on cold storage.
‘ roni the storage plant the dressed
! '\v!s will be sold at wholesale to ho
cafes and meat markets through
0U! th.is section. Mr. Cabaniss says
L f‘le *s a demand for such a plant in
!territory and that he expects
ater to milk-feed the chickens be
they are killed, as milk fed chick
(i - are considered more of a delicacy
'n< ^ring higher prices. Chickens
' 'pd dry buttermilk for seven
.ajs l*cfore killing, such a feed add
'"g to the weight and improving the
tlavor.
* ^1e dressed poultry department
W|l occupy a building 20X50 feet
‘'l w'^ be of brick construction with
le '°bl storage compartment in con
n'.tt,“«- ft is expected that the plant
be ready for operation the first
of the year.
New Central Church
Scene Of Small Fire
1 lie fire department responded to
alarm Saturday afternoon only a
u block away, to the rear of Con
i'11 Methodist church, where the awn
l,lkrsf.on the rear window had caught
o" ire presumably from a falling
•sl>ark from a nearby chimney.
,nt' or two of the awnings were
Pitied while the window ledges were
'"im-what charred, but the blaze was
ll,sruished by chemicals from the
(lu'n, tlUC*t before little damage was
l'tith a clean record for October
in n'l‘V 's makin£ UP for fire alarms
sin ■ having had three calls
bv"..1 e first. One was at the Shel
„ a‘e the other to the Eskridge
and the third to the church
,t'Ur,u«s Saturday.
1
mmmmmk
MRS. FRANCIS BACK IN JAIL AFTER
SUNDAY NIGHT VISIT 10 GANG CAMP
Visited Bang Camp Again Surniaj
Night and Carried Box of Chick
en Presumably for Old Lover
Several final chapters have been
written to Cleveland county’s colorful
Francis-1 ‘hi lbeck romance, but .appar
ently all were only intermissions ard
the episode is a serial story that will
perhaps never end, that is in the life
of Mrs. Francis and the husky Phil
beck.
Back in the county jail again is the
nr.ee beautiful woman, Mrs. Francis.
The lure of the man for whom she
left her home, husband and children
and over whom she served a jail sen
tence, is sdemingly too strong to re
sist. Sunday night she made anothet
visit to the county convict camp,
where Sloan Philbeck is a prisoner.
And the visit was forbidden by law
Back when the trial was attend 1 y
hundreds the judge in sending the two
illegal lovers up forbid their eve?
seeing or talking to each other again
Then Mrs. Francis served her time,
and shortly thereafter she was appre
r.ended near the convict comp when,
her arstwhile lover was confined. A
preliminary trial resulted in her ac
quittal. The evidence was none too
I indir.g. but more has been added to
the story.
Sunday night, Claude Harrill,, gang
camp official, became suspicious and
be called in Chief B. O. Hamrick and
Policeman Hester. They waited about
the camp for what might happen.
About 10 o'clock they say a car stop
ped near the cemetery. Mrs. Francis
wot out and made her way to ti e
camp. The officers followed and learn
ing enough to classify her mission,
they say, she was arrested and taken
to jail.
Took Him Chicken.
Love Is always mindiul, or so tao.se
stricken with romance say. Lnder her
arm, presumably for the husband of
another woman she loved, Mrs. Fran
cis carried, officers declare, an ap
petizing array of chicken—something
to break the routine meals the con
victs are given. Never say again that
a woman knows not the way to me
mart of man.
Just who she was talking to or what,
ivas said when the officers stepped
jp hasn't been told, but Messrs. Har
•m Hamrick and Hester know that
his time the woman was en route to
the- camp, for they arrested her after
,he had arrived, not while on her way.
Just what the judge's terms were
ibout the couple, both married to oth
?r people, seeing each other again Is
i matter of memory. Those who at
tended the trial should remembet.
Mow, it looks as if what the judge
said may be said over again.
The postlude of this chapter of Hie
romance that continues to bloom de
spite prison bars and convict chains
is to be written yet. The date of tho
hearing hasn’t been set.
Mrs. Hill Hudson and infant daugh
r, Carolyn, re-entered the Shelby
ospital yesterday where the oa>y,
hich has not been doing so well,,is
iHlergoiug treatment,
j Schools To Close
I Friday For Holidays
The city schools of Shelby
will close Friday afternoon, of
this week. December 18, for the
Christmas holidays and will re
main closed until- Monday, Jan
uary 4, according to an an
nouncement today by I. C. Grif
fin, city superintendc nt.
In connection with the holi
days it is further announced by
the schools for the benefit of
parents and others that on Fri
day morning at the f:rst period
the children of all the e.lemen
tary grades will give Christmas
carols and program to which the
public is invited.
Friday from 12 o'clock to 1:30
the high school punils will ren
der a Christmas program at
Central school.
<
Agent Announces
Poultry Car Coming
A live poultry car will be placed at
the Seaboard Station Wednesday,
Morning December 16, 1925. All far
mers having poultry for sale must
bring it by 3 p. m. The following
prices will be paid at the car for all
[poultry loaded.
Turkeys 27 cents a pound.
Hens 20 cents a pound.
Cocks 10 cents a pound.
Do not bring chickens with their j
feet tied or in sacks. Your county agt.
will be at the car.
Hitchcock Says New
Farm Demonstrator
Fine With Poultry
T. C. Hitchcock, proprietor of the
Cherokee Poultry Farm is highly
pleased with Alvin Hardin, the new
farm demonstrator who succeeded
R. E. Lawrence the first of December.
Mr. Hardin has a thorough know
ledge of poultry, having at one time
operated a plant of his own, which
gave him practical experience along
this line. Rece.ntly he visited the
Hitchcock farm and gave him valu
able pointers and when one can give
Mr. Hitchcock pointers he must be
an expert because Mr. Hitchcock is
regarded locally as one of the most
thoroughly posted men in this indus
try. It is therefore worthy of note
that Mr. Hardin, is in the position to
give poultry raisers in Cleveland
wonderful assistance and that he
can be had for the asking. Cleveland
is rapidly forging to the front as a
poultry producing county and with
fWr. Hardin here to offer advise and
suggestions, the poultry industry
'holds a bright future for many.
Attorney Mull’s
Hudson Car StQlen
On Saturday Night
— T
Attorney O. M. Mull's Hudson su
per-six coach was stolen Saturday
night at 6 o’clock frojn in front of hl3
office in the Webb building on War
ren street while he was ii» Austell’s
barber shop getting a shave. He had
been gone from his gwr^nly half aa
1 hour when he returned to find it gone
from the spot where he had parkeit it
after returning from the Cleveland
Springs golf course. No trace what
ever is left as to the identity of the
thief or thieves, except suspicion that
it might be taken to Florida. Tom
Eskridge, groceryman, in the Roys
ter building says two or three strange
looking youths whose appearance
w ould indicate that they were not
above such a crime, came in the gro
cery store about that hour of the ev
ening and asked the route to Florida.
They were riding in an old Chandlet
and soon left.
Many telegrams went out Saturday
to police officials to keep on the look
out but no trace or clue had been
J found Monday. The car was about •
year old. No insurance was carried.
High School Will
Give Fine Comedy
The senior class of the Shely High
school will present an entertaining
four-act comedy, "Second Story
Peggy”, Tuesday night at 8 o’clock
in the Central school auditorium. The
play is directed by Miss Mae Wash
burn and the cast is as follows:
Mrs. Delancey, a woman of words—
Blanche Dudley.
Billy Durand, her star boarder—
Whitelaw Kendall.
Daisy, a little smarter than she
looks—Elizabeth Spangler.
Murphy, the cop on the boat—Ver
non Grigg.
Helen Henderson, more fickle than
faithful—Olive Singleton.
Kenneth Sterling, the luck man(?)
—Heyward Austell.
Peggy, wanted by the police—Lula
Moore Suttle.
Dexter, a detective—William Har
ris.
Noah Perkins, fresh as a country
egg—Claude Hoke Thompson.
The music will be furnished by the
high school orchestra, a treat in ie
self.
Banquets And Dances
At Cleveland Springs
Cleveland Springs hotel is putting
on gala attire for the holiday season
with a large Christmas tree in the spa
cious lobby and forest trees through
out the dining room. Evergreens and
Christmas decorations adorn the walls
Manager Vanstory has booked five
elaborate banquets and three dances
to be held during the Christmas sea
son. These banquets and dances begin
the 18th and continue through until
New Year, with a few open dates
which he exDects to fill up between
now and Christmas. Special Christ
mas menus will be served and club
1 orate preparations are being made to
i reflect the spirit of the season in a!!
171 Members of Masonic Order En
joy One of Lodge’s Outstanding
Occasions Friday Evening.
The Master Masons of Shelby and
surrounding section, builders of tbe
handsome Masonic tethole tut the
court square corner, will mark dew a
Friday evening past as one of tl'.eii
most outstanding occasions in the’i
public relations record. One hundred
and seventy-one member* of Clev*>
land Lodge N’o. 202 A. T\ and A. M
were most royalty lunquete 1
in the magnified ; b my.j“' hall of tin*
temple by the Woman’s ebib-of Sh<d
i by. The men who wear t o emblem
otic square and tompros may have
enjoyed better some other public oc
casion in the past, but none hate
so said.
Appreciation of Ladies.
When the handsome temple struc
ture was completed the Masonic lod.te
turned over the big second floor to
the Woman's club of the city and sut)
sidiary organiztuions working undet
the ciub. The club women needed u
home and meeting’ place, one uuu
would equal their enterprising or
ganization, and their Masonic frienda
answered the need by giving them
as a permanent headquarters one of
the most un-to-date club quarters ir.
the state. The banquet Friday even
ing formally spoke the appreciation
of the women of Shelby to the Ma
sons, and it was well spoken.
However, there was little of form
ality. For the most part it was feast
informally, with the eyes included in
the feasting, judging from the witty
remarks of Clyde R. Hoey, Masonic
toastmaster of the occasion.
The banquet saw gathered together
one of the largest assemblies of Ma
sonic memberse the local lodge has
ever known. Masons old and young,
past masters and recent initiates and
rubbed shoulders together, clinked sil
verware in unison, and passed on the
brotherly handclasp and the greeting
of fellowship in the reunion hour that
followed the banquet. Masons met
Masons that they had never bet’oro
• se*n ia tjie lodge rtipm{ and when
TMasdns banquet together lovelorn
couples are eclipsed for fellowship
end friendliness.
Mrs. Fred R. Morgan, president of
the Woman’s club, handled the serv
ing of the elaborate banquet with
the aid of numerous assistants from
the clubs and in a few remarks prior
to the banquet spoke the appreciation
of the club for the rooms turned over
to them by the Masons. Capt. J. Frank
Roberts, worshipful master of the
( leveland lodge, presided over the
Moronic ceremonies, wtyich consisted
for the most part of disposing of that
which the Woman’s club offered in
botli praise and in more ma
terial things. Surrounding Captain
Roberts at the head table were living
pastmasters of the lodge, Deputy
Grand Master J. D. Lineberger, num
erous Masonic officials and local min
isters together with special guests.
As usual with all Shelby things
well done th eaftermoth of the ban
quet was the repartee and oratorical
tribute of Clyde R. Hoey, Masonic
(toastmaster for the occasion. Ilis
post-banquet toasts apparently repaid
the ladies for their efforts and the
Masons grouped about the surround
jng tables had already been satisfied.
The description of the protection tht
Masonic organization has given pure
womanhood down through the cen
turies from time immemorial as giv
en by Mr. Hoey met with rousing ap
plause.
“One thing the women like about
members of our organization is that
a Mason can keep a secret,” was a bit
of the information conveyed by Mr.
Hoey, but none of the 171 men of the
great organization kept secret at t'no
conclusion of the affair tneir appre
ciation of the success it was,.acclaim
ed by applause as every Master Ma
son rose to his feet in a vote ol
thanks.
Many New Homes On
Cleveland Springs Road
The growth of Shelby in recent
years can be well pictured by the de
velopment of the Cleveland Springs
road from the point where Marion
and Warren streets intersect east.
The course of the past two years has
seen this section develop into one of
the most sought after residential
sections of the town.
A little over two years ago the re
sidential sectiop of the town was con
sidered ended at the home of Dr. Os
borne. Now it spreads along both
sides of the highway to Belvedere
Heights and on near the hotel pro
perty. Approximately 20 homes have
been erected on the road in the two
years time. Five new residences be
ing erected now in that section are
those of E. T. Switzer, J. G. Dudley,
Ray Lutz, Jack Palmer, Curtis Wtath
on, and A. B. C. DePriest.
Cleveland Boys And Girls
Marry After 21st Birthday
Christmas Edition i
T-hc rtgular issue (if Tire Star
W'eilhfrsday of th's week will be
(‘.■'•iiia iuilv 'It- i,>ntfiI as the
“Chiistmas shoti-erV Edition."
It* it the men he.'t. nf Shelby
will [a ant in the advertising
t'vliM.'ns th.br gifts suigest ions
rod t V a.no.s .Kindl'd* bargains
ofierp.i for ii.bay shoppers.
I'- i t ill' all I \';.l merehnr.ts
In th s i ■ mi: if is.»ue present
:.a ■, ■< f ."I•'I' and in such
a" "i t • vvj:l .;ake shopping
M 1 for < • eland county folks.
it ■!«» v id Ive only even more
shopi.lny d;,\ :.'t r Wednerday.
Tb.it mean- a week parked with
rushing about t get the last
nitrite rift i nd everything in
reiiln e; t. So ti e this is; v of
Tie Star to an advantage. Let
the advertising columns of your
favorite county paper help you
h this last week's rush befoio
he greatest of holidays.
Mountain Cotton
Now Moves Ahead
Charlotte Observer Interested in Cot
ton in Mountain Counties Sees
Great Progress Made.
The Observer has been interested in
the progressive sweep of the “cotton
belt" up into the mountains. It was
not so long ago that cotton-growing
in the upper regions of Cleveland
county was regarded a risky venture,
but last year Cleveland went up next
to head in cotton production. John
son county alone, being above her.
Since then cotton-growing has been
steadily advancing toward the ranges.
We had lost track of the experiment
started several years ago in the moun
tain county of Burke, but last week
there was opportunity to get the in
formation first hand from County
Agent Sloan, who reports a cotton
crop in that county the past season of
over 1,000 bales. So new is this in
dustry there that the grower ha> e
had to send the staple down into the
lower counties to be ginned, as no
gin has been built in Burke. Next
season, however, there will bo a
Burke county gin for Burke-raised
cotton and the probabilities are that
this county will 1m? added to the list
of commercial producers.—Charlotte
Observer.
Movie Stars Coining
To Chimney Rock
Chimney Hock, Dec. 11.—Represen
tatives here today for the Famou
Players Lasky-corporation, motion
picture producers, leased the Esmer-,
a)da Inn for the exclusive occupancy
of 50 stars of filmdom, the directors
and others coming to make several
pictures requiring mountain and take
scenery as a background. Prominent
among these artists is Gloria Swan
son, leading lady in one of the scen
arios. Namey of other artists were
not known to the advance represent*' -
tivos here to select a location for their
activities.
It is understood (hat in moving the
studio here a large number of horses
and tame animals will be brought
along.
Fred Logan Named
Captain At State
Nows dispatches from Raleigh
Sunday stated that Fred G. Logan,
Shelby boy, had been elected captain
of the State college football eleven
for next season. Young Logan is the
son of Sheriff and Mrs. Hugh Logan
and has been playing center on the
State team for two years.
The announcement was made by R.
H. Ferguson, State alumnus at his
country home near Neuse, where a
banquet had been tendered the Wolf
pack.
RECEIVES SIX CARS IN A
SINGLE DAY IN SHELBY
Pierce, Young, Angel Company,
wholesale dealers in vegetables,
fruits and candies received in a sin
gle day last week six ear loads of
Christmas merchandise. One car was
loaded with choice apples, another
with oranges, another with bananas,
another with coeoanuts and still an
other with cabbage and such like.
Orders had been taken for most of
these cars and shipments went out
promptly to merchants throughout
this section to stock their stores for
the Christmas trade. Mr. Pierce says
business is good and that the demand
for fruit promises to exceed all pre
vious records.
Did you ever notice that the man
[who follows another is always behind.
Average Age Of Cleve
land County Girl Who
Married This Year
Was 22 1-4 Years—
Men 26 2-5.
“They marry younger nowadays
than they did years ago,” is a favor
ite expression with the old folks, but
the statistics on the marriage license
books at the county court house here
do not prove the saying. In fact,
they do not marry younger. In 1!>25
the records show, Cleveland couples
married were beyond what so-called
experts term the sensible marrying
age.
Twenty for girls and 23 for ttpya,
is the near perfect plan say experts.
This year loving couples added an
other year or so of experience and the
girls married at the average age of
22 1-4 years and the boys at 20 2-5
years, to be exact.
That may be n surprise, but it in
proved by statistics. Of course, many
girls married below 20—ttie books
show that 69 of the 174 married left
their parental home before reaching
20—but the general average, consid
ering that some were high in the
twenties and some slipping into thirty
was above 20.
Not Decreasing Much.
The statistics for the >">ar almost
upset another prediction. Total mar
riages in 1924 in Cleveland county
were 197. So far this year, up to
December 12, there were 174 license
issued. That’s not much of a slip
back. It’s safe to wager that the 20
other couples plus several more mo
tored across the South Carolina line
to their favorite Gretna Green for
the ceremony. The knot tied at a low
er price was the reason.
The Love Period.
As usual the records leave the love
period to the young folks. There were
license issued to a number of elder
ly couples, but such were few. The
vast majority were below 30, includ
j ing the men. However, a half dozen
| or so of the ladies married during
! the year were slightly beyond the
three-times-ten mark and naturally
the lesser halves were in the pro
ximity of two score and maybe more.
Beyond the age 40 there were few
culminating love affairs. The record
goes with both men and women from
a prelininary view of the figures to
the couple, of which the man was 67
and theWoman 59. Love, or its carry
ing into reality, came late with them.
On the other hgnd there \yere several
youngsters that started off in ‘double
harness” this year. Tvfro of the girls
to whom license were issued were
one year below “svfeet sixteen,” or
15 years of age. None of the boys
married dropped that low in years.
Few boys of that age have many
spare $5 bills, and it takes $5 and
then some to get married in this state
now.
“My Own Man” Marriages
A boy apparently never gets ovev
the day when he becomes his o>yn
man, the 21 st anniversary of his
birth. The celebration throughout th^
year usually means getting married
for when a youngster reaches that
age the county statistics for 1925
show that he figures that he is able
to support someone else and protect
a partner. The result of this “my
own man” feeling is that more of the
174 men married in the county this
year were married at the age of 21
than any other one age. The average
is greater, but remember that those
far above 21 are greater in number
than those below 21. To be exact 32
twenty-one year-old boys were mar
ried in the county this year. The
next best marrying age with the
boys seemed to be 23. 18 got married
at that age, while 13 got married at
20, 14 at 22, eight at 19, seven at 24,
and five at eighteen. Otherwise they
were 25 more. ,<
When Girls Are Best
Eighteen, when a little fullness
adds to the “sweet sixteen” appear*
ance, seemed to be the most favored
marrying age with the girls. The 21
year-old boys must pick ’em at thi^t
age. Twenty-nine girls have been
married in the county this year at the
age of 18. Right on the heels of the
18-year-olds for the record are the
nineteen-year-old lassies. 28 of them
were married at 19. An even 20 girls
were married at the age of 21, while
sixteen were married at the age of
20. Ten were married while 17 years'
of age, and the “sweet sixteens”
were few in number—they're begin
ing to get ready to get married at
that age. Two didn’t even wait for the
10-period and were married at 15.
A summary of the marriage figures,
showss that 85 girls were married
before reaching 21 years, while 2U(
more married before they were 22,
which leaves 09 girls that were mar
(Continued on page eighty