jHELBY S_BUILDING PROGRAM IN 1925 TOTALLED THREE MILLION DOLLARS—1926 WHAT? MAKE A CITIZEN OF EVERY VISITOR.
reliable home paper
Of Shelby And The State’s
Fertile Farming Section,
Modern Job Department,
IciuUan
SHELBY’S POPULATION
1925 Census_8,854
Where Industry Joins With
Climate In A Call For You, ,
VOL. XXXIV, No. 59
IHL CLEVELAND SI AH, SHELBY, N. C. MONDAY, MAY 17, 1926. Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday Afternoons. (- mai,< P« year (in advance), .$2.50
--*—-—___ 1 By carrier, uer vear lin nn
HENRY L. VAN STORY
SHOOTS SELF FATALLY
IN CATAWBA COUNTY
DEATH WAS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS.
Manager of Cleveland Springs Hotel Commits
Suicide at Farm in Catawba County.
Financial Worry Thought Cause.
Henry Van Story, proprietor of the Cleveland Soring hotel
committed suicide at his Catawba county farm at three o’clock
this afternoon.
Mrs. \ an Storj. ni a long distance telephone communication
with The Star at 4:30 o'clock confirmed the tragedy.
She raid the act was the result of a mental depression, due to
financial worries.
She and Mr. \anStory visited the Catawba farm this after
noon. 1 hey had just arrived on the place, and had entered the
tenant house. Mrs. V anStory went to the well to get a drink of
water, and suddenly heard a pistol shot. When she entered the
house she found her husband lying on the floor. He had shot
himself tnrough the head and died instantly.
Tl was four o’clock.
The pistol with which the deed was committed Mr. YanStory
found on a mantel-piece in the tenant home.
Mrs. VanStory said her husband was in good spirits during
the drive, and so far was any thought of tragedy from her mind,
hat when she heard the pistol shot she had no thought that Mr.
YanStory had taken his life.
Mr. VanStory was well known as a hotel keeper through
North Carolina and fTgbod part of the South, having been assist
ant manager of the Grove Park Inn at Asheville before coming to
-hi'I by.
He had ben manager of Cleveland Springs for several years.
There are three children in the VanStory family.
The body of the dead man was taken at once to the home of
YanStorv’s mother's in Lineo'nton. It wav. said burial would be
either at Lincolnton or at Grensbeoro, the remanis not being
brought to Shelby.
Newton Wins in Routing Of
Road, As Judge Webb Rules
Shelby Jurist Says Proposed Route
Does Not Properly Connect
County Seats
The town of Newton was a victor
today in the decision rendered by
Judge James L. Webb regarding the
routing of Highway 10 through toe
county seat of Catawba.
'The decision was made public late
this afternoon following contempla
tion on the matter by the jurist • me*
Monday when the hearing was held
here. The judge has been in Ruuthci
foi (I court since that time and was
unable to give the matter his atten
tion until today.
C iting five apparent facts from the
evidence, and the road law enacted by
the legislature, Judge Webb granted
a permanent restraining order agaui.-t
the highway commission as to that
part of the proposed route 10 in CaL
awba county.
However, the restraining order as it
pertains to the Iredell county por
t-ton of the proposed road was re
leased, permitting road work there to
go forward.
>ne ruling came auer u »«*»
elded the proposed routing, known ns
the “yellow line” was not in coni| 1 -
a nee with the state road law as it
enters Newton, a county seat. Ju !ge
Webb by his ruling Interprets the
voad law to mean that a highway con
tacting county scats, as ruled by th”
law, means that the highway snoui I
enter the center of main section of
the town, and not merely skirt its
boundary lines. It is further set forth
in the decision that it was the jurists
interpretation that the legislature in
enacting the county-seat to county
S"at highway system meant that ’t
should really enter the towns to he
connected, and not skirt them; that it
should enter as distances are measur
ed from town to town, which is the
practical centers.
Apparently from the review of the
decision, which has some length, the
restraining order as the Catawba, por
tion of the road is absolutely pc tut.. .
ent unless the route is so changed as
*o let the highway pass through the
center of Newton This is surmised
from the releasing of the restraining
order as it pertains to the Iredell
county portion.
In the five facts set forth explain
ing the. ruling it is shown that the
only difference between the old route
and the proposed route as distances
go is only 1.39 miles. The cost of
grading and construction by the pro
posed route; now restrained, would
be less than the southern route, but
if the southern route was used i:
would not be necessary to build a new
b,jdge across the Catawba, whereas
by the proposed route it would re
quire considerable expenditure to
(Continued on page two.)
Stanley Girl Is
Winner In Spelling
Louise Lfir<J, of Albemarle; was the
winner of the state spelling contest
held Saturday nigh*, at Cl ar'.ctte.
There were JO contestants coming
fror, ail sections of the state.
Miss Agnes Harrill, of the Latti
more school this county, remained in
the contest tin d only il were left
and made a very fine showing, being
in the final contest made of up of 13
spellers. The y >ung Cleveland coun
tv champion fell on the word metrop
olis.”
Long ago dad’s pants were cut down
to make pants for Willie instead of
knickers for Jane.
when a boy had a date in the old
days he turned down the gas instead
of stepping on it.
In the old days, dirty work at the
cross roads was melodrama , not
sweeping up the departed bv section
hands. ■
THU SERVICES
CLOSED ON SUNDAY
(treat Benefits Derived From Cvail*
gelirtic Meetings by Noted
Preacher and W ife.
The Thacker services, one of the
most helpful evangelistic meetings
ever held in Shelby, came to a close
(Sunday evening with the final er
mon of Dr. Ernest Thacker in Do
l Presbyterian church.
| Early data secured showing the
beneficial results of the services have
i it that there were around tit) profes
] sions of faith, all of whom will become
j church members in and around Shel
by. Furthermore some 500 people sien
ed the cards reconsecrating theniesives
to Christian faith and service. rh>'
I sen ile? although held in the Tnsby
i terian church were of general Com
munity benefit and were so attended
and taken, and therefore great results
from the two weeks meeting are ex
pected over the section gonc-.dlv. •
Sunday Big Day.
The closing Sunday was perhaps
the greatest day of the series of serv
ices. Although not definitely estimat
i cd it i< thought that a record number
' people attended the four services
during the day.
The Presbyterian church was pick
ed Sunday morning for one of Dr
Thacker s most appealing sermons,
while at the same hour a large cn wd
gathered at New Prospect ehivren
f " here Mrs. Thacker made the memo
riel address at the ho a • church of
her father, the late Rev. Thomas
i Dixon.
In the afternoon the Central Meth
odist church auditorium was filled
with men and boys for the special ser
mon to men by Dr. Thacker. Such wan
die size of the congregation that it
was necessary to make use of the
Sunday school rooms. At the sam •
hour Mr*- Thacker spoke to the wo
men and girls of Shelby and section
at the First Baptist church where ev
ery available seat was filled. At the
closing service Sunday evening in tne
prisLyterian church sea's were at a
premium to hear the closing and what
was termed the strongest sermon, cf
Dr. Thacker.
Dr. «nd Mrs. Thacker left Shelby
Monday morning for their home in
Noifolk, \ a., where they will remain
for a day before going to Florida for
til; general assembly of the Presby
terian church. Mr. Harry E. Thomas,
efficient song leader who had charge
of the musical programs during the
services, also left Monday morning,
going td Winston-Salem where he
will be engaged in evangelistic serv
ices.
Baptist Ask Rockfellow
For Two Million Gift
John D. Rockefeller has been asked
to contribute approximately $200,00h
for the relief of superannuated min
isters of the Southern Baptist church
the relief and annuity board of the
church reported to the convention.
Mr. Rockefeller has already ccn
iributed $100,000, the reported said,
adding that resources of the annuity
fund are now in excess of $1,500,000.
The annuity fund now pays $500
annually for total and permanent
disability and on retirement at 08
years, but the board proposes by a
contributory annuity plan to raise
it to a minimum of $00, hut not to
exceed fifty per cent of the average
salary during service.
STARTS INTO HOG RAISING
WITH BIG BONE POLANDS
Morris Hamrick of Shelby R-4, is
starting int oswine breeding or. a
commercial basis. On Saturday he re
ceived from Waynesboro. Va., a fine
looking male purebred big-honed Po
land China who descended from Rain
bow Clan. Tho good father of the hog
which Mr. Hamrick received Saturday
sold at one time for $40,000. Mr.
Hamrick has three fine gilts that are
also pure bred Poland China and from
these he expects to start swine raid
ing which he ought to find profitable.
—Webb Returns—Mr. Carl Webb,
head- of the Pilot Life Insurance
Company hereabouts and family nr<>
back from a several days’ visit to the
towns of Western Carolina, Asheville,
Hendersonville and other of the high
spots. Mr. Webb went over on bus
ness, taking Mrs. Webb and the fam
ily with him for the outing. He says
business in the larger mountain cen
ters is lively.
Stockholders Meeting.
The regular annual meeting of *ho
stoekholedrs of the Shelby Building
and Loan Association will be held in
the directors room of the First Na
tional bank at 5 o’clock p. m. on
Thursday, May '27th, 11)26.
J. F. ROBLKT-v See i'.......
G. 0. P. Names
County Ticket
Republicans of Cleveland Name Com
plete County Ticket For Coming
Election .Woman Named.
Meeting Saturday tin- Republicans
of Cleveland eoumy named their
county ticket for the coining election.
Republican leaders, including 11.
j Clay Cox. chairman, consider the
ticket named one of the strongest
ever put forth in the county. One wo
man. Miss Ossie McRnry, is on ihc
ticket, as the Republican candidate
for county treasurer.
The complete ticket follows:
Clerk of Superior court—W. R.
Casstevens, Shelby.
Sheriff—0. A. Rhea, Kings M un -
tain.
Register of deeds—J. I). Ellis, B il
ing Springs.
Treasurer—Miss Os io McRary,
Shelby.
1. g;slature— Dr. F. H. Lackey,
Fullston.
County surveyor—Purvis Runyans,
Earl.
Coror.er—Ellis Hoyle. F'allston.
Board of education—A. R. McNeely,
Casar: George E. Goforth, Shelby; W
S. Walker, Lattimore.
County commissioners—T. B. Rich
ards, Lawndale; Frank Glass, Kings
Mountain; Francis Boyles, Toluca.
Miss Laura Miller
Enters Tour Race
For Trip Abroad
! Former Shelby Woman Nominated
For Trip. Is Literary Expert.
Expects Shelby Support.
j Miss Laura Burton Miller, native
i of Shelby, but a resident of Charlotte
j for several year3, entered ihe ranks
I of candidates Friday who will be in
i lie Thomas Jefferson Centennial cloc
ition, held to select a group of young
j women ambassadors to carry a mes
sage of democracy to F.urope this sum
mer, says the Charlotte Observer-.
Miss Miller is known as “Charlotte’s
most literary young woman," is a
member of the Charlotte Writers’
club and is author of "The Green
Amulet,” which appeared first in
Scribner’s Magazine and has since
been translated into half a dozen
languages. Besides this masterpiece,
she har contributed many other short
stories io the popular magazines ‘and
is being hailed in the literary world
as a wrtier of special promise,
Aided Gardner.
Miss Miller was formerly secretary
to O. Max Gardner, when he was lieu
tenant governor of North Carolina,
(and is now connected wfth the staff I
of the Saco-Lowell agency here.
The new candidate in the ranks t f ;
the candidates was educated at Con- !
verse college, Spartanburg, S. C., and j
won many honors in college for ex
ceptionally able literary work. She is
aiso a member of the North Carolina
Federation of Women’s clubs and has
won many honors from the federa
tion for poems and other literary ef
i forts.
Miss Miller expects great support !
I from Shelby, her home town, in the'
j election that is soon to take place,
i She is popular socially and otherwise
in that place and has already been as
sured by agencies there that she may
expect cordial support from friends
and organizations.
: Only a few more candidates are cx
| pected in the field before nominations !
j are closed and the election proceeds !
| From the list of those already in the |
j field will be selected “Miss North
| Carolina,” the highest rating cand.-;
date in the election, who will head the i
party of young women from North)
I Carolina when they go abroad next
|summer to visit seven European
countries.
I Mr. Fortune No Doubt
Longs For Cleveland
Mr. Jule B. Fortune, Shelby post
| master many years ago and candidate
for congress in this district, no doubt
I longs for the Sunny South. He is
now livihg at Hubbard Woods, a sub
urb of Chicago, 111. and in renewing
his paper and that of two relatives
he writes: Here is our snow record for
the past winter. First snow October
9, 1025. Last snow melted April 2dih,
1926, six months and 12 days from the
time the first snow fell. During this
time we had 27 different snows and
snow was seen on the ground for more
than five months. Though Spring 's
a month behind, thanks to the good
God of nature, the grass is green and
the leaves on the trees are growing
one time more. The temperature wras
40 above at 6 a. m. this morning.”
—Ranks Close May 20—All the
banks of Shelby will close on Thurs
day May .20. Patrons are requested to
trutv <r.t 'Iv • btr:i!« ... ...
Toluca Boy Is Killed In
Unavoidable Auto Tragedy
( hark** G. Roaney, said to l>c about 13 years of age and the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Roaney, of near Toluca, is dead as the result of
an automobile .tragedy on the highway above Toluca, in upper Cleve
land, Sunday afternoon.
Going After Hat.
The little fellow, according to best reports to b? obtained, was riding
in a ear with his father ami mother when the hat of someone in the
car blew off and he got out to go back for it. Another car was close
behind and almost ready to puss. Just as the little fellow darted back
across the road, it is said, he was struck by the other ear which could
not stop. His body was hurled into a side ditch and h.s neck was said
to be broken by the impact, while lie was considerably cut up.
Added to the sadness of the tragedy, it is understood, that the driver
of the car which hit him was Miss Yang e Willis, a first cousn of the
Ittle fellow. People from the Toluca section from whom reports could
be gathered say that it is understood that the tragic act (lent wa< un
avoidable and that the sadness of the fatality has affected relatives in
the second car almost as much as that of the immediate family.
The mother of the boy, or someone in the first car, reports say,
warned the little fellow not to run back until the car bad passed, but
it is thought that he never heard them untli after he hud started.
They Made A Bow On Entering School
Here In Olden Days of Landrum Smith
School Roll Book ot Late Landrum
Smith W hen He 'I aught 70 Years;
Ago Is Interesting
Co back in your memory if you are
old enough and imagine Landrum
Smith, school master, calling the roll
of Capers Lee, George Doggett, Lige
Hardin, Amos Davis, George Wray,
L. D. Webb, Arthur Wray, Charlotte
Bridges, Sarah Sutile anti others,
many of whom have passed over the
river when the chariot swung low.
Landrum Smith who later becah'r*
a Methodist minister and represented
Cleveland county in the Legislature
back in the early nays, was a school
teacher seventy years ago and the
length of his term was 60 days. Out
of the “0 boys and 16 girls who sat
under his tutelage, attendance w*.i
very irregular. E. O, Hamrick at
tended the full term while Watson
Webb had only two days present mark
ed up for him.
Landrum Smith made a pocket size
roll book out of paper cut from some
other book. He covered the page*
with tar.nod pig skin and wrote among
the pages the rules of the school so
there would be no mistake. In hit
stern way, he no doubt enforced the
rules and the pupils did well in their
studies for Landrum Smith was a man
tf extraordinary intellect and thur
oughniss. Here’s what he wrote in
the old roll book in the hands of his
grandson L. A. Smith of the Sharon
section;
“School will commence at M
o’clock. No profane talk, no
telling tales from school, no tauar
j reling. no fighting among mftie of
1 you. No talking or laughing ip
time of school, either in the house
or not. No scholar shall leave
the school to go home or any
where without leave of the teach
er. No climbing or wrestling.
When you are dismissed at 12 or
at night, do not be like wild folks
and when you approach the door
of the mornings, make your bow.
You shall not go out of sight of
the school house tu cipher or
study. If you do, you may ex
pect to be corrected and that sev
erely, both large and small, will
obey these rules or take the cor
rection that I think is rite. If any
one over twenty-one may com",
he may be corrected as the rest
and continue coming. You are
not to make the meeting house a
place to play and of meeting days
you are all to go in when preach
ing commences and stay till you
are dismissed.’’
Here's a list of the boys enrolled in
the Landrum Smith school: R. Dog
gett, George Doggett, Capers Lee, P..
L. Blanton, Lige Hardin, E. O. Ham
rick. Bat.v Suttle, Amos Davis, Perry
Davis, Pinkey Wells, L. D. Webb, M.
W. L. Doggett, I. W. Bridges, Thomas
Bridges, John We nun, William I.ee,
George Wray, Perry Thomas, Arthur
Wray, J. M. D. Daavis, T. Davis, R.
D. Hughes, G. W. Hughes, William
son Lee, G. B. Hughes, Jackse.i
Hughes
And the girl's attended too for it
was a eo-cducational affair, but not
in as large numbers as the boys: El
len Lee, M. L. Blanton, Surah Suttle,
Y. A. Blanton, Lonorah Davis, G. F.
Frances, Charlotte Bridges, Priscilla
Wray, Martha Francis, Lisa Hardin,
Hannah Barnett, Unica Bowen, Mary
Safrona Bowen, Liza J. Bowen, Ellen
Hughes, M. L. Frances.
Elementary Pupils In
Flower Operetta
The pupils of the Central elemen
tary school of Shelby will present an
operetta at the school auditorium
Thursday evening, of this week, ai
7:30 o’clock.
The operetta is entitled “in a
Flower Garden,” and the public i„ av
sut’,:j „ .1. pU.t.iaj' c_
Thieve* Get Auto
Highly Decorated
Some fellow fell in love with the
“little red Ford” renowned in song—
the “little red thing” y'know, that
passed the “big yellow Buick.” And
the fellow that never forgot the song
made away with the little red Ford
Friday night.
Down to the Farmers Hardware as
the ages have rolled by there ha3
been a little car, painted red and de
corated with the firms advertising.
Jake Rudnsill has propelled it about
Shelby as regularly as the sun rises
; in the east. But now it's gone—one
of Shelby's best known autos.
Friday evening the little delivery
roadster was left parked just in front
; of the store, on a main business street
■ and sometime between 10 and 11
. o’clock it disappeared.
If the thief is ever nabbed it is
street opinion that he will be found
to be a brave bird. Think of taking
| up with a car painted red and also
] carrying in gilt and black .letter < the
name of its owners and their address.
And, since the above was written,
the little red car must have passe 1
the big yellow car on the hill. Any
way Policeman McBride Poston found
the car Saturday morning on the hill
just beyond Broad river and it was
unhurt. Officers have a hunch that
someone in that section merely want
ed to ride home.
HIGHS WIN FIIUL
GIME OF SEMI
Jack Hoyle Sings Swan Song In
Whiffing Kings Mountain Batters,
Locals Get On To Skates.
Playing their final game of the
season here Friday afternoon the
Shelby Highs won the county cham
pionship and Mull baseball cup by
defeating the strong Kings Mputnain
team 9 to 2.
It was the swan song in high
school baseball of several of the local
players, among them being two that
carrie I Shelby on to a state cham
pionship last year. Jack Hoyle, Peel
er an I Grigg were in their final ap
pearance and Hoyle left the field
with many strike outs to his credit
and a fine game for ihs last Shelby
appearance. Peeler hit am1 fielded as
usual in his consistent gait, while
Grigg shot in as a pinch hitter de
livered twice in the pinches*
For five frames it was an interest
ing hurling duel between “Skeeter”
Skates, speed ball artist of Kings
Mountain, and Hoyle. Shelby’s hook
ball expert. And for the five frames,
may it be said. Skates had the Shel
by hitters at his mercy, while Hoyle
gave up only one run. But near the
midships of the box score the young
Shelby hitters began to get their war
clubs in the way of the fast ones and
runs rained in thick and fast wsth
Lee and Cline leading the hitting.
Hoyle’s slow curves kept the vis
itors baffled when runners were on
and three times Skates returned to
the bench by strike-outs and Hord,
one of the best high players seen
here this year, fell once before breaks
of the youngster doing his lpst game
for his team.
Features were frequent with both
teams. In the Shelby line-up weak
hitters vied with the strong ones in
driving out hase blows when they
were needed. Fielding thrills were
numerous, the two outstanding being
by Sparks, local right fielder, and
Kings Mountain’s cencei guidencr,
although Hord of Kings Mountain
was up to his usual tricks in getting
the fos': oi.ee .l! ..i 111 him.
Growth In Ear
Identifies Ross
Almost Certain
I’rartirally Definite Now That Lons
Lost Man Has Been Found.
Starrs Seem Certain.
Announcement practically may bo
made that iho long lost Charlie Ross
has been found. After an extensive
and intensive investigation of tho
facts, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre C. Starr
of New York, the latter a cousin ot
Charlie Ross, announce that they
hive accepted the Denver man as
their relative.
Here are the immediate plans:
The Starrs will take the found
Julius C. Dellinger north, where they
will introduce him to their relativeu
and friends as Charlie Ross. They will
subject him to blood tests to ascertain
what modern science has to say in the
way of clearing up the riddle. And
they will put him under observation
under the most favorable circumstan
ces for a period.
Meantime however this is to bo
said—
I hut the Starr family, both Mr. and
Mrs. Starr, have come to the conclu
sion absolutely that Dellinger is
Ross. And Mrs. Starr, has documen
tary evidence, a book thick, to back
up her belief. Her quest has unearth
ed some startling facts with relation
to the history of certain events in this
state, which would make spicy reading
if they are ever disclosed.
Her evidence includes an affidavit
from the negro that spirited Charlie
Ross away from Gaffney, S. C., after
Mr. Frank Gaffney and his friends
had concluded that the boy was the
kidnapped lad. The child, os was form
erly told, was spirited away to Bell
ton, Ga., by night.
The negro who executed that er
rund is now living in ML Holly, this
state.
When Mrs. Ross, the mother ot
Charlie, died in Philadelphia some IB
years ago, her last words were raid
to have been: “If you ever find Charlie
look for a growth in his ear. That will
tell you it is the boy.”
When Mrs. Starr got out of her
limousine on the rainy night in Aprit
last, at Dellinger's home in Denv'r
(it was near midnight) and went into
the house, the irst thing she said,
after looking Dellinger over from
head to foot was: “Well, I believe I
j have found Charlie."
Then she said: “Let me look in your
left ear."
Dellingy, not knowing the signifi
cance of the act bent his head, and
his cousin exclaimed: “Yes Jhe growth
is there."
The man, as has formerly been told,
also had two moles on his back as th*
'•st Ross child had, and a foot wi'.-h v
scar on it.
Just when the man now recoginzed
us Ross will be taken north is being
kept a secret, to avoid publicity, it is
said; but the trip will be made soon.
And it is expected Mr. J. Frank Gaff
ney, of this city, will be a member ot
the party.
It was Mr. Gaffney, it happens
that supplied the missing link of evi
dence in the chain. It seems Mrs.
Starr for tw oyears or more had been
convinced that Charlie Ross was alive,
and was making a persitsent inves
tigation to endeavor to get trace of
him. At the same time Dellinger, liv
ing Ln Denver, was also persisting in
his endeavor to find out who he really
was.
The two trails of investigation in -t
in Mr. Gaffney. It was his evidcnco
that forged the link in the chain of
circumstance.
Then the negro was found who had
spirited the young child away from
Gaffney by night.
Then a close relative of the woman
was found who had run away with
McHale. Then the antecedents of the
Julius Dellinger episode were traced
down.
Tent Erected For
Big Revival Here
The big Spinks revival tent has
been erected on a vacant lot on South
La Fayette street just beyond the
cross-street joining Washington and
La Fayette streets, it is announced by
those in charge of the preliminary
plans for the big Baptist revival
which begins there Sunday night.
The services will be in charge of Dt
Zeno Wall and Rev. Rush Padgett,
pastors of the Baptist churches in
Shelby, and is expected to be one of
the largest attended services ever
held in the city. The big, tent will seat
around 2,000 people, it Is said, and
from interest being* shown in the com
ing services will likely be filled for
each service. Details of the services
with the hours will be announced Wed
4