North Carolina Newspapers

r- - SHELBY Was Carolina’s Fastest Grow ing Town 1920-1925 By U. S. Census. --— * -- THE STAR Is The Leading Paper of Shelby and The State’s Fertile Farm Section. ■ J VOL. XXXIV, No. 83 THE CLEVELAND STAR, SHELBY, N. C. MONDAY. JULY 12, 1926. Published Monday. Wednesday and Friday ... By mail, per year (in advance)—$2.60 Atternoons.gy carrj«ri per year (in advance) $3.00 Big Gathering Enjoys Day At Fallston’s Celebration Oratory, Contests And Amusements Marked One Of Countv’s Biggest Events. A ‘ Tiny Tim" t omes in Victorious For Plaudits Of Thousands. A crowd variously estimated at from three to six thousand gathered at the Independence day celebration ■ a Fallston Saturday, listening to two ; Cleveland orators in patriotic address es and looked-on or took part in a day of contests and amusements without a mishap. The Star would estimate the crowd at 4,500. At its height the at tendance perhaps ireached 5,000—t record* which was predicted and ex pected for they came from not only all parts of Cleveland but from five adjoining counties. It was the great est celebration ever held outside ot Shelby and Kings Mountain, but Falls ton is ideally located to draw from four counties and in this day of au tPmbbiles and good roads they were there, braving a sweltering heat at a leisure season, for farmers, all bur. prv for an opportunity to observe the , 150th anniversary of American inde- ' rondence in some concrete form Bunting and flags were displayed an 1 the business houses of thriving Falls ton closed their doo^s, proving that patriotism and not commercialism tn ' nired them to hold this great gather ing. ' I A Tiny Tim Win*. Colus Williams a hoy in his teens ami erinnM from infancy, hoppea c'vav with honors in th-> honning race. He threw his crutches aside and m competition with a dozen or so boys about his age. this hapnv vnuth won i* a contest and as he did. the cheers of thousands went uo from the side Im-s, There were manv other contest-.: and forms of amusement but when 1he crowd saw Colus Williams, the one-legged boy. the Tiny Tim of Falls t--n. win a prize and conor. they r ( iced all the more. Colus had a hart start in life but for once a victory - had come and it nleased the crowd., fnlus fell from a chair when an infant.' j his foot • was burned in a scorching fire and the burn never headel until a specialist amuplated his leer. In. spite of his adversity. Colus was a hopr»- youth and it was his dav when j the ‘hoppiner contest” was held. He had gone through life hopniner on or. foot and therefore had a decided edge on his more fortunate fellows. His crippled condition had fitted him for just such a contest and th - thousands, who looked on the various < 'infests, rejoiced more in his success than in anv other, for it was Coin-, j the child of misfortune that had wort. (.irl Introduced Orators. The thousands gathered earlv and, the procession was formed for the pa rade down the Shelby road. In front rode the men on horse-back. then came the Cliffside renown band, leading the motor vehicles, manv of which "ere beautifully decorated floats and cars. It was an inspiring sight to se ttle parade, fully a mile long, stead ily moving to Fallston to tbe tune ot marshal music and amid the colors of the Stars and Strings. Mrs. Robert nine was awarded the prize for the best decorated automobile. When the rroeession disbanded. as many as could gathered in the beautiful new school building where two young la dies—girls in their teens, introduced two of North Carolina’s most gifted orators—Clyde Hoey and Max Gard ner. These speakers who have been introduced to hundreds of audiences throughout North Carolina, had never such an introduction before and they were swept from their feet as Thelma Hoyle and Elva Baker stood with perfect ease and grace and presented the speakers in such ingenius words. Mr. Gardner, who spoke first, devot ed his subject to the “Whv the Fourth of. duly’.' recalling the religious and political freedom on which our gov ernment is founded, the dangers that confronted Jefferson and others who signed the Declaration, for their act was considered an act of treason by England, the weak colonies were buck iog the strongest nation on earth and H Jefferson and his colleagues had failed to carry out their plan of free dom they would have met death and the new country would not have been brought into existence. -Mr. Hoey took up where Mr. Gard ner had left off and devoted 20 min* '*tc., to a uiscussion of the growth t>i "ur nation, how favored it has been in the eye’s of the King of Kings, Its great wealth, vast resources and the heart and spirit of the people who have made it possible for America to become the richest and strongest of them all. Interesting Contests. h °r the amusement and entertain ment of the thousands who had gath mod for the celebration, the good peo ple of Fallston had planned a number "f interesting contests. Charlie Brid ges proved the fastest pie eater; Shu (Continued On Pa^e Four) Few City Auto Tags Selling To Motorists Shelby officers may this week make life hard for the majority of Shelby motorists - to date only about 400 city auto license plates hu\e been pur chased by auto owners of the city, ac cording to a report from the city of fice 1 he date of. the old city tags has already expired and officers hint that plenty of time has been given for the purchase of the city tags. The city tags bring in a bit of re venue to the city treasury, but fines from all those who have not purchas ed their tags would very near pave a street. Two Voters Arrive Late One of the recent candidates for solicitor is father of twins and nat urally his finances are low at this time, hence he asks The Star to wait thirty days on him for the payment of his campaign advertising account. V paper that won't wait for an account where twins have come to the family, has no heart. Long live the twins if the bill waits longer than 30 days. The Star has never had twins. Trou ble and worries come in doublets and triplets sometimes, hence it is possi ble to understand and sympathise with the other fellow in predicaments like-the erstwhile candidate for soli citor is in right now. He writes “I do not know whether you have ever experienced a financial jam, hut the disruption of my practice by moving to__ in the winter, together with the loss i f time and expense incident to my campaign, the advent of twin boys—-have you ever had twin boys? th° general cussedness of the Coolidge prosperity and other things have! drawn my attention sharply to the! fact that I shall have to liquidate! some of assets on an adverse market j to sat'sfy my most insist obligation.”! And he is the father of twin boys. Name one Woodrow and the other Wilson, run on the Democratic ticket for solicitor next time and the coun try will be behind the proud father. Such a man can’t be kept down. He is bound to Succeed. God bless the twins. Father may have been defeat ed hut the eagles of victory have Perched upon his banner which more than compense for the defeat in the primary. Political preferment is noth ing compared to the fatherhood of twins. LOHIGEII SCHOOL BK CHEWING COM COIN North Carolina's Chewing Gum Bill Would Operate Rural Schools for Two Extra Months Chapel Hill.—The amount North Carolina spends fur chewing gum during the year would run rural schools of the state l'or two months, according to an article in the current issue of tlie University News Letter, the amount being one-tenth as much as the state spends on teachers’ sal aries for all its public schools. "In other words,” continues the ar ticle, "if we shoul stop chewing gum and apply the money to public educa tion we could have an eight months rural school term with almost no ad ditional tax. Rut very likely we will keep on chewing gum and do without ; the eight-months school for a few 1 more years, being too poor to afford it. "The factory value of chewing gum I manufactured in the United States last year was nearly 48 million dol lars. The retail value, or rather price, S was considerably in excess of that amount. A conservative statement J W(,uld be that the average person j spent at least sixty cents per year j for chewing gum. Assuming that I North Carolina consumed her quota, I she spent about a million, seven hun j (tied thousand dollars for chewing gum.” _ Mr and Mrs. Mack R. McConnell I returned over the week-end from ! their honeymoon. The McConnells dur ! ino- the summer will make their home m the I. C. Griffin residence on South ■ Washington street. Mrs. McConnell ! before her recent marriage was Miss Fave Ford, of Clover. S. C.. and a j member of the Charlotte high school faculty. I Whew! What Heat— —Get The Blankets A historic weather chart for Shelby over one week-end: Linen suits and palm leaf fants for Shelby’s almost unbearable heat, and a scurry for blankets with the cool snap of Sunday night. Saturday, Shelby and section experienced one of the hottest days of the year. The thermome ter during the last hot spell might have registered more, but never before during the year was the heat so persistent. During the day Saturday many thermome ters crept far beyond the 100 mark, while the conservative weather gauge at Elebtoft’s gave up a full 100. An idea as to the penetrating qualities of the heat was gained in the sheriff’s office at the court house, said to be one of the coolest spots in town. There the mercury dallied arotind 00 in the shade. Following several showers of Saturday night, dodging moth balls became the favorite pastime of Sunday evening as hundreds of Shelbyites ransacked closets and wardrobes for last winter's blankets. M Or so Setms the Sentiment of the Methodists of The Shelby District in Meet. Shelby delegates to the recent con ference of the Shelby Methodist dls- [ trict held at Cherryvil’.e brought back disconcerting news to the curbstone cowboys and others who annually look 1 forward to the coming of the ‘new teachers.” There’ll be a few faculty members with boyish bobs and mannish garb j over the Shelby district in the years to come—that is if the Methodists o' the district see to the carrying out m their sentiments. The Methodists, mind you, did not say it just that way in their meeting, but it is so that the impression is re ceived. The view is taken from a resolution said to havo been' passed by the con ference urging more cooperation be tween parents and school boards m securing “more mature” teachers. The resolution continued, it is said, In asking that more courtesy be shown the teachers in that they have so much to do with the molding of the young life and should he properly wel comed, invited out and otherwise made to feel at home wherever they may be teaching. But in the line suggesting “more mature teachers” can be seen some what the sentiment oft expressed h\ old-timers In not feeling any too friendly to “school marms” with “boy ish bobs.” In other words, the resolution may have as one of its aims the often at tacked “flapper”—that unperturbed bit of humanity that makes America gasp with surprise, and even admira tion, and goes on its wav nonchalantly and annaretly caring little what othn folks think. int* uuuurs muunu siyies are more healthful. The men apparently are casting more admiring glances. So, why should the snrightly mite with ihe boyish bob, rolled hose and artistic coloring worry about what the rest of the world says? Yet, even flanpers grow un—that is grow older, though they may not admit it—and eventually they leave school to be “school marms.” The resolution annarontlv upholds a moral right !« nsUng more mature toerhers. hut tbo flnrmm-s. old ana voung. will ask «’hv should th<w dre=s mor" mature, Reine able to tell moth er from daughter now->-davs is 'x to«;V—god if they are mature, why sho’dd they looV mat”i-o * The d"" of the ol '-time r./»hr,o( who sweat the floors with he? trailing dress wore ni'urt.npv snorm e(es and stnek her oencil in the wind ing knot of be- hair, is gone forpuer. an informing flaDoer --avp. Modern school teachers ere just amature, hit look different.. if nossihl". And on th“ other hand, there Is a very commendahie side to thA snggw« tion. The real flanner would hardlv make a nerfect trainer for the you*h of the Shelby district. Local Necrro Freed A* Murder Suspect “Doc” Finley, aged negro man well known on the streets of Shelby, was released from the county jail Friday night by local officers after Spartan burg, S- C., county officers failed to identify him as the negro wanted there fot murder. Finley was taken up Friday because he closely resembled th edeseription of George Hunter, wanted in South Carolina for murder. Wire Received Here From Asheville \hout Mm There 'Vhn Does Not Remember His Fast Do you know W. H. Wilson? He’s North Carolina's latest “mys tery man" and some time in his past has visited Shelby, and links that come back to his memory have to do with Slielby arid Kings Mountain. Over the week-end Mayor A. P. Weathers received a letter from the Mission of the Good Samarium at Asheville telling of a man there b> '.hat name who had lost his memory, but was supposed to have relatives or know someone in this section. Investigation by officers here fail ed to reveal anyone related to the man, whose name is given as W. H. Wilson, and no one seems to remem ber ever seeing him here. The letter stated that shortly aftex trri\ ing at. Asheville June 24, the man drew checks for $400 on the First National bank of Shelby, and later checks for $25 and $10. The checks, the letter continued, were returned by •he local hank stating that there were •o funds to that account. Other in formation in the letter was to the ef fect that the mysterious man knew W. W. Ormand, who was said to live near here, and also that after he es caped from the state hospital that he ■Hopped in Kings Mountain and Shel by. So far, no ono seems to remember 'the fellow on latest inquiry stated that his name was Carlisle Moore field. A dispatch from Asheville says: Asheville has a man of mystery In-, telligent, well dressed, and apparent ly normal in every way. he is unable to tell who he is, where he is from, or why he is here. The young man first caught the at tention of local physicians when he wandered into one of the hospitals ■ here a few weeks ago and seated him self. When questioned he was unable to give his njme or explain his presence. He was kept that night, and \ ;while efforts were being made the following day to identi% him he wan ! dered off as quietly as he had ap peared. Nearly three week*.- latsr he 1 was found wandering on the streets I by a man who conducted him to a local institution where an examination was made. He gave his name as W, H. Wilson, but could not remember where his ! home had been. Finally he stated that he had a brother and sister living at Dunn, and declared they had placed him in the state hospital in Raleigh. Investigation showed that the ho.-pital 'authorities had no record of such a case. He has told those interested that he is a member of the W. O. \V. lodge and a member of the Calybiatt Springs Bapt;st church. He says that his wife is dead and that before her marriage she was Miss Mary Huff man, of Newberry, S. C. He says that his little girl is with her aunt, Mrs. T. W. Mewhorn. of Raleigh, R F. D. Subsequently he has given his name as Will am Johnson, son of the late J. P. Johnson, of Goldsboro, and that he has a brother. Wallace John son, at Wallace. Telegrams sent to friends and ac quaintances he has named by the au thorities here have brought no repl> nor have letters to the mayors of sev eral North Carolina town that he mentioned brought replies tending to clear up the mystery of his identity. The last name to which he has laid •1a:m is Carlyle Moorefield, af South Boston. Va. Those who may know this man are requested to communicate with box 311, Asheville, the postof fice address of the organization that has taken his case in charge . To Pave Streets Of South Shelby First Grading Starts on St25,000 Street Improvement Project in Shelby Work Will Move Fast. Grading work started last week in South Shelby, the first to be done on the new $125,000 paving project. The width of the street in South Shelby which has been under much discussion will be the same as S. LaFayette St.,—32 feet—with which a connec tion is made. At present the grading is being done just south of South ern tracks. As soon as the South Shelby street is paved the Ely Con struction company which has the eon tract for the asohah street work, will move to West Graham street where several blocks of paving will be done. Z. B. Weathers and sons who have the contract for concrete alley ways, will not begin work just yet^as it is thought that the city rook quarry will not be able to furnish sufficient stone for both construction companies to operate at the same time. Mr. R. L. Wilson spent the week end in Catawba with his parents, Rev and Mrs. B. Wilson. Thomas Jefferson’s Old Gig} _ i .nil* in int* mu in wnirn i uuniap *rrin*rm»n mhu* iu riiuauripuui iium liii* fcnmf in MontleeHo. Vo., currying the Declaration of Independence.} li win taken to Washlnglnn w here It was viewed by President Ooolldg* before being taken to the Sesitul Centennial at Philadelphia. Shelby Hears Many Reports Of Events Never Recorded Shelby Officer Sets New Record Camp Glenn, Morehead City, July 10.—Two records were es tablished on the rifle range yes terday morning that would have got themselves more extensive notice but for the overshadow ing events which followed them. Captain C. H. Burnett of the Wilmington company was up for his credit as an expert rifle man. He had only 99 shots left and he needed exactly 99 points to qualify him. He scored 99 shots and made it. Lieutenant H. C. Long, of the Shelby company was out for similar honors on the range. He went to the pits on the rapid fire tests and out of 2.r>0 shots he scored 238 bull’s eyes. This performance is believed to have upset all existing tamp records and provided marksmen some thing to talk about for some time to come. Otherwise the day wa« a normal day. VVA*«VJVVVVVU%VVVVW%iV.V.V Mrs. Walker Buried At Sandy Plains Church Wife of D. J. S. Walker Had Been Afflicted for a Quarter of a Century. Five Children. Mrs. Fannie Walker, wife of D. J. S. Walker was buried Saturday at 3 p. m. at Sandy Plains Baptist churcti where she had been a member since girlhood. Mrs. Walker had been at j flicted for 25 years, 20 years of which j time she had been blind. About ten' days before her death she sustained a fall and her condition was critical ■ until the end came Friday afternoon j at the age of 69 years. The fpneralj was conducted by Rev. G. P. Aber- , nethy. her pastor, assisted by Rev J.; D. Bridges and Rev. Rush Padgett. During her long affliction the mem- ! bers of the family were most tender j in their ministrations and the large crowd and beautiful floral tribute j proved the esteem ill which she was i held. Mrs. Walker is survived by her hus- j band and five children, A. B. Walker,| Mrs. Martin, C. C. Walker, Rev. F. j Guy Walker pastor of the Baptist j church at Lylesville, Mrs. Alvin Wril-' Hams, together with 16 grand chil dren. Presbyterian Pastors At Cleveland July 16 A meeting has been arranged for ill Presbyterian pastors and their wives to gather at Cleveland Springs Monday July 16th for, relaxation, re creation and fellowship. Rev. G. R. Gillespie, of Forest City, superintend ent of home missions in this presby ter yhas arranged for the meeting in order that the pastors and their wives might become better acquaint ed with each other. There are a num ber of young ministers in the Presby tery and the meeting is held largely to introduce them to the other minis ters. Quite a few elders have also been invited. The Kings Mountain Presbytery embraces the five coun ties of Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland, Polk and Rutherford and p large gsvfchering is expected. Mr. Gillespie says they will gather at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, bring picnic dinner and remain at the Springs until about 8 o’clock at night. No formal program will be held. Miss Mary Fay Penninger of Sha ron, S. C., is visiting Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Penninger. Recent Report of Drowning at Campi Glenn Recalls ()th?r Similar Reports of I’ast. Where do unfounded reports have their origin? A survey of by-gone newspapei history in Shelby and Cleveland county shows that numerous sensa tional reports have been broadcasted as true over the county, only to be traced down and found false. One was experienced during the past week, when the report becam* current over the town and county that a county boy, member of Com pany K, had been drowned at More head City, where the Shelby infantry men are in annual summer encamp ment at Camp Glenn. Traced to Mors head City the report was branded ns false. Where did it start? That it took considerable imaglna- j tion is conceded by all who have dis cussed it. In two days of travel about ! town the report was told as a certain | ty even to the name of the boy who was drowned. Shortly after hearing the report The Star questioned both the telephone and telegraph offices here and lears, that no such message had been rw_ ceived. Yet it was told often about Shelby and numerous parents were almost in a frenzy fearing that the one drowned might be their boy. Early Friday morning, before The Star was published denying the report, it was told on the court square that the ho«ly had arrived. In discussing the matter there has i been considerable criticism of those who started the report. General sen timent is that the originator should be severely punished but the trouble with that solution is that the best de tective living could hardly trace down the origin of the report. Other Similar Reports. Just how much anguish has been caused in Shelby and over the county by the report and similaf reports ts < not known, but like reports in the past are recalled. John Wells, veteran roldier, recalls two similar happenings of Spanish American war days. One member of the Shelby com pany in Cuba, a son of William Lai timore, was taken sick after the ar rival there and was properly taken care of following the usual army cus toms. While in Shelby and over the county the report was spread that the youth had been left by the side ' of the road to shift for himself and had been picked up by some natives who were treating him. The report continued to be carried over the coun ty until a cablegram was sent to ; Shelby by the Late Junius Gardner, ranking officer, saying that the sol dier was being given the best of treat nient and had not been forsaken. Yet until this cablegram arrived imagine the anguish of the young soldier's relatives and friends. Shortly after the first report there came another saying that Mr. Wells had shot and killed another membei of the company. Such was the worrv of the father of the youth reported killed that it is recalled that he walk ed to Shelby bare-headed to get the straight of the report. Not until an other cablegram was sent by Colonel Gardner was the report killed. And so they go! A report once started easily gains momentum and added information. The latest report about the drowning is thought to have been added to many of the times it was passed along. One of the first angles of the report heard was that someone had been drowned. Later a name of the one drowned was added. It is hinted about that officers might like to question the one Who started the report if that person will come forward and make himself known. 1 Hospital List From Car Toll Throe Patients at Shelby Hospital Suffering from Fractured Skulls. Young Eskridge Hurt. Charles L. Eskridge, State college student and so nof Mr. and Mrs. Chas. L. Eskridge, received a fracture ot the skull Sunday evening when he fell from a car to the pavement on North La Fayette street—and young Eskridge's entrance in the Shelby hos pital increased the fractured skull list to three. According to information, Eskridge was riding on the rear end of a cur down “skeeter” driven by James Gard ner, son of O. Max Gardner, The ca* was stopped at the traffic sign be tween the Baptist church and the Ba ber home, and when it started th« sudden lurch forward threw the youth from his seat, his head striking tho pavement. Information from the hos pital Monday morning was to the ef feot that he was doing nicely and that surgeons were encouraged by his con dition. He was in a semi-conscious state for some time after the acci dent, it is said. Other Fractures. Palmer Paxton, of Shelby R-6, who has been in the hospital since July 3, with a fractured skull is getting along satisfactorily according to hospital officials. Paxton wad struck on the head with a shovel while at work on the highway near Hoppers bridge. Of ficers since that time have been on the lookout for Mun Childers, who is alleged to have wielded the shovel. Master Glenn Short, of the Shelby mill village, is the third patient sui fering from a fractured skull. The young fellow fell from a high porch on July 3, fracturing his skull on the impact of striking the ground. Mrs. Margaret Anderson, said to be of Charlotte, was taken to the hos pital about noon Sunday, suffering from bruises as the result of an auto wreck south of Shelby in the vicinity of Zoar church. The car in which she was riding is said to have turned over but further details of the wreck could not be learned. She is not thought to be seriously hurt. Bumgardner Hearing During Court Term Criminal Docket of Court Term Has Few Important Cases. Will Be of Short Duration. Charlie Bumgardner, young Kings Mountain man, formally charged with shooting his wife, will be given a hearing during the Superior court term which convenes here July 26, according to the preliminary docket. It will be remembered that Mrs. Bumgardner died of a gun-shot wotfml said to have been accidentally inflicted. However, the shooting and its details will be investigated by the copit. Otherwise the criminal docket of the coining term promises to be a tame affair and should last only about two or three days. George P. Webb, veteran court clerk, believes two days will clear up the criminal cases unless several more come up from Recorder Mull’s court. Judge Henry P. Lane, it is under stood will preside over the term, which has but few cases of general public interest on the docket. t / Former Service Men r Back From Morehead Sheriff Hugh Logan, Squire T. Cling Eskridge, Capt. J. Frank Rob erts and Mr. Chas. Roberts returned Friday night from Camp Glenn, More head City, where they have been spending a week as the guests of Company K, Shelby military com pany in annual encampment at Camp Glenn. Sheriff Logan and Capt. Roberts are former captains of the company while in years gone by Charlie Rob erts was firfet lieutenant of the com pany and later a captain during the World War. The fifth living captain of the company, O. Max Gardner, was invited down but was unable to at tend. The party enjoyed some excellent fishing while there and also reported that Company K. under the direction of Capt. McSwain and Lieuts. Aug tell and Long was making a ftan showing. Boyer Returns From Trip Of Investigation Rev. H. K. Boyer, pastor of the First Methodist church of Shelby, ar rived home Friday from Memphis, Tenn., where he spent several days making an investigation and taking affidavits in the interest of Rev. Ashley Chappell, of Asheville, whom he is to defend at the Statesville trial July 20th.