I 8 PAGES I
I TODAY I
VOL. XXXIV, No. 151
THE CLEVELAND STA1
SHELLY, N. C. MONDAY, DEC. 19, 1927. Published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Afternoons.
By mail, per year (in advance)-$2.50
By carrier,per year (in advance) $3.00
Late News
For the first three days of this
trek Shelby will have a daily paper.
In order to accomorndate holiday ad
[vertisers and buyers a Star will be
published and delivered Tuesday
,nd Wednesday in adition to the pa
per today.
Cleveland county's last big shop
pirn: rush before Christmas is now
cn. Streets and stores were crowded
her. early today as the last shopping
seek opened. One woman fainted at
th« Woolworth corner here this
morning but was soon revived,
placed in a taxi and taken home.
Morning dispatches stated that six
men were thought to be alive in the
submarine which was rammed off
the Massachusetts coast early Sun
da\ and sank with 43 men aboard
With the men trapped under the
uater like rats every effort was be
ing extended Sunday night and
rarlv Monday to rescue tnosc
thought to be still alive.
Captain Jenkins, Who Estimated
Near Last Report, Sets His
K:- Guess For Total.
Cleveland county will not make
50,000 bales of cotton this year,
not by 2,000 bales according to
(apt. J. Frank Jenkins, who
qualifies as an expert guesser
due to his estimate at the last
report for the county In which
he misses the official figures by
cn'y three bales.
According to Captain Jenkins the
total crop will be somewhere in the
neighborhood of 47.959 bales. This
figure, by the way. is the average
estimate made by practically every
leading ginner of the county. Cap
tain Jenkins took the trouble to se
cure an estimate from the ginners
and dividing the total by the num
ber of ginners he reached the above
figure.
One ginner estimated as high as
50.000 bales, thereby proving to be
the optimist of the group. The ma
jor portion of the estimates ranged
C.'ound 48.000 bales, but one fellow
estimated only a little over 45.000
bales—which is just a few more
bales than were ginned at the last
report—and thereby lowered the av
erage.
“This estimate of 47.959 bales is
r.ot going to be far wrong", accord
ing to Captain Jenkins, "and if it is
vrong the crop will be a little bit
above that, probably low in 48.000."
Just take your guess.
rnmm
OFFICERS HERE
Readies, of Asheville, Is New Presi
dent. Meet Next In Greens
boro. Resolution
N N. Beadles, of Asheville, is the
nev president of the North Caro
lina Bottlers association.
He was elected at the final session
cf the convention held at Cleveland
Springs here Friday
Other officers elected were L. F.
Bnuit. Goldsboro, vice president,
*tule M; S. Brown, of Tarboro. was
re-elected secretary and treasurer.
Direction named were Frank L.
Johnson, Statesville; J. T. Gibbons,
Hamlet; W. J. Richardson. Raleigh;
J R. Ingram. Sanford; H. H. Mc
Coy. Kinston; Ralph Long. Winston
Salem; L. J. Taylor, New' Bern; E.
I Fleming, Rock Mount, and C. D.
Hutaff, Fayetteville.
Greensboro was named as the
ikxt convention city.
A resolution passed by the bottlers
and drawing considerable attention
was Chat to prevent the tacking of
Sl8ns along the highways of the
Mate.
Shows Navy Picture
Here For Three Days
Cluef Tivis Myers from the naval
Wujting station in Charlotte is
for three days, bringing with
lim a naval picture which he is
te'ing shown at the Webb Theatre
«onday, Tuesday and Wednesday
“connection with the regular show
"Use program. The picture shows
®*nv interesting movements of Un
w Sam's floating army and pictures
"■Mu various sections 0$. the world,
i Myers is looking for recruits
0r tile navy and maintains head
luarters at the postoffice while in
#*lby.
Cost Him $25 To
Shoot And Then Run
^ County recorder’s court had a
Wi entertaining day of it Satur
its a colored dance of the week
tevious was aired in the court. The
“hoe, it seems, developed into a
|f °f gunplay and John Hayes was
uot in the arm.
Chief Craig, who told the ecurt
"®f he “shot and run,” was fined
, and Hayes was fined $10 by
Mull.
<
Baptists Launch Hundred
Thousand Building Program
Unanimously Vote to Build Educa
tional Building and Remodel
Present Church Here
A $100,000 building program
was unanimously voted Sunday
morning by the First Baptist
church congregation, the pro
gram to include a large educa
tional building on the vacant lot
adjoining the church house and
a remodelling of the interior of
the present church building
which will be converted into a
larger church auditorium. Con
struction work will no doubt be
under way early next year.
For some years the congregation
has been debating the matter of en
larging the plant and year after
year the sentiment has crystahzed
in favor of the movement. Under the
pastorate of Dr. Zeno Wall, the mat
ter has been discussed and the step
taken Sunday morning was consid
ered a tribute to the splendid worl:
of Dr. Wall and to the progressive
ness of the congregation. An archi
tect has looked over the present
equipment, made suggestions as to
the improvements necessary and es
timated the cost of such improve
ments to be in the neighborhood of
$100,000.
Action Unanimous.
Net a dissenting vote was recorded
when the congregation decided to
enter upon the building program. O.
M. Mull. J H. Quinn and B. T. Falls
appointed a committee of three,
some weeks ago to consult an archi
tect. study plans and make recom
mendations, each spoke of the press
ing need of a larger plant and of the
ability of the membership to provide
the funds. Others gave their endorse
ment and the members voted unan
imously in favor of entering the
project with the turn of the year. A
large building committee will be ap
pointed at an early date.
Has 1,100 Members.
The First Baptist church now has
1,100 members, a growth of nearly
300 per cent since 1911 when the
present plant was erected.
The present building provides a
church auditorium as well as a Sun
day school auditorium and class
j rooms but all of the classrooms are
: over-run and the church is filled
to overflowing at each Sunday
! morning Service. The plant would
| not seat the entire membership if
all should report at one time. This
I year the average daily attendance of
Sunday school lias been over 600.
Young people are taking more in
terest in Christian work than ever
before and there are eight live B Y.
P. Us., with a total membership that
runs into the hundreds. Each depart
ment is trying to hold separate meet
I ings on Sunday mornings, but lack
; of space interferes with the work so
i that the best results cannot be ob
tained under present conditions.
The present plant is to erect an
educatcnal building for the Sunday
school and its allied work, this build
ing to be so constructed as to allow
for departmental gatherings. In ad
dition-to this ample class room will
be provided. The Sunday school de
partment in the present building
will be converted into a church au
ditorium, thus giving two buildings,
one for Sunday school and one for
church services.
i _:_
CAFE HOW ENDS
IN A 500910
A row that started over $1.50 said
by officers to have been ‘chipped in’
to buy a pint of booze, led to a shoot
ing last night in a negro cafe oper
ated near the postoffice by Sana
Wilson. Furman Eskridge, colored,
was shot through the leg, and Wil
lie Watson, another negro, received
lacerations about the head during
the melee.
In recorder’s court today the en
tire affair was aired, revealing some
drinking and a somewhat general
row. According to the evidence Esk
ridge was shot while he and others
were scuffling with Watson trying to
get the gun. Watson and Eskridge
were fined $50 and the costs each,
while several others received smaller
fines.
This Man No Doubt
Knows On Name
Albany, N. Y.—There is at
least one person in the United
States who has not heard of
Governor A1 Smith, Mayor John
Boyd Thacker received a letter
yesterday from a resident of
West Palm Beach. Fla., who
wrote: “I want a little informa
tion and hope you will be able
to help me- Who is the present
governor of New York, when was
he elected and where does he
live?"
MRS. JOE KISTLER.
One of the Oldest and Most Es
teemed Women of Upper Clev
eland Dies Suddenly
.Mrs. Lucinda Kistler. wife of Mr.
Joe Kistler of the Cleveland Mills
community and one of the oldest
women of the county, died Sunday
morning at her home after an illness
of only a few hours. Mrs. Kistler was
38 years of age and up until time
of her death was a woman of unusu
al health and activity. She was of a
most cheerful nature, industrious
and uncomplaining, looking always
on the bright and hopeful side. Sat
urday night she was reported to be
a bit sick but told members of her
family that her ailment was only a
trifle and that she would soon be
well again. Later, her condition grew
worse and the end came Sunday
morning at 7 o'clock.
Mrs. Kistler was the youngest sis
ter of the late Anderson Nolan of
Lawndale and Shelby. She joined
the church early in life and was a
most devout and consecrated Chris
tian. Her first marriage was to Wil
liam London. After his death during
the war, she married Mr. Joe Kist
ler one of upper Cleveland's most be
loved citizen. From this union three
children survive, together with their
aged father: Squire Zemri Kistler,
Mr. Albert Kistler of this county
and Mrs. Alice Schroder of Char
lotte. Two children, Frank and Cal
lie Kistler preceded her to the grave
The funeral was conducted Mon
day (today) and interment was in
the Pleasant Hill church cemetery
in upper Cleveland. A large crowd
of sorrowing friends attended the
funeral services.
MILE CLUB IN
Shelby Mill Organization Stages An
nual Holiday Affair With
LcGrand Toastmaster
The Textile club, an organization
| of the Shelby Cotton mill held its
j anual banquet in the LaFayette
school building Saturday night More
I than 70 men sat down to a sumptu
; ous banquet prepared and served by
1 Mrs. Oliver Anthony. The hall was
j beautifully and artistically decorat
i ed fcr the occasion. The menu in
cluded four courses. The members
entred to the strains of excellent mu
sic furnished by the Sharon string
orchestra, At intervals special at-.
] tractions and comic stunts provided
i the audience with great amusement.
I The black comedians, Messrs. Wil
liams and Estes, caused the audience
I to roar as they gave some excellent
I minstrel stuff. A quartet. Messrs.
■ Brannon, Shepard, Wright and Wil
son. sang several selections much to
the joy and entertainment of the
members. And the members could
not keep their feet still while the
orchestra played. Many individuals
jumped upon the stage to show off
their ability to clog dance. Even one
rheumatic could not withstand the
appeal to dance! Then suddenly
Santa Claus in all his glory appear
ed in the hall, and from his bounte
ous bag delivered a present to each
member! Then some one started a
lemon around the table, the toast
master explaining that at a given
signal the one holding the lemon
would be compelled to stand and
make a speech. There was great ex
citement. The unfortunate holder of
the lemon proved to be B. B. McKee!
Trembling in every nerve, he arose,
only to be told that he w'ould be
given a prize not to attempt to make
a speech! The prize as a five-dollar
gold piece! Other presents were
awarded, Messrs. Francis and Face
being the lucky members.
The whole occasion was one of
good fellowship. These men have
worked day in and day out in the
Shelby cotton mill, the average serv
ice of the men gathered being over
ten years. One man present has been
with the mill for 29 years. The toast
master was Mr. R. T. LeGrand. the
superintendent and secretary-treas
urer. There was not a dull moment
during the entire evening, and much
credit should be given the toast
master for the excellent program so
perfectly carried out in every detail.
And every man present wanted to
vote his thanks to Mrs.' Anthony for
the bountiful banquet so well prepar
ed and daintily served.
AN APPRECIATIVE GUEST.
Miss Roberta Royster of Fallston
was called home from Meredith col
lege Friday owing to the death of
her grandmother. Mrs. George Roys
ter.
*
A Daily Star
Shelby has a daily paper—
for three days at least.
An issue of The Star will be
published today, tomorrow,
and Wednesday, the extra edi
tion Tuesday being published
in order to render the best pos
sible service to merchants and
shoppers in the Christmas
rush.
These three Issues will carry
the latest local news and also
last minute gift suggestions
and Christmas b a r g ains.
Watch for your Monday's pa
i per, Tuesday’s paper, and Wed
I nesday's paper.
IV
Jj
Executives and Foremen of Three
Big Plants Hold Meeting at
Cleveland Springs
The annual banquet of the execu
tives, foremen and department heads
of the three textile plants headed by
Mr. John R, Dover was held Satur
day night at the Cleveland Springs
hotel with Mr Dover, the popular
head of the system, acting as toast
master.
It was the unique Dover program,
minus for once the oratory, and fca
tured by the characteristic admira
tion and respect of* the employe for
the employer and vice versa. Around
the big banquet table, which practi
cally filled the huge dining room,
about 140 representatives and work
ers of the three mills. Eastside.
Dover and Ora gathered. Humor,
tricks, gifts, several short talks, a
I fine feed and a professional enter
tainment by Fassoux, noted magi
cian. and his troupe was the formal
program.
The feature perhaps of the short
talks was the one by the toastmaster
tl^e “big boss” to all the others gath
I ered about the table, as he related
| experiences of days gone by when
j quite a number of the men gather -
i ed about the table first worked him
| at the Ella mill. "The lowest paid
! man in this group tonight gets as
j much money as die} the superinten
] dent of the Ella when we first start
; ed work there together,” Mr. Dover
i stated, before concluding his toast
master's speech, Mr. Dover called on
all the men who had been with oim
since the start to stand and the old
timers did so amid a roar of ap- j
plaus^ John Fox, connected with a
textile selling agency in New York
and in close touch with the iViver
organization, made a short talk in
which he paid a high tribute to the
head cf the Dover mills and the or
ganization and the employes.
The name of every employe at the
banquet was placed in a hat and ;
the first drawn received a $10 gold
piece from Mr Dover, while one
from each mill received a $5 gold i
piece from the organization of his
mill. These prizes were awarded as i
follows: the $10 to B. L. Connor; j
Eastside gift to Claude Lane; Dover
gift to George Dover, and the Ora j
gift to B. O. Starnes.
At the conclusion of the banquet. ,
the talks, the reminiscences and the ;
fun-making. Fassoux entertained
with numerous stunts, one being the
placing and locking of a man in a
trunk, which was tied and locked by !
Dover employes. The trunk when op- :
ened a few moments later had a (
young lady in it and tSa man who
had been placed inside came walk- ,
ing in from the kitchen. Through
the evening the spirit of fellowship ,
and cooperation that marks the suc
cess of the textile organization fea- !
tured as men in all departments j
from the office throughout each mill j
celebrated together. Although there i
was no scheduled oratory at the .
banquet that* "the Governor of North
Carolina—O. Max Gardner—wull be
the speaker here next year. He has ■
already promised."
New Signals Are
Put In Operation
Four new traffic signals have been
put in operation at the four corners
of the court square by Mayor Dor
sey's administration, these four sig
nals, taking the place of the traffic
signals installed about two years
ago. The new signals installed at a
cost of about $900 have a “caution"
light which flashes between the stop
and go light to warn drivers that
the signals are about to change. A
control box has been placed near the
monument on the west side of the
square from which the signals are
timed. The two old stop and go sig
nals at the intersection of Graham
and LaFayette streets and at the in
tersection of Sumter and N. LaFay- !
ette streets have been taken down
and no signals will be erected to 4ake
the place of these stations.
5
More Shoppings Days
After Today
CHRISTMAS FUND
CROWS, ONLY 01
WEEK AHEAD ROW
Welfare Officer Has Many falls as
King: Winter Arrives and
Christmas Nears
Just one week now. Then the
biggest season of the year Chris
tendom over, .last a week until
rough, hard-boiled men of the
business world smile and play
with the children and their
trinkets; just a week until all
men and wonm'n are children
again, happv in their happiest
season of ail. Just a week until
the celebration of the Christ
( hiid's coming—and here in
Shelby there is poverty,, sick
ness and nerd.
Day by day The Star's Christmas
Charity fund has been growing
Seme of the gifts bring a tear to
the eye and a pitter-patter speed to
the heart-beat, for some of these
gilts represent a struggle. Widows
have helped other widows; orphans
have helped orphans because they
knew the feeling of “no Santa
Claus." Children knowing that there
will be a Santa at their house have
given seme of their extra toys for
children Santa is not likely to find.
Dignified judges, saintly ministers,
working men—all have helped. It’s i
also the season of a helping hand. |
Still They Call !
Yet up in the office of J. B. Smith
welfare worker, the telephone jingles
“Daddy has been sick two weeks now
We haven't any fire and he's cough- j
ing more. Mother has to stay here j
and can't go out to work. We hate !
to ask, but we're hungry.”
Get that—HUNGRY? Imagine
yourself Christmas day, stuffed to
the point of indigestion, surrounded
by happy friends and relatives,
blessed with good fortune, while in
your town there are hungry chil
dren gathered about the bedside of
a coughing father in a cold, bleak
room, swept by the chilling Decem
ber wind while a mother watches
about the bedside by night and
works by day. What does $he think
of during the long, silent night hours
of the vigil? Does she dream of a
Sahta clambering down the chimney
with a pack filled with groceries end
medicine, and, maybe, a top or so
for the tots. Always heretofore they
have had a little something to te- j
mind them of Christmas. But this
year—can you imagine the agony
tearing at her hear, a mother heart
—as she realizes that they will not
even be warm Christmas day and
the pangs of hunger will tear at
their frail little bodies unless—-tin- ;
less you and many like you step in
and bring true the dreams the hop
ing mother hardly dares to dream.
There are many like her. Each
cne of a committee of six has found
enough poverty and tragedy of Life
about the town to easily use for
necessities every cent of the money
contributed. Still it has to be spread
into a few necessities for each fam
ily. There will be no trinkets—just
shoes and coats, flour and coal— i
that is, except for the dollies several
little girls up-town parted with so
that other tots might enjoy them,
Just a week to help them. If you
have a little spare money after buy
ing your presents and wonder to
whom the other present is going, had
not you thought that a present to
these who need it will bring a great
er tingle to your soul than all the
others?
Kick into day—any time this week
Don''t wait until .Christmas has
passed and a dozen little children
liave sobbed themselves to sleep be
lieving that there is no Santa. Don't!
The list of cash contributions be
low docs not include in the total
something over $100 worth of mer
chandise donated by the merchants [
and business men of Shelby.
S( V $ ¥ <* 1?
41 SANTA'S STOCKING *
• **«**»**».**
Previously acknowledged ..-.$327.90
Mill man ..1 $10.00
W. A. Pendleton ... ... .....$10.00
McKnight & Co. ....$10.00
Unsigned ... ... __....$1.00
Rotarian __ $3.00
A helper ... ... ... __ 25
Mary Archer Circle . __$2.00
J. C. Holtzclaw ... ....._$1.00
Ward Arey, jr._... ..._$2.50
Miss Lula Agnes Arey __$2.50
A friend_....! ......_$2.00
Charles Abernethy__$1.00
Chas. L. Keel, II........$1.00
Jas. A. Wilson ..._ $1.00
Total cash ... ...$377.15 j
Additional merchandise—
Gilmers_____$15.00
Durant Crowder ... .1 bu. potatoes
FALL INTO HOT WATER
FATAL TO SMALL GIRL
Black Mountain.—Burns, sustain
ed when she fell into a tub of
scalding water her mother had been
using to wash clothes, proved fatal
to Lillian Fortner, three-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Troy
Fortner, of this community.
An Essay Winner in Washington
Mins Bethel Pugh, 12-year-old school girl of Pueblo. Colo., re?
cently won a national safety essay contest in which nearly every pu
pil in the country participated. Her reward was a trip to Washing
ton. She is pictured above as she left the Wrhite House after seeing
president Cooiilge, Her'escort Is Senator Waterman of Colorado.
Cupid Still Finds Targets
In Shelby School Teachers
Superintendent Griffin Holding His
Own as Picker of Girls
Other Men Pick
Supt. 1. C. Griffin, of the
Shelby city schools, still rates
with Flo Ziegfied when It comes
to picking pretty giris—girls that
other men also pick.
During the past eight years more
Shelby school teachers have married
perhaps than in any other town of
similar size in the state. Superin
tendent Griffin merely keeps the lo
cal marriage mart moving.
Quizzing an applicant for a teach
er's job here, Superintendent Griffin
usually asks “Not going to get mar
ried on me just about the time we
develop you into a good teacher, are
you?''
And the applicant, of course, ans
wers: “Oh, no, haven't a thought of
marrying on my mind.” The state
ment. understand, is made before
she gets “settled in Shelby" and
meets all the boys and has a date or
two.
All Pick ’Em
“There must be something appeal
ing about the girls I pick for teach
ers here,” Superintendent Gr:ffin
stated on Christmas a year or so
back “For every time I get in a new
faculty the boys in town take a no
tion to marry them.”
Just how many wives there are in
Shelby who came to town as school
teachers for the city superintei.dent
is almost beyond estimation.
What's more the record is appar
ently going to hold its own.
Getting Hitched
Tw:o city teachers were ma-ried
prior to the Christmas holidays;
two more will be married during the
holidays, according to Dame Rumor
and no telling how many by spring,
or the wedding month of June.
The cotton gin of C. J. Hamrick
Sons at Boiling Springs was destroy
ed by fire Sunday night about 9
o’clock. Three bales of cotton in the
gin were also burned, according to
reports here. There was some insur
ance it is said on the gin property.
A truck from the Shelby fire de
partment answered the alarm, but
there was little hope of saving the
gin.
The origin of the fire had not been
determined today, it was said.
Widaw of Prominent and Well-to
Do Farmer Died Friday. Fire
Sons, 3 Daughters Survive
Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock
Mrs. Martha Royster, widow of the
late George S. Royster sr.. died at
' her home near FalLston at the age of
72 years. She was the only child of
Alexander and Catherine Self. Her
father died in early manhood, during
the Civil war. Her mother lived with
her until her death 12 years ago.
On September 15, 1870 she was
married to George S. Royster, who
preceded her to the grave five years
ago. For some time she has been suf
fering from a complication of diseas
! es and had been partially blind for
1 several years. At an early age she
joined the Methodist church South
. and lived a faithful and consistent
member until death. She always at
tended her church services when
she was able.
She possessed a lovely character,
was kind and tender as a wile and
faithful as a Christian, hospitable
and kind as a neighbor and
i friend. Few- women enjoyed the love
I and esteem of so many people who
I had been won to her by her splendid
traits of character and the world
has been made better by her having
| lived.
Surviving are five sons and three
daughters as follows: W. A. Royster,
Mrs. Ida Allen, Miss Minnie. Mrs.
; Ella Sweezy, G. S. Royster jr„ H. C.
1 Royster, C. L Royster and J, C.
i Royster. All useful and prominent
j citizens of this county. Together
with 24 grandchildren and six great
grandchildren. A son Clarence, died
at the age of 11 years, and Alexan
der at the age of 33 years.
The funeral was conducted at New
Bethel church Sunday morning at
11 o’clock by her pastor Rev. J. W.
Fitzgerald assisted by Rev. I. D.
Harrill and Rev. G. P. Abernetby
where the interment took place be
side her beloved husband. The new
made grave was covered with rich
floral offerings, mute, but fragrant
testimonials of the love and esteem
in which she was held. Her grand
sons acted as pallbearers and her
granddaughters as flower girls.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirby Hoover of
Murphy and Mrs. Clarence Crouch
of Morganton are visiting Mrs. E.
H. Higgins at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Charlie Laughridge.
Prisoner Reporting At Prison Has To Get
Reference and Identification To Get In
Raleigh.—Frank R. Brown, 55,
who came here from Salisbury to
begin serving a seven to 10 year term
for embezzlement, may not have
been happy but he had at least
the satisfaction of gaining the lec
ognition and good will of prison of
ficials.
Brown was convicted for embez
zlement of nearly $150,000 belong
ing to stockholders of the Perpetual
Building and Loan association. Sal
isbury.
He received commitment papers
from the Rowan county clerk ol
court and came to state prison here
alone to enter and begin his term.
But Dr. J. H. Norman, Jr., warden,
told him that he was not known and
unless he got someone to identify
him he would not he admitted.'
Brown hunted up ltenC. Boney,
state insurance cominM^jner, and
Mr. Boney, who had helped to build
dp evidence upon which Brown was
convicted, wrote him a letter of
identification.
Brown presented the letter and
was admitted. He was assigned a
cell and put to work in the prison
chair factory.
DUE TO VISITOR
Weathy Brother of Long-Lost Man
Said to Have Been Recognized
On Secret Visit
The long lost Charlie Ross—|
in this case, alias Julios C. Dol
ling, once upon a time of Den
ver. this state, and latterly of
Brunswick, Ga., is again spring
ing into notoriety: this time
from two separate points at
once, namely Shelby and New
York.
Prom the New York World, by
way of the Associated Press, comes
a story that Ross, at odds with his
cousin, Mrs. Pierre S. Starr, who
brought him into the limelight a
year and u half ago, by recognizing
him as her kidnaped relative, Char
les B. Ross, now accuses her of with
holding proof he furnished her at
the time, of his identity.
And from Shelby, right here at
home, comes another angle, a-new
development in the case, and one
that will probably give Mr Dellinger
in his Brunswick home, a real thrill
when he learns of it.
Mysterious Visitor
The Star has learned, on very re
liable authority, that Shelby enter
tained a mysterious and distinguish
ed visitor last week—who was nano
other than Walter Ross—brother of
the lost Charlie. This rich and well
known brother came to this city, it
seems, to learn tfhat he could of
the circumstances surrounding the
appearance here more than a year
ago of the man who made the claim
to be his brother.
It appears the background of the
situation is this: that Mrs. Starr,
Ross's cousin, w'hen she took the
man of mystery to New York with
her, claiming he was the kidnaped
Charlie, more or less antagonised
her relatives by her insistence. She
I took the position, so the facts are
related, that she was going to put
the stranger over, whether or no.
Some said.she was looking to the
mercinary end of the enterprise.
At any rate at that time Walter
: Ross announced he would have
[ none of the relationship, and the
i romance of the finding of the kid
I naped boy virtually fell through
when Walter announced he would
not recognize his alleged North
Carolina kin.
May Be Brother
It seems that since that time, lie
has had a change of heart. At least,
those who have followed the case,
believe that his presence here, seek
ing information about Dellinger (or
Ross) is evidence that he has at
last awakened to the possibility that
after all the wanderer may be the
brother he lost that twilight way
back in the summer of ”74.
Here and Gone -
Walter Ross came here mysterious
ly, and disappeared just as mys
teriously. A man who knows most
of the ins and outs of the case, and
who knows the Ross family, saw
him on the street. Later Ross, so
the Star is informed by the, man in
question, sought this individual out,
invited him to have a seat in Court
Square (the weather being balmy)
and straightway opened up the sub
ject of the possibility of the man
Dellinger, being Charlie Ross.
Said the Star's informant: “I
recognized Walter Ross at once, al
though I did not let him know I
knew him. He did not once reveal
his identity, but he talked with me
a long time, endeavoring to find out
all I knew about the case. And
he knew me, and knew that I could
give him virtually all the facts
available.
“I said to him this: “As surely
as you live, that man (Dellinger),
is the lost Charlie Ross.
“I believe firmly,’’ he went on,
“and believed from the first, that
Dellinger, who now goes entirely by
the name of Charles B. Ross, was
the lost Charlie. I put my whole
soul into the investigation, I as
sisted Mrs. Starr, when she came
here to get at the facts, and Mrs.
Starr unquestionably believed she
had discovered her relative.
"The fact that Walter, Ross has
come to Shelby to find me, has but
one meaning as I interpret it; he
has at last come to believe that Del
linger is his brother, and his mak
ing, under cover, to ascertain all
the facts he can.”
Has Plenty Money
Walter Ross, it Will be recalled, a
short while ago disposed of his seat
on the New York Stock Exchange,
ifor a record price), and it is said
has virtually retired from active
business. Now that he has had leis
ure to review the facts, that were
presented to him over a year ago,
to show that his brother had at last
been found, it is believed he sees
the matter in a different light, and
it would by no means surprise those
interested In the case ultimately to
see him acknowledge Dellinger.
Those who are abreast of the ease,
say that is all that is needed to es
tablish Ross’ or Dellinger's identity,
' (Continued on page four.)
“* 1