VOL. XXXVII, No. 1
SHELBY, N. C.
FRIDAY, JAN.
——-_
*
10 PAGES
TODAY
2, 1931 Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday Atternoons.
LA TE NEW:
THE MARKET
Cotton, per lb.__ 814 to S'ic
Cotton Seed, per bn. ..30c
Fair And Warmer.
Today’s North Carolina Weather
Report: Fair and warmer tonight
and Saturday.
Sikes Speaks Here.
Dr. E. W. Sikes, of ('lentson col
lege, one of the South's best known
educators and orators, was the
chief speaker at the weekly lunch
eon of the Shelby Rotary club to
day.
8 Marines Killed.
Washington, Jan. 1.—A new out
break of the Intermittent warfare
between United States Marines In
Nicaragua and so-called “bandits”
or Irregulars among the natives has
taken the lives of eight more Ma
rines. The navy department late to
day received word from the com
manding officer of the Second Ma
rine brigade of the latest battle,
which occurred yesterday at or near
Achapaga. In addition to the eight
slain, two others were reported ser
iously wounded. All were enlisted
men.
Miss 1931 Born
Near Lawndale
Margaret Villa Toney First New
Year Baby Reported To
The Star.
■Unless an earlier birth Is report
ed, Lawndale appears to be the
home of the first New Year’s baby
in Cleveland county for the second
consecutive year.
This county's Miss 1931, as report
ed to date, is Margaret Villa Toney,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Blain
Toney, of the Lawndale section.
Little Miss Toney came Into this
wrrld Just 30 minutes after the
new year or at 12:30 Thursday
morning. Her mother before mar
riage was Miss Villa Ivcster.
Not cnly does the Lawndale sec
tion claim tjje first baby of the
year for the second time, but Dr. H.
R. Sherrill was the physician for
Mbs 1930 as well as for Miss 1931.
Another earlv 1931 birth was that
of little Miss Geneva Frances Peel
er, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grady
Pee’er, who live near the Shelby
hospital. She was born at 4:20
Thursday morn. Mrs. Peeler prior
to marriage was Miss Novella
Grant.
This year The Star and 11 Shel
by business firms are offering gifts
to the first baby of the year. Un
less earlier births are reported Miss'
Toney will be ihe recipient of the
gifts offered.
Welcome Of New
Year Quiet Here
Cold Cuts Crowd of Merrymakers
In Festivities About Court
Square.
The year 1931 did not make its
debut in Shelby as nosily as have
several years in the past, yet as the
old year bowed out and the new
year was ushered in there was
quite a bit of activity in the court
square section. Enough, at least, to
maintain an old Shelby custom of
welcoming in a new year.
At midnight bells rang, horns
tooted, and firecrackers boomed
while a caravan of automobiles
dashed madly around the square,
but the vivacity and recklessness of
former years were missing. A block
down South LaFayette street from
the court square a big bonfire burn
ed for a time, but police officials
had no difficulty in restraining the
merrymakers, mo:t of them of the
younger set. The cold weather that
swooped down early New Year’s
Eve perhaps had much to da with
keeping the customary crowd away,
while, presumably, precautions is
sued from the city hall urging that
merrymakers be careful about fire
and damage to property restrained
the enthusiasm to a certain extent.
Charity Calls On
An Increase Aga'n
For several days following Christ
mas, when a large quantity of
clothes, fuel and food was distri
buted among the needy of this
section, charity appeals at the wel
fare office here were not so num
erous. In the last day or so, however,
the line of applicants has been
growing, and members of the char
ity committee are hearing and in
ve:tigating as many appeals for
aid as they were the week prior to
the holidays.
Crimson Tidi* Wins.
The University of Alabama's
Crimcon Tide won its interseetional j
football conflict with Washington j
State yesterday in the Rose Bowi,
Pasadena, Calif., by the score of 24
to 0. It was Coach Wallace Wade’s
last game before he goes to Duke j
university. Alabama has played
three times in the Rose Bowl, win-.
(lint twice and Lleing once.
:
| Growth Revealed By
Census, Upheaval In
Politics 1930 Events
I
f m___
! Busin Depression, Many Suicides, Athletic
Triumphs, Other Features Of Last Year.
Many Leading Citizens Claimed By Death
! In City, County.
The year 1930 was a “newsy” year in Shelby and Cleve
land county but was marked by no major events of import
ance. Features of the year’s news as revealed by The Star
were the census report showing a record growth in Shelby
and the county, the business depression and subsequent sui
cides, a general political upheaval, deaths of numerous prom
inent citizens, and several athletic triumphs.
The outstanding nows event of
the year was the government cen
sus report showing Shelby to be
the taste; t growing city in the state
since 1920 and the county to be the
fifth fastest growing county of the
100 in North Carolina.
Unprecedented Democratic vic
tories here, throughout the state and
nation composed another major
news feature.
Suicide A Month.
] Ranking a close third was the
ummor drought, the general busi
' ness depression, and a suicide toll
jin the county of one per month, or
an even dozen for the year.
Leaders Pass.
j More outstanding city and coun
ty leaders died during the year than
jin any single year in a long time,
j Heading the list was Judge James
|L. Webb, the county’s most beloved
I citizen and dean of North Carolina
[jurists.
Spcrt activities occupied an out
standing role during 1930 with the
3helby highs winning their fourth
forth Carolina baseball title, and
foiling Springs college winning the
junior college football championship
of the state. Fred (Snook) Webb
brought fame to the town by his re
markable golfing feats in which he
.,cn three championships and went
to the semi-finals of the Southern
championship play at Greensboro to
be referred to as another Bobby
Jones.
In the closing month of the year
the cotton ginned in the county had
passed the 60,000-bale mark and
was nearing the 1929 record.
The county fair, the largest in
North Carolina, drew over 100,000
people.
Sixty thousand people greeted
President Herbert Hoover at the
Kings Mountain battleground cele
bration, it being the first visit of a
president to the county.
News of 193*.
Outstanding events of the year as
condensed from The Star files fol
low:
January.
Jan. 1.-Shelby postoffice with re
ceipts of $40,200 for 1929 holds Its
first-class ranging.
Jan. 3—J. W. Bailey announces
for United States senate Shelby
banks pay out $21,750 in dividends.
Wilson Warlick announces for su
perior court judge. Martha Rich
ards is first 1930 baby in county.
Jan. 7.—C!eve Cline, son of Frank
Cline and outstanding high school
athlete, killed In hunting accident.
A1 Bennett heads Lions club.
Jan. 13.—R. L. Ryburn elected
president of county bar association
at annual banquet. Tom Wright, 74,
Mooresboro, dies of injuries receiv
ed when struck by auto.
Jan. 20—Cleveland Springs prop
erty sold to endorsers for $55,000.
Jan. 24—Quality Services Stores,
co-operative organization of home
merchants, opens' in section. Coun
ty's champion cotton farmers ban
quoted at Hotel Charles.
Jan. 26.—Capt. Ed Dickson, 96,
Confederate veteran of Fallston and
county’s oldest citizen, dies.
Jan. 29—Suburban mail stations
opened at Eastside and Cleveland
cloth mill. Heaviest snowfall, seven
inches, in three years.
February
Feb. 4—Five Rutherford county
banks close. Mai Spangler and Joe
Nash re-open Paragon as furniture
store.
Feb. 7—W. F. Blanton, Bolling
Springs sections, hangs self.
Feb. 10—Plato Durham, national
ly known educator and native of
Cleveland county, dies at Atlanta.
A. V. Wray heads organization of
Independent merchants.
Feb. 14.—Cleveland Bank and
Trust company consolidated with
Union Trust company.
Feb. 17.—Union Trust company
opens branches at Forest City and
Rutherford ton.
Feb. 22—Latttmore high win coun
ty basketball title in tournament
here.
Feb. 26.—Rev. Rush Padgett re
signs as pastor of Second Baptist
curch.
Feb. 27—Judge and Mrs. James
L. Webb celebrate their 52nd wed
< CONTINUED ON PAG* TEN.)
No Accidents Here
In 1931 Celebration
Holiday Festlvttlea Not Marred By
Single Mishap. Mrs. Moore
Home.
The holiday festivities, centering
about the welcoming of the new
year, were not marred by a single
serious accident, it was reported at
the Shelby hospital today. The hos
pital report stated that no accident
patient had been admitted in several
days.
Mrs. Herschel Moore, injured in
an auto accident the Monday be
fore Christmas, was able to leave
the hospital for her home Wednes
day. Mrs. Moore's skull was frac
tured when the car in which she
and her husband were riding skid
ded on highway 20, near the river
bridge west of Shelby, and plunged
over a 50-foot embankment.
Mr. Yates To Open
Office In Texas
Mr. and Mrs. Jack T. Tales leave
Saturday lor Dallas, Texas where
Mr. Tates will open a branch office
for the Chickasaw Thread Co, of
Shelby. The Dallas office will serve
the trade in that territory with
garment makers thread made in
Cleveland county. Mr. Tates is an
official of the Chickasaw Thread
Co. and has been traveling the
southeastern territory for a num
ber of years. He and Mrs. Tates
have been making their home With
Mr. and Mrs. Lee B. Weathers and
have many friends here who regret
to see them leave.
The Dallas branch will maintain
a stock of thread and Mr. Tates
will travel the southwestern terri
tory, while his Southeastern terri
tory has will be covered by Mr.
LaGrone of Shelby.
Meeting Of Legion
On Tuesday Night
A meeting of the Warren Hoyle
American Legion post will be held
at the court house here Tuesday
night at 7:30 o'clock. Vice Comman
der Dale R. Tates will preside, and
all members are urged to attend as
it will be an important gathering.
Water Off His House Huns Into
Two Different Rivers—40n Line
Here's one of those freak
stories the skeptical persons are
inclined not to believe:
Edison Mull lives up in the
Three County Corners section.
He can stand in one room of his
house and be in Cleveland coun
ty. then he can walk to another
room and be in Burke county.
He is a resident of both coun
ties because the county line runs
tli rough the middle of his home.
But that isn’t all of the freak.
The house is built on a hill. The
iM
water that ru)u off one side of
the roof wends its way into a
nearby creek and then into the
Catawba river., which does not
I
County Judges
Changed
| It's His Honor Judge Maurice
! Weathers now. The new judge of the
‘county's recorder's court came In
i with the New Yeaj, succeeding
| Judge Horace Kennedy, who when
he took office waa the youngest
; Jurist in the state. Judge Weathers
above, Judge Kennedy below.
(Star Photos)
Shelby Office
Holds Rating
Several Hundred Dollars
Over Required $40,000
Postal Receipts.
The Shelby post office will be
* first class post office in 1931
as it was In 1939 and 1930, Post
master J. H. Quinn announced
today.
A definite check of the 1930 pos
tal receipts, on which the rating of
a post office is based, has not been
made, but Postmaster Quinn stated
that he was sure that the required
1 quota of $40,000 had been reached
and passed.
"In fact, the receipts for the year
total several hundred dollars more
th«yi the $40,000,” he said,
Last year a special effort was
made In December to boost the re
ceipts to retain the standing, but
this year the quota was reached
without any cpecial effort.
Stead; Increase.
An increase was shown for 10 of
the twelve months of 1930 over cor
responding months of 1920.
No Trace Found
Of Death Driver
Officers Holding Car Here And
Hope To Get Driver
Eventually.
The driver of the hit-and-run au
tomobile which fatally injured
Carme Dixon, Fallston farmer, a
week ago this evening, is still in
parts unknown.
Local officers know his Identity
but prefer to keep it quiet until
A y can locate him. The license
tags of the automobile, abandoned
after it struck Dixon, were used to
check up on the owner. The morn
ing after the hit-and-run tragedy
the owner of the car reported to
police in a neighboring county that
his car had been stolen. Shortly
later local officers Informed the
same police that they would like to
have the man. Since then lie has
not been seen.
Two men at first alleged to have j
been occupants of the death car
were freed after being given a pro- j
limlnary hearing.
Recorder Sworn
fn; Newton Will
Take Oath Sth.
Solicitor Still At
Home 111
Jad{* Maurice We* them Holds
First Court On Jan. I. Beam
Introduce* Him.
Recorder Maurice Weather*
held hi* first court a« judge of
the (levels nd county court on
New Tear’s day after being
sworn In by Clerk of Court A.
M. Hamrick.
Judge Weather* until the last
eleclon had served as recorder pro
tem under Judge Horace. Kennedy.
Youngest Judge.
Judge Kennedy who held his final
session of court was when elected
the youngest jurist In North Caro
lina, and while presiding over the
county court here he established a
i favorable record as a Jurist.
The new recorder tried eight cas
es on his first day.
Solicitor Monday.
According to law the recorder
takes office on the first day of the
year but the solicitor of county
court does not go Into office until
the first Monday of the new year.
Monday Clerk of Court Hamrick
plans to go to the home of Solicitor
elect J. C. Newton to swear him In.
Mr. Newton has been seriously 111
for several weeks and Is not as yet
able to be out.
It Is presumed that a solicitor
pro tem will be named to aerve tor
him until he Is able to take up his
duties as county prosecutor.
Rival Boosts Him,
An Interesting angle of the swear
ing In of "the new judge yesterday
was that Judge Weathers was In
troduced to the court by Attorney
W. Speight Beam whom Weathers
defeated for the nomination in the
democratic primary.
McSwain Tells Of
Legislative Plans
Would Combine Two Tam Jobe With
Office of Andltor. Has
Other Plana.
In the following communication
to The Star, Senator Peyton Mc
Swain discusses legislative plans he
has In view when he goes to Ra
leigh next week:
"For the past few weeks we have
been hearing a lot about reorgan
ization, consolidation, and elimina
tion of unnecessary public offices,
In an effort to reduce governmen
tal expense. All of which Is a very
fine Idea, and something ws should
have begun to study years ago.
“I expect to propose In the gen
eral asrembly some changes In our
county government: which changes
will not effect the present efficient
service of our public officials, but
will mean a substantial saving to
the taxpayers of the county.
“In 1927 the legislature passed an
act requiring each county In the
I state to have an accountant. Mr.
Cline bolds that position here at a
salary of $3000 per year. By statute
we also have a tax auditor In this
county whose duty It la to make out
the tax books and deliver them to
the sheriff for collection. Mr. W. R.
Newton holds this position at a sal
ary of *1700.00 per year. In 1929 the
legislature passed an act requiring
each county In the state to appoint
a county supervisor of taxation,
whose duties are to supervise the
listing of taxes each year, and Is
provided a salary of $8 per day and
expenses. Mr. R. L. Weathers now
holds that position. This county
upervlsor of taxation Is not Just a
temporary office for the quadren
nial assessment or revaluation of
property, but we are required to
have him to supervise the listing of
property each year.
“I suggest and recommend that
each of the above named offices be
consolidated Into one elective office
to be known as “county auditor.” t
see no reason why one perron could
not perform all the duties now per
formed by all of the above named
three officers. And I feel that we
can get a good man to do this
work at a salary of $3000 or the
same amount now being paid the
accountant
“It the above suggestion meets
with the approval of the citizenship
of the county, I will Introduce a bill
In the legislature to that effect. And
will appoint Mr. A. E. Cline as coun
ty auditor to hold said office until
the next general election, provided
he Is willing to resign from the
board of commissioners to accept
the appointment
“It is not my Intention to try to
force something on the people of
the county that they do not want.
Therefore I hope that every citizen
of the county will feel perfectly free
to express his or her opinion of this
«coirrciPBD pa pact* xbm |
Aims at Endurance Records
Edna May Cooper (right), for
mer motion picture actress and
holder of a private pilot's li
cense, will join Miss Bobbie
Trout (left), transport pilot, in
• an attempt to break both the
women’s and men's endurance
flight records starting New
Year's Day at the Municipal Air
port, Los Angeles.
Rafe King’s Second Trial Not
Likely To Be Reached Before
Early Spring, Probably March
Unusual Thief
Found In House
One to the visit of an un
usual thief in their home
New Year’s night and an old
superstition. Mr. and Mrs. J.
B. Williams. 917 S. Lafayette
street, may have rabbit for
dlnnrr every day during 1931.
Last night about 8; 30 Mrs.
Williams walked from her Us
ing room Into the kltahen.
There she was astounded to
find a thief—a big gray rab
bit seeking something to
munch. How the rabbit, which
was not a pet, got there is
not known. Perhaps the hard
times drove the hare there,
and perchance he knew that
sooner or later he would go '
into a pot In some kitchen
and decided to have it over
•4th. . -
Mr. Page Of Belmont
Mill Die* of Cancer
Mr. 8tewart Page of the Belmontj
Mill village, died at 7 o'clock this j
morning following a long Illness
with cancer. He was 70 years of age i
and la survived by six children and
fifteen grandchildren, one brother
and one sister. Puneral services will
be conducted by Rev. Henry Sisk
at 10 o'clock Saturday morning at
the Missionary Methodist church
and Interment will be In the Mor- j
lah church cemetery in upper Cleve-1
land.
Finance Company
Pay* $1600 Dividend*
__ I
The Manufacturers and Jobbers
Finance corporation which operates
through offices In Shelby and at
Tryon, Polk county, has recently
paid its quarterly dividends on its
common and preferred stocks,
totalling 11,600 to the shareholders.
The preferred pays eight percent
while the common pays ten per
cent, payments being made quarter
ly, according to Mr. Blanton who
was in Shelby yesterday from Polk
county. i
Will Ash For Change Of Venue
Monday or Tuesday. One Week'*
Court There,
Rafe Kina, Shelby man held
in the South Carolina prison
on the charge of slaying his
wife at Sharon, 8. C., may not
get the new trial granted him by
supreme court until early spring,
lire South Carolina . supreme
court in granting a new trial aft
er the Shelby man had been con
victed at Chester, the case being
moved there from York, set the
trial for January 5. Monday of next
week, at Chester.
King's attorney has already fil
ed a motion with Judge Bonham,
who will preside at the Chester
court, for a change of venue. This
motion may be reached at the court
session there Monday but It Is pos
sible that It may not come up un
til Tuesday.
Should the change of venue to
another county be granted the ease
naturally will not be tried until a
court term comes along in that
county. Should the motion for a
change of venue be denied It Is
hardly likely that the trial will be
held at this term of court In Ches
ter.
This likelihood Is based upon the
fact that next week’s term there is
for the duration of only one week.
The King case would take a major
portion If not a full week and It Is
likely that the other cases on the
docket would be given preference.
Kiwanis Installs
President Webb
Paul Webb, sr. Was Installed as
president of the Klwanls club last
night at the weekly luncheon. For
rest Eskridge Is the new vice presi
dent. All other officers were assign
ed their duties for the new year and
the past president's button was pre
sented to Wni. Lineberger who serv
ed faithfully during the past year.
A collection was taken for char
ity at the suggestion of R. T. Le
tt rand and *13.30 was realized. This
will be used In the purchased of
shop worn wearing apparel from lo
cal stores to be stocked in the cloth
ing depot of the welfare department
under the beauty parlor.
State Legislators Prepare For
Opening Session Next Week;
Gardner Prepares His Message
Economy. Urged By Governor. Is
Big Issue Of Approaching
Assembly.
Raleigh, Jan. 2.—The holidays are
over and like the students return
ing to school, North Carolina law
makers will begin to assemble here
next week for the 1931 session oi
the general assembly. It convenes
Wednesday, January 7.
Legislative rumblings in the state’s
100 counties are distinctly heard.
Here at Raleigh state officials with
their reports out, are patiently
awaiting the opening.
Governor Max Gardner, openly
recommending governmental reform
on a grand scale, is carefully at
work on the message he will be sum
moned to deliver.
The tax department, with its
comprehensive report fresh from
the printers, is perhaps holding a
large part of the pre-legislature dis
cussion.
The Brookings institute report
must not be 6,’lghted. The sweeping
changes in the state’s government
it recommends have state officials
breathless, and Incidentally speech
less, and copies of the 343 page vol
ume are In the hands of the law
makers for their perusal and con
sideration.
Economy Dig Issue.
Economy and governmental re
form through consolidation of over
lapping departments and institu
tions stand out as the big issues be
fore the assembly. Under economy
is classified all efforts at tax
changes which are certain to be
sought. It is the idea of declining
taxes being stretched to meet in
creasing expenditures by finding:
"better ways of taxation" and "Jess
ways to spend money."
Oovernor Gardner has said he
approves of the short ballot as ap
plied to statutory offices and by
way of consolidation he believes a
greater University of North Caro
lina, formed with the present Chapel
Hill institution, North Carolina Col
lege for Women, at Greensboro, and
North Carolina State college as
anits. a practical Idea,
Superior Court
Opens Monday
For Week Grind
Many Jail Cases To
Be Tried First
tiereral Major Caaea Carried Ore#
From Uit Term May Not Be
Reached Doling Week.
j Superior court will convene
here Monday to be (In work on
the largest criminal docket in
the history of the county and
the court session is scheduled
| tor only one week.
I Judge J. H. Clement will pres Ida
and Solicitor Spurgeon Spurltng
will prosecute. Judge Clement and
I the newly elected Jurist Judge Wile
son Warlick made an effort to ex
change courts so that Judge War
lick might preside over his first
term here, but for some reason th#
exchange was not carried through,
| members of the local bar said her#
today.
Jail Is Filled.
A number of important cases, inw
i eluding three or four killing cases,
j continued from the last term were
to have been taken up at this ses
sion, but it now seems doubtful If
all of them will be reached. It 1*
the usual policy, In order to save
the county expense to try Jail cases
first, and the Jail Is now filled with
prisoners awaiting trial. Sheriff
Irvin Allen says that of the 35 pri
soners In Jail 38 are awaiting a
hearing In the big court. Eighteen
of the 28 face breaking and enter
ing charges which Include store,
i house and smokehouse robberies. It
is likely that Solicitor Spurting will
decide to clear up the Jail cases
first, and If such Is done there will
be little time left to take up other
cases during the one week.
Deputy Death Case.
One of the big cases carried over
which attracted considerable public
Interest was that of Hugh Brittain,
young Oasar man, charged with
killing Deputy Sheriff Sanford
Pruett. The officer was fatally ta
i Jured, It Is alleged, after he stopped
the Brittain car and the driver
; backed the car over him.
Four or five other murder eases
are among the more than 200 cases
on the criminal docket. Several of
these, If taken up at this term, are
expected to draw large crowds to
the court room. *
There Is consldeiable speculation
jas to whether the embezzlement
j charges against J. J. Lattlmore, of
i Shelby, and Y. L. McCardwell, of
jMooresboro, will be reached during
the week. Attorneys have expressed
| the opinion that after disposing of
; the other urgent cases one of the**
'two trials may be held1, .
----
Bandit's Mother
Claims His Body
He malm of Desperado, Slain Bg
Follce, To Be Taken To
West Virginia.
Salisbury, Jan. 2—Otto Wood’d
mother will bury his body.
At Coaldale, W. Va., Mrs. Ellen
Wood, living with her daughter,
yesterday made plans to have her
prodigal'son, shot dead here yea
terday In gun duel with two police
men, returned to Coaldale for bur
ial.
Meanwhile the body of state’s pri
son’s will-o’-the-wisp desperado, wh«
escaped its walls four times In seven
years, lay in a Salisbury mortuary.
One side of his head was torn by
gun fire. Chief of Police R. L. Ran
kins gun did that Another bullet
bad broken his leg. Either Chief
Rankin or Policeman J. W. Kestlar
fired that shot.
The officers came on Wood Wed
nesday, heard him admit his iden
tity, braved his drawn pistol, ami
Chief Rankin, rising from the pro
tection of the automobile in which
Wood was riding, drilled the outlaw
through the head.
An account ox the gun battle 111
which the state's noted criminal wast
killed will be found on an Iraida
page of today’s Star.
Mrs. T. W. Pearson
Of West Shelby Dies
Mrs, T. W. Pearson died Just a*
the New Year was coming in yes
terday morning at the home of he*
son Summie Pear-on in West Shel-* ’
by where she was visiting.
Pearson was 60 years and elghj
months old and had been prac
ly bedfast for seven or eight
with rheumatism. Her noble bu
band and a number of children
survive. Funeral was conducted
the Missionary Methodist chu
Thursday by Rev, Kerry Sisk.
lot and interment vu at Palm 1
church neat Lawndale.