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square to one and all, this news
paper is dedicated to progress of
Alleghany County
THE ALLEGHANY TIMES
$1.50 A Year
Strictly In Advance
Volume 8
SPARTA, ALLEGHANY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY. MARCH 9, 1933
Number 43
Sheriff McKnight Killed While In
Act of Probing Threats Against
Grayson County Family; Was Shot
Work On Plans
Washington, March 7.—Be
tween bites of luncheon hastily
served on the President’s desk,
Franklin I). Roosevelt and his
new director of the budget—
Lewis Douglas—today neared an
, agreement on a sweeping pro
gram to reorganize the govern
ment.
Refuses to Participate
Moscow, March 7.—The soviet,
government tonight refused to
participate & the league of na
tions consultative commission in
the Sino-Japanese conflict because
of what was termed the “hostil
ity” of the majority of the partic
ipants toward the Soviet union.
Abolish Commission
Raleigh, March 7.—Final ac
tion on the reorganization's com
mitteee’s bill to abolisli the cor
poration commission was taken
in the house this afternoon, and
this rate court, before which have
been fought furious utility bat
tles will be no more after Jan
uary 1, 1934.
Pork Advances
Chicago, March 7.—Spectacu
lar advances in wholesale fresh
pork prices, in some cases more
than 100 per cent, today added a
problem to the average citizen’s
search for ready cash while
banks were closed or restricted.
Battle Starts
Tokio, March 7.—A Rengo
(Japanese) news agency dispatch
said today a battle for' possession
of Koupeikow, a pass in the great
wall of China between Jehol pro
vince and Peiping, started early
today.
Charges Filed
Denver, March 7.—-Federal
charges of kidnaping were filed
against six suspects in the Char
les Boettcher, II, kidnaping in
the United States district court
here late today.
Mattie Jane Finley
Is Claimed By Death
Mattie Jane Finley, colored, died
at the Elkin hospital last Saturday
morning following several days' ill
ness from diphtheria. She had been
in Reclining health for some time
but was thought to have been im
proving when she suddenly became
worse.
She was the daughter of the late
Ben Finley and was highly respected
by both white and colored.
The funeral was conducted froth
White Plains church Sunday and
interment made at the church ceme
tery.
Stratford News
W. L. Irwin gave a social at his
home last Saturday evening which
was enjoyed, by a number of his
friends both young and old.
W. Carl Irwin, in company with
some of his friends made a business
trip to Raleigh last week.
Grove Enopier is snfering from
minor injuries sustained in an auto
crash here last Saturday evening.
A good many citizens from here
attended the Taxpayers meeting in
Sparta last Monday.
Homer Smith spent the week-end
with his family here.
Welter Joines and his bride of
four months, of Pennsylvania, are
spending some time with his parents
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Joines.
Mr. and Mrs. John Joines and
Mr. and Mrs. 'Frank Joines, sons and
daugbters^in-law of Mr. and Mrs.
Rowan Joines, are remaining here as
welcome visitors. They have been
making their home in California.
Mi*, and Mrs. George Edwards, of
Akron, Ohio, are spending some time
with Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Edwards.
> - <
SLAYER is held
Posey Sexton Removed
To Pulaski Jail For
Safe Keeping
WAS THREATENED
While attempting to quetion
Posey Sexton about threats which
he, Sexton, is alleged to have made
against members of Tom Isom’s
family, C. C. McKnight, 57, sheriff
| of Grayson county, was shot to
death Sunday night by Sexton.
The shooting occurred about 8
p. m., at the Isom home, located on
the Independence-Galax highway,
about seven miles east of Indepen
dence. Sexton, it is claimed, fired
a pistol at McKnight without warn
ing. The bullet struck the shelTff
in the chest killing him instantly.
■Sexton was taken to Independence
immediately following the -shooting,
but when a large crowd gathered
about the jail, offering threats of
violence, the prisoner was quickly
removed to the Pulaskia county jail,
the trip being made by auto under
a heavy guard. Sexton lives near
Independence.
Sheriff McKnight was called to
the Isom home by a small daughter
of Tom Isom. She had phoned the
sheriff and told him that Posey Sex
ton was at her home, making trou
ble. She requested him to come at
once. The sheriff, accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff W. C. Ward and John
It. Wright, Justice of the Peace,
drove to the Isom home as .quickly
as possible.
According to Deputy Ward. he
and Sheriff McKnight left Wright
in the automobile parked along the
highway and then entered the Isom
home. They found Sexton in the
kitchen. Mrs. Isom was praying
while Posey and Tom Isom were
standing side by side. The sheriff
placed his hand on Sexton’s should
er, Deputy Ward states, and told
Posey to go out on the porch. At
that instant, Sexton fired the pistol,
he said.
When the first shot was urea,
Ward immediately seized the gun,
and as he held it, it was fired again,
the bullet lodging in the wall of the
kitchen. While Ward was attempt
ing to wrest the gun from Sexton’s
hand, the sheriff fell against the
struggling pair, and then slumped
to the floor, dead. Wright, who
heard the shots, went to the house
and aided Ward in getting the gun
from Sexton and handcuffing him.
Deputy Ward told county offi
cials that all the Isoms fled from the
kitchen when the pistol was first
discharged. He also stated that
while wrestling with the killer, Sex
ton threatened to kill him if he got
loose. Ward said that the only
thing which saved his life was his
ability to place one of his fingers
in the guard behind the trigger of
the pistol.
According to records at Indepen
dence, Sexton was generally known
to be a dangerous man and had been
mixed up with liquor violators for
many years. He is about 38 years
old and unmarried.
Sheriff McKnight was one of the
most popular men in Grayson coun
ty. Prior to being elected sheriff,
approximately 14 months ago, he
served as Federal prohibition officer
in this district for eight years. He
made his home at Independence.
Surviving McKnight is his widow,
the former Miss Minnie Collins, two
daughters, Virginia and Pauline; 6
brothers and three sisters: J. A.
McKnight, Fries; G. D., Indepen
dence; Kelly Montrose, Colo.; C. H.,
Independence; Posey, Fries; S. M.,
Independence; Mrs. Xyster Dfelp,
Galax; Mrs. Jones Wingate and Mrs.
Letcher Jennings, Independence.
Sheriff McKnight was well-known
Ui-Alleghatiy county and had a wide
circle of friends here.
Funeral services were held at the
Independence Methodist church
Tuesday in the presence of a very
large crowd and interment was
made in the Pleasant Grove ceme
tery.
TAKES OWN IilFE
George F. Wilson, 52, for a quar
ter of a century owner of the Ford
Motor agency in High Point, and a
pioneer in the field of automobile
selling there, ended his life shortly
after six o’clock Monday night when
he ^walked to a barn at the rear of
his Ihome and shot himself through
the head.
1
►
Widow of Walsh
Mrs. Thomas J. Walsh, who as a
bride of only a few days became a
widow when her husband, the new
attorney general in the Roosevelt
cabinet, died unexpectedly on a train
at Wilson, N. ('„ while enroute to
Washington to take part in the in
augural ceremonies. ‘
GRANGE TO GIVE
PLAY SATURDAY
Will Be Held At Piney'
Creek School House ^
At 7:30 o’Clock
The Piney Creek Orange will give
the play, “Efficient Aunt Em”, at
the Piney Creek school building on
Saturday night. March 18, at 7:30
o’clock. Women come and bring
your husbands and take them away
feeling good because they have
found out what a woman’s work is
like. Maybe Aunt Em, the one who
fixes everything can help you.
There will be a short program with
real comedy. There will be a family
of colored people here which will
hold you spell-bound with their mus
ic, dancing and jokes. The “Red
Fox Chasers” are going to make
music and they are plenty good. So
come and enjoy a real night of en
tertainment.
Admission 25 cents and 15 cents.
FLOOD TAKES TOLL
Damage of more than 81,000,000
and the deaths of at least 20 people
resulted from a flood that swept
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Sunday.
Many persons are missing and it is
believed they were washed out to
sea by the flood of the Yaq,uez river,
swollen by. 18 inches of rain, most of
which fell in 12 hours.
SCRIPT ISSUE READY
The New York clearing house as
sociation Sunday night announced
that it had perfected the machinery
for circulation ot script, or clearing
house certificates, which will enable
residents of the metropolis to pay
their bills without the use of cash.
EXPRESSES COSfTTDKXCE
Great Brjtian, still nursing the
wounds of her own national finan
cial crisis, Monday watched with uni
versal expressions of sympathy and
confidence the launching of a swift
and decisive program by the United
States government for dealing with
the American banking problem.
PERMIT BANKS TO
OPEN TO PROVIDE
FOR NECESSITIES
'i
Must Follow Closely Re
strictions Outlined
By Government
HOLD ON TO GOLD!
Raleigh, March 7.—Rules and j
regulations by which North Carolina i
banks may engage in modified husi-1
ness during the banking holiday |
were announced late tonight by Gov.
J. C. B. Ehringhaus and Commis-!
sinner of Banks Ournev P. Hood.
Banks which were not operating j
under restrictions when the holiday ;
went into effect after close of busi- i
ness Saturday may open tomorrow
under rules and regulations pre
scribed by the United States secre
tary of the treasury.
These permit the exercise of1
“usual hanking functions to provide'
for absolutely necessary needs of
communities, for food, medicine, re
lief of distress, pay rolls and expen-j
ditures to maintain employment,
provided no gold or gold coin certi-1
ficates shall be paid out.”
Banks which had imposed restric- j
tions on withdrawals of deposits, in
accordance with emergency banking
legislation enacted last Friday, were
authorized to perform these func
tions in so far as they are “not in
conflict with terms of the order of
the commissioner of banks authoriz
ing the operations under restric
tions.”
At the same time Governor Ehring- j
haus announced the three-day holi- J
day proclamation probably will be;
extended upon its expiration tomor- j
row. Under another emergency:
bank law enacted last night, he may!
extend it for any time he sees fit 1
with approval of the council of state.
Banks in North Carolina probably
will continue to operate under the
modified holiday until the federal
government moves to clear up the t'i-,
nancial situation. Tile governor said
lie would closely follow the special
session of Congress convening
1 hursday.
in a statement tonight, uiiring
haus urged North Carolinians to
.have confidence.
"There is neither, need nor occa
sion for hysteria.” he said. "Our
banking structure is, in my opinion,
essentially sound and conditions in
North Carolina better than in most
states.
“The situation challenges our pa
tience, our courage, our forbearance
and our patriotism. - I am confident
that our reserves of high qualities—
qualities which have always dis
tinguished our citizenship—are suf
ficient to meet the demands of the
present hour.”
In explaining the call of the North
Carolina bank holiday. Governor
Ehringhaus said "it became neces
sary for us to act in order to prevent ,
our state lrom being bled dry as'
would have resulted if our banks
alone in the nation remained
open.”
HITHER SHOW’S STRENGTH
Adolf Hitler's national socialist
party showed a vast increase in
strength in Sunday's reichstag elec
tion, and on the basis of tabulation
of 8 5 per cent, of the vote, appar
ently was succeeding in obtaining
majority control of the national leg
islature in alliance with the nation
alist party.
CRISIS HARTS DIVORCE
There was a holiday on divorces,
too. Several women, at Reno to
have their marital bonds broken,
were unable to pay filing fees at
the county, clerk's office because
their money was in the First Na
tional bank, closed by presidential
proclamation.
As a result of the cigar makers',
strike in Havana, Cuba, most of the
manufacturers have moved their fac- \
tories to interior points.
--- V
Important Mass Meeting
Taxpayers To Be Held
There will be a mass meeting- of the tax payers of Alle
ghany county at Sparta, in the office of the Register of
Deeds on Saturday, March 11th, at 2 o’clock p. m.
The purpose of this meeting is to formulate resolutions
and recommendations dealing with problems of taxation,
which are to be transmitted to our Representatives at Wash
ington apd Raleigh. All persons interested in these problems
are invited to be present at that time.
s_r
Local Bank Accepting
New Deposits; Cashing
Government Checks
Budget Director
Representative L. \V. Douglas of
Arizona is the new director of the
Budget i« the Roosevelt administra
tion. .Aannouncement of his appoint
ment was received with favor in
Washington.
FARM NEWS
By AV. B. COLLINS, County
Agent
There are three general rules
which the farmers of the county
should follow in order to make .sheep
growing more,profitable.
1. Docking and castrating. Every
lamb that will be sold after June 1
should be docked and castrated. This
operation is very simple and any
farmer, should be able to dock and
castrate his lambs. In the 19 32 sea
son the untrtmmed lambs sold for
M tc» lc less per pound than the
trimmed lambs. This meant a loss
of an average of 50c per head tc
the farmer who did not dock and
castrate his lambs. In a flock ol
thirty lambs, this is a loss of $15.00
which could have been saved with
half hours work by two men.
2. Feeding, Good feeding for
sheep is far more important than
a great many farmers realize. One
sheep grower in the county who
gives his sheep the best of feed and
care, in 1932 made a wool, clip ot
7 pounds per head, raised 150 per
cent lamb crop, and made his sheep
pay him better than $7.00 per head
for each ewe he kept. Some farm
ers made their sheep pay as low a
13.00 per head for each ewe the\
kept.
In my opinion soybean hay is th
cheapest and the best feed for oui
sheep. If you make sufficient soy
bean hay for your sheep you can
dispense wMth the grain ration en
tirely. Five acres of soybeans should
make sufficient feed to winter 30
head of sheep. It will cost approxi
mately $10.00 for seed and $6.00
for fertilizer to grow the five acres
oi soyDeans, or a total outlay oi
about 53 cents a head for winter
the sheep. This is cheaper than
feeding meadow hay and grain and
it will give far better results.
After the feeding season is over
lambs should be put on gooa pas
ture. Do not let your lambs get
stunted. Keep them growing. A
poor lambs always brings poor
price on the market.
3. Co-operative Selling. This
year we have three good men on the
selling committees in each township
to sell the lambs and wool.
Common sense teaches us that
three committeemen can sell two or
three hundred lambs at one time
better than one farmer can sell a
few lambs, and the same principle
holds true with the wool.
In 1932 the pooled lambs brougb'
the price of lambs up from l*4e t'%
l-2c per pound every time that
pooled lambs were sold. We have
always sold our pooled wool at 2 %
to 5 cents per pound more than wool
was bringing on the local market at
the time we sold.
By docking and castrating out
lambs, better feeding of our sheep,
and through co-operative selling of
lambs and wool, w-e can realize bet
ter than $1.00 per head extra pro
fit on our sheep. This one dollar
extra profit per head would mean a
saving of $6,000.00 per year to the
sheep growers of the county.
COTTON MKKT1NG
The thirty-seventh annual con
vention of the American Cotton
Manufacturers’ association will be
held at Pinehurst April 27, 28 and
29.,
f
PAYING NO GOLD
Business Men Declare
There Is No Need
For Alarm
MONEY IS CHANGED
At a meeting of the mei'chants
ami business men of Sparta with the
cashier of the Bank of Sparta. Ed
win Duncan, Monday night, it was
agreed that the bank open for a cer
tain amount of business Wednesday
at noon.
The bank will, not be allowed to
take any gold certificates from the
vaults until further instructions,
but they are authorized to pay off
all governnie*t checks, take any de
* posits and issue change ,to merchants ,.
and business men,
This system of banking will be
entirely differfefit from the regular
form of banking in that, all monies
taken on deposits now will be sepa
rate from the monies already' deposi
ted before the holidays began.
Sortie depositors have, already ex
pressed alarm at the present condi
tion of things, but according to the
best of our business men, there is
no need for alarm, since the change
is merely made to help the banks in
any possible run and to save any
further hoarding of monies that is
necessary to be in circulation.
When the holidays are over the
depositors will be allowed to with
draw only a certain per cent of their
deposits if tile bank officials deter
mine it, best for the safety of the
bank.
This step is deemed only a safe
guard to the banks and to the de
positors and there is absolutely no
need for alarm.
HOLD MASS MEETING
PROTEST NEW TAX
Alleghany Citizens Pass
Resolution And Send
To Doughton
At a general meeting of citizens
from every section of Alleghany
county, on March 6, at Sparta, the
following resolutions were unani
mously passed:
Whereas, the income from farms,
from business, and from industry
have practically dried up, and:
Whereas, the farmers and mer
chants and the factory owners, and
the people generally are in such con
dition financially tliat they cannot
assume any additional burden of tax
ation, and:
Whereas, the best interest of the
people of North Carolina generally
and of the State Institutions can best
be served by balancing the budget
by curtailment of expenses, instead
of resorting to new forms of taxa
tion :
Now. THEREFORE, be it resolved
that the legislature of North Caro
lina te requested to halanct the
budget by curtailment of expenses
in every.activity of the Government,
rather than by, resorting to new or
additional taxation in any forms;
that the 15c ad valorem on land be
removed if possible; that a copy of
these resolutions be forwarded to
our representative, Hon. R. A.
Doughton, and our Senator, Hon. P.
T. McNeil, and a copy published in
the Alleghany Times.
D. L. DUNCAN. Chairman
M. A. HIGGINS, Secretary.
Methodist Church News
Don’t forget the Christian Educa
tion Institute at Sparta church Fri
day night March 10th.
There will be an all-day service
at Shiloah church next Saturday.
Mr. Kale, head of our Christian Edu
cation work will be present for the
institute to be held in connection
with the quarterly conference.
Regular services will be held at
Shiloh church next Sunday at 11' a.
m. and at Piney Creek at 2:30 p. m.
WOULD LIMIT WITHDRAWALS ,<
The senate Monday night received
passed and sent to the house a bill
to require 30 days notice before
funds may be withdrawn from build
ing and loan'associations.