Statesville Record and Landmark from Statesville, North Carolina • 1

I I I I a a a a a a a a paper and don't let your subscription expire! label on your VOL. 58. HARRY F. POWERS FACES GALLOWS Bluebeard Is Cool As Jury Returns Verdict Of First Degree Murder. Clarksburg, W.

Dec. F. Powers, Lothario of the West Virginia hills, was, convicted yesterday of murder first degree for the "matrimonial racket" slaying of Mrs. Dorothy Pressler Lemke, Northboro, divorcee. The verdict carries a mandatory sentence of hanging.

It took one hour and 50 minutes for the 12 farmers and small town business men to decide that the man who wooed dozens of women by mail should go to the gallows for the first of the five killings he is accused of perpetrating in the subterranean death chambers of his windowless, sound-proof garage at a place called Quiet Dell. Arguments for a new trial will be heard Saturday. Attorneys Show Concern. The jury deliberated in a dressing room in the basement of the town house, where the trial was held operder to accommodate the hundreds of townspeople who for months had been singing songs, reading books and playing phonograph records about the "Blubeard Slayings at Quiet Dell." Above the jury, in the center of a brilliantly-lighted stage, sat the man whose doom they were sealing in a little brown verdict envelope. If Powers had any but a passing concern in what was being decided downstairs, he hid it.

TWO NEGROES ARE LYNCHED BY MOB West Virginia Blacks, Charged With Killing Two White Men at a Dance, Are Hanged From Cross Arm of Telephone Pole. Lewisburg, W. Dec. brier county, jail here early today negroes were taken from the lynched mob of about 60 men. They were hanged from the cross arm of a telephone pole on the Midland trail and several volleys of shots were fred into their bodies.

The two, Tom Jackson, 25, and George Banks, 27, had been arrested November 22 at Leslie, W. in connection with the killing of Constable Joseph Myles and Jeff Brown, a companion, who had gone a negro dance to order the dances to be more quiet. As they left the dance hall they were shot with a shotgun. The mob came to the jail in autowith mobiles dim about lights 2 and o'clock license this plates morning re- moved. Quietly the men got out of the machines and marched to the jail door.

Jailer Wallace Flint was summoned and as he opened the door he was grasped by the men, and his keys taken from him. negroes were taken from their cell into the town limit where the lynching took place. CHINA AND JAPAN ACCEPT PROPOSAL the Dispute In Manchuria With Reservations. Rv. The Paris, Dec.

-Japanese and Chinese accepted the League of Nations resolution on the dispute in Manchuria. Both acceptances were with reservations. Kendichi Yoshizawa reserved the Japanese right to take, measures against bandits in Manchuria. Dr. Alfred stipulated that China reserved "any and all rights, remedies and judicial positions to which it is entitled under the league covenant and under treaties to which it is a party." "China understands and said Dr.

Sze. "that the commission of inquirv in Manchuria will make its duty to inquire into and report with recommendations on the withdrawal of Japanese forces if such withdrawal has not been completed when the commission arrives on the ground." Both, However, Accept Resolution On 20,903 BALES COTTON GINNED There were 20.903 bales of cotton ginned in Iredell county from the crop of 1931, prior to December 1, 1931, as compared with 18.970 bales ginned to December 1. 1930. according to report compiled by Mr. E.

E. Sherrill, special agent. West. Jefferson, Dee. 11.

Mrs. May Jones was seriously. if not fatally, burned here yesterday morning when. a can of gasoline exploded. Her clothes were saturated with the Au d.

it is said, and before the flames could be extinguished she was badly burned. She was pouring the gasoline into a fire, it was reported, and late today it could not be ascerta'ned whether she made mistake, thinking it was kerosene. Mrs. May Jones Badly Injured When Gasoline Explodes. THE LANDMARK.

STATESVILLE, N. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1931. A. G. KIRKPATRICK PASSES SUDDENLY Business Dies Heart Manager of Mitchell College of Attack Funeral This Afternoon From the Residence Mrs.

W. B. Ramsay. A. G.

Kirkpatrick, business manager of Mitchell College, died of a heart attack Thursday morning 4:30 0 o'clock, at the home of his sister, Mrs. W. B. Ramsay, president of Mitchell College. Mr.

Kirkpatrick had been complaining for a day or two, suffering with heart trouble, but was apparently as well as usual Wednesday night, Thursday morning about 3 clock he became suddenly ill in his room. He got up, dressed and walked down stairs and asked Mrs. Ramsay to call a de tor. He expired while reclining on a couch within 30 minutes after his physician arrived. Angina pectoris was given as the cause of his sudden and unexpected death.

Mr. Kirkpatrick is the third brother to die within the past nine months. The other brothers who passed away recently were Mr. J. W.

Kirkpatrick, of Gainesville, and Mr. M. G. Kirkpatrick, of Charlotte. The funeral, conducted by Dr.

C. E. Raynal, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will be held this afternoon at one o'clock from the residence of Mrs. W. B.

Ramsay, on West Broad street. The Mitchell College Choral will render special music for the service. Interment will in the Ebenezer cemetery, near Charlotte, at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The work at Mitchell College was suspended all day today through respect for the late business manager. Mr.

Kirkpatrick was born in Mecklenburg county, 10 miles south of Charlotte, July 31, 1881, a son of the late Rev. A. G. Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Lizzie Gary Kirkpatrick.

He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory. He attended the medical school in the University of Virginia, but gave up his medical studies on account of failing health. He was later a traveling salesman for 16 years. For the past three years he had served in the capacity of business manager at Mitchell College. Mr.

Kirkpatrick was a member of the First Presbyterian church here, and held membershin in the Masonic lodge in Hickory, which he had formerly served in an official capacity. Mr. Kirkpatrick is survived by his mother, Mrs. L. G.

Kirkpatrick, who resides in Statesville with her daughter, Mrs. W. B. Ramsay. leaves also three sisters and a brother- Mrs.

W. B. Lindsay, of Charlotte; Mrs. W. B.

Ramsay, of Statesville; Mrs. Hugh Williams, of Hickory; and Mr. George Kirkpatrick, of Marion. He was never married. Mr.

T. D. Barkley Dies in Illinois Deceased Was a Native of This Sec- tion but Moved to Illinois With His Parents in 1868 or 1869. Mrs. D.

F. Jenkins received a telThursdav advising of the death of her first cousin, Mr. Thomas Davidson Barkley, which oecurred at 7 o'clock Thursday morning at Mr. Barkley's home in Hillsboro, Illinois. Mr.

Barkley was a native of this section but moved to Illinois with his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barkley, in 1868, or '69, and had since lived there. He has a number of relatives living in Statesville and the county, and had made several visits back to Nortn Carolina. His visit was four years ago, when he and h's wife and daughters visited reatives here and attended the Barkey reunion.

Mr. Barkley was nearing his 85th birthday. He would have been 85 years old the 23d of next January. ile is survived by his widow, who was formerly Miss Julia Freeland, and by 2 number of sons and daughters, who I've in Illinois, in Missouri and other states in that section. Mrs.

Barkley is also a native of Iredell, and she, too, moved to Illinois with her parents in her girlhood and married Mr. in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Barkley celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary the twenty-second of the past November.

The funeral service for Mr. Barkley will be in Hillsboro, and intern.ent will be there. Farm Body Ignores Plea Made by Hyde debenture. Bureau Federation Reaffirms Demand For Equalization Fee In Control of Surplus. Chicago, Dec.

a deaf ear to Secretary of Agriculture Hyde, the American Farm Bureau federation closed its annual meeting yesterday by reaffirming its decade old demand for the equalization fee principle The crop delegates were unanimous of surplus control. for the fee and for the accompanying demand that the agricultural marketing act had been amended in this session of Congress to include its use. Last night Secretary Hyde urged the farm organizations to abandon the principles of the fee and export The final act of the, 13th annual meeting was the unanimous re-election of Edward A. O'Neal, of Ala- vama, as president. The federation's maior statement.

for beliefs was four-fold, including besides the fee and amendment; rural credits, monetary and commodity stabilization and tax reforms. The date on the label is the date your paper will be stopped! No. 55 Icy Storm Does Much Damage to Wire Services Light Department Has Temporarily Repaired the Damage but Telephone People Are Still Hard at Work. The sleet which visited Statesville l'uesday afternoon and evening, covering trees, grass and house tops with an ice coat of extraordinary chickness and weight part.ally parayzed the local electric light and telephone systems. Mr.

J. D. Cochran, superintendent of the light system, reported Thursday that his complete Lorce of six men began working early Wednesday morning and they worked hard until after 9:30 o'clock Wednesday night, when practically all lights out of commission were temporarily repaired, except some street lights. The trouble was caused by broken trees and limbs falling on the wires and breaking them, Mr. Cochran stated.

The telephone lines in this locality were completely, demoralized, ac, cording to Mr. C. C. Rogers, local manager of the Southern Bell Telephone Company. Mr.

Rogers explained that Asheville, Marion, Lenoir, Blowing Rock, Wilkesboro and other western towns were cut off and the branches at l'aylorsville, Stony Point and man were put out of commission. l'oday the local manager's help in repairing the damage was being mented by a group of workmen from Charlotte and a man from headquarters in Salisbury. "We are hoping to have the telephone service normal by this afternoon," Mr. Rogers stated Thursday, as his men were concentrating efforts to repair the damages to the various lines in this locality. Woman Killed By Freight Train at High Point High Point, Dec.

L. J. Brown, of Thomasville, was fatally injured and three others were badly hurt when the Chevrolet automobile in which they were riding was struck by a Southern freight tra.n No. 53 at the West Point avenue crossing here at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs.

Brown died in the High Point hospital a few minutes before 4 o'clock with concussion of the brain. She also had a fractured jaw and displaced shoulder blade. Those still in the High Point hospital are: Mrs. Bertha Rollings, of Highland! Cotton mill, who has numerous lacerations and bruises. Her condition is still regarded as serious.

Miss Eva Sabastian, of Thomasville, broken right leg and lacerations about the scalp and face. Miss Blanche Hastings, who lives at 123 1 Briggs avenue, this city, three fractured ribs and a fractured pelvis bone. The locomotive struck the back ond of the automobile, which was adly demolished. Negro Confesses Gruesome Murder Negro Preacher In Caldwell County Admits the Premeditated Murder of His Mother-In-Law. Lenoir, Dec.

Horton, year-old negro preacher, was placed in the Caldwell county jail at 11:50 o'clock Sunday morning on a charge of shooting and killing Betty Floyd, his mother-in-law, about 8 o'clock Saturday night. Shortly after Horton was jailed he agreed to see newspaper men. He told the whole story in language that only a colored preacher could use. In a deep, resonant voice, sometimes rising and falling in oratory, he kept the little audience of reporters and officers entranced as he related the details of one of the most gruesome murders in the history of the county, with himself as the murderer. On September 26, 1906, he married Nancy Ellen Floyd, he began, his voice at first trembling and then gain'ng strength as he proceeded.

He "pastored" for five vears, in Randolph county, in Stokes. in Forsyth and in Boone, and later in the Laytown section. They had six children, four of whom are now living. From the very beginning, he said, his mother-in-law caused trouble between him and his "She tore up my family," he droned. and his voice rose; "she took my baby and wouldn't let me see him, she made my wife leave me, she caused my boys to turn against me and cut me, she took my children's money and wouldn't let me have any after I have worked 25 vears to raise themkept my baby." The baby is a 12- vear-old bov.

He repeatedly asked the officers if he might see his baby. So last Saturday night right after dark he got a 12-gauge single barrell shot gun and a Fulton Army rifle and went to the home of his mother-inlaw in Freedman. There he hid near the waited back door and said he must have about 25 minutes. Presently his mother-in-law came out of the house carrying a pot of water. "Then did you kill her one of the renorters.

'asked him, breaking the solemnity of his story. Horton's eyes swelled with tears and his chin trembled. "Yes, Sir," he replied. R. M.

Gray Car Into Drives, Killing One Man Robert Hargis Has One Wreck and a Little Later Is Killed In a Second One at Same Place Said To Have Been Drinking. Raleigh News and Observer, 9th. Robert Hargis, young Harnett county farmer living near Angier, was almost instantly killed last night shortly after 9 o'clock when struck by a car while standing behind his wrecked truck on highway No. at Asbury, a few miles west of Raleigh. Hargis, on his way to Durham a load of tobacco, had collided with the rear end of a bus, badly damaging his truck.

The bus was not badly damaged and continued on after an investigation. According to information obtained by Coroner L. M. Waring, Hargis was standing in the road behind his truck when a car driven R. M.

Gray, student at the University of North Carolina, struck him, crushing him against the rear of the truck. He died within a few minutes. Coroner Waring said the truck had no light on the rear. There a lantern, there, he said, but it was not burning. A light rain was falling and this interfered with visibility.

Hearing for the case was set for Thursday afternoon at 8 o'clock. Coroner Waring said there was a strong odor of whiskey about the truck and that Hargis apparently had been drinking. Hargis was around 25 years of age. Mr. R.

M. Gray, of Statesville, student in the law school at the Uni- versity, was the R. M. Gray who was driving the car. Mr.

Gray telephoned his mother Wednesday afternoon. The details were as given in the account in Mr. the Gray Raleigh told paper, his father, said. in a long he nesday night, that immediately after distance telephone conversation Wedthe wreck the coroner and officers from Raleigh were brought to the scene for an investigation and that after investigation they considered the wreck unavoidable and exonerated him, not requiring a bond for his appearance at the hearing Thursday afternoon. Julia Ramseur, Aged Negress, To Get $9,610.60 A judgment has been filed in the office of the clerk of federal court here, by which Julia Ramseur, an aged colored woman, of Statesville, is to receive from the government the sum of $9,610.60.

In the action entitled "Joseph M. Prevette, administrator, and Julia vs. the United States Government," verdict the by judgment Judge E. was Y. a Webb, diof Shelby, following a hearing in d'strict court here some time ago.

This action was brought by Moss and Winberry, local attorneys, on a policy of war risk insurance obtained from the government by Nat Ramseur, colored, deceased ex-service man, a son of Julia Ramseur, who was made the beneficiary. Nat Ramseur died in 1923. The judgment which gives Julia Ramseur $9,610.60, provides that payment of $,636.52 shall be made immediately and the remainder shall be paid in 102 monthly instalments of $55.26 each. Chas. W.

Lowrance Dies in Knoxville Veteran, Railway Engineer Was in Catawba but Spent His Early Life in Statesville. Mr. Oscar R. Mills received a wire Thursday morning advising him that nis uncle, Mr. Charles W.

Lowrance, veteran railway engineer, had died Thursday morning at 4 o'clock at his home in Knoxville, Tenn. Mr. Lowrance, who had served as engineer on the Southern Railway for many years, was reared in Statesville. He was born in Catawba county, but his parents removed to Statesville when he was a boy and spent his early life at what is known as the Lowrance stead, in the eastern part of Statesville. He was around 70 years of age, it understood.

He had been in the employ of the Southern Railway for 40 years and had resided in Knoxville for about 30 years. Mr. Lowrance is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ella Lowrance, They had no children. He leaves also four brothers and two sisters-Mrs.

G. C. Mills, of Statesville; Messrs. W. H.

Lowrance and S. E. Lowrance, of Mr. Arthur Lowrance, and Mrs. Chester, S.

Dr. R. L. Lowrance, Judson Cloer, all of Texas. is expected that the remains will arrive in Statesville about 6:30 o'clock this evening.

The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 1 o'clock from the residence of Mr. Oscar R. Mills, on Davie avenue. Interment will follow in the family plot in Oakwood cemetery. WEATHER Increasing cloudiness and sl'ghtly warmer in interior followed by rain in extreme west portion today.

Saturday rain. BATTLE OF BELMONT FOLLOWS DANCE Five Colored Men Rounded Up In Connection With Free-For -All Staged at M. J. Rickert's Dance Hall. F.ve colored men were arrested Monday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff's Gaither, Gilbert and Moore on the charge of being principals in a "battle royal" which took place Saturday night in the community of Belmont, east colored.

The "battle of Belmont," in which knives, rocks, chairs and "pop" bottles weapons used freely and indiscriminately, is said to have en place at M. J. Rickert's, dance hall, as a fitting climax and grand finale of a dance, which unceremoniously came to a close when hostilities were declared about 11 o'clock, p. m. Details of the encounter were not available, but when the fighting ceased and the smoke of battle cleared up it was found that some of the participants had slight cuts on their bodies and their clothing somewhat mutilated.

Onl ya small juantity of blood had been spilled on the scene lof the conflict. It appeared that the combatants faded away and mysteriously disappeared, like the mists before the morning sun, immediatey after the noise of battle ceased. But the officers kept watch and one by ore the fighters were rounded up. Those alleged to have participated in the hostil ties of the week end just passed were Theodore Hoos er, Charlie Hoosier, Walter Rousseau, Allen Jones and Frank Hunter, Jr. The officers reported that during the fighting, Charlie Hoosier's overcoat was cut to pieces and he received a cut on his head, caused a broken Walter Rousseau received several gashes on his head and elsewhere on his body.

The five were released under bonds in the sum of $100 each for their appearance before Squire George R. Anderson next Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Young Negroes From Charlotte Detained Here John Watson and James Alexander Forced To Prolong Their Stay Here, When Booze-Laden Car Develops Tire Trouble. Two young negroes from Charlotte -John Watson and James Alexander, 18 to 20 years of age- are unwilling guests of the city of Statesville on account of having trouble with their southbound booze-laden car Tuesday afternoon. According to information given out Wednesday by Chief Tom Kerr, trouble for the boys of color started when their Ford touring car needed an extra tire or two and the resourceful youths thought save this expense by appropriating their own use a casing belonging to another car parked here in town.

One of the boys was in the act of removing a spare casing for his disabled car when apprehended. The other negro was later arrested. Later, it was revealed that the boys, when car trouble came upon them, removed their cargo of booze to a secluded spot in some woods in the vicinity of the colored settlement of Newtonville, in north Statesville. The officers found four 5-gallon cans concealed police, there. Wednesday the officers made another search through the icebound forest, but found nothing further in the way of additional "wet goods." The officers reported that a quart of booze had been spilled in the illfated flivver in which the "Queen City" youths were traveling south with their cargo of pre-holiday stimulants in liquid form.

Thursday afternoon the two young negroes were given a preliminary hearing in Mayor's court. John Watson, on the charge of driving car while intoxicated and using a false l'eense tag on his car, was hound to Recorder's court under a $300 bond; on the charge of possessing and transporting liquor, both Watson and Alexander were bound to Recorder's court under bonds in the sum of $300 each. Funeral Is Held for Mr. H. L.

Bost The funeral service for Mr. H. L. Bost was held at 11 o'clock Friday morning from Bethlehem Methodist church, conducted by Rev. P.

R. Rayle, Rev. S. L. Cathey, and Rev.

Clyde Yates. Interment was in Bethlehem The pallbearers were Messrs. D. Baity. S.

O. Brown. Cecil Brown. Holt Sherrill, James Cascaddon, and Macon Bollinger. The flowers were in charge of Mrs.

Clude Brown. assiated by Misses Lorene Sherrill. Helen Rollinger. Florence Caseaddon; Mrs. Robert Sherrill and Mrs.

Ernest Douglas. 147 Books Loaned From Library Saturday. the Saturday--this being the largest number ever loaned in anv one day. The previous Saturday 123. 'books were loaned.

which was a record breaker up to -that time. A number of the borrowers on each of these! days were people from the county. Cow Birth to 3 Heifer Calves Mr. J. R.

Little, of Loray, Feels "Hoped Up" Over Rapid Increase in His Herd. Mr. J. R. Little, of was in town Wednesday, told of Loray, who one: of his cows--a four-year-old cow, half Jersey birth and half Guernsey--which gave this week to three fine calves.

The calves are ali well heifer developed and are doing well, Mr. Little reported. Mr. ttle stated that he had talked with several other citizens of Iredell and they had never heard of a cow giving birth to triplets. Occaswhen this are twin calves, but genionally there crally, the other occurs one is a male a female.

But Mr. Little's cow this week made a record in producing three heifers, all well high developed, in the thus scoring unusually matter of fruitfulness The owner stated that he is lanning to have pictures made of this rare producer and her offspring. MR. F. STIKELEATHER DIES IN ASHEVILLE Former Iredell Man Had Been Ill for Several Weeks Funeral and Interment Held In Asheville.

Mr. Fergus Stikeleather, 59 years of age, died at his home in Asheville Sunday. The funeral was held Monday afternoon at 3.30 o'clock from Central Methodist church and interment was in verside cemctery, Asheville. Mr. Stikeleather had been ill for several weeks, suffering with complications.

Mr. Stikeleather was born and reared in Turnersburg township, Iredell county. He went to Asheville 35 or 40 years ago. He was engaged in the insurance and real estate business. For 25 years he was connected with the Asheville postoffice.

Mr. Stikeleather was a steward in the Central Methodist church of Asheville and was prominent in Masonic cireles. He was buried by the Masons with full honors of that order Mr. St keleather leaves his widow and four daughters. His father.

Mr. T. M. Stikelether. of Statesville, and three brothers and two sisters also survive Mr.

T. L. Stikeleather, of Statesville: Mrs. C. E.

Entemann. New Jersey; Mrs. James 'Tomlinson, of Harmony; Mr. S. M.

Stikeleather, of Kingwood, Mr. W. S. Stikeleather, of Redland, California. Mr.

and Mrs. T. M. Stikeleather, Mr. and Mrs.

T. L. St' keleather and son, Glenn Stikeleather, Mrs. Z. K.

Turner and daughter, Miss Douschka Turner, all of Statesville; and Mr. and Mrs. James Tomlinson and daughter, Mrs. Moore, of Harmony, were among those from here who tended the funeral in Asheville. License Plates On Sale Dec.

15 Plans and policies covering the issuance of 1932 state automobile license plates were outlined Wednesday at a meeting of Carolina Motor Club branch managers, headquarters and state officials, according to Mr. E. B. Quinn, manager of the Statesville motor club office, who attended the regional meeting at Salisbury. License plates will be available at the local Motor club office next Tuesdav, December 15.

In view of the fact that next year's license fees will be based on weight rather than horsepower, Manager Quinn states that special efforts have been made by motor club and state officials to take every precaution that will add to servicing vehicle owners. Vehicle owners are urged to co-operate by buying plates early and to encourage this the department has ruled that 1932 tags be placed in use any time after December 15. T. L. Lackey Hurt In Auto Collision Mr.

T. L. Lackey suffered a slight injury in an automobile collision, which occurred about 5 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of South Mulberry and Sharpe streets. Mr. Lackey's injury, a slight scalp wound, was treated at the Rhyne-Little clinic, but he did not remain in the hospital.

Details of the collision were not learned, but it is understood that Mr. Lackey was the only one hurt. Postpone Meeting of Audubon Club The December meeting of the Audubon Club. due to be held Friday of this week, has been postponed until next week. The meeting of the club will be held one night next week: Mr.

Maurice Stimson will give a bird lecture that will be illustrated with slides, prepared by Mr. J. D. Carter. The meeting is to be at the Community House and will be open the public.

The exact time will be announced later. Rev. Turner Brown To Preach At Mountain View. Rev. Turner Brown will fill his anpointment at Mountain View M.

E. church next Sunday at 11 o'clock. The public is cordially invited. THIS SECTION GETS TOUCH OF WINTER Mixture of Sleet and Rain Freezes On All Vegetation Making the Landscape a Picture of the Polar Regions Motorists Have Hard Time Getting Around. The inhabitants of the "Sunny where sunshine and balmy weather actually did prevail during the greater part of the present fallfound themselves in the icy grip of hoary winter Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night.

A mixture of snow, ice and rain began falling about 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. This frigid mixture kept falling throughout the night, with the mercury below the freezing point -the coldest weather of the present season- -and next morning every blade of grass, every branch and every tree was encased in ice; and housetops were sheeted in an unusually thick coat of ice. Shade trees, shrubbery, fruit trees and many trees of the forest were broken and mutilated by the heavy weight. During the night many people heard limbs breaking under load. Early motorists Wednesday found street traffe impeded by broken limbs and branches bent aown close to the streets.

Many telephone electric light wires were broken and service was temporarily stopped. Traffic during the night was very dangerous. The sleet froze on windshields as it fell and this made it impossible for drivers to see clearly ahead. Buses passing through Statesville during the night were all far off schedule on account of their windshield wipers being out of commission or almost useless. But next morning, the temperature rose a few degrees and the rain did not freeze as it fell, thus enabling bus and auto traffic to run on normal schedule.

Reports coming in Wednesday indicated that many fruit and shade trees, especially the trees with leaves on them, were completely wrecked. Mr. Earl Sherrill, of near Eufola, who is star route mail carrier, reported that the old No. 10 highway was blocked by fallen telephone pole: and wires Wednesday. He had to remove, to several cut the poles wires from in one the place road to complete his journey to town.

All rural mail carriers went out Wednesday from the Statesville Postoffice on schedule, but they went armed with axes to remove any obstructions that might have fallen in the road during the night. A check-up Wednesday afternoon revealed that the precipitation from Tuesday about 5 o'clock p. m. until one o'clock Wednesday was 1.31 inches, according to the official weather records kept by Mr. J.

W. Hendricks at the Piedmont Station. This precipitation started as sleet and continued throughout the night, changing next morning to rain. The mercury dropped to 28 degrees Tuesday night, this being the coldest weather so far recorded by Mr. Hendricks this fall.

Fire Horn Sounds When Out of Order The horn in the tower of the fire station blew several single blasts Wednesday. What caused this? 'Twas the heavy coating of ice on the wires leading from the boxes to the fire station, only a mechanical device to tell the firemen that a certain circuit has been put out of commission. Members of the fire department had to go out to locate trouble of this kind three tmes before 10:20 o'clock Wednesday morning. C. L.

Gilbert explained that everytime a wire breaks or a box rets out of commission the fire horn blows one time. At fire headquarters it is recorded which circuit has been knocked out and the firemen get busy to repair the trouble in short order. "This is a safety device to keep all circuits in order," Chief Gilbert expained. Hurst Turner Post Plans To Have A Rabbit Barbecue During meeting of Hurst Turner Post, the Legion, which was held at 7:30 0'- American, clock at the hut on East Broad street, with Commander Frank R. Anderson presiding, it was voted to have a rabbit barbecue on the night of January 12.

Mr. John Gillespie was named chairman of the committee to arrange for the rabbits. It was also voted to dispense with to be held Tuesday mentions, December the next regular scheduled 22, on account of close proximity to the Christmas holiday season. Cautioned To Guard Against Fire Hazards In Holiday Decorations. Mr.

J. D. Cochran, superintendent of the local electric light system, speaking today of holiday decorations, reminded that those decorating windows should exercise caution that they do not place any fire hazards in windows. A little care and thought: in this regard may avoid fires, the superintendent cautioned. Recovering from Operation.

Brevard Price, who underwent an operation for append citis at Davis hosp'tal a few days ago, is convaleseing satisfactorily, friends will be glad to learn..