davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
cORKRAN INVESTIGATION NEXT TUESDAY
With DR.. Baker He Must Answer Charges Re.
fore Committee Of WilminntOn Conference.

On Tuesday next the formal inyesti.
CATION of the charges of stock buvine
against tue Rev. Wilbur F. Corkran.
D. D., and the Rev. Charles S. Baker
d. D., will be made by Committee of
ministers appointed by Presiding
Elder A. S. Mowbray. If the charges
which have been preferred by the COM
mittee of the Methodist preachers of
the Wilmington district are sustained
the offenders will be removed from
their churches and obliged to move
out of the parsonages so that their
successors, appointed by the presiding
elder may occupy them: Later in the
day DIR. Corkran and DIR. Baker called
upon DIR. Mowbray. He presented to
them the charges that had been pre-
sented and advised with them as to the
appointment of the committee and ar
rangements for the date for the Inyes-
tlgatlon which will take place in Union
Church on next Tuesday morning at 10
o'clock. The committee appointed bv
Dr. MOwbray is composed of the Rev
U. w. Prettyman. New Castle. the
Rev II. G. Budd, Centreville, Nd.
the Rev. II. A. G. Westerfield. North
East. Md; the Rev. J. M. Mitchell
Zion, Md; the Rev. Alfred T. Smith
Dover; the Rev. J. L. Richardson.
Denton, Nd; and the Rev. w. O.
Bennett, Sudlersville Md. The conn.
sci for the church will be the Rev
William Writ King, of Grace Church.
and the Rev. A. W. Lightbourne. of
Epworth Church. The counsel for the
accused men has not been definitely
settled, but it is probable that one of
them will be the Rev. J. d. @. Hanna.
OF West Chester. DIR. Mowbray, will
act as Judge. The whole matter will
be gone over and conducted on lines
similar to civil trial.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
CHILDRENS DAY AT JERMAN CHAPEL
Large Crowd Attends the Annual Celebration
Sunday Evening at Which the Children
Take Distinct Part In the Program.

Little Jerman Chapel, the live de-
nomination of Smyrna Circuit, located
at Spruance City, was crowded to it's
doors Sunday evening to witness the
Children's Day exercises. In fact, it
Is said that as many were standing
outside at the door as were in the
church. Flowers, and other spring
flowers predominated in the tasty
decorations and from the time Super
lntendent Archer called the meeting
to order until the close, there was
close interest payed to the little chill
dren who took part. The singing was
under the direction of Mrs. Joseph
BrlntOn, and the organ was presided
over by Mr.. Alfred johnson. During
the exercises Rev. Albert Chandler
made some interesting remarks in
keeping with the day. The program
was as follows: Opening chorus,
"With Garlands of Beauty" school;
prayer by pastor; Introductory ad-
dress, Edith Smith; "Children's Day."
Eva FAIRIES; song, 1.-The Happy Chill
dren's Day" exercise, "Sun Beams, E"
BeuIah Bailey. Georgia Palmer, Mar
garet HurlOck, Alice Skaggs; recita-
tlon, 'The Bower" Lille Palmer;
recitation, Summer Time" Mana
Shelton, Edith Tucker; song, "Our
Hearts To-day" school; recitation,
"What a Little Boy Drinks" Paul
Smith; exercise, "See the Flowers
Brightly Beaming," Annie Robinson,
Willie Palmer, Willie Foraker, Carol
BrintOn; recitation, "Your Words, "
Beulah Ransom; song, "Children's
Jubilee" school; recitation, Lola
Jones; exercise, "What Flowers to
Bring Bertha and Ethel Archer;
Blanche and Helen Robinson; song,
Misses Clara Green and Beulah Ran
som; recitation, Goods Lillias," Bes-
sic FAIRIES; song, "We Will Make
joyful Noise, school; recitation, ''It
was so Little" Mable Robinson; ex-
ercise, ''The Rose Garland" Beulah
Ransom, Lille Palmer, Bessie FAIRIES.
Eva FAIRIES, Dora Robinson, Hannah
Robinson; Steana Smith, Gertie For
aker, Theresa McClary, Elsie Shelton,
Emma Newman; address by pastor;
collection; song, "What a Joyous
Time," school.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
THANK OFFERING AT THE PARSONAGE
Annual Affair Monday Evening Was Delight.
ful Success and Number Were Present.

The annual Thank Offering meeting
of the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society of the Asbury M. E. Church
was held at the Parsonage Monday
evening. The program was as fol-
lows: Hymn in Church Hymnal, with
Miss Ara Hynson as pianist; prayer,
Mrs. Mary Hynson; Scripture Lesson.
read by the president of the society.
Miss Mary Thompson, who presided ::
reading, "The Thank Offering" Mrs.
William Stevens; reading, Giving
Like Little Child" Miss Annie W.
Sutton; hymn; reading, "Her Tithes, Z"
Mrs. Robert Watt; reading poem, In
asmuch," Miss Anna Bell Beckett:
hymn; reading, "My Becky's Thank
Offering" Mrs. Joseph Smithers;
hymn; address by DIR. Watt on "Why
Christian Women Should be Interested
In the Women of Heather Lands;"
hymn; benediction by DIR. Watt.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
OLD LApHAN MANSION BURNED DOWN
Building Which For Years Vas the -Lagsam
Homestead" Near CLAYTON. DESTROYED.

Friday morning between one and
two O'Clock the old Lapham Mansion
now used as a tenament house o-T5-
farm of Mr.. E. ". Laphan near CIa~-
ton was burned to the ground inciid-
ing much of the contents at a loss of
about SSO0O The old brick structure
was for years the home Of Mr. ana
Mrs. Isaac Lapham, parents Of Mr.. Z
W. Lapham. and continued 20 be TIA
family homestead until the present
large and cOmmOdiOus residence was
built. The fire was discovered bv Mr..
Luther Laphsm bat too late 10 be of
any avail. By the time helping hands
arrived on the scene the building was
too far gone and attention was turned
to saving the grainery, drying house
and stables which we're in close
proximity. Had it not been for a driv-
ing rain storm which kept I'D IN
cessanJly all night. it is possible thas
the fire would have swept everything.
The colOred family who were tenants,
lost nearly all Of their household
goods. The origin of the fra Is sup
posed to have been from a defective
hue.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
STRAWBERRIES ARE VERY UNPR R0FITABLe
K. NJ. Cooper of CheswOId Discharged His
Berry Pickers aud PIOwed Patches Up.

Ii. NJ. Cooper, large berry grower,
near Cheswold, discharged his berry
pickers last Tuesday and ploxed his
berry patches up for other crops ow-
ing to low prices. Many other farmers
IN this vicinity are discouraged over
the situation and some will doubles
follow Mr.. COoper's plan. Nor does the
condition prevail in this part of the
state. Down in Milford growers are
also bemOming low prices. The Mil
ford Chronicle says; Never in the
history of fruit growing in Delaware
have the growers had such an abso-
lutely total loss in a strawberry crop. as
has fallen to their lot this year. The
yield has been satisfactory in most
cases, but the prices have been but
little above the cost of picking and the
crate; which leaves the grower out the
cost of phosphate, labor of cultivation
and the hauling, or about thirty cents
for every crate of berries grown. The
weather has been bad ever since the
season opened, but that will not ac-
count for the low prices. The main
trouble appears to be over production,
and many will plow up their acreage
until the business gets back to a nor
NAL condition. For two years past the
growing of strawberries has been with
out profit to the fruit growers.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
CAUGHT ANO DRAGGED BY A HARROW
]harles dladdeus Employed By S. J. Brock
son Narrowly Escaped Instant Death.

BLACKBIRD, June IA Charles Gladdens
who IS In the employ of Mr.. S. J.
brockson, narrowly escaped instant
death on Tuesday last. He was ''har.
rowing and had stopped to clean his
machine, when the horses became
frightened and caught him in the har-
row, and dragged him some distance
where 1t struck a tree and he became
disolodged. He escaped with dislo-
Gated shoulder.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
cHEswOLD GIRL WINS SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE
Miss Clara B. Ssvlu Gets $50 For MeritOriOus
Work at Conference Academy at Dover

WOTk al conference Academy al DOVer
At the close of the conference Academy
commencement exercises at Dover
Thursday the following prizes were
awarded to the Students General
scholarship prize, offered by A. B.
Magee, of Dover, of $50, Miss Clara B.
Savin, Cheswold, Del; special prize
offered by the Alumni Association for
best scholarship, $45, Leslie W. Stout,
Dover. General scholarship prizes
offered by the Wilmington Annual
Conference, as follows: $25, Miss
Elizabeth Cooper, Camden; Miss
Elizabeth Burchinal, Canterbury, Del. !;
Miss Eta Mathews, Chestertown, Nd.
Miss Inez Noble, Preston, Nd. Thigh
man Smith, Oak Grove, Del. Fifteen
dollar prizes: ]. W. Long, Delmar:
Grover @. Parvis, Milford; Miss
Tilghman, Newark, Md; Miss Hester
Poole, Pennington; Miss Ruth Wat
son, Onancock, Va. Ten-dolIar prize
scholarship, Miss Ethel G. Short,
Pennington, Del. The oratoricaI con-
test prizes were won by Miss Nina
Pearl Prettyman, Dover, $40; second
prize, tie between Leslie W. Stout and
w. W. Banks, $3.50 each
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
lNFURIATEO NEGRO KILLS
FARMER WITH PITCHFORK
JAMES LETHREM COMES TO HIS END AT
HANDS OF EDWARD BROWN IN CLAYTON
The Negro Without Any PrOvOcatiOn Strnck
Him Back Of the Head With a PitchfOrk
Smashing 10 His SkuIl-lnquest Held.

Smashing 10 His SkuIl-lnquest Held.
A dastardly murder took place at the
Bingham House stables at Clayton be-
tween seven and eight O'Clock Satur-
day evening when Edward Brown,
colored, without any PROPAGATION
whatever dealt James Lethrem a blow
back of the head, crushing the skull
and causing his death less than an
hour afterwards. The murdered man
was well-known farmer in the vicin-
lty of Delaneys, about seven miles
from Clayton, and resided on the DR..
Clark farm. A widow aud seven little
children survive him. Lethrem had
been spending the day in Clayton and
with some friends had visited the
Bingham House. While there, it ap-
pears that he and William Gorton, an
other white man, got into some alter
cation, when Edward Brown, colored,
stepped up and said "Who are Won
curslng?" thinking he might have
been the victim of the abuse. Gorton, it
is said, replied in sharp language,
but Lethrem said not a word. Brown
threatened to knock GOrton's head
OF and then went into the stable and
emptied the straw which he was carry
ing on his pitchfork. In a few mo-
ments he came out again with his
pitchfOrk and advancing toward Leth-
rem, who was about to move off, dealt
him the fatal blow. DIR. j. S. Cobb
was summoned and worked on the un-
conscious man, but to no avail, He
was dead in less than an hour after
the blow was struck.
Brown Gave Himself Up to Policeman Jones.
Edward Brown fed, and his brother
George, who it was supposed had
struck the fatal blow, was arrested.
The latter was kept in custody until
Sunday morning, when Edward Brown
surrendered himself to Policeman
Jones of Smyrna, confessed the crime
and, after a preliminary hearing be.
fore Magistrate Cummins of SMYRNA.
was committed to the Kent County
Jail. Edward Brown made the follow
ing statement to Constable Jones and
Sheriff Melvin: "Lethrem with four
or five other men came to the stables
at the Bingham House, where 1 was
helping my brother with his work.
The men became abusive, and Leth-
rem advanced toward me with knife
or some other weapon. Thinking he
meant to do me harm, raised the
pitchfork, which 1 had in my hand,
and struck him over the head. I did
not think struck him hard enough
to knock him down, or render him un-
conscious"
An inquest was held Monday on the
body of James Lethrem. Brown was
brought from Dover Jail and testified
before the jury. Rev. Albert Chand-
Ter was forman of the jury, and Ed
ward T. Porter was the secretary.
When called to the witness stand
Brown said he struck Lethrem in self
defence, but several other witnesses
said Lethrem did nothing to offend
him; that it was another man who
used sharp language toward him. The
jury rendered the following verdict:
Resolved, That James Lethrem came
to his death on June 11th, 1904, bv
being struck i'll the head by a pitch
fork in the hands of Edward Brown.
without provocation.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
PRETTY HOME WEDDING NEAR CLAYTON
Miss Fannie Oarrah. Daughter Of Nr. snd Ms
r. II. Darrah Married to Nr. Fisnrv NHIer.

\ quiet but pretty home wedding
took place at the hume Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert H. Darrah near Clayton a. one
o'clock to-day when their daughter
Miss Fannie Christie Darrah as mar
ried to Mr. Henry Miller Of Philadel-
phia. Only the immediate families
were invited. The ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev. G. Valerie Gill
reath rector of St. Peters Church,
Smyrna. A reception followed during
which Caterer George NJ. Stevensoa
served a good repast.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
BRIEF SESSION OF TOWN COUNCIL.
Held Friday Evening With Just a Quorum
Preseut-Request for Phone Service.

Held Friday Evening With Just a Quorum
Preseut-Request for Phone Service.
There was barely quorum at the
meeting of the Smyrna Town Council
last Friday evening when President
Reynolds called the meeting to order,
the absent members being Messrs.
Stockley, Robinson and Hudson.
Little business however was trans
acted. Secretary Harry B. Grieves
reported that he had communicated
with the Diamond State Telephone
Company with reference to charging
the town authorities for phone rent.
He pointed out that the Council
wished a phone at the Town Hall and
one at the Power Station but out of
consideration for the free franchise
which Smyrna had granted them, it
was nothing more than right that they
should be given free service for phones
in its municipal offices. Mr.. Grieves
said he had received a reply from Sec
retary Walker stating that the matter
had been placed in the hands of Man
ager Baker. Town affairs were re-
ported to be in good shape and after a
brief session Council adjourned after
allowing the following bills: Joseph
r. CummIns for killing IL dogs, SS.25,
Garlock Packing Company, S32. 76;
For sundry bills at the direction of the
Board of Health $97. 10; Total S12S'11.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
BLACKBIRD TROUBLED WITH THIEVES.
Attempted to Enter the Home OF James FOrtner
ButWere Quickly Scared Away.

Blackbird and vicinity are again
troubled with thieves. Sunday even :
ing an attempt was made to enter the
home of MIR. James Fortner, at two
O'Clock in the morning. After being
aroused, Mr.. Fortner drove off the un-
desired guests by firing out the win
dow. An attempt was made last week
to remoAe the large iron CRATE from
Mr.. Watson, the local merchants store
window. They were frightened off be-
fore thsy accomplished any thing.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
AppOquinimink Hundred Farmer Dead.

Samuel Townsend. aged 50 years,
died yesterday morning at his resi-
dence near Townsend. Death re-
suited from stomach trouble, with
which he was stricken on Saturday.
Deceased was a son of Samuel Town
send' who was one of the most promi-
.nent men in the county in his time,
known for years as the Democratic
war horse of Appoquinimink hundred. ="
He leaves five children: Samuel and
John OF Philadelphia, and Howard. of
Townsend, and Mrs. Walter Gill and
Miss Mary Townsend.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
MRS. BOTKN FIGHTING FOR LIBEETY.

Despite the Fact She Has Been couvictsd
Twice She Hopes For Frsedor-
Mrs. COrdelia BOtkin, Of San Fran
cisco, appears to have unlimited 6nan-
cial resources. After fighting her con
viction for murder for five years. she
was again convicted. Yet she Is to
continue her fight. and in August .
motion for new trial will be argued.
She has spent 5 years or more in iail,
yet she appears to have the faculty og
securing assistance from some outside
quarter.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
Walter Shelton Sells His EARN

II. d. Boyer. real estate broker has
sold the farm of Walter Shelton near
Colts Station, Nd. which contains 1876
acres, to Mr.. Joseph Jones of Colts
for $1,000.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
Club Women VIII Give Elaborate Supper.

The ladies of the Twentieth Century
Club are preparing to give an elaborate
supper Tuesday evening next the 2lst
inst, to be held on the lawn at Mrs. W.
w. Tschudy's. Supper 25 cents be-
ginning at i've o'clock. Ice cream,
cake, home made candy, dairy sup
plies, music aud other attractions.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
Kings pausht.rs Pienle Po.,unn.a

The Kings Daughters Picnic which
was to have been held tomorrow
Thursday afternoon and evening "a
'FOnt Hill' has been postponed IN
til next Thursday evening the 23rd
and should the weather be unfavOrable
that day it will be held tue next day !,
Friday the s4th.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
Lecture at Asbury Church Friday Evening

Rev. W. L. Lewis, d. D., will give
his interesting and entertaining lee
ture entitled "From the Hudson to the
Jordan, Friday at Asbury Church.
Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
DEATH RECORD OF THE PAST WEEK.

Mrs. R. E. HOugh, Wife of the Late Rev. John
HOugh, Passes Away at Her Home in
Smyrna-Death of Samuel W. Walls.
Mrs. Rebecca E. Hough, wife of the
late Rev. John Hough, a prominent
minister of the Wilmington Confer
ence, died yesterday afternoon at l 80
o'clock after a brief illness, in the
list year of her age. She was taken
i'll week previous from slight stroke
of apoplexy and was apparently re-
covering when she suffered another
attack yesterday. She "fell to sleep"
peacefully. almost without any warn
ing to those at her bedside, when her
spirit left its frail tenement and passed
to its eternal reward. The life of
Mrs. HOugh was one of deep and con-
stant devotion to her home and to her
church which she dearly loved. At
the early age of twelve years she was
converted and joined the Methodist
Church, and all through her life she
continued to have deep and abiding
interest in its various societies. Be.
sides being member of the Mite So
ciety, she was a charter member Of
the WOman's Foreign Missionary So
ciety, the Woman's Home Missionary
Society and the Womau's Christian
Temperance Union. While interested
in church and society, she never
aspired to public life; her interests
were centered in her home and her
children, where she was faithful
wife and good mother.
The deceased was a daughter of the
late James and Mary Boone Dukes, of
Denton, Md, where she spent her
girlhOod days aud lived until 1862,
when she was united in marriage to
Rev. John Hough. Her life in the
itineracy was one of deep devotion to
her husbands interest and when death
robbed her of his companionship
while he was Presiding Elder of
Dover District, in March 1879, she was
living in Smyrna aud has since con-
tlnued to make this her home. She
is survived by five children: Mrs.
James P. Hofecker, Miss Anna D.
HOugh and Miss Emma Hough, of
this town; Mrs. Clayton w. Fisher, of
Dover, and Mr.. Olin 1. Hough, of
Philadelphia. Funeral services will
take place at her late residence on
west Commerce street Friday after
noon at O'Clock, in charge of Rev.
Robert Watt, pastor of Asbury NJ. E.
Church; interment at Glenwood Gem
etery.
S. W. Walls, Brother of Z. q. Walls, Dead.
Sunday morning Samuel W. Walls.
the largest man in Queen Anne's coun-
ty, If not on the peninsula, died at his
home at Prices Station, Md, where he
was merchant. He was brother of
Edward G. Walls the well-known
clOthier of Smyrna. Deceased was taken
with severe coughing spell and died
ON account of his inability to recover
his breath after az unusually protrac.
ted attack. He weighed but a few
days before his death $50 pounds.
Notwithstanding his great weight,
he was very active, enjoyed ex-
cellent health and attended TO
business promptly. He was so years
old and leaves a widow and two
children, whose ages are respec.
lively, 10 and 12 years. He was
buried Sunday afternoon at Churchhill
Md, Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. and Mrs. E. &. Walls of this
town attended the funeral.
AppOquinimink Hundred Farmer Dead.
Samuel Townsend. aged 50 years.
died yesterday morning at his resi-
Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-05-26
WACO CITY IN RUINS.
All Important business and ResidcD-
tirI Pcrts Destroyed.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. May 26.-A report
has just boon received from Yazoo
city, Miss, that the disastrous fire
there is now believed to be under con
troll. The loss is roughly estimated at
$1,000, 000. The fire destroyed all the
business hOuscs of any Importance, Il
large number of private residences, the
principal hotel and the passenger de
pot, everything from the river on the
south. Il distance of twelve blocks and
three blocks wide.
All railroad wires in Yazoo City have
been burned, and outside there is no
communication with the stricken town.
\ late dispatch says that the fire will
entail II loss of nearly S3,0G0,O00. All
The banks. business houses, newspaper
Offices. puatOliCc, courthouse, city hall
and oticr buildings have been de
stroycd.
Trains loaded with fire apparatus arc
being rushed from Greenwood and
Jackson. The fire originated in the
block occupied by the Western Union
and Postal telegraph companies and
the telegraph exchange, and shortly
lftcrward all communication with va,
zoo CITY was completely cut off.
1t is reported that the residence of
John Sharp Williams, minority leader
in the house of representatives, has
been burned. The fire burned nine
hours. dcStroying.l total of 200 houses.
The financial loss will be the heaviest
in the history of Mississippi since the
war.
The city WAS putting in a new sys-
tenn of w~atcrworlis, and the old sys-
tenn, which had wooden mains, was
wholly Inadequate to meet the demand.
Pipes burst all over the city, and it
was impossible TO get the water ven
to the first floors of buildings.
\ man named Chambliss, Il citizen of
this place, was killed by falling walls,
and Mayor Holmes was very badly
hurt. The fire jumped a bayou and
reached Latonia. n residence suburb,
where it destroyed some of the finest
homes. About sixty families are home
less.
Governor Nardaman promptly or
dered ont the Greenwood militia COM
pany. which has gone to Yazoo City to
protect property.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-05-26

CHICAGO, May 2G.-Joscph n. Craw-
ford, Jr., Philadelphia. %iourncyed from
the east, and Miss Alice Christensen,
San Francisco, journcyed from the
west. The two met in Chicago and
were married in st. Paul's church,
Kenwood. The parents and other mem
bers of the groom's family came with
him to meet the bride, and the brides
parents and many relatives accOlnpa-
MED her OH the Journey to meet the
groom. Miss Christensen. now Mrs.
is the daughter of Andrew
Christensen. manager of the Wells
Fargo Express cOmpany's business in
San Francisco. Joseph n. Crawford,
Jr., is IL mechanical engineer at Roa-
noke. Va. He could not leave his work
for a period long enough to go to San
Francisco.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-05-26

NASHUA. n. H., May 2G.-Thc bank
of the Nashua Trust company, which
was closed Jan. %, following the de-
~falcation of Treasurer John T.. Goggin.
was reopened for business today. This
action was decided upon after the bank
commissioners had completed their cX-
ton against the company had been re
moved upon their recommendation.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-05-26
ALABAMA DEMOCRATS.
Montgomery Convention Committee
Refused to Report For Parker.


Refused to Report For Parker.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, May 26.-The
Democratic state convention has open
ed here. Temporary Chairman Gray,
on accepting the chair, said, THANK
God, this is not Il recognized Democ-
racy." He then appointed committees
on credentials and organization. The
resolutions committee refused to favor
ably report a resolution ~instructing for
Parker. c. c. Whiltsoh of Talladega
was elected permanent chairman, Dur
ing n recess Captain Richmond Pearson
HoBsdH walked acrossothc stage and
was given an, ovation.
While no Instructions We're given, the
resolutions adopted recitcd that at the
present time Judge Alton h. Parker is
the most available and acceptable can
didate for the nomination for the pres
idency and that the sentiment of the
convention is for his nomination. The
unit rule was put III force, and an over
whelmiug majority of the delegates
elected favor the nomination of Par
kcr.