The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-02-16

IN. W., Is A1IAo do
1900, and Oxford 3,018, as against
2,O59, according to figures just
made public.
A movement has been started
TO create a new county out of
parts of CASTOR and Lincoln, with
Stanly as the county seat. Petl-
tions are being circulated and the
matter will be pushed.
Wadesboro suffered the most
disastrous fire in it's history last
Friday morning when one-haf of
one of the best business blocks
was entirely destroyed with a
total property loss of 100000.
A well-to-do negro named Dock
cry Currie, committed suicide at
his home in Howellsville township,
near Lumberton last week. He
used a shot gun. Fear of losing
his mind is said to have been the
cause of the act.
Last Friday was the 8Oth birth
day of Berry Davidson, of Glib
sonville, N. c., who is probably the
oldest active mayor in this state.
He has been mayor of Gibsonville
during the greater part Of the last
twenty years.. and is attending
regularly to the duties of his office.
In Surry superior court last
week John Cook, Sandy Taylor
and William Simmons, white men,
were convicted of killing a negro
named Tilly at Pilot Mountain last
year. Cook was given five years
in the state prison, while Taylor
and Simmons were each fined
1925 and costs.
Herbert Switzerland, a 12-year-
old son of r. B. Switzerland, a
prominent business man Of Gin
ton, shot himself accidently while
playing with a 38-caliber pistol
Friday afternoon. He was a stu
dent of the graded school and the
shooting happened in a field just
back of the school grounds. The
ball entered the lower part of his
body and passed entirely through
him.
In keeping with a state wide
movement inaugurated by the
members of the Junior Order Unit
ed American Mechanics In North
Carolina Spencer Council No. IA
has forwarded a petition to the
General Assembly at Raleigh ask
ing that an act be passed requir-
ing that the Bible be taught in the
public schools of the State. It is
demanded that the Bible be made
a textbook in the schools.
A largely attended mass-meet-
ing of the chamber of commerce
considered for two hours Friday
night the subject Of a new charter
for the city of Hickory, which
shrould provide for government
by commission. The various fea-
lures of such government were
discussed by different speakers,
the initiative, referendum and re-
call being explained. The recent
address of Mr.. John A. McRae Of
Charlotte at the annual banquet
of the chamber was a great aid to
the. citizens in considering the
matter.
DR.. John Hancock Williamson
died in Rockingham Saturday
suddenly Of heart failure. He had
spent the day in town attending
to business, apparently being in
his usual good health. While on
the way to his plantation home,
II miles away, he died in his au-
limits. DR.. Observation-Disclosures
tomobile just outside the town
limits. DR.. Williamson was one
Oh the most prominent and best
known citizens of Richmond coun-
ty. He was a large property owner
having plantations in this state
and in Alabama.
At, 10 80 o'clock Friday morn
ing Phillip Mills paid death pen
atty In electric chair at the State
prison for the murder of his wife
IN Pennsylvania county, the crime
being in which he broke his gun
stock over the head of his wife
and at the same time brought
about injuries to their infant that
caused IT'S death. The mother was
fleeing from him with the child
IN her arms. Phillip was a negro
70 years old, The plea of "brain
~strom" was made for communal
ton by the Governor which was
refused. The electrocn+ionC +bo 60