davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
GRAND JURY FINDS mo
BILL IN SINIONS CASE.

There was no court Monday but
court was opened Tuesday morning
with Judge Edward McIver on the
bench. There was no jury trial, but
several plead guilty.
The grand jury spent large part
of the day investigating the charge
of rape against Joe Simons, the young
telegraph operator. The young lady
in the case, her parents and all other
available witnesses for the state were
called before the grand jury and care
fully questioned. The young lady was
not at court Monday morning, but
Solicitor Spears sent the sheriff to
bring her to court, where she was
questioned by the solicitor and the
grand jury. She said she would be
sixteen years old next September and
her testimony was conflicting as to
her relations with Joe Simons. Her
parents said they thought she would
be fourteen years old next September.
Records of the Bennettsville graded
school were produced showing that
she was in school ten years ago.
About o. m. Tuesday. the grand
Jury brought in no bill' in this
case and Judge McIver ordered Sim
ons discharged.
His father, sister, and aunt, from
Richmond, Va, were in the court
room during the day Tuesday
The young lady and her parents
were also in the court room part OF
the day. She and her parents left
! the court room before the grand
| jury's return was made.
! 1t is understood that the solicitor
would have mol pressed the Simons
case if the grand jury had found a
true bill-Pee Dee Advocate.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
WAR HERO VISITS DILLON
Major Chas. G. Taft Who Fought
With French Airmen, Staying
in City.

Major Chas. C. Taft, of Kentucky,
is spending a while in the city. Major
Taft represents Texas Oil company
and will be here several weeks. He
has served in two wars and bears the
marks of a battle-scarred veteran.
He brought down II German planes
and was himself wounded II times.
His son was killed in action. The
following interview from the Green's
boro News will be of interest to the
Dillon folk who have had the pleas
ure of meeting Major Taft:
Greensboro during the past week
has had in its midst one Of the world
wars heroic knights Of the air, Char
les C. Taft, who served with the
French aviation corps from October,
1914, until April, 1918, came to the
city the first part Of the week, after
completing lecture tour throughout
the south He is looking over Green's
boro and Guilford county with view
to engaging in business here.
When General von kluck made his
atrocious thrust on Paris in 1914 Mr..
Taft went to France to represent an
aviation firm of Los Angeles, Calf.
Upon his arrival in the French cap
ital he found the country in dire
full situation; being an American OF
polemic tendencies he severed rela-
tions with his American firm and en-
listed for service in the French air
service. He was assigned to the 69th
French escadrille, October 4, 1914.
He saw the Boche in their most
glorious and barbarous days - their
heyday. He fought them in the air
at Verdun, while the French poilu
was putting up one of the most gal
liant and immortal fights in history,
also on the Somme during the allied
push in 1916 and many other import
ant sectors of the western front.
After America entered the war Mr..
Taft was transferred to the American
forces as major Of aviation. He con-
tinued TO serve actively in the air
and just IL days after his transfer to
Uncle Sans corps he was shot down
on the Picardy front in April, 1918.
He says he is officially credited with
having brought down IL German
planes. During his long and daring
service he was wounded II times. He
carries an abundance Of silver in his
anatomy. The medical department
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15

put a silver plate in the back of his
head and one in his left hip. Sever
al shots remain in his hip. He is 4
battled SCARED hero and like most
men of his type, is not prone TO tel
about his achievements. However
when asked about his decorations,
he replied laconically that he had re-
ceived about as many as one man was
entitled to.
Nor is he the only member Of his
immediate family to render consplc-
uous service to the French. His son,
Lester, a mere lad of IT summers,
Joined his father in France in 1917.
After an intensive study in the art OF
maneuvering fighting plane he took
to the air a full pledged fighter amid
the clouds. On April l, 1917 he was
detailed to contest the supremacy or
the air with Boche airman around
that famous section Of Arras. After
a heroic fight, he was lowered to the
ground by a fusillade OF shots from
his foe.
Death continued to deal harshly
with the Taft family. During the ell
der Taft's stay in France his wife,
known in the motion picture world as
Bertha Morviel, and small daughter,
Margaret, know as THE Lubin Baby
died in this country.
Mr.. Taft is native of Kentucky.
He is a son of General Moses P.
Taft, U. S. A, retired during the
Cleveland administration. He Is the
grandson of Charles Cole, of Rich
mond, Va, who helped defend the
Virginia capital against the union
army.
He served during the Spanish
American war as an officer artillery.
In 1909 he resigned his commission
to pursue aviation.
Major Taft arrived home from ov-
erseas in June, 1913. and was dis
charged from the army in January
1919"
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
GIVES VIEWS ON ~ q
ROAD QUESTION.
Commissioner Hayes Suggests Plans
r. for Improving Public
- Highways.

Editor Dillon Herald:
There is probably greater de-
mand in Dillon county today than
ever before and not only in Dillon
county but the entire state for good
roads, and after yhaving served near
1y five years ON the Board Of County
Commissioners and having carefully
studied the road problem from every
angle that 1 possibly could, am
thoroughly convinced that under our
present system Of working the roads
that we, will never have good roads
in this county. In the first place there
are quite q number of roads in the
county that have never been built by
the county; the stumps have never
been taken up, and 1t is impossible
to use road machine ON these roads.
The people living on these roads pay
their road tax, as others do and the
money goes into the county fund and
the result is that no work at all is
done on these roads. A lot of them
are mere cart paths. Then good
number of the roads which have been
built by the county are growing up
with trees on either side, so that
1T will only be a few years before
those trees overlap the roads. 1t is
impossible for the small chain gang
that the county has to do the work
that is necessary to be done. And In
order to relieve the situation /
think our road law should be revis-
ed or amended so as to require five
days labor in each year from all per-
sons liable to road duty or in lieu
thereof sufficient amount. OF money
to get five days labor, and this to be
expended on the roads from whence
it came. BY doing this the bad places
in the roads could be repaired and
the roads kept open. I also think we
should have tax on the hoof and the
wheel. This is just and fair, every
man ought to be wiling to pay for
the up keep Of the road in proportion
to the use he makes of it. Some peo-
pie use the road but very little, while
others make their living on the road
and contribute very little to its up
keep.
lam also in favor of law allowing
each township to issue bonds for
goods roads. That would not be COM
pulsory, but privilege if they desir-
ed to do so. If our delegation at the
next session Of the legislature would
pass an act along the line have sug-
gested / think it would greatly re-
Ilieve the road situation.
Respectfully,
G.. P. HAYES.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
TOBACCO MARKETS
Warehouse Workers are on the
Ground Getting Ready for the S
Big Opening.

Tuesday, July Goth, Has been fixed
as the opening day for the tobacco
warehouses in Dillon county. The
ether warehouses in the Pee Dee sec
tion will open the same, day. The
opening is about ten days date, owing
to the cool spring season and the
backwardness of the crop. .
The workers connected with the
several warehouses in the county have
arrived and are busy as beavers; GET
ting things in shape for the opening
day. Several loads of lugs have. been
sold on the Dillon market, and 1t is
expected that tobacco will begin to
arrive in big quantities by the latter
part of the week. . r,l y
There has been a slight increase In
acreage this year and the quality OF
the tobacco will be better. The long
wet spell last year did considerable
damage to the crop and the weed was
off several points in quality. The
wet spell of the past few days has
not damaged tobacco to any great ex-
tent, and it is claimed that IT. has
been help in some sections where
the land was very dry.
Warehousemen are non-committal
when you ask them about the pros
poets for high prices, but the senti-
ment is that prices will be higher
this year. The better grades Of tobac-
CO will sell well. but there Is some
doubt about the lower grades sell
ing as well as in previous years.
The following buyers will be on the
Dillon market this season:
]. M. Edmonds. Danville; Va, Jno.
E. Hughes & Co., Danville, Va,
Dibrell Bros. Danville, Va, c. Glenn
Patterson, Kenbridge, Va, r. J.
Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Sal-
EN-, N. c., Liggett & Myers, Durham.
N. c., American Tobacco Co., Rich.
mond, Va. Export Leaf Tobacco Co...
Richmond, Va, A. C. Monk, Farm.
vile. N. c., Col. J. o. w. Gravely,.
New York, c. D. Noel, Rocky Mount.
N. c., ]. D. .Holcomb, Danville, Va,
J..P. Taylor & Co., Henderson, NC.
The force at Watkins Warehouse
is composed Of the following gentle
men: H. J. Thompson, bookkeeper; L.
l.. Armitage and ]. L. Britton, floor
book and clip men, Of Greenvilie.
Tenn, ]. R. Scott, auctioneer, Of
Lexington, N. c., Clyde B. Austin.
buyer for w. Austin G Co., of Green
vile, Tenn, will have headquarters
at the warehouse.
The force at Farmers Warehouse
is composed Of the following gentle
men: ]. ]. Winstead Of Roxboro, N.
c., manager; T. o. Pass, Of Roxboro,
bookkeeper; R. I. Featherstone, Of
Roxboro, floor bookkeeper; L. Fl.
Wagstaff, of Roxboro, clip man, and
J. w. Featherstone, Of Roxboro, auc-
tioneer.
The force at the Liberty Warehouse
will be composed of the following
gentlemen: A. B. Mary, bookkeeper,
Washington, N. c., D. L. Hardy, auc-
tioneer, P. V. Hardy, sales manager,
and Ed. Rogers, solicitor.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
Lake View.

e
Mrs. C. M. Shackleford and children
of Darlington have been visiting heI
parents Mr.. and. Mrs. T. B. Rouse.
Mrs. j. G. Tngen and little Miss
Margaret of Burlington, N. Co. are
spending the week with Mrs. ]. T.
Townsend. s 80 g
l.. @. Miller and J. T. Hankins
spent Monday in Florence.
Mrs. ]. E. Hudson and Miss Hud-
SON left Wednesday for their home at
Kinston, N. c.
Mr.. w. M. Gaddy and Leon and
Carroll Gaddy are in Hendersonville
for 6 few days
Mr.. and Mrs. H A. Powell and
Miss Lizzie Powell spent last week
end with friends in Lumberton and
Crrum, N. c.
Misses Randolph and Bagley are
visiting Mrs. r. F. Ellington.
Mrs. Emerson Scott and children OF
Marion spent part Of last week with
Mrs. Thomas.
. Mr.. Wade Temple and Misses Chris
tine and Alimae Temple are at
Wrightsville Beach for some time.
Miss Rachael Powell is home from
Richmond, Va.
Miss Edna Norman is visiting Miss
Edna Wallace at Johnsonville.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
WEEvILs DAMAGE SQUARES.

We have received the following
letter from County Agent Epps:
I'm the last weeks. issue of The
Herald read your piece on the boil
weevil and am afraid that you did
not quite understand me. l did say
that it is most too early for the weevil
to make his appearance but meant
that it was too early in this section as
the weevil was not found here last
year. In the sections where the wee
wills were plentiful the year before
they very OFTEN appear soon after the
cotton comes up and are found sitting
in the bud. also see that you have
me quoted as saying that the weeyil
does not attack the squares. l certain
il did not mean that for there is where
the weevil does the damage. Just as
soon as the squares begin to appear
the female weevil pdnctures these
squares and deposits her eggs causing
the square to die and drop off. If this
square is not destroyed within sew
en- days the egg matches and in twen-
ty one days from the time the egg
is laid we have a full grown weevil
which is ready to puncture more
squares. AS long as there are any
squares in the field the weevil will
not bother the bolls and when the
squares get scarce they Jump on the
young bolls."
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
PROMINENT MERCHANT
KILLED WITH SHOT GUN.
W. w. Russ Came to His Death by
Wounds at the Hands Of Geo.
Marsh.

Conway Field.
VIM. w. Russ, a prominent bust
ness man Of Conway, was killed by
George Marsh with a shot gun today
about ! O'Clock. The shooting occur
ed just outside of the town limits on
the Dog Bluff Road near where both
Of the participants lived.
An inquest was Immediately held
by Coroner L. w. Cooper. Two wit
nesses besides the doctors were ex-
amined. The wound was made with n
shot gun from probably about ten
feet distance, the greater part OF the
load entering the upper left breast
severing large blood vessels and ear
ing away the upper portion Of the
lung. resulting in death almost i'm
mcdiately.
The only eye witness was Mr.. Jesse
II. Jolly, father-in-law of George
Marsh.
Facts sufficient TO hold George
Marsh for homicide were brought out
by the Coroner but the full circum-
stances of the deplorable affair are
not known. Marsh is held for trial
and his attorneys are preparing pap
ers for his enlargement from jail on
bail.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
Sellers

Your correspondent had the pleas
nre of attending the Marion County
INSTRUMENTATION Sunday School
Convention at Nebo on last Sunday,
July 18th. Nebo is twenty miles be-
low the town of Marion. We travelled
over splendid roads all the way.
About two miles from Nebo a polite
little white boy opened the gate and
turned us into the big pasture" We
found that the "stock law is a
burning issue with the people in the
"big pasture;" they believe in fenc-
ing their farms and turning their
stock at large on their magnificent
pasture lands. They will certainly be
Independent of the boil weevil down
there with their fine fishing grounds
and excellent pasturage. They can
feed themselves and the balance Of
Marion county. The county is divid-
ed up into small farms, each maR
owning and working his farm. Very
few negroes were seen. They consol-
idated several small schools and have
a fine two story school building, en-
ploying five teachers. 1t was difficult
to find seat in their neat little
church. Their pastor lives next door
to the church. The people are noted
for their hospitality. They certainly
Know how to make you feel at home.
The convention itself was splendid
with its good speeches and large
number of delegates.
Miss Ruth Sellers has returned
from Tryon, N. c., where she has
been visiting relatives.
Mr.. w. D. Sellers and family with
Mr.. Ernest Page and family spent
the week end at Cherry Grove
Beach.
Miss Matte Price has returned to
her home at Rocky Mount, N. c.
Miss Price was the primary teacher
here last year.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
Cuts Strips of Flesh from Thigh and
Graft them Onto Wife's Foot.

Chicago, July 8. With steady
hand, nerve, going about his business
as if he were performing the simplest
of operations, DR.. Oslando P. Scott,
a we'll known surgeon of Chicago, to-
day cut strip after strip of flesh
from his own thigh and grated them
into his wife's foot and ankle as he
rested on a portable table at his
wife's bedside.
The entire operation was performed
without a administration Of an
anesthetic in tn resence of a num-
Der of physician Id nurses. Sobs
came from differ sat parts of the
room as DR.. Scott, without so much
as a vince of pain, drove the sur
geon's knife into his own flesh and
then speedily grated the strips upon
his wife's limbs.
A fellow physician stood by him
to dress his wounds. Several times
as DR.. Scott drove the knife into his
thighs he turned to the witnesses OF
the operation explaining technical
points Of the operation to them. Many
were blinded with tears.
DR.. Scott's act of self-sacrifice and
heroism was performed to save his
wife from Disagreement and possible
loss of her right'leg. Mrs. Scott was
injured in an automobile accident six
weeks ago. Her right leg was crushed
and the flesh stripped from it in long
gashes. Gangrene set in later, and in
order to avoid amputation, a skin
grating operation was decided upon
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
COUNTY NEWS ,,
NEWSY LETTERS BY REGULAR
CORRESPONDENT w.,
News Items of Interest to Herald
Readers Ebb and Flow OF the
Human Tide. NI
Fork.

Miss Colleen Bethea of Greens
boro,. N. C., is spending some time al
home with her mother. - e I,
Mr.. c. E. Taylor spent last Tues
day and Wednesday in Charleston on
business. R.
Miss Irene Sinclair, OF Mullins is
visiting relatives here.
Mrs. Edgar Jones. and, baby ,oi
Laurinburg, N. c., spent last week
here with Mr.. and Mrs. Martin Nc
Queen.
Mrs. Bensol has returned to South
port, IN. c., after an extended visit
here with relatives. =.
DR.. and Mrs. T. w. Carmichael and
children and Neil McCallum of Row
land, N. c., Miss Marion and Roderick
Carmichael of Washington spent Sun
day here. .Fy " tsF3r O.. b..
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
Carolina News.

Miss Mary McKinnon returned
Sunday from two weeks visit to her
sister, Mrs. Jim Mcqueen Of Rowland,
N. G.
Mrs. Gus Afford of Dillon is spend
ing some time with relatives here.
Miss Lola Bennett has recently re-
turned from visit to her uncle, W.
j. Stone Of Raeford, N. G.
Miss Margaret McLaurin Of Wesley
Is visiting relatives here.
Rev. and Mrs. Neill McInnis and
little daughters of Kannapolis, N. c.
are spending several days at the home
of his mother, Mrs. C. M. McInnis.
Little Miss Lucy Bennett is on a
visit to her little cousin, Mary Ruth
Mcqueen of Rowland, N. G.
On Saturday July II the Woman's
Auxiliary of Carolina church will give
q picnic on the. grounds to celebrate
the twenty-fifth anniversary Of its
organization. There will be approp-
riate exercises in the morning and a
silver offering will be taken. A real
picnic dinner will be served and ev-
cry one is cordially invited to come.
Miss Agnes Robertson Of Rowland
spent last week with her sister, Mrs.
D. B.. McInnis.
Mr.. John Norton Of Clinton, S. c.,
is spending few days with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. j. E. Norton.
Born on July 4th to Mr.. and Mrs.
L. w. McInnis, son.
Miss Elizabeth Afford of Raleigh,
N. c., spent the week end with her
sister, Mrs. r. S. Cottingham.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
BURNED TO DEATH
UNDER AUTOMOBILE.
Fletcher Hutto Loses Life in Making
Repairs on Car.


Norway, July III. Fletcher Hut
to, one of the largest farmers and
most prominent citizens of Norway
section met a most tragic death. His
brother, Vastine Hutto, who lives
near, brought his automobile into
the yard of Fletcher Hutto to have
him make some minor repairs. Fletch-
er Hutto went underneath the car to
examine some of the wires and me-
chanism and by some means his shirt
sleeves caught fire. He backed out
quickly to eXtinguish the fire and In
getting out he overturned can OF
gasoline which was sitting on the run
ming board of the automobile; the
contents of the can ran all over his
back and reaching the sparks on his
shirt sleeves instantly covered him
with blaze.
His brother Vastine, who was sit
ting in the automobile, quickly went
to his assistance and was badly
burned on his hands and face. Mr.
Hutto was carried into his house and
medical assistance summoned, but he
was beyond aid and died about 2
o'clock next morning.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
COURT COMMON PLEAS.
Two Long Cases Consumed First Half
of the Week.

Court of Common Pleas convened
Monday with Judge McIver presid-
ing. Stenographer James Kilgo was
at his post The first half of the week
was taken up with two cases and there
are many cases on the calender that
will not be reached at this term.
The first case to come up Monday
was that of w. P. Rose, contractor
of Goldsboro, N. c., against the Dill
lon Methodist church. Rose had
contract to build the first church.
The trustees paid him all of the con-
tract price except s2600 which they
held back as bond under the speci-
fications to guarantee that the work
was done in the proper manner, Rose
having refused tc give bond. The
trustfrs refused to pay him any part
of the $500, claiming certain de-
! fects in the construction Of the build
ing, in that he had failed to water
proof the cellar, used brick bats in
the walls and used wood blocks in
stead of brick in the pillars. The
roof, it was alleged, was 1S inches
lower than the specifications called
for. Rose brought suit to recover the
$2600 and the jury gave him $4,000
without interest. In arguing the case
before the jury Mr.. Muller, represent
ilg the defendant trustees, said the
church wanted to pay what 1t owed,
anG the whole case was merely mis-
understanding as to the amount due
the plaintiff. He said the conclusions
CT the jury would be final and there
ould be no appeal.
The next case was that of Walter
Stackhouse and the Farmers & Mer-
chants Bank of Marion against Mike
Carmichael. Several years ago Car
skaddon & Co., bought timber on the
Carmichael land together with ease,
ments for a railroad, etc. The timber
was cut in 1908 or 1909. Carskaddon
& Co. went into bankruptcy in 1913.
At the bankrupt sale Stackhouse
bought the bankrupt's property, in
cluding the 1-2 miles of railroad
iron in question. The timber was
bought under two contracts, one ex-
piring November 1914 and the other
April 1916. The latter contract al
lowed 80 days after the expiration Of
the 10 year period in which to remove
structures and fixtures. There was
no such provision in the other con-
tract. 1t is claimed that Stackhouse
made no attempt to remove the rail
in the period provided by the terms
of the contract. Both leases having
expired Carmichael sold the rail and
was delivering 1t to the purchaser
when suit was brought by plaintiffs
to recover. On the former trial the
court directed a verdict in favor of
Carmichael. On appeal the court held
that plaintiffs interest under the
90 day term had been forfeited, and
that under the other contracts there
was like forfeiture II more than a
reasonable time had expired in which
to remove the rail, and that title, un-
der such circumstances, was in Car
michael unless he had waived the for
feiture. The supreme court sent the
case back for new trial in order
that the jury might pass on the ques-
ton of reasonable time under one of
the contracts, and upon the question.
of waiver as to both Of the contracts.
The case went to the jury yesterday
afternoon.
The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-15
Dillon School Stands Ninth.

In the report Of the standing Of the
high schools in the state as shown by
the official rating of the State High
School Inspector, the Dillon school
takes ninth place. In the 1919 report
the Dillon high school took 23rd place
out of 25 schools, with rating OF
only 1877 units, and the position oi
9th place with .21.S units in the 1920
report makes showing which is very
gratifying to the patrons Of the school
Following is the report by schools:
For Session 191S-1919.