davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
BILL TO LASH FOWL THIEVES
Drastic Measure Passes Senate 1S
to 4 to Publicly Whip Convicts

Chicken thieves in Delaware will
be publicly whipped, if Senator
Keiths substitute bill for Repre-
sentative Smoot's measure which
was passed in the Senate Monday
afternoon becomes a law. The bill
provides that anyone found guilty
of feloniously stealing barnyard
fowl shall pay as restitution money
twice the value, unless it is restor-
ed in full value, and shall be fined
not more than $500, whipped with
not less than ten or more than
twenty lashes, and imprisoned for
term not exceeding five years. The
measure further provides that the
court in pronouncing sentence shall
have no power to omit the impos;.-
tion of lashes. The whipping would
be administered publicly in the
county seat of the county in which
the crime occurred. The substitute
provides that the whipping provi-
sion shall not apply to persons un-
der 16 years of age. The bill re-
suited in considerable discussion
before its passage by a vote of IL
to 4. Senators Burton, Downs
/ Jacobs and Maull voted against the
measure. Representative Smoot
in explaining the bill, said the
crime is a serious menace and i:
being carried on in a wholesale
way. Senator Burton contendeC
the bill was too strong. Aftel
further discussion, Senator Burto,
asked how many of the Senator.
had witnessed whipping at th'
whipping post. Senator Green re
piled that he had, and that in hi:
estimation it has no effect on what
the criminal may do in the future
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
NEED RUM FIGHT OFFICERS
Deputy Prohibition Director VIII
son Addresses Fact Finders


Delegates from Fact Finding and
Law Supporting Committees from
all parts of the State gathered in
the Hotel Richardson at Dover yes
terday afternoon to discuss what
they declared to be the weak links
in the prohibition law machinery
and to devise ways and means of
strengthening them. Harold D.
Wilson, deputy prohibition admin
istrator for Delaware told the COM
mittemembers that one link which
is particularly weak and is proving
serious barrier to Federal and
State cooperation in prohibition
enforcement, is the county con-
stable situation. The situation in
all three State as far as the avail
ability of constables for enforce
ment work is concerned is lament
able, he declared. Lieutenant Gov
ernor ]. Henry Hazel was chair
man of the meeting A group of
about twenty members of the Will.
mington Fact Finding and Law
Supporting Committee attended
the meeting. Members of commit
tees from Delmar, Dover, Harring-
ton, Milford, Newark, New Castle,
Georgetown, Seaford, Selbyville,
Smyrna, Middletown, and Lewes
also attended.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
FIRST STEP FOR KENT COUNTY
To TAKE OVER BEACH ROAD
HOUSE PASSES BILL KENT
co. TO PAY j. X. MOTT S1I, 200
This Sum Will Reimburse Mr.. Mott
For the Bridge He Had Built
Over Marsh at His Own Expense

The first step in having the Levy
Court of Kent County take over
the Woodland Beach marsh road
and bridge built by James r. Mott,
was taken Monday when Mrs. Es-
telle w. Tschudy's bill was brought
up and passed the House to pur-
chase the bridge built by Mr.. Mott
for a sum of $1,000. Mrs.
Tschudy's bill passed "a to 1, al
most unanimously. Under provi-
sions of said bill the Levy Court of
Kent county viii be authorized to
borrow S11, 900 to repay James R.
Mott for the construction of a
bridge, several years ago, on the
road from Smyrna to Woodland
Beach. The bill was introduced by
Mrs. Estelle Tschudy and it was
explained that when Mr.. Mott built
the bridge he was assured that the
/ county would refund the money eX-
pended for the span that opened
the road to the bay resort. Mr.
Mott owned much of the property
at the resort The bill was explain
/ ed by Alonzo Jones, of Leipsic;
Robert Y. Wallen of Smyrna, and
/ former Senator j. r. Clements, OF
Clayton, all of whom contended il
was a just bill and claim. There
was some question among several
members of the Legislature as tC
whether or not, even should the
county pay this money, the bridge
would belong to the county or Mr.
Mott 1t was contended by the ad-
vocates of the bridge that it would
be a county owned bridge. If Mrs
Tschudy's bill (and she is deeply
interested and active in the pro-
f ject), passes the Senate and is ap-
proved by Governor Buck, the next
step will be to have the county
take over the marsh road, and
have the county or the State High
way Department extend the i'm
proved road now down as far as the
Mott farm, over the marsh road to
Woodland Beach. Whether this
road is built of concrete or macad-
am, makes little difference so long
as a good road is had all the way
to the resort. A good road all the
way will mean more for the future
development of Woodland Beach
than anything that can be done
and citizens of upper Kent are
back of the project enthusiastical-
1u
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
LEGISLATURE NEAR CLOSE
With April 10th or Thereabouts for
Date of Adjournment, Interest
in Various Bills Increases

Members of the Legislature hav-
ing completed their visits to the
various institutions receiving aid
from the State and with adjourn
ment near or about April 10th, it
is expected that lively fight will
be waged on several pending bills.
In previous years many institu-
tions have had separate incomes
which did not appear in the appro-
priations made Under the new
plan, all receipts from outside
sources, received by various insti-
tutions, are turned in to the State
Treasurer and the Legislature will
make appropriation which will cover
these amounts. The net result of
this is that while the appropriations
to these various institutions will
show an increase, they will not re-
ceive an increase, because the
funds received from independent
sources have been paid into the
State and are merely being paid
back in the increased appropriation
so that the State Auditor may be
able to better audit the accounts of
the various institutions. While the
session of the Legislature is draw
ing toward the close, there are sew
eral important bills which are to
be considered. Among these are
the liquor bill An effort will be
made to get the bill to repeal the
Klair and Loose State enforcement
acts out of the committee. It will
take eighteen signers to get this
bill out. and if this number OF
signers can be secured to get the
bill out of the hands of the COM
mittee it can be passed if the
eighteen signers vote for the bill
It is understood that the bill pend
ing in the Senate giving physicians
the right to prescribe liquor in the
practice of medicine will not be
acted upon until the fate of the
Klair law repeater in the House is
known. A bill to amend the con-
stitution of the State so as to per-
NIT race track betting is in the
House but nothing has been heard
of it lately. If this bill is brought
out there will be hard fight over
it with defeat iminent.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
SMYRNA 10Th CENTURY CLUB
Mrs Grant Garis in Charge of Pro-
gram Last Friday Afternoon

On Friday afternoon at $50
o'clock, the club meeting was call
ed with Mrs. George Carter presid-
ing. The minutes were read, reso-
lutions of Mrs. Eba Cloak Anthony
and the report from the chairman
of the play "All Aboard, by Miss
Emily Spruance was made The
club cleared seventy-eight dollars
and twenty-five cents (S7S.25l. The
Twentieth Century Club is grateful
to all those who took part in the
cast of the play, the young ladies
in the choruses, the children in the
Bouquet" and the ladies who help
ed to make the play a success. 1t
was announced the club luncheon
will be held on April 10. Tickets
can be procured at the club on Fri
day from the committee, Miss An
ma Hough and Miss Rena Williams,
at any time until April 9Th. The
program last Friday was in charge
of Mrs Grant Garis, chairman of
program as follows: Vocal solo,
Mrs. ]. d. Niles of Townsend. ac-
companied by Mrs. Henry C.Webb;
Mrs. William c. Speakman, chair
man of Fidac and National De-
fense made an address on the sub
ject, Tito Make the World Better"
Mrs. Speakman spoke of the origin
and work of the American Legion.
She urged the club women to be in
formed on matters pertaining to
the country and she spoke forcibly
on the menace of radicalism, which
is at work everywhere Patriotism
was the slogan of her talk. and
there was large and attentive
audience. On March 9th, the
program will be in charge of Mrs.
Harry Jones. chairman of arts and
crafts. The meeting will be called
at $50 o'clock.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
PLEAD GUILTY COURT" MEET
Judge Harrington Heard Several
Cases and PronOunces Sentences

Judge Harrington Heard Several
Cases and Pronounces Sentences
Before Resident Judge of Kent
County w. w. Harrington at Do
yer, on Saturday in plead guilty
court" Delbert Baynard who
pleaded guilty to assault and bat
terry was given four months i'm
prisonment in the New Castle
County Workhouse. Charles Will
liams. who pleaded guilty to two
indictments, one charging break
ing and entering a school house at
Denney's Corner, north of Dover
several weeks ago and also breaking
and entering with intent to commit
larceny, was given a sentence of
six months Imprisonment in the
New Castle County Workhouse on
the breaking and entering school
house. The second indictment was
retired. Cecil Bradley, who plead
ed guilty to illegal possession of a
large quantity of beer, was fined
$50 and was paroled to State De-
tective d. d. Wharton of Kent
County for one year.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
EXEMPTION BOOST ON INCOME
LEV|ES DEFEATED IN HOUSE
MOVE TO MATCH FEDERAL
MINIMA FOR STATE TAX LOST
Virden Urges Passage But Van
Solver Declares Burden of Law
Now on Less Than $500 Citizens

BY a vote of 21 to II the House
Monday afternoon defeated Repre-
sentative Virden's bill to make
State income tax exemptions the
same as the Federal exemptions.
Those voting for the bill were Rep
resentatives Barnes, Clark, John
son, Lingo, Messick, Nickle, Phil
lips. Rupp. Scheifele, Tally, Virden
and Speaker Coy. Representative
Carey, Republican, was out of the
room when the vote was taken.
Representative Donovan, Demo
crat,, was absent but all thirteen
of the other Democrats and eight
Republicans voted against the bill.
The bill would have increased the
exemption for single men to 81 500
and for married men to $500, the
same as the Federal law. No
change was made in the bill as to
the exemption for children which is
5000 under the present law. An
other important change that this
bill would have made was TO make
it unnecessary for anyone not
making an amount up to the ex-
emption provided for in the bill to
file a return. All persons above 21
years of age now have to make a
return except dependents. Mr..
Virden in calling up the bill, which
had been reported favorably. ex-
planned its provisions. He stated
that under the present law, many
in Wilmington who do not make
enough to pay tax, are sent no
tices when they fail to make re-
turn and are sometimes fined up to
$40 or S12, and often they do not
understand what it is all about.
He argued that under his bill those
not making enough to pay a tax
would be relieved of the response
bility of making return. Mr..
Van Solver opposed the bill. He
called attention to the fact that
the number who pay the income
tax in the State has dropped from
1900 to $4,000, and that the bur
den was on less than $500. There
is another bill yet to be acted upon
calling for a reduction, but it is a
problem what the Legislature will
do.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
LEGION AUXILIARY MEETING
Department Officers and Dover
Unit Attend Meeting at Mrs. Ennis

The regular meeting OF the
American Legion Auxiliary was
held Friday evening, March 20, at
8 o'clock. The following depart
ment officers were present and ad-
dressed the meeting regarding
their respective branches of work
Mrs. G. ID. Hill, Dover; Mrs. Will
liam N. Cam, Mrs. William c.
Speakman, Mrs. Leon Stayton,
Mrs. John ABader End, Miss Mary
Lynch, all of Wilmington; Mrs.
Leon Rhodes, Newark; Mrs. Marie
Ehrlich, Mrs. H. c. McSherry, Do
yer; Mrs. Hannah Morris, Lewes:
The Dover Unit was also present.
Those from Dover were: Mrs. w.
o. Quillen, Mrs. William M. Clarke.
Mrs. John A. KERN, Mrs. Harold
e. Hames, Miss Mildred B. Jones,
Mrs. B. Clark Peer, Mrs. Glyn
Newton, Mrs. Blanche Cowgirl.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
COLONY FOR FEEBLE MINDED
STOCKLY GETS fine OFFER
SENATOR j. G. TOWNSEND OF
FERS TO CANCEL DEBT $4,000
Provided That the State Will Take
Care of Needs of Institution
Legislature to Consider Offer

United States Senator John G.
Townsend, Jr., Friday afternoon
offered to free the Delaware Col
ony for the Feeble Minded at
Stockly in Sussex County from a
debt of over $4,000 owed him, if
the Legislature will take care of
the needs of the institution. Some
local interest is had in this institu-
ton because of the activity of Mrs.
Walter w. Hynson, Mrs. George
Carter and others who are on the
Board. The proposition was made
by Senator Townsend during a
luncheon at the Colony for the
Feeble Minded. prior to the legis-
lators' inspection of the institution.
Before making the offer, Senator
Townsend briefly traced the origin
of the institution, during his ad-
ministration as Governor of this
State. He explained that the land
on which the Colony is located,
was owned by him, and that pers-
ons who had become interested in
such a type institution desired to
acquire his land. He opposed sell
ing it, on the grounds that it would
place him in an embarrassing posi-
tion, since he was the Chief Execu-
tive. Anyway, he said, he wanted
to use the land for other purposes.
uoxxraxyar he Iaa1oral +haca xrrIo
desired the land, made it clear to
him that it would not be purchas-
ed with State money, but through
contributions. He sold the vast
area for $4,000, but only $4,000
was collected. There was still S.
600 coming to him, he said. With
interest from that time, this
amount would total up to over
$4,000 he stated Senator Town
send recalled that his wife had died
before the institution had been
erected, and said that it was in her
memory that he desired to free the
institution as far as the debt owed
him, if the Legislature would take
care of its needs. Loud applause
greeted his offer. The Senator,
who is vice-chairman of the Della
ware Commission for the Feeble
Minded, lauded the efforts of Mrs.
Coleman DUPONT and the late Mrs.
Kate Deemer for their interest in
the institution. He outlined the
needs of the Colony. The following
are the permanent improvement
requests of the institution: White
boys dormitory, $4,000; colored
boys dormitory $4,000; infirmary,
S25, 900; milk house, $1,000; barn
$4,000; two silos, $1,000; central
heating plant, S55,00O. For main
tenance, S12,S80 is asked for the
white boys dormitory; $3.50 for
the colored boys dormitory. and
$4,000 for the hospital. Much in
terest is had in this needy state in
stitution in Sussex.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
BILL FOR DRY REFERENDUM
Is Rapper BY Rev. r. w. Vining as
Meaningless" and "Fruitless"

MednIngleSS anu II ruthless
In the Delaware House of Rep
resentatives Monday afternoon a
letter was read from the Rev Ros-
coe w. Vining, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League, protesting
against Representative Tatnalfs
bill calling for a referendum on the
Eighteenth Amendment at the
next general election on the ground
that it would not accomplish what
the writer of the bill desires to ac-
complish. The bill has been report
ed favorably in the House. The
Vining letter follows: Subject: A
Statewide Referendum at the 1882
General Election on the Question
of the 18th Amendment We un-
derstand that the Committee on
Elections have reported favorably
on this bill and that the measure
is now before the House. We are
not in favor of this measure for
the reason that it is meaningless
and cannot accomplish what the
writer of the bill intended. There
/ is but one way that the 18th
Amendment can be repealed and
that is the same way it was adopt
ed. A resolution must be present
ed to Congress calling for the re-
peal of the amendment. 1t must
receive a two-thirds vote from
both houses of Congress and then
be submitted to the various State
legislatures for the ratification.
| Thirty-six, or three-fourth of our
States, must ratify this resolution
before the 18th Amendment can be
repealed. Thirteen States can pre-
vent the repeal, and it will be
many years before the South and
Southwest will give an adverse
vote on prohibition. IF Delaware
desires test vote in Congress, the
proper procedure would be to in
struct one of our representatives
at Washington to introduce a reso-
luton calling for the repeal of the
18th. Amendment. 1t does not
seem to us that the State is justi-
fed in entering into a referendum
of this kind and that the time of
our citizens can be more profitably
spent than working upon fruitless
referendum" the latter concluded.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
FIND INTRUDER IN HOME
Mrs. Anna HusfeIt Has Terrifying
Experience at Delaware City

Mrs. Anna Husfelt. wife of Coun-
Gilman James Husfelt of Delaware
City, after having visited relatives
on Second Street on Monday even
ing,at Delaware City, returned to
her home shortly after s o'clock to
find that when she opened the door
an intruder in her home. Entering
the back door of her home, the
man, who was standing behind the
door, grabbed Mrs. Husfelt while
she desperately fought with him.
The intruder escaped out a side
door. Being no light in the house.
she obtained but a meager descrip-
tion of the man. The Town Officer
John r. Reed was summoned and
with several residents of the town
made search along West Canal
Street, and adjacent streets. No
clue as to the whereabouts of the
intruder was found.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
SMYRNA ROTARY CLUB NEWS
DIR. j. t. Pugh to Be at Dover Hos
pitaI to Examine Cripple Children

The regular meeting of the
Smyrna Rotary Club at Wayside
Inn was called to order by Presi-
dent Walter Hynson. After din
ner the President welcomed and in
troduced the visitors, he then turn
ed the meeting over to Chairman
of Program Bill Matthews. Bill"
stated that he had been disappoint-
ed in the speaker for the evening
who was to have been Former State
Senator L. A. Drexler, now Presi-
dent of the Del-Mar-Va Eastern
Shore Association. There being no
program there was some discussion
of Rotary affairs of the club. DR..
c.. G. Harmonson, chairman of
Cripple Children Committee, gave
a short talk. DR.. Harmonson stat
ed that the services of DR.. ]. T.
Pugh, a specialist on crippled chill
dren, had been secured and that he
would be at the Kent General Hos
pital in the near future and exam
inc all available cripple children
from this locality free of charge
President Walter announced the
names of the nominating commit
tee for the coming annual election
of officers which are as follows: c.
L. Harmonson, chairman; V. Lay
Phillips, w. E. Matthews, Jr., R.W
Slaughter and c. w. w. Schantz
They were asked to make their re-
port at the next meeting. Visiting
Rotarians, j. A. Harmon and L. A
Layton Jr,. of the Dover Club.
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
SMYRNA HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Baseball Season TO Open April 10
With Contest With Caesar Rod
ney at Wyoning-Other Notes

The baseball season will open on
April 10th with Caesar Rodney at
Caesar Rodney. Due to the in
clemency of the weather and con-
dition of the baseball diamond
Coach Dalton has been unable to
give his team any workout altho
the batteries have been having in
door practice.-The assembly pro-
gram on Tuesday, March 18th, was
devoted to Declamations. We also
had some pretty Irish selections,
under the direction of Mr.. Welton,
in honor of Saint Patrick's Day
The superintendent office has
just received notice that the COM
mittee on Admissions for Dart
mouth College, Hanover, New
Hampshire, had voted to give the
Smyrna High School the full GER
tificate privilege to Dartmouth Col
lege. The fact that Dartmouth
will accept graduates of the Smyr-
ma High School is a decided ad-
vantage to those completing the
High School course, since other
first-class institutions of higher
learning will likewise recognize the
Smyrna High School certificate
The Superintendent of Schools at
tended a conference held at the
Richardson Hotel in Dover, on
Wednesday evening, March 18th, at
which time ways and means were
discussed for the Annual Delaware
State Teachers Association to be
held in Dover. The local Superin-
tendent will have charge of the
Junior High School Department
The members of the Commercial
Department are planning to attend
a demonstration in Typing and
Shorthand to be given at Beacon
College on April 18th. There will
also be an exhibit of business ma
chimes, filing systems, ETC., by ap-
proximately twenty-five manufac-
turers thruout the country At
the request of the Chairman of the
Crippled Children's Committee of
the Smyrna Rotary Club. a survey
was conducted by the teachers of
the local schools in order to locate
the number Of crippled children
both mentally and physically, who
live in this community. DR.. G. G.
HarmOnson, the chairman Of this
community has secured the servic-
es of specialist to give whatever
treatment that may be possible,
gratis Our local defamation con-
test is being arranged for and will
be given in the High School Audi
torium on March 9th. The pub
lie is cordially invited to attend
The results of banking day on
Tuesday were as follows: Number
of pupils attendance 35S: the num-
Der of depositors, 233; the percent
deposited, 65 per cent; the amount
deposited, 1871; the amount to
date, S1625.15. The low attend
ance was due to the snowstorm.-
Don't neglect to keep Thursday
April 23rd, open for the big Gym
Carnival to be given on the even
ing of that datei
Smyrna times., 1931-03-25
Death of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Ross
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. w. j. Bone Announces Services
For the Week and Sunday

Rev w. j. Bone, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church, makes these
announcements: Palm Sunday will
be observed at both services, in
the morning at IL o'clock the pas
tor will have as his topic Jesus Of
Nazareth, The King OF The Jews, 7
and in the evening "Christ's La
ment Over Jerusalem" Sunday
School will meet at 10 o'clock. The
Ethel Lloyd Auxiliary will meet on
Thursday evening at the home of
Mrs. John p. Hudson, Main street.