davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
SMYRNA UsHERs NEW YEAR
Din of Noise Greets 1882 But Rain
Mars HoIiday-Xmas Lights are
Down and All is Back to Normal

New Years Day passed off
quietly in Smyrna, a sen1i-holiday,
with the Postofice, Banks, Chain
Stores and some others closed. The
usual New Years Eve frolic took
place, many staying up to watch
out the old year. Frank McCaw-
ley, ever faithful to his task, rang
out the old year at Asbury NJ z.
Church simultaneously there was
din of noise from explosives all
over town. There was some few
gatherings at private homes and
some went to dances out of town
to dance the old year out. New
Years Day, however, was any
thing but inviting for motoring or
outdoor sports. It rained most
all day long. In the evening, how
ever, there was a let-up and there
was amusement to be found at
both of Smyrna's talkie theatres.
The Strand and the Como Theatre.
The Christmas lights We're kept on
thru New Years, Saturday and
Sunday nights. Monday the street
lights, community Christmas tree
and private home decorations came
down. The traffic light restored
at the Four Corners and soon
everything was back to normal
and everybody back to work for
what is hoped will be a better,
happier and more profitable New
Year.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
ASSAILANT Of FARMERS WIFE
SENT UP FOR SIXTEEN YEARS
GEO. DAVIS CHARGED WITH
ASSAULTING MRS. e. LUSBY
Taken Immediately After His Sen
tence to Penitentiary at Balti-
more-FeeIing Over Case

HUFF ee1HS over Ease
After considering the case for a
little over half an hour, the judges
in court at Elkton, Md, hearing
the case of George Davis, % year
old negro, yesterday afternoon, de-
clared him guilty of attempted
felonious assault on Mrs. Elizabeth
Lusby, the % year old wife of a
farmer over at Kennedyville, Nd.
The negro was sentenced to six
teen years Imprisonment in the
state penitentiary at Baltimore
and a few minutes after the sent
ence, was on his way to that pris-
on where he was placed shortly af-
ter o'clock. The court announc-
ed that the decision was not I'M
animous. The negro was accused
of three charges in the indictment,
the first of which carried a penal
ty of from to 20 years, the sec
ond which carrier life imprison-
ment and the third which would
have required a death penalty. The
court found the negro guilty on
the first count of the Indictment,
explaining that according to the
testimony, the negro had only at
tempted to commit a criminal as
sault, that he appeared to have rec
ognized the seriousness of what he
was doing and relented and also
that it was shown that the negro
had ben drinking heavily on the
previous night. The case was
heard by Chief Judge William H.
Adkins, of Easton, and Judges
Thomas J. Heating, of Centreville,
and Levin w Wickes, of Chester
town. The only defense offered
by counsel for the negro was that
of two young negroes who testified
they left a party with Davis early
on the morning of the assault and
he was drunk. The negro was de-
Tended by r. Hynson Rogers, of
Chestertown. and former State
Senator J. R. G. Legg, of Chester
town, who were assigned by the
court, and the State was repre-
scented by States Attorney Steph-
en- r. Collins, Of Chestertown, and
Safes Attorney Ellis Rollins, of
Elkton. When Davis was first TAX
en- to Chestertown after his arrest
in Wilmington, an effort was made
to lynch him, but he had been re-
moved to Easton and then to Bal
timore. The mob went to Easton
on the same night and searched
that Jail.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
CHESWOLD FOLKS INJURED IN
AUTOMOBILE CRASH UP STATE
CAR OF ROBERT w. KNIGHT
CRASHES INTO ANOTHER CAR
Three Women and Child Treated
For Minor Injuries at Delaware
Hospital in Wilmington

Automobile accidents for the
weekend resulted in injuries to
seevral persons, including several
from Cheswold. Four of the in
jured, three women and child,
suffered slight injuries when an
automobile operated by Robert w.
knight, of Cheswold, ploughed
into the rear of another car parked
on the highway near Tybout's Cor
ner. shortly after 2 o'clock Sunday
afternoon. The injured are Mrs.
Elizabeth A. Volkman, 81 years
old, Cheswold, lacerated forehead;
her daughter, Ruth, years old,
slight head cut, and bruises; Helen
SeagaI, Brooklyn, body bruises;
Dora DAWN, Brooklyn, body bruis-
es. All were treated at the Del
aware Hospital in Wilmington,
where they were taken by Private
Carpenter Of the State Police, and
discharged. Patrolman Melvin in
vestigated the accident. Accord
ing to the report of the police,
both cars were going south along
the highway, when Seagal parked
his car to study his road map.
Knight, driving along behind, ran
his car into SeagaTs. Both driv-
ers were fined $40 and costs by
Magistrate Cramer, of New Castle.
Seagal was fined for illegal park
inc on the highway and knight
for reckless driving. Knights car
suffered damages Of about $3.50
while Seagal's damage was placed
at approximately S1OO
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
HOMER SHORTS TAKES BRIDE
WEEDS Miss Beatrice NJ. Singer of
Gap, Pa, at Home of Her Parents
Other Weddings of Interest

Miss Beatrice M. Singer, daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. Amos r. Sing
er, of Gap, Pa, became the bride
of Homer E. Shorts, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Samuel Shorts of near
Smyrna last Saturday afternoon.
The wedding ceremony was solem-
nized at the home of the brides
parents at 2.3O p. M, the Rev.
Walter C. Pugh, the brides pastor,
officiating. The ring ceremony was
used. The couple had as their at
tendants Miss Emma Singer, sister
of the bride, as maid of honor,
Miss Sarah E. Dutton of Little
Creek and Miss Elva Singer, as
bridesmaids. Mr. Jacob Singer,
brother of the bride, acted as best
man, while Mr.. Fred Williams of
Hartly was an usher. The bride
wore a gown of ivory satin, prin-
cess style, trimmed in lace, with a
turban to match. She carried a
shower bouquet of white chrysan-
themums, paper white narcissus,
and baby's breath. Miss Emma
Singer, maid of honor, was attired
in a gown of orchid crepe with
turban to match. Miss Sarah Dut-
ton, a bridesmaid, wore beaded
gown of light blue crepe with tur-
ban of matching color while Miss
Elva Singer, the other bridesmaid,
wore a pink satin gown trimmed
with beads and rhinestones with
matching turban. Each wore a
shoulder corsage of pink sweet
peas and paper white narcissus
and baby's breath. Miss Elizabeth
May, cousin of the bride, rendered
a short recital preceding the cere-
mony and Miss Carol Hershey sang
AT Dawning" and II Love You
Truly" Lohengrin's wedding
march was used. Following the
ceremony wedding breakfast
was served to thirty-five guests.
The bride IS a graduate of the
Lancaster High School and Mill
ersville State Teachers College.
For a number Of years she was
teacher at the Colerain High
School, Lancaster County, Pa. At
ter a short wedding trip, Mr.. and
Mrs. Shorts viii reside at the
home of the groom's parents near
Smyrna for the present.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
MISS ANNA MAE HOBBS WEEDS
Becomes the Bride of ROLAND
Robbins Of Chesapeake CITY, Md.

Becomes the Bride of ROLAND
Robbins Of Chesapeake City, Md
Miss Anna Mae Hobbs, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. n. F. Hobbs of
this town, became the bride of
ROLAND Robbins, son of Rev. and
Mrs. z. z. Robbins of Chesapeake
City. Md, last Thursday. The we'd
ding ceremony was performed by
the groom's father, Rev. E. E.
Robbins, pastor Of the Presbyter-
ian Church, Chesapeake City, at
the home of the groom at three
o'clock. Their only attendants
were Miss Dorothy Minner of Wy
oming and Mr.. Willard White of
High Point, n. Q. The bride wore
a blue fiat crepe dress with all
accessories to match. Mr.. Robbins
is a graduate of the Chicago Con-
servatory of Music. Last year he
taught music at the Wasatch
Academy at Mt. Pleasant. Utah.
He is now teaching music and has
charge of the high school orches-
tras at the schools at Cecilton
and Galena, Md. Miss Hobbs at
tended Smyrna High School and
also w. @. l. at Dover. They are
residing with the groom's parents
at Chesapeake City, Md. On Sun
day a dinner was given at the
home of Rev. and Mrs. Robbins in
honor of the bride and groom. Mr..
and Mrs. n. F. Hobbs and family
of Smyrna attended.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
SMYRNA GOTH CENTURY CLUB
Met Friday, New Years Day, and
Heard Delightful Musical Program

After an intermission Of two
weeks, the Smyrna Twentieth Cen
fury Club met New Years Day at
3 P. NJ, and had a New Years
party. Mrs. Carter, the president,
greeted the members. There was
an interesting musical program as
follows: Vocal solo, Tick Tick
Took" Bernard Hamblen, Miss
Pauline Pryor, accompanied by
Mrs. Marion Coverdale; instru-
mental solo, "Silvery Echoes" Al
bert Wood, Miss Florence Corrie;
Rotations, Miss Dorothy Moffett;
vocal solos, THE Rosary and
"Genevieve," Mrs. Frank Hynson,
accompanied by Miss Mary Hyn-
son; piano solo, "A La Bien Aimee"
Edouard Schutt, Mrs. Marion Gov
erdale. Letters were read from
Stockley Colony and Smyrna
Kings Daughters acknowledging
contributions from the club for
their work. Refreshments were
served. The club meeting for
January 8, at 8 o'clock, chairman,
Mrs. F. F. Evans, a pleasant sur
prise as follows:
A MAKE BELIEVE GARDEN PARTY
Guests-Trees and shrubs of Holy Writ,
Some of the 400"
The outcastes,
Wild scents and subtle essences of
Palestine,
Flowers of song and story
Some wood nymphs.
What do we plant, when we plant
a tree?
Music
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
JEWELL, STATE DETECTIVE
Appointed by Governor Buck to
Succeed Detective Messicl<, Resigned

Governor G. Douglass Buck yes
terday, announced the appointment
of Elmer c. Jewell a member of
the State Police force at the Penny
Hill station, to be State Detective
to succeed Freeman E. Messick,
who resigned recently. Jewell has
been a member of the State Police
fore for several years and lives at
Claymont. The appointment is for
the uneXpired term of Messick and
will expire in March, 1888. Mes
sick resigned following a probe of
an alleged rum-running conspir-
acy. There were a number of ap-
plicants for the position from all
parts of the county. The place
pays a salary of S24O0 a year
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Rev. w. j. Bone, Pastor, AnnOunc-
es Services for Week and Sunday
Communion service will be held
in the Church on Sunday morning
at IL o'clock. Evening preaching
service at 7.3O; Sunday School will
meet in the Chapel at 10 a. m.
Preparatory service in the chapel
this evening at 7.30. The Mite
Society will meet tomorrow. Thurs
day, evening, at 7.30, with Mrs.
John P. Hudson.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
JIM ALICE, OWN DETECTIVE
Dover Publisher and Lawyer Dis
covers Man Tampering With Car

Dover PubIISher ana Lawyer us
covers Man Tampering With Car
James F. Alice, Jr., owner and
editor of the Dover state Sentin-
Ell, as well as Dover lawyer,
proved himself a detective Satur-
day night. Some days ago his
automobile was stolen from in
front of his office but was recov-
cred the next day. While walking
toward the Office Saturday night
at the corner Of State street and
the Dover Green, Mr.. Alice heard
a car engine being started and be
came suspicious Investigating he
discovered it was his car. He
sprinted across the Green just in
time to see a man in his car trying
to start it. Opening the door, he
caught a young man at the wheel
He grabbed the young man, pulled
him out of the car and took him
inside of his office, where he held
him until officers, arrived who
placed him under arrest and took
him to the Kent county jail where
he is being held for a hearing. He
gave his name as Harvey Biddle
of Wyoming.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
SMYRNA ROTARY CLUB NEWS
Three Dover ROtarians Visit Smyr-
ma Club and Give Hopeful Outlook

The Smyrna Rotary Club met
last Thursday evening at the Way
side Inn, Rynear Slaughter, presi-
dent, presided. c. L. Harmonson,
chairman of the program commit
tee, presented a program of much
interest. Experience was the sub
ject for the evening and fellow Ro-
tarians F. c. Bancroft, A. B.
Thomas and L. L. Layton of Do
yer club were the speakers. The
speakers being business men who
come into contact with large
number of clients daily, gave very
interesting reports of their person
al contacts and the effect on bust
ness during the past year. 1882
was predicted as the beginning Of
a new area of prosperity. Modern
apple culture in contrast to pro-
duction fifty years ago was dis
cussed. The travels of a business
man and changes noted in Hotel
service were given. DR.. c. G. Har-
monson read an article copied
from Harpers Weekly under date
of October 10, 1857. The present
depression and the prospects for
the new year were infinitely given,
although the article written seven
ty four years ago, it revealed that
our nation was at that time going
through an extended period of de-
preston. Visiting Rotarians: F.
G. Bancroft, L. L. Layton, Jr., and
A. B. Thomas, all of Dover Club.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
death RECORD OF WEEK
CoI samuel A. Wallen of Near
CentrevilIe, Md, Brother of II.
Y. Wallen, Passes Away

Col. Samuel A. Wallen, aged 81
of near Centreville, Md, a brother
Of Robert Y. Wallen, Clayton grain
broker whose home is in Smyrna,
died last Thursday at the home of
bic sor-in-law. H. T. McGinnes at
Machines Corner, near that town.
He was buried at the Crumpton,
MIDI cemetery last Saturday.
colonel Wallen for 20 years was
a member of the Farm Committee
Of the Board of Trustees of the
Oueen Annes County Home and
for many years was recognized as
one of the largest and most infiu-
entail apple growers on the East
ern Shore of Maryland. Apples
from the Wallen estate were al
wavs considered of the finest quail
itv and brought handsome prices.
He was an ardent Democrat and
represented Queen Annes County
in the Maryland Legislature, dur
mo the time that the late John F.
Goodwin was recognized as the
county leader. For the past sew
eral months his sight had been
rapidly failing, and over a week
ago he suffered a stroke of par
aIvsis from which he never rallied.
He is survived by two sons: Nor
man Wallen, Wilmington, Md; John
Wallen. Crumpton, Nd, and five
daughters: Mrs. John Nickerson,
Chestertown, Md; Mrs. James
Woodan, Mrs. John Bowers and
Miss Ada Wallen, Crumpton, and
Mrs. Harry McGinnes, Church Hill,
Nd. He is also survived by one
brother. r. Y. Wallen Of Smyrna,
and one sister, Mrs. John Coppage
Of Camden, N. ].
Death of Mrs. @. w. Shannon
Mrs. Mary Shannon, aged Al,
wife Of Charles Wesley Shannon,
who conducts a filling station at
WOOQSlQG, d LII 114Cl lG04dCll VI
Smyrna, died at the Kent General
Hospital at Dover, Saturday night
from injuries received when she
was struck by an automobile
while crossing the state highway
On Saturday morning. Mrs. Shan
non was 50 badly injured, having
one leg severed, that she died
without having gained conscious
ness. The automobile by which
she was struck was driven by Mrs.
E. z. Poole of fredericksburg, Md.
Mrs. Poole was arrested by Police
man King on a charge Of assault
and battery and held under $500
bail to await the result of Mrs.
Shannon's injuries, and when Mrs.
Shannon died, she was taken be-
fore Magistrate Ridgely at Cam
den, Delaware, on Monday and
charged with manslaughter. Mrs.
Shannon leaves, besides her hus-
band, four children, namely, Franc
es, Mildred, Ralph, and Donald, all
of Woodside.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
MISS ESTHER SHORT WEBS
Becomes the Wife of Raymond Nj.
Cooke, Both of SMYRNA, at EIktOn

Miss Esther Short, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey Short of
near Smyrna, became the bride of
Raymond Medford Cooke, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas o. Cooke of
near Smyrna last Tuesday evening,
December 90. The ceremony was
performed at 6 p. M, at the par
sonage of the Asbury NJ. E.Church,
Elkton, Md, with Rev. Morgan of
ficiating. Their only attendant
was Miss Helen Cooke, sister of
the groom.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
DIR. CANDEE TO TALK HERE
Will Give Address on the Proposed
State Welfare Home in SMYRNA

Tomorrow, Thursday evening,
January 7th, DIR. Charles Candee,
OF Wilmington, president of the
State Welfare Commission, who
viii be here as a guest of the
Smyrna Rotary Club, will address
an open meeting to be held at the
FIRE House. DR.. Candee will talk
TO Smyrna residents on the pro-
posed Welfare Home to be locat-
ed at Lake Como. DR.. Candee
VIII discuss many problems of in
terest to local citizens. Location
OF building will be described, hous-
ing facilities for the guests and
proposed landscape work for beau
tigcation of the grounds. The pub
nc is invited to attend this meet
ing.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
MYSTERY OVER FINDING Of
DEAD BODY Of NEGRO SOLVED
EVIDENCE DUCK CREEK MUIR
DER WAS TO GET INSURANCE
Hattie Banks, Her Daughter Elsie
Banks, George Woods and John
Hennegan, all Colored, Arrested

The solution of the murder of
William James H. Taylor, alias
Shorty, - negro, on the night of
December 10, last, near Smyrna,
on the New Castle county line.
whose body, as reported in last
weeks Times as having been found
in the Ryan pear orchard, Tues
day of last week, has been solved
by the arrest and Imprisonment
Saturday of Hattie Banks, George
Alexander Woods and John Hen
negan, alias Reds" all negroes,
by State Police officers, Sergeant
Powell, Corporal Conrad and Pri-
vate Smith. Elsie Banks, a daugh-
ter of Hattie Banks, was also TAX
en- into custody as an accessory,
but allowed to return to her home
near Smyrna. THE story told by
the two Banks women and Woods,
in the office of Deputy Attorney
General Melvin Hopkins, at Dover,
Saturday night, rivals some of the
most cold-blooded murders ever
committed" says the Morning
News. Hattie Banks is said to
have told of wanting to get rid of
Taylor, alias Shorty" because of
his I'll treatment and also for the
insurance on his life The police
say she admitted planning the
murder Of Taylor and offering
Woods money to do away with
him, of Woods refusing to do the
deed but suggested Hennegan,
whom, the Banks woman said,
committed the crime. Elsie Banks
corroborated her mother in the
story of the killing, as did Woods,
the police said. Hennegan, when
questioned as to the murder and
the part he had in it, denied the
killing but admitted helping NOV
ing the body of Taylor to a pear
orchard near the Banks house. The
Banks woman stated that she paid
Hennegan, alias, REDS" ten dol
lars to kill Taylor. After the con-
LESSONS Of Hattie Banks and
Woods they, with Hennegan, Were
taken to the New Castle Count.
Workhouse, where they will be
kept until given hearing later in
the week" At the coroner's in
quest held in Wilmington on Mon
day night by jury summoned by
Coroner Ahern, John Hennegan,
Hattie Banks and George Woods,
all colored residents of Smyr-
ma, were held without bail on
charges of the murder of William
Taylor, colored. According to a
confession Hennegan is alleged to
have made to Sergeant Powell, but
which he refused to sign, the muir
der Of Taylor was committed by
him at the instigation Of the wom-
an, who offered him $40 for the
act. She is said to have had Tay-
lor insured for $1,000 Woods is
said to have been present at the
time the murder was plotted. The
three, who have been held at the
Dover Jail, were taken to Whining
ton and following the inquest were
taken to the New Castle County
Workhouse.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
KENT JAIL TO STAY IN DOVER
Levy Court Selects Site ON Water
Street in Dover Town Limits

Question as to where the new
Kent County Jail will be located
was settled yesterday afternoon
when the Levy Court decided that
it should be built within the town
limits. The place selected is the
Spence lot, on West Water street.
This decision ends long contro-
versy over the selection of site
for the Jail. 1t is expected that
bids for the construction of the
building will be received within a
short time as the old Jail has been
purchased by the State and Will
become a part of the new capitol
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
FIRE NEAR COLLINS BEACH
Outbuildings on Farm of Miss
Margaret Collins Are Burned

Smyrna firemen were called to
a fire last Wednesday afternoon at
the farm of Miss Margaret Collins
of this town, near Collins Beach.
The farm was tenanted by Ray
mond Morris. The origin of the
fire, which totally destroyed two
large barns and a cowshed, is I'M
known. When Smyrna firemen
reached the scene of the fire, the
fire had gained too much Roadway
for anything to be saved. There
was no loss of live stock and the
firemen succeeded in saving the
dwelling house from catching fire
and other buildings. Miss Collins
estimates her loss about $4,000
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
ASBURY VI. E. CHURCH NOTES

Rev. Essell p. Thomas, Pastor, An
nounces Services for Next Sunday
Sunday School next Sunday will
meet at the usual hour, 10 a. m.
Morning worship will be at IL a.
m, and Mr.. Thomas will speak.
Both choirs will render sacred Sc
lections. In the evening at 6.45,
Miss Betty Edmondson will have
charge of the Epworth League de-
votions. The topic for discussion
will be Gaining Happiness With
Others" The cabinet of the Ep-
worth League will meet at the
home of Francis Yeates Monday
evening at s o'clock. At the ev-
ening service Sunday at 7.30, Mr.
Thomas will again speak
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
CONTROL OF SMUT IN WHEAT
Seed Wheat Treatment Proves
Successful With Kent Farmers

OF the many projects of a long
time nature which have been in
Guided in the program of work
for Kent county, none has shown
wider spread of influence than
the campaign which was started
in the summer of 1925 relative to
the treatment of seed wheat for
the control of sinking smut. This
project was organized on state
wide basis under the direction of
DR.. ]. F. Adams, plant pathologist
of the University of Delaware and
the State Board of Agriculture, in
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
ST. PETERS CHURCH NOTES

Rev. Frederick NJ Barton, Rector,
Announces Services for the Week
Rev. Frederick Marx Barton,
rector, announces that this evening
at 7.30, Litany service and address.
Sunday neXt-730 a. M, celebra-
ton of the Holy Communion; 10
a. M, Church School; IL a. M,
Morning Prayer and sermon, SER
mon subject, THE Manifestation
of Christ to the Gentiles." 7.3O
p. M, evening prayer and sermon.
Smyrna times., 1932-01-06
WEDDING LOCAL INTEREST
Miss Beatrice Wright Becomes
Bride of Carl Porter of Clayton


Bride of Carl Porter of Clayton
Miss Beatrice M. Wright, daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. c. Wright,
of Downes Chapel, and Amos Carl
Porter, near Clayton, were married
at 7.30 o'clock Saturday night, De-
cember 26th, at the home of the
brides parents, by the Rev. c. w.
Spry, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Clayton. The
couple was attended by the brides
brother and sister-in-law, Mr.. and
Mrs. Stanley Wright, of Smyrna.
The bride wore peach satin, trim
med with old Duchess lace, made
with tight bodice, and long full
skirt. Her slippers were green
satin. She carried a bouquet of
sweet peas. Following the cere-