davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
TO CHANGE LAW
FOR KIDNAPPING
House at Dover Passes Bill
For Either Death or Life
Imprisonment
PRESENT LAW LENIENT

BY unanimous vote the House
yesterday afternoon passed Repre-
sentative Rees' bill making the
penalty for kidnapping in Delaware
death or life Imprisonment, in the
discretion of the jury, and fixing
the same penalty for an accessory
before or after the fact. Of the
81 members present 80 of them
voted in favor of the measure.
Representative Pryor, of Blackbird
on the roll call, answered not vot-
ing, explaining that he had con-
scientious objections to the i'm
position of the death penalty.
Stewart Lynch, House attorney,
explained the measure and several
of the members expressed surprise
after he had informed them that
under the existing law the penalty
for kidnapping an adult in this
State is only two years in prison,
although it is death for adbucting
a child under Is years of age. 1t
had been generally understood the
present law made capital punish
ment the penalty for all kidnapping
Mr.. Pryor expressed the belief the
construction of the law was too
strict and to illustrate cited a case
of an older brother who kidnapped
his younger brother who had been
taken from an orphanage and
adopted by a family that abused
the child and overworked him. Mr..
Pryor asked if the brother who
took the child to educate and care
for him, because he could not gain
possession of him due to the adop-
ton laws, should be sentenced to
death for kidnapping. Mr.. Lynch
explained the new adoption laws
provided a remedy in such case
as this and the proposed kidnapping
bill before the House made it
clear what could be defined as
malicious kidnapping. Representa-
tive Rees said many residents had
informed him this bill should be
passed because of the number of
wealthy people who reside in Del
aware who are entitled to live in
peace and security. He said the
two year penalty was too small
and that a person who kidnaps an
other has no right to live among
decent people. Several members
expressed approval of the measure
and saw no objections to the ex-
IRENE penalties provided.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
FORMER DOVER
COP CONVICTED
James A. Selvy, Ex-Chief of
Police, Found Guilty of
Beating Prisoner
FINED $500 BY COURT

Former Police Chief James A.
Selvy of Dover. was convicted in
Kent County General Sessions
Court yesterday on charge of as
sault and battery on the late Del
bert H. Banning whom he arrested
in the Office of Magistrate w. D.
Burton, at the magistrates request
on January 10. Banning, it was
alleged was badly beaten by Selby
when he resisted arrest. He died
several days after being liberated
from the Dover Jail where he had
been held over night. Selvy, after
conviction. was fined $500 in de-
fault of which he would be requir-
ed to serve four months in Jail.
Late yesterday Selvy paid the fine
and costs. Selvy had elected to be
tried before the court instead of a
jury and Chief Justice Daniel ].
Layton and Associate Judge Rich
ard S. Rodney and David ]. Rein
hardt sat on the bench. The State
called IA witnesses who testified to
what transpired after Magistrate
w. D. Burton had ordered Ban
ning's arrest when he is alleged to
have become abusive in the Office
Of the magistrate where he had
been summoned in regard to civil
action against him. 1t was testi-
fed that Banning was intoxicated
when he entered the magistrates
office and when he was remon-
ning's arrest when he is alleged to
home and return later he became
abusive and his arrest was order
ed. A number testified that Selvy
struck Banning when he resisted
being placed in the patrol wagon.
The defense produced witnesses to
dispute the testimony that Selvy
struck Banning while he was
handcuffed and placed in the patrol
wagon The trial has been attract
ing unusual interest and the court
room has been filled to capacity.
The state was represented by At
torney General Percy w. Green
and Deputy Attorney General
Storey and the defendant by Char
les Terry. The plea of the State
is that undue force was used in
arresting Banning, who died on
January IA, 1888, four days after
the alleged assault. The cause of
death at that time was given by
the coroner's jury as alcoholism
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
DUAL HIGHWAY
THRU SMYRNA
Bids Will Be Opened March
% For IL Miles of Road
Construction Here
GIVE WORK TO MANY

Interest is being manifested
here in the awarding of the CON
tract for building II miles Of the
dual highway thru Smyrna. Bids
will be opened Wednesday, March
28th, along with two other State
projects, the widening of West and
Washington Streets in Whining
ton, marking the beginning of new
North and South bound routes
through the city; the other is a
two-mile fill over the marsh as the
initiation of a solid road to Port
Mahon, a natural Delaware River
harbor which is expected to de-
velop into a valuable State asset.
On the Smyrna and Wilmington
contracts employment will be
through the Federal Re-Employ-
ment Bureau with men being hired
both in the Dover and Wilmington
branch and on the Port Mahon fill
local workers will be used by the
successful bidder. The dual high
way will take up where it leaves
off, it is understood on the north
side of the Duck Creek bridge and
continue thru Smyrna past the
Presbyterian and Odd Fellows
Cemetery, the State Welfare Home
and Belmont Hall, to the intersec-
ton of the Leipsic Road and then
widen out on its way to Cheswold
Corner and Dover. The north and
south-bound dual roads will not be
so wide apart thru Smyrna to Tip
Top Garage but it will be wide
enough to separate the two roads
distinctly, with a plot for grass
and shrubbery in between. The
bridges at Duck Creek and Lake
Como, Smyrna, have been widened
and are practically ready for the
building of the dual road. When
this job is completed it will make
quite a change in appearance to
the Boulevard route thru Smyrna,
one which, it is contended, will be
more beautiful and a credit to
Smyrna as well as the State.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
so VISIT SMYRNA GRANGE
Contingent From Down State En-
ioy Hospitality of Smyrna Grange

Contingent From Down State En-
joy Hospitality of Smyrna Grange
A visitation program was pre-
sented by Trophy Grange of FELTON,
at the meeting of Smyrna Grange
last Wednesday night. There were
so visitors from Trophy Grange,
Is from Capital Grange, Dover,
and five from Fruitland Grange,
and a large attendance from
Smyrna. The program comprised:
Song by the visiting Grange; reci-
tation. Miss Stevenson; saxophone
solo with piano accompaniment;
agricultural talk by MI. Rice; play
let, 1.-THE Physical Torture Club;
reading, What Does Woman Get
Out of the Granger" read by the
lecturer; remarks by Master G.. j.
Meredith of Trophy Grange; song
by the Grange. Smyrna Grange
will take part in the State dra-
matte contest. The New Castle
contest will be held in Newark on
March %; Kent county, March %
at Caesar Rodney School; Sussex
county on Thursday, March % at
Milford Grange Hall.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
HIGH
SCHOOL NOTES
Basket Ball Season Comes To
Close By Smyrna Winning
Over Delaware City
OTHER SCHOOL MATTERS

The basketball season came to a
close with game at Delaware
City last Friday night. Smyrna de-
feating Delaware City in both
games. The score of the boys
game was 21-17 and the girls
score was 1925. In summing up
the basketball season, we find that
out of the ten girls games played
Smyrna won seven and lost three.
The girls defeated Middletown Del
aware City, the Alumni, Dover.
Caesar Rodney and Harrington.
They were defeated by Caesar
Rodney, Middletown, and Harring-
ton. The boys team had a sched-
ule of eleven games. They won
four and lost seven. The follow
ing teams were defeated by Smyr-
ma boys: Delaware City. Dover,
Petersburg Vocational School
Smyrna was defeated by Middle
town. Caesar Rodney, Harrington,
Dover Number of points scored
by Smyrna boys, 201; number of
points scored by opponents, 200.
Although Smyrna did not win as
many games as their opponents,
the total number of points exceed
ed that of their opponents. Miss
Maud Lewis, Field Representative
of the Junior Red Cross, spoke to
the assembly on Tuesday. Miss
Lewis gave an interesting talk on
the work of the Junior Division of
the Red Cross and presented an in
teresting exhibit The date of the
Senior Play is Friday, March %.
The play will start promptly at 8
p. M, in the high school auditor
ium. Tickets are on sale by all
members of the Senior Glass and
may be reserved at Jones' Drug
Store. The banking results for
March 13, are as follows:
Attendance, $50; depositors, 81;
amount deposited, S2490; total
amount deposited this school year,
S688.O3.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
SNOW AND COLD
DAMAGE ROADS
of the Secondary or Ma
cadam Roads Are Now
In Need of Repair
CONCRETE ROADS TOO

The winter weather of this and
the past month, with its freeze
and thaws, and heavy SHOWS, has
been playing havoc with the ma
cadam roads about Smyrna. The
comparatively new road from
Smyrna to Bayview, known as the
Lighthouse road, has been so cut
with ruts that autos have had to
be pulled out. Other roads have
been more or less damaged all over
the state and the Highway Depart
ment, like the average citizen, has
been hard hit and had its earn
ings decreased. In discussing the
damage done the roads of the
State by the storms this year, w.
w. Mack, Chief Engineer of the
Department, stated that not since
the organization of Highway De-
partment has the weather ever in
jured the roads so badly. This
damage has bene especially notice
able in the secondary roads thru
out the State although the con-
crete roads have also been harm
ed, the real damage probably not
appearing for several months.
This is why the drastic order has
been issued cutting down the axle
of trucks to 1900 pounds. Last
Augustus rain storm started the
heavy road damages just as the
fiscal year had started and this
winter has added heavy toll of
with more to be ex-
pected as the thawing out process
takes place. In the summer many
bridges were washed out, road
beds were undermined and for sew
eral days general damage was
done in all parts of the State; this
winters SHOWS and extreme cold
has also left it's toll and the
force of the Depart
ment throughout the State will be
busy for several months restoring
the roads to their former condi-
ton. Cost of removing snow has
been quite costly because of the
constant repetition of the storms.
With the revenue to the Depart
ment cut down by a lowering of
license fees, general
overhauling of the budget is in
prospect.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
SMYRNA TOWN CHARTER
First Bill to Pass Legislature Last
Week Was to Amend 1t

The first bill to pass both
branches of the Legislature since
it resumed its session last Tuesday
was given the unanimous support
of the Senate Thursday afternoon,
after having been passed by the
House last December before the
9O-day adjournment. 1t is a mea-
sure introduced by Representative
Matthew v. Ford and amends the
charter of Smyrna to extend from
two to three years the time for the
collection of taxes. Under this act
a lien for non-payment of taxes
cannot now be placed against a
property until three years after
they are due whereas the old law
made it possible to place the lien
at the end of two years.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
Mrs. Carroll, Wife of Late j. E.
Carroll, School Superintendent

Mrs. Georgia Carroll, aged 88,
widow of James E. Carroll, known
here and all over the State as at
one time Superintendent of the
Schools of Kent County, died at
her home on Reed Street, Dover.
Wednesday evening. Since her
husbands death she had been MAX
ing her home with Mrs. A. G.. Mas
sey. The announcement of her
death was received here with sor-
row. During the days when DIR.
Carroll brought the Teachers In
stitute to Smyrna, she came with
her husband and remained in
Smyrna for all the sessions. She
made many friends here who never
forgot her Mrs. Carroll was a
native of Caroline County, Mary
land, and lived at Greensboro be-
fore going to Dover. She is sur
vived by relatives in both states.
She was a charter member of the
Peoples Church in Dover, where
services took place Friday morn
ing. Interment was made at
Greensboro. Maryland.
w. j. CarrOw, Formerly of Smyrna
Willard j. Carrow, eldest son of
the late Mr. and Mrs. Theodore
Carrow, formerly of Smyrna, pass
ed away last Wednesday in New
York City. Mr. Carrow was SO
years of age and his death was due
to a heart condition. His early
life was spent in and about Smyr-
CONTINUED on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
TIME
FOR MUSKRATS
Open Season For Trapping
From March 10 to March
81 LOCALIZED by Assembly
ONLY NEEDS COWS o. X.

Representative Cleaver's bill to
extend the open season for trap
ping muskrats for this year only
passed the Senate body by a vote
of 8 to 5. The bill requires the
approval of Governor Buck before
1t can become a law. Under the
present law, the open season for
trapping muskrats in tidewater
throughout the State ended Satur-
day, and the open season for en-
banked meadows in New Castle
county closes March 20. The
Cleaver measure would extend the
season for tidewater trapping
throughout the State until March
20, and for embarked meadows in
New Castle county until March 81.
After Senator Wharton had re-
ported the bill favorably out of the
committee on fish, oysters and
game, Senator Davis motion to
suspend the rules was carried, by
vote of 10 to 3, Senators Keith,
McCaulley and Simonton opposing
1t. Representative Cleaver ex-
planned that he had been requested
by some marsh owners and trap
pers to introduce the bill. He
stated that the extreme cold
weather kept the marshes frozen
over and that from the latter part
CONTINUED on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
PASTURE AND
HAY CROPS HIT
Farmers See Shortage Due to
Last August Storm and
Other Causes
SOME HELPFUL PLANS

AS the result of the storm which
swept this section of the country
last August destroying crops to
the extent of thousands of dollars.
and one of the most severe winters
which Delaware has ever exper-
fenced, no doubt many farmers
either have been or will be short of
feed for their livestock, and this is
true especially with reference to
pasture and hay crops, according
to recent Investigations by Kent
County Agent Russell E. Wilson,
who has been promoting a hay and
pasture crop campaign in this
county for the past several years.
Farmers are often confronted with
a hay or pasture shortage which
may not be realized until spring,
and this condition may be due to
q crop failure, lack of available
acreage on which to seed such
crops, or to some other reasons be-
yond their control. There are
some crops such as rye, vetch and
crimson clover which may be seed
ed in the fall and which will furn-
sh hay and pasture during the
early part of the next season, but
he pasturing period is limited to
he early part of the season and
he hay yields may not be suf-
icient for the needs of the farm.
For the benefit of those farmers
Who are in need Of livestock feed.
md who are planning to seed pas
.ure and hay crops this spring and
Summer, some helpful suggestions
n REGARD to these crops have been
prepared by Prof. George L. |
Continued on Page FSvs)
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
"HENRY'S WEDDING" HERE
An Event That Furnished Enter
tainment and Aid to Auxiliary

tainment and Aid to Auxiliary
"Henry's Wedding, sponsored
by the American Legion Auxiliary
of Smyrna. was held at the Como
Theatre on Thursday and Friday
evenings of last week under the ex-
cellent direction of Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert C. Thoresen of the Uni
versal Producing Company. The
whole production was presented by
our local talent and considering the
short time at their disposal for re-
hearsing, they acquitted them
selves well. "Henry's Wedding
was a story with a good plot and
held the attention of the audience
throughout The leading charact-
ers were Robert Maloney, Mrs.
Helen Manlove, Henry Price, Hilda
Armstrong. Nelson Everhart, En-
ma Scott, Francis Yeates, Helen
Pawn, Lester Goldsborough. Mrs.
Ethel Morris, Elmer P. Corrie, Will
liam Roe, Jr., Mrs. Elizabeth
Knots, Harold Lassell, Reynolds
Stevenson, James Gentry William
Mrs. Grace CARTS, and
James Everhart. Considerable
spice was given the performance
by several musical comedy num-
bers that We're well rendered. They
were the Brethren and Sisters" of
Mystic Shrine" Chorus Girls, and
he 'Beaus and Bellies of 1890"
The Auxiliary cleared $4,000 from
he performance.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
SEN. TOWNSEND HAS OFFER
Democrats Back Him For $4,000
Post on Federal Insurance Board

United States Senator John G..
Townsend. Jr., of this State, has
been offered a position as the lone
Republican member of the three
member Federal Insurance Deposit
Board, at $4,000 a year for six
wears. it was learned yesterday
from Washington. Solid Demo
cratic backing in the Senate for
the appointment has been guaran-
teed Senator Townsend. Accept
ance would mean he would have to
resign from the Senate and that
Governor Buck would have to ap-
point a successor. However, it is
not believed he will accept. Sem
ator Townsend was offered the po-
sition through the Treasury De-
partment on the basis of his bank
ing experience and his experience
on the Senate Banking and Cur
rency Committee.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
SMYRNA ROTARY CLUB MEET
Hears Address on shingles" From
Trees to Finished Product

At the meeting of the Smyrna
Rotary Club on Thursday evening
at the Wayside Inn, Reginald Titus
of New York City, a guest of Ry-
near w. Slaughter, of Clayton,
gave an illustrated talk on the
Single industry from trees in the
forest to the finished product. DR..
Mccoy, veterinarian for the u. S.
of Agriculture in Del
aware, was the guest of George
Robinson.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
GOTH CENTURY CLUB

To Celebrate Delaware Day" with
a Program Next Friday Afternoon
The Twentieth Century Club of
Smyrna will celebrate Delaware
Day" at their meeting on Friday,
March 16. The program will be
in charge of Mrs. William D. Hud-
son, chairman of history. the
theme of the program being the
History of Delaware. Notes of
historical interest of your state
will be discussed and such an in
teresting subject deserves a large
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
ASBURY ADULT MOVEMENT
Meeting Sunday Evening to Be
Addressed by State Speakers

Meeting Sunday Evening to Be
Addressed by State Speakers
The Sunday evening service at
Asbury will be devoted to the
great adult movement being con-
Quoted by the church. The Mems
Baraca Glass, the Willing Work
ers' Class and all other adult Bible
classes will attend the service at
7.30 at which time the officials of
the Delaware State Federation of
Adult Bible classes will pay an Of
fetal visit and conduct the service
Addresses will be delivered by
of the State organiza-
ton. There will be special music
by the Glee Club, Senior choir, and
a large chorus of men.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
4 B BIDS FOR
| EDITIONS to Be v, BUILT
|,r.N' to $4,000
,pr OFFERED
| COS ARE OFFERED

!, BOARD Of Education roI
3 iasluding Warner W.
',uTas, besides members
s y Special Dlst III
siiding Commission, mel net
Monday to open bids for or
J. $500 100000 addition =, t. ?
High School. The
s'rI,bss the bulk OF tne
y tss pwA of the Federal
= + furnishes the balance.
s' / / understood. call for
iusn the old school oulia-
N fifty years ago; extend
II wing and entire new
.srr South Street, an ad-
III will give a command
.,s,rance and complete me
addition to the whole
',,,t will make it one of the
D and most up-to-date
'tsrss ia the State. There
i bids for the general con-
| i've for the plumbing, heat
! ventilation. and five Tor
'.,,-,sI work. The bids were
lIy favorable and from @ an
6ors there will be sufncienl
i erect these additions as
ly planned, without making
.A,,tious 1t is estimated
,,,ire nroiect for making
n and remodellfng the
| liant will cost nearly $780,
NJ final awarding of the
n me successful bidders will
u public after the bids have
Er,lscked by the architects
ssusers. They will report
at a special meeting
i commission on Friday,
sixteenth. The bids
! from sl77,378 to S212,897.
bidder seems to be the
h Construction Co., of Viii
u. The estimates were turn
q 70 the secretary of the
! Bard Of Education for tab
md The contract will be
hi At a later meeting. The
b School Building Commits
ANXIOUS to get work started
Smyrna School addition as
1.-THE Spring as possible. The
bidders and their bids fol-
HiHp LANCE, Audubon, N. j.,
Cantera Construction
|ry Wilmington, s177,378;
obstruction Company, Phil
v sls3,3s1;; A.W. Funk and
p! Philadelphia, s183,214;
fH Francis Company, Will
n sls5,SO; Northeast Con-
"a Company, Baltimore,
Walter Kiddie Construc-
npaay, New York, s191, 900;
huhtson Company, Will
p M2-S97; William Steele
Company, Philadelphia,
T. H. Barton, Inc, Phila-
rs,7@.
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
NJ STAR PARTY ORGAN
ascrats Join With Other
- n Accepting 1t

M % members of the
STATE Committee in at
Wednesday night, the
u the Kent County
~n al Dover with John
y, chairman presiding and
1 matter of acquiring a
i0r the disseminating
10 activities of the Dem
Nly' A committee which
'1aly appointed by Mr..
sDnaisd a report which
The report was
a.. ~ullniltee Recommend
s 's's Committee to accept
&u'n Of the Star Pub
suany in the matter of
4 'sssspaper in Wilmington
81. y =. Sponsorship of the
- State Committee" It
ss , the recommendation
as ! lald before the three
q ! and their CO.
'af'yng on a cam
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
|"aRAS CONSTABLE
"''f ks-appointed BY
|, "a'y Levy Court

y f ke-appointed by
J, : s'aty Levy Court
s s s'sss.pl Of Smyrna, who
ss ,ss Of this district
~ ' ~ has again been
coa ~ another term BY
49,, q Kent County,
c ,a'd District (Kent ss
s4ts , = s ". Graham, a
~ %, . Kent County, has
NJ gan gan a constable for for
ss "asF appointments
Y Man, sc. . Frank P. Col
aa s,,,s J. cubbage, Do
6edr. ''ie. John Evans
hgs,a Tenth ,ssa district,
W also iu The
follows: csas'.. Bridge
Villain 't g 1 Foster, Lit
MN $. Reed, dat, At B asb-
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14

Lester Lawton, 14-year-old stu
dent at the Hartly School, was
awarded trip to st. Petersburg,
Fla, as a guest of Babe Ruth.
Young Lawton was one of the
winners in the selection of the All
Stars of the 1898 worlds series
teams and a 50-word essay on
why Selected This Team"
Smyrna times., 1934-03-14
Fire at Horace Tilghman's Home

A chimney fire at the home of
Horace Tilghman on Main Street
was extinguished yesterday morn
ing by the Smyrna firemen. Very
little damage.