davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
FREE NEGRO IN
.WOMAN'S DEATH
Sam Jones of Princess Ann,
Charged With Murder of
Mrs. Margaret Brumbley
DAZED BY THE VERDICT

Sam Jones, SIS year old negro,
charged with the murder on New
Years Eve of Mrs. Margaret
Brumbley of Marion Station, near
Princess Ann, Md, was acquitted
in the Somerset County Court yes
terday. Jones appeared dazed
when the verdict was returned. He
had to be told twice that he was
free. There was only a slight
rustic among the spectators in the
court room as the decision of the
jury was announced. Before the
verdict was read, Judge Robert F.
Duer cautioned against any dem
onstration, declaring it would be
ruled contempt of court. Judge
Joseph L. Bailey, who also sat on
the case, thanked the court room
for the orderly way in which it re-
ceived the verdict. The jury's YER
dict of mot guilty" was returned
shortly before $50 p. M, after a
elaboration of about three hours.
the foreman returned to ask a
legal question, which was not
made public. In charging the jury,
Judge Duer said it could return
one of five verdicts: Not guilty:
first degre murder; murder with
out capital punishment; second de-
gree murder; and manslaughter.
From the witness stand yesterday
morning Jones had denied any
knowledge of the murder and pre-
scented an alibi showing he was at
the home of Frank Borden, who
lives near the Brumbley home, at
the time doctors estimated Mrs.
Brumbley was killed. Examina-
ton of defense witnesses occupied
most of the second days session
before the case went to the jury.
The State completed its case early
yesterday, adding few details to
Mondays recital that brought the
story from the finding of Mrs
Brumbley's body by her husband
late New Years Eve to the discov-
cry a week later Of dark-stained
pants in Jones home. Jones adj
mitted the pants were his, but
could not explain how the stains.
presumably blood, came there
Borden and three other witnesses
corroborated Jones' alibi that he
was at Borden's home the night Of
the murder.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
ENDS LIFE AS
HUSBAND EATS
Sudlersville Woman Uses a
String to Fire Shotgun as
She Lay in Bed
BEEN ILL FOR SOME TIME

Sudlersville, Maryland, February
Mrs. Florence Holden Benton,
age IS, of Sudlersville, Md, ended
her life with shotgun Friday
morning about z o'clock in her
nome near Sudlersville while her
breakfast downstairs. Benton had
gotten his breakfast because of his
Wlfe's illness and was sitting at
the table eating, when he heard
tne report of the gun. Rushing to
the bedroom upstairs he found his
Wife had fired the gun by tying a
piece of string around the trigger
and resting the butt of the fire.
arm against the foot of the bed.
Inc load had crashed through her
Skull causing instantaneous death.
Benton at once called for a physi-
can and notified the authorities.
IT. e. II. Metcalf, acting as physi-
clan to Coroner S. Charles Walls.
Of Centreville, after examining the
woman and the effects about the
bedroom, the physician advised the
coroner that it was a case of sui
eide, verdict of which was rend-
ered. Mrs. Benton had been in
poor health for some time, and it
was believed that her condition
mad affected her mind.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
FIX DELAWARE
N. ]. BOUNDARY
Supreme Court of United
States Ends Dispute by De-
claring 12-Mile Circle Valid
n. ]. WINS BAY DIVIDE

The long-standing boundary dis
pute between New Jersey and Del
aware to determine jurisdiction
over portions of the Delaware
River and Bay was given a COM
promise settlement in an opinion
delivered to the Supreme Court of
the United States by Justice Car
doza. The decision upheld the find
ing of a special master that the
Delaware boundary along the Del
aware River side was the low
water mark on the New Jersey
shore within the radius of a
twelve-mile circle around New
Castle. New Jersey filed excep-
tons to this finding, claiming the
center of the channel as the boun-
dairy. In the Delaware River and
bay below the circle the court also
upheld the special master, estab-
fishing the boundary in the middle
of the channel. Delaware assert
ed the boundary should follow the
geographic center of the stream
and bay. Interest in the boundary
settlement rested in the establish
ment of jurisdiction over import
ant oyster beds. In sporting its
claims within the 12-mile circle
around New Castle, the State of
Delaware traced titles back to a
deed from the Duke of York to
William Penn, delivered on Aug
ust "a, 1852. New Jersey contest
ed the right of the Duke of York
to deed the land, but Justice Car
doza overruled the objections and
found Delaware's claim valid. The
justice ruled the title to the soil of
the lower river and bay was I'M
affected by any grant to the Duke
of York or others. He found that
up to the time when New Jersey
and Delaware became independent
states, the title to the soil under
the waters below the circle was
still in the crown of England.
When independence was achiev-
ed" he said. "the precepts to be
obeyed in the division of the wat
ers were those of international
law. international law today di-
vides the river boundaries between
the States by the middle of the
main channel, when there is one,
and not by the geographical CEN
ter, half way between the banks"
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
PLAN OF HOG
PROCESS TAX
Farmers of Kent to Hear
Further Explanation From
Federal Revenue Officer
r. E. WILSON ASSISTING

In view of the fact that so many
farmers throughout the central
and southern sections of the state
last month took advantage of the
local facilities of the Bureau of
Internal Revenue whereby the hog
processing tax could be paid in Do
yer, arrangements have been made
for a representative of this Fed
eral department to be in Dover
again on Wednesday, February ID,
for this same purpose. The In
ternal Revenue Service will be rep
resented by G. Earl Donoho, dep
uty collector, who will establish
headquarters for the day in the
office of County Agent Russell E.
Wilson on the second floor of the
Dover Postoffice building. All
farmers who have sold dressed
pork. since these Federal regula-
tons became effective and who
have not made any tax returns to
the Bureau of Internal Revenue
are requested to see Mr.. Donoho
Continued on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. James r. Galley, Minister,
Announces Services For the Week

Rev. James r. Galley, Minister,
Announces Services For the Week
The German proverb, IF 1 rest,
I rust" applies to many things be-
sides the key. If water rests, il
stagnates. If the tree rests, it
dies, for its winter state is only
half rest. If the eye rests, it
grows dim and blind If the
lungs rest, we cease to breathe.
If the heart rests, we die. What
is true living but loving? And
what is loving but growth in the
likeness of God? If we desire to
grow more like God we must work
for Him. If we desire to find our
place in the Kingdom of God we
must continue to exercise ourselv-
es and grow in the likeness of
Jesus Christ.-The weekly prayer
meeting will be held at the usual
hour on Wednesday evening. We
are continuing our study in the
Gospel of John. Let US study the
Word of God - there we find
Christ, and life! On Friday night
the Friendship Circle will meet at
the home of Miss Violet Long at
100. The weekly choir practice
will be held on Saturday evening
at 7.30. The usual services will
De held on the Sabbath: 10 a. M,
Sabbath School; II a. M, sermon
,y the minister; 6.45, Young Peo-
,le's meeting, Mr.. Harry Thomp-
'on, leader. 7.30 p. M, sermon by
he minister. On Monday night,
february 18th, the Usher's Club
will meet at the home of Mr.. Jack
talbot at 7.30.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
DR.. Luther S. Conwell, Prominent
Physician of Camden-WyOming

DR.. Luther S. Conwe.l, rs years
old, one of. the most prominent
physicians in lower Delaware, was
found dead in his bed at his home
in Camden, Monday morning. He
had not been well for several days
but his condition was not consider
ed serious. Death was attributed
to a heart attack. He was a form
er member of the Delaware Gener-
al Assembly and also executive
secretary of the State Board of
Health. DR.. Conwell spent prac-
tically all his Life in Kent county.
He graduated from jefferson Med
ical College, Philadelphia, in 1884.
and came to Kent county to prac-
tice his profession. He had been
located in Camden for considerably
more than quarter century and
his death leaves that town without
a physician. In politics DR.. Con-
well was a Republican and repre-
sented the Camden district in the
House of Representatives for one
term six years ago. Previous to
that he had been secretary and ex-
ecutive officer of the State Board
of Health for some years. His wife
died some years ago and his only
child a daughter also died a num-
Der of years ago. He is survived
by two brothers, Prof. Charles S.
ConWell, of near Camden, a form
er member of the faculty of Della
ware College and a trustee of the
University of Delaware and Will
liam Conwell, of Baltimore, and
three sisters, Mrs. Ezekiel Cooper,
of Wilmington and Mrs. Jacob G..
Brown and Mrs. L. w. Hollis, both
of Camden. Funeral took place
at 2 o'clock this wednesday, af-
ternoon.
Clarence RinggoId Passes Away
Clarence Ringgold passed away
at his home on Frazier Street last
evening, Tuesday, after an illness
Continued on Page Five)
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
"OUSTER CASES"
BEFORE COURT
Argument Heard at Dover
Yesterday on John Biggs'
MandamuS Suits
EXPECT DECISION FEB. 16

Argument in the mandamus pro-
ceedings instituted by John Biggs,
Jr., Democratic State chairman,
who challenges the right of three
State Senators to hold their men,
bership in the General Assembly,
was heard in Dover yesterday by
the Superior Court of Kent coun-
ty. No decision was announced by
the court when it adjourned short
ly after 10 o'clock last night. An
opinion is anticipated, however, on
February 16, at which time the
court will meet again. Presente.-
ton of the case, which began at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, was
before Judges w. w. Harrington
and David ]. Reinhardt. Stewart
Lynch, attorney, of Wilmington,
and one of the attorneys for the
House of Representatives, and
Howard E. Lynch, attorney, of Do
yer. appeared on behalf of Mr.Biggs.
Attorney General P. Warren Green
was counsel for Lieutenant Cover
nor R. F. Corley, whom Mr.. Biggs
seeks to compel to issue wr1ts for
the holding of special elections IN
the three Senatorial districts where
he alleges the vacancies exist. AS
ISOLATED with Mr.. Green was Col
onel William ]. Storey, attorney,
of Dover, and deputy attorney gen
eral for Kent county. In the petit
ton filed by Mr.. Biggs he contend
ed Senators Ernest V. Keith, j.
Burton Wharton, both of Dover,
and G. Clifton Maull, of Lewes,
had accepted appointment to other
State offices and by so doing auto
matically removed themselves as
members of the Legislature be-
cause the State Constitution speci-
fies that a member of the General
Assembly cannot hold other State
office while he is a member of the
law making body. Stewart Lynch
who argued the case in behalf OF
Mr.. Biggs' petition, contended that
although the Senators had resign
ed the State Office to which each
of them had been appointed they
did not thereby automatically rein
state themselves as members of
the General Assembly. He point
ed out that the Constitution pro-
vides that a legislator cannot hold
two State offices at the same time.
Mr.. Green asked for dismissal of
the petitions on the ground that
the right of the petitioner to the
relief sought is not clearly set out
in his petition and that such right
is questionable. He based his
argument on the contention that
the Senate and the House are the
sole judges of the qualifications OF
the members of each branch of the
Legislature.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
HIGH
SCHOOL NEWS
Health of Pupils Are Guarded
Cautiously By Miss Hester
A. Brown, the Staff Nurse
VALENTINE DAY PLANS

Miss Hester Ann Brown, Regis
tered Nurse, who has been on the
staff of the Smyrna school for the
past month, has done some very
credltable work. The following is
a brief report of the activities car
RED on under this department dur
ing the month of January: Num-
Der of cases of first aid, ITO; num-
Der of children excused on account
of sickness, 8; number of cases re-
ported for examination, Al; chill
dren referred to doctors, 8; pupils
excused from Physical Education.
30; number of homes visited for
sickness, 20, for irregular attend
ance, 9; health talks given by
nurse in classrooms, 80; children
aided in securing glasses, 3. Reg
ular office hours have been estab-
lished, during which time students,
teachers or parents may consult
the nurse on matters which per
tain to the general health of the
student body. The main objective
IS to protect the health of the chill
dren and thereby prevent the
spread of contagious diseases. An
other phase of this activity is to
look after the hygienic conditions
of the buildings.-The Valentines
Day Social will be held on We'd
nesday evening, February IA, in
the high school auditorium. Com
on entertainment, decora-
tons and refreshments have been
appointed to look after these var
ious phases of our social program.
AS has been the custom, a certain
number of patrons and patronesses
will be invited as the guests of the
General Organization. Only mem
bers of the organization and their
invited guests will be ad-
assembly program on
February 6, was in charge of Miss
Beckett and the Junior English
Club. The program consisted of a
play, adopted from THE Vicar of
Wakefield. Quite a number Of
students have been ill during the
past week. There appears to be
quite few cases of measles
the student body. The fol-
lowing members of the teaching
staff have been away from their
desks on account of personal ill
ness: Miss Julia Griffith, Miss Hell
en- Foard, and Mrs. Vogel-The
results for Monday, Feb
ruary 5, are as follows: Number of
pupils in attendance, 663; number
Of depositors, AZ; amount deposit
ed, S18.14; total amount deposited
to date this school year, S573.62.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
YEARLY REPORT
OF OLD ASBURY
Rev. DR.. j. L. Johnson Shows
Progress Made at Asbury
M. f. Church, Smyrna
COMMITTEES FOR YEAR

The fourth quarterly conference
of Asbury Methodist Episcopal
Church in Smyrna was held Thurs
day evening last and despite the
snow storm that was raging a
large number of official men and
women gathered to make and hear
the reports from the several de-
partment heads. The Rev. E. G.
Mailman, D. D., superintendent of
Middletown District, presided. The
reports showed the church to be
in excellent condition from every
standpoint including the financial.
The church school has more than
doubled its membership this year,
swo adult classes have been organ
lied, one a ladies class, taught by
the wife of the pastor, with a
of one hundred and
twenty and a class of men, taught
by the pastor, with one hundred
and seventy-one members. The
League has added TWEEN
ty-fve new members to its roll, a
young peoples choir has been or
ganized with thirty-two members
between the years of fifteen and
twenty-five, making three choirs
for the church with a combined
membership of more than one hun
dred voices singing each Sunday
a membership training
class with fifty-six enrolled, taking
the prescribed course of the
church. The youth have charge of
the entire worship service the first
Sunday evening of each month and
give the entire program. The pas
tor has received into church fell
owship eighty-four persons during
he year, made fourteen hundred
md nine pastoral calls, conducted
.hirty-two funerals, baptised nine |
cen children and performed seven |
marriage ceremonies. Plans have
been made to have the Student |
league of Many Nations, compos-
ID of fourteen young people repre-
enting nine different nationalities,
Continued on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
SMYRNA BOTH CENTURY CLUB
DIR. A. v. GilIiland, Supt. Welfare
Home, Gives Instructive Address


The program at the meeting of
the Twentieth Century Club of
Smyrna on Friday afternoon was
in charge of Mrs. R. D. Hoffecker,
chairman of international rela-
lions. After the business routine,
Miss Mary E. Hynson sang 1.-THE
Sunshine of Your Smile" and 81
Love You Truly" Mrs. Marion
Coverdale, accompanist. DR.. A.V.
Gilliland, superintendent of the
State Welfare Home, Smyrna, gave
a very interesting talk on his
work and the State Welfare Home
in general. He stated that dona-
lions of magazines, old or new, jig
saw puzzles, or any other reading
matter or forms of entertainment
would be greatly appreciated by
the guests of the Home. The bene-
fit card party which has been post
poned will be held on Tuesday ev-
ening, February 10, in the Club
House. The committee consists of
Mrs. Howard R. Jones, Mrs. Will
liam j. Taylor, and Mrs. r. D. Hof-
fecker.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
CWA
WORK, SMYRNA
Welfare Home Road and
Work in Smyrna and Clay
ton Listed Among Projects
CHESWOLD-KENTON JOBS

F'ifty-one additional work pro-
jects have been approved by the
Civil Works Administration of
Delaware, the jobs covering the
entire state. These projects are
being made ready so that when
unemployed men working on other
jobs have finished those jobs there
will be work upon which they can
continue uninterrupted. For the
past two or more weeks the
weather has been against outside
work. AS a consequence the load
upon direct relief in every county
in the state has been much heav-
Ter. During January the amount
appropriated for direct relief was
exceeded by about S37 900. In
Wilmington and surrounding ter
ritory alone, there were 500 more
families applied for relief in jan
uary. Sussex county also showed
a large increase among those APP
plying for direct relief. Among
the fifty-one new projects approx
ed and which will be started when
other jobs have been finished are
the following in Kent and lower
New Castle Counties with the es-
timated number of men to be EN-
ployed: Kits Hammock, grading,
16 men; Postles' Corner to Dover,
grading, IL men; Smyrna-Duck
Creek, Is men; Cheswold- clean
ing ditch, 5 men; Milford -sani-
tary system, 20 men; Clayton
School grading, 81 men; Kenton
School grading, II men; Smyrna
extension to sewer system, SO
men; Public School Building at
Dover painting interior, 6 men;
Kent County Levy Welfare
Home Road to Smyrna Clayton
Road clearing and grading, II
men; Kent County Levy Court
Big Chestnut to Magee's School to
Fox Road clearing and grading,
q men; Kent County Levy Court
Acknowledgment Line Road II
clearing and grading. 16 men. In
over New Castle County, the
Armstrong-Odessa Road, 40 men;
st. Anne's Church, Middletown, TO
he Levels and to Townsend, 20 I
men.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
ANNUAL REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF
ON WORK OF SMYRNA FIREMEN

Fire Chief John d. Morris in his
report of the work of the Citizens
Hose Company, No. /, of Smyrna,
from January 1, 1888 to January
j, 1884, states AZ alarms were re-
sponded to, "a of which were in
the country and 13 in the town of
Smyrna. The number of men who
answered the calls during the year
totaled 1854, rendering So hours of
service and travelling with their
fire fighting equipment a distance
of 294 miles The firemen of
Smyrna possess a $4,000 fire fight
ing apparatus for country fires
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
SMYRNA GRANGE MEETING
Interesting Program Given We'd
nesday Night by Home Talent

The regular meeting of Smyrna
Grange was held last Wednesday
night. Mrs. Helen Brown, lectur-
er, was in charge of the program,
which follows: Singing, led by Mrs.
Howard Deakyne; two numbers by
Shapley's Orchestra; Grange Jour
nal, Mrs. Elwood Kemp; recitation,
Edgar Heinold; vocal trio, Walter
Massey, Mrs Howard Deakyne
and Miss Mary Hynson; two num-
bers by the orchestra; reading,
Miss Ethel Virginia Roe; mono
logue, Marie Heinold; Guessing
Contest, Mrs Howard Deakyne;
social hour and refreshments. 1t
was an open meeting, and there
was a large attendance.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
FIND PIN IN BABY'S THROAT
Seaford Infant Rushed to Hospital
by Mother, Mrs. King, Seaford

Robert King, infant son of Mr.
and Mrs. Raymond P. King, who
live on the Seaford-Bridgeville
road was rushed to the Beebe Hos
pital in Lewes Saturday for the re-
moved of safety pin from his
throat. Mrs. King had pinned the
covers of his crib down with safety
pins and later hearing the child
crying went in to see what was
the trouble and discovered that
one of the pins was missing. A
search failed to reveal it. Opening
the baby's mouth she saw the pin
lodged in its throat with the pin
open She quickly summoned DR..
Catherine Cross Gray, of Bridge
vile, who ordered the suffering in
FAINT sent to the hospital where the
pin was removed.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07

alone. This is an excellent report
showing how ready our volunteer
firemen are ready to give aid Why
not help the firemen now by giving
your share during their soliciting
campaign. 1t takes money for the
upkeep of their apparatus and the
community should do their part in
supporting such a worthy organ
ization. Not only do they fight
our fires, but are ready in every
emergency to give their time and
efforts wherever needed. Addition
al contributors have been added
CONTINUED on Page FIve)
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
HOUSE FIRE ON NORTH ST.
Firemen Called in Early Hours on
Sunday to Save w. Potts House

Fire gutter the home of w.
Potts on North Street early Sun
day morning. 1t is thought a de-
fective fiue caused the fire which
completely damaged the rear of the
house, the entire roof, and the
front of the house beyond repair.
Several pieces of furniture were
also destroyed. Smyrna firemen
were summoned and confined the
fire to the one dwelling.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
GIRL MARRIED
Miss Laura Emerson Becomes the
Bride of Clarence Biggs

Mr.. and Mrs. George H. Emer-
son, of near Middletown, announce
the marriage of their granddaugh-
ter, Mis- Laura Emerson, to Mr..
Clarence Biggs, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur Biggs, of Chesapeake
City, Md, on Monday, January
29th. The ceremony was perform
ed by the Rev. l.. P. Morgan at
Elkton, Md. The wedding took
place on the 50th wedding ami
versary of the brides grandpar-
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. George H. En-
erson. The couple was attended
by Mr.. and Mrs. G. H. Emerson, Jr.
Smyrna times., 1934-02-07
/ THRU ICE
\ a11s"BIKE''
x,ta, Shakespeare
[,, Smyrna Boy, 49,
[.Sar Chsstert0wn
|,yraArEs ESCAPE

ssyton Shakespeare .ssEea;ns
! d Mrs. Katherine e
ss.,,s,psars-H ughett q
,.ltoTn, Nd. formerly @sncy
=, drowned in Ches-
frssstertown, Monday
- on the ice with l,: some
n n fashionable kellogg
nrsts school. A ss score
including Peter Smith
4 be principal Of the
- bicycling and skating
:, without any warn
Y. section of the thawing
Wv, plunging the stud y.
/, tie be icy stream. The
"a boy, who was riding
4 scsme trapped under
n and drowned before
q zach him. Other stu
4. we're on the banks OF
\ school attendants ana
Z hurried to the rescue OF
q Some Of the workmen
. boats and dragged some
| sisngsred boys in' while
|nrsE ropes to those near
| anGs and pulled them TO
| Young Shakespeare was
[#i until a check-up was
| Police and wOrkmen drag
! river for nearly an hour
|tsy recovered his body and
N. School officials said
III Of the ice made earlier
IN showed it strong enough
prt the weight Of the skat-
Il sad intelligence OF HttIe
ssth was received in
/ With profound sorrow. He
et more or less time here
j Esndmgther, Mrs. W. H.
/ md made friends by his
anner and engaging per-
! His grandfather, Cap
Liam H. Stayton, for whom
nned is a retired naval
nd founder Of the National
am opposed to the Prohi-
to the eonstitu-
be latter has been spend
/ Of his time at Washing
{, carrying on his fight for
Ehch was won last year. !
BIS mother at Chester
ID, young Billy Shake
! survived by his two sis
Uterine Stayton Shake !
md Nancy Shakespeare, /
WON 60 to school, and his
iznk Shakespeare of Do |
sz took place this after
Gsstertown, Nd. A num-
Smyrna attended funeral. i