davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

Mrs. Lowe Wood, Mr.. John
Lowe Wood, Mr.. Irwin and HUI
bert Crawford and Mr.. Whit
Wood, of Denton, spent Tuesday
with Rev. and Mrs. Hoyt Wood.
Mrs. R. c. Barr was in North
Wilkesboro yesterday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond Blew
ms, formerly of West jefferson
have moved to Pfafftown where
Mr.. Blevins is employed with the
Rocky Beach Dairy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Luther Kiser, of
Jefferson City, Tenn, are visit
ing Mr.. ]. F. Reeves, at Laurel
Springs.
Mr.. G. E. Kilby, of Sturgills,
visited in Boone the first two
days of the week.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. D. Quessen-
berry spent Sunday at Floyd, Va.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. M. Robinson,
Of Kyle, West Virginia, have
moved into Mr.. T. A. Doggett's
house in West Jefferson.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Dancy, of
North Wilkesboro, visited Mr.. and
Mrs. Gale Mcmillan Sunday.
Mr.. H. H. Brown, who has been
in the Wilkes hospital for the
past several weeks, has returned
to his home at Fig. He is greatly
improved, but is still unable to
resume active work.
Miss Lenna Gambill, Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Francis, Messrs. Robert
Fleetwood and Thomas Sears at
tended a Farm Security Admins
tration meeting in Asheville this
week.
The Laurel Grange held its reg
ular semi-monthly meeting at the
Riverview high school on Monday
night.
Mrs. Cleo Osborne and Mrs.
Warner Mcmillan had dinner with
Miss Pearl Weaver in Boone on
Tuesday night.
Miss Anne Lasley, who has
been visiting her sister, Mrs.
Grant Ayers in Jefferson, re-
turned to her home in Walnut
Cove last Saturday.
Mrs. Dorothy Loggans and mo-
Their, Mrs. Teachy, visited in Win
ston-Salem last week end.
DR.. and Mrs. B. w. Tugman,
Miss Ruth Tugrnan and Miss Mil
dred Sedberry, spent Sunday in
, johnson City.
Miss Edna May and Miss Eliza
beth Horne spent last week end
in Winston-Salem.
Miss Gladys Sturgill visited her
parents at Grassy Creek last Sat-
urday and Sunday.
Mrs. Roger King, Mrs. Todd
Price, Mrs. Austin Jones, Misses
Louise and Lillian Sutherland
visited DR.. and Mrs. ]. c. Hadley
in Salisbury Tuesday evening.
Mr.. c.: M. Cope went to Win
ston-Salem this week, where he
entered the hospital for treat
ment.
MIR. and Mrs. P. G. Wright
were visitors in North Wilkes
boro, Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. w. T. Wilmington is still
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
TROY /. JONES NOW
SHOWS IMPROVEMENT

The many friends of Troy I.
Jones will be glad to learn that
his condition is showing some i'm
provement. He is now recuperat-
ing at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Felix Jones at Silas Creek.
Mr.. Jones said that he wished
to thank his many friends for
their delightful visits and their
gifts which had made his conval-
essence much more pleasant. 81
am always glad to see my
friends" he said.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
Trial Expected To Draw Big
Crowd At Jefferson, Dec. IL

neighborhood gossip; Robt. Wood
lie, as uncle of the bride.
Jurors: Ed M. Anderson, L. L.
Scott, Mrs. L. H. Logan, Mrs. O.
D. Freeman, Miss Beulah Cock
erham, Mrs. Glenn Little, Mrs.
w. B. Austin, Mrs. Ira T. john
ston, Mrs. H. D. Jessup, Miss
Laura Mcconnell, Miss Mamie
Smithey, Miss Bonnie Dickson,
Mrs. Callie Perkins, Mrs. L. P.
Coward. Mrs. j. P. Coward, Mrs.
Grant Bauguess.
There will be small admission
charge and the funds raised will
go toward the jefferson high
school building program.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
ANNOUNCE BIRTH

Mr.. and Mrs. Gwyn Gambill
announce the birth of a nine
pound daughter, Emma Jane, at
Reeves hospital, Lincolnton, Sun
day, Dec. 8. Both mother and
daughter are getting along nicely.
Mrs. Gambill was the former
Miss Edna Poole, Of Indepen-
dence, Va.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
FLOYD MULLIS GIVEN
A 6-MONTH SENTENCE

Mayors court was unusually
quiet this week. Floyd MuIlis, of
Baldwin, who was recently tried
and convicted of driving drunk.
and fined $50 and cost, was given
six months on the roads by Judge
Tucker upon his failure to raise
the required money within the
time allowed him.
Say, Il saw your ad in THE
Post.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

The sale of Christmas Seals
was begun last week. The goal
for Ashe County is $3.50 and a
large percentage of this stays IN
the County to fight against Tu-
berculosis. Let's all do our part
in making this worthy under
taking a big success. Buy your
seals today!
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

We want cur Electric Service
to be good, and quick, and
cheap, but there's more to II
than that. We want it to be
courteous too.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

coming half an hour later will
note the change in time.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
Presbyterians To
Hold Pageants
Practice for Christmas Pag.
eants Will Start in West
Jefferson Tonight.

Tonight at ZOO P. M. the first
practice will be held in the West
Jefferson Presbyterian church for
the beautiful Christmas pageant,
abide With U.s.. A large choir
will sing the Christmas carols.
Mrs. Evelyn Shoemaker and the
RAIDER family will assist the
voices in the local congregation.
This is being directed by Miss
Kathryn Hunt.
The pageant will be given on
Sunday, December 22nd, at 700
P. M. and the entire population
of the growing city is invited to
attend this service of worship
and beauty.
The same pageant will be given
in Jefferson Monday the 23rd, at
700 P. M. and the town and COM
munity is invited.
The Obids Presbyterian congre-
cation is having its Christmas
service at the same hour as does
the West jefferson church and
uses the same theme.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

Our cars in Ashe, Allegheny
and Watauga counties have
been driven 384,O86 miles since
June 80, 1880 without a single
accident.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12
CHANGE IN SERVICE

There will be a service of wor-
ship in the Jefferson Presbyter-
ian church on Sunday at HOO
A. M. and at West Jefferson at
700 P. M. Those accustomed to
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

The incest Christmas gift for
the home-an I. E. S. Floor
Lamp.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-12-12

G. T. Robbins, Div. Mgr.
'Your friendly neighbor"
Evening star., 1940-04-05
an sell a book, an author gets the

can sell book, an author gets the
inspiration necessary to write it.
Her latest volume touches on poll
tics, she explained. probably because
of the Washington influence. "But
I think politics are delicious" she
added. $50 good, in fact, I think
sometimes I'm being copied"
Honor guests introduced py Miss
Margaret Pepper. the president, in
cludeC Mrs. Mary p. Diaz Of San
Juan, Puerto Rico, prominent social
worker who holds the title of direc-
tor Of occupational therapy of the
health department of Puerto Rico.
Mrs. Joshua Evans, jr., a member
of the Board of Trustees of George
Washington University and a mem
Der of the Columbian Women, end
Sonora de Munilla, wife of the Mill
tary Attache of the Cuban Embassy,
also were honor guests.
officers of the club sat at the
speakers table with the honorees.
An Hawaiin trio played program
of dinner music. Mrs. Marvin S
piano accompanist was Dorothy
Radde Emery.
Evening star., 1940-04-05

when the program was rounded out
by Mrs. Henry F. Grady, wife of the
Assistant Secretary Of State, who
spoke humorously for the most part,
but who wove into her remarks a
serious message on the part women
have played and will continue to
play in the destiny Of America.
Speak in Friendly Manner.
All of the speakers adopted the
friendly, warm, interested" manner
which Miss Mason recommended as
the prime essentials of good radio
personality"-for women's programs,
at any rate. Miss Mason, Incl
dentally, deplored the term, radio
personality" holding it too ostenta-
tious for the simple, direct approach
needed for d successful radio ap-
pearance.
A veteran in her field, Miss Mason
re . He'd her first work in radio, be-
ginning in 1925, and contrasted with
the present the informality of those
early days, when you agreed to do
anything from sweeping out the
studio on up" Even though the
field was new, it was easier then to
get radio job than today, she said.
Now, even if you're applying for a
position as typist, you have to give
your life history" she commented.
Mrs. Blinn, whose output of novels
totaled % with the publication of
her latest, Uncle Lancey for Presi-
dent" contended that book is the
easiest thing in the world to write
because you have room to roam
around" The necessity of omitting
adJectives is one of the hardships of
producing a short story, she smiled
Mrs. Blinn also said that she has
found whenever publishers say they
Evening star., 1940-04-05
Advice Given
On Radio
Technique
Columbian Women
Also Hear of Ease
In Writing Novels
BY FRANCES LIDE,
Women's Club Editor

A few timely tips on radio tech
nique and comments on the ease"
OF writing novels were only two
choice bits of the program fare
served up for the Columbian
Women of George Washington Uni
versity at their annual dinner last
night at the Sulgrave Club.
Miss Mary Mason, or Cousin
Mary" of the National Broadcasting
Co., and Mrs. Randolph Blinn, whose
pen name is Ethel Hueston, gave
glimpses of their professional lives
in chatty talks which opened the
entertainment.
Attention was focused on music
by the appearance of both Mrs.
Matthew John Whittall, donator of
the Stradivari instruments at the
Library of Congress, who acknowl-
edged her introduction with a brief
address. and Mrs. Cloyd Heck Mar
vim, who sang a group of spring
songs
Still, more variety was afforded
Evening star., 1940-03-03

serted, the law should have . more
definite basis"
Judge Mcmahon declined to offer
any comment on the act.
Five Cases lyrical Fatalities.
Evening star., 1940-03-03
Dewey Confers In Capital
With 6. 0.P. Leaders

District Attorney Thomas Z.
Dewey of New York, one of the lead.
ing candidates for the Republican
presidential nomination, met .
large majority Of the Republican
members Of Congress at a reception
given In his honor at the Willard
Hotel yesterday afternoon.
The reception, arranged by some
Of Mr.. Dewey's friends on Capitol
Hill, was the climax of a day spent
by Mr.. Dewey In conference with
Republican leaders. Among those
attending the reception were Senate
Minority Leader McNary Of Oregon
and the assistant Republican leader,
Senator Austin Of Vermont. A pre-
vious engagement took House Mi
nority Leader Martin out Of the
city.
Mr.. Dewey will deliver an address
on the night Of March % in the
Chicago Stadium, it was announced
In Chicago yesterday by his State
manager, Leonard c. Reid. The
speech will be his first campaign
address in Illinois. Mr.. Dewey is
unopposed In the April 8 Illinois
Republican presidential preference
primary.
Evening star., 1940-03-03
Taft Hopes Foreign Policy
Will Not Be Major Issue
BY the Associated Press.

~ tue A3eOCleteo FreSSs
NEW YORK, March 2.-Senator
Taft, Republican. Of Ohio, said to-
day he noped there would be no
major issue Of foreign policy In NO
vembers election.
But II 1t becomes apparent that
the President moves to involve
US in any European quarrels," he
declared, "and If the nominee OF
the Democratic party sympathizes
with that policy. then foreign policy
will be an issue in the 1910 election -
Speaking before the Saturday
Discussions Committee of the Ma
tional Republican Club, Senator
Taft, candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination, said:
II feel confident that the Republic
can party will not sympathize with
that view, and that the nominee OF
the Republican party. If elected
will keep us out Of war during the
next four years If it Is humanity pos
sible to do 50. The Republican party
Is . peace party; the Democratic
party may or may not be q peace
party"
The Senator scof1ed at the idea
that I'VE should enter the war
on the theory that II France and
Germany are defeated, we will be
overthrown by Germany and Russia
Hitler is most unlikely to win
whether or not he can be defeated;
but under any circumstances he
would hardly be free to attack the
United States"
Evening star., 1940-03-03

around and fung him to the street.
It was dark and raining hard. Rela-
tives Of the victim said he was par.
TALLY blind in one eye and hard Of
hearing.
Brakes Of the motor vehicle were
found by police to be "very bad"
The car was equipped with . hand.
operated windshield wiper and the
horn was said to be barely au.
dible." Side curtains were Of tin
with small aperatures for windows.
The driver, N, said he was driving at
about Is miles an hour.
Police quoted him as saying he
wds watching a car coming out Of
Quackenbos street and did not see
the pedestrian until he was at the
fender Of his car.
N was tried October 5 before
Judge Casey and waived q Jury trial.
Judge Casey issued . verdict Of
not guilty.
Evening star., 1940-03-03

quilted B on October u. A motion
for new trial was granted by
Judge Curran on January 3, 1899.
After hearing the evidence on
both sides in the new trial, Judge
Curran directed the Jury to return
verdict of not guilty.
U-Turn Provokes Fatality.
In the SECOND case c was fatally
injured about 8 pm, March 26,
1889, by a truck driven by D, max
ing q U-turn in the 17O0 block Of
Pennsylvania avenue NV. The VIC
tim was struck while walking from
q bus stop at the north curb to a
streetcar loading platform about 10
feet away. The truck was making
q U-turn from the south to the
north curb of the street. The
weather was clear.
Testifying at a coroner's inquest
the driver said he did not see the
victim when making the U-turn, nor
did he know of the accident until
some one shouted at him that he
had struck the pedestrian.
A witness who was standing on
the loading platform at the time
said he thought the driver was max
ing the U-turn at an immoderate
rate Of speed. The driver testified
he was going about miles per hour.
Held by the coroners jury for
Police Court action under the NeRli-
gent Homicide Act, the trial took
place April 18 before Judge Newman
and q jury. The driver was &C
Quilted by the jury the following
day.
Even when q pedestrian cross
Ing within q crosswalk, who appar-
emily has the right of way. is fatally
injured by a motorist, the latter
escapes scot-free when tried in Po-
lice Court. according to the decision
In the next case.
Driver Didn't See.
This was the death OF E, struck
by an automobile at 1905 am,
March is, 1889, while crossing Thir-
teenth street in a crosswalk at Co.
lunlbia road NV. The driver. r,
Evening star., 1940-03-03

his car when the accident occurred.
Other testimony was that q was
standing in the middle Of the road
when struck.
Police said the body was picked
up some 76 feet beyond the point
Of collision, although the driver said
he was driving not more than Is
miles IN hour.
When the case was tried August
! before Judge Curran and q jury,
the former gave 4 directed YER.
dict Of not guilty.
= Defective Car Kills Man.
Another case was that Of M, who
was struck and fatally injured by
an automobile while crossing Fifth
street In the crosswalk at.the inter-
section Of Quackenbos street NV.
A snag In the fender Of the auto
mobile. which was moving south
on Fifth street, caught q portion
Of the victims coat, spun him hall
Evening star., 1940-03-03

was going north on Thirteenth
street at the time Of the accident
It was raining and the street was
wet.
Testimony at a coroner's inquest
revealed that lights governing traf-
fic at the intersection were blink
ing the amber signal. The driver
police said, told them he saw moth
ing at the intersection as he ap-
preached and did not see the VIC
tim until the latter loomed up a few
feet to the left and ahead of his
car. He said he was travelling about
10 to 20 miles an hour.
The coroner's jury considered the
motorist sumciently at fault to hold
him for Police Court action under
the Negligent Homicide Act.
The trial, however, which wa
held June Is before Judge Curran
was q different story. Judge Curran
directed . verdict Of not guilty the
same day.
Victim Hurled Is Feet.
tIn the fourth case 6 was struck
and fatally injured by . car going
north on Bladensburg road between
Meigs place and Lyman place, while
the victim was apparently trying to
cross the street in the middle OF
the block. The accident occurred
about $40 pm. May II in clear
weather.
At coroners inquest the driver,
H. testified he say the victim 60
ing south on Bladensburg road,
while the former was some distance
from the point of collision.
He explained that he turned out
into the center lane to pass an
other car and had Strengthened out
Evening star., 1940-03-03

Eleven defendants given directed
verdicts of not guilty, one convic-
ton, one aoquittal.
Before Judge John p. McMahon: !:
Two directed verdicts of not guilty,
four acquittals by juries.
Before Judge Walter j. Casey:
Two acquittals.
Before Judge Hobart Newman:
One conviction, one acquittal.
Thus, of the 81 defendants, II, or
slightly more than half, received di-
rected verdicts of not guilty; 8 were
found not guilty and only 2 were
convicted.
Negligent Homicide Definition.
What is the reason, If any, for this
apparent aeniency in the case of
both judge and jury when faced
with defendant charged with
negligent homicide? Perhaps the
following definition of negligent
homicide in the statute books of the
District Code will offer q clue:
ANY person. who. by the opera
ton Of any vehicle at an immoderate
rate OF speed or in a careless, reck-
less or negligent manner, but not
willfully or wantonly, shall cause the
death Of another, shall be guilty of
misdemeanor. and shall be pun
ished by imprisonment for not more
than one year or by a fine of not
more than 81 900, or both.
1T shall be the duty of the cor
oner of the District of Columbia
upon any inquisition taken before
him which results in the jury find
ing that negligent homicide. as de-
fined herein, has been committed on
the deceased, to require such wit
neSses as he thinks proper to give
recognizance to appear and testify,
or in default thereof, to be commit
ted to Jail for appearance, in either
the Supreme Court or the Police
Court Of the District of Columbia,
and the coroner shall return to
either said court the said inquisi-
tion, testimony and recognizance or
order by him, taken or given"
Judge Newman's Comment.
Asked to comment on the law,
Judge Newman said:
,-''.It. seems there are very few
convictions of negligent homicide
cases, chiefly because, IN my opinion,
the psychology Of juries gives the
defendant the greater benefit Of
doubt. in dealing with death cases
Of this type. -" -
"9he element of chance Is always
present in such cases in that a few
inches one way or another may mean
the difference between the victim s
getting merely a scratch from the
impact or dying as a result of it.
MY Interpretation Of the negli-
gent homicide law Is that it was
devised to prosecute reckless drivers
as such and to add an additional
penalty to their sentence, If con-
victed, because of the death resulting
from such recklessness.
However, in practice, the law
seems to fail its purpose because
juries show hesitancy to find de-
PENDANTS guilty, having in mind that
such a verdict indicates they are
charging the defendant with sole
responsibility for the death when
many other circumstances figure in
the case."
Appointment Might Help.
In discussing a suggestion that
appointment OF single Judge in
Traf1ic Court might aid in securing
more convictions in negligent homi-
eide cases, Judge Newman admitted
that this might be Of some help"
He explained that "the more seri-
Gus traffic charges are tried in the
jury branch of Police Court, where,
in the present routine, each Of the
four judges takes the bench in
monthly routine. Therefore, each
month finds different Judge on
Evening star., 1940-03-03
Driver e|dn Negligent Homicide Has 4o1 Chance to GoFee

the bench. Some judges win impose
heavy sentences, others will benient.
1T would be advantageous" he
went on, II . greater uniformity Of
sentences for serious trafic charges
could be followed. But each case
has different facts and each fudge
has . mind Of his own, treating the
problem as he sees at, which makes
1t almost impossible to hew to .
uniform method Of imposing sen.
tence."
In this connection, Representa-
tive Schultz, Democrat, Of Indiana
two weeks ago announced his In
tention to introduce q bill In Con-
gress providing for q separate traf-
nc court. This court will require
one Judge to devote his entire time
to traf1ic cases.
Criticizing the present rotation Of
Police Court judges on the Trafic
Court bench, Representative Schultz
also scored the leniency shown traf-
nc violators by some judges.
Adviser to Judge Suggested.
The Police Court Judge urged the
assignment by the corporation
counsers ONCE Of an assistant
prosecutor In Tramc Court who
would advise the presiding Judge
concerning cases Of q more serious
nature.
"The ordinary run-of-mill cases
in Tratic Court are largely minor
odenses," Judge Newman declared,
"but an assistant who specializes
in traffic procedure would be bene-
ficial to the Judge"
The reason for the high number
Of acquitaals" in negligent homicide
cases in Police Court is because.
in many instances, the victim and
not the driver of the automobile was
negligent, according to Judge Cur
ran.
Statistics will show" he ex-
planned, that in a great number
Of cases the victims were pedestrians
and in most of the pedestrian deaths,
their own actions were responsible
and they were at fault.
Il find no fault with the negli-
gent homicide statute" he added.
Its wording covers the situation
adequately"
No Criticism of Acquittals.
Judge Casey, however, saw no par.
ticular reason for the numerous
acquittals in negligent homicide
cases.
Records show comparatively few
convictions under the statute" he
declared, but all such cases are
tried before juries, and the reason.
ing OF those bodies, of course, am
unable to account for.
In light of my own experience
IN such cases, I can offer no crit
1cism OF the juries for their yer.
diets. and neither can I criticize
the manner of prosecution by Gov
eminent attorneys"
The jurist suggested that those
responsible for enactment of the
Negligent Homicide Act should, in
view Of the disposition of cases tried
under the law in its present form,
review it with a view to its ade-
quacy and comprehensiveness."
rs it desirable to define with
more exactness the odense the stat
ute is designed to cover2' he asked.
In his opinion, Judan Casey as
Evening star., 1940-03-03

serted, the law should have . more
definite basis
Judge Mcmahon declined to offer
any comment on the act.
Five Cases Typical Fatalities.
Five of the twenty-one homicide
cases tried last year in Police Court
stood out as typical traffic fatali-
ties, both in their occurrence and
in their disposition in court.
The first concerned the death of
A, a passenger in car driven by x
About l am, July 7, 1898, x,
while driving south on Georgia ave-
nue. NV. collided with an auto
mobile driven by B, at the inter-
section of Illinois and Georgia ave.
nues and Longfellow street, knock
ing the latter's automobile between
80 and 40 feet down Georgia ave-
nue. and causing the death Of A.
The weather was clear.
Both drivers were held by a cor.
oner's jury for Police Court action
under the Negligent Homicide Act.
The trial was held October IS,
1888, before Judge Mcmahon and a
Jury.
Left Turn Made.
According to Assistant United
States Attorney David A. Hart, who
prosecuted the case, BIS car was
making left turn into Longfellow
street after stopping at stop sign
at Illinois avenue and Longfellow
street. Georgia avenue also inter-
sects at this point, so that it was
necessary for B to cross Georgia
avenue before entering Longfellow
street.
Mr.. Hart charged that x was
driving "in reckless and careless
manner" at the time Of the COL
lision and that two other persons
were in the front seat with the
driver.
The defense, however, claimed
that BIS automobile had failed to
stop at the stop sign and that he
drove directly into the path of the
southbound automobile, thus max
ing the accident unavoidable.
The jury found x guilty and &C.