davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Along The Cape Fear

GREAT DIVIDE-Yesterday we
ere fortunate enough to bring
you a picture of the monument
erected to the brave women of the
Cape Fear section. The monument
located in Moore's Creek National
Military Park at Currie pays par
ticular tribute to Mary polly
S7ocumb who aided the Patriots
following the famous battle fought
there on February 27, 1776.
Thanks to Oswald E. Camp, Gus
todian of the park for the National
Park Service of the U. S. Depart
ment of the Interior, we can bring
you some of the historical back
ground that led up to that memoT-
able engagement.
The growth Of the Old North
State from a few coastal settle
ments to a large and 'populous
Royal Colony brought in its wake
several disturbances.
The schism between East and
West. caused by the dominance OF
colony by the eastern section Chats
us) though less populus as early
as ITO. resulted in a violent en-
counter between the two sections
: A'amalce Greek in It'll.
There, while the so-called Regu-
lators were defeated. the breach
was widened, and the defeated
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
PRICES DIP
COMES TO AN END
Nation Wide Survey Show.
Retail Cost Oh Many
Items Soaring
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

indications that the brakes had
been applied to a January dip in
many food prices was given yes
terday in a cross-country survey OF
a number of common items.
With weather and other seasonal
factors coloring parts of the pic
ture, price tags on some foods
were shown to have been revised
upward, at least temporarily, in
several cities. Others held firm or
showed signs of continuing a down
ward trend.
Against this checker : board pat
tern. in which prices frequently
varied widely from city to city.
there stood out the latest figures
of the Federal Bureau Of Labor
statistics that if all food prices
were considered in one lump the
trend was up from last months
level.
Most meat prices in New York,
for example, were advanced mark
eddy over last week. The same
aren't was shown in some
other cities, but was not reported
:-rWide. Freezing weather rails
ed hob with citrus and fresh vege-
table prices in some sections. Drop
ping butter prices firmed or went
up in several cities.
Even when prices went down or
held to recent lows, however, the
survey showed that in most cases
they were still considerably re-
moved from one : time OPA price
ceilings.
Clothing Up
The survey showed also that
mems clothing prices in the ma
tons principal cities frequently
were 10 to 20 percent above old
OPA levels, and might go up be
fore they came down. Women's me-
dunn priced dresses generally were
up, from slightly to a lot, but with
an improvement in quality and Sc
lection. Shoe prices had recorded
a major advance also.
A housewife who could afford n.y.
Ions wouldn't go broke on the rela.
lively small increases recorded for
them in most cities, the survey
showed, and she could replenish
her supply of bed sheets at some
where near OPA levels in a num-
Der of metropolitan areas if she
shopped around long enough.
Food prices presented a varying
picture. Here is what you would
find if you went out to purchase
a good. round steak. butter, eggs,
Continued on Page Ten; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
WALTON TO JOIN
ORPHANACE STAFF
Southside Baptist Pastor
Tenders Resignation
Last Night

At a meeting last night in the
Southside Baptist church, the Rev.
j. o. Walton, pastor of the church
for the past eight years, offered
lis resignation to become effective
about April 8, to join the staff OF
the Baptist Orphanage at Thomas
vile.
The Rev. Mr.. Walton's letter Of
resignation said in part:
'After many days OF constant
prayer and the most careful CON
sideration, I am rendering my res
ignation, effective about April 8.
my reason for resigning: After
looking at the matter in every way
of which I can possibly conceive,
it seems very clear to me that my
service for the next while should
be rendered at our Baptist Orphan
age mills Home) in Thomasvhle.'
He came to the Southside Baptist
church, Nov. 9, 1898, from Wind
sor.
Members of the congregation,
regretfully accepting his resigna,
ton, said that the church's finan-
cial condition at that time was
bad. He celebrated his third yea
with the church, they said, by con.
Guiding a campaign to pay off all
of it's indebtedness.
eve deeply regret that he has
seen fit to accept the Townsville
call" they said. "And in accept
ing his resignation we feel that we
are makin5 a sacrifice to the Mlls
Home and the Baptist denomtna-
ton"
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
SELECTING JURY
PROVES PROBLEM
Many Are Called But Few
Are Chosen In Grissett
Case Here

There's really nothing unusual
ABOUT selecting an ordinary jury
[or an ordinary court trial. But
the story 10 follow is not about an
ordinary jury. neither is it about
IN ordinary trial.
For qualifications sake, probably
no other city in North Carolina
ever before has had two of its
policemen indicted simultaneously
While members Of the force; on
charges or breaking and entering,
and larceny.
mat one reason why this is moi
an unusual story. The second rea-
son simply and factually is that few
Jurors ever have fatty admitted
mat they believe a defendant guilty
and nothing the defense might Of.
Ter would change their opinion.
That's exactly what happened in
New Hanover County Superior
Court yesterday afternoon when the
TRIAL of Roy Grissett got under way
as the first of the two former Viii.
mngton policemen to face prosecu.
ton.
10 begin with, practically every
Juror called said that they believed
Hfissett to be guilty as charged,
nut that if the defense offered sui
hclent evidence OF his innocence
Mey would change their mind.
however, there were many excep-
nons. And that's what this story
Is about.
John Mercer, who is engaged in
BUSINESS at Wrightsville Beach, a
Continued On Page Two; Col. a
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20

Westerners were under parole OF
king through the royal gov
ernor.
POPULAR GROUP-Some ele'
ments among the settlers had not,
by ITS, been amalgamated INTO
the general populace.
Chief of these was a large num
Ter of Scotch Highlanders who. be,
tween 1865 and ITS, had migrated
to and had settled in the central
part of the colony.
BY ITS, Clans Mcdonald (lsles)
and Mcleod held a dominant place
among these settlers. and Allan
Mcdonald and his wife. the cele-
brated Flora, were among the
leaders.
OPPOSITION GROWS The
growth of opposition to parliament
tsry taxation in IT'S forced the
Royal Governor, Josiah Martin, te
take refuge on a ship in the mouth
of the Cape Fear River.
Counting the number of avoweo
Lcva'ists who had correspondent
viij1 hi5,. knowing Of TIE loyalty
to the crown of the Scotch High
landers. and remembering tn =
role authority which he n TO-
CONTINUED On Page Tive: te.. >
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Turner, At 1O5,
Sings To Interuiewers
Wilmington Woman Cheer.
full As She Recalls Days
OF Happy Youth

Granny Turner, now in her 105th
year, she says, smoothed her bright
white hair against her pillow. She
closed her wrinkled eyes, shutting
off the mischievous CLEAN thai
lighted them, and lay lost for a
moment in reverie in her bed at
the New Hanover county home.
Then she opened her eyes again,
carefully folded her thin hands
across her breast, and began to
laugh in a soft, silent chuckle.
Where was I born, you wanted
to know"
Eyes, Granny said the report
well, honey" she said, still
chuckling silently, 81 was mighty
little then and don't remember
much about it, but they told me it
was in Bladen county, two miles
this side of Elizabethtown."
Granny Turner, officially. regis
tered at the county home as Martha
Jane Turner. was satisfied with
her uuip., She had had her moment
of amusement.
Now she was interested in other
things. She wanted a fresh box OF
snuff.
Tell the doctor to bring it to
she said. with the infection
Of finality that was fashioned for
women accustomed to getting their
bidding. .
The doctor brought the snuff to
Granny. The doctor was Char
les M. Carter, superintendent OF
the county home. The doctor is
all that Granny has ever called
him.
She can get away with that. and
probably more. too. because Gran
has a priority rating.
She has been at the New Han
over institution for about a year
and a half, ever since she was TAX
CONTINUED On Page Two; Col. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
PENSION BOARD
GRANTS REQUEST
Takes Action. On Police
Chiefs Retirement;
Thompson To Serve

Chief of Police Charles H. Cas-
teens request for retirement from
the local police force was granted
at a meeting of the police pension
fund board yesterday afternoon.
Although no definite time was set
for the retirement to become etfec-
tive. it was recommended that Ii
be at an early date in view OF the
recommendations Of three Local
doctors which accompanied the re-
quest.
The pension boards decision
specified that the retirement be-
come effective at a date satlsfac.
tory to the city administration and
to Casteen, according to Harry nj.
Soloman, who presided at the board
meeting.
Meanwhile, the appointment OF
1t. o. v. Thompson as acting ponce
chief in the absence of Casteen was
announced by City Manager J: r.
Benson. Casteen is scheduled to
leave for Fletcher Sunday for a
three month rest cure and Thomp'
son will serve as head of the de-
partment until a successor to Cas-
teen is appointed.
Thompson, who is next in depart
ment seniority, is now in charge
of the 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. SHIFT.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
RED ARROW DEATH
LIST FIXED AT z
Seven OF 1913 Injured On
Critical List In Altoona
Hospitals

ALTOONA, Pa, Feb. 10 -R)-
The dead from the plunge the
Pennsylvania railroads .Red
Arrow" took down a 15O-foot em.
bankment in the pre-dawn hours
yesterday was fixed at % today
with seven of the 1913 injured on
the critical list.
The last of the dead were iden-
titled today by the railroad and
Coroner Daniel M. Replogle OF
Blair county with one exception.
Mrs. Lillian Pettigrew of Adele,
Ga. was listed among the fatal
tiles but there was belief the body
may be that of her sister, Mrs.
Beatrice White of Bridgeton,
Mrs. Pettigrew's brother, Willie
Seabrook of Bridgeton. was said
to be enroute to establish definite
identification.
Originally, the number of dead
was thought to be 25 but was re-
duced as confusion over names
was Strengthened out and badly
mangled bodies were identified.
There was a Mrs. Renetti listed
among those dead but later the
body was identified as that of Mrs.
%Innocente Brunatti of W%yandotte,
Mich.
About so of the injured remain
ed in either the Mercy or Altoona
General hospitals. II addition to
the seven listed in critical condi-
ton, five were reported serious
and nine fair.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Has Little Truck
With 7ingling Telephones

Really, you ought to know Aunt
Ida, in print at least.
Aunt Ida is a character unique
a colcred woman of firm and pre-
else habits.
An impo- tation of years ago from
the rolling farm lands of her ma
tive Georgia, she is employed here
as a Observation-Disclosures by the
prim landlady of a,men's roomlng
house.
The other afternoon the telephone
rang there.
Aunt Ida, kneeling as she drs:ed
near the te'ephoae stand in the
hall, lifted her grazing head ans
slo-ted Hello
The telephone kept On ringing.
"Hello!" shouted Aunt Ida again.
"H-nol Hello"
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Benson Makes Estimate Of
Local Share In Seventh
Street Route

An additional through traffic
artery for Wilmington will cost
the city around $4,000 OF. ten per
cent Of the amount estimated as
necessary for the project, accord,
ing to City Manager j. r. Benson
yesterday.
This estimate was given by
Benson following a meeting of the
city council yesterday which was
attended by a delegation from the
State Highway Commission headed
by Chairman A. H. Graham.
The highway department group
appeared before the council to
present the program formulated
by the commission as the anewer
to the traffic problem on Third
street. w. Vance Baise, the COM
missions chief engineer, present
ed the plan or behalf of the high
way department following a state
ment by Graham that the use OF
arterial highways in a city is pre-
ferred 10 the establishment of a
route by-passing traffic.
The route proposed by the high
way commission called for heavy
traffic to move along Seventh
street, to connect with Dawson and
thence via Nixon street. In answer
to a question by Councilman Har-
riss Newman why the route did
not follow Third street which is
now the main traffic artery, Ora.
ham replied that Seventh street
was less crowded and therefore
was less susceptible to heavy dam.
age from a fire or explosion.
The Commissions recommends
ton calls for a minimum width OF
a feet from curb to curb and a
80 foot building line.
The cost of the project, set at
approximately $40, 600 will be di-
vided between the state and federal
road bureaus less the $34, 900 to be
furnished by the city.
Mayor w. Ronald Lane said fol-
lowing yesterdays session that a
public hearing on the plan would
be held within the near future.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
HUBBARD TO HEAD
DRIVE COMMITTEE
Group Will Solicit Public
Service Division For
Red Cross

L. S. Hubbard, Jr., represent
alive for Dunn and Bradstreet,
will head the Public Service Di-
vision, to aid in the 1947 financial
drive of the local Red Cross chap
ter. His appointment was announc'
ed last night by J. H. Carswell
and N. A. Avera, co-chairmen OF
the drive.
Hubbard has appointed c. I.
Burke and Cecil w. Henderson
as the two team captains to head
committees in the work of the
Public Service Division. This di-
vision will solicit funds for the
drive from personnel of local uitii-
ty companies, banks restaurants
and other concerns.
All workers in the division will
meet next week to get supplies
and make last minute plans. Their
work will begin shortly thereafter.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Adjournment
Threat Hats
WarmDebate
Galleries Loudly Applaud
Josephus Daniels De- :
Tense Of Closed Shop
MINISTER "BOOED"
DR.. Frank P. Graham Hits
At Attempt To Destroy
Bargaining Rights
MINISTER "BOOED"

RALEIGH, Feb. 10 - (9 Amid
contrasting tempers of boos and
cheers, the House Committee OF
Manufacturing and Labor today
heard proponents and opponents Of
a bill to outlaw the closed shop in
North Carolina, in what observers
called "one of the rowdiest legis-
lative committee hearings on rec
ord
The ''boos'' and cheers came
after testimony by the Rev. F. r.
Rose of Brevard on behalf Of the
bill, and were stopped only by con-
slant pounding of the gravel by
Rep. R. l.. Harris of Person,
chairman Of the committee.
Harris said: IF we have any
more. Of that, the meeting will
adjourn. Make up your minds:
committee will accord each
side the right to speak"
Rose said, I come to you in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ to
speak for this anti-closed shop bill.
| am a conscientious objector to
being forced to join something I'LL
democratic and unchristiap."
He shouted that never in the
years that l have been a child
Of God nor in the three years. !
been a preacher, have I
been forced to sign on a dotted
line for labor dictators,"
Loud applause, ringing IN the
galleries, came later when Jo-
Daniels, editor and pub
Usher Of the Raleigh News and OBJ
server, spoke against the bill, say
ing: Il am an employer who has
operated under the closed shop
many years with nothing but
good results"
ANY man who thinks he can reg
ulate labor unions might just as
soon try to push back the ocean,"
Daniels said, adding tit cannot be
He said the bill was conceived
III secrecy n came from an aSSo-
citation that wants to destroy labor
unions = not from dissatisfied
themselves"
The proposed bill would throw
a firebrand into every industry in
this state. North Carolina has been
Continued On Page Two; Col. p
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
WEATHERMAN SAYS
CITY CAN EXPECT
COLD, CLOUDY DAY

Cloudy and cooler is the fore
cast given for Wilmington today,
by Paul Hess, Wilmington weather
man. With a low of "a degrees
expected for early this morning,
temperatures are due to rise to a
high of 46 degrees during the day.
The northeasterly winds are to
diminish today, Hess said. The
cold wave which struck in the
Northwest will not be severe here,
he said, and although it is snow
ing in Asheville and Richmond. no
snow is predicted for Wilmington.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20

But the telephone continued to
ring, despite Aunt Ida's combined
salutations, each Of which had
gathered shrill crescendo.
The prim landlady, attracted by
the telephones insistent calling anc
by Aunt Ida's persistent ciamti
left her room and went to invest
gate.
Look, Aunt Ida" explained the
landlady patiently. You must lift
the receiver before answering"
Aunt Ida turned a bellicoce eye
n her employer.
Not me, Nam. l have little
truck with them things. If they
don't want to answer when l an
swer, they a keep on ringin.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
YARD CONFERENCE
SET BY STEELMAN
Congressman, Truman
slant To Discuss
SPA Offer Today

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 R)-
Presidential Assistant John R.
steelman will confer with North
Carolina members of Congress at
4 p. m. tomorrow on the states
efforts to purchase the North Car
DINA Shipbuilding yards at Will
mington.
The North Carolina Ports author
ity wants to buy the yards and has
offered to pay the U. S. Maritime
commission 81, 200. 900 for the prop
erty. This offer was rejected.
Senator Hoey D-NC) told a re-
porter the group tomorrow again
will discuss the details of the pro-
posed purchase at the request OF
steelman wso was asked by Pres
;dent Truman to study the. stu
atiop
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20

Would'K
16 Statues
Immediate Repeal OF Many
Wartime Measures Urged
In New Message
SECOND" STEP
White House Proposal May
Return Coast Guard To
Navy AT Once

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-tP)-In
a major new stride toward normal
national life, President Truman
today asked legislation by Con-
gress to permit "early ending"
of the Z 10 year old Estate of
emergency"
The Presidents message urged
extension of only 16 of the 102
emergency laws OH the books, in
Guiding the power to arm merchant
ships and the maintenance of de-
Tense housing, now in use for vet
Grams.
Congress was asked to repeal
Immediately "a laws dealing with
problems of the war which ne
longer face u.s." such as the lease
of public lands for arms produc.
ton and the use of dollar-a-year
men.
On his own, the Chief Executive
ordered federal agencies to sus-
pend activities under the emer-
gency clauses of Sc permanent
statutes at once or Gin any event
not later than March 49,"
1.-The progress of reconversion
now makes it possible to take an
additional step toward freeing our
economy of wartime controls"
said the message sent to. Capitol
Hill.
Before Midyear
Mr.. Truman made it clear that
he hopes to declare an end of the
emergency before midyear, II
prompt Congressional action on
today's recommendations makes
such speed possible. Thereup, all
the laws which remain in force
for the period of emergency will
end automatically.
This will accomplish the second
of the three big steps unwrapping
the tangle of war powers and de-
tense controls. The first was
taken Dec. 81, when the President
proclaimed the end of hostilities
and thereby knocked out IS
statutes including the federal au-
thority to seize strikebound private
plants.
The third step-and the most
important one-will come with the
Continued on Page 2, Column 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
MEDICAL SOCIETY
NAMES OFFICERS
DR.. johnson OF Garland
Selected As Head OF
Third District

With approximately so represen-
tatives from New Hanover, Brun-
swick, Columbus, Onslow, Samp-
son, Duplin. .Bladen, and Fender
counties, present the winter meet
ing of the Third District Medical
Society was held in the Cape Fear
club last night.
New officers elected for the as
ISOLATION are as follows: DR. Amos
Pohnson, Garland, president; DR..
William darlington, Jacksonville,
vice president, and DR.. William
Baldwin, Whiteville, secretary and
treasurer.
Action taken during the meet
ing included the unanimous NJ -
ing of the ccoia'- -
James F. Robertson as a candi-
date for the 2
Continued mn Page Two: Col 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Curley Gives
EviidenceFor
Prosecution
cri,sett Trial Gets Under
xay After Completion OF
Jury Late Yesterday
THIRD WITNESS
Ex-Patrolman
Places Defendant Behind
Hardware Store In July

The states star witness in the
wilmington ex-police officers al
,saed thefts told a jury in New
Hanover county Superior Court
Yesterday afternoon that he saw
.atrolman Roy Grissett walk from
behind the Anchor Hardware
store in July last year with a box
which contained an cupboard
motor
The witness, H. L. Gurley, also
!, former policeman on the Will
nington force, and who also is
under Indictment Of storebreaking,
was the third witness to take the
stand after selection of a jury
had been completed at 3.45 p. m.
After Gurley, admittedly caught
red-handed in a local g%rocerteria,
had been indicted he implicated
Grissett in the store-breaking
charge.
Gurley told the court that he and
Grissett p~atrolled adjoining beats
DUNG the time of the alleged thefts
Sometime last july. He said
that he saw Grissett, on or about
the first of July, come from be-
hind the Anchor Hardware store
with a package.
1t was about 2 a.. NJ, he said.
And he described the package as
being about four feet long and two
feet wide. He said he saw Girls
sett put the package down on the
ground in the alley.
He said that Grissett came out
to the street. and told him that
~ have an cupboard motor" and
that lie had "gos it from the
Anchor Hardware store" 1t was
about an hour, he said, before he
saw Crissett again. At that time
Gurley quoted Grissett as saying
Il have sent at away"
On cross-examination by Attor-
ney Ebert Brown. Gurley admit
ted that he did not, of his own
knowledge, know. what the box
contained. And he said that he
did not go back of the hardware
store TO G If it had been entered.
Under a heated cross examina-
Continued on Page 2, Column 5,
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Too Many ~rosbyRecords
Rouse Ire OF Scotchman

we who make the laws are
perturbed at the rising costs OF
divorce courts, at homes for ille-
climate children. at tire number
of parents Who have taken tier
matrimonial respor s;;hili1t es f. 100
lightly ard are encouraged by
crooners to regard this sort O.,
thing as a highlight of happiness"
she said.
These comments came just be-
fore the House s@roved q supple
mensary budget of $~15.9Ts,0HN 20
operate the BIC. The rest Of the
money for the BIC CO es aa
more than 100000 radio owners
in Britain who pay four dollars
each for an annual license.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20


LONDON, Feb 19-P-Walter
Elliott, Conservative party mem
Der of parliament from Scotland.
argued in. Commons tonight that
the British Broadcasting corpor-
alton was playing too many Bing
Crosby records.
"Its not merely three or four
hours of Bing Crosby" he said,
but 80 or 40 or 800 or 400 and
this ALLEGATION is rained on the
heads Of many households"
Mrs. Jean Mann, a -Laborite,
claimed that the sentiments ex-
pressed in many of the modern
tunes played over the BIC helped
lure married couples into illicit
affairs.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
Proposed Traffic Artery
In City To Cost $4,000
The Weather
FORECAST:

~
North Carolina - Cloudy and rather
or sleet North and West portions Thurs
and slightly warmer.
South Carolina = Cloudy and quite
cool, occasional rain. SIeet ar snow ex
treme northwest portion Thursday. Fri
day mostly cloudy with rain and little
change in temperature.
Eastern Standard Time)
(By u. S. Weather Bureau
Meteorological data for the "a hours
ending 7:30 p: III. yesterday.
Temperatures:
80 a. m. 81; Z 80 a. IN. As: 1870 D.. N.
So; 1880 p. m. 46.
Maximum Sc; Minimum AZ; Mean 40;
Normal 48.
Humidity:
1880 a. m. so; $50 d. m, SO; l:30 .. N.
81; 1870 p. m. So.
Precipitation:
Total for "a hours ending 7:30 p. NJ
0.00 inches.
Total since the first of the month -
0.34 inches.
Tides For Today
(From the Tide Tables published by
u. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
HIGH Low
Wilmington 9:29 am. 4:08 am.
9:45 pm. 4:4O pm.
Masonboro inlet 7:2O am. 1:20 an
1925 pm: 1:s8 pm
Sunrise 6:51: Sunset 500; Moonrise
6:58a; Moonset 5:41p.
River stage at Fayetteville, N. c., at
8 a. m. Wednesday 11.2 feet.