Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1: k Sheriff J. H. McLeod, Sr^ Dies Suddenly At His Home On Lufayette Avenue. The Camden Chronicle VOLUME 57 S.-Sgt Alva Rush Was Hero In Airplane Crash CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROUNA, :fR1DAY, MARCH 23, 1945 NUMBER 1 Captain and Chaplain of Com mand, Eztoi Coarafo of Camden Youth. Chief of Police AlTa J. Rueb and the members of hta family, . wlille grief stricken over the disappearance of their son and brother, Ahra J. Rush, Jr., on Peb. 7, while in action off the coast of Formosa, hare a deep tease of pride orer the affection and respect in which Sergeant Rush was held by the officers and men of his eommand. . ^ . Letters have been received from Robert W. Blair, commanding officer of the air corps tmit to which Sgt. Rush's plane was attached and also from Father Eugene J. Reilly, chap- bin of the 38th Bombardment group. Both Captain and Chaplain express deep regret over the tragic end of the Camden young than. Said Cap- Uin Blair in his letter: was on an important mission sgtlnst enemy shtppiing Off the coast of FonnoML when the plane on which he wu a gunner, was hit hy fire from ensmy shore batteries and crash land. ,«d in the ocean ten miles west of the City of Takao, Formosa. The alr- fkrne made a good water landing. It [Dotted for about three minutes be- fere sinking, and a life raft was ob- Iserred In the watM*. Water to the ilgh seas, crews of the otb^r planes Id not tell whether survivors were m the raft or not. A search is in feet and it is hoped the men will found, but of course, you realise e crash occured very dote to enemy itory. "This it sad news I -know and wiB If you much grief, but I prefer to you the complete detailt as you mfitled to know the full tacts, sorrow you are now experiencing one of the greatest burdens of tba To yon. lUs father, we owe an >rer-ltBtlng debt of giwtltnde and len men agala live In peace, it will due to tbe hMvism of men like ^our son. “Alva was a^member of this Squad- )n for six mbotbs and bis cheerful ille and willing attitude bad en- nrd him to us all. He was a cour- lUB man and an excellent soldier. 16 service rendered by him while (Please tan to page savdi) - - — atment Worse an Bullet Says etumed Soldier J Youthful Driver k Exonerated In Highway Trage^ Jury Finds Dutlh of Mother Of Nine Unnroidable Accident. faxi Pellet Penetral And Cuts GrooW In Head. James Shirley. 17-year-old Uxl driver, whose machine strucia and killed Beuia Themum, colored mother of nine children, on the Charlotte highway on the evening of March 10, was exonersted by a coroner's Jury following an inquest last Friday night, the Jury holding that fte accident was unavoidable. • TesUmony offered at the inquest indicated that an allegedly south bound oar with bright headlights had stopped beaide the Milton Thomas, colored, car, which had broken down in the northbound lane of the high, way. ShMey, at the wheel of a Marlon Hudson taxi and carrying three soldiers and a. woman to Ker shaw, came from Camden, reaching the ares where the two cars hAit stop, ped, conld not see beyond the lights of the car which had stopped beside the Thomas car. Shirley swung his car to Che right to ikass the car suppose^ coming from the north and did not see the Thomas ear until he waa almost upon it The yontb swung his taxi far to the right and into the ditch to avoid the threatened collision, '^e Thomas woman had stmipcd .from her hus^ band’s car and was in the ditch and in tbe path of the taxi. She was struck and killed. A soldier who was in the taxi, also a truck driver who was coming from the south both took the stand at the inqneat to testl^ to the fact that a second eari bekding south and with bright headlights was the cause of the taxi swinging to the right. On the other hand Thomas, a witness testified that there was no second car in evidence. Shirley, who la 17 years of age. but who will reach his 18th birthday in a short time and will be subject to the draft stated Saturday that the lights of the alleged second car blinded him so that be did not see the Thomas car until almost apon it and in order to avoid a crash, be htt the ditch. The inquest attarcted a large crowd of curious to tbe court room and was in session from 7 until past 10 p. m. Ten witnesses were called to give testimony. Marion Hudson, on Saturday, asked that if tbe public would inform him of any traffic violations oh the part of his drivers, he would promtply dis charge the offenders. I Have you ever wondered how a sol. per felt when he was hit by enemy re? • - I Edward Strensee, a sergeant from trlin. Wls., hospitalized to the Unit- States from Germany, and who ne to Camden for the week-end was l^tlm of a Nazi bullet on March 1. "It was early In the morning,” he [id, “and we had Just pushed off on offensive. With several other men scout duty, we were pushing ahead we ran into an enemy gun nest, were out in the open, but-we ail led to fire at the Jerries. We ie it plenty hot for them and after minutes I thought we were *tlng the better of the argument— Mn it happened. I (elt a tremendous thud in the of my helmet and then a sharp in my head. Then everything Dt black. next thing 1 knew I in a hoepitaL They told me that bullet had cut a groove in my ip three inches long and a quarter inch widei. It required fifteen los to ctoae tha wound and ffta ‘ing prooeaa hurt worse than the t wound. i>e hospital I waa la was really ^11-. We got three square meals s r—and believs It or not—^«y wers ^rations. They had showers there believe me, after I had taken a Yer and changed into clean eloth- I fel^iike a champ^ of eham- e boys over there cannot say b In praise of the Red Croee would never have won tha war Dout thoee folke with tba red ereee and uniforms. They were Iflcent,** Special ^oe ips For Eastor ration Board local ration board la receiving 7 appiicatlens ter apeelal shoa ^ becauee of tka near approach ^ler. Undoubtedly many naora I5**^*^ after Beater because [• ■Pnng aeaaou. Pjjea^tiona are Bpadflc regard, wuaaca of shoe atampa aud ^ cautkws about to thoaa who ara not “ appileaat is be has lees than ™ of naaded aboaa. SbM togt no The Kiwanis Club To Present Vty Vanities Clothing To Be Used Ai Ticket To Matinee Event Cundan Theater To Spbttaer Unique Affair In ^Cloth- inf Drhre. « Camden kiddles will have an oppok- tunlty to witness a fine picture shoe at the Csmdeu theater on the after noon of Saturday, April 7, and It will not cost them a single cent Instead the admission to the show will be a five pound bundle of excess clothing, which will be collected lator by the commttteei from the remdon Rotary club, aponsor of the *%xoeie clothing” drive of the United National Clothing collection campaign whieh starts on AprD 1, and ooetiaeee through April 80. Major General G. H. Fraaka, chair, man of the local campaign ooBUklttee. has announced the pereeaaal el publicity and special eveeta ei toe as followi; Rolahd Ooedale, man; Frank H. Heath, rspreaeni the Camden Chronicle and Play Will Be Giwea At Gram mar School Auditorium Biarch 29th. Prominent County Official Victim of Gunshot Wound Rehearsals are underway for “Vic tory Vanities,” the local talent show being sponsored by the Kiwanis club for the benefit of the Underprivileged Children. The play is under tbe personal dl- rection of Miss Jeanne Paldie of Chicago, ill., who has had much ex perience in this work. Mlse Paldie comee to Camden well recommended Bbe bolds a degree from Michigan and has done graduate work at the Ameri can Conservatory In Chicago and the University of Kansas. In addition she has had special training In this pro duction. Cast includes—Chapman Graham plays the part of Benny Day, the young program director for tbe local radio station. He’s' anxious to get into the air eorps. -but the doctors all tarn him down because of bis allergy toward women. Bill Berry, played by Gyles Huggins, is sympathetic and trWe to help, aided and abetted by Ritsy Coze, ns Jinx Snnuners. But what a mess! Mr. ^ Withera, Oliver Ripe, threatens to fU'e Benny News Service; L«ee trtisstsr be gets the all-important Vlo- magnate; George Stewart of Stewait proi^m ready for the - ■ ■ - - air, but Benny can t concentrata on It because women get in his hair. Of coarse Lois Coze ss Mrs. Withers the domineering wife of the station manager, tries to help with her first aid course, but isn't any more sue. ^ ^ ®toeful than Oladiola, played by Bdila tog people of Ttberat^ oouatrtee tg Watkins, Jhe coloped maid. Community Stunned By Demise Of Well-lCnowm and Popular Man. SHERIFF J. McLEOD Printing company; J. O. saperintendent of schools; aU tars of Camden churches heads of the various civie and eih orgaaliatlons in the city. Clothing that is moat wnfl needed to be sent to clotka the snttu^ 3 the war area includes lafaats* meats, men’s and boys’ overcoats, w#> men’s and girl’s garments, caps aajt knitted headwear, bedding, shoea, < able remnants, piece goods, etc. When tbe matinee is hM at Camden theater on April 7, a huge will be provided to the theater loWiy wherein the packagee of clothtog be placed. Interest to the excess clatiiiug drlPg is gaining much momentuti and Gate eral Franks believee that It eaa bg[ successfully earrlad throng hi waaks time. Episcopal Baby Show To Be Held On Sat, April 7th Infant Claaaic To Bo Stafod In AadHoHum of Pariali Hoiuo. up of young women of Grace Episco pal church, will sponger their anhosl baby show in the andltorium of the church parish house on the afternoon of Saturday. April 7. There will be four divisions in the "baby parade,” one for infants up to a year old, another for those 1 to 1 years, a third tor those 3 to S and a tonrth for those from 8 to S. The entry fee has been fixed at M cents per baby while spectators will have a charge of S5 cents imposed. Mothers accompanying thalr bablss win be admtttad free. In addition to tha baby show In tbs parish honsa andltorium there will be a pony ring In ffie chnrcb yard where the litUe kiddles may enjoy a ride on a pony. The show is open ta both boy and girl babies and win be held rain or shine. Tba baby show wlU about wind np. tha “expoaltkm events" of the winter seaaon. So far there haa been one splendid boroe show with n second to be held on March 34. The anirasl Bptoeopal dog show is to be held on the aftmoon of March 33 in Rectory aqnare. This, like the baby show and horse shows, la entatanding in top toi’wit ' CpL Abbott Killed lb Cb'eat Battle City Swelters Mid-Suimner Heat Reading Here Mercury Soura To 90 Dogroea 4 k Hearing Clinic To Be Conducted In Kershaw County Wai Bo Hold At Pine Tree School Houne On March the 29th. The committee on children of special disadvantages of the Kershaw county civic council met last week to formulate plans for a hearing clinic. This committee feels s defl. nite program for the hard of hearing children who might be termed "The Forgotten Child” should be started immediately. Since early detecUon It was decided to have bearing teata at the Pine Tree school Thursday, “The ^itB(^>paI Sorvtce OMlIdj^ m^Ie Calhoon from the Junior Mrs. N. R. Goodale. Br., haa receiv ed a nseasage from her sister, Mrs. W. W. Abbott of 3510 First avenue, Blrm- togham. telling of the death of bar napbew. Cpl. Nathan B. Abbott, who waa killed in actiow to Iwo JIma dar ing the Marine invasion to February. CpL Abbott was the son of 1^. W. W. Abbott and the late W. W. Abbott, who ter many yeaiw, w oon- neeted with a whoVs^e and ra^ boslaste to Colombia.^ He teavts a wifa, two atottes, tha lOBasa' Itery and liUisn Abbott, and two CpL wnuam W. Abh^^ tlonod at Fort Benntog. Oa.. and John f^goott Abbott of FranoMoo. OsL Leagna of Colombia, will have charge of the testing. She and her workers win use both the group and individual pure tone audiometers in making the tests. This committee plans to fol low np these tests for those found to hsve hearing losses with medical ex amination, lip reading and speech to- stmetion when needed and hearing aids for thoaa who be benefltted by weiring them. Miss Bess Ferguson, executive seo- retary of the Columbia Society for the Hard of Hearing; Mlks Deborah Mauldin, child welfare consultant of the atata departaient of public w^- fsre, and Mra. Atana Salmond. direc tor of public welfare for Kershaw county, met with this oommltteai. MemJMTs of the committee are the Rev. A. D. MeAm. Chairman; Mrs. Howard Jamas, Mrs. J. C. Swing, Mrs. Frank Lee, Mrs. B. O. Boykto, Mrs. J. D. Zamp.'Mrs. Margaret May- field, Mn. J. L. 'Wmiford, Mrs. Alton Brown, Mn. J. O. Smyrl. Mrs. J. O. Richards, Jr., the ev. J. B. Caston and P. D. Baird. Miss Ferguson hopes other counties will f(dlow Kanhaw to planning for their hard of haarlng. Those toterset- ed In recelvlpE information ralative to the ImM of hearing can writs tha ColumMa soclaty at 1534 Assembly street, Colombia, 8. C. Notice—Service Men Tha edlton of the newspaper, The CamdMi News, betog sent to each man or woman In aervlce from Ker shaw County ara desirous of — this a real paper for thoaa sway from homo. Thoy are asking that anyehe in ssrvica who has had an interastteg experience or any totermatlOB oon- cemtog tha places to whl^ they have served or are now eervtog that could bo published and would be toteresttog ta those to otoer outfits and other parte «f 4M world, pleaae wrtto thtae laterealtoB tocto to tomn In thnt oOute nay rood abont theus Mayor and Taxi Body Orders Al} Under 21 Off Job City EzncntiTn Dnclnma He Will See Thnt Violntiona. Are Punished. Busty Buetleberger and Miss Pep per, Betty Moseley and Mary PHta, (Plaasa tnm to page fva) On St. Patrick's Natiofud Day. of hearing loss is tbe first step In Apparently eager to make amends for the long and record-breaking cold winter of ^44-45, the weather man Jumped the gun on the summer gauge last week and really poured- on the heat. Last Frday a reading of 37* was re corded by the government thermomeU M* and on Saturday a high of 90 degrees was reglstred. This broke sll records since 1907 when a reading of 91 was checked. The heat wave was general all over the nation. Up In the midwest tern perature of 67 to 70 ware recorded and the same was true of the east- central area where 71 was high. Tbe weather man says it is March but last week tbe people of the Caro- Unas would have sworn It was July or August Woolen coats and other wear gave' place to light worsteds and cotton ontflta while to Columbia one by appearing in a straw hat rick’s day to Camden to nearly 4') years, and aa there were no official records maintained back in tbe early 1900’s, Saturday’s 90 degrees may hava been an all-time figure. It was dJatlnctly sport-ahirt weather and tha Saturday throngs on the main drags wera all more or leas to shirt sleeves. From the standpoint of averages the 90 reading was exactly 16 degrees above, <Bf B Ufa. Bethune School Product Is The IKvision Champ Jolm E. Gardaur Wliu Suirati Oat ol FHaq Fifkta In John (Jack) Gardner of Bethnaa, in tbe United Staten Marine corpa, haa blasted his way to tbe light- walght title in the Third Marls# divtokm boxing tournament which took place Just before the division shoved off for Iwo Jima. Gardner, a atocky, cocky red-head, had never, fought to a prtoe ring be^ fora the llitrd dhision boxing classic started. He tried out and made good, much to the amasemeut of a lot of other marines who regarded the Sand lappar as Just another soldier. Ctordner wedghed 137 but be fought to the 135 pound class in the totum- mmt la spite of bla weight and tbe nwaqr pound# he conceded hto oppon- enta, ha won aevan of his nine bouts in tha ctaealc and than went on to grih tbe title of hia weight division. He fag been overseas for 9 months. entering tba Martoea Gard- amifloyad by the Sonoco rtsfasta company at Hartsvilla. Whila at afaeol he played basabaD and toot. baO nt flatluins High, III tenilera la tha boxing touma- mqU ssM ha was aa aggreasiva scrap per and was wUllng to take a lot «f rat to order te get his own ^mediate revocation of taxi driv eiT licenaes to men under 21. years was ordered by Mayor F. N. Me- Corckle and the taxi commission of tbe city last week. Taxi line owners declsre that tbe new edict will affect tour drivers. The action of the mayor and com mission resulted from a wave of com- platota. hte allegedly reckless driving on tbe i>art of some of the driver# Mayor McCorkle Informed the Chronicle that the ban on drivers un der 81 years of age is but one of several steps contemplated by tbe dty to eliminate the source of com plaints against the taxi operators. The mayor declared that he was giv ing hit parsoanal atteatloa to tbe matter and Intended to see that the taxis were operated to a safe man« n«r. Thia means that speeding, bright lights and fast comer negotia tions will result in susprasion of drivers guilty of infractions. Camden. Kershaw County and South Carolina people In general, were shockVd and stunq^ by the untimely demise of Sheriff J. H. Mcljeod, Sr., whose death from a self-inflicted gun shot wound occurred Monday night at 10;S0 o’clock at his home on I.afayette avenue. Born In'the West Wateree section 56 years ago,*' J. H 'Mcl.-eod received his schooling in the county schools and in his many years of residence to the county, was a leader In civic af fairs. The affection and admiration lavished upon him by his thousands of admiring friends and acquaintances in the ear is reflected by his constant re-election to the all-important office of sheriff. After a few years as deputy sheriff, Mr. McLeod was elect ed to the highest office In the county and has been successful in bis occu pancy of this executive position for many years. Ail told, his tenue as a law enforcement official covers a period of 21 years. Active In all affairs of a civic na ture the deceased was a member of the Shrine, tbe Kiwanis club and was a loyal follower of the tenets of the Metho<llat church. Beeides his widow, Mr. McLeod l^jives two sons, Lt. Francis McLeod, on duty to France, Undersheriff J. H. McLeod, Jr., who .was in New York on business when his father died; four daughters. 3Mrs. D. B. (Rhetta) Allen of Norfolk. Va., Mrs. M. B. (Louise) Moody. Camden. Mrs. Norman (Marg aret) Truesdale, CaiQden. and Miss Doris McLeod, Camden. Also, three brothers, Larry McLeod of Lancaster, Thomas of Honeybee, Ky., and Don ald of Blaney; two sisters, Gertrude McLeod of Augusta, Ga.. and Mrs. Mamie Trotter of (Columbia. No reason can be assigned to the act of the sheriff. In the absence of, his son, Undersherlff McLeod, who was in New York on business con nected with the office, Sheriff McLeod was on duty at his office all day Mon day. This writer spent heller than an hour with him at noon, chatting on diversified subjects. The Sheriff All Restaurants Must Be Gosed At Midnight Hour Eating Places Sarwing War Workers Permitted To Stay Open. Restaurants which serve meals to war workers may quality for exemp tions from the Byrnes midnight cur- few’by making application to the area office, according to an announcement this week. Unless eating places serve Saturday was the hottest St Pat-1 meals to wgr workers they cannot remain oi>en after the midnight hour, it is stated. Steps to be taken ip the granting of exemptions were Ilst^ as follows: 1. A written application should be filed by the restaurant or eating place specifying the period of time after 12 midnight which it wishes to remain open for the purpose of serving food to war workers. 2. A written statement it obtained from the employer or employers of war workers certifying that bis or their Employes havh or whi be to fact served by the restaurant in question, and that the place in which such em ployes are employed does not have adequate in-plant feeding facilities Such written statements may also be filed by the labor orgaaisstion repre- MntjBE the employes Involved. 3. A written report from the po lice or similar government officials to the effect that the restaurant in question has In tset been open fur the hours indicated in the applica- tloii and that It has been patronised by war workers employed to plants In the surrounding sres;' In ss much ss no restsursnt in Camden or Kershaw ceunty serves war workers, all must comply with the Byrnes midnight curfew and hsvs lights out and be closed at midnight Horse Show Will Be Held Sat P.M. An Informal local horse show will he held Saturday sftwnoott at twq o’clock to the show ring of- the Marlon duPont Scott property. There will be ten‘classes listed with three ribbons to bs awarded in each class. Mrs. Thome Smith ot Sonthem Ptoes, will bs t^s Jndge. Box lunches and soft dmlm sriU be sold from 13 noon by thd Canteen unit of the American Red (Sosa chapter. NOTICE OF .MEETING The Spring Meeting of the Kershaw Baptist Association will bs bald with Tbom Hm Baptist ehnroh March 33, IME (Plesss tnm to pags two) Massabeau Lauds Rat Program In Camden—A Success Snys Project One of Most Out- stnnding Here In Mnny Yetfn. Safe-guarding Camden against ty phus through tbe medium of a well- organized and coordinated rat exterm ination program has progressed to a point where another few weeks will see the entire downtown district thoroughly cleared of rats. Councilman Clyde V. Massabeau, who was one of tbe prime moverg to securing tha rat sztermtoatkm pro gram and having subsequent legbds- tion provided to insure the saecetsful comjasnon o^ the project points to his own business establishment as a striking example of the effectiveness of the program. “In the elimination of the rats from my store the snecess of the under taking was qnlte striking,” said Mr. Massabeau. "Bxactly 127 rats ware removed alive in traps and it Is im possible to estimate the number that were eliminated through the medium of the poison osed. "It is several months now since my ‘ store received the attentkm of the“^ men engaged to the rat-jprooflng pro gram and as yet not a stogie rat has retnmed, nor have any new ones been in evidence. *1 can safely say without fear of contradiction that the amount of money expended to eliminating the rata and in ratrprooftog my property, which amounted to over $150, has saved me fully fl.QOO, a splendid in vestment ss anyone will admit I oon-' aider this rat program one of tbe ont- standing actlvitleo to Camden In many years.” Midweek Goiting Starte h May StoTM aaid OffioM To Obeurre Half Holiday In tho kHdwook. The midweek closlnf program In Camden, with Wednest^ afternoons designated ss the half-holldsy period, win become sffeetlvd tbs ft^ Wed nesday in May. according, to sa- nouncement this week. It was hoped that tbi month of Ajnrtt could hey# been toeludM In tbe ekwtof procrant. but It was found that govsrumsat permlaskm would bs Camden stores, otflees, eCc., wUl close St 1 p. m. on Wednesday during tbe months of May, Jons, July sad August For some time pest tbe At- Isntle and Pacific Tea company stoiw and the Bogars store hsve besa clos- iug OB Wedaesdmy aftsmoons.