Auto Crash Fatal To G. K. Moore, Sr

Prominent Cliffside Contractor Dies in Rutherford Hospital As Result of Injuries Received Monday Morning – Head-0n Collision Also Injures Mr. Lox Harrill

From the Forest City Courier, Jan. 9, 1930

Three men and one girl were arrested and placed in jail at Forest City early Monday morning following an automobile accident near Sandy Mush in which G. Kelly Moore, Sr., one of the county’s most prominent men and one of Cliffside’s most beloved citizens was fatally injured, and Lox Harrill, also of Cliffside, had his knee badly crushed. The driver of the death car escaped although his knee, lip and hand were badly cut.

Mr. Moore, who was supervisor of the construction of the new home being built by Dr. and Mrs. T. C. Lovelace here, and Mr. Harrill, foreman of the carpenter work, were on their way to work when the tragic wreck occurred on the curve just below the cotton gin at Sandy Mush on the Caroleen road. It is said that while coming around this curve, their car, a Plymouth coupe, was struck by a model T Ford roadster, that was on the wrong side of the road. It was driven by Walter Branch, of Henrietta, and in it with him was his brother, Woodrow Branch of Henrietta, and Miss Virginia Roach, daughter of Horace Roach, of Avondale.

Driver Escapes.

Following the wreck, which was almost a head-on collision, Walter Branch made his escape, although injured. His brother and the girl who was with them were arrested by Jim Marlow, of Alexander, and brought to Forest City where they were lodged in jail. It is evident that they had a car-load of whiskey. as a large quantity was scattered over the ground and in the car, after the bottles had been broken, either in the crash or by the occupants of the car following the accident. A gallon of whiskey, however, was found by officer Marlow and later a half-gallon was found by Chief Chas. R. Price and Mayor V. T. Davis, of Forest City, which someone had hidden. Gary Hames, of Cliffside, owner of the Ford was arrested Monday morning and brought to the jail at Forest City. They were all held in connection with the death of Mr. Moore but the nature of the charge against them was not disclosed. A Baynard boy of Sandy Mush was also arrested charged with attempting to hide the whiskey, which was in the Ford.

Injured Taken to Hospital.

Immediately after the accident occurred, Mr. Moore and Mr. Harrill were rushed to Forest City for medical aid. A phone call to Dr. W. C. Bostic, Sr., and Dr. W. C. Bostic, Jr., was put in, requesting them to meet the injured men at their office, but after seeing the condition Mr. Moore was in, these doctors thought it best for him to be taken to the hospital. An ambulance was quickly summoned, and Mr. Moore and Mr. Harrill were rushed to the Rutherford hospital, but Mr. Moore was so mortally injured that medical aid was of no avail and he died about 10 o’clock. Mr. Harrill was found to be in a critical condition but he is expected to recover.

A warrant, charging him with murder, was issued Monday morning for Walter Branch, driver of the Ford, and a large number of policemen and deputy sheriffs were put on his trail. It was found that Branch bad been carried to his home in Henrietta by J. S. Wall, who lives on the Highway to Caroleen near where the wreck occurred, after he had been told by Branch that he had been in a wreck and was hurt, not saying anything about any of the other parties. Mr. Wall not knowing that he was wanted by the police took him home. Branch left his home, though, to make good his escape, and was seen crossing the Cliffside railroad trestle near the Lakeview Roller Mills. He was again seen in a car with two other men by a deputy sheriff at Cliffside, who was unable to catch him.

Police on Trail of Branch.

It was thought that Branch way either on his way to Gaffney, S. C. or Spartanburg, S. C, Chief Price of this city, telephoned all the surrounding towns and cities in an effort to head Branch off, requesting that the different police departments visit the hospitals and local doctors, for Branch was injured to such an extent that he will have to have medical aid.

Monday afternoon Chief Price,Deputy Sheriffs Marlow and Cobb, the latter of Cliffside, while scouring the woods for the driver of the death car in the swamps on Broad River between Henrietta and Cliffside, jumped Branch. Price and Marlow were both in sight of the wanted man and shot at him several times but he was too far away for them to wing him. They, with the other two officers, chased Branch for about two hours, and they ran him so hard he was forced to throw off his coat. The officers took possession of the coat and from the looks of it Branch was badly injured, for all the lining in the coat was covered with blood. Branch escaped the officers by out-running them.

Posses Formed.

Monday night posses were formed from all over Rutherford county and joined in the man hunt. At 10 o’clock Monday night it was estimated by Chief Price that 254 men were looking for Branch in the section between Henrietta and Caroleen. A large circle was formed by the deputized men and it was thought that Branch was in this cordon of men stretched for miles along Broad River and forests in that section. Branch was again seen several times Monday night, officers being close enough to shoot at him several times. While chasing the man officer Marlow tripped over a barbed wire fence and cut his legs rather badly, necessitating medical aid at Forest City.

About 1 o’clock Tuesday morning a great many of the special officers returned to their homes and as he had not been caught at 8:30 o’clock Tuesday morning, it was feared that Branch had slipped through the human net and made his escape.

The girl that was arrested together with Woodrow Branch following the wreck made a statement to the police Monday, giving the name of the man from whom they had purchased the whiskey and whom it was for. The latter had already been arrested on another charge in connection with this case while officers immediately went after the other man, who lives in another county.

Borrowed Car.

When interviewed by a Courier reporter Monday morning, Woodrow Branch did not have very much to say. It was learned that he and his brother had borrowed the car from Gary Hames Sunday afternoon and had kept it all night, for he admitted that they were on their way home when the accident occurred. He further stated that if there had been any whiskey in the car he did not know it.

Mr. Moore, who was 72 years of age, being born November, 1858, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maggie Dean Moore, and the following children: Charles Moore, of Ohio; G. K. Moore, Jr., of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Miss Virginia Moore, at home; Mrs. Nell Humphries, Lincolnton; Mrs. W. F. Blanton, of Morganton. He is also survived by one brother, John Moore, of Great Falls, Montana; two half-brothers, B. C. Moore, of Hendersonville; W. E. Moore, of Forest City; and one half-sister, Mrs. M. Webb, of Forest City. Three grandchildren also survive.

Funeral Services.

Funeral services for the late Mr. Moore were held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock, from the Cliffside Baptist church, with his pastor Rev. D. H. Rhinehardt in charge of the service. Mr. Moore was a member of the Cliffside Methodist church and for a number of years was a member of the board of stewards. The Cliffside Mills suspended operation Wednesday for the funeral. The Baptist church has a larger seating capacity so the funeral was held there in order to accommodate thousands that were in attendence. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Methodist church, near Forest City today (Thursday).

Mr. Moore was one of the most popular and best beloved men Cliffside, and was often referred as the “father of Cliffside.” He played a very definite part in building Cliffside, and had always taken a interest in its civic and business affairs.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.

Surrenders

From the Forest City Courier, Jan. 9, 1930

Walter Branch, alleged driver of the death car which fatally injured Mr. Kelly Moore Monday morning, surrendered to sheriff W. C. Hardin Wednesday morning, bringing to a close a three days persistent hunt by officers and posses in this and adjoining counties.

Branch escaped from the scene of the wreck, and was the object of a search extending over a wide territory, in which several hundred people participated. Officers sighted Branch Monday night and shot at him several times, but were unable to stop him. A close lookout was maintained by officers in adjoining towns through Tuesday night.

Branch, dejected, injured, hungry and worn out by dodging officers for nearly three days, went to Rutherfordton and surrendered to Sheriff Hardin.
Branch was injured about the body in a number of places. None of the injuries, however, are serious. They are flesh wounds and cuts which were received when the cars collided.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.

Funeral Held For G. K. Moore, Sr.

Cliffside Church Filled to capacity For Last Rites For Beloved Citizen.

From the Forest City Courier, Jan. 16, 1930

Cliffside, Jan. 13—Funeral services for Mr. G. Kelly Moore were held at one o’clock last Wednesday in the Cliffside Baptist church. Mr. Moore died Monday, January 6th, of injuries received earlier in the day in an automobile accident.

Long before the hour set for the funeral service the Cliffside Baptist church was crowded. The large church would not hold all who came to pay their last respects to this beloved man, familiarly known as “The daddy of Cliffside.” The pastors in charge of the service were: Rev. D. H. Rhinehardt, pastor of the Cliffside church; Rev A. C. Swafford. Rev. A. T. Stoudenmire, of Avondale, Dr. Zeno Wall of Shelby, and Dr. W. A. Ayers of Forest City.

There were masses of lovely flowers sent by friends and relatives in honor of the late G. K. Moore and also as tokens of love, affection and sympathy for the sorrowing family.The floral offerings were carried by Misses Alice Carpenter, Helen Thompson, Amelia Pruett, Ferne Pruett, Pearl Simmons, Una Edwards, Bertha McCraw, Mrs. F. S. Hall, Mrs. Dewey Blanton, Mrs. Miles Haynes, Mrs. Harry Robertson, Mrs. N. Carpenter, Mrs. J. C. Hord and Mrs. John Lane.

The honorary pall bearers were Chas. H. Haynes, Walter H. Haynes, P. C. Hawkins, M. Hendrick, B. F. Caldwell, Z. O. Jenkins, Thomas Blanton, R. B. Watkins, Dr. H. L. Robertson, B. D. Wilson, J. C. Carpenter. R. E. Carpenter. G. C. Shuford and Dr. J. C. Hord.

The active pall bearers were Lee Goforth, B. E. Gold, J. C. Hames, Tom Biggerstaff, Paul Carpenter.

The pastors spoke briefly of the splendid Christian character of the late G. K. Moore, his work and service, and sought then to console the sorrowing family. The Cliffside choir, with B. E. Roach at the piano, sang a number of hymns. The service was a most impressive one.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.