Newspaper Page Text
■HfiRHIlraSW
TWIGE-A-WEEK.
■— ; ;——
YIENNA
VOL. Ill NO. 23.
VIENNA, QA., OCTOBER 3, 1903.
’SQUIRE PARNELL'S COURT OR A TRIP THROUGH DOOLY
COUNTY MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO.
In an article in Sunday’s Atlanta
Constitution of May 25th 1894,
entitled “Early Days in South
Georgia,” Judge RichardH. Clark
gave the following account of a
-trip which he made from Hawk-
insville to Albany in 1844, fifty-
nine years ago.
“I was again alone, and did not
know the road from Hawkinsvilie
to Albany. I saw a gentleman
standing in the door of a store. I
rode up and asked him. He ans
wered: ‘you see that man unhitch
ing his horse near the court house?
That is ’Squire Farnell, and he is
going nine miles on the same road
and he can tall you.’
“Well, well,’said I to myself;
‘is it possible that I am to ride
■with ’Squire Farnell?’
“Just before leaving home I had
read an amusing account of how
’Squire Farnell conducted his
court in the third district of Dooly
County. The third lay adjoining
Pulaski, and was the most popu
lous district of the county. It
was so populous and so prominent
that it was called the “Third
Kingdom of Dooly. ” ’Squire Far-
had a way of doing things as
he pleased, without regard to law,
if the people of his district sus
tained him. Principal among liis
was that if times
hard he would not give judg-
in the spring, but would
wait for the next crop, and times
were hard all along there. In
March 1887, cotton fell from 17 to
e cents per pound, and the lowest
quality brought but four. This
i*tate of things lasted until 1849,
when cotton steadily went up to 9
-cents, and ruled from then until
within the last few years from 8
to 12 cents per pound. One Sat
urday of court the Hawkinsville
lawyers went out in force to have
’Squire Farnell to reverse himself,
but he could not be moved. He
said: “If I give judgment against
my friends and neighbors you can
levy at once, force their property
to sale, and they will be ruined;
whereas, if you will just wait till
fall you will be no worse off, for
you will get the interest, and then
you will get your money and they
will be saved. Upon principles of
patrioism 1 cannot give judg
ment. The court is friendly to
all you Hawkinsville lawyers, and
the court will be glad to seo you
at any time. As for you, ’Squire
Brantley”—he was the principal
speaker—‘‘the court likes you
very much. The court hopes you
will come out every court and you
may speak as much as you please,
for you speak well, and the coqrt
likes to hear you, but I cannot
give judgement until fall.”
. * • # ,
“No one would suppose from
appearances that the ’squire was
so positive and firm a man. In
fact he had a look of meekness and
when I saw him ns 'I did several
times after at Dooly superior court
going about with his saddlebags in
his arms, he looked like any other
sort of a man than the> potentate
of the ‘Third Kingdom of Dooly.’
“In the conversation that we
had during our nine miles ride. I
made no allusion to his method of
administering justice nor did he.-
If I talked I might offend him and
then he might turn me over to the
tender mercies of his bailiffs. The
gentleman who pointed out Squire
Farnell afterwads resided for many
years at Albany. I came to know
him well and counted him among
my friends. His name was Need
ham Collier—an uncle ' of the
Virginia Colliers.
“A son of the ’squire has of late
years been a member of the legis
lature from Decatur county.
I bade the ’squire adieu, and
poceeded according to his direc
tions,on to Vienna. Just as the sun
had declined behind the pine tree-
tops, and when within four miles
of Vienna near a place called Cross
Roads, and where the roads has
two parallel tracks close together.
I suddenly heard the sound of
horses running. I looked and saw
two men coming towards me at
full speed, on each of the tracks.
I supposed races were sometimes
run there, and it was a race, or the
men were trying the speed of their
horses. To my surprise and hor
ror, just as they got near me they
reigned up, and when opposite me
suddenly haulted. I saw at once
that one of the men showed intoxi
cation. That one halloed me:
‘Stranger, how will you swap hors
es?’ He was riding a fine large
bay horse, while my horse was
small and only suitable for the
saddle. I replied that his horse
was worth much more than mine,
and I could not afford to pay the
boot. He says: ‘Howmuch will
you give?’ I replied I could not
afford more than $5, not supposing
he would take that. To my hor
ror he said: ‘It is a trade. Light
and let ns exchange bridles and
saddles. ’ In the .time that I could
tell it, he vns going his way with
my little mare, and I was going
my way with his large horse. As
bad as it was to part with my little
mare, whom I much admired for
the fine qualities she had shown
on the journey, yet that it was no
worse, was a relief. I apprehend
ed the horse swap and giving boot
was a ruso to get what money I
hud, and I had $75 and some
change in my purse. I had no
weapon whatever, and if even a
pocket knife, I have forgoten it. I
afterwards learned they were two
brothers, named Bush. About
eight years after the one who
forced the horse swap on me was
killed in Dooly county by a man
named Lewis Golding. Golding
was found guilty of voluntary
manslaughter and sentenced to
the, penitentiary for four years,
the minimum limit at that time.
Some how his case was not taken to
supreme court. When a member
of the legislature, in November,
1858,1 saw Golding in the peni
tentiary. I could not help feeling
that a groat wrong had been done
him, as he only gave Bush what
he deserved—a kill mg' Although
I attended court in Dooly general
ly for seventeen years—from 1845
to 1852—I was not present,when
Golding was tried. It was hard for
me to realize how soon things are
forgotten. I have asked many
men from Dooly, and among them
the two members from that coun
ty last session, and no one can
tell anything, of either Bush or
Golding—in fact, never heard of
the homicide. t
“I arrived at Vienna after dark,
and put up at the villiage tarvern,
kept by an old gentleman, named
Meriwether. - It was said he was a
brother of the famous Judge J. A.
Meriwether, of Putnam county.
“From Vienna to Albany, the
distance is forty-seven miles, and
I took a very early start next
morning,that 1 might ride through
that day, for it was a long ride to
make in one day on horseback.
My horse was brought out next
morning by or before sun-rise by
a white man. He said, ‘Stranger,
where did you get this horse?’. I
told him It got him by a swap four
miles from Vienna on the road to
Hawkinsville. He said, ‘I thought
so. I know this horse. .He’s old
Nat Wade’s horse, and there’s a
bushel of executions against him.’
Then I understood it all, and ex
pected the horse to be levied on
before I could get out of the
county. I had to ride thirty-eight
miles before I - could get out of
Dooly. Dooly then had a pan
handle, and a. long one it was.
The pan-handle was taken to make
the present county of Worth. My
ride that day was necessarily an
uneasy one. I expected to be
followed by a sheriff or bailiff who
would levy on and take the horse
out of my possession and leave me
and my saddlebags in the big road
fur from a house, and I would
have to foot it to Albany. I often
found my self voluntarily looking
back, and then if I heard any sort
of noise behind me I would have
to look back. In that way I trav
eled the long, weary thirty-eight
miles.
“I was told I would know I was
out of Dooly when I got to the
Parker place and how I would
know the Parker place. Oh, how I
longed for the Parker place. Wel
lington did not look more anxious
ly for “night or Blucher.” I
knew when I got out of Dooly and
•into Baker the execution would
have to be levied by an officer of
Baker, and beforo such an officer
could be found, I would have time
to ride to Albany.
“The sun was setting when I
reached the Parker place. I Wel
comed it and drew a long breath of
relief, for I knew I need not look
back any more. It was nine miles
to Albany and considerably after
dark when I arrived on the banks
of the Flint, with Albany on the
poposite side.
* * « * •
“Before closing I should tell
about my horse. I kept him until
June without molestation, when I
sold him to Dr. Fowler Holt, the
grandfather of Mr. Charlie Lamar,
of this city, for .$125 cash, by
which sale I made $50. The little
mare cost me $70, to which should
be added $5 paid to Bush in the
swap. This is the first, last and
only horse swap I ever made. I
now wish some other swaps had
been forced upon me, since it
seems that it is the only way by
which I oan make a profit.”
Richard H. Ct.ahic.
A NEGRO FOUND DEAD
IN A COTTON FIELD.
Judge H. M. Campbell and Bail
iff Youmans were called out in the
country yesterday to assist in
holding an inquest over the body
of a negro who was found dead.
The body was found in the cotton
field of Mrs Lane and the verdict
of the jury was that the deceased
was murdered by a pistol shot from
the hands of Will Johnson, color
ed. The name of the negro killed
is Sam Pierce and the cause of the
killing is unknown. Will John
son is still at largo. Tlie scene of
the trouble was about three miles
northwest of Cordele—Daily Nows,
Friday.
, Friends
My old home in Vienna is for
sale. If you want to buy don’t
keep it a secret. Don’t ask prices
unless you want to buy. It must
be sold, so make me an offer. Also
the Mrs. L. E. Ridenhour. house
and lot is for rent or sale. Write
me if you mean business.
J. R. Kei.i.y, Cordele, Ga.
WHAT COTTON Is WORTH
IN YIENNA TODAY.
SQUARE BALE MARKET
FRIDA V, OCT. aND.
Good Middling 9.
Middlings..... 815-8.
Low Middlings .8 0-8.
THE PECISION CAME IN
FAVOR OF THE NEW ROAD LAW
SATURDAY’S EDITION.
$1.00. PER ANNUM.
MIDWAY NOTE BOOK
Some Are Dissatisfied And the Case
May Not Yet be Settled
Permanently.
At last, the road law election
held in this county on September
22, has beon declared by the Or
dinary, after carefully investiga
ting the law on the subject and
according to the interpretation of
the law and the opinion of Attor
ney General, lie has decided in
favor of the new law, which was
the only thing left to do. «
Those, or at least a large num
ber of the old law supporters, are
very much dissatisfied about the
new law, and it is talked by some
that proceeding will be instituted
to stop the collection of taxes
until the case can be carried to
supreme court. We are not in-
firmed as yet, however, of any
definite action being taken in the
matter. Wo will endeavor to keep
our readers posted in anything
that transpires from the matter
in an impartial manner.
MOUNT PLEASANT ITEMS.
As I haven’t seen anything from
this part of old Dooly in the News
in some time, I will endeavor to
send in a few of our latest happen
ings.
Miss Georgia Penny has re
turned home from Macon.
Jim Hall and family visited the
family of J. E. Turner Saturday
night and Sunday.
J. W. Hall and family spent
Saturday night with the family
of W. T. Bridges.
•Misses Varnadoe and Hughes,
of the Pleasant Valley communi
ty, worshipped at Marvin Sunday.
Mr. Lewis Spears visited the
family of J. E. Turner Saturday
night and Sunday.
Messrs Jesse Barry, Eddie Lee
Greene and Alonzo Shell attended
preaching at Richwood Sunday
night.
Prayer meeting will be conduct
ed by Mrs. Lucius Bolin next Sun
day night. Everybody is invited
to come.
Mr. A. J. Shell and wife visited
Mr. S. L. Lnssetor and wife last
Sunday.
Mrs. J. M. Spears was the guest
of Mrs. J. H. Powell Saturday.
Rev. B. E. Whittington filled
his regular appointmet at Marvin
Saturday and Sunday and good
sized crowds attended.
A number of our young people
onjoyed a straw rido last Sunday
afternoon.
The Y. P. L\ S. met at the home
of W. T. Bridges Saturday after
noon. Its next meoting will be
hold at the home of A. J. Shell,
Oct. 10th,
Rov. J. D. Norris will fill his
appointment hore Saturday and
Sunday. Wo hope to see a largo
crowd out.
Misses Ada and Maggie Bryant
spent Tuesday afternoon with
Misses Lidia and Barrie Bridges
Will close with best wishes to
The News. Blue Eyes.
A Neatly Array of Rural News Gath
ered Weekly.
Here I come again with the
latest news, although I don’t ex
pect I will have a very interesting
letter. But will try anyway to
make it as newsy as possible.
After three weeks visit in South
Carolina, Tallulah Falls and Ma
con visiting relatives, Mrs. J. M,
Dickson and son, Bascom, Mrs.
R. E. Shirah, Mrs. W. B. F. Lil
ly and litte daughter, Alberta,
have returned home. They were
accompanied by Mrs. Jack Wal
ters.
The festival at Mt. Vernon was
a success. A large crowd was
present and all seemed to enjoy
themselves to the highest extent,
Mr. T. H. Butler made a busi
ness trip to Montezuma Friday.
Mrs. H. D. Royal and little sis
ter, Minnie Bertis West visited
relatives in Houston county last
week.
Mrs. C. J. Fitzgerald has re
turned to her home near Vienna
after visiting relatives near Pleas
ant Valley and Mt. Vernon.
Miss Sarah Varnadoe, of Find- ‘
lay, is visiting her cousin, Miss
Vola Varnadoe, this week.
We were glad to see a letter
from Duff last week.
Mr. J. H. Butler made a busi
ness trip to Vienna last Wednes-
v- .
Miss Lucia Owen visited friends/,
in Vienna Saturday aud Sunday.
Mrs. J. B. Mason is very siokat
this writing.
Mr. Oscar McKinney, of Cor
dele, visited friends near Byrom-
ville Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. John 0, Owen
visited their daughter, Mrs. J. 6,
Mason, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. McGough
made a business trip to Montezu
ma Saturday.
S. F. Owen, of Vienna, visited
the family of Dr. L. W. Mobley
last week.
Miss Lucia Owen visited the
Oak Grove school Friday evening.
Rev. J. M. Kelly, of Vienna,
visited friends in Midway Monday*,
Mrs. Annie Vinson and little
daughter, Arlee, and Nannie May
have returned home after visiting
her sister, Mrs. J. B. Walton, of
Vienna.
Mr. R. S. M. Lilly visited Vien
na Monday.
Air. and Mrs. W. C. Ingram
made a business trip to Montezu
ma Tuosday.
News is rather scarce this week,
so I will bring this to a close,
• “Blue Belle.”
Curst Eczema, Itching Humtrs
Especially for old chronic cases tabs
Botanic Blood Balm. It gives a healthr
blood supply to the effected parts, beats
all the sore-, eruptions, scabs, scales,
stops the awful Itching and burning ot
eczema, swellings, suppurating, watery
sores, etc.. Druggist St. Sample free
I and prepaid by writing Blood Balm Co
j Atlanta, Ga. Describe trouble and free
medical advice tent in scaled letter.
I OPTICAL DEPARTMENT.
I have on hand a full line of Royal Peb
ble and Crystalized Lenses, Beautiful
Solid Gold Frames. Gold Filled and
Aluminun Frames. Remember I ex
amine your eyes by the most Scientific
Methods known to the profession posi
tively free of charge. I can fit you if
you can be fitted. Come to see me.
My Line of Watches is Complete.
I carry everything from the best grades of Railroad Watches to cheap good timers
■Nicest line of Hollow and Flat Silverware. Forks, etc., over shown in Vienna.
Watch Chains, Charms, Solid Gold Ring Brooches, Hat Pins, Stick Pins,
IN FACT, EVERYTHING KEPT IN A FIRST-CLASS JEWELERY STORE.
Clocks, both French and American, Second to None.
h>??>{mmmmmhhwhwh
I ALSO SELL THE CELEBRATED NEW HOME SEWING MACHINE.
■ Como to seo me and I will save you money.
H. A. YOUMANS,
Jeweler and Optician.
}}»K«K>:;»KK:«K{{:»{««»««tas{{{{:}{:}{«}88»{}:»{Ki{{{»:««m
MY REPAIRING DEPARTMENT
Consists of Repairing Fine and Compli
cated Watches, all kinds of Clocks, Ex
pert Jewelery Repairing, Stone Setting
and Engraving. I also employ an Expert
Gun, Pistol and Bicycle Repairer. All
work done on short notice and Guaran
teed to give entire Satisfaction
>»»H»»H8«8H»m«tm<ma