Newspaper Page Text
NLA1BER 30.
BA1NBRIDGE, DECATUR COUNTY, GEORGIA FRIDAY MAY 22, 1903.
$1.00 YEAR IN ADVANCE
Official ©rgan of Decatur County anbtbe ©itv of Batnbrtfcge.
Jury Presentments
Given.
[he undersigned Grand Ju-
awn, sworn and empan-
0 ser ve at the May term of
, Superior Court 19031 su ^‘
follows our general present-
jgh properly appointed
tees of our body, we have
:d into the condition of the
wildings of the county and
t the prisoners of the coun
cil provided for, and the
good sanitary condition,
mimend that the well at
ise be put in repair as soon
3 le; the inmates of this in-
are pleased with their
lings and complain of no
•eatment.
irious dockets of the jus-
the peace and notaries
the county have all been
and examined and
be correct in form. We
nd that W. G. D. Tonge
nted to the position of
.iblicof the 513th district
ipiration of his present
lich expires June 5th,
body does most heartily
the prevailing custom
road commissioners of sum-
out the hands a few days
the convening of the reg-
ms of the superior court,
rapidly and unsatisfacto-
the roads, and at other
giving them absolutely no
n; we have therefore unan.
adopted the following
Resolved,
while we have no special
went to make against any
of commissioners at this
:t we would call the atten-
every road commissioner
ounty to the fact that the
s of the general public, and
generally, demands bet-
’ublic roads. However,
g that this is the first gen-
e of warning sent out to
irnissioners of this county,
that it will be followed
rompt and vigorous action
succeeding grand jury.”
commend that the board
y commissioners builef a
tdge across slough on the
and Bainbridge public
ir E. C. Moseley’s,
as thorough an examina-
‘he books of the county ot-
1 tlrne would permit, our
lee reports them all in fa-
condition. The treasur-
wt, mar';ed “exhibit A”
a herewith attached; like-
* mport of the county
” commissioners as “ex-
ordinary s report as “exhib-
‘Chool commissioner’s re-
exhibit D,” tax collect-
art as “exhibit E,” as at
>ereto.
b of spec al presentment,
Timend that the board of
-^mmiBsioners appropriate
/ oaditary company, ot'>-
■tnown as Co. “I” 0 f ‘
drp i G ‘ t ^ le sura
. , and fi fty dollars an*
main as sa ‘ d c °n>pany
it of Se J vlce - and in the
iionp \ ^ ard of county
iation S Sha deserve such
| d uoon investigation that
/other of professional
01 county who have
the
of
an*
Last Friday’s Picnic.
In spite of the prevailing weath
er which was still threatening,
about five hundred Tallahasseans
came up from the Florida capital
last Friday morning to join the
Cuthbert Sunday schools here in
a union picnic. It had been plan
ned to bring all the Sunday schools
of these two towns to Bainbridge,
but at the last moment those of
Cuthbert abandoned the trip.
However the day was an ideal
one for picnicing as the sun came
out and brushed the clouds away.
The fact that they were disap
pointed thus, did not keep the
Tallahasseans from thoroughly en
joying the day, and more than a
hundred visitors remained over in
the city Friday night, returning to
their homes on Saturday’s 11
o’clock train.
Another feature of the trip of
the Tallahassee people, was the
presentation of the “Old Home
stead” at the opera house Friday
night by a local talent aggregation
of that city. The play toas wit
nessed by one of the fullest houses
of the season, and everyone was
impressed by the excellent train
ing and ability displayed by the
troupe. At times the applause
was deafening and throughout the
evening there was no moment
when the audience seemed to have
lost interest.
Some months ago, a local
talant show, the opera “Zanie”
was produced by some of our
young people and the courteous
treatment accorded them by the
Tallahasseans, has been kindly re
membered by the Bainbridgeites.
While in the city the troupe was
quartered at the Wainman hotel.
All day Friday livery turnouts
might be seen on the streets in
great numbers occupied by the
visitors who were evidently en
joying the beautiful natural scen
ery of the town. In the afternoon
ball games etc., winding up with
the opera house performance kept
the visitors entertained.
The Search-Light hopes that
the Tallahasseans will not make
this their final visit to Bainbridge,
but that their presence may always
be seen on our streets and in our
homes upon all occasions of gen
eral interest between the two
towns.
failed to pay their professional tax,
and we recommend that the mat
ter be investigated by the proper
authorities and the law enforced.
Finally, we believe that the peo
ple of Decatur county should be
accorded the right to select by
ballot the Judge and Solicitor of
the City Court of Bainbridge, and
as the general law permits and di
rects that the Judges and Solici
tors of the Superior Courts of this
state be so selected, we therefore
recommend that our present rep
resentatives in the House and Sen
ate do introduce a bill at the June
session of the General Assembly,
1903, making such provision, and
employ their best efforts to secure
its passage.
To the Judge of this court, His
Honor presiding; and to Solicitor
General Wooten, are returned the
thanks of this bfltly for courteous
treatment at all times, and for valu
able assistance rendered us during
the coarse of our deliberations.
S Brinson,
Foreman.
To Study Forestry Condi
tions.
Mr. W. B. Howard, of Washing
ton, D. C., who spent last year in
the timber belt of Texas where
the Kirby lumber Company has
been operating, has been quartered
at the Wainman this week, being
in the city on what may to some
seem an unimportant mission, but
which may be of really great
worth to the South. Under the
direction of the Bureau of Forest
ry of the Department pf Agricul
ture at washingtion. Mr. How
ard has been making an investiga
tion of the surroundings of Bain*
bridge with the view of establish
ing here an experimental post for
inquiring into the forestry condi
tions here and experimenting with
and making reports on the effects
of our annual fires upon, the growth
of young timber. It is interesting
to note that the attention of the
government both state and of the
nation have not been directed
to this matter before. In an in
terview with Mr. Howard he ex
pressed the opinion that in all like
lihood Bainbridge would secure
such a station. It is the inten*
tion of the government to locate
at this pont. an agent who will for
the next twelve months make a
close study of the conditions, hav
ing under his eye the lands for five
miles each way from Haiubridge.
Such agent will experiment with
burning the woods at various in
tervals in the year and withholding
the fires entirely from other sec*
tions, noting the results. In dis*
cussing the matter our ini irmant
stated'that the results of these in*
vestigations will open the eyes of
the people to what they are really
losing by these annual burnings of
the woods, which may, taken year
by year, appear small, but in the
aggregate amount to a great deal.
Some time ago the Search
Light commented upon the habit
of firing woods promiscuously and
we are glad to know that our con”
tention has the moral support and
sanction of the government, in
that these experiments are to be
made.
Bainbridge is admirably located
for the establishment of such a
station since we are ia the center
of the wire grass region and where
saw mills and turpentine distiller
ies are in constant operation. We
hope to hear from Mr. Howard
again soon.
A Murder at Attapuigus.
News reached the city yester
day morning that a hegro boy 15
years old was killed hy a couple of
other negroes at Attapuigus. The
killing occurred Wednesday even
ing during a difficulty between the
boys who were all about the same
age. From the best information
reached, it seems that Tom
Marshall and Charlie Martin did
the killing jointly, the former hold
ing the boy while the other pro
ceeded to smash his head with a
fence rail. The boy lingered till
Thursday morning before dying.
Neither of the boys who did the
kil’ing has been apprehended, but
they wiil no doubt within a few
days be landed behind the bars.
The dead boy is a ton of Jack
Chandler, a respected negro of the
neighborhood.
Institute Meets Monday. I Postmaster O’Donnell Is
The combined teachers institute
for Miller and Decatur counties
will meet in this city Monday next
to be in session one week. As
before announced Prof. J. A. Cald-
well, of Whigham, has been chosen
to conduct the proceedings and he
has arranged a most pleasing and
instructive program which we
should hare published except for
its length and a lack of space.
Prof. Caldwell is one o' the recog
nized leaders in educational mat
ters and the teachers are fortunate
in securing his services.
These annual combined insti
tutes have been profitable to the
teacliers of the two counties and
they have been looked forward to
with pleasure by the teachers
Last year the institute was held in
Colquitt and'he reception given
the teachers by the citizens of that
town was a pleasant feature of the
week. It is hoped that the citi
zens of Bainbridge will make
things more than agreeable to their
visitors.
Spooner-GIlbert.
Announcement is made of the
approaching marriage of Col. H.
B. Spooner, of this city, to Miss
Pearl Gilbert, of Groesbeck, Texas,
which will occur May 25th. Mr.
Spooner will leave tomorrow or
the next day for Texas.
The groom is one of the prom
ising young lawyers of South
Georgia and has recently located
in Bainbridge for the practice of
his profession. He is a native of
the county, a graduate of the Uni
versity of Georgia, and begins life
with bright prospects. He is a
member of one of the prominent
and prosperous families of this
section. The bride is the daugh*
ter of Mr and Mrs J. F. Gilbert,
of Groesbeck, Texas, where he is
a prominent citizen and merchant.
She is said to be a young woman
of many personal charms and
stands high in her community.
The Search-Light joins Col.
Spooner’s many friends in their
good wishes for his future happi
ness, and that of his fair bride to
be. They will be residents of
Bainbridge.
New Law Firm.
Cols. R G. Hartsfield and W.
M. HarrelJ, of this city, have re
cently formed a co-partnership for
the practice of law and have lo
cated their offices over the Bain-
bridge State Bank in the quarters
Mr. Hartsfield occupied prior to
the change.
Col. Harrell is no stranger to
the jurors of Decatur county, he
having been reared in the county
and having practiced law here for
many years where he has made a
great success in the criminal
branch.
Col. Hartsfield is a graduate of
Mercer University in the literary
and tew departments, and has had
ten years experience in practice
before the courts of Fulton county.
He is a man of pleasing address
and will make a valuable addition
to the local bar.
This new firm will no doubt do
a fine law practice in Bainbridge.
Out.
Quite a sensation was sprung on
the community late Tuesday after
noon when it became known that
a postoffice inspector was in the
city and that he had checked out
the present postmaster, and deliv
ered the office into the hands of
the bondsmen.
Upon the examination of the
affairs of the office, -the inspector
found that Mr. O’Donnell was
short $876.40, which amount was
very promptly turned over by the
bondsmen, who were Messrs. E.
J. Willis, J. M. Laing, I Kwilecki,
W. H. Morrow, Abner Guy, and
T. I. Thomason.
Mr. G. B. Toole was placed in
charge of .the office till Mr. O’Don
nell’s successor shall have been
appointed.
Mr. O’Donnell when approached
on the matter explained that for
some time he had suspicioned that
matters were going wrftng in the
office, and that he was sure that
some one not authorized was tam
pering with its affairs. He de
clared that he had not appropriated
the amount for his own use and
that at the proper time he would
be able to show it. There i# a
general belief as the matter has
been settled with the government,
no effort wjll be made to have Mr.
O'Donnell suffer, as 'the general
verdict is that it was a matter
more of incompetence and care
lessness than any intention of
crime. Mr. O'Donnell promptly
secured his bondsmen by giving
them a mortgage on his home
property in this city.
The citizens of the town gen
erally sympathize with him in his
present troubles.
Negro Rapist Caught;
On Tuesday night last Messrs,
C. S. Hodges and W. G. Powell,
who live at Cyrene, eight miles
west of town, captured Will op-
kins a negro rapist from Miller
county, who was in hiding on their
turpentine quarters. When Hop
kins was arrested he made fight
on these gentlemen, who- finally
overpowered him and brought him
to Bainbridge the following day.
Hopkins confessed his guilt to Mr.
Hodges after his arrest, The as
sault was made on a negro child
between eight and ten years old,
who was living at Babcock in Mil
ler county and a reward was of*
fered by the Babcock Lumber Co.,
tor his arrest. He will be taken
to Milter county to answer to his
crime.
Jumped to Death.
On Monday last, Jess Sheppard,
a negro carpenter who lived in.
this place, boarded the east bound
passenger taain as it pulled out
from the station, and when the
train had attained a speed of about
30 miles an hour, jumped pff and
as a result his remains have since
been laid to rest. Sheppard is
said to have been in a partially
drunken condition, in falling from
the train bis head struck the
ground first and it waa thought
that hit nock was broken, however
he lingered till the following day.