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DUMBER 4.
BAINBRIDGE, DECATUR. COUNTY, OBOftfilA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1903.
$1.00 YEAR IN ADVANCE
OFFICIAL ORGAN OK DECATUR COUNTY AND CITY OK BAINBRIDQE.
er>l Presentments.
Grand Jury of said
pannelled and sworn for
ber Term of Decatur
■oort, beg leave to, and
jbmit the following^
itate the people of De-
ty ypon their many evi
progress and prosperity
d year of our Lord 1903,
reason why this state
be continued indefi-
county court house
j'r the first time by this
Grand Jury we Vegard
ment to :.ur grand o'd
]d an evidence of her
This handsome build
ctically and beautifully
d ivc regard as a capitol
ot the taste, habit and
the pi ople for whose
nd convenience it was
Id we cannot refrain a
it to the Hoard of Coun-
issiotn rs whose zealous
the promotion of the
ood, and who superin-
construction from be-
completion.
je of tIn Grand Jury
entirely consumed
scourt with the investi-
crimes, etc., deserving
attention and expedition
urt, we have been com*
orego the usual exami
ne various official de-
of the county, we have,
recommendation of His
he presiding judge, ap-
special committee of
mbers of our body, the
of which is the foreman
and jury, to thoroughly
*he books, accounts
thing connected there
the sheriffs ordinary’s
easurer’s, school commis
county commissioner’s,
sor’s, tax collector’s and
public interests of the
nd to report at the ad'
ermofour superior court
ary 1904, Said committee
ted to give special and
at attention to the tax
nts of the county in order
it who are and who are
payers of the county-
one man conceals his
from the tax digest, or
returns his at its full
yatue. In fine, to ferret
ishonest returns, if there
tons protecting the hon-
n from unjust and unequal
Said committee will
the powers of the grand
>ummons witnesses, and
n 8 s legally necessary to
er accomplishment of the
volved upon it.
State of Georgia having
Iundan >ental law un~-
h her people live, surely
^vision of that law. The
ar e entirely different
they were when the
ion of 1877 was adopted.
,ve wa y of amending
“tution is entirely to slow
hersome for the times in
e hve and there being
°™ s . apparently impossi-
attained under the legis-
we unanimously de-
>e best interests of
unequivocally demand
, a constitutional cons
: e earliest practical
ived er f that pe ° ple
‘ e 'ed from the disad-
spe21 n ° W !ab ° r Under in
f t ? e of N - P - and
coumv f -i^ e I0 . 46 distrlct
lorahlo k W1 . ex H' re before
, e e bod y will convene
e ^, comm eml to fiis Hons
the', L " Ce the rea ppoint-
udge f H n u VOrth y incurtl
hand a j„ V Hoa ge* l ° ‘bat
j.M'So James Milis
h-x-oflbcio J. P. of the
Blowing Cave district. , The coins
mittee of justice court dockets
examined same and found them
correct save in a few minor instan
ces.
We recommend that J. H. An
derson be paid the sum of $3 per
month out of the pauper fund; and
that Miss Annie Love be paid the
sum of $3 per month.
We recommend that the county
have a map of the county made,
with all the public roads, school
and church houses be marked on
same, and that the roads be prop
erly classed. And that the old
iron safe in the Clerk’s office in
the old cour * 1 : house be moved over
into the office of the Clerk in the
new court house. And that thu
court house square, never be sold
by the;county except for the pur
pose of a public park or the erec
tion of a public building. And we
especially recommend that the
board of county commissioners be
elected by the people, and not ap-
pointed as they now are—and that
our senator and representatives in
the legislature introduce a bill and
have it passed to that effect.
And, that a new bridge be built
across the Nix creek an the Pel
ham and Cairo road. This improve
ment is vitally important and
should be looked after at once.
And a general alphabetical index
be made to deeds from book A, to
that part of book D. D. in which
the present general index begins in
1887. >
We find the poor house, jail and
county bridge near town in good
condition, and inmates kindly
treated and properly carecj for ex
cept some lack of medical atten
tion which should be remedied
Bridge in fair condition except the
lack of some repairs on west end-
needed at once. The jail is in
good condition, prisoners agree
that all things needed for their
comfort are always provided.
The attention of the County
Commissioners is called to the con
dition of the public road at the
foot of the Mashburn hill, between
Climax and Newton. This road is
in fearful condition and should be
looked after immediately, also, on
same road from the run of slew
running south for some distance,
also, road at Jones mill, Whigham
and Lime Sink road—needs bridge
extended on north side;gets swim
ming with ordinary rise of water.
Immediate attention solicited. Also
King’s hill between Attapulgus
and W. E. Smith is at times
passable, and needs changing of
road around said hill. Also, the
public road between Bainbridge
and Attapulgus which has been
stopped up with a house and the
city has failed to make a thorough
fare. Also, Bainbridge and Tal
lahassee road 4 miles south of
Bainbridge north side of creek is
impassable in rainy weather to foot
passengers. Also, on Blakely road
at Hinson pond the road is impass
able to wagons. These should be
fixed at once. Also, we recom
mend that the public road leading
northward to Miller county from
Brinson be speedily put in order.
In concluding this brief state
ment it giyes us pi easure to com
mend our worthy solicitor general
Hon. William'E. Wooten, as a law
officer of distinguished ability and
superior attainments. His con
nection with this jury has been
marked with that innate affability
and courtesy, research and active
industry that has always charac
terized him in his official career,
and we desire to say here that we
trust he will be continued in office
so long as he desires to retain his
commission. To his honor, Juqge
Spence, we tender our thanks for
the courteous manner with which
he received us, and for the expedi
tious manner he has transacted the
public business. At the adjeorae«
New Depot lor Q. F. k A.
Arrangements have been made
and plans are now drawn for the
new freight and passenger depot
of the Georgia, Florida pnd Alaba
ma railroad The company own
six acres of land at fae foot of
Shotwcll street east of the railroad
bridge and it is on thtp site the
new building is to be efected
The plans and specification call
for a building to cost about $5,000
It is to be ornamental and commo.
dious for both the freight and
passenger business and will be oc
cupied as well by the general offi
ces of the road. The location is
convenient to the city, being very
much nearer than the old depot
Work on the new building is to be
gin at once and it is safe to say
that within a few months Bain
bridge will have one railway sta
tion and office building that will
be a.credit to the city.
The enterprise of the road is to
be commended and it should be a
worthy example for our friends,
the A. C. L., who are still occupy
ing their antedeluvian structure.
Barglary At Brinson.
On last Friday night between
the hours of eleven and twelve a
negro broke into and robbed the
store of W. W. McCulley at Brin
son. The burglar after breaking
through a window upstairs, bored
through the ceiling, and thus 1 ef
fected his entrance into the lower
portion of the store. Sheriff
Fordham was notified early Satur
day morning, as soon as- the dis
covery was made, and sent deputy
Dean out immediately with his
dogs to track the man. He was
captured at Iron City and is now
in jail awaiting trial. The negro
gave his name as Alex Knowles.
Miss Fleming to Wed.
The following invitation has
been received in this city: Mrs.
Loula Fleming requests the honor
of your presence at the marriage of
her daughter Lilias Juba to Mr.
Carol Robinson Graham on Wed
nesday evening, December the
second, at half past eight o’clock.
Methodist Episcopal church. Bain
bridge, Georgia.
Both Miss Fleming and Mr.
Graham are very popular in Bain
bridge and their hosts of friends
will be interested to learn of their
approaching marriage.
Matthews-Cato.
On last Sunday at the home of
the bride, Miss Ada Cato and Mr.
Oscar H. Matthews, both of the
west side of the county were
united in marriage. Rev. E. T.
Dawson performed the ceremony
in the presence of a large number
of friends of the young couple.
The Search Light extends its con
gratulations to the happy pair.
Albany is agitating the question
of organizing a live stock associa
tion in South West Georgia and
having a stock show in' Albany
next fall. The idea so far has
been received favorably and it is
thought will succeed without any
opposition. ’ Will Bainbridge send
a delegate to the meeting that will
be held in a few days?
While the regular seryice sched
ule has been resumed by the Chi
cago street cars squads of blue
coated policemen can be seen on
every car and a strong force is
massed around the shops. Peace
has been secured though it is prob
able >t will be only temporary
term of the court in February 1904,
we shall give a complete report of
every interest of the county en
trusted to our care.
And we recommend the pay of
jurors, court bailiffs and riding bail
iffs remain the same as at present
for the year 1904.
J. E. Dickins#n, Foreman.
Salter’s Trial and Ac<aittal.
The trial of T. W. Sol er for
the murder of Arthur Harrell be
gan in the Superior Court Tues
day morning. Both the prosecu
tion and the defense were repre
sented by numerous counsels.
Besides Solicitor General Wooten.
Messrs. Harrell & Hartsfield and
Albert Russell appeared for the
state. The deti-ndant was ably
represented by Messrs Wallace
Sheffield, Ware, of Jacksonville,
Walters, of Albany, and Donalson
& Donalson.
Considerable time was occupied
in selecting a jury and over fifty
names were called before twelve
competent jurors were chosen.
All day Tuesday was spent in ex
amining witnesses on both sides
Over thirty witnesses testified as
to their knowledge of the killing
and the surrounding circumstances
The defendant admitted the
killing, but pleaded justification
He stated that two negro women
servants who lived near his house
came home one night last Decem
ber and round some one in their
house and on reporting the matter
to him that he went with them
taking along his shot gun. On
reaching the gate he stopped
and sent one of the women in the
house to make a light it being 10
or 11 o’clock at night. When the
light was made a man ran out of
the back door and around the
house towards the front fence.
Salter says he hailed him and told
him to stop and shot oneb without
effect and shot a second time just
as-the man reached the fence and
was in the act of getring over.
The second shot took effect but
the man continued his Right until
he fell several yards in the woods
Salter approached hi m and recog
nized him for the first time as he
claims as Arthur Harrell, his
neighbor' and cousin. He took
him to his own house and went
for toe doctor. But the wound
was mortal and deatli ensued in a
few days. It was the contention
of the defense that Salter took
Harrell for a burglar or other un
lawful tresspasser and had a per
fect right under the law to shoot
wnen Harrell refused to halt when
told to do so.
The slate’s theory of the killing
was that the women went home
and found Harrell there and rec
ognized him, it being a v bright
moonlight night. They went to
Salter’s house and told him who it
was, Salter objected to his pres
ence there and shouldered his gun
and went to the house for the
express purpose of hilling Harrell.
That when the fatal shot was fired
Salter and Harrell were within
eight or nine feet ot each other
and that in the bright moonlight a
man could be recognized at that
distance, and that therefore the
killing was murder.
The dying statement of the
deceased played an important part
in the trial. The evidence as to
what it really was was somewhat
conflicting. According to the
defendant’s witnesses Harrell said
before he died that he alone was
to blame and that he did not want
Salter prosecuted or harmed for
his death. The state’s witnesses
testified that Harrell said before
he died that Salter killed him
without provocation or justifica
tion, without hailing before shoot
ing. That be enjoined his rela
tives not to take vengeance
their own hands for his death but
to let the law take its course.
Able and exhaustive arguments
beginning Wednesday morning
were made by the attorneys on
both sides on all the questions of
law and evidence pertaining to
the case, and were not concluded
until six o’clock that night. Alter
an able and comprehensive charge
by the eeirt the jury retired to
Marble Yerd For Bainbridge.
Mr. E. W. Johnson has been in
Bainbridge for the past week ne
gotiating for a site tor a marble
yard. Mr. Johnson is connected
with the. Johnson Marble Co., at
present operating an extensive
plant for the working of marble aft
Quitman. This company has de
cided to move to Bainbridge pn
account of the many advantage of
location and freight rates.
No site has yet been selected,
but Mr. Johnson has several con
venient locations under considera
tion and will decide on the most
convenient one in the next few
days. Buildings are to be erected
and a large stock of crude marble
will be shipped here at once. This
will necessitate a large force of
skilled marble cutters who will
make their residence in Bain
bridge. This industry should be
welcomed to Bainbridge and en
couraged as adding to its material
development. The new company
will no doubt receive a large pat
ronage from the territory contig
uous to Bainbridge.
Important Traniactlon.
A transaction of importance in
banking circles in this section
occurred in Albany this week
when Capt. John A. Davis, the
founder of the First National Bank
of that city, sold his controlling
interest in the business to Messrs.
Morris Weslosky of Albany and
D- W. James, of Blakely. Capt.
Davis states that his advanced age
rendered him incapable of devot
ing his personal attention to the
work, hence the sale
The First National Bank has a
capital stocK of $50,000 and is
considered one of the best banking
institutions of the country.
Mr. Weslosky, the new presi
dent, though comparatively a
young man is one ot the leading
business men of Albany and is
acknowledged as a successful finan
cier. The probable vice president,
Mr. Janies, ‘'the man of hunks"
is well known in Bainhridge, being
vice president of the First Na
tional and president of the Bain
bridge State Bank.
No Sale of the C. T. A 0.
There have been many rumors
recently and publications to the
effect that the G. F. & A. had
bought the Carrabelle, Tallahassee
and Georgia and would amalga
mate the two lines and operate
cars to the Gulf at Carrabelle.
While it is true that this road
did have an option for the pur
chase of the C. T. & G., we are
now informed that the, option has
expired and that the purchase has
not been made. It may be that
some time later negotiations will
be resumed between the two lines,
but at present the trade seems to
be off. It is conceded that the
consolidation of the two roads
would be profitable for both and it
would be of direct-advantage to us
to have an outlet to the Gulf.
make up their verdict. After be
ing out about half an hour they
returned with a verdict of acquittal.
The defendant was heartily con
gratulated on his discharge and
his relatives who so faithfully
stood by him during the trial were
delighted and happy over the re
sults, altnough it was no surprise
to them.
Jarers For Dec. Term City Coart 1903.
The following Jurors aro drawn for
the City court of Bainbridge.
I. A. Alien. W. .H. Maxwell. J. P.
Howard. Z. B. Strickland, J. D. Tru-
lock, W. I. Belcher, W. B. Bell, E. A.
Trawick, B. H. Whigham, J. M. Laing,
E.J Perry, N. C. Whigham, M. E.
Numbaum, J. P. Harrison, T. C. Drake,
J. C. McCall, M.C. Stegall, Columbus
Gtaki
