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Search Light 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