Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 111. NO. 26.
3 WHITE BOYS AR
RESTED MONDAY
Charged With Killing Negro Malt
Cleveland at Willacoochee-Sears
Makes Confession.
Dennis Sears, jr., and Sullivan and
Dan Shepherd were arrested and
brought in from Willacoochee, by
Sheriff Rieketson and deputies, late
Monday p. m., charged with the kill
ing of a negro, Matt Cleveland, at
Willacoochee, Sunday night, April
17th.
Evidence tended to point in the
direction of the young white boys
from the first and when Sears con
fessed to the act and told the story,
officers were promptly notified and
the arrests were made.
From the best information obtain
able, the three boys were walking
on the railroad track on the out
skirts of Willacoochee, when they
passed the negro. One of them
cursed Cleveland, stating he was one
that cursed his father a year before.
According to reports, the negro
resented the words, trouble follow
ing, during which the negro was
shot and killed by one or all the
boyg.
The young men are held in the
Coffee county jail to await the de
velopments in the case. All of them
are well known and from prominent
Coffee county families.
OLD-TIME REVIVAL
A genuine old-time revival has de
veloped out of the series of services
which began at Baptist church ten
days ago. Congregations record
breaking in numbers and interest
are in attendance and there have
been good results in additions to the
church.
Mr. Callaway has sustained the
reputation which preceded him here
and Mr. Clarke has won many ad
mirers as a leader of song.
Co-operation is the pass word with
Methodists and Baptists in this work
and it is having a practical and
profitable demonstration. In this
there is a revival of apostolic broth
erly love —one of the most needed of
all the blessings of the Gospel of
Christ.
Services will continue through
this week every day at 3:30 and 7:30
d. m. Mr. Hubert has announced
the usual Sunday services •at 11 a.
m. and 7:30 p. n . Mr. Callaway
will preach at both of these hours.
It has not yet been determined
when the services at Baptist church
will close. The original plan, as we
understand it, meant their continu
ance until Rev. T. B. Stanford ar
rives from Savannah, when the
meeting will be moved to Methodist
church and continue under immedi
ate direction of Mr. Morrison, the
Methodist pastor.
We urge upon the people of Doug
las to attend these -meetings and
unite in them for a Greater and a
Better Douglas.
Methodist Church
Groups to Meet
All the groups of the Willing
Workers of the Methodist church
are to meet at the church next Sat
urday afternoon at 4:30. It will be
a business meeting and all church
members are invited to attend.
ICELESS REFRIGERATOR
The demonstration of the iceless
refrigerator will be held at the rest
room Saturday at 2:30. We also
hope to have a nice box of fireless 1
cooker in the winder at Watt- j
Holmes hardware store. We will be
glad to have everybody who is inter
ested attend. Nola Johnson.
Elton Kirkland spent the week
end in Waycross.
€offr t (ffotrofa progress.
NEGRO LOCKED UP FOR
MURDER 24 YEARS AGO
One Who Killed Conductor Nelson
Jailed at Jesup—ldentification
Is Made.
The following dispatch of April 21
states that a negro by the name of
Tom Johnson was captured in Au
gusta a few days ago. Johnson is
the negro who shot and killel Con
ductor Jas. Frank Nelson, on the
old B. &W. road, now the Atlantic
Coast Line, between Lulaton and
Nahunta in Wayne county on the
first Sunday in July, 1894. Nelson
was in charge of an excursion train
running from Albany to Brunswick.
Conductor Nelson had had some
trouble with Johnson and the negro
drew a revolver and shot Conductor
Nelson, who died instantly. John
son made good his escape and has
been a fugitive from justice for
tw r enty-four years.
This makes the third man that
Sheriff Price has arrested and
brought to Wayne county as the
man who committed the murder,
but this is the only one who has been
identified.
Positively Identified
Mr. Peglar, who worked with
Johnson for five years previous to
the killing, has positively identified
him as being the right man. John
son gives an account of having been
in the state of Florida and Louisiana
for the past twenty years. He was
making an attempt to cross the
Savannah river at Augusta and get
into South Carolina at the time he
was arrested by H. M. Kersey, a de
tective of Augusta, as being a mur
derer wanted, and upon investiga
tion and communicating with sev
eral officers of the state, among
whom was Sheriff Price of Jesup,
found that he was the man wanted
for the killing of Conductor Nelson.
This is considered by many as being
one of the best captures : n the state
for many years.
Mr. Price is receiving congratu
lations from his many friends for
his untiring efforts in running down
this murderer.
Conductor Nelson was a native of
Brunswick, and at the time of his
death was one of the most popular
conductors on the Brunswick and
Western railroad.
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
AT THE AUDITORIUM
On account of Memorial day, the
following program will be rendered
at the auditorium this afternoon at
3:30. The exercises will be inter
esting and the public generally is in
vited to attend.
Invocation—Rev. T. S. Hubert.
Piano Solo—Miss Knowles.
Reading—The Wearer of the
Gray—Miss Meadows.
Vocal Solo—The Vacant Chair-
Miss Mildred McDonald.
Address—Rev. T. F. Callaway.
Vocal Solo —Tenting on the Old
Camp Ground—Jennings Clark.
Benediction—Rev. T. S. Hubert.
YOUNG MAN HURT
AT G. & F. SHOPS
Jim Harper, a young man 21 years
of age, was painfully injured at the
Georgia and Florida shops Monday
morning, when a post fell on his
hfead, cutting a gash about six inches
long.
He was promptly rushed to the
Donglas hospital, wdiere surgical at
tention was given him and the
wound dressed.
Although it w r as a painful acci
dent, knocking the young man near
unconscious, he is at present able to
be out, but weak and unable to
work. He will likely be disabled
for three weeks.
DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY. AFRIL 26, 1916.
BANK OF NIGHOLLS
RE-ORGANIZED
After,a short suspension the Bank
of Nichools, located at Nicholls, op
ened its doors for business Tuesday,
having been re-organized and placed
in first-class shape financially.
It was understood that the bank
had suffered from bad loans and
loose management soon after its in
auguration and had never been able
to re-establish itself, and when the
crisis came it was deemed best for
all depositors and stockholders to
suspend business until sufficient ar
rangements had been made to insure
absolute safety to all depositors and
this was done. A thorough investi
gation by state bank examiners ab
solved all parties who were connect
ed with the bank at the time it
closed from any blame.
Mr. E. Burkett was re elected
president, Dr. D. H. Meeks, vice
president and Mr. J. M. Jenrette, of
Waycross, cashier, with E. Burkett,
D. H. Meeks, Dan Hall, J. M. Jen
rette and H. Altman as directors.
The institution has made a new
start with the brightest of pros
pects before it and will doubtless be
a creditable as w T ell as useful aequi
sation to Nicholls. W ith the open
ing of this bank this city will have
two banks, as the Merchants and
Farmers bank is already located
there.
PIEDMONT PLAYS
AGGIES THIS P. M.
The Piedmont Institute team of
Waycross arrived in the city this
morning to play the Douglas aggies
this
will be waged on El D. A. S. dia
mond.
Both teams have made good rec
ords this season and seem to be about
the strongest in the South Georgia
Athletic association. The locals
were returned winners over Pied
mont several days ago at Waycross,
but that score and no bearing on the
outcome of today’s game.
A large crowd is expected to go
out and see a hotly contested com
bat, which will be the last home
game of the season for the aggies.
ROBERTS-SMITH
The marriage of Miss Mintie
Roberts to Mr. Percy Smith on Fri
day afternoon came as a pleasant
surprise to their many friends here.
They went down to the Elam
school picnic for the day, thinking
they would slip out quietly in the
afternoon and go to the bride’s
home near Nicholls and be married.
The bride’s father, Mr. John Rob
erts, thinking the secret too good to
keep, told the picnic crowd about it
and invited them to witness the cere
mony. About two hundred of them
accepted the invitation and the
ceremony was performed by Rev.
H. M. Meeks of Nicholls.
The happy couple immediately re
turned to Douglas in a car and they
will begin house-keeping this week
in a cottage on east Madison street.
Mrs. Smith, as Miss Mintie Rob
erts, was universally popular. She
is a sister of Dr. C. W. Roberts and
Mr. Archie Roberts of this city, and
for a number of months has been a
nurse at the Douglas hospital.
Mr. Smith is the only child of
Mrs. W. C. Smith of this city. He
came to Douglas a few years ago
from the Canal Zone and is rapidly
making his way to the front in the
circles of the G. &F. railroad. He
is a voung man of stainless charac
ter, and the Progress extends best
wishes for a long, happy life to this
excellent couple.
We’ve got what you want and will
sell it to you for less for cash
G. R Moore.
TEACHERS' MEETING
CLOSED AT MACON
The 51st annual convention of the
Georgia Educational Association was
brought to a close at Macon Satur
day afternoon after a three-day ses
sion, the meetings of which were at
tended by more than 1,500 state
school teachers, and were addressed
by the leaders in education
thought throughout the country.
Many resolutions of advancement of
education in Georgia were adopted.
As a whole, the convention was voted
to be the most successful in the his
tory of the association.
Following resolutions were adopt
ed:
"That the Georgia Teachers’ As
sociation in convention assembled,
hereby earnestly petition the legis
lature to create a state illiteracy
commission, which shall be charged
with the duty of studying the illit
eracy problem in the state, planning
a campaign for reducing or elimin
ating the illiteracy and carrying on
this work, and furthermore, to give
to this commission an appropriation
for deferring the necessary expen
ses of same.
‘‘That the legislature be urged to
authorize and instruct the state su
perintendent of education to re-ar
range and modify the school laws of
the state.
‘‘That we most heartily endorse
the suggestion of the state superin
tendent of education to call together
during the year 1917, the several
educational associations, civic asso
ciations, and other uplifting organi
zations of the state for a week’s con
vention concerning the state’s needs
and possibilities, and believe that
the state superintendent should as
sume leadership in this project and
pledge to him our co-operation and
support, believing that the effect
will be far reaching.
F. T. GURRIE IS
NAMED INSPECTOR
Mr. E’. T. Currie, located in the
Lankford building, has received the
appointment of watch inspector for
the Georgia and E'lorida Railway, by
reason of the resignation of Mr. C.
N. Fielding, of the firm of E’ielding
& Sibbett, who has held the position
for a number of years.
The naming of Mr. Currie is a
ready recognition of his ability and
competency for this line of work and
the new business, which he is in for
himself, is expected to prosper all
the more on account of it.
NOTICE
We the undersigned merchants of
Douglas agree to close our places of
business at 6:30 o’clock (except on
Saturdays) beginning Monday, May
Ist, and continue same until Sept.
15th:
Peterson & Relihan.
Barnes & Co.
Boston Store.
G. A. Shaheen.
Miss G. L. Chandler.
Misses McLean & Latimer.
Levin’s Department Store.
B. Rigell.
Joseph Hannah.
Tanner Mercantile Co.
Mrs. W W. Terrell.
E. L. Vickers & Co.
Grantham-Floya Co.
GRAND TO BE OPEN
FROM 4 TO 10:30 P.M.
Beginning Thursday of this week,
moving pictures will be run continu
ously from 4to 10:30 p. m. at the
Grand theater, according to the an
nouncement of the management.
This means for spring and sum
mer, Douglas will have firstelass
picture service. The continual run
is an accommodation to patrons and
it will enable many to attend the
programs, who otherwise could
not.
EXHIBIT CARS HERE
3 DAYS NEXT WEEK
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Are the Days Set Aside for the
Occasion.
On next Monday, Tuesdav and
Wednesday, the Georgia exhibit cars
will be in Douglas. They will reach
here Sunday morning and leave
Wednesday night, giving three
whole days for display.
It is understood this train is put
on at a very heavy expense by the
Georgia chamber of commerce, in an
effort to thoroughly advertise the
state. The exhibits will consist of
two exhibit cars loaded with exhibits
of the resources of the state and
containing also a museum, the equal
of which cannot be found anywhere
else on wheels, including a monster
shark, 36 feet long, 460 years old
and weighing over ten thousand
pounds.
It is said really to be a state fair
on wheels. Only small admissions
are charged and this is done to en
able the organization to send the
cars outside of Georgia. Twenty
five cents fer grown people and 15
cents for children will be the charges
Everyone is expected to visit the
exhibits and leaim much about our
state. There will be lectures by the
men in charge, giving a great
amount of information about Geor
gia, what it will produce and also
help the promoters to carry the
news into other states in the union.
The cars will be open every morn
ing at 8:30 and close at 9:30 p. m.
DOUGLAS ELKS ON
TO AMERICUS MEET
The local lodge of Elks will leave
for Amerieus tonight, in a private
pullman, to attend the state conven
tion of that order in session there.
Thirty or forty or maybe more Doug
las Elks will make the trip, to be
gone two days.
At Waycross last year, local Elks
played quite a prominent and con
spicuous part, and with the same
live bunch going again, it is likely,
a live awakening will also take place
at Amerieus.
Amerieus is making extensive pre
parations for the entertainment of
the Elks and many other visitors
who are expected there to enjoy
some of the fun.
Miss Eunice Lott was unanimous
ly named sponsor for the local lodge,
and she will make the trip in a car
accompanied by several others.
Services for Elderly People.
One of the sweetest and mos ; im
pressive services of the revival in
progress at the Baptist church was
held E’riday afternoon. A cordial
invitation was extended to people
above the age of 50 years and autos
were sent for invalids and shut-ins.
Rev. Callaway preached a most
comforting sermon to them and let
people from the congregation select
the songs. Good old songs that
have comforted and sustained God’s
children for the last half century
were sung and the fourteenth chap
ter of John was used.
At the end of the service, every
person over 50 years was invited to
stand in a line while the congrega
tion shook hands with them and
pinned on each of them a white rose.
A surprisingly large line was formed
and an impressive scene it was to
see so many present, and being ac
corded the reverence and courtesy
that is due old age.
All for cash and less profit is my
motto.
G. R. Moore.
Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Cornelius have
returned home from a visit to At
lanta.
Official Organ of Coffee County
0, L. GRANTHAM’S
SCHOOL-WINNERS
V
Hahira Carried the Day in Val
dosta Contests, Winning Eleven
Prizes, All First Except One.
\
In the Valdosta district contests
held at Valdosta, Saturday, the Ha
hira high school, of which Mr. Dan
iel L. Grantham, well known in this
city, has charge, came out far in the
lead over all rival schools.
Hahira won eleven prizes, all first
except one, which was a second.
The exhibits consisted of actual
school work, class work, etc., and it
is stated there was nothing at Val
dosta to compare with the school
over which Mr. Grantham has
charge.
The following first prizes were
won by Hahira: General exhibit;
declamation; solo; chorus; products
maps; English literature -outline;
biology outline; language work;
hill of cotton; box garden. Second
prize was won in the parade.
Hahira’s showing is a honor to
Mr. Grantham and it shows he has
accomplished wonders as principal of
the high school. The enrollment of
his school is 210.
Mr. Grantham is well known in
this city and county, with large fam
ily connections and acquaintance
ship. He is known as a hard-work
ing young man with excellent ability
and the greatest of success is freely
predicted for him. For several
years he was a student at the G. N.
C. & B. I. of this city.
MOTION FOR BOND
IN HARPER CASE
Motion for bond in the case of
Walter Harper, charged with killing
Robert Merrit at Ambrose a few
weeks ago, will be heard at Way
cross next Saturday before Judge J.
I. Summerall.
The motion was to have been
heard last Saturday, but due to the
illness of two of the attorneys for
the state, it was agreed to postpone
the case. However, it was agreed
to have the hearing on next Satur
day, regardless of the absence of at
torneys or otherwise.
Ambrose Entertainment
Was Great Success
At Ambrose, Saturday evening,
the play, “Tony the Convict.” was a
big success and rendered before a
large crowd. Each character played
his or her part in a manner that de
lighted the large housejand response
was frequently given them.
Quite a neat little sum was taken
in to be applied on the school fund
for the purpose of painting the
school building.
The order and attention was per
fect and the crowd went away pro
fusely with praises of the number.
Popular Com
mencement Preacher
The approaching commencement
season has brought Rev. T. S. Hu
bert, pastor of First Baptist church
of Douglas, three invitations to de
liver commencement sermons, Pied
mont Baptist Institute of Waycross,
Hahira high school and Broxton
high school. This is a compliment
greatly appreciated by the church of
which Mr. Hubert is pastor and by
his many friends of Douglas and
Coffee county.
G. W. Varn of Valdosta was in
the city Tuesday.
R. C. Relihan left Monday for At
lanta to undergo treatment for his
eye.