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Y T olume Xl No. 13
HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WATER
CAUSE MUCH DAMAGE TO ROADS
AND BRIDGES —TRAINS HALTED
G. & F. BRIDGE OVER ALTA
MAHA REPORTED WASH
ED AWAY, BUT NOT CON
FIRMED BY LOCAL
AGENT BANKSTON.
BRIDGE WATCHMAN FLED
FOR SAFETY IN BOAT
Water Receding on Smaller
Streams, But Rivers Con
tinue to Rise—Middle
Georgia Rains the
Cause.
The high water has done some dam
age to roads and small bridges in
Coffee county according to a state
ment given out Thursday morning by
Chairman Lewis Vickers, of the
County Commissioners, but he does
not think the damage is very consid
erable. The waters submerged the
bridges between Douglas and Broxton
over Twenty Mile Creek, on the Doug
las and Hazlehurst road over Seven
teen Mile Creek, and on the Dixie
Highwty over Seventeen Mile Creek,
but on Thursday morning the water
was receding with no considerable
damage, although travel was stopped
for three days on some of these
roads.
It was reported here Wednesday
afternoon that the Georgia & Florida
Railroad trussel over Altamaha river
had washed away, but Thursday
morning this was not confirmed by
Agent John Bankston who made a
trip To the river on Wednesday after
noon. He stated that the trussel was
covered and the river extended south
for a mile and a quarter this side of
the river but no one could get close
enough to discover the condition of
the trussel, embankments and the
steel structure over the main efiart
nel. He stated that the bridge watch
man and his family left their house
on the bridge in a motorboat Tues
day and fled for safety. Agent Bank
ston could give no estimate of the
damage or the length of time traffic
would be tied up on the Georgia and
Florida Railway, on account of the
freshet. It was evidently the heaviest
freshet in the recollection of our old
est citizens in this section.
The Georgia & Florida Railroad
this morning was out of commission
both north and south in so far as
Douglas is concerned, on accounnt of
high water and washouts. The em
bankment at Alapaha river south is
washed out, and the railroad bridge
over Altamaha river north is sub
merged, and at this time it. cannot be
estimated w'hen traffic will be resum
ed out of Douglas on this road.
The traffic manager of the A., B. &
A. Railroad reported to Douglas
Thursday morning that traffic had
been established over the entire line
of the road, which gives Douglas an
outlet over this road.
JUDGE J. J. ROGERS
RECEIVES COMMISSION
Judge ’J. J. Rogers, who in the De
cember election was elected Justice
of the Peace for the Douglas Dis
trict has just gotton his commission
from the Governor, owing to a. mis
carriage of the election returns, and
the delay was caused awaiting a trace
of 'the returns with the final result
that the election managers had to i
send in duplicate returns to the Gov
ernor.
Judge Rogers has opened an office i
in the Grand Jury room in the court!
house and is now ready for business. |
GIRL ADMITS SLAYING |
AND JOKES WITH POLICE;
Cleveland, O., —Angeline Mannino,
15, laughed and joked with de eetives
today as she told of having shot and
killed Tony Valcre, 24, in her home
last night. Angeline surrendered,
alleging Valore had betrayed her.
“If she really did the killing and
had the motive she claims, the un
written law, would save her from the
extreme penalty”, County Prosecu
tor Edward C. Stanton said.
POSTOFFICE DEPT. HAS
SEMI-ANNUAL BANQUET
The Welfare Council of the Doug
las Post Office Department held chir
semi-annual banquet in the Masonic
Hall on Saturday night, the 17th, at
which covers were laid for seventy
five guests. Mrs. Miriam Harper of
the Department, assisted by other
ladies connected with the Department
had charge of the arrangements and
furnished a bird supper together with
other substantials and many delica
cies. Post Office Inspector T. W.
Overstreet acted a stoast master. The
Council departed from its usual cus
tom on this occasion and invited some
other special guests. Mayor John R.
Slater was the main speaker of the
occasion, presiding in his usual fluent
manner a splendid address, which was
responded to by Assistant Post Mas
er, R. H. Wheless.
Those present were the R. F. D.
carriers, Cain, Courson, Floyd and
Saunders and their families; City
carriers, o‘Steen, Dent and Kirkland
and tl eir families; Assisitant R. H.
Whele.-s and family, Post Master L.
S. Peterson and family and Clerks,
Adams, Harper and Kirkland and
families and Mr. Frank Adams, aux
iliary Clerk. The .invited guests in
cluded Eston Ricketson, and his fami
ly, who assisted in killing the birds,
Editors Fred Ricketson and W. R.
Frier, Mayor John R. Slater and Post
Office Inspector T. W. Overstreet and
family and Messrs. Stewart and Dunn,
Construction Engineers of the New
Post Office building now under con
struction. The next banquet will be
held on July 4th, for which occasions,
preparations are already being plan
*.. - .** * 1 * '
ATTORNEYS START
i ANOTHER FIGHT TO
STAY EXECUTIONS
Judge Inspects Gallows at Butler
I and Declares It Satisfactory.
BY ED H. BRADLEY
Journal Staff Correspondent.
BUTLER, Ga., — For the fourth
time in twelve months, Willie Jones
and Gervis Bloodworth heard today
the voice of the law fix the day of
their execution for the murder of
Howard Underwood, but their confi
dence that they will not mount the
gallows to pay the extreme penalty
is still unshaken. Nevertheless, if
the sentence of the court is carried out
on February 13, as decreed today by
Judge W. E. H. Searcy, they will be
1 ready to go, they declared, as they
started back to Columbus jail under
heavy guard at the close of the court
hearing here.
With a calm assurance that is as
tonishing to court officials and cit
izens alike, the doomed pair main
tain the unruffled composure that
has characterized their twelve
months of confinement since the
crime in December, 1923.
Convicted in the Taylor superior
court within a few weeks after the
murder, their death sentence was
stayed automatically by an appeal to
the state superior court, and when
that tribunal upheld the conviction,
a new date was set for the execu
tion, November 28. Then Governor
( lilford Walker intervened and grant
ed a respite until January 9 to make
a personal investigation of the case,
but he finally denied executive clem
ency, and the double hanging would
have been carried out on January 9.
but for a temporary injunction grant
ed at the eleventh hour by Judge
Seaicy, on a petition from defense
counsel that the gallows had not been
properly inclosed so as to prevent the
public from witnessing the execution,
in violation of law.
Last Obstacle Removed.
This injunction was dissolved last
night by Judge Searcy when attor
neys for the doomed pair voluntarily
lecited to the court that proper ar
rangements had been made, and the •
defects in the gallows remedied so,
as to conform to the law. Thus*
OFFICIAL ORGAN COFFEE COUNTY, CITY OF DOUGLAS, AND THE CITY OF NICHOLLS
DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1925.
UTILITIES CORPORATION
CONFERRING WITH CITY
ON TAKING OVER PLANT
The Interstate Utilities Corporation
with headquarters in Washington, D.
C., had a representative in Douglas
this week conferring with the City
Council with a view of taking over
the Douglas power plant. This com
pany has already taken over the pow
er plant in Milledgeville and is oper
ating it, and is now taking over the
Dublin plant, and plans to take over
all power plants between Augusta and
Willacoochee along the Georgia &
Florida Railway. In fact it is under
stood that the G. & F. Ry., is cooper
ating with the concern, giving it a
right of way for its cables on the
railroad right-of-way. This com
pany plans to establish three central
power plants within this territory
from which to distribute the power,
using both water and steam power,
and furnish power from these plants
for manufacturing purposes over the
entire territory to be occupied at a
cheap rate, making a specialty of
power for manufacturing and cooking
purposes. It is understood that
there are millions of dollars behind
this corporation. The Douglas City
Council has not yet acted upon the
proposition but will probably consider
it at the next meeting of the council.
The new company, a plan would not
make any change in the personel of
the local plant if it should take it
over, but would probably give a
cheaper rate for lights and power
purposes in Douglas, and enter into
a contract not to increase the rate in
the future.
MR, W.H. PURVIS
TEACHES S.S. CLASS
Mr. W. H. Purvis of Augusta, Sup
erintendent of the Georgia & Florida
Railway, spent yesterday in Douglas,
and taugth ’!he up-town Methicdist
Bible Class of men at ,I;he court
In whcih seventy-eight splendid xwk'ii
were present. Mr. Purvis
wife and two little girls were spend
ing the day in Douglas with his broth
er, Mr. M. H. Purvis, and taught the
Bible Class on the request of Mr.
John Bankston, Secretary and Mr. R.
A. Mloore, teacher. Those who heard
his lecture said he gave a wonderful
presentation of the Sunday School
subject, which impressed a ; fiat body
of men very deeply. The citizens of
Douglas are gratified bo see this great
captain of industry directing his tal
ents along religious lines and point
ing other business men in that direc
tion. Mr. Purvis has a great many
friends in Douglas, where he makes
frequent visits in discharge of his
duties as General Manager of the
Raliroad.
MR. \V. A. CATHEY GOES
W ITH A. & P. TEA COMPANY
Mr. Cathey who has been connect
ed with the J. L. Young Co., of this
city, for the past fifteen years has
resigned and accepted a position with
the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company
of this place.
Mr. Cathey is an experienced gro
cerman, and his many friends will be
glad to learn that he is connected
with the A. & P. Co., on Ward St.
' '
CITY LOANS
I can make you prompt loans on
your improved city property—6 per
cent interest, on equal monthly pay
ments, from three to 8 years time—
reasonable commissions. See me and
own your home—payments similar to
monthly rents. L. E. HEATH, Doug
las, Ga. ad-tf
there remained nothing but the fix
ing of a new date for the execution,
which was done today by Judge
Searcy at a special session of Taylor
superior court.
That another last-minute effort to
save the lives of the youths may be
mdde by their attorneys, C. W r . Foy,
Homer Beeland and Walter Steed,
was indicated when they raised vig-1
orous objection to fixing of a new
date on the grounds that the action
should have been taken at a regular
or a called term of the Taylor supe
rior court and that Judge Frank Me-J
Laughlin, of the Chattahoochee cir
cuit, who is disqualified in this case,
was without authority to sign the
order setting a special session of
court for today to designate a new
date for the double hanging.
NEW REALTY
COMPANY OPERATES
The Uqion Loan & Realty Company
a corporation recently organized by
parties who have conception of
th«r imminent increase in values of
<*e ■County real estate and securi- 1
tie#, has recently purchased several
properties in the county and is per
fecting plans by which these proper
ties are to be made a credit to the
institution and the county.
Mr. J**L. Shelton, a Vice-President
of the esjipany will be closely identi
fied witKthe affairs of the company,
and it that negotations
are pendjgig by which his services can
be secured in the capacity of general
manager.'
Theste'plans will mean further pro
gress our community eld an in
crease, in facilities which very prob
ably ufill mean an increase in person
nel in present banking facilities.
The annual stock-holders meeting
of the Union Banking Company will
be held qn the 29th day of this month,
and it is understood that plans will
be perfected and announced which
will b| very gratifying to the citizens
of our community and a credit to the
institution.
Douglas and Coffee County are
fortunate in having a real progressive
citizenship which is always working
for the advancement of the communi
ty. Her two strong banks offer un
usual financing facilities and no other
factor can be a greater asset. The
our community should great
ly appreciate these assets, should
practij® thrift and let their all im
portant savings help build the com
munity.
NEW. LAW FIRM
fPEN OFFICES HERE
A ni*v law firhi for Douglas is
Minglb4orf & Winn, com
»ssrs J. N. McDonald.
George H. Mingledorf and Talmadge
S. Winn. The partnership becomes
effective tomorrow. Mr. Geo. H.
Mingledorf is moving from Pearson
to Douglas, and Mr. Winn, a few
weeks ago moved from Pearson to
Douglas. Both Messrs. Mingledorf
and Winn have been located at Pear
son for several years and have built
up enviable reputations as lawyers.
Mr. J. N. McDonald, the senior mem
ber of the firm, is now in Sarasota,
Florida, and it is understood that he
has opened up an office in the Florida
City, and will spend a good deal of
his time in Sarasota, but will return
to the Douglas office at least during
the terms of Court to assist the other
members in the actual trial of the
cases. This makes another strong
legal firm for Douglas, and the Doug
las citizens extend a cordial welcome
to the new members, Mr. Mingledorf
and family and Mr. Winn.
Rev. Claud Mingledorf, a Mission
ary on a year’s leave of absence, has
been making his home with his broth
er George H. Mingledorf in Pearson.
Mr. Claud Mingledorf recently pur
chased an attractive farm just out of
the edge of Douglas, and it i 3 thought
that Mr. Claud Mingledorf will also
come 'to Douglas and spend the re
mainder of his leave of absence in our
city.
Mr. Claude Stubbs spent Wednes
day in Alma.
Missionary Progr a m of
Baptis: W. M. U.
The W. M. U. held its regular meet
ing at church at 3 Monday, Jan. 20,
Circle No. 4 in charge.
Meeting called to order by Mrs.
Harry Johnson the chairman.
The following program was ren
dered.
Devotional—Mrs. E. L. Tanner.
Prayer—“ That we be faithful and
true witness”—Mrs. J. A. Berringer.
Duet—“My Father Know".— Mes
dames John Bankston and W. F. Bron
son.
Subject, “For Christ’s Sake and the
Gospel.”
I The Bir.h of Christ—Mrs.
Hoke Davis.
11. Christianity during dark ages
and Reformation—Mrs. A. P. Darby.
Reading—’’What have we done to
day.”-—Virgina Appleby.
Dismissal with prayer.
Social half hour spent.
Members Circle 4 hostesses served
salad course with hot coffee.
DENIES KLANSMEN
ON GRAND JURY
Athens, Ga., —ln a statement is
sued here today, Albert E. Davison, a
prominent local business man and a
member of the Clarke county grand
jury denies that the jury which
brought indictments against a number
of local citizens on evidence secured
by the efforts of a Ku Klux Klan “in
vestigator,” had any members of the
klan in its roster.
The indictments against those
charged with gaming and with viola
tions of the liquor laws, as well as
indictments against the klan investi
gator, one T. C. Husted, were nolle
pressed in superior court here last
Wednesday when both defense and
prosecution stated they had reason to
belive that there was at least one
member of the grand jury who be
longed to the klan. Judge Blanton
Fortsan ruled that klan members
would be parties to the prosecution,
inasmuch as the Husted “investiga
tion” was paid for by klan funds,
and he therefore barred all such
members or their kin from serving
on the jury.
Calls for Prosecution.
In his statement, Mr. Davison de
clares that the presence of a klans
man on the grand jury was accepted
on the statement, not under oah,
of a klan official from Atlanta and
further declares that the statement
was untrue. He then points out that,
if there was not a kiansman on the
jury, the Atlanta klan official should
be prosecuted for making a false
statement in epen ■ ourt for the pur
pose of blocking indictments. Mr.
Davison’s statement in full is as fol
lows :
“Having served e.s a member of the
| grand jury of Clarke county, let me
'say that the first indictment by the
grand jury were declared faulty on
account of the grand jury having
members of the Ku Klux on it, threg
men being challenged, these men on
the reiffifiifmetfr
and 19 men continued to serve,re
turning a new indictment. These 19
men entered the grand jury room
with the full knowledge that should
a member of the Ku Klux remain
any indictment rendered to the court
would be faulty. With this knowl
edge these men rendered the second
indictment.
No Klansmen On Jury.
“As a rule men serving on a grand
jury are supposed to be men of some
character, and no man who considers
his character woud have served on
that jury if he was a member of the
Ku Klux.
“The cases were called in court and
were nolle prossed as reported by
your paper on the assumption that a
member of Ku Klux had remained
on the jury. These cases were nolle
prossed on the unsworn statement of
some man from Atlanta, who I un
derstand is an official of the klan.
He made the statement, not under
oath, and his statement was not sup
jorted by any evidence. In other
words thi3 man says in court that
one of the members of that jury is a
klansman and is a liar. He was not
required to take an oath, nor was he
called upon to name the klan mem
ber of the jury. His word was taken
unconditionally, leaving the public to
pick out the klansman or liar from
the 19 members of the jury. These
j cases were throwm out of court on a
plain statement, leaving a cloud of
suspicion on every man who served
on the jury.
“The “bird” from Atlanta falsified
when he made his unsupported state
ment. Not a single member of this
jury was a member of the klan. f
this is true he should be handled by
the law for making a false statement
in open court for the purpose of block
ing indictments. Otherwise he should |
be required to show who the kip a j
member of the jury was.
“I have made a sworn statement
that I have never been and am net
now connected in any w r ay wnatsc
ever with the Ku Klux Klan or any
branch thereof. Every other member
of the grand jury referred to will ti -
the same thing, thereby bringing the
issue as to who the liar is.”—Atlanta
Constitution.
EOIt SALE— Budded Stuart and
Schley Pecan trees all sizes. Write
for prices. EAGLE PECAN NUR
SERY, Cordele, Ga.
$1.50 Per Annum in Advance
FORMER A. B, &A,
OFFICIAL IS DEAD
INJURIES SUFFERED IN AUTO*
MOBILE ACCIDENT FATAL
TO W. W. CROxTON.
Mr. Warren Winston Croxton,
for several years Passenger Traffic
Manager of the A. B. & A. Railway
in charge of the passenger traffic and
agricultural departments, died in Bir
mingham, Ala., January 16th, 1925-,
from blood poisoning resulting from
an injury sustained in an automobile
accident December 28th, 1924.
Mr. Croxton was widely known in
railroad and business circles in the
South. Born in Belmont, Virginia,
August 25, 1880, he entered the ser
vice of the Southern Ry., June 7, 1900,
serving in the passenger department
of that line for several years in var
ious capacities. September 1, 1909,
he went with the Norfolk Southern
Ry., as General Passenger Agent,
with headquarters in Aatlanta.
During the period of Federal Con
trol, 1918 to 1920, Mr. Croxton was
general Passenger Agent of the A.
B. & A., A. & W. P., W. of A., Geor
gia R. R., and C. & W. C. R. R., the
management of these lines being con
solidated during that time. At the
termination of federal operation of
railroads in March, 1920. Mr. Crox
ton was promoted to the position of
Passenger Traffic Manager, A. B. &
A. Ry., in charge of passenger traffic
and agricultural development depart
ments, serving in that capacity until
May 15, 1923, at which time he re
signed to accept position of General
Sales Manager of the Garnsey Coal
Company, in Birmingham.
Mr. Croxton is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Elizabeth Dearborn Croxton,
two children, Warner Winston, Jr.,
and Anna Boyd, of Birmingham; four,
brothers, Lewis, of Pheonijc, Ariz.,
Philip, of New York, Dr. Wm. E., e£
West Point, Va., V. W., of Los Anpe
les, and one sister, Mrs, J. H. Strib,
ling, of Richmond, Va
fronT'the residence, 1318 Glenn Ave
nue, Birmingham, 3:00 P. M., Satur
day, January 17th, with interment at
Elwood Cemetery, that city. The fu
neral wa3 laigely attended by friends
and former associates.
PHYSICIAN SENTENCED
UNDER NARCOTICS ACT
TO SERVE SIX YEARS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan., 17-
Dr. A. 11. Weathers, alleged drug
peddler, was sentenced today by
Judge Call, in federal court, to serve
six years in the Atlanta penitentiary
for violation of the Harrison nar
cotic act. He was convicted on three
charges of possession and peddling
of drugs and sentenced to two years
on each count.
Dr. Weathers formerly was a wide-
Ily known physician here. Three
cases of violating the anti-narcotic
: act still are pending against him in
this state, one in Georgia, and an
other in Alabama.
Church Notice.
There will be a prayer service fol
.lowing which there will be an address
by Rev. R. J. Stilwell at Saint An
drews church on Friday evening at
7:30 o’clock instead of Thursday
evenings, as w r as announced at church
last Sunday. This service will be
held regularly every Friday night,
until fur her notice is given. Preach
ing at 11:15 o’clock next Sunday
morning also.
Mr. Harry Barret spent the week
end in Atlanta.
TAX REGEM
FIRST ROUND
I will be at the following named
places on dates mentioned below for
the purpose cf receiving tax returns
for 1925.
Nicholls, Monday February 2.
West Green Tuesday, February 3.
Broxton Wednesday February 4.
Ambrose Thursday February 5.
Tom Daniels place Friday Febru
ary 6.
Other week days not advertised will
be at court house Douglas, Ga.
-J. M. LOTT,
T. R. Coffee County.