Newspaper Page Text
(Bofft* (Eotmig Jhrffgress.
Volume XI—No. 22.
TRIO GF BANKERS
PLEASED SATURDAY
NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA
MEN ENTHUSIASTIC IN THEIR
EXPRESSION AFTER VISIT.
Messrs. Marshalll W. Pask, of Pask
& Wallbridge, bankers of New York;
Walter A. Schaufler, of Wheeler &
Co., bankers of Philadelphia, and
Edgar O. Silber, of Redmond & Co.,
New York bankers, spent several
; hours in Valdosta Saturday after
> noon and night, accompanied by Mr.
N. T. Lanigan, auditor of the G. &
F. railway and Mr. J. U. Jones, spec
ial representative of the railroad.
Iji They arrived in Valdosta at 5
and were given a ride over
Valdosta and out into the country,
that they might see not only Val
dosta but the country around it. The
visitors were very much impressed
with the city and county, showing
especial interest in the Woodrow
Wilson Memorial College and tPe
Georgia State Womans College.
These financiers made the trip in
the interest of the reorganization
plan for the Georgia & Florida rail
way, which is now in course of ar
rangement and by which the road is
expected to be taken out of the hands
of the courts and improved and ex
tended according to plans under con
sideration for some time.
Mr. Pask, apparently the spokes
man for the property, stated before
leaving Valdosta that so far as he
is concerned, he is thoroughly “sold”
on South Georgia as a place for in
vestment with a view of development.
“There are more possibilities
through your section,” said Mr.
Pask, “than any section it has been
my good fortune to visit in the last
few years. The people I represent,
I am sure, are ready to put several
million dollars not only into the re
organization of the railroad, but in
other developments, and especially in
your immediate section.
“I am especially pleased with what
I have seen hv Valdosta ancf "beTteV?
that investments carefully made
around your city will prove the best
and safest to be found in the south.”
Other members of the party ac
quiesced in the statements of Mr.
Pask, and each of them apparently
delighted with many of the splendid
city and suburban homes they saw,
and the pecan orchards also attract
ed their attention, concerning which
they made very careful inquiry.
The party remained in Valdosta
.until midnight and left on the Bon
FAir Special for the east.
Redmond & Co., the banking con
cern represented by Mr. Silver, has
long been interested in the G. & F.
railway and have taken an active part
in the plans for the reorganization.
While the matter was not generally
discussed, it was admitted by each
of the bankers at both ends, to
Grenwood in South Carolina, and to
Tampa or some other point on the
Gulf of Mexico in Florida.—Valdosta
Times.
SPARKS COLLEGE TO BE
REOPENED IN AUTUMN
AT SAME LOCATION
Sparks, Ga., March 23. —Following
a special meeting of the board of
trustees, President M. S. Hale, of
Sparks college, announced late Mon
day that the college would be reopen
ed this fall at Sparks. The college
'department is not in operation this
year, the school being operated as an
academy.
The executive committee was au
thorized to proceed with plans for
an enlarged program which will maue
the institution a leading junior col
lege, with farming and industrial
features. The college was establish
ed in 1902.
REVIEW FOR GARVEY,
IN PEN HERE, REFUSED.
Washington, March 23. —The su
preme court today declined to review
the question whether Marcus Garvey,
who called himself the “provisional
president of Africa”, convicted in
New York city, violated the federal
laws when he used the mails to pro
mote the sale of stock to negroes in
the Black Star line, which he pro
posed to organize to transport ne
groes to Africa.
■
tiary and numerous efforts have been
made by negro organizations to ob
tain executive clemency for him.
CITIZENS DEPOSITORS
TO RECEIVE DIVIDEND
The statement is authorized by
Mr. W. J. Davis, in charge of the af
fairs of the defunct Citizens Bank,
that a dividend will be paid deposi
tors, possibly next week. This will
be the second dividend distributed,
the previous one being for only five
per cent.
The payment of the dividend will
distribute from twenty to twenty-
thousand A consider
able sum will also be distributed to
preferred creditors, here and else
where.
Mr. Davis states that there is a
great deal yet to be done in connec
tion with the liquidation of this
bank which failed about two years
ago.
AGGIES GET EVEN
BREAK WITH TIFTON
In the first of a series of two
games the local Aggie nine defeated
the fast Tifton team here Monday to
the tune of 4 to 3.
The game was nip and tuck from
the start, Douglas drawing first
by Hall walking in the first inning,
Waters sacrificing him to second,
and Demery following with a two
bagger scoring Hall. Tifton then
tightened up and retired the side.
The features of the game were
Demery and Anderson’s hitting and
Smith’s pitching for Douglas and Mc-
Millan’s hitting for Tifton, he being
responsible for all of Tifton’s scores,
getting two hits out of four trips to
the plate.
Smith pitched a superb game for
Douglas allowing only 5 safe hits, 4
of them merely scratch hits while the
other was a double. He struck out
14 men walked one and hit one, while
Duxler who hurled for Tifton gave
up 9 safties, struck out 10 men, walk
ed three and hit two.
- The locals* had their best inning
in the fourth bunching three nits
and one walk for two runs while Tif
ton had their best inning in tha sixth,
compiling one walk, an error, an 1
one hit for two runs. This game
was one of the most exciting witness
ed by local fans in a long while.
The Aggies had an off day in the
second game of the series, the weath
er being a little cool for base ball.
Griffin played best for the locals,
while McMillan again starred for
Tifton.
The locals are now in fine trim and
should be able to hang up a goodly
number of victories this year. Coach
Vibbert has put a fast team on the
field this year and Douglas people
should show their appreciation by at
tending the games and doing their
bit towards supporting the team.
OHAINGANG SENTENCE
METED OUT TO BERETH
Atlanta, Ga., March 24.—J. B.
Bereth, former state highway pay
master at the East Point shops, Mon
day was sentenced to 12 months on
the Fulton county chaingang, when
he entered a plea of guilty to charges
of “padding” the pay rolls of the
highway department, obtaining $240.
Upon the consent of State High
way attorney Seward Smith, and a
recommendation by Assistant Solici
tor E. A. Stephens, Judge E. D.
Thomas, of Fulton superior court,
treated the case as a misdemeanor in
stead of a felony.
The arrest of the paymaster came
as the result of a recent investiga
tion at the East Point shops of the
highway department. He was arrest
ed in Memphis end brought back to
Atlanta, where he secured a SI,OOO
tend for appearance at the trial.
The case was previously called up
two weeks ago, but on the consent of
attorneys .was continued until Mon
day of this week, in order that Bereth
might have time to make necessary
arrangement for his family. It was
understood at the time that the case
was continued that he would plead
guilty.
Mrs. Bereth was not present in the
courtroom at the time of the trial,
but waited in the anteroom until her
husband had bern sentenced. She has
been given employment in the high
way shops office, where hes husband
formerly was employed.
OFFICIAL ORGAN COFFEE COUNTY, CITY OF DOUGLAS, AND THE CITY OF NICHOLLS
DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1925.
EVANGELISTIC SERVICES
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
WILL
The Evangelistic Services of the
First Baptist Church of Douglas, will
begin April 12. Services will be con
ducted daily at 10 A. M. and 8 P. M.
The Kiwanis Club has manifested
considerable interest by agreeing to
request the merchants of the city to
close for the morning service which
is to last exactly one hour.
The ladies of the four Missionary
Circles are to have cottage prayer
meetings at 3:30 P. M.
The music will be quite a feature
of the meetings the choir will con
sist of 100 voices—led by Mr. Earl
Parks of this city. There will also
be a junior choir.
Special services will be held dur
ing the entire meeting.
The Methodist church will conduct
meetings at the same time and hour.
Come and help us win Douglas to
Christ.
Dr. Carl Minor, pastor of the First
Baptist Church will conduct the Bap
tist services. Dr. Christian will be
the leader of the Methodist Revival.
BOXING BOUT APRIL 7TH
PROMISES TO BE BIGGEST
DAYS IN HISTORY OF CITY
“Little World Series” will be play
ed by Giants and Senators and Y'oung
Stribling will fight Hughie Walker
King of Sporting world, will be seen
in action, Augusta, Georgia.
Twenty thousand persons are ex
pected to pass into the gates of War
ren Park in the three events to be
staged in Augusta, Ga., April 7th and
Bth, the tw r o exhibition baseball
games between the New York Giants
and the Washington Senators the
“little world series” and the Strib
ling-Walker boxing congest). These
three attractions are expected to
draw larger crowds to Augusta than
anything since the day of the old
Georgia-Carol Tha Fail.
The games and the boxing bout
have all been advertised intensively
all over the country. The crowds
will be drawn from half of each of
the two states of Georgia and South
Carolina, if the area covered by the
heavy campaign of advertising re
spond and there is every reason ac
cording to the promoters, Charlie
Farrar and Marvin Wolfe, that the
people will respond.
It is not a frequent thing when a
southern crowd can see Jonh J. Mc-
Graw, Stan Harris, “Irish” Meusel,
George Kelley, Walter Johnson,
Harold Lindstorm, “Goose” Goslin,
“Young ” Stribling and Hughie Walk
er, all in two day’s time—and see
them in action at that. All of these
notables of the diamond and the
square ring will be here during these
two days and will, all of them, most
probably get a chance to work.
The Giants and the Senators fought
last fall for World Championship
honors, and the crown went to Wash
ington. The people of Augusta, for
the most part, were in sympathy with
Washington although the Giants had
a very strong following. The great
figure of Walter Johnson looms as
the prime reason, no doubt, for the
direction, the sympathy of the ma
jority took last fall, and it will play
its part in bringing them to Augusta,
Georgia, April 7th and Bth.
The round trip fare from Douglas
to Augusta and return is $3.00
SMOOT PLANS REPEAL
OF NUISANCE TAXES
Washington, March 23. —Reduction
of the maximum surtax rate to 25
per cent and repeal of such nuisance
taxes as remain on the statutes will
be pressed in a $300,000,000 tax 1 re
duction bill next session, Chairman
Smoot of the senate finance commit
tee, said today before leaving for his
home in Utah.
Senator Smoot, who called today
on the president, also declared he
would urge repeal of the inheritance
tax next session on the ground that
such taxes should be left for use of
states in raising revenues. He be
lieved also, however, states should
leave to the national government en
tirely the use of the income tax.
Presbyterian Church.
There will be services at the Pres
byterian church Sunday morning and
evening. The public is invited to at
tend these services.
R. W, PORTERFIELD TO
CONNDUGT SINGING AT
METHODIST REVIVAL
Mr. Ralph W. Porterfield, national
ly known 'evangelistic singer, has
been secured as song leader for the
approaching revival at the Methodist
church which begins April 12. It i*
said of Mr. Porterfield that he has
a most charming voice, a forceful
leader arid one of the most fascinat
ing soloist Singers. He will arrive in
the city ‘prior to the beginning ot
the revival.
Rev. T: M. Christian, the pastor,
is laying! the foundation for a great
revival a*d great interest is already
manifest" among the Methodists and
preliminary work is proving that at
the beginning of the services interest
will be treated that has seldom been
noted in such a meeting in this city.
Rev. Christian was for a time an
evangelistic worker. He has plan
ned a series of subjects upon which
he will talk that will be unique and
interesting, at the beginning of the
revival. 'I
9
SOUTHEASTERN OPTOMETRIST
CONGRESS TO MEET IN
COLUMBUS NEXT WEEK
The Southeastern Optometric Con
gress holds their annual meeting in
Columbus next week. Fort Benning
will entertain the Optometrists with
a gigantic war game similar to con
ditions of the Western front during
1918.
Instructors from Columbia Univer
sity, Rochester School of Optometry
and Ohio University will conduct a
lecture caurse during the week in the
higher studies of Optometry.
This meeting will be the biggest of
the held in this state and
it is expected that outside attendance
will be very large on account of the
great war demonstration and other
exlpbitioijs to be given by the sol
A CALLING CARD
WAS BLOWN 210
MILES BY STORM
Murphysboro, 111., March 22.—A
calling card picked up in Murphys
boro by Wednesday’s twister was
carried to Palestin, Illinois, 210 miles
distant.
The Rev. H. W. Abbott, pastor of
the new First Baptist church, wnieh
was destroyed by the storm, was
the owner of the card. On a book
case in his study in the parsonage
adjoining the church, were 500 call
ing cards. The tornado sucked up
the cards along with houses, tele
phone poles, trees and other loose
things. Yesterday he received a tele
phone call from a man at Palestine,
whom he did not know, and who said
that one of the cards had been found
there.
A check for SBOO to apply on the
new church and which was lying un
der the calling cards was found on
the parsonage front porch.
In the Baptist church when it was
destroyed, the funeral service for
the wife of Dr. F. C. Hiller, of The
bes, was being held. A few minutes
after the crash D. Hiller sent his son
after surgical instruments and start
ed giving medical aid to the injured,
leaving the body of his wife beneath
the ruins of the church. It was re
covered the following day.
One little girl leaving one of he
destroyed school buildings had just
grasped the door knob when the door
was jerked from its hinges and car
ried into the yard, landing propped
against a post with the girl beneath
it. This twist of the fate saved her
life as hundreds of brick fell on the
shelter.
A. D. Milhouse, a barb r, til of
rescuing a girl from the Logan
school ruins a few minutes after th ■
tornado.
“I saw a girl’s hand protruding
from the bricks and a man was
standing on the brick,” he said, “I
shouted for him to get off the bricks
and we dug the little girl out, be
lieving her dead. To our astonish
ment the little girl was not only alive
but was not even seriously injured
and was able to go home alone.”
COLORED LABORERS WANTED—
at Hastings, Florida, to harvest
the potato crop. Work for the whole
family. Good nay. Come any time
after March 25th. 26-A2-9
“HUGE” HARRELL DEAD; BILLIKIN
IN JAIL CHARGED WITH MURDER
MR. D. HOLMES MAKES
OBSERVATIONS ON CITY
Mr. D. Holmes, president of
the Watt-Holmes chain of
Hardware stores while in the
city Tuesday stated that the
business of the local branch
was better than at any of the
stores operated by his com
pany and that more business
was being done on a desirable
basis now in Douglas than in
years.
Mr. Holmes expressed much
pleasure at the progress and
development going on here, in
street paving, and building.
He said that more building was
going on in Douglas than in
any eGorgia town he knew of
and that he predicted even more
rapid growth for the city. Mr.
Holmes left Douglas Tuesday
at noon for Cordele and then
to Tampa, Florida.
HIGHWAY BOARD WORK j
UNAFFECTED BY WRIT
Affairs of the state highway de
partment Monday were progressing
in normal manner despite the writ of
mandamus filed Saturday in Bibb su
perior court ordering W. T. Anderson
and Stanley S. Bennet, members of'
the highway board, to show cause
why they should not recognize John
N. Holder as chairman. This action
was taken by Mr. Holder following
revocation of his commission several
weeks ago by Governor Walker, the
former contending that the governor
did not have proper legal authority
to take such action.
Seward M. Smith, special attorney
for the department pointed out that
the legal action did not include a pe
tition for injunction against the de
partment, and thus does not affect
the regular course of its work.
No new developments in the two
audits which ere being made of the
department books simultaneously,
came to light Monday. One of these
audits, which has been in progress
about six weeks is being made by C.
R. Dawson, a private auditor appoint I
ed by the governor and paid out of
the department funds, while the other
began last Friday when Sam J. Slate,
state auditor, took charge of the
books of the department.
Governor Walker had no comment
to make in regard to the most recent
developments in the highway depart
ment situation. Mr. Holder spent the
week-end at his home in Jefferson
and attorneys for the deposed chair
man were silent in his absence from
the city.
COTTON ASSO. TO
ELECT DIRECTORS
The Georgia Cotton Growers Co
operative Association will elect a
board of directors on April 11. A
primary will be held on March 28 at
which time nominees will be selected.
Coffee county is in District 20 of the
association, and votes may be cast
by proxy, by attending the district
meeting, at Omega, or by mailing
their choice for the place to Chester
Robinson, Omega, Ga. There are 22
counties in District 20. Much stress
is laid upon the importance of select
ing good men for the directorate.
There are quite a number of asso
ciation members in this county, who
have, marketed their cotton through
the association.
riFTH SIN DAY SINGERS
AT STOKESMI.LE SUNDAY
T 1 e Fifth Sunday Singing conven
tion will meet at Stokesville next
Sunday, and the services will begin
promptly at 10 o’clock. At noon a
basket dinner will be spread, livery
body is requested to carry a basket.
The singing will continue through
out the day until late afternoon. A
ian o crowd of people and perhaps
a dozen classes will be represented
at this popular meeting place. The
public is cordially invited.
$1.50 Per Annum in Advance
SUNDAY BRAWL RESULTS
IN DEATH OF WHITE MAN"
AND WOUNDING OF
ANOTHER.
"Huge’ Harrell a well known white
man aged 57 years was shot and
killed last Sunday afternoon about
2:30 by Hazie Billikin, another white
man, aged about 40 years. The kill,
ing occurred at the home of Harrell
about eight miles southeast of Doug
las on the Raccoon Bridge road.
Billikin is in jail on a warrant charg.
ing murder. He is suffering slight
wounds inflicted by Harrell with a
pocket knife. He has cuts on each
shoulder which required a few
stitches to close and a slight cut on
his neck, inflicted by Harrell several
minutes before the fatal shot was
fired.
Incidents leading up to the shoot
ing as related by officers Henry
Goodman and Demsey Lott who in
vestigated the matter, is to the ef
fect that Billikin, in company with
some other young men went to the
home of Harrell about twelve o’clock.
All parties were drinking when they
arrived and continued throughout the
night to drink, and during the morn
ing Sunday, Harrell became engaged
in a difficulty with a young white
man, Thomas Wright, the latter in
flicting a bad gash with a knife on
Harrell’s arm. Billikin interfered
and stopped this row. During the
afternoon an argument arose be
tween Harrell and his divorced wife,
with whom he continued to live. It
was thought that this difficulty arose
on account of Billikin’s alleged im
proper relations with Mrs. Harrell.
Harrell, using a knife inflicted
these slight wounds on the person of
Billikin, who had previously carried
a pistol, but which had been taken
from him and given to a young man
named Samuel Hughes. Bil+ikin got
out of the way and found a hammer
with which he attempted to strike
his assailent ,and later procuring an
axe without a handle. He then found
Hughes and regained the pistol and
forthwith returned into the house.
Harrell had taken refuge in the
cook-room of the home and as he
entered he closed the door, and as he
did so, Billikin fired, missing his
aim. He followed into the room as
Harrell turned to see what he was
doing he again fired, the bullet tak
ing effect just below the heart. Har
rell died in about twenty minutes.
Sdme witnesses state that Harrell
still clutched the knife as he was
shot. Billikin states that he shot in
seif-defense and that Harrell was at
tempting to cut him to death.
Billikin came to Douglas and to
the Clark-Sntith sanitarium and had
his wounds dressed. He nt?de no at
tempt to escape. After going to the
scene of the homicide, Officers Good-
man and Lott returned to Douglas
and found him at the hospital and
made the arrest and placed him in
jail. Billikin has not asked for a
commitment hearing and will be held
pending trial next October.
The funeral and burial of the re
mains of Harrell took place at the
Tanner church and cemetery.
CHIEF BARKINEAU CAPTURES
STOLEN JACKSONVILLE CAR
Chief of Police Ben M. Barrineau
captured a Buick automobile last
Monday which had been stolen from
R. W. Plainer, of Jacksonville, Flor
ida. The car was being driven by a
negro and gasoline gave out about
ten miles west of Douglas on the
Dixie Highway after which it was
abandoned. No clue hes been 'found
as to the identity of the negr). The
ar had been slightly damaged.
Mr. Barrineau received a $25 re
vue i for the capture .and the car was
carried back to Jacksonville and de
livered to its owner.
W. B. 1. *fe(ON STUDY CLASS
The W. B. 01. U. Mission Study
cla s met Monday afternoon with
quite a number of h dies present. The
third chapter of “In Royal Service”
was studied by the class. The teach
er. Mrs. Simon Peterson, will dis
tribute questions to the class this
week, to be brought in next Monday
afternoon, at which time the book
will be completed.