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THE FORT GAINES SENTINEL.
JOSHUA JONES, Editor and Publisher.
III.
a.Av sr?Ei:nnu of rt,
Syri«( Term In Session this
Week.—A Lijlit Docket.
The spring term of Clay
court convened last Monday, Judge
Sheffield presiding.
The judge’s charge to the grand
jury was us usual able, pointed and
replete with that law and wisdom nec¬
essary to the proper guidance of that
body. Ite was unusually rigid in his
reference to certain uqgligence in the
administration of county affairs m
some counties, and if any of our usual¬
ly efficient officers have been guilty of
the neglect complained of we have no
doubt his remarks will have the effect
desired. It is gratifying to the many
friends of Judge Sheffield to note his
growing popularity on the bench.
While he is sufficiently rigid in exact¬
ing all requirements necessary to the
dispatch of business aud the proper
conduct of court, he is happily void of
that arrogance and overbearing self itn-
portancs bo often noticeable in judges
of more authority than sense. In all
of his rulings he is fair aud impartial
•and evinces a knowldge of law befitting
his position, and all the functions of his
high office are performed with digni¬
fied grace and courtesy winning the
respect and admiration of everybody.
The manner in which Sheriff McAl¬
lister performs his duties elicits the
usual complimentary remarks of his
promptness, courtesy and general effi¬
ciency.
This being tlie first term of court
dt which Clerk T. J. Morris has
served, the readiness and ease with
Which he discharges his duties is es¬
pecially noticeable and gratifying to
bis friends.
The grand jury is composed of
some‘of Clay’s best citizens, and it
•is Un unusually reprenetative body. It
goes without saying that the affairs of
the county will benloselv looxed into,
and that no interest that they can
promote will be neglected. It is safe
to say that the small number of bills
returned is a stiong indication of a
healthy moral condition of the county
that is a matter for'congratulation. *
In taking up the civil docket about
the hour of noon Monday two knotty
and time-consuming cases were struck
in the outstart, and occupied nearly
Ihree day’s time in their hearing. The
first was that-of J. li. Simpson vs. J.
W. Sutlive—complaint—which was
not concluded until Tuesday at noon,
the jury bringing in a verdict for the
defendant. The second was that of
Kobt. H. Kobittson vs. H. B. Walsh,
Jas. A. Walsh claimant, the burden
of the case hinging on the claim of
Jas. A, Walsh to a little more than a
fourth interest in 725 acres of land in
tins county for which the plaintiff had
secured judgement against H. B.
Walsh. The hearing of this case was
not concluded until late Wednesday
afternoon, the claim being withdrawn
immediately after the judge’s charge
to the jury.
On account of the eminence of the
council on both sides this case attract¬
ed considerable attention. One of the
council for the plaintiff was Mr. T. It.
It. Cobb, of Atlanta, one of the ablest
and most prominent young lawyers in
the state, and the ability and thorough
knowledge of law of which bo gave ev-
ideuce in the progress of tire case
stamps him as a man of unusual bril¬
liance and a lawyer of splendid attain¬
ments. This being his first visit to
the Fort in a professional capacity
there was quite a crowd in the court
house to hear his argument to the jury,
his reputation as a speaker having pre¬
ceded him. His speech on this occasiou
was a real gem of oratory and a pow¬
erful argument of the law' and evidence,
impressing worthiness all who heard it with Ins
of the high position he oc-
supies in his profession.
We are informed that a settlement
of this case has been effected, Mr.
Walsh having leased the lands in liti¬
gation for a term of five years, paying
a rental of 6 per cent, per annum ou
the amount involved.
Besides a number of cases that were
continued, there were several others
of no general interest disposed of by
trial, and the criminal docket was
taken up Thursday at noon. There
were no jail cases to be tried, and but
few others, all being of minor impor¬
tance. All that could be tried at this
term of court were disposed of by Fri¬
day night, and court was adjourned.
The visiting lawyers in attendance
were Cols. Hood, Worriil and Kiddoo,
of Cuthbert; Cois. R. H and A. G.
Powell, G. I). Oliver and F. D. I)u-
Rose, of Blakely, and Cols. Este- and
<Gambrel, of Macon.
THE WILL OF TIIE PEOPLE IS THE SUPREME LAW.
FORT GAINES, GA., FRIDAY, MARCH 1*>, 18!)7.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS.
TEMS CONCERNING HOME AND
1 OF HOME INTEREST.
ffliat the People Do aud Shy-
Little tills of News and Oo«>
sin Gathered on the Winn.
Be sure to read T. M. Brown’s new
ad.
Mr. T. G. Spearman, the clever
tombstone salesman of Cuthbcrt, was
here Monday.
{t^’Mrs. Ann Brown will sell yon
Millinery at prices that competitors
don’t like.
We have delayed this issue of the
Sentinel a few hours in order to get
the grand jury presentments before
they get cold.
Mrs. C. D. Findley, of Macon, is
among the visitors to Fort Gaines this
week, being the guest of her daughter,
Mrs. J. R. Irwin.
Itg^’Buy your spring hats from Mrs.
Aun Brown. Her prices are lower
than ever.
We regret to learn that Mr. E. E.
Royal, ex-coroner, was stricken with
paralysis one day this week and for a
short while was speechless. He is re¬
ported much better at this writing.
The Georgia friends of Judge E. W.
Teague, of Hhorterville, will be pleased
to learn of his good fortune in receiv¬
ing the appointment of tax commission¬
er of Henry couuty, Ala. lie will
make a good officer.
Patlurc,
I have seventy-five (75) acres in
Bermuda grass. Good fence, plenty
of water, Jersey male in one pasture.
One dollar a month per head.
II. J. StTTLIVE.
The slugging match between Fitz¬
simmons and Corbett took place Wed¬
nesday and Corbett was knocked out
on the fourteenth round. When he
and all of his sort are completely
“knocked out” the reading public will
draw a sigh of relief.
Mr. McKinley gives notice that he
will make no appointments to office
until May, except in cases of vacancy,
by death or resignation—which means
that the democrats who are in posi¬
tion will not have to let go the teat till
that time—which is well.
Don’t allow the lungs to be impaired
by the continuous irritation of a cough.
It is easier to preveut consumption
than to cure it. One Minute Cough
Cure taken early will ward off any
fatal lung t rouble. S. F. C. Hatchett,
Fort Gaines, C. A. Lee, Bluff ton.
Mrs Fannie Allison, of Cuthbert,
is the guest of her sister, Mrs. M. E.
Burnett. She is accompanied by Miss
Helena Blander, of Fhiladelphia, the
lady who has recently so liberally con¬
tributed to the building fund for the
new Baptist church at Cuthbert.
The registration of old slaves in
Clay county continues to attract the
attention of the press of the state.
It is pronounced a fraudulent pro¬
ceeding and commented upon in a
manner reflecting upon Clay county,
which is a stignea the county does not
deserve and of which it should be
cleared.
Torturing, itching, scaly skin erup¬
tions, burns and scalds are soothed at
once and promptly healed by DeWitt’s
Witch Hazel Salve, the best known
cure for piles. S. P. C. Hatchett, Ft.
Gaines, C. A. Lee, Bluffton.
Mr. R C. McAllister, the popular
dry goods merchant, has a couple of
clothing advertisements elsewhere in
these columns that you should not fail
to read. The houses he represents are
among the most reliable in the country
and he guarantees a fit in every in¬
stance. Call and see his samples and
get his prices.
They arc so small that the most
sensitive persons take them, they are
so effective that the most obstinate
cases of constipation, headache and
torpid liver yield to them. That is
why DeWitt’s Little Early Risers are
known as the famous little pills. S. F.
C. iLtehett. Fort Games, C. A. Lee.
Bluffton.
IndirJmi nt Qnaiiird.
The grand jury brought into
just before adjournment, a true bill
against J. W. Sntlive; former clerk,
and J. B. Bussey, Joe Mansfield and
J. II. Boyd, legislative violation
charging them with ballot a of the
law in opening the box to re¬
count the votes cast for representative
in the last election. The case against
the clerk was at once called up by his
attorney,Col. J. D. Bambo, fora hear¬
ing on a demurrer to the indictment
on an agreed known statement the of public. facts, which
are already to After
argument of council on both sides Judg
Sheffield, in a clear comprehensive
resume of the law bearing upon the case,
deliverad a lengthy decision sustain¬
ing the demurrer and deciding that
the legislature had the power and
right to recount the ballots and it was
the clerk’s duty to permit the commit¬
tee to recount them. Ilis Ilouor’s
opinion was in brief as follows:
The indictment is based on the idea
that in as much as there is no statute
saying in words ‘‘that the legislature
has the power to recount the ballots;”
that, therefore, it was a violation of
law and a criminal act to open and re¬
count them. Now the Constitution
makes each House the sole judges of
the election of its members. The
House on that question is judge, a
court, a complete court, of exclusive
jurisdiction. There is a statute in the
code, that every court shall frame a
remedy if there is none framed. And
the House by resolution framed a rem¬
edy to get the necessary evidence to
pass on that election contest. That
remedy was to recount the ballots by a
conimitte. And, therefore, the clerk
and the committee were acting clearly
within the law and their duty in open¬
ing the box and recounting the ballots.
Bieyct :■! Bicycles!
t have the agency at Fort Gsines
for several of the most reliable and
popular Bicycles made, and those con¬
templating a purchase of this kind, will
find it to their interest to see me.
Will sell you a new wheel and take
your old one in part payment. I am
also prepared to do repair work on
wheels. Respectfully, I. B. West.
Marriage In Coleman,
Miss Barbra Hammock and Mr. B.
W. ltisli were married this (Tuesday)
afternoon, at*3 p. M., at the home of
the bride’s pareuts, Kev. J. 8. Knowles
performing the ceremony. The bride
is the daughter of Mr. I). W. Ham¬
mock, one of our leading citizens.
She is an alumna of Cox College and
is an accomplished disposition has musician. Her
charming drawn around
her a wide circle of friends and ad¬
mirers whose sincere wishes for long
and continued happiness follow her.
Mr. Iiish, better known as “Ben,” is
the son of Mr. W. Rish, partner in the
firm of Hammock, Rish & Sons, and
planter on a large scale. He has re¬
cently been admitted to the firm, and
is a fine business young man. After
the ceremony the young couple, with
numerous friends, drove to the house
of the groom’s father to supper. We
are informed that they expect to com¬
mence housekeeping at once. The
bridal presents were numerous and
beautiful. Mr. J. \V. Kemp and wife,
from Oglethorpe, and Mrs. G. W. Co¬
ram, of Bluffton, were present at the
wedding. both Mrs. Kemp and Mrs. Co¬
ram are sisters of the groom.
Among the others present from a dis¬
tance, were Miss Minnie Killingsworth,
Mr. Ed. Sanders and wife, Miss Ma¬
mie Singleton and brother, of Bluffton,
and Miss Alma Keese, of Fort Gaines.
—Cuthbert Leader.
E. E, Turner of Compton, Mo.,
writes us that after suffering he from
piles for seventeen years, complete¬
ly cured them by using three boxes of
DeWitt’s Witch Hazel Salve. It cures
eczema and severe skin diseases. S. F.
C. Hatchett, Fort Gaines, C. A. Lee,
Bluffton.
It is said that Ham Jones, at one of
his meetings in Atlanta, called on all
the men who had never said an un¬
kind word about their wives to stand
up. Two men responded. Then the
evangelist asked all the women who
had never spoken unkindly to their
husbands to rise. Six stood. “Hit
down!” shouted Jones. “Now 1 want
the congregation to pray for these
liars!”
J^p^Ladies, don’t fail to call on Mrs.
Ann Brown before you buy your
spring hat. She has a beautiful line
and will -.avc you money.
THE GRAND JURY.
GENERAL PRESENTMENTS FOR THE
MARCH TERM, 1897.
An I lire re* ting Paper tioticcraiuir
Affair* of the County in which
t'oa Are Interested,
We, the Grand Jurors chosen and
sworn for the March term, 1897, of
Clay superior court, respectfully ’ sub-
mit the following general present¬
ments:
Through proper committees we have
made diligent inquiry into the con¬
dition of the hooks of the various
county officers, public buildings of t he
county, tiic roads and bridges and all
other matters entrusted to our keeping.
We hare examined the records and
dockets of the clerk of superior court
and report them correctly and ueatly
kept.
Our Ordinary’s hooks are found to
he neatly sud correctly kept, all bonds
properly filed, with good security.
The books of our Treasurer wo find
neatly and correctly kept, and proper
vouchers for all amounts paid out.
We find as follows:
Feti’y., March 1 1897. Balance on hand,. (ts 185 30
1 Collected of IV.
R. Harrison. T. C............ 189 05
Mari 1 b 1 Net amount of Note
to Bauk of Fort Gaines 1,028 26
$ 1,402 HI
Paid out as per Vouchers........ 1,284 21
March 161897. Balance on hand,$ 118 40
The books of our county court were
carefully examined and all cases were
found properly docketed and records
carefully The dockets kept. of Sheriff and Jus¬
our
tices of the Peace, were all found lobe
.correctly and neatly kept.
The hooks of our county school com¬
missioner Were examined and found
to be correct, with proper vouchers,
showing a balance on hand of #.'M8.50.
We examined the report of our Tax
Collector, with list of defaulters,which
we find correct.
# public 'buildings
We find that onr
are all in good condition, except valleys that
there are a few leaks in the on
the roof of the jail, and we have instruct
our county commissioners to the
repairs made, also before cold Weather
to have another Kerosene heater placed
in jail, also to have the floor on the
balcony in front of the court house re¬
placed with a new one, and the decay¬
ed balisters replaced. We also recom¬
mend that our board of county com¬
missioners have court house at Days
Cross ltoads repaired, and also the fol¬
lowing bridges: The Sandy, Magruder bridge,
bridge across Little Colomokeo
bridge at J. C. Neves, bridge at Upper the
Cain old mill, also bridge across
Flat Creek.
We also instruct our county commis¬
sioners to purchase a book case with
glass doors suitable to hold the su¬
preme court reports and acts of the
Irgislaturo and a nice table for the
clerk’s office, a suitable case and table
for the ordinary’s office, a suitable case
with glass doors for the offices of judge
of county court and sheriff for the pur¬
pose of holding their legal documents.
We find our roads in reasonably
good condition throughout our county.
We recommend that our county com¬
missioners provide funds to meet the
expenses of 1his court.
We find that in the offices of sheriff,
ordinary, clerk of superior court and
judge of the county court there sire no
records containing a list of county
property. We further find flint our
sheriff does not keep an execution
docket, and that his copies of papers
containing legal advertisements have
not been bound as required by law.
We find that clerk of superior court has
no illegality docket and that Ids files
of the county paper are not bound as
required by law, and also our ordina¬
ry’s files of paper are not bound.
We recommend that jurors and bail¬
iff* be paid £2 per day and that riding
bailiffs he paid S3 per dav.
In view of the fact that so much land
has disappeared from the state of Geor¬
gia and it is claimed that property is ;
often given in at an amount that is be¬
low its true valuation, we urge our
worthy tax receiver to carefully carry
out the law in receiving tax returns,
We have also app<3#nted a committee II. Mc¬
consisting of J. C. Neves, N.
Lendon, W. A. Coleman, W. T. Ham¬
mock, J. C. Kiilobrcw. J A
SUBSCRIPTION $1 PER ANNUM.
NUMBER 11
and John T. Jones to examine the tax
books of 1897 as soon sis completed,
and iu ff they find any property not given
for taxation to report such to our
tax collector, and If they find any
property given in at too low a valuation
to make such report to the grand jury
of our county. We recommend that
this committee be paid $2 per day for
the days actually served.
It has come to our notice that the
road commissioners of Clay county
have failed to perform their duties as
such, and each is hereby returned aud
presented and indicted for neglect of
duty in the following particulars: That
they have failed and neglected to have
provided mile posts and sign boards
upon the public roads as the law di¬
rects.
Whereas, Perry Williams was con*
victed at the Mach term, 1890, of Clay
der superior court, charged with the mur¬
of Abe Bee and sentenced for lifp,
and
Whereas, It appearing to the grand
jury that said Ferry Williams did not
do the killing as charged, but that one
Lewis llazely was guilty’of said crime,
and it further appearing to the grand
jury that the witnesses for the state,
when now assert testified that they were mistaken
they in said case, that
they now assert publicly that Ferry
Williams was not guilty of said killing
and had nothing whatevet. to do with
it, be it
Resolved, That in view of the above
stated facts that Ilis Excellency, Gov¬
ernor W. Y. Atkinson, he requested
to pardon the said Ferry Williams.
We desire to compliment our coun-
ty on the evident decrease of crime in
our midst, as evidenced by our inves¬
tigations.
To ids honor, Judge It. 0. Sheffield,
we return our thanks for Ins aide
charge and congratulate which nim upon the
able manner in he discharges
the duties devolving upon him.
To Solicitor-General John 11. Irwin,
we return thanks for his able assist¬
ance and courteous treatment shown
(lUr body.
We recommend that these present-.
meats ho published in the Fort Guinea
Sentinel. ’
All of which wo respectfully submit.
Eiiuknk Pktkkson, Foreman.
F. E. Guest, Sec’y.
G E< )IIG I A—Clay County:
The above ana foregoing general
prcntmcnlH read in open court, and it
is ordered that the recommendations
therein be carried out; it is ordered
that the same be spread on the minutes
ofthccourt. This March 19th, 1897.
II. C. Sheffield,
Jno. R. Iuwin, J. S. C. F. C.
Solicitor-General.
I.Oftt,
My setter dog, color white and red
speckle with tail head and ears, shaggy
hair and long bushy tail nearly white.
A suitable reward will be pax) for his
delivery to me or to the J. Sentinel West.
office. W.
£?Jf :s ’Spring Millinery 1 Spring Mil¬
linery! A nice assortment at bottom
prices. Mns. Ann Brown.
LUMfiEfi!
Great Stack
Of Lumber!
At out mill two miles west of Fort Gaines,
on the Eut'aula road, you all can kinds be supplied
with first-cluse lumber of
AT LOW PRICES.
Yom- patronage will W. bo upprdciated. Holley’s Orders and
may be left at A. store,
wilt be promptly filled.
McHEA BItOS.
And Duke ,
He Buys Hides!
For which He Pays
The Highest Markat Price.
Don’t fail to see him before disposing
of yours. He pays cash.
I will Sell You
Choice Reef
And other fresh meats at the
lowest prices and will treat
you right every time.
L. A. DUKE.