Newspaper Page Text
The Douglas Enterpri^
anil slif (Eoffff <E6im»? Irlua /
VOLUME XXXVIII, NUMBER 22
George, Holder, Talraadge, Thrash Carry Coffee; Vickers, Moore, Meeks Win
GRAND JURY HEBE
10 BATE
RECENT LYNCHING
CONVENED MONDAY, ADJOURN
ED FOR ELECTION DAY. MAJ
OR BROWN HAS BEEN DETAIN
ED AND TAKEN TO WAYCROSS
JAIL. STILL IN SESSION.
Judge Harry D. Reed of the Way
cross judicial circuit, reconvened the
grand jui'y drawn for the March term
which had not been discharged, for
the purpose of investigating the lynch
ing of Dave Wright a white man, who
was taken out of Coffee county jail
last Monday morning between 1 and 2
o’clock.
Moses Griffin is foreman of the
grand jury. Judge Reed recharged
the regular panel, together with a
number talis grand jurors who were
drawn last week. He pointed out to
the grand jury in his charge the aw
fulness of the effect of the lynching
upon the county, state and nation, and
instructed the jurors to ttiake diligent
inquiry and such presentments as they
found the facts justified, and urged the
citizens to co-operate with the grand
jury to bring about the proper appre
hension and punishment of the guilty
ones. He also urged the officers, to be
diligent to uphold the law.
Judge Reed called the grand jury’s
attention to the fact that the killing
of Mrs. Zilphie Rollins by Dave
Wright for whose murder Dave
Wright was lynched grew out of a vio
lation of the prohibition laws and the
lack of a proper enforcement thereof,
and urged that this law also be en
forced in Coffee county.
Judge Reed read to the grand jury
an editorial from The Savannah Morn
ing News and another editorial from
The Atlanta Constitution commenting
on the Dave Wright lynching and ex
plained to the jury why and how
lynchings hurt the county and state.
He also read to the jury an unsigned
letter mailed to him from Helena, Ga.,
advising the judge that he was in
Douglas last Friday and saw a man in
Douglas who knows every man involy
ed in the lynching, and criticised the
judge for not calling a special session
of court to try Dave Wright, and sign
ed his name as a man for enforcement
of law.
Judge Reed expressed his utter con
tempt for this man or any other man
who gnows facts Find criticises the
courts, but did not have the courage
to sign his name to the leter or give
the name of he man who, he said,
knows all he men who participated in
the lynching.
Judge Reed’s charge was clear-cut
for the enforcement of the law and the
apprehension and punishment of the
guilty parties, and he will remain in
Douglas with the grand jury, and So
licitor Allen B. Spence will have
charge of the grand jury as legal ad
viser, and he will leave no stone un
turned to vindicate the law.
Witnesses who will probably first
be called before the grand jury are
Sheriff W. M. Tanner, his wife and
daughter, Policemen Shaw and Mills
of Douglas, and Sherig D. L. Evans
and his deputy of Jeff Davis county,
and perhaps some of the prisoners in
jail at the time Wright was taken out.
The opinion generally prevails that
evidence is at hand and will be pro
duced indentifying a number of the
men who were in the lynching party
and that the grand jury will be able
to return indictments against members
of the masked crowd which killed
Dave Wrigh.
The citizens of Coffee county and
officers seem to be zealous for the en
forcement of the law. Late this af
ternoon it was learned that the grand
jury had summoned a great many wit
nesses for tomorrow. The coroner’s
jury and coroner which started an in
quest over the body of Dave Wright,
but never finished the inquest, will be
summoned as witnesses. The good
i citizens of Coffee county are confident
ly expecting results from this grand
jury-
Maj. Brown indicted late Tuesday
by the CofFee county grand jury as
being a member of the party that
lynched Dave Wright here Aug. 30
after taking him from the Coffee
county jail, was arrested and taken to
(continued to editorial page)
c CT/»e (Enterprise ‘Pulisbhes the Legal jddvertising of the City of Douglas, Coffee County and Countv Commissioners
Wins House Seat
PROF. J. M. THRASH
HON. B. B. GRAY DIED
A! HOME MONDAY
Mr. B. B. Gray died at his home in
Pine Bloom Monday morning at six
o’clock, after a long illness.
His remains were buried at the
Willacocchee cemetery on Tuesday af
ternoon at two o’clock, the ceremonies
being conducted at the graveyard by
Rev. T. B. Stanford of Douglas and
P. C. Gardner of Willacoochee, con
cluded by the Masonic rites by the
Willacoochee lodge of which he was a
prominent member.
Benjamine Benson Gray was born in
Gray Station, Herkermer County, N.
Y., seventy-eight years ago, moved to
Georgia with his father Henry P.
Gray, when he was seven years of age
amU settled at Brunswick, afterward
to a point on the old Brunswick and
Albany Railroad, now Coast Line, near
Mihvood, and thence to Pine
where he operated sawmills for forty
years prior to his death.
Mr. Gray was also a pioneer rail
road builder in this country, having
built the Georgia and Florida railroad
from Satilla River to Nashville, as
well as several other lines which op
erated for a while, but finally were
abandoned. He sold the segment of
the Georgia & Florida which he built
when that company was organized
and this sale left him a rich man in
that day, he being worth at that time
nearly a million dollars. He immed
iately commenced the construction of
other lines which he could not com
mercialize and in which he lost most
of his fortune.
In his twenties, he married Miss
Ellon Furlong:, formerly of Louisiana,
and to them thirteen children were
born, nine of whom are living—E. F.,
Henry P. and John W. Gray of Pine
Bloom, Ga.. B. W. Gray and Mrs. J.
L. Cochran of Douglas, Mrs. E. C.
Henderson and Dr. George Cray of
Willacoochee, Mrs. Ed. Bullard of
South Carolina and Mr. Fred Gray of
Texas. Mr. Gray’s wife survives him,
also one brother Charles F. Gray of
Jacksonville and a sister Mrs. Hettie
Boykin, of Colorado.
He was a member of the Methodist
church and a thoroughly good man.
He was generous to a fault and his
whole soul was wrapped up in the de
velopment of this section. He em
ployed thousands of men in his day
and one of the pathetic scenes at his
funeral was a long line of aged colored
men and women who were given the
opportunity to tile past his bier, most
of them weeping, as they looked for
the last time in the face of the man
who had done so many kind deeds for
them.
One old negro said as he passed
along, “I have worked for many a
man in my, day, but he \vas the best
one of all.”
Among the young ladies of the city
who expect to leave within the next
few days for college are, Misses Mil
dred Woodard, Melva Coffee, Vera
Sapp, Agnes Davis, Rose Harris, and
Mary Alice McEachern, o G. S. C. W„
at Milledgeville; Miss Ethel Dent to
S. G. C. W., at Valdosta; Miss Carolyn
Deen to Wesleyan, at Macon; Miss
Eunice Dixon to Converse College, at
Spartanburg, S. C.; Miss Marjorie
Frier to Bessie Tift, at Forsyth; and
Miss Edwina Preston to Andrew, at
Cuthbert.
THE DOUGLAS ENTERPRISE, DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, SEPT. 10, 1926.
TABULATED RETURNS OF
COFFEE COUNTY PRIMARY
CANDIDATES
For U. S. Senator
WALTER F. GEORGE *142 125|5t>, 173j781273j255 1102
RICHARD B. RUSSELL j 17,102 7.j 57(14,129 14!) 475
For Governor
GEORGE H. CARSWELL 100: io 9|116i45| 87I10G 473
L. G. HARDEMAN . 12; 24 2 33! 7 137 106 321
JOHN N. HOLDER ' 481206155 96 40 175 185 805
J. O. WOOD 5| 8| | 6: 5| 251 27 76
For Attorney General
J. HERMAN MILNER 30,116.10! 93 57 148 142; 596
GEORGE M. NAPIER 132115 39 139 24 250j249 948
For Commissioner of Agriculture
J. J. BROWN 1 26 74 81 80 58154 150 550
EUGENE TALMADGE i 139 173*54 162:59 268 267 1122
. I ill : j I
For State School Superintendent
N. H. BALLARD j 54, 86,21 115jl8 164 199; 657
FORT E. LAND 110 162 42 12:U84 j 255;214 990
For Commissioner of Pensions
W. SAM ASKEW |<lo6j 33j 7j 66|10 61, 70 353
JOHN W. CLARK | 56 192,41 162 61 332104 1148
For Public Service Commissioner
W. R. FRIER 127 200 57 180 88 350 3481350
A. J. WOODRUFF | 35 361 5 43 11 60; 56 246
For Public Service Commissioner
G. W. LANKFORD 61 126 10 52,50180187. 666
CALVIN W. PARKER |lO4 117 53|197 51 252 239 1013
For Associate Justice Supreme Court
R. EVE | 59,142:56150 26 240 208. 881
JAMES K. HINES 101 80 6 7210 153 159 611
For Judge Court of Appeals
J. P. HIGHSMITH 122176 25176 72|215;247 1076
ALEX W. STEPHENS j 42; 59;27| 64 16|140 172 520
For Representative
E. L. GRANTHAM jllo| 61 |l4i 116|74(231 1214 820
J. M. THRASH | 59 201 53J151 41 226 243 974
For County Commissioner
JOHN McKINNION 1 6 96,104' 206
LEWIS VICKERS ' 60 362 360! 782
A. J. MEEKS , 206 48 | 254
JOHN TANNER 61 76 137
P. L. MOORE |76 253 . 329
A. R. BORDEAUX \ 91 13 , 104
The following County Executive Committeemen were also elected:
Douglas District: J. H. Peterson and E. R. Cross.
Broxton District: F. M. Merritt and J. J. Lott.
Bridgetown District: J. S. Wilkerson and Y. G. Harper.
Nicholls District: D. Kirkland and Jesse Meeks.
West Green District: J. C. Ellis and B. T. Burkette.
Ambrose District: T. h. Brown and Arthur Vickers.
County at Large: John S. Gibson.
DEFUNCT BANK DE
POSITORS IQ MEET
On Friday of last week, the deposi
tors of the twenty Georgia State
Banks scattered throughout the state
met through their representatives with
the State Banking Department in At
lanta persuant to arriving at some
mutual agreement with respect to
severing each branch unto itself and
then caring for its own destiny.
As a result of this conference, these
branches accepted the Banking De
partments’ offer to sever and to take
over each of their respective assets
and liaiblities. In order to do this,
however there must be consti
tuted receivership to receive the de
livery of the assets and liabilities
represented by the depositors of each
branch. In preparation to take over
for the depositors of the branch Geor
gia State Bank at Douglas, the con
ditions laid down by the State Bank
ing Department are that a committee
of three named by the depositors here
is called meeting and represented by
80 per cent of these depositors signa
ture to a request on the department to
deliver this branch to such committee
so constituted by our depositors and
on behalf of the depositors here.
Looking to this disposition and in
order to save for the depositors of
the Douglas branch, a meeting has
been called for all depositors in the
Georgia State Bank at Douglas, and
this will be at the court house at
Douglas on Saturday morning, Sept.
11th, at 10 o’clock. As we must ex
press our desire and contract with the
State Department of Banking on Sept.
15, it is urged on every depositor to
be present at this meeting Saturday
morning.
T. A. Mitchell,
A. D. Blackshear,
B. Rigell,
L. El. Heath,
W. H. Bone, Jr.,
Members of Depositors’ Committee.
Ambrose •
Broxton
Bridgetown
Nicholls
West Green
Douglas — 1
Douglas — 2
TOTAL
X. C. BARDIN, FORMER
DOUGLAS MAN, DIES
News reached Douglas of the sud
den death of Mr. H. C. Bardin, who
died early Tuesday morning in Ashe
ville, N. C., where he had been located
for several weeks. He died of an at
tacg of apoplexy which came without
tack of apoplexy which came without
The funeral will take place in this
city Saturday morning at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Horton Christopher
at 10 o’clock, and will be conducted by
Rev. T. B. Stanford. The burial will
follow at the city cemetery.
Mr. Bardin was 69 years old at the
time of his death. He had been a
resident of Asheville for two years,
however during that time, spent a
part of it here. He was a former resi
dent of Douglas, conducting the New
Douglas Hotel for several years, mov
ing from this city about eight years
ago.
Besides his wife, the deceased is
survived by two children, Mrs, Horton
Christopher, of this city, and Dr.
James Bardin, of Charlottsville, Va.,
as well as a host of friends in this
city and section.
MOBLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
VOTES BONDS 36 TO 2
A school bond election was held last
Tuesday in the Mobley School district,
the election carrying for bonds by a
vote of 36 to 2. As soon as the bonds
can be validated, they will be sold. A
new modern school building will be
erected.
NEW AUTO TOP AND TRIM
MING SHOP TO OPEN
Mr. W. K. Millsapp who has re
cently come to Douglas, is opening up
a new Auto Top & Trimming Shop on
South Peterson Aye. As soon as he
can locate a residence, he expects to
move his family to this city.
Will Be In R unover
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HON. JOHN N. HOLDER
G. & F. RY. APPLIES
FOR NEW CHARTER
Legal notice was given here today
of intention to apply to S. G. McLen
don, secretary of state, for a charter
creating the Georgia & Florida Rail
road, which is to succeed the present
Georgia & Florida Railway now in
receivership.
This notice is signed by John Skel
ton Williams of Richmond, Va., S.
Lancaster Williams, Baltimore; H. W.
Purvis, Augusta; Brice Clagett, Los
Angeles, Cal.; James M. Hull, Jr..
Augusta; F’rancis H. Weston, Colum
bia, S. C.; E. J. Harris, Madison, Fla.;
J. W. Quincey, Douglas; John F. Lewis
Valdosta; Thomas J, Hamilton, Au
gusta; John S. Williams, Jr., Rich
mond, and M. T. Lannigan, Augusta.
This step follows the announcement
by John Skelton Williams from New
York last week that plans had been
completed for reorganization of the
Georgia & Florida. The road as at
present constructed extended from
Valdosta to Madison. Fla., and from
this city to Augusta, Ga., and the
notice states that plans have been per
fected to extend immediately from
Augusta to Greenwood, S. C., where
important connections will be made
with the Piedmont Northern Railway.
The whole plan is to make the newly
organized Georgia & Florida Railroad
an important through trunk line. In
addition to the main line, there are
branch lines known as the Tennille
branch of 57 miles; Statesboro branch,
thirty-nine miles; Millen branch, fifty
four miles; Relee or Broxton branch,
seventeen miles; Moultrie branch, thir
ty-two miles, and Adel branch, three
miles.
The new company will have 100
shares of stock of which fifty will be
six per cent, preferred of par value of
SIOO, and fifty shares common stock
without par value, with the right to
increase shares up to 190,000 shares,
to which 90,000 will be six per cent,
preferred and the remainder non par
value.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TO OB
SERVE ORPHANS HOME DAY
The Methodist Sunday School will
observe Saturday, Sept. 18, as Work
Day for the Orphans Home, and Sun
day, Sept. 19, will be observed as Or
phans Home Day. An interesting
program has been arranged and will
be presented at this time.
This is a question that is near to
the hearts of the people and it is ex
pected that a large sum will be real
ized.
AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Sunday School will meet at 10:15 a.
m. Classes and good teachers for alb
Dr. Minor will teach the Young Men’s
Bible Class.
Preaching 11:30 a. m. and 8:15 p. m.
At the evening hour the pastor will
discuss the subject of “Incomplete
Identification”.
The Unions will meet at 7:15 p. m.
We have good music at all of our
services. You are most cordially in-j
vited to study and worship with us. )
sl-50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
COFFEE GO. PRIMARY
PROVES SPIRITED
THRMOUT DAY
HOLDER AND TALMADGE CARRY
COUNTY. THRASH WINS FOR
HOUSE. VICKERS, MOORE AND
MEEKS WIN OLD PLACES AS
COMMISSIONERS.
The state race on Wednesday con
tained many surprises, as is always
the case. The races for Senator, Gov
ernor, Commissioner of Agriculture,
and Judges of courts, were all spirit
ed.
Senator George carried the state in
a land slide giving his opponent,
Judge Russell, a severe beating.
The race for Governor resulted in
a runover between John N. Holder
and Dr. L. G. Hardman. Carswell
ran third and Wood fourth. The run
over will be on Oct. 6. It seems that
Hardman wins for the lead with Hol
der a close second.
In the race for Commissioner of Ag
riculture, Eugene Talmadge defeated
his opponent, J. J. Brown, by a vote
of about two to one. This was one
of the most talked of races of the
whole campaign and greater interest
in it than in any of the races unless
it was that of Governor.
Judge Hines defeated Judge R. Eve,
and Judge Stephens defeated Judge
Highsmith for the place on the Court
of Appeals. A. J. Woodruff defeated
Frier and the race between Parker and
Lankford for the other place on the
Commission appears to be very close
and in doubt as we go to press. Fort
Land wins, also Clark wins for Pen
sion Commissoner.
LOCAL RACES.
The local races in Coffee county
were very spirited. Prof. Thrash won
over Col. E. L. Grantham by a small
vote. Lewis Vickers received a good
majority over John McKinnon for
Commissioner, P. L. Moore defeated
his opponent, A. R. Bordeaux, by a
big majority, A. J. Meeks won over
'his opponent, John Tanner. The re
sult is that all three of the commis
sioners are returned to their old posts.
The Enterprise publishes on this
page the official tabulated returns of
the county primary, giving the vote
by districts. An examination of this
will acquaint the reader with the en
tire vote as cast over the county.
The largest rattlesnake on record
was brought into town and many peo
ple have looked at it. The huge rat
tler was killed near the farm of Charl
ton Gillis in this county and it has
been adjudged the largest rattler ever
seen here. Mr. Elijah Tanner drove
a truck over the snake, but ho meas
ured eight feet in length and more
than sixteen inches around the largest
part of his body, so the truck did not
kill him. He did not give up the fight
for life until several shots were fired
into his body. Some who saw him
think he is about twenty-five years
old and seemed to enjoy a life of ease
and prosperity, for he weighed sixty
or seventy pounds. A few days be
fore a lve rattler was caught in this
same neighborhood, but very few rat
tlers have been seen in this section
this year.
PETERSON HEADS
POSTAL jfIPLOYEES
More than 400 Postal Employees at
tended the annual meeting of the
South Georgia Postal Employees As
sociation at their annual Convention
held in Moultrie on Monday. The vis
itors were welcomed to Moultrie by
Mayor Bryan and W. J. Vareen for
the Civic Clubs, and the Chamber of
Commerce. E. L. Holson, of Valdosta,
and L. F. Conger, of Tifton, respond
ed.
Most all of the Douglas Employees
attended the convention and report a
most interesting trip.
Peterson Elected President.
Postmaster L. S. Peterson, of this
city, was elected president of the As
sociation at this meeting.
An invitation was extended to the
members to hold their next meeting
in Douglas which was accepted by the
body, and the Convention will be held
here on Labor Day in 1927. Special
arrangements will be made to enter
| tain them while guests in Douglas. ,