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A Southern
Newspaper for
Southern People
FORTY-FIRST YEAR.—NO. 46.
PRESIDENT IS GIVEN GREAT RECEPTION AT BOSTON
SOLDIER NOT TO
OVERTURN LAWS,
GRAND JURY IS
TOLD BY JUDGE
War Has Increased Respect for Au
thority, Judge Littlejohn
Says in Charge
That the soldiers who have fought
in France are not coining home to
"open things up”, as has been said
on many sides, but will come home
with a broader vision, a greater sense
of justice, and more respect for law
and order, is the opinion of Judge
H. A. Littlejgjin, of the Superior court,
assembled at the special term which
began this morning.
Judge Littlejohn was impressing
upon the grand jurors the solemnity of
their oaths and their duties in ferret
ing out crime of every character,
epecially the smaller offenses, and
those which do not usually have pros
eucting witnesses.
“We hear a great deal,” he said “of
the soldiers coming home from the
great war to ‘open things up.’ I don’t
believe they are going to do any thing,
of that sort. I do not believe these
boys during their absence have stray
ed that far away from their mothers’
religion.
“These boys are coming home with
broader visions, with new and strong
er ideals of justice and fair dealing
between men— that will be one of the
hundred benefits to mankind thpt will
come out of the war. They are com
ing home stimulated in thought and
ideals; they are not coming back to
change the churches and alter the af
fairs of the country.
“But they are coming home imbued
with the idea that every man, regard
less of his position in life, is entitled
to a square deal. The chief things
they have leared in the army, instead
of contempt for things as they exist
at home, are the value of discipline
an ragpect for constituted authority
and measuring up to the requirements
of the government. There is where
the change will be in these men, if
any change at all is to be noticec.--
The grand jury began deliberations
at 10 o’clock this morning after hav
ing been sworn in and being charged.
The grand jury is composed of 23 men,
13 of the 36 originally drawn having
been excused for sickness or other
cause. Following is the personnel: J.
J. Bennett, Rev. Geo. F. Brown, Lasco
Harvey, C. F. Giddings, L. D. Wise, W.
G. Turpin, A. J. Harris, G. A. Dea
vours, J. H. Statham, B. F. Easterlin.
G .E. Buchanan, C. S. S. Horne, W. Ho
mer Wade, W. T. Anderson. B. T. John
son, J. H. Myers, J. D. Williams, L. E.
Jennings, E. R. Chappell, O. L. Dixon,
W. S. Moore, W. P. Thomas, iG. W. Is
rael.
W. S. Moore, of Plains, former coun
ty school commissioner, was chosen
foreman. John L. Peek, who has held
the position for years, was elected
bailiff.
Judge Littlejohn's charge, which
consumed half an hour, dealt mostly
with the legal aspects of the duties of
the grand jury. He made little refer
ence to special matters for their con
sideration, only calling attention to the
prohibition laws of the state, under
which the jury can interrogate wit
nesses without definite charges having
been made against offenders, as is re- ;
quired in other offenses, and to the :
gaming law, which, he mentioned
herely as an example, and not as a ■
specific matter requiring attention.
He appealed especially to the grand
jury to investigate small offenses thor
oughly.
He appealed especially to the grand
jury to investigate small offenses
thoroughly.
“The peace and contentment of the
community does not come from the en
forcement of the laws against the
higher crimes,” said he, "but from the
enforcement of the laws against mis
demeanors.
Judge Littlejohn then appealed to
the grand jury to act with aboslute
fairness and impartiality in investigat
(Continued on Last Page.)
THEfiK&WCORDER
PUBLISHED IN THE HEART OF DIXIE,
j New American
Envoy to France <
i Wilson’s Friend \
jQ
By wireless from the U. S. S. George
Washington, the President named
Hugh C. Wallace, of Tacoma, as am
bassador to France to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of W’m.
Graves Sharp. Mr. Wallace is a close
friend of Mr. Wilson and is fifty-six
years old. Copyright. Underwood &
Underwood.
SOUTHER FIELD
PASSES OUT OF
INACTIVEPERIOD
The Times-Recorder Tuesday will
contain another interesting article on
the development of the air service as
far as it relates to Americus. Studying
the information, the inference drawn
is that Americus has passed out of its
aerial winter quarters and is rapidly
being placed on the active aerial map
of the United States.
“Said a prominent officer in the air
service here today:
“The shipping of a large number of
propellers to New York from the
Aviation General Supply Depot here,
as announced in The Times-Recorder
Sunday, is an indication of progress
being made in the air service and the
probability of a general trans-conti
nental service soon to be established.
‘‘The giant/ Handley-Page airship
taking this route to Texas shows the
importance of Americus as a stopping
point. The large number of flying of
ficers retained here is another straw,
and words dropped now and then by
the wise ones indicate the probability
of Souther Field being recognized as
an important station of the New York-
California-Havana routes.
“To maintain a successful trans-con
tinental route spare planes must be
maintained here and kept in good or
der for immediate use; also skilled
flyers. When established, it is quite
probable that each pilot will have a
certain route to cover in the nature
of a “run,” just like the railroad engi
neers. One man on the New York-
Washington division; another on the
Washington-Columbia section; another
on the Columbia-Americus line; an
other on the Americus-Mobile line and
in this way dividing up the country
into feasible runs and familiarizing
each man with his section, so that he
would have no difficulty covering it,
day or night.
“Americus is fast making history
now days, said one of the attaches of
the big airship.”
Ex-President Taft’s
‘Aunt Delia’ is Dead
MILBURY, Mass., Feb. 24.—Miss
Dellia Chapin Torrey, aunt of former
President Taft and who was much in
the limelight during his administration
as “Aunt Delia,” died here last night.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA. MONDAY AFTERiNOON, FEBRUARY 24, 1919
MRS. ABBOTT IS
SENTENCED TO
PRISON TERM
OF TEN YEARS
Half Maximum Penalty for Man
slaughter Imposed on Slayer
of Husband
ATLANTA, Feb. 24.—Ten years in
prison was the sentence Imposed this
morning on Mrs. John Abbott, wife of
“Daredevil Johnny” Abbott, whom she
killed, by Judge Humphries, in the
Fulton Superior court.
The sentence, which was half the
maximum penalty for voluntary man
slaughter, of which she was convicted
Sunday afternoon, was passed at 9
o’clock. Notice of a motion for a new
trial had already been made by Mrs.
«
Abbott's counsel.
The verdict was reached Sunday af
ter nearly 22 hours' deliveration. It
was 1 o'clock before was
led into the court room. She was sup
ported on one side by her father, L. H.
Fenn, and on the other by her friend,
Mrs. M. A. Rives, and was accompan
ied by her two boys.
The woman was in a state of utter
prostration. She moaned as she was
placed in her chair, “Oh, God, protect
me ” Then a second later she said in
a voice so faint as to be inaudible
thre’e feet away: “I’m so cold.”
Her father and Mrs. Rives began
vigorously rubbing her colorless
hands.
Solicitor Boykin took the paper from
the jury foreman and proceeded to
read it aloud.
A sob broke from Mrs. Abbott's old
est son. Henry Abbott. Handkerchiefs
went to the eyes of all the women at
tendants of Mrs. Abbott.
The central figure in the drama gave
no outward sign of understanding.
The action of the jury closed the
first legal chapter of the sensational
killing of “Daredevil” Johnny Abbott
at his home on the night of January
27, the shooting being immediately fol
lowed by some of the most startling
developments that have ever come to
light in Atlanta.
First of these was the arrest of Mary
Powers of 95 Luckie street, on the
night of the killing of Abbott and her
confession of relations for the past
several years with the fire car pilot.
Only a short time later, on Febru
ary ,3 the body of Mrs. Hal M. Gil
bert. wife of a well known automobile
man, was discovered lying on Abbott's
grave, her head buried in a handker
chief saturated with chloroform and a
pistol clutched tightly in the other.
The suicide of Mrs. Gilbert on Ab
bott’s grave and with a wreath of
flowers near her head that had just
been placed on the grave by Mary
Powers, heightened the already city
wide interest in the sensational case,
and the court room was constantly
packed with a curious throng of men
and women throughout Mrs. Abbott’s
trial.
No indictment was returned by the
grand jury against Mary Powers, and
she was released from custody after
being held at the city police station for
several days.
In CC) [ TON . J
LOCAL SPOT.
Good Middling, 25 l-4c.
NEW YORK FUTURES.
Prev. Low
Close Open High Close
March 23.22 23.14 23.15 22.38
May 22.20 22.15 22.17 21.67
July 21.43 21.35 21.47 20.98
October 20.18 20.30 20.27 19.78
The “bottom” fell out of the cotton
market again today, after two days of
closing on the exchanges. March op
tion lost 84 points on the New York
exchange during the day, and other
months suffered in proportion. At no
time during the day was the quotation
as high as at the previous close, and
the closing figure was tow for the day.
EARLY PEACE IN
SIGHT, IS BELIEF,
AS DIPLOMATS
SPEEDUP WORK
New Activity About World Conference
in Paris, Giving Hope of
Quick Action
PARIS, Feb. 24. — (By Associated
Press.) —The atmosphere around the
peace conference changed remarkably
during the last few days. The delib
eration and caution which marked the
proceedings of the important commis
sions has given way, even the more
conservative delegates being carried
forward at a great pace. Talk of early
peace has become general.
• Disagree on Hun Warships.
PARIS. Feb. 24.—(8y Associated
Press.) —While the Supreme War
council has not discussed the disposi
tion of the surrendered German war
ships, naval experts of the council
have studied the subject. British and
American officers agree that the
proper solution would be to sink them
in deep water. The French and Ital
ians do not take this view, and if the
expert do not soon reach an agree
ment the matter will be taken directly
to the Supreme War council.
4 Given Fines Under
Prohibition Laws
The city court added $l9O in fines
to the wealth of the county today
when Judge Harper received pleas of
guilty from two white men and two
colored, on charges of violating the
prohibition laws. The men were all
arrested Saturday night by Officers
Lee and Megahee. of the city police
department.
Chas. Gannnage and Wm. E. Twe
dell, white, were arrested at the Sea
board station, together with Jack Twe
dell. The officers stated that they
found a quart of liquor on Gammage
and a pint on W. T. Twedell. Both
men entered pleas of guilty of having
liquor in their possession and were
fined $35 each. No liquor was foifnd
on Jack Twedell. The three were fin
ed $7.50 in recorder’s court during the
morning on charges of disorderly con
duct, forfeiting cash bonds of that
amount.
The two negroes fined in city court
were Willie Cook, who was caught oh
Cotton avenue, just after he had
bought a half pint of liquor from Ru
fus Allen. Cook was assessed S4O and
Allen SBO. \
J..
Only One Building of
Yanks’ Camp Bums
PARIS, Feb. 24. —(By Associated
Press.)—Only one building of the
American camp at Is-Sur-Tille and not
the whole cantonment, was destroyed
by fire Saturday, says a later Havas
dispatch.
The loss is estimated at more than a
million francs.
HANDSOME MASONIC EMBLEM
PRESENTED DR. STATHAM
Dr. J. R. Statham is exhibiting to
his friends a handsome past master’s,
emblem presented him by Masons of
M. B. Council Lodge, No. 95, on the
occasion of his retiring from the post
of worshipful master, which he held
during the years 1917-18. The em
blem, which is in the shape of a
watch fob is engraved “To J. S. Sta-1
tham, from M. B. Council Lodge, No.
95, F. & A. M. Warshipful Master,
1917-1918.”
AFGHAN AMIR MURDERER.
LONDON, Feb. 24.—(8y Associated
ed Press.) —Habibullah Khan, Amir of
Afghanistan, was murdered on Febru
ary 20, according to official announce
ment here today.
Grand Jury and
Board Call for
Extra Session
The board of commissioners of Sum
ter county today added its endorse
ment to the movement for a special
session of the Georgia legislature for
the purpose of enacting highway legis
lation, when the following telegram
was sent to Governor Dorsey by N. A.
Ray, chairman:
“Gov. Hugh M. Dorsey, Atlanta:
Commissioners Roads and Revenues
[ Sumter county vote unanimously to re
quest that you will call extra* session
legislature to enact highway legisla
tion at earliest practicable date. We
consider this is in interest of every
citizen of Georgia. N. A. Ray, Chair
man.”
A number of the leading citizens of
Americus and Sumter county have
sent Governor Dorsey telegrams with
in the last few days urging that he call
a special session to give the good
roads problem attention, and the
Chamber of Commerce only last week
forwarded resolutions to him advocat
ing the session. A nearly decision is
expected following a hearing which
the governor will give the advocates
of the special session in Atlanta to
morrow.
The following telegram from the
grand jury was also sent to Governor
Dorsey this afternoon:
“Sumter County Grand Jury now in
session unanimously requests that
special session Legislature be called
to consider highway legislation. W. S.
Moore, Foreman.”
24 SPANIARDS
HELD FOR PLOT
TO KILL WILSON
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—(8y Asso
ciated Press.)—Federal attorneys and
secret service men today were exam
ining personal effects of fourteen
Spaniards, members of the Industrial
Workers of the World, who, were ar
rested here yesterday on suspicion
that two of their number were con
cerned in a plot to attempt to take
the life of President Wilson on land
ing at Boston.
The police said no weapon was found
on any of the men.
10 Held in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Feb. 24.—(8y
Associated Press.) —Ten men were ar
rested here early today, suspected of
being implicated in the New York plot
to assassinate President Wilson. All
are Spaniards, and nine of them aliens.
They were rounded up shortly after
the raid by the police in New York.
Nuremburg Scene
of Street Fighting
LONDON, Feb. 22.—(8y Associated
Press.) —Spartacan riots have taken
place in Nuremberg, Bavaria, where
the prisons have been opened, and
street fighting is in progress, accord
ing to an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Copenhagen today.
COUNTY REQUARANTINE;
STOPPED FIGHT ON TICK
WASHINGTON, February 24.—1 n
acordance with an order signed by the
Secretary of Agriculture the Federal
quarantine against the cattle fever
tick will be replaced March 1, 1919,
on Craven County, North Carolina.
This county was released from quar
antine on December 1, last, but the
county authorities, the department
states, have failed to provide the co
operation necessary to clean up the
small amount of territory! still in
fested.
The replacement of. the quarantine
means that interstate movement of
cattle from Craven County may be
made only in accordance with the reg
ulaions of the Secretary of Agricul
ture to prevent the spread of cattle
fever, which is carried by the tick.
HOME
EDITION
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
HOME GREETING
EQUAL TO BEST
EXTENDED HIM
DURINGABSENCE
Executive Sprightly and Alert as He
Lands on American Soil
Again
THRONG LINES STREETSjTWO
MILES TO SEE U. S. CHIEF
Leaves for Washington Shortly After
Historic Speech to Boston
Audience
BOSTON, Feb. 24. (By Associated
Press.) —President Wilson was the
guest of Boston today. Thousands of
people from all parts of New Eng
land arrived on early trains to join
the welcoming throngs.
The transport George Washington,
carrying the President, cropped an
chor at quarantine shortly after dark
last night.
Recognition of the international
character of the President’s recent ac
tivities was shown in the frequent dis
play throughout the city of the flags
of the nations allied with the United
States in the war.
The President after speaking at
Mechanic Hall at 2:30 o’clock, was to
start for Washington at 4,: 30 p. m.
The President landed at the Com
monwealth pier at 11:42 a. m., but
long before the hour set for the parade
crowds had assembled on the streets.
The former coast guard cutter Us
sippee, carrying the official greeting
party, including Mayor Peters and
Maj. Gen. Clarence Edwards, was the
leader of the welcoming flotilla. Six
other steamers were loaded with Bos
tonians and residents of the Metropol
itan district. The fleet proceeded up
the harbor with bands playing and
colors flying.
The President appeared vigorous
and alart, his step was brisk and his
features showed more than a trace of
sea tan as he stepped ashore.
Less Gian half an hour was consum
ed by greetings.
The Presidential party then entered
automobiles, and the parade began
The streets were lined throughout two
miles with double ranks of soldiers
and sailors, banked with cheering
thousands of civilians.
The President’s reception was char
acterised by those who traveled with
him through Europe as being fully as
demonstrative as any he had had in
England, France or Italy.
SUFFRAGISTS ARRESTED.
BOSTON, Feb. 24.—(8y Associated
Press.) —Twenty-two women, members
of the National Women’s party, carry
ing suffrage banners, were arrested in
front of the state house today when
they refused to obey orders of the po
lice to move on. One woman had to
be lifted bodily into the patrol wagon.
Lloyd George Fears
British Civil Strife
LONDON, Feb. 24.—(8y Associated
Press.) —The United Kingdom is faced
with the prospect of civil strife and
the house of commons should do ev
erything in its power to avert it,
Premier Lloyd-George declared today,
in introducing a bill to constitute a
committee to inquire into conditions
prevailing in the coal industry.
For Georgian-Cloudy tonight and
Tuesday; probably local rain and
warmer tonight in central and north
west portions; slightly warmer Tues
day in interior.