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Cotton Market:
Following was ruling
prices here yesterday:
Middling, 9 1-4 cents
Good mid. 9 3-8 cents
VO. 1. No. 1 3
STRANGE THINGS
HAPPENED IN 1866.
In An Almanac of That Date Shows
Several Very Interesting Facts
Of That Time.
We are indebted to our friend, Mr.
IK I A. Bostwick, of the Gum Creek
district, for the use of several old al¬
manac saved by his mother who is at
I p re8 ent 80 years old and is still in the
best of health and who thinks nothing
I of walking a mile or two to visit a
I sick neighbor.
The almanac referred to chronicles
I I the fact that in January of 1866 there
were five phases of the moon and in
I I eluded two full moons. In February
of the same year there were only
I three with no full moon at all. In
I March of the same year there were
I again five phases of the moon with
I I two full ones to its credit. This is
one of the most unusual phencmina
I I and will not occur again, according
to astronomers, in several million
I years. It is not unusual now for the
I moon to have five phases in one cal
I endar month but it never gets full but
I once.
Very few people know of this erra
I tie conduct of the moon and we pub
I fish it with pleasure.
In one of the almanacs of 1848 there
appears a statistical table showing
the condition of each county in Geor¬
gia and we give below the one apply¬
ing to Newton at that time:
Number of polls, 1,267
Number of Slaves, 4,336
Free persons of color, 5
Number of professions, 21
Value of town lots, $97,417
Value of stock in trade, $41,620
Money at interest, $175,721
Number of carriages, 177
Banks, none
Capital invested in factories, $45,000
Amount of taxes paid, $4,115.70
Number of poor children, 481
Educational fund, $418.04.
As will be seen from the above
there has been great strides made in
this county along every line and es¬
pecially in the educational fund.
During that year there were only
five incorporated towns in the state,
Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Milledge
ville and Savannah. The Central
Railroad owned 191 miles of road and
WHAT DO YOU CARE
About the size capital of your bank, whether $40,000.00
or $40,000,000.00 if you know your funds are safe and you
can get accommodations when needed ?
The First National Bank
OFFERS YOU SAFETY.
Vi e are under the direct supervision of the United States
Government and obliged to be safe. OUR POLICY IS to
be conservative, yet progressive, to meet every request of our
patrons that is in keeping with sound banking principles, at¬
tentiveness to our business and courteous treatment to every
one,
CAN YOU ASK MORE?
Our officers and directors are among the most progressive
and conservative business men of this locality and they keep
in touch with the banks’ business.
“UNION IS STHENGTH.”
OFFICERS:
f- L 0 Z - BENTON, ANDERSON, Pres. C. C. ROBINSON, Vice Cashier Pres.
- Vice Pres. R. E. STEPHENSON,
DIRECTORS:
r - C. ROBINSON E. O. LEE N. Z. ANDERSON
C ‘ ( H00KS J. Z. JOHNSON L. O. BENTON
w '' B. R. PENNINGTON BELCHER
C. R. ROGERS A. J.
E. STEPHENSON H. B. ANDERSON
Vi e are not too large for you and you are neither too large
nr too small for us. We invite your business.
First National Bank
Covington, Georgia.
m
DAVIS’ NAbu. TO
BE REPLACED.
President Roosevelt Has Ordered
Jefferson Davis’ Put Back On
Bridge.
One of the things that should be
commended in the president was the
order by him to have the name of
Jefferson Davis again placed on the
stale tablet of Cabin John Bridge.
When Jefferson Davis was secretary
of war in 1957 this bridge, which is
the longest single span bridge in the
country, was built under his direction.
In 1869, upon the order of Caleb Smith
secretary of the interior under Lin¬
coln, the name of the President of the
Confederacy was chiseled off of the
tablet, upon which it had been placed
as a record. Since that time repeated
efforts have been made to have the
name replaced but up to Roosevelt’s
time it was uneessful. A special dis¬
patch to the New York World from
Washington contains the Following:
Cecil A. Lyon, Republican national
committeeman from Texas, is receiv¬
ing credit for inducing the President
to come to a final conclusion of the
matter. Mr. Lyon called at the White
House Sunday evening, February 14.
“Mr. President,” he said, “I always
have thought a great injustice was
done Jefferson Davis when his name
was cut off Cabin John Bridge. Why
don’t you, as one of the last acts of
your administration, order it re¬
stored?”
“Bully!” said the President. He
took up the matter the next day.
—Watch for the Covington Buggy
Co’s. Ad in next weeks issue of this
paper.
Have you tried Robinson’s Black
Bitters? They are just the thing you
need for a spring tonic.
the Georgia owned 171. The total
length of all railroads operating in
the state was 807 miles.
In that year Newton Anderson was
sheriff of this county, Aug. W. Evans
was clerk of the court. The court
house was located at Covington.
Newton county in 1845 had a demo¬
cratic vote of 442 and a whig vote of
913.
COVJNGTON, GEORGIA, MARCH 1909.
GEORGE. H. BELL
IS GIVEN FREEDOM
Judge Lewis Rules That He Was
Illegally Incarcerated In State
Mad House.
George H. Bell, of whom there has
been so much newspaper comment
and the attention of the citizens of
the entire state, has been given his
freedom from the asylum at Miledge
ville under a habeas corpus proceed¬
ing, and is now at the home of his
father in Emanuel county.
The letters written by George Bell
have been read with lively interest by
the readers of the live papers of the
state, and to say the least of it, if he
is a crazy man he certainly writes
the most level headed letters of any
bug house inmate we have ever heard
of. He was placed in the asylum three
years ago and since that time Judge
Lewis rules that he has been illegally
held. The ruling of the J idge cor¬
roborates the contention of the former
legislator that his detention was il
iegal. This is truly a serious charge
that should be placed against some
one forhis terrible experience there
without the due process of law.
Mr. Bell was at one time one of the
representatives from Emanuel county
and was considered one of the brain¬
iest young men of the state. He is
known to thousands of Georgians and
especially in this city. He is a grad¬
uate of Emory Colledge and has a
number of friends who will learn of
release with gratification. His ex¬
perience of the last three years is said
by him to be one of the most terrible
a man can endure. And on top of it
all it has been proven and ruled by a
superior court judge that every second
of that time he was held illegally.
His freedom is atfcrabuted to a
woman who he befriended a number
of years of years ago. Mr. Bell had
forgotten the incident but the lady
had come into possesion of vast
wealth since that time and although
there has been the elapse of several
years the lady remembered the kind¬
ness and when she heard of his incar¬
ceration she stated that she would
spend every dollar she had or obtain
his release if he was not insane. She
is Mrs. Blanche Burton, of Indiana¬
polis.
The culmination of this habeas corpus
proceeding ends one of the most in¬
teresting chapters of the history of
the asylum at Milledgeville. There
has been some serious declarations
made against the officials in charge
and in all probability they will here¬
after be more careful about people
placed there. Although Bell has been
given his freedom from what he very
sanely calls purgatory, he never can
be given back the three years of con¬
finement there.
In his statement on the stand he
gave the most clear and concise an¬
swers to all the questions put to him
and impressed every one in the court
room as being perfectly sane and clear¬
headed. He went into detail about
his confinement, his commitment to
that place and of his life since his in¬
carceration. He stated that he pro¬
tested against going to thea sylum and
demanded at the time that the com¬
mitment papers be shown to him, and
of the authorities refusal to do so. He
also stated that he was never examin¬
ed by a jury who sent him there. Mr.
Bell occupied the stand some forty
minutes and every moment of the time
his attitude and demeanor was thatof
a perfectly sane man. He stated that
he had written about three hundred
letters to friends and newspapers
throughout the state in his efforts to
obtain his freedom. One of these let¬
ters was published in this paper some
three or four weeks ago and was read
with interest by our patrons.
At the conclusion of Mr. Bell’s state¬
ment the authorities in charge ot.the
institution, Drs. Jones, Little and
Green, were introduced by the res¬
pondent and they made an effort to
retain Mr. Bell in the asylum, stating
that he was subject to delusive insan¬
ity and that he believed that his peo¬
ple and the authorities were using
criminal conspiracy to hold him there.
Evidently the judge didn’t agree with
them.
Several prominent Georgians were
then placed on the stand and they all
swore that they had known Mr. Bell
previous to his confinement and con¬ i
sidered him as sane as he ever was.
After the respondent had closed the
court ruled that he had been held il¬
legally and ordered his release.
His many friends at Swainsbom and
his father and family rejoice over the |
fact that he has been liberated and
are grateful for the interest shown in
him.
_____
Read the advertisements in Thi: |
News and trade with home merchants.
QUESTIONS FOR THE
U, D. G. MEETING.
The Ladies of U. D. C. Next Meet¬
ing Will Have an Interest¬
ing Program
The answers to the following ques¬
tions will be found in Georgia Land
and People, pages 271 to 277:
1 When was the first battle of the
war fought and who won the victory ?
2 What was the conduct of the peo¬
ple in Richmond at this time.
3 Ho>v’ did Georgia manifest her joy
over this victory and which of her
regiments took part in this fight ?
4 Who was in command of the 11th
Georgia Regular Volunteers and what
was this company’s record throughout
the war ?
5 Tell of the valiant service of the
7th and 8th Georgia Regiments in this
battle and give the names of their
commander ?
6 What were Barton’s words in
leaving Georgia to join the Virginia
army and what were his dying words
at Manassas ?
7 Where and with what ceremonies
was he buried ?
8 What Georgian was mentioned in
Gen. Johnston’s official report and for
what Georgia regimentdid Gen. Beau¬
regard express his admiration.
9 Give name of a member of the
9th Georgia who was wounded in this
combat and tell main incident of his
service in an Indian war ?
10 Who was struck senseless at the
battle of Manansas and upon recovery
what did he do ?
11 While Lieut. Hull was convalesc¬
ing in Richmond whom did he meet
and what praise did he hear given the
8th Georgia.
12 When was the battle of Oak Hill,
Mo., fought and what Georgian was
killed there.
13 Who was in command of the 1st
Georgia regiment and what was this
company’s conduct in W. Va.
14 Tell of Georgia’s unceasing pre¬
parations for war ?
15 Who was elected Gov. oi Georgia
at this time and by what majority ?.
16 Was there a precedent for the
third term?
17 How did Gov. Brown show his pa¬
triotism on inauguration day ?
18 What did a Clarksville lady do
to show her love for the Confederacy ?
19 With what words did Gov. Brown
conclude his message to the legisla¬
ture.
20 By the end of the year how many
regiments had Georgia sent and whom
did Gov. Brown eventually call on for
supplies.
21 What happened while the Legisla¬
ture was in session and who respond¬
ed ?
22 Tell of the actions along the coast
toward the close of the year.
23 Name the Brig-Generals in the
Confederate service at this time ?
24 Give Alex. H. Stephens’ state¬
ment summing up the cause for which
Georgia was fighting.
Miss Brownie Anderson,
Miss Sallie Mae Cook,
Committee.
A Good Weekly.
Editors Flowers and Taylor, of The
Covington News, continue to get out
one of the best weekly papers in the
state. It is a credit to Covington and
Newton county, and the people down
there should be proud of their new
paper. And the editors are doing the
proper thing in making their subscrip¬
tion price the same to all. Publish
ers-make a great mistake when they
send their papers out at different
prices.—Conyers Times.
Warren Stillwell Hurt.
Wi barren Stillwell, aged about eight
years, was seriously hurt in a run-a
way Monday afternoon, and while his
injuries are not considered dangerous
he has been suffering a good deal
from his wounds.
Mr. Waters Ballard was driving a
horse hitched to a buggy and when
he passed in front of Dr, Luke Robin
son’s residence, the horse became
frightened at the ditching machine
and began to jump and run. The lit¬
tle fellow ran out in the street just in
time to get under the wheels. Two
of the wheels passed over his body,
inflicting very painful injuries.
He was given medical attention as
quick as possible and his many friends
will be pleased to learn that he will
be out a^ain in a few days.
$1.00 A Year In Advance.
NEW PLAN FOR
COUNTY CONVICTS.
A Summary of Important Features
In The New Law And Rules
And Regulations.
Important changes have been made
in Georgia’s penitentiarys ystem and
will take place April 1st.
Within a few weeks the past ves¬
tige of the convict lease system, which
has been in operation for 30 years
in this state, will have disappeared
and some 2,000 convicts will be at
work upon the public highways of
Georgia, in 105 of the 146 counties.
Since the completion of the legis¬
lation last September under which
these changes are to take place, those
counties which propose to participate
in this splendid opportunity which the
state offers them have been, in a
measure, preparing themselves to take
up this progressive work, notwith¬
standing that it is all new to many
of them, and they will have much to
learn, both from observation and ex¬
perience.
Twenty-nine Georgia counties, and
Newton is one of them, have been
using state convicts for road work for
the past several years, under the law
permitting them to take the short¬
term men with marked success, and
it is a significant fact that not one of
these counties is missing from the list
that have made requisition for con¬
victs under the new law.
It has been definitely and finally
determined to place all the white
male convict upon the special state
farm to be purchased by the state for
that purpose, a policy which will of
course eliminate them from the pub¬
lic roads of the different counties.
Under the law requiring seperaation
of the races, no county wanted white
convicts. For this and other reasons
the commission decided that it was
best to segregate the white men,
about 300 in number, upon a farm
which will be worked by them for the
state.
That farm will be purchased by the
commission with the approval of the
governor, probably this week. It is
to be selected bj the commission from
some 200 tracts of land which have
been offered the state, and the com¬
mission’s purpose is to secure title to
it within the next two weeks with a
STRENGTH!
Statement of condition of Bank of Covington,
of Covington, Ga., at the close of business
February 5th, 1909.
RESOURCES
Loans & Discounts, $139,638.78
Demand Loans...... 41,434.81
Cotton Overdrafts, 9,966.22 $191,039.81
Overdrafts, Unsecured,............ 782.31
Furniture and Fixtures,.......... 3,833.65
Cash on hand &due from Banks, 58.131.95
Total, $253,787.72
B LIABIIJTIES
Capital............................... $ 100 , 000.00
Undivided Profits, (Net)......... 3,217.03
Dividends Unpaid,.................. 160.00
1 Deposits,............................. 150,410.69
Bills Payable and Rediscounts,.. NONE
Total, $253,787.72
Deposits February 5, 1908, $113,134.93
Deposits February 5, 1909, $150,410.69
Capita] Increased Jan. Jst, 1908, With NO Un¬
1 divided Profits—$8,000.00 Dividends Paid
Stockholders Since Capital Was Increased.
DIRECTORS:
S. P. Thompson, Dr. J. T. Gibson,
P. W. Godfrey, C. A. Sockwell,
R. R. Fowler, N. S. Turner,
R. S. Franklin, Jno. L. Stephenson,
F. E. Heard, O. S. Porter,
R. W- Milner, C. S. Thompson.
Bank of Covington
Covington, Georgia.
WHY
Have the Three Job
Presses at this office
been running 15 hours
a day for sixty days?
There’s a Reason.
NEWTON OIL MILL
MADE DEFENDANT.
Henry Gaither Alleges He Was
Damaged to the Amount of
$5,000.—Lost Leg.
Suit was entered Monday against
the Newton County Oil Mills for $5,000
damages by Henry Gaither, colored,
who was injured by falling from a
ladder and breaking his leg last Sep¬
tember, the result being an amputa¬
tion of the limb. It seems that he
was up on the latter and he alleges
that Green Robinson knocked the
ladder out from under him. He
claims carelessness on the part of an
employee and wants damages.
Gaither has employed the law firm
of Middlebrook, Rogers & Knox, who
will conduct his case.
At the present, when none of the
facts are accessible, it is hard to say
just how this will terminate, but it is
safe to say that he will hardly get the
full amount.
Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6.
Covington lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M.
will meet in regular communication
next Friday evening at 7:30. Work in
third degree, all members requested
to be present.
view to begin work at the earliest
possible moment and making a crop
this season.
LTpon this farm will be placed every
white male convict whether able
bodied or decrepid, sound or iinvalid,
and nowhere else in Georgia will there
be seen, for the present at least, any
white inmate of the state peniten¬
tiary.
While the commission has not
selected any specific tract, and is still
considering a number of them it has
been practically determined to buy at
once a single farm of 5,000 to 6,000
acres of good land, properly located,
it being figured that each convict can
work on an average about 20 acres.
Upon this farm will be made va¬
rious products which will be used
directly or through the proceeds of
their sale, for the support and main¬
tenance of the prison department.