Newspaper Page Text
Sixteen
Pages
By E. L. RAINEY
WILL VOTE ON BONDS TO PAVE TERRELL COUNTY ROADS
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STATE AND LOCAL LEVIES IN
CREASE MORE THAN OFFSET
THE NATIONAL TAX CUT.
pAY OUT OVER SEVEN BILLIONS
people of United States Now Assess
¢d More Than Any Others Except
The British, With Rates Mounting
Steadily Every Year.
Despite the fact that Uncle Sam
has become devoted to the policy ofi
putting dollars into the pockets of
Amcrican citizens by reducing federal
taxcs, the bill of the nation is slowly
but steadily increasing, The fact is
that the average American now pays
more taxes than the inhabitant of any
other country with the exception of
England.
America’s total tax burden last year,
estimated at approximately $7,907,-
000000, is rapidly approaching the
peak of the period of world war ex
penditures. The total cost of operat
ing all our forms of government dur
ing that time was $10,000,000,000 a
year. 4
" Reaching Into Citizens’ Pockets.
While Uncle Sam is striving to re
duce the nation’s tax burdens other
agencies are reaching into the pockets
of American citizens and taking there
irom more and more money each year.
These agencies are the state, county
and city or town governments.
l.ocal taxes, it has been revealed by
a survey made by the National Indus
trial Conference Board, in New York
city, form the heaviest burden of the‘
taxpayers. They are increasing so fast
that they more than offset the de
creases in federal taxes. Local taxesi
were $3,601,000,000 in 1923, but in
creased to $3,748,000,000 in 1924. l
States taxes of $892,000,000 in 1923 in
creased to $1,064,000,000 in 1924, Dur-l
ing the same period' federal taxes de
creased from $3,223,000,000 to $3,095,-,
UH()‘HIJ().
Only Millions in 1890.
In 1800 the federal government col
lected $374,000,000 in taxes. In 1919
the sum of $5,069,000,000 was collect
ed, hut last year the total decreased
to $3.095,000,000. At the same time
the federal government reduced its
tax collections 40 per cent between
the vears 1919 and 1924.
But while federal taxes decreased
aiter they increased, state and local
taxes have increased steadily. The re-/
sult is state governments now take 11
times as much money from the Amer
ican people as they did 35 years ago,
and the various city, town, village,
township, ghorough, parish, school,
road, par,:nd other district authori-|
ties require nine times as much to pay’
their expenses as they did a genera
tion or so ago.
Last year a total of $3,748,000,000
was collected by the local authorities
in the United States—more than three
times as much as was collected by all
the state authorities put together. On
the other hand, since 1890 taxes col
lected by the states have increased
more than 1,000 per cent, while, that
of the local governments have increas
ed a little more than 800 per cent.
Took More Than U. S.
Back in 1890 the local and federal
taxes were nearly the same—s 374.-
000000 for the federal government
and $405,000,000 for the local authori
ties. But last year the cities and town
ships took” $600,000,000 more from the
pockets of the, people than did the fed
eral government.
On the basls of the purchasing pow
er of the dollar in 1923 the following
comparsion. may be made:
1913 1924
Federal .. .$668,000,000 $1,894,000,000
~State ........ 307,000,000 651,000,000
Local ........1,219,000,000 2,294.000,000
~ Reduced to 1913 dollars the tax bill
for each person for 1924 amounted to
$42.43.
Americans pay three times as much
taxes as Italians, more than twice as
much as Belgians, and half again as
much as the French, but slightly less
than the English. The per capita fig
ures for 1923-1924 are as follows:
Italy, $14.28; Belgium, $17.76; France.
$29.53: United States, $45.27; Great
Britain, $58.40.7 ¢
LAYS CLAIMS -TO THE FIRST
PROCLAMATION OF THANKS
Issued in 1777 At Meeting of Conti
nental Congress in York, Pa.
Although the first observance of
Thanksgiving day jn America is cred
ited to the pilgrims in 1621, York, Pa,
cliims the homor of being the birth
place of the first national Thanksgiv
g proclamation. :
I'he proclamation issued lin 1777
was a produect of the meeting of the
continental congress, in York, from
September 30, 1777, to June 27, 1778.
Shortly after the congress assem:
bled there mews of the surrender of
Geo. Burgoyne reached the members.
On October 31 President Laurens ap
puinted Richard Henry Lee, of Vir
gnia, Samuel Adams, of Madsachu
setts, and Gen. Roberdeau, of Penn
sylvania, a committee to draft a na
ticnal proclamation of thanksgiving.
The document, was written by Lee }nld
¢ November 1 the committee brought
in a report which was adopted.
President Laurens then wrote the
governor of the 13 states telling them
of the action of the congress and for
warding copies of the proclamation.
THE DAWSON NEWS
TAXATION TAKES EIGHTH
OF INCOMES IN AMERICA
Twelve and a half cents out of
ary dollar, or one-eighth of the
DIN&R ! income of the people of
trre. ;Y ~itas last year, went
into taxes. =epgrt of the
National Induw,, Conference
Board, in New Y’ork City.
The board estimates the national
income for 1924 at $63,000,000,000,
as compared with $65,000,000,000
in 1923. At the same time, however,
the burde.. f federal, state and lo
cal taxes is declared to have dou
bled in proportion.
NEGRO SOLDIERS MAKE'
LATEST ESCAPADE IS IN A
RESTAURANT. HAVE CAUS
ED ONE KILLING.
AMERICUS, Ga.—Considerable in
dignation is being expressed by Amer
icus residents as the result of a riot
staged a recent night in the “Blue
Moon” restaurant, a cafe for negroes
conducted by a Greek. Negro soldiers
stationed temporarily at Souther Field,
it is charged, deliberately precipitated
a row with Americus negro civilians,
the fight heing started when James
Green, a soldier, walked into the cafe
and slapped the face of a negro girl
seated at 3 table there.
The Green negro, it is stated, was
armed with an army revolver and af
ter flourishing this fired a number of
shots, none of which, however, took
effect, and aside from quickly empty
ing the place nene of the negroes con
gregated there were harmed. With
Green and assisting in the riotous acts
alleged to have been perpetrated Yvas
James Perry, another negro soldier.
Both are members of Company K,
Twenty-fourth Infantry.
Negrc Soldier Sentenced.
Green was arrested by the police,
and after a hearing was bound over
to the superior court, where he enter
ed a plea of guilty and was given sen
tences aggregating three years and six
months. The negro soldier, attired in
dowdy “civies” furnished by officers
at Souther Field, presented a penitent
figure as he told the court of his guilt,
and with ‘anything but the attitude of
a soldier he sank into a chair as the
court concluded a brief lecture with
the imposition of the sentences.
There has been considerable dis
cord caused by the sending of negro
soldiers to Souther Field several
months ago, and one of their number
was killed by E. J. Fullbright, be
cause, ‘it is alleged, he refused the
white man and two lady- companions
passage along a sidewalk and when
remonstrated with threatened to kill
him, Mrs. Fullbright and thein daugh
ter. Fullbright was exonerated by a
coroner’s jury, but was later indicted
and was tried last week in the Sum
ter superior court, where he was ac
quitted by a jury.
" Considerable dissatisfaction is ex
‘pressed “among Americus residents at
the presence of negro soldiers in this
communiyt, and as a result of this at
titude the negroes are now required
to report at their barracks not later
than 9 o'clock each night.
ORGANIZE TO PREVENT DEP
REDATIONS. LOSE MILLION
DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
The rural districts of New York
state are suffering a loss of more than
$1,000,000 annually through the depre
dations of city motorists who help
themselves to the farmers’ produce.
So serious is the situation deemed
that the New York State Farm Bu
reau Federation at its recent conven
tion in Syracuse appointed a vigilance
committee_to organize the farmers in
each county to protect themselves
against what the federation calls the
“road vandal.”
Sunday Loses Its Charms.
The farmers, means of redress at
present are said to be costly in both
time and meney, as well as inefficient.
It is difficult to serve a warrant on an
offender, and the posting of “no tres
passing” signs is of little value, it is
declared.
Pillagers not only disregard warn
ing signs, but ®%ven destray them.
Sunday is losing its charms as a
day of rest for the country resident,
especially ,if he lives along a busy
highway, the farmers complain.
So bold has the “road vanfial” be
come that when he drives into the
country he provides himself with bags
and sacks in which to také home his
booty. 3
THE MOST PERFECT BOY AND GIRL IN AMERICA ARE CHOSEN AT I.IVESTOCK EXPOSITION IN CHICAGO
P T R
‘ CHICAGO.—Kings of the barn
yard and field having been selected at
the International Live Stock Exposi
tion the climax came tonight with
the selection of the most periect boy
and girl in America.
Alice Burkhart, 15, of Audobon
county, lowa, was chosen as the most
perfect girl, and George Cuskaden, 14,
of St. Paul, fndiana, won the honors
PROPOSED ISSUE OF $300,000.00
WILL BE DECIDED AT POLLS
ON JANUARY 14TH NEXT.
MUST PAY TAXES IF YOU VOTE
Is Proposed to Pave Roads Through
County in Four Directions From
Dawson. Sentiment Seems to Be
Strong for Issuance of Bonds.
At their December meeting the
county commissioners called an elec
tion for January 14th next to deter
mine whether $300,000 of bonds shall
be issued by Terrell county for the
purpose of paving roads. The official
notice of the election is published in
The News today.
Ili the bonds are authorized they
wili be issued in denominations of
$l,OOO and retired in amounts of $lO,-
000 each year, beginning January 1,
1927. Under .that provision the pay
ment of the bonds will extend over a
period of 30 years. It is also provided
that the bonds tan be sold in lots of
$lOO,OOO as funds may be needed for
the construction of roads.
Registration Books Open.
Only qualified electors can vote in
the election on January 14th, and the
registration books- will remain open
until ten days pfior to thg election.
Voters who have not paid ‘their taxes
when the books close on December
20th cannot participate.
It is estimated that $300,000, with
state and federal aid, will pave the
entire stretch of the Florida Short
Route extending from the northern
county line through Parrott, Dawson
and Sasser and on to the Lee ‘or
Dougherty county line, and the road
from the Randolph line > through
Graves, Dawson and Bronwood to the
eastern boundaty of the county at
Wright’'s bridge on Kinchafoonee
creek.
For some months past certain pub
lic spirited citizens “have been formu
lating plans to secure a cotton mill at
Dawson and also to have erected an
up-to-date brick hotel. In recent weeks
encouraging headway has been made
in these directions, and while no posi
tive announcement can as yet be made
it seems probable that the movement
for both the hotel and the factory will
assume definite shape at an early date.
CONSULT A DOCTOR,
- 0T A LAWYER
THAT IS THE ADVICE OF DR.
FISK TO COUPLES IF LOVE
HITS THE ROCKS.
NEW YORK, N. Y—Why marry?
Especially if: “In the heart of every
man there is something of the knight
errant and the gentleman, some of
the devil and something of the brute,”
and—
“ There is in the heart of every
woman something of the angel, some
thing of the devil and something of
the cat.”
Some young women may take ex
ception to one or both of these defini
tions given to 500 young\ men at the
Young Men's club of the Broadway
tabernacle. Dr. Eugene Lyman Fisk,
of the Life Extension Institute, how
ever, advised the young men they are
accurate definitions. -
“Why Marry?” was the subject of
his address.
He advised, further, that when the
devil, or the cat, or the brute gets
the upper hand in either marriage
partner he, or she should see a doc
tor, not a lawyer. :
No Substitute fgr Marriage. «
“No substitute for marriage could
possibly be considered in any civilized
state,” he said.
“The institution of marriage is one
to be cherished. There should be bet
ter education for its responsibilities.
There is nothing wrong with mar
riage. The trouble lies with the peo
ple who enter in it. :
“It is notable that the high divorce
rate does not lie in the so called ‘ef
fete east, but in the middle west, in
that section of the country where
wealth has been acquired more rapid
ly and social conditions have changed
more radically. :
“Probably in time something in line
with the league of nations may be in
stituted whereby the warfare in mar
ried life may be mitigated and peace
arranged before irremediable . es
trangement occurs. In any such
scheme the medical man, and espe
cially the neuropsychiatrist, must be
an important factor; next, the econo
mist. We hope to get rid of the law
ver entirely as a divorce specialist.”
s 2 i
as the country’s most perfect speci
men of boyvhood. The selections were
made by competitive physical exami
nations of more ‘than 600,000 farm
boys and girls, members of the boys’
and girls’ clubs meeting here in con
nection with the exposition.
The healthiest boy and the health
jest girl from each state in the union
met here for the final examinations.
DAWSON, GA., TUESDAY EVENING, DEC. 8, 1925
$322,323,000 TO BE PAID
INVESTORS IN DECEMBER
Is Increase of More Than $21,000,-
000 as Conlpared With Year Ago.
NEW YORK.—lnvestors will
receive dividend and interest pay
ments in December ag@regating
$322,323,000 compared with $301,-
150,000 in the same month last
year, a compilation by the Journal
of Commerce shows.
Several initial, extra and increas
ed dividends will swell the total
for stockholders to $74,970,000,
against $71,150,000 last year. Inter
est payments will total $247,353,-
000, compared™>with $230,000,000,
while corporate disbursements in
volve $164,000,000, against $149,-
000,800.
Wall street statistics show. that
15,000,000 persons in the United
States own stock of various cor
porations, while the estimated total
of those holding bonds and life in
surance is placed at 45,000,000,
NEARLY 6,000 PROJECTS DEAL
WITH DIFFERENT PHASES
OF AGRICULTURE.
Many important problems in agri
culture are being gradually solved by
the experiment stations and the gist
of knowledge given to the public.
During the year 1924-25 the various
state experiment' stations were con
ducting projects dealing with 5538
different phases of agriculture, an
average of 110 projects per station. In
some instances projects are finished
in one year, but in many cases several
years may be required to complete
the investigations and make the re
sults applicable to practice.
A classified list of different projects
now being carried on by the stations
has been prepared by the office of ex
periment stations of the United States
Department of Agriculture, which
shows the wide range of subject mat
ter covered by the experimental work.
Projects dealing * with field crops
lead in number, with a total of 1,817.
Of the field crops under study corn
}leads with 170 or moare projects, wheat
follows with 164, potatoes 162, .cotton
99, alfalfa 82, oats 81 and soy beans 58.
Horticulture comes second with 952
projects, of which over 400 deal with
orchard fruits, the leading fruits being
apples 115 and peaches 45; 135 in
small fruits; 275 with vegetables, the
leading representatives of which are
tomatoes 34; 65 with ornamentals, and
50 with nuts, the largest of which are
pecans 20 and welnuts 13.
The third largest group is animal
production with 926 projects, includ
ing among others poultry 205, dairy
cattle 191, swine 189; sheep and goats
81, beef cattle 77, horses and mules 12.
Plant pathology is another large
group, having 482 prcjects, of which
47 deal with potato diseases. -
Projects in economic entomology
number 472, 38 of which relate to bees
and 22 to cotton insects.
In addition to the projects carried
on at the state staticns the stations
maintained by the department in Alas
ka, Hawaii, Porto Rico, Guam and the
Virgin Islands have 150 projects,
which increases the total to 5,688.
T. F. FORD, FORMER TERRELL
COUNTIAN, DIES FROM IN]JU
RIES RECEIVED IN WRECK.
As the result of an automobile ac
cident T. F. Ford, of Lee county and
son of L. C. Ford, who was for many
years a resdient of Terrell county,
died at a hospital in Albany.
From the best information obtain
able it seems that Mr. Ford had been
to Camilla_and was returning to his
home in Leesburg. In some unac
countable manner he was unable to
negotiate a sharp turn in the highway
and his car overturned.
A passing motorist picked the in
jured man up and rushed him to the
Albany hospital, where an examina
tion disclosed a broken wrist, several
broken ribs and internal injuries.
It is not known just what injury
was the cause of his death, but it is
reforted that the broken ribs caused
the internal injuries that produced
death. ’ !
The deceased was well known
throughout this section. He held sev
eral county offices in Lee, and for a
number of years was deputy sheriff
of the county. He “was a member of
the Methodist church at Leesburg.
Surviving are one sister, Mrs. R.
W. Davis, of Leesburg; one brother,
Joe Ford, of Dickey; one aunt, Mrs.
Jennie Ford, of Leesburg, and his
step-mother, Mrs. Maggie Ford.
Alice Burkhart scored 95.7 per cent,
A slight cold from exposure to Chica
go weather and too little muscular
development of the arms were her on
ly deiects. The boy scored 97.7 per
cents, his only flaws being ome filled
tooth, slightly enlarged nasal passages
and a hardly perceptible tendency to
ward flat-footedness.
The girl is five feet five inches tall,
SHOW NO HASTE TO HAVE
HEAD MEASUREMENTS COM
PARED WITH INSANE.
THE BILL IS COMING UP AGAIN
Measure to Provide $llO,OOO Labora
tory to Study Question Lags in
‘Committees. Average Age of In
sane and Congressmen the Same.
WASHINGTON.—A - bill which
has been twice reported favorably to
congress by the senate and house
committees on the judiciary and which
will be reintroduced at the coming
session provides for the establishment
‘of a laboratory for the study of ab
normal classes and appropriates $llO,-
000 to pay the cost of maintaining it
for a year. The plan is that of Dr.
Arthur MacDonald, a Washington
criminologist and author of “Man and
Abnormal Man.” Dr. MacDonald pro
poses in the interest of science to
measure the craniums of the 531 mem
bers of the house and senate and cnm-i
pare the results with the skull meas
urements of the 4,000 patients of the
government hospital for the insane,
This, he thinks, will be a useful ex
periment in the science of anthropo
logical psychiatry. But congressmen
as yet have evinced no haste to facili
tate the doctor’'s experiment.
Weigh Brains of Living.
“As the largest number of insane
is at about the age of forty and as the
average age of the members of both
houses of congress is between forty
and fifty, such a control experiment
will be of special value,” Dr. Mac-
Donald sald. “Moreover,” he added.i
“like the members of congress, the
insane in the government hospital here
come from all parts of the gountr}{."l
Dr. MacDonald asserts that the
term “anthropological psychiatry” isa
new one in other languages, as well
ag in English. In coining the term he
intends to apply those facts and meth
ods of anthropology to psychiatry,
which may be of most scientific value.
~ “One of the latest methods of an
thropological research,” Dr, Mac-
Donald saig, “is to estimate the
weight of the brain on living persons
by means of equations. We cannot
predict the weight of brain as exactly
as astronomers foresee an eclipse, but
I have combined an equation which
so far as tested gives a fairly approxi
‘mate estimate of brain weight on the
living.”
| Gives His Formula.
The MacDonald, formula is as fol
lows: *
Head length—B x head breadth, 8x
head height, 8 x .000337 plus 406.01
equals cranial capacity in cubic centi
meters, which, multiplied by 0.93,
gives the weight of the brain in grams
on living persons.
Before applying this combined
equation to the living, however, Dr.
MacDonald is now, for the first time,
testing it upon the deed by taking
three measurements of the head and
then weighing the brain. The differ
ence between the predicted and act
ual weight of the brain is thus found,
Dr. MacDonald maintains.
“After I have tested this equation
upon a sufficient mamber of dead and
found the percentage of error,” he add
ed, “it can be applied to the living,
both normal and subnormal.”
Dr. MacDonald maintains that this
proposed study of the normal brain
as represented in the heads of mem
bers of congress, and the study of the
abnormal heads of patients 'in the
government hospital for the insane
will provide a practical demonstration
of the necessity for the passage of the
bill establishing a laboratory for the
study of abnormal classes.
Time to Study Individuals.
“As author of the bill,” Dr. Mac-
Donald said, “I ceased to press it in
congress for a number of years, but
owing to the enormous increase of
these evils, whigh it i¢ the purpose of
the bill to prevent or decrease, 1 think
it high time that a rigid scientific
study of the individuals producing
them be inaugurated by our govern
ment.
“The cost of these anti-social per
sonalities to the United States is more
than $1,000,000,000 per year, including
all patho-social activities outside of
institutions in the community at
large, not to mention the still greater
moral damage involved. The proposi
tion is to spend $llO,OOO a year by the
creation of this laboratory to combat
the enormous annual drain upon the
American people by the latest meth
ods known to science.”
The main purpose of the MacDon
ald bill is to study the causes of crime,
insanity, pauperism, alcoholism, de
fectiveness, degeneracy and other ab
normalities of mentality with a view
to correcting them. ~
weighs 131 pounds, milks the cows,
rides horseback, swims, plays tennis
and basketball but drinks neither -tea
nor coffee. She goes to bed at 9:30,
gets up at 6, walks four miles to
school and possesses perfect teeth,
feet, body, head, eyes, ears and nose.
She is a junior in high school,
wants to become a teacher and is the
fifth of six children.
$513 REVENUE RECEIVED
FROM 48 PECAN TREES
In 1916 A. B. Guess, of Morven,
Ga., planted 48 pecan trees on his
place; they have received no spe
cial attention or cultivation. He has
just marketed this year's crop of
nuts, 1,420 pounds, for which he
received in cash $513.90. From now
on those trees will be cultivated.
Mr.: Guess has 12 acres in pecans
which have not come iniv bearing
yet, and plans to plant three acres
in Success trees this fall, He ex
pects a good income from his trees
in his old age,.
CONSTITUTION SAYS FORMER
SENATOR HAS WRITTEN HIS
FRIENDS OF INTENTION.
The Atlanta Constitution says it has
learned that former United States
Senator and Governor Hoke Smith is
giving serious consideration to enter
ling the gubernatorial race to succeed
Governor Clifford Walker, now serv
ing his second consectitive term.
The Constitution story states that
it was learned authoritatively that the
senator, now practicing law in Atlan
ta following the expiration of his term
of office in the national capital, “has
been urged by friends all over the
state to make the race for governor
and it also became known that he has
written letters to some friends saying
that he is giving the matter serious
consideration.”
Senator Smith has been a veteran in
Georgia politics, having served two
terms as governor and two terms in
the United States senate.
The Constitution story also says that
the administration of the former gov
ernor “was credited with much con
structive legislation and his services
in the senate was marked by many
committees and other honors.”
He was succeeded in the senate by
the late Thomas E. Watson, and fol
lowing his term entered the practice
of law in Washington,/ remaining
there for some years until he removed
to Atlanta.
Hadn’t Heard It.
When Mr, Smith was informed of
reports to the effect that he is giving
serious consideration to the possibility
of running for governor he declined to
make any comment whatsoever,
“l hadn’t heard about that,” he re
marked, when told of reports publizh
ed in the Atlanta Constitution that he
is likely to become a candidate for
the Georgia gubernatorial chair, “and
I have nothing to say about it.”
RESULT OF POLL OF LEGIS
LATORS MADE PUBLIC BY
HON. ]J. H. MILNER.
Out of 129 replies from legislators
to his letter requesting opinions on
the proposed extra session of the leg
islature 94 are opposed to such a ses
sion Hon. J. H. Milger, member of.
the house of representatives from
Dodge county, has announced. Mr.
‘Milner said he sent his letter out ear
1y in October and added that in fair
ness to these members he should say
‘that | it was possible some of them
‘h'ad changed their’ views in the mean
time.
’ Mr. Milner pointed out that th/e 94
‘mcmhers opposed to the extra session
constitute almost half the membership
of the house, and that he had heard
indirectly from almost a score of
others who were against the session.
}He also said that, whil¢ he did not
think the percentage of opposition
would run high among those who did
not answer his letter, he believes one
half of these would not favor the ses
sion,
Among southwest Georgia members
who wrote Mr. Milner that they are
opposed to an extra session are
Weaver of Terrell, Griner of Ben
Hill, King of Clay, Barrett of Cal
houn, Grifin of Decatur, Whitchard
of Early, West of Randolph, Ketchum
of Lee, Bergin of Marion, Greer of
Macon, Whelchel and Lewis of Col
quitt, McElroy of Mitchell, Hines of
Sumter, Hopkins of Thomas and Pate
of Turner.
Gowernor Issues Statement.
Governor Walker has -issued a
statement in which he says he has no
future political ambition, and will re
tire to private life at the end of his
term. Speaking of the proposed extra
session he stated that he was very
earnest in the desire to exert all of
his official as well as his personal en
ergy to the end of accomplishing some
constructive, forward movement for
the state before his term ends, and
believes the state should provide more
liperally for education and highways.
George Cuskaden is five feet seven
inches tall and weighs 155 pounds.
He ds an athlete, playing on his high
school basketball, baseball and track
teams. For exercise he helps his fath
er run a 200-acre farm, takes care of
20 head of cattle and a herd of swine.
He is the eldest of three children and
took first prize at the Indiana state
fair with his Duroc-Jersey hog.
Read the
Store News .
VOL. 43.—N0. 15
WELL-KNOWN LEE FOUNTY}
LEGISLATOR GIVEN FROM
THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
R ”
As Guardian of John J. Curry Is Al
leged Not to Have Accounted for
$4,810. Money Was Paid by Govern
ment for Disabled Soldier.
State Senator J. D. Clifton, of f.ee
county, representing the Tenth district
composed of Lee, Dougherty and
Worth counties in the general assem
bly and well known «in Terrell county
and throughout this section, has been
convicted in the superior court of
Sumter county on a ¢harge of embez
zling the sum of $4,810.25 from a
world war veteran, John J. Curry, and
sentenced to serve from three to five
years in the penitentiary.
The case was tried at Americus on
a change of venue from l.ee superior
court, and much interest centers in
the prominence of the defendant and
‘the fact that he is accused of having
embezzled a large sum from a dis
abled soldier of the world war who is
now a patient in St. Elizabeth’s army
hospital at Washington, D. C.
Evidence adduced during the trial
showed that Clifton had received
varying sums from the government as
the guardian of Curry, and that he
had been required by the ordinary of
JT.ee county to furnish additional se
curity upon his bond.
According to attorneys for the de
fense prevailing flood conditions about
the defendant’s home near Leesburg at
the time of the demand presented
conditions which made it physically
impossible for the accused to get about
and secure additional bondsmen with
in the time allowed in the order ‘of
the ordinary and an order was passed
by that court removing, Clifton as
Curry’s guardian and naming in his
stead R. R. Green, present clerk of
superior court at Leesburg, who later
made formal demand upon Clifton for
the sum alleged to have been held by
him as the guardian of Curry.
Much of Evidence Documentary.
Much of the evidence adduced was
in the form of documents, many
checks written by Senator Clifton up
on his account as guardian of Curry,)
carried in an Albany bank, being in
troduced by the state and identified
by an officer of the bank. The evidence
summarized showed that Curry, a
mentally deficient youth, after his dis
charge from the army came under the
observation of Clifton, who later was
appointed his guardian, and in such
capacity received numerous sums
awarded Curry as compensation
through- the United States Veterans’
Burezu. These sums, the: state charg:
ed at the hearing, were not properly
handled by Senator - Clifton, being
converted to his own uses and pur
poses instead of being held intact and
used solely for the use and benefit of
Curry.
Upon demand for an accounting
made bv Green, the state charges, Sen
ator Clifton failed and refused to de
liver to Curry’s new guardian the
sums of money received by him and
alleged to be still legally due Curry
and his estate. This failure resulted in
the indictment of Clifton and his trial
upon the embezzlement charge. Attor
neys representing the defendant are
Zack Childers, of Americus, and Rob
ert B. Forrester, of Leesburg, while
the state’s case was presented by So
licitor General Jule Felton, with E.
E. Forrester, of Leesburg, attending
the trial as representative of the Unit
ed States Veterans’ Bureau.
Civil Suit Pending.
The Veterans’ Bureau has brought
a civil action in Lee county to recov
er the amount alleged to have been
embezzled by Senator Cliftén and the
case is now pending in’ court, with a
hearing thereon scheduled to be had
at the next term of court there.
After remaining in custody of the
sheriff all night and until afternoon
next day Clifton was released under
bail of $2,500 until January 2nd, the
’date when argument will be heard on
2 motion for a new trial. The bonds
‘men are W. T. Larramore, of Lee
county, and J. 1.. Johnson, of Sumter
county. Both are pgominent and
wealthy farmers. :
PRES. COOLIDGE OCCUPIED
’ A HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS
!Chicago Headquarters During Farm
‘ Meeting to Be on Top of Hotel
. When Pregsident Coolidge went to
Chicago ygsterday, December 7th,
Mo speak to the farmers attending the,
convention of the American Farm
'Bureau Federation he was given head
‘quarters in a two-story Georgian res
idence on top of ‘the twenty-story
Hotel Sherman, 300 feet above the
street. -
The mid-western sky white house
or presidential suite has downstairs a
wood paneled living room with a real
fireplace, a 'small dining room and a
kitchen where all the president’s meals
are prepared.
Upstairs—there are no elevators in
the little house—are Your bed rooms.
At Tiverton, England, there lives a
blind newsboy who rides a bicycle five
‘miles daily to a railway station for
{papers.