Newspaper Page Text
11l Its Results Yod
W«nt Advertise in
The Messenger.
Volume XLVII. No. 9.
Trial of Murder Cases
Feature Criminal Court
Here The Entire Week
i
OTT BOSS AND WILL PAKTAIN
OF THE CHARGE
OF MURDER OF J. C. AND CE
CIL PARRISH DOC BEARD
MURDER TRIAL CONSUMES
ALL OF WEDNESDAY JURY
STILL OUT ON CASE BRAN
DON ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
TODAY GRAND JURY WILL
PROBABLY ADJOURN TODAY
MANY TRUE BILLS RETURNED
—OTHER CRIMINAL CASES
DISPOSED OF
By agreement the cases of the state
versus Ott Boss and Will Partain,
charged with the murder of J. C. and
Cecil Parrish, were scheduled as the
first cases to be tried Monday morn
ing. At ten o’clock when Judge
Wright sounded the cases both the
state and defense announced ready
and at -once the selection of a jury
began. These cases consumed Monday
and Tuesday and after long deliber
ation the jury acquitted Boss and
Partain of the charges.
The following jury was selected to
try these cases: •••
James Weaver Phillip Schmitt"
Ed Hammontree J. T. Hale
T. C. Moore D. F. Brown Jr.
J H. Qualis L. D Little
J L Lawrence R R Owings
Emory Cameron H J. Phillips
At a former term of the Court
these cases were tried and Boss and
Partain were found guilty and sen
tenced to life imprisonment but a new!
trial was granted and the second trial
here this week resulted in acquittals.
The killing took place it will be re
called near High Point in which a pis
tol battle ensued, the result being
that J. C. Parrish, a deputy sheriff
and his son, Cecil Parrish, and also
Tom Partain, a brother of Will Par-
Utih, Were killed. Ott Boss and Will
Partain were' apprehended on the
charges of murder of the Parrishes.
It was dark at the. time of the killings
and resulted over a search for whis
ky by the Deputy Sheriff. The trial
created wide-spread interest and a
great array of legal talent was em
ployd. Solicitor Taylor for the state,
was assisted by Henry and Jackson,
of this city, while Boss and Partain
were represented by Rosser and Shaw
and Julius Rink, of this city, and Por
ter and Mebane, of Rome,
Doc Beard Tried Wednesday
Charged With Murder Os Nolan
The first case called Wednesday
morning was that of the state versus
Doc Beard, charged with the murder
of W. A. Nolan, at Roseville, on Jan.
-6, this year. Beard was a deputy
Sheriff at Rossville, while Nolan was
a nightwatchman at the Richmond
Hosiery Mills of that city. The matter
of selecting a jury was taken up and
the following jury was selected to try
this case:
Arch Reed, Jr. R. S. White
Walter Burns W. R. Veatch
W. B. Loughridge J. T. Hale
W. K. Chapman J. H. Spencer
S. D. Carter J. W Mahan
Clint Mahan G. W .Ransom
The attorneys in this case were for
the State, Solicitor Taylor and As
sistant Solicitor Kelly, Rosser and
Shaw, of this city and Porter and
Mebans, of Rome; for the defense at
torneys were W. H. Ennis, of Rome
and O. N. Chambers, of Rossville.
Much feeling has been aroused ov
er the murder at Rossville, and a
large number of citizens from that
section of the county were in attend
ance upon the trial Wednesday. The
battle was a hard fought one, an ar
ray of witnesses for the state and
defense being introduced.
Mrs. Elizabeth Nolan, wife of the
slain man was the first witness intro
duced by the state. She testified that
upon the day of the killing her hus
band had come home from the mills,
where he was employed as a watch
man, and after taking a bath had don
■ned his ‘Sunday’ suit. She said that
fit was impossible for her husband to
have cut Beard, because he had left
his knife and a number of other
things lying on the mantle when he
changed clothes.
John McDaniels, an eye-witness of
a fight on the Tennessee side which
preceded the shooting, testified that
Beard had followed Nolan down the
atreet for sonic distance cursing and
alio i.ng him. He stated he saw Nolan
wa.k away from Beard several times
in an effort" to avoid any trouble with j
the officer. He stated that Beard j
grabbed Nolan and started beating i
him over the head with the handle of >
his gun. Somebody kicked the gun out;
of Beard’s haud during the fight. He
further stated that he had seen Stan
ley Harris, a town marshal of Row
villa, come uj> and endeavor to step
the fight, and that Pta Morrisett, a
Halte Olmuttg [
'friend of Beard’s had interfered and
pulled him (Harris) back. Morrieett
was indicted as an accessory to mur
der. McDaniels testified that Nolan’s
dyiife'worde were: "Boys;, yefiptgSet
| him kfll me. Tell the folks who dunit.”
Counsel for the defendant endeav
ored to prove that Nolan r wms the‘ag
gressor and was trying to cut Beard
with a knife. Two defense witnesses
Were put on to prove this claim and
testified that they had seen a knife in
Nolan’s hand.
Park Saterfield testified that he
was with Nolan at the time the ar
gument started and the fight, which
ended in the death of Nolan. He de
clared that he picked up the body of
the dead man and carried it away,
and that there was no weapon on No
lan. Saterfield testified that Beard re
ceived his cuts which he claimed No
lan had inflicted, in an affray with
Hugh Francis, about five minutes
prior to the fight with Nolan. He said
he saw Francis cut Beard in the left
temple.
Francis testified that he had had a
fight with Beard and had tried to cut
him in the head, but could hot posi
tively say that he succeeded.
Dr. J. S. Alsobrooks, of Rossville,
witness for the defense, testified that
Beard was seriously cut in the left
temple and was bleeding to the extent
that it would have resulted in his
death had it not been given immediate
attention. He said that the wound
looked as if it was about five minutes
old when Beard came to his office for
treatment. “Beard told me that Nolan
did the cutting and that he had shot
him in self-defense,” said the phy
sician.
A. J. Harris, City marshal of Ross
ville was put on the stand at that
time, for the defense. He told of try
ing to stop the fight and that Morri
i sett had pushed him back, saying
that he had to pull his own gun on
Morrissett.
O. T. Anthony, witness for the de
fense, testified that Nolan has threat
ened Beard’s life. “Shorty,” as he is
known in the Rossville section, stated
that Nolan asked him what he
thought about killing Beard. He said
that although he had advised Nolan
not to attempt it, Nolan had left him
saying that he would kill him if he
had the chance. .
Defendant’s Statement
Dock Beard stated that he killed
Nolen in self-defense when he was be
ing assaulted with a dangerous knife.
He stated that he was working in
connection with the Shipp Detective
agency, and had found some stolen
goods in the' home of some of Nolan’s
relatives. He testified that Nolan had
told him that if be ever searched his
house he would kill him for it. Beard
said that far this reason Nolan was
prejudiced against him and was at
tempting to kill him. He denied that
he had cursed Nolan, saying that No
lan had accosted him on the street
and was the agressor. He denied that
he had followed Nolan and beat him
with the butt of his gun before the
killing took place.
A 13-year old son of Nolan testified
that he had heard Beard threaten to
kill his father only a short time be
fore the tragedy.
Frank Shelton, another state wit
ness, testified that Beard was drink
ing at the time and only a short time
before had offered him a drink, which
he refused.
Vic Walker also testified that he
was offered a drink of whisky by.
Beard a short while before the affray
that resulted in Nolan’s death,
t Up to the time the Messenger went
to press at noon Thursday, the jury
was still out on this case.
Brandon Murder Case New On Trial
Webb Brandon charged with the
killing of “Fatty” Martin, at Ross-'
ville, was on trial as the Messenger
went to press Thursday. The jury , se
lected for the trial of this case are
the following citizens:
T. M. Quillian S. A. Littlejohn
R. W. Coulter J. C. Keown
W. E. Keown G. F. Parker
W. A Head A. G. Cremer
J. H. Quails Phillip Schmitt
Ed Hammontree T C. Moore
Attorneys for the state in this case
are: Solicitors Taylor and Kelley,
Porter and Mebane, of Rome and
James Snodgrass, of Rossville; for
the defense the attorneys are: Resser
and Shaw, of this city and 0. N.
Chambers, of Rossville.
Other Criminal Cases Disposed Os
This Week
Zol Youngblood plead guilty to the
offense of making liquor and was sen
tenced to 8 months in the chaingang.
The Judge in commenting upon this
man having no.hands stated that he
did not know what they would do with
him at the gang, but guessed they
would feed and water him, but that
j this liquor business must be stopped.
Grady Baker, through his lawyer
I plead guilty last Friday to the
> charge of possessing liquor and waa
; fined S2O. /
The case of Paul Mustakas, charged
with possessing the 278 quarts of
bottled in bond rye liquor, that Sheriff
Hannon, together with "the three min
isters of tfer-htonw -pouMd into the
LaFayette, Georgia, Friday, Febuary 29, 1924.
7TH. DIST. HIGH .
MEET AT DALTON
' APRIL 18-19
The Seventh District High School
meet will be held at Dalton Friday
and Saturday April 19-19. The high
schools of the county sire working
hard preliminary to selecting repre
sentatives tcc meet at Dalton, and
:the ; WSlker high.schools' are determin
ed to carry off a 'large number' of
'honors in all events this year.
' Below is the official schedule of
events: . .
The program in detail as announc
ed by the committee in charge fol
lows.
1. Spelling Contest
This contest will be held in the
schools about the first of April, when
J. S. Stewart will send to each school
100 words, 50 taken from Seventy
Lessons in Spelling and 50 taken from
high school vocabulary. These words
are to be given the senior class on a
day to be designated, the papers
graded and the average for the class
made by the principal of the school
and two of his teacuirs, papers and i
average to be sent to John T. Duncan, j
Dalton, Ga. the day after the contest '
has been held. The words must be
given out by someone not connected
with the school. The papers will be re
viewed by a committee from the ex
ecutive committee. First, second and
third places made oti averages from
schools Will count in award of cup.-
An award of a 1 Copy of Webster’s
International Dictionary Will be made
to the school winning first place.
2. Essay Contest
To be held at High School Building
on Friday, April 18, at 11:30 a. ntf.
1. For Girls—One representative
from each school.
2. For Boys—One representative
f.om each school.
Subject to be taken from current
literature.
3. Athletic Contest
To be held Friday, April 18, at 2:30
p. m.
No school may enter more than six
boys for athletics.
The following events will be held '
in the order named:
1. 100 Yard Dash.
2. Running High Jump.
3. Shot put
4. Pole vault
5. 220 yard dash
6. Running broad jump.
7. 440 yard dash.
8. 120 yard hurdles.
9. Half-mile relay race.
Each school may have only one con
testant in any event except in the
half-mile relay race, in which four
boys from a school must run.
4. Music—Piano Contest
At high school auditorium, Friday,
April 18, 8 p. m.
One representative from each high
school. No selection may exceed eight ]
minutes ip length.
5. Recitation Contest
High school auditorium, Friday,!
April 18, 8 p. ffl.
One girl from each school. No reci
tation may exceed 8 minutes. Musi
cal accompaniment is not permitted
with selection.
e. Exhibits
High school building.
Schools are invited to make exhi
bits In notebook work in English,
History and Science.
A cup will be awarded the school
making the highest number of points
in this exhibit. The three notebooks I
in any subject from a school will be i
coated as a unit. All notebooks must
be original from cover to cover, the ;
cover to be of any loose leaf commer
cial cover—the only decorations al
lowed being ribbons in school colors.
English—Thi ee notebooks, no two
from same clast.
History—Three notebooks, no two
from same class.
Science—Three notebooks, no two
from same class.
7. Meeting Executive Committee
High school auditorium Saturday!
April 19,-8:30 a. m.
Selection of place for n«xt meeting.
Election of executive officers and
committee.' All superintendents and
high school teachers are invited to
attend this meeting.
8. Declamation Contest
Hgh school auditorium, Saturday
April 19, 10 a. m.
One boy from each school. T&ne
limit of each selection, 8 minuteSv
Award of prizes and cups.
City Sewer, was called and he did not
answer. A nisi was taken by the
Court. He has op a cash bond of 1700.
Grady Phillips charged with the of-.
ferae of assaulting an old man in Ar
muchee some time ago and robbing
him, plead guilty to the charge and;
stated that he was drunk at the time,
and he presented a number of promi- 1
nent men who testified to his good
character and peculiar disposition. |
The court reduced the offense to a
misdemeanor but refused to / allow
him to pay a fine and sentences him
to 6 months in the gang.
John Gussie {dead guilty to possess
ing liquor and was given a 6-month.’-,
chaingang sentence.
Several others have plead guilty but
the Messenger could not get them this
week before we went to press on se
eomnt of the officers being so busy in
the murder trials,-'but wiU give a full.
sevount of the proceedings next wsefc. j
Ji A. SARTAIN
FOR RE-ELECTION
AS SCHOOL SUPT.
J. A. Sartain makes formal his an
-nouneeinent for re-election to the of
fice of 'ounty School Superintendent
of Walker County, subject to the pn
mary ot March 19th. Mr. Sartain has
served in this capacity the past four
years end has made a splendid offi
cial. Much progress has been made in
the schools of the county during his
term of office. He is widely known to
thq voters and seeks re-election upon
hi» record in office. Below is his for
mal card:
To, The Voters of Walker County:
1 announce myself a candidate for
re-eleCtion to the office of School Sup
erintendent, subject to the action of
the Primary. If elected I pledge a
continuance of my best efforts for
ther betterment of the county schools.
1 shall continue to advocate and work
for consolidation, that the country
boys and girls may have an equul op
portunity for securing an education
s^that epjoyqd by city and town
i children. I welcome an investigation
j of the record of progress made during
my administration. I will thank you,
both ladies and men, for your support.
Yours for better schools,
i J. A. SARTAIN.
CO-OPERATIVE
PLAN TO SECURE
FERTILIZERS
the fertilizer committee for the
coufity met wi the County Agent’s of
fice Saturday afternoon and made
plajs to purchase co-operatively for
all farmers of the county who wish to
buy through the committee. It was
decided to buy fertilizer materials as
well/ as complete goods. All farmers
who wish to buy through the commit
tee should see one of the committee
men in their community. The follow
ing men were elected as the purchas
ing committee: M. D. Cagle , A. G.
Creiaer, L. M. Kay. The men to take
orders are. as follows.
C. L. Story Dr. W. P. Henry
F. JLShattuck Bob Dyer
gIA. Langley E. M. Goodson
W. tfi McCurdy S. R. H. Anderson
J. E. Ashworth Jess Simmons
B. F. Logan Tom Crowder
A. J. Howell, Sr. J. F. Walker
C. ’M. Lowry N. A Scott
Ben Loughridge J S. Burgess
J. H. Jennnings David Smith
C. L. Cantrell Chas. E. Owings
L. P. Keith C. Dunaway
J. W. Morris Recce Neal
Prof. Ben Keown. ✓
AUCTION SALE
FORFAKMERSTO
BE HELD MONDAY
County Agent Saye states that he
will hold the monthly auction sale
for the farmers who may have live
stock, used household goods and sec
ond-hand farming tools to sell, on
next Monday morning March 3rd at
ten o’clock, in front of the courthouse.
All farmers who have the above-nam
ed articles for sale may bring same
arid have them sold free of cost to
them. Mr. Saye makes this announce
ment on account of a number of re
quests of farmers to hold the month
ly sale. Doubtless next month the lo
cal merchants will again announce
the golden rule sale.
The following livestock are announc
ed for sale next Monday at the Farm
ers’ Auction sale:
Team good black mare mules, five
years old. To be sold at auction neyt
Monday. If you want a good pair of
young mules here is your opportuni
ty.—E. D. Keown.
W. A. NICHOLS AMONG THE
PETITIONERS FOB CHARTER
FOR RINGGOLD HOSIERY MILL
Ringgold, Ga. Feb. 27—W. A. Nich
ols, of Chattanooga, W. H. Trundle, J.
H. Clark, J. P. Kittle, T S. Emberton,
W. T. Thomas and J H Trimmier have
applied to the Superior Court of Ca
toosa -County for a charter to be in
corporated under the style of the
Ringgold Hosiery Mill The capital
stock of the incorporation is $160,000
a large amount of which has already
been subscribed., Mr. Nichols, who
has been working on this proposition
for several weeks feels assured that
the pnoposed amount will be made up
in a short time and that the now ho
siery mill will soon become a reality.
Much- interest has been aroused a
bout the new industry in this section
as Ringgold has long felt the need of
a manufacturing plant of this kind.
The location of thfa place is well suit
ed for any kind of manufactory with
Jteeplendid railway fasittties, good
roads sad other aatarai radswusnU.
Saturday Is The Last Day
For Candidates To Pay
Their Assessments
MUST BE IN HANDB OF W. A.
WARDLAW, CHAIRMAN DEMO.
CRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE BY MIDNIGHT SATURDAY'
—THOSE FAILING TO PAY WILL I
FAIL TO GET THEIR NAMEB ON
TICKET FOR MARCH 19TH PRI
MARY.
Mr. Candidate have you paid your
primary entry fee?
According to the ruling of the
county Democratic Executive Com
mittee, all candidates must qualify by
paying the respective fees by Satuiv
day night March Ist. The time limit
is midnight next Saturday night. This
fee is used for defraying the expenses
of the election, printing ballots, elec
tion blanks, holding the election etoi,
and candidates who fail to pay this
fee to the county chairman, Mr. W. A.
Wardlaw, LaFayette, Ga. on the above
date, will fail to get their names on
the official ballot for the primary eleq T
tion of March 19th. .Candidates who
have not paid the assessments, are
therefore, urged to attend to this
matter between now and Saturday j
night.
The assessments upon each candi
date for the various county offices
were fixed by the Executive Commit
tee as follows announcement of which
was made in a previous issue:
Ordinary $-10.00
Clerk 30.00
Sheriff 25.00
Tax Receiver 20.00
Tax Collector 20.00
County School Superintendent 20.00
Coroner ■ .50
Surveyor .00
Board Roads and Revenue 1.00
As To Board Members i
There still seems to be some con
fusion as to the election of the mem
bers of the Roads and Revenue. In
some quarters there is the impres-!
sion that Board members may be .
elected at large and that for instance, |
all Board members may be elected
from one single group district if there i
were enough candidates in that group. I
This is erroneous. The entire
votes on all Board members, but one
nember from each group district must -
be nominated in the primary. Group
districts are arranged in this manner:
LaFayette, Wilson and Cane Creek
Militia districts compose one group
district; Chickamauga, Rock Springs
and Pond Springs Militia District*
compose another group district; Rose
ville, Chattanooga Valley and Main
tain Militia Districts compose anouior
group district; Cedar Grove, Kensing
ton and Lisbon militia districts com
pose another group district, and Last
and West Armuchce and Chestnut
Flat militia districts compose another
group district.
The county i« divided then into five
group dist. and one member of Board 1
of Roads and Revenue must be nomi
nated in the primary from each of the
group districts, but the entire county
votes on all the members from ull the
five group districts.
In the 1820 primary only the group
districts nominated a member of the
Board, but the law has been changed j
so that the voters of the entire county !
vote on all the members in all the
group districts and not as in 1920
when the group districts elected their
own member of the Board. The Board
members must come from the group
districts -as in 1920 but the whole
county votes on the members instead
of only the group districts voting on
them as was the law in 1920.
We trust this will clear the matter
and that no confusion may arise on
election day. ,
In view of the fact that several
changes have been made in some dis
trict lines in the county since the last
primary election In 1920, the Demo
cratic Executive Committee will in
next week’s issue announce the names
of voting places in the various dis
trict* of the county in order to avoid
any confusion as to the election.
Kent Tuesday Last Day To
Register For March Primary
For the convenience of the people
in the various districts, the Tax Col
lector announces below a schedule of
dates and places for registration for
the election of March 19th. The regis
tration law holds that where a penron;
is registered once he i* not required
to ente# We name anymore on the |
registration books. All registered per- j
sons may vote, if they have paid all
their taxes, are still in the county
said are not in the chaingang, so
state* the law. *
last year a transfer of the names
on the old registration book* were
made to new registration books. Some
names were perhaps inadvertently
omitted, therefore, it 1* reeweary and
important when the Tu* Collector
comes arouad oa the below 4atoe fier;
the pcoffla who want to veto te am to
Want Ads in
Messenger
Pay
One Dollar Per Year
it that their name* are on the boots.
Tho registration books close oa
March 4th.
So many requests have been made
of me to take the registration books
around that I have made the follow
ing dates and places for the conveni
ence of the voters, and anyone wish
ing to register, please be prompt for
the schedule is heavy and the time is
short:
Feb. 29th
Junkie 10 am.
/ugar’s Store '. 11:30 a m
Durham 12:30 p. m.
March Ist
Catlett 8 a. m.
Rock Springs 9 a. m.
Chic-leahiauga 10 a m to 2:30 p in
Rossville . s 3pm to 8:30 p m
March 3rd
Kensington 9 a. m.
tSifoper Heights 10:30 a m
Cassandra 11:30 a. m
Cedar Grove 1 p. m ,
Daugherty 2:30 p. m.
Davie Gross Roads 3:30 p. m.
Estelle 4 p. m.
- - 1 March 4th
Pipe Shop 9 a. m.
Flints tone 10 a. m.
Brackett’s Store Y 11:30 a. m.
J; Isb ?n 12:30 p. m.
Pond Springs 2 p. m.
Union Cotton Mill 4 p. m*
HENRY BROWN, T. C.
2 MOREAIOUNCE
FOR BOARD ROADS
AND REVENUE
George A. Langley and G. R. (Les
ter) Morgan, of the group district of
LaFayetfe, Wilson and Cane Creek,
make formal their announcements
| for the Board of Roads and Revenue,
subject to the March 19th primary.
Both these citizens are known to the
Voters. Following are the announce
, ments:
I To the Voters of Walker County:
I announce myself a candidate for
the offlce-of Board of Roads and Reve
] nue, subject the Democratic pri
i mary of March 19th. If elected I will
| give the best, conscientious, honest
service to the people I am capable of.
I solicit the vote and influence of the
people of the county. .
Respectfully,
GEORGE A. LANGLEY.
To the Voters of Walker County:
I announce myself a candidate for
the office of the Board of Roads and
Revenue, subject to the primary on
March 19th. If elected I will give to
this office the best service of which I
am capable. I will appreciate the voto
and influence of the people of the
county.
Respectfully,
G. K. (LESTER) MORGAN.
ALLEN PETTIGREW
POPULAR YOUNG
MAN LAID TO REST
Allen Pettigrew, aged 30, eldest son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Pettigrew,
died at Lincoln Memorial University
in Kentucky last Friday morning, fol
lowing an illness of typhoid fever.
The body arrived at Chattanooga
Saturday afternoon late, and waa
brought to his home near laFayette
Saturday night.
He was the eldest of twelve child
ren and is the first to be taken from
the family circle. He was popular
with faculty and students, stood high
in his cluss and was a young man of
much promise. His death is deeply de
plored.
Besides his parents he is survived
by nine brothers and two sisters. The
brothers are Ira, Jesse, Grudy, Paul,
William, Luke, Roy, Daniel and Ber
ry; the sisters are Misses Ruth and
Donnie Pettigrew.
Funeral services were held Sunday
afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from Cen
ter Point Baptist church, conducted
by Rev. T. J. Huskinson, of Chatta
nooga, in the presence of a large
concourse of sorrowing relative* and
friends. Many beautiful floral offer
ings from the Y. M. C. A., the Lin
coln Memorial University Literary so
cieties, the faculty and students of
the University as well as from num
erous individuals eminently attested
to the high esteem in which the de
ceas'd was held. Interment immedi
ately followed the funeral services in
the cemetery near the church.
The LnFayette Furniture Company
Lud charge of funeral arrangements.
•FOR SALE —Large six-hole family
cooking range almost as good as
new; high shelf, warming closet and
reservoir; pipe in first class repair;
looks like new, for quick sale will sell
for 923. Worth S3O. Also large Buck's
heater in good repair. Can eee itorse
at my residence—W. T. Brantley,
Binggutd. G*.