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Volume XLVII.—No. 36.
Gang Sentences Imposed
On Liquor Manufacturers
Grand Jury Adjourned
Wednesday Red Letter Day
In Disposition of Cases
JURIES AND COURT MAKING
THE PATH OF THE trans
gressor HARD THIS WEEK
STRAIGHT GANG SENTENCES
METED OUT TO MANUFACTU
RERS OF WHISKY RECORD
FOR DISPATCH OF CRIMINAL
BUSINESS UNEQUALED IN
WALKER COUNTY GRAND
JURY RETURNS AN UNUSUAL
BATCH OF TRUE BILLS, AD
JOURNED WEDNESDAY— PRE
SENTMENTS ON THIS PAGE
The record of the Walker Superior
Court has been broken this week in
the trial of criminal cases. On Wed
nesday quite a number were tried and
disposed of without any loss of time,
and the splendid dispatch of business
was the occasion of many favorable
comments by the citizens and attor
neys. The attorneys state that more
business was done Wednesday than
any previous day in a long number of
years, and doubt if the record has
been equaled in the history of the
Court.
Whisky infractions have taker, up
the most time, and Judge Wright ha 3
been firm in cases of conviction, met
ing out straight gang sentences to ail
manufacturers.
Whether or not Court will continue
next week was not annoifnced Thurs
day.
Grand Jury Adjourns
The grand jury adjourned Wednes
day at noon and read the August term
presentments in open court Wednes
day afternoon. On this page will be
found the full text of the present
ments. Judge W'right dismissed the
grand jury, after complimenting them
upon their efficient work, subject to
his call anytime, should an occasion
arise Whereby a grand jury is needed.
Aside from going into county mat
ters thoroughly, a record was set for
finding true bills, over 150 true bills
being returned at this term.
Below is the list of criminal cases
tried and disposed of up to Thursday
at eleven o’clock.
Criminal Cases Disposed Os
State vs Jordon; plead guilty to a
misdemeanor; fine $1 and costs.
M. J. Carpenter, who plead guilty
at a former term of court upon the
charge of manufacturing liquor ap
peared to receive his sentence. He
told the Court he was 08 years old
and Judge Wright stated that owing
to his advanced age he would give
him only 7 months in the gang. The
defendant stated that he would give
bond of §IOOO until Monday when he
would begin his term in the Walker
county chair.gang.
The first case going to a jury was
that of the State vs Rufus Williams
of Rock Springs; charged with a mis
demeanor fornication and adultery.
This case was hard fought by both
sides and took considerable of the day
Monday. The jury found a verdict of
guilty. He received a verdict of $l5O
and costs or 11 months in the gang.
Sol. Taylor was assisted in the prose
cution by Rosser and Shaw, while
Porter and Mebane of Rome and Hen
ry and Jackson, of LaFayette repre
sented the defense. The defense at
torneys stated that a motion for a
new trial would be made at once.
Hubert Crawford plead guilty to
larceny of auto casings and carry
ing a pistol. He received a fine of $25
and costs in the first case and SSO and
costs in the other. He stated that he
was 17 years old. A young fellow by
the name of Cummings plead guilty
to being implicated with Crawford in
the larceny charge and also received
a fine of $25 and costs.
John Stamper drew a directed ver
dict of not guilty of manufacturing
liquor as the evidence showed that he
was only seen coming away from the
still of M. J. Carpenter with a jug.
He claimed that he had only gone
there to get a jug of liquor.
Clifford Hampton plead guilty to
having a small quantity of liquor in
his possession on July 4th on Look
out Mountain and drew a fine of S2O
Ualkn* Qlmmtij
! and costs or 4 months.
; State vs Roy Ramey charged with
I living in a state of adultery; found
j guilty; C months in chaingang.
Beacie White was found not guilty
i of the charge of fornication and adul
-1 tery.
George Johnson plead guilty to
carrying knucks and drew fine of sls
and costs. It was stated that he was
j the main support of a mother at
Rossviile and the officers of Rossyille
' asked that the Court take this into
: consideration.
! Mrs. Tester Hartline was arraigned
| upon the charge of pointing and snap-
I ping a gun at the officers when they
were searching the home and prem
ises of her husband for liquor. She
was promptly found guilty. Not sen
tenced.
J. F. West a former night watch
man at the Peerless Woolen Mills at
Rossviile was tried upon the charge
of stealing cloth from the mills and
' disposing of same; found guilty and
given 12 months in the penitentiary
by the jury.
Vester Hartline drew a verdict of
not guilty upon the charge of manu
facturing liquor.
I Grady Gilreath, of Rossviile plead
guilty to possessing liquor; 2 months
in jail and 30 days in gang.
I Glenn Ellis plead guilty to burglary
this being the second time Judge
Wright had occasion to sentence him,
so- he stated that he would place him
beyond crime for a while; 2 years in
1 penitentiary.
Zula Green, who had given the City
authorities much trouble was found
guilty of vagrancy and was sent to
the state farm at Milledgeville for G
months.
Amos Allison, charged with the
manufacturing of liquor was found
guilty; 1 to 2 years in the pen.
D. M. Hall; Sabbath violation;
Plead guilty.
John Davis had a verdict of not
guilty directed for him on the charge
of selling liquor.
Will Roberson, colored; found guil
ty of public drunkenness; 90 days in
jail.
John White of East Armuchoe was
found guilty of selling liquor and
drew a gang sentence of 2 months.
Ed Millsaps, colored, whose home
was raided by the officers Monday, on
a search for whisky, when some 55
gallons of wine was found, plead guil
ty Wednesday to the charge of pos
sessing; 6 months in gang.
Bill Partain; carrying pistol; plead
guilty; S4O and costs or 5 months.
Claud Torbett of Rossviile was
found not guilty of selling liquor.
Joe Hasty plead guilty through his
attorneys to wife beating and receiv
ed a fine of SIOO.OO which was paid.
Walter Dixon started into trial up
on the charge of manufacturing liquor
but after the State had presented the
evidence, withdrew their plea of not
guilty and plead guilty. The Court
gave him ten months in the gang.
Bill Potter plead guilty to carrying
a pistol; S4O and costs or 5 months.
Herbert Smith, whom the Rossviile
officers stated had given them con
siderable trouble at the Pig Joint in
the liquor line, was found guilty of
selling liquor;
Suttle Hunt; auto violation; running
without a tag; $1 and costs.
Roy Smith plead guilty to gam
bling and drew a fine of $5 and costs
or 4 months in gang.
Julius Dunn, of Rossviile plead guil
ty to possessing liquor in two cases;
2 months in jail and 1 month in gang
in each case. Tennessee attorneys
came to his rescue and defended him
but ran against a snag in the Geor
, gia Court.
: Jim Allison, who was charged with
| four counts; carrying concealed pistol,
carrying pistol without license; drunk
l on highway and driving a car while
drunk was found guilty in all counts,
except the one of concealed pistol.
These cases were hard fought, At
torney General Chumlee, of Hamilton
County made a powerful appeal to the
jury to free his old friend, but the
jury oould not agree with him. He
received a fine of S4O and costs in
each of two cases, while for driving a
car while drunk drew a straight
chaingang sentence of 9 months;
Judge Wright stated that he had
made up his mind to stop all persons
drinking liquor from driving a car
and did not know of any other way to
stop them but send them to the gang.
T. F. and Charlie Brackett plead
guilty to operatnig a puncfaboard;
LaFayette. Georgia, Friday, August 29, 1924.
passed till November for sentence.
State vs Louis and Raymond Grav
itt; transporting liquor; found guilty;
5 months each in gang.
State vs Frank Manley; possessing
whisky; found guilty; $25 and costs
or three months.
State vs Nathan Hall, a negro boy;
plead guilty; $1 and costs or 3 months
State vs Roy Ramey, charged with
entering a Mr. Bennett’s smokehouse
below town and stealing a ham; he
denied this and said some unknown
man brought the ham there and had
part of it cooked and sold him the
balance. The jury was out on this
case only a few minutes and returned
a verdict of guilty; 12 months in
gang.
State vs Bob White; selling liquor;
found guilty; C months in gang.
Joe Roberson was fined $lO for not
appearing as a witness in the Sha
han case.
Case of the State vs G. W. Webb,
Jr., charged with assault and intent
to murder, on trial.
Craig Shahan Case Postponed
Until November Term
The case of the state versus Craig
Shahan, charged with the manufac
ture of liquor, was finally postponed
to the November term Thursday
morning, and will be set as the first
criminal case for the November term.
This ease was called three times this
week and for one reason or another
was postponed from day to day. This
morning the case was again called and
upon the statement of leading coun
sel for Shahan, who is Col. Norman
Shattuck, that his, Mr. Shattuck’s
grandmother, was very ill and needed
his attention, the case was taken
from the calendar for this term. This
case has proved a hard battle for the
state from start to finish, and is a
case of two years’ standing. Associ
ated with Mr. Shattuck in the defense
of Shahan is Col. Ed Maddox, of
Rome. Col. R. M. W. Glenn it is un
derstood, offered his services to Sha
han unsolicited.
August Term Presentments
We the Grand Jury, drawn and
sworn for the August term of the
Walker Superior Court, 1924, submit
the following report:
We have found through committee
reports on the various public affairs
of the County and Officers the follow
ing conditions:
The books and offices of the Offic
ers we find neatly and correctly kept
as far as we are able to ascertain.
We find the Ordinary’s books neat
ly and correctly kept so far as we
are able to ascertain, and wish to
commend the work of our Ordinary
most highly.
Commend eHalth Officer
And Urge Co-operation
We have investigated the County
Health Office and find that the books
are correctly kept so far as we are
able to ascertain. We find the work
is far greater and more profitable to
the county than the people are aware
of. We Teel that we should co-operate
with (air health officers more than we
ilo, as the health of the county is
worth more than dollars and cents to
the county.
The Sheriff’s books are neatly and
correctly kept and dates carefully re
corded on admission and discharge of
prisoners.
Praise Sheriff Harmon And Call
Upon Citizens To Assist Him
In His Great Work Against
The Whisky Traffic.
We find that practically all .cases
coming before this body are caused
from whisky and we commend very
highly the stand which Sheriff Har
mon has and is taking and we recom
mend that every citizen in Walker
County assist him in this great work.
We find the books in the Clerk’s
office neatly and correctly kept so
far as we are able to ascertain. All
files of important papers are up to
date and can be found immediately,
and we highly commend Mr. Bryan
for the efficient manner in which his
office is kept.
We find the J. P. and N. P. books
neatly and correctly kept so far as
we are able to ascertain, with the
exception of a few cases where they
are not properly signed and do not
show the disposal of cases as tiiey
should. We recommend that these of
ficers familiarize themselves with the
law as far as possible.
Repairs Needed For Pubic Buildings
We have examined the public build
ings and find the following repairs
needed: In the courthouse we find the
following defects, a leak in the south
room of the clerk’s office; also leak ir.
the lawyers consultation room. We
find baseboards in the hall on the sec
ond floor loose; also glass in the door
of the tax receiver’s office broken.
We find men’s toilet on the first
floor needs repairing and some re
pairs should be made on the furnace
before same is used again. We find
the plaster falling off in several rooms
and the calcimine peeling off in near
ly every room in the courthouse. We
especially recommend that all the
leaks in the courthouse roof
be repaired and that all places
where plaster is falling be replaster
ed. Also that the main auditorium be
repaihted or ealeimined before anoth
er tefrm of Court. We find the court
house) well kept and commend the
Janitor for his efficent service.
We find the jail in good sanitary
condition but recommend that the
plaster on the ceiling of the jail porch
be repaired. Also that the tiling on
the hearths of the dining room and
bed rooms be replaced. We also rec
ommend that a small hot water sys
tem be installed in the jail in con
nection with the kitchen stove and
connected with prisoners bath.
Improvement In Management
Os The County Convict Camp
We have inspected the convict camp
and are convinced that there has -been
many improvements in the manage
ment of same. We commend Mr.
Strickland, the Warden. Also Mr.
Veatcli and Mr. Clark for their ser
vice. We find Mr. Clark a very im
portant, and efficient man and recom
mend that his salary be increased. We
find the folowing county property to
wit:
;»00 bus. oats, 75 bales hay, 32
mules. 100 chickens, 2 wash pots, 225
blankets, 1 sow and four pigs, 15 meat
hogs, 800 pounds flour, GOO pounds
meat, 14 cases beef hash, 25 gallons
syrup, 10 bushels meal, 2 sacks beans,
1 sack, sugar, 1 sack rice, 2 steel
cages ,1 1-2 cans soda, 12 cans pow
der, 2 oases dynamite, Blacksmith
shop complete, 1 three-ton truck, 1
concrete mixer, 12 wheeler scrapes,
3 road plows, 1 mule grader, 5 shot
guns, 3 pistols, 2 wagon tanks, 1
blood hound, 12 wheelbarrows. Also
sufficient number of picks and shov
els to carry on the work.
Tax Collector’s Book
In Excellent Condition
We find the Tax Collectors and Tax
receivers books neatly and correctly
kept so far as we are able to ascer
tain. We submit the Tax collector’s
report as follows:
Total to account for, State, County
and school $182,172.23
Accounted for as follows:
Paid State $36,704.86
Paid county 109.111.28
Paid school county-wide 24,989.62
Paid Tax Receiver 2,447.22
Paid Tax Collector 2,772.74
Errors, Reliefs by Board and
Insolvents 2,304.21
Fifas on hand 3,518.13
Cash on hand 204.17
Total accounted for $182,172.23
People At County Home
Being Well-Cared For
We have visited and examined the
County home. We find there eight
male and eleven female inmates, also
eight children, all well eared for and.
apparently well satisfied. We find all
the buildings in good repair except
granery which is in need of a new
roof. We also find the devotional ser
vice room in need of chairs, and we
recommend that at least three dozen
chairs be bought. We find 50 acres
planted in corn, 2 1-2 acres in sor
ghum, 1-2 acres in Irish potatoes, 5
acres in sweet potatoes. YVe find the
following supplies and property:
1 1-2 barrels flour, 2 bus. meal, 50
pounds coffee, 50 pounds sugar, 2200
No. 3 cans fruit, 45 bus. wheat, 50
lbs. meat, 50 lbs larcL 20 gals, kero
sene, 20 bus. corn, 25 loads red top
bay, 4 mules in good work order, 14
head of hogs for fall use, 2 sows and
13 pigs, 1 boar, 8 cows a 1 ! giving
milk, I yearling, 1 bull, 12 tons coal,
1 binder, in good condition, 1 wheat
drill, in need of repair, 1 two horse
wagon, 1 disc harrow, 1 roller, 1 mow
er and rake, 1 canning outfit, and suf
ficient number of small tools to op
erate the farm.
We desire to take this opportunity
to publicly commend the work of the
.Supt. Mr. J. T. Ashworth.
Commend Claude Clements For
Splendid Record as Clcik of Com.
We have investigated the books of
the Board of Commissioners of Roads
and Revenue and find same together
with ail other records neatly and cor
rectly kept so far as we are able to
ascertain. We find the expenditures
of the county from Jan. Ist to .Idly
Ist of this year as follows:
Chaingang $12,269.62
Health 2,864.69
Coroner 51.00
Roads 14,261.96
Bridges 5,669.46
Courts and Jail 7,233.34
Bonds and interests . 20,761.81
Courthouse 833.77
County farm and poor 3,973.79
Sundrys 1,365.51
Total $69,274.39
We wish to commend Mr. Clements
the clerk of the Board for the excel
lent and neat manner in which he 13
keeping the books and records of this
office.
Urge Officers To Stop Children
Under 16 Years Driving Autos
This body wishes to commend the
arresting officers of our county for
the efficient manner in which they
have brought the violators of the au
tomobile law to justice. We are aware
of the fact that a number have bden
punished but feel that many have
escaped who have violated these law 3
and make the following recommenda
tions: First, that our officers be co
500 CO. FARMERS
IS GOAL SET BY
COTTON ASSO.
Beginning this week the Georgia
Cotton Growers Co-operative Asso
ciation is staging a two weeks’ cam
paign in this county for membership
into the association.
Messrs O. L. Mobley, A. H. Thur
mond and Noel McConnell, of the As
sociation, are in the county and will
make a thorough-going canvass of
fihe various districts in the effort of
an increased membership in this
county.
Already over seven thousand new
members have been added to the Geor
gia Association this year, the total
enrollment of the state now being
over fifty thousand members. The
men in the field state that the North
Georgia counties are co-operating
splendidly and large increases in
membership are being noted in these
counties.
Walker county has three hundred
and forty-four members at present
in the Association and the goal set
for this county for the two weeks’
campaign is five hundred members.
MORE DRUNKS IN WASHINGTON
IN ONE WEEK THEN SEEN IN
WALKER COUNTY SINCE L. Y\
HARMON lIAS BEEN SHERIFF
Washington, D. C. Aug. 24, 1924.
Ed Messenger:
I am sending you under separata
cover the picture section of the
Washington Rost, showing the of
ficers and personnel of the Bonus
department. I know the ex-service
men of the county will be interested
in them. I would like for you to show
them to J. W. Massey and Tom Bryan
especially.
1 appreciate your forwarding the
Messenger so soon after I subscribed.
I enjoyed reading Judge YVright’s
charge, especially his reference to
Sheriff Harmon. I have seen more
drunk men since coming here than I
have seen in Walker county since Mr.
Harmon was elected Sheriff.
Sincerely yours,
J. W. BOMAR.
operated with in their duties in stop
ping automobiles being operated on
the public highways without Georgia
license being properly displayed.
Second, There are a number of Au
tomobile owners in our county who
live in, own property, pay taxes in,
and owe their allegiance to the state
of Georgia, who are operating motor
vehicles on our public highways with
Tennessee license, and wc especially
recommend that this violation of the
law be dealt with.
Third, YVe find that the law against
children under 16 yeuts of age oper
ating motor vehicles on the public
highways is being universally disre
garded in our county and while a
number of parents were called before
fihe Grand Jury and warned that the
violation of this law must be stopped,
we especially recommend that the
proper authorities take necessary
slips to see that the law is obeyed.
Vacancies Filled
Vacancies having occurred on the
county board of education, we appoint
the following: VV. G. Hunter to suc
ceed Leo (I Au, and VV. B. Shaw to
succeed himself. We appoint J. B.
Davis as N. i\ in 943rd district to
succeed A. J. Howell whose term has
expired.
YY’e appoint C. A. Chambers N. I’,
in Mountain District to succeed him
self.
YVe recommend that these present
ments be published in the Walker
County Messenger and that the usual
fee be paid therefor.
We wish to express our thunks to
Judge Wright for his able charge; al
so Solicitor Taylor and his assistant,
Mr. Kelly for their kindness and co
operation; also to our bailiff Mr.
Roper for his faithfulness in waiting
on our body.
YY’e also wish to commend and
thank C. J. Hammond our foreman,
for the efficient manner in whfdi our
body was conducted.
C. J. Hammond, Foreman.
Burl F. Hall, Clerk.
K. V. Thurman, Assistant Clerk.
J. H. Jennings
Deed Shankle
YY r . G. Alvtrson
J. M. S. Myers
James Johnson
J. E. Ashworth
YV. O. McCurdy
M. A. Camp
T. A. Bird
M. P. Orr
Fred Gilreath
John F. Patterson
A. L. Cooper
R. R. Shaver
J. R. Horton
J. C. Tucker
C. G. Blackwell
A. P. Boss
Spencer J. Bomar
J. F. Mi Mean. . _ „„
Want Ads in
Messeugei
Pay
One Dollar Per Year
SUNDAY SCHOOL
WORKERS MEET
AT ROSSVILLE
FRIDAY IN ONE-DAY SESSION
STATE SECRETARY WEBB TO
ATTEND ATTRACTIVE PRO
GRAM ANNOUNCED DINNER
ON GROUND ROSSVILLE M.
E. CHURCH HOST TO CONVEN
TION
Everything is said to by ip readiness
for the annual convention of the
Walker County Sunday School Asso
ciation, which will be held at Rossville
Methodist church on Friday, August
29th.
The program is complete with a fine
array of talent awaiting to be pre
sented. The dinner to be served on the
grounds in picnic style is all planned
ready to be cooked and eaten. Many
schools are expecting to send large
representations to compete for one
of the banners—either the one ottered
for the largest number of represen
tativs epresent in proportion to the
distance traveled, or the one offered
for the largest number of officers and
teachers in proportion to the distance
traveled provided 75 per cent are in
attendance.
R. I). Webb, State Secretary, will
attend and address the convention.
The morning session will begin
promptly at 10:15 and it is hoped that
all will be there on time.
• The following program will be pre
sented.
Program
Theme: Working Together To Win
In Georgia's Best Business.
Morning Se-xion
10:30--Song Servic\
10:40- -Scripture Reading and
Prayer by Rev. J. W. Brinsfield.
10:50—Little Things That Count—
By J. M. Carlock.
11:15 —Period of Business.
Securing of Records
Appointment of Committees
11:35—Working Together To Win
In Georgia’s Best Business—By R. D
Webb.
12:05—-Miscellaneous Business ,
12:20 —Adjournment for dinner.
Basket Dinner on Grounds.
Afternoon Session
I:4s—Song Service
I:ss—Scripture Reading and Pray
er—By Dr. J. P. Anderson.
2:os—The Teacher At Ili.s Best—
By Frank Camp.
2:35-—Problems in the Small School
—By Mr. Webb.
3:05 Period of Business
Report of Committees
Report of County Officers
Award of Banner.
3:3o—Adjournment.
SUNDAY CLOSING
ORDER EFFECTIVE
AFTER AUGUST
Beginning next Sunday, August
31st our business house will be closed
on Sundays. No gasoline, oil or any
parts will he sold; in fact our busi
ness house will be closed the entire
day Sundays. Our customer: m l
friends are hereby notified of tills or
der.
D. C. WILSON, INC.
It LaFayette, G?orgi i.
JON ES— MOON FA MIL V
REUNION AT CHESTNUT
FI Vi MONDAY SEPT. IST
The J Moon family reunion
will assemble in regular annual meet
ing Monday Sept. Ist at Mrs. Alice
Coulter’s at Chestnut Flat.
It is hoped that every member of
these two old pioneer families of
Walker County, will attend this meet
ing. These two families have many
brunches now by marriage extensions,
and the gathering on this occasion
should Ik? a very happy one to all who
attend. Invitation to our friends is
heat lily extended to meet with us on
this day.
In the morning the cemetery known
as the Moon cemetery which is near
the place of meeting, will be cleaned
off, an act expressing our kindly feel
ings and love for our departed rela
tives and friends.
At noon the big basket dinner will
be spread under the towering oaks
surrounding the fine spring of cold
running water. After which the al
ways social spirit of the occasion
shall have full sway the remaining
part of the afternoons, in a well ar
ranged program.
Everybody be sure and go.
Respectfully yours,
CHAS. ROBT. JONES, Chmn.
WANTED—A renter. Must be good
man with family. About 50 acres to
cultivate and sow. Renter to furnish
own stock and tools—J. T Thurman,
LaFayette, Ga. R. 5. 9-5 2tx
Beginning Monday we will only pay
1 l-2c per pound for peach seed—W
A. Abney and Son. ts