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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL JOHN L. HODGES, Publisher MVoiED TO HOME INTERESTS. PROGRESS AND CUITWE ESTABLISHED 1870 VOL. LV. PERRY, HOUSTON COUNTY, OA.. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1925 No 25 JOHN HOWELL SENTENCED TO ELECTRIC CHAIR Bibb Merchant Receives Extreme Penalty After Three Day Coorl Battle la Houston. New Trial Asked. ? After a three days hard fought court battle John Howell, Macon boot legger was convicted by a Houston County jury here Wed nesday night. Judge Mathews sentenced Howell to die in tfcc electric chair on August 6th. The trial began Monday morn ing, half that day being consumed in the sslection of the jury. One hundred twenty jurors were sum moned from which the trial jury was selected. About sixty witnesses from Bibb County weresummouod to testify. The trial developed many in teresting legal points and every step in the making up of the case was hotly contested, the jury be ing retired frequently to discuss points ot'law involved in toe testi mony of witnesses. In dramatic detail Robert Battle, negro star witness for the state, related to the jury Tuesday how Deputy Sheriff Harry Green was murdered near Bibb Sea at Macon on the morning of May i6, and laid the crime to John Howell. He began with the trip to Round Oak for a load of liquor on the night of the crime and then back to Maeon where they encountered Green. He related the details of the wild ride through the streets of Macon, with Green firing at the car and then down to swamps at Bibb Sea, where he said Howell firtd the fatal shots. Interruptions occurred on tech nical points of the law, the de fense contending strenuously that Harry Green was not a deputy sheriff at the time he was slain and that he was not chasing Howell in the death ride, while perform ing his duties. TwiCe*during the morning ses sion the jury was retired by Judge Mathews while ignumerable poluts relating upon the status of the slain man were argued by both the state and counsel for defense before the court. Solicitor General Garrett used witnesses called to the stand dur ing the morning session to testify that Green was a deputy sheriff ?nd held the privilege to arrest any violator of the law at any time. Defense counsel argued that no proof showing Green was a deputy could be produced in its highest form of evidence, namely the bond of office. Lane Mnl.Ially, chief of the sher iff's force, upon taking the witueos stand testified that he swore Green in as deputy. Objections were uttered by at torneys tor the defense and lengthy arguments followed. Attorneys for th- defense at tempted to prove by Deputy Lu ther Stephens that Greeu had de serted the motorcycle furnished him by Bibb County for the pur pose of performing his duties near Crumps Park and that he had hir ed a Ford, picked up a woman and started out on a "lark." Testimony that a half pint bot tle containing a fluid resembling moonshine whiskoy bad been found on Green's dead body was again offered. Tom McComillon, Bibb county jailor, next was summoned. He] testified that he saw a half pint] bottle that bad been taken from the dead man's person as well asa small sum of money. E. L. Poster, city detective, stated that Green was sober when he saw him on North Avenue j ?boat 12:55 o eleck ou the morn ing of May 16, and that the alain 1 deputy had tinkered on his car. Lewis Simpson, 10 years old,' of Macon, took the stand and said he had worked' at Howell's place at 715 Broadway. He said he found four 38 empty shells on a1 shelf in Howell's store. He iden tified shells shown him by Garrett as those he had found on the ! morning of the tragedy. i | Chief of Detectives Valet, Chief ? of Deputy Sheriffs Mullally and I Fred Pitts, who embalmed Green's body, and who testified that he discovered no odor of liqnor on , the body when he handled it at j the undertaking parlors, were (Called to the stand during the afternoon proceedings, I J. B. Hammond said Green was at his residence on the night of May 15, and that a woman, whose I name Green did not tell, drove up (and called Green to her car. Ham mond said Green got into his car and drove toward Catholic Woods, returning a moment later with a half pinl bottle that was half filled with whisky. Green told Hammond, the wit-1 ness said. "Have a drink- She told me to watch out that^ a car of liquor was coming through to night.*' , F, M. Kincaid, ,Tr,, said he did not see Green take a drink, that night and denied he told counsel for the defense that he had told them such. On the night of May 15, about 8 o'clock A. W, Barrow a negro said he had an auto accident on 1 Forsytn Road and that Green' drove up in an automobile, pulled his wife out of the wreckage and hauled her to a hospital. He was sober. L. S. Simpson aud Bill Spinks declared Howell had told them be fore Green's death that he would make it hard for the next man who tried to catch him. The jury was retired as both witnesses started answering questions asked by the Solicitor General and then ' the discussions on technicalities' followed. On the witness stand Wednes- 1 day morning Howell told the story 1 of his ride to Jones County; told how he loaded up his car with 100! gallons of whisky and then spread a canvas over the top and started ' for Macon with a negro, Robert Battle, as his only companion on , the trip. Howell told of the pursuit by a' strange car from whieh shots were J fired aud finally as a climax he de-| clared that Battle picked upa1 pistol that was lying on the seat between them and opened fire when Deputy Sheriff Harry Green drove alongside. "Battle shot Green,"' said Howell ' and after firing the shots he fled." Arguments took up the after noon of the third day of the trial. T. Arnold Jacobs opened for the defense, followed by J. W. Blood worth for the State; S. A. Nunn for defense; Solicitor General Charles H. Garrett for the State, and W^A. McClellan for the de fense. The case went to the jury about seven o'clock Wednesday evening and the verdict of guilty without recommendation was returned just three hours later at 10 o'clock. Immediately after the verdict lawyers for Howeil announced that they would file a motion lor ?'a new trial. Judge Mathews stated that he would fix the tentative| date for hearing the motion on July 22. Oliv9 Oil Importation Mor? thjn half of the edible olive oil that Is Imported Into the United States comes from Italy. OPENING OF NEW PERRYHOTEL EVENT OF WEDNESDAY EVENING Three HuM Attewl Bvftd Sapper Aad ' Dance. An event of unsual civic im portance as well as social interest to Perry and this section was the formal opening of the New Perry Hotel on last Wednesday evening. Some three hundred guests were present to enjoy the event, and were given the opportunity to in spect the new hotel. Besides a large number of local people, large parties from Macon, Fort Valley. Hawkinsville and other neighboring citics were present. From seven to nine a supper was served buffet style nfteiwaids there was dancing in the dining room, there being about one hun dred couples on the floor. Perry matrons and a score or more of Perry's prettiest girls as sisted Mrs. Skellie, the proprie tress in serving her guests. The Southern Serenaders of Macon furnished music for the occasion. Perry has every reason to be proud of her new hotel which has just now made its formal bow to the public, and many guests who saw the hotel on Wednesday night for the first time declare its to be the most beautiful and most modern to be found in any city of Georgia of less than 20,000 inhabitants. C1VITANS TO TAKE GA. PEACHES TO MEETING I A movement lias been launched by Civitans of Macon and Perry to advertise Georgia peaches at the I National Civitan Convention in Dayton, Ohio, Juue 22-24, in clusive, by taking the Georgia peach with then and giving visitors to the convention an op portunity to see and taste them. | Two hundred crates of peaohe? I will be taken to Dayton and thrso peaohes will be given out to thou sands who attend the convention. The delegates also will carry with them a little booklet that will tell of 50 ways in which Georgia peach es can be used, J. P. Ethridge has been appoint ed delegate from the Perry Civitan Club and W, E, Swanson alternate. BARBECUE AT HOUSTON LAKE This afternoon the members of the Civitau Club and their yuests will motor out to Houston F.ictoiy and v.-i 11 enjoy a barbecue. The club has invited members from the civic clubs of Oglethorpe, Mont(? zuma, Marshallviile, Fort Valley, and I'ue Kiwaina and CJivitan Clubs 'of Macon. In addition the Perry 'men have two guests. | There will be a short swim In the lake before supper is served.X Unity and Concord Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their Sabor. For If they falJ, the one will I lift up lils fellow; but woe to him t"hat la alone when he fnlleth; for lie hath not another to help him up. And If j one prevail against him, two ?hall withstand blin; and a threefold cord la not quickly broken.? Eccleslastea. Good Luck Emblem On the doorposts of many Jewish hooses ti. England are affixed small brass fittings, not imre tban three Inches In length and k?s than half an Inch in wldtn. The Inner portion Is hollow, and holda a parchment copy of i Jewish prayer. The emblem Is said to bring good lack to the household. WE ARE NOW IN POSITION TO MAKE PROMPT SHIPMENT Of All Orders For High Grade Fertilizers Either in car lots or less. NITRATE OF SODA $65.00 per Jon f. o. b. our plant for cash. Prices subject to changes made by THE IMPORTERS. "It's What'* IN The Bag That COUNTS." HEARD BROTHERS. . Manufacturers of High Grade Fertilizers. MACON, - GEORGIA BIG BARGAINS Automobile Tires and Tubes have advanced 30 per cent in the past few days and anotqer advance will take place next week. We took advantage of the low prices and are now offering our Tires and Tubes at the old price; 30 x 3 Casings at $6.65 and 3o x 3 1-2 at $7.85 for 10 days only. Our stock of Fruit Jars, Water Coolers and Freezers are also reduced. See us before you buy your Groceries, Hardware and General Merchandise. It will be to your interest. J. W. BLOODWORTH, PHONE No. 94. The Busy Big Store. Perry, Ga. We Are Now In The Paint Business ? We haAe just received a stock of Lucas Paints and Varnishes which is a recognized standard in the paint industry. We sell at standard Prices and guarantee the quality to be as good as any standard house paint on the market. It is now within the reach of all to have their hous es painted, saving the wear and tear of the weather and at the same time making beautiful the home. We will furnish paint, pay the painter, and allew you to pay same on installment plan. Twenty per cent down and the balance in 10 equal monthly payments. See us at once for details and get your painting done during the Spring as this is the time to get a better job. Perry Warehouse Co. TRUCK and WAGON BODIES for Hauling Peaches Let Us Build Them for You W. A. CURTIS, Perry, Ga.