Newspaper Page Text
DOUGLAS COUNTY SENTINEL.
/ALARMING INCREASE
IN FIREARM HOMICIDES
\i\
fc. Bureau of Vital Statistics
State Board of Health
' If you will man a paaHenger train
of six coaches with a full crew and
fill every seat, permitting seventeen
to stand on the platforms and in the
.Ulsles, you will have the homicide spe
cial of Georgia. Such a train may he
named and filled with those murdered
during the first nine months of 1920.
I The State has a record of 384 homi
cides during that period, not includ
ing the infants murdered, either In
tentionally or through carelessness,
and buried without a death certificate
being filed and a bural permit being
secured, as is required by the state
statute.
] The four rear coaches must he re
served for .those murdered by fire
arms, for in addition to the 240 seats
29 will be found in the aisles, 48 wo
men, 221 men, a total of 269 persons
murdered by such weapons during the
first nine months of 1920. As a mo
tive power for this special train, you
might imagine a huge pistol, since
that weapon was used In more., than
87 were suicides, 1,061 accidental
deaths, and 384 were homicides, show
ing a proportion of one suicide to 4
homicides and 17 accidental deaths. ,
All these deaths are said to be pre
ventable, yet suicides are ascribed
to conditions over which apparently
nothing less than the Almighty has
control. All accidental deaths can
not be prevented so long as floods and
storms are no better understood than
at present. All homicides will never
be stopped so long as a man’s naltire
partakes of the human. But the condi
tions leading to and the instruments
used in producing such deaths may.
be taken from the people and in this
way the number reduced.
Of the 25,263 deaths recorded by the
State Bureau of Vital Statistics dur
ing the first three quarters of 1920, one
out of every 16 was due to some cause
other than disease, ono in 23 due to
some accident, one in 65 was a homi
cide, and one in 290 a suicide. This
waste of human life is realized when
j it is remembered that in every 100,000
I people in Georgia there were 4 sui-
gla at full tide. Unfortunately a great
deal of attention is given to petty
crimes, theft of properly and the prac
tice of fraud in securing possession
of another’s goods. Less attention is
paid to the capital crime, murder.
While a few judges have seen fit
to charge the grand juries with special;
reference to tiie investigation of
homicides, the standard of court effi#
ency in many cases seems to react:
no deeper into crime than the prose
cution of the bootlegger, gambler or
thief. In an effort to safeguard the
rights of the criminal, the eights of
the people to live are ignored; in an ef
fort to give the criminal the benefit of
the doubt, the security of life for the
citizen is made mqre doubtful. Pleas
of self-defense and that the murdered
person “had his hand on his pisto\
poccket’’ have safely guided many a
cold-blooded assassin from the gallows
into the privileges of the complete lib
erty to commit the same crime the
second time.
Homicides are classified under three
titles, according to the method used,
85 per cent of the cases to usher the
Jndlviduai Into eternity.
The report of a suicide causes a
shudder to pass over the community,
Jthe murder of a prominent, citizen
' arouses the anger of all who know
him, but the feeling that spreads like
a pall over the neighborhood when the
• life of some Innocent child Is snuffed
out by a pistol which was "not load-
led”’ is beyond description.
Such conditions are local and In ro*
nllty recelvo little consideration, for
the morning ufter the burial the com
munity, excepting the home which has
.been robbed, assumes a normal inter
est in business affairs and nothing is
' done to ifrevent the repetition of such
tragedies.
1 Each person untlioughtedly asks
himself the question, “What is one
death in three million people?” and
'answer it, “Nothing,” and drives ahead
with his personal affairs. This senti-
! ment will change when it is realized
that in nine months, 1,532 persons in
Georgia lost thoir lives from some cause
other than disease. Of this number,
cldes, that 17 are murdered, and that
48 meet au accidental death during the
year.
Stato statutes and city ordinances
have been enacted controlling the au
tomobile on the streets and public
highways but the utter disregard for
such laws, both by the drivers of au
tomobiles and by officials whose duty
It 1h to enforce them, is shown plain
ly by the rapid increase in the num
ber of deaths dun to automobile acci
dents. This increase has kept pace
with the increase in the number of
deaths due to the careless handling of
firearms. July, August and September
of this year shows 42 deaths due to the
careless handling of firearms as com
pared with only 79 during the previous
six months, an increase of 34 per cent
every six months and at the present
rate of increase, unless some check is
placed on such criminal carelessness,
there will be approximately 325 deaths
in 1921 from this cause.
The wave of crime sweeping over
tills nation has at last reached Geor-
(Uose produced by firearms, those by
cutting and piercing Instruments and
those produced by all other methods
and even with this restricted classifi
cation more than 77 per cent of all
homicides are ascribed to one cause-
firearms.
And in place of the 165 homicides com
mitted by the use of firearms durinu
the first half of 1920, at the present
rate of increase, 204 will be recorded
during the lust half, a total of 370 foi
the entire year. And the records ol
1921, to the chagrin of the law abld
ing citizens and to the everlasting dls
grace to the criminal courts of Geor
gia, will carry a record of 592 homi
cldes, due to the use of firearms.
To the Homicide Special of Georgia
composed of six coaches during th«
first half of 1920, must be added foui
additional cars so as to accommodate
this increase. Bight carloads of peo
pie ushered into eternity by the use ol
firearms, a sufficiently large uumbei
to attract the attention not only of er
ery peace officor in the state but ala*
of tho iucoming Legislature.
J. R. HUTCHESON
Attorney-at-Law
Office in Hutcheson Building.
Statement of the Condition of
THE DOUGLASVILLE BANKING COMPANY
located at Douglasville, Ga., at the close of business March 23, 1921.
I)R. D. HOUSEWOUTH
Special attention to Surgery and
Diseases of Women and Children.
Phones: Office, 106; Res., 118.
Office in Hutcheson Bldg.
RESOURCES.
I Demand Loans $
Time Loans
j Banking Houses
Furniture and Fixtures
1 Cash in Vault and Amount
Deposited in Banks
Cash Items
Clearing House
Advances on Cotton in
Process of Shipment
Stock in Export Bank
Building Account
County and Town Warrants
Total
R. E. HAMILTON, M. D.
Res. Phone 78. Office Phone 73
Diseases of Heart and Lungs a
Specialty.
Office in Hutcheson Building.
F. M. STEWART
Dentist
Office over Selman’s Drug Store,
Douglasville, Ga.
ASTOR MERRITT
Attorney-at-Law 1
.Office
in the Hutcheson Building,
■t •
Douglasville, Ga.
H. Poole C„V. Vansant
DRS. POOLE & VANSANT
irgery and Chronic Diseases of
Vomen and Children a Specialty.
Phones Nos. 24, 92 and 137.
fice over Selman’s Drug Store.
i,0S9.S
i,fiSU
1,20‘U
560.1
L,249.:
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock Paid in ..... $
Surplus Fund
Undivided Profits, less Cur
rent Expenses, Interest
and Taxes Paid
Due Unpaid Dividends
Individual Deposits Subject
to ( heck
Time Certificates
Bills Payable, Including
Time Certificates Repre
senting Borrowed Money
05,000.00
45,000.00
074.92
00.00
20 f,320.41
134,167.34
..$572,510.27
Total
$572,519.2’!
STATE OF GEORGIA, DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Before me came G. T. MeLARTY, Cashier of Douglasville Banking
Co., who being duly sworn, says that the above and foregoing statement is a
true condition of said Bank, as shown by the books of file in said Bank.
G. T. McLARTY, Cashier.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 29th day of March, 1921.
J. O. SAYER, N. P., Douglas Co., Ga.
Statement of the Condition of
THK FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK
located at Douglasville, Ga., at the close of business March 23, 1921.
RESOURCES.
LIABILITIES.
Demand Loans
$ 26,7-70.56
Capital Stock Paid in $ 25,000.00
Time Loans
238,810.53
Surplus Fund 5,000.00
Bonds and Stocks ownec
Undivided Profits; less Cur-
by the Bank
3,000.00
rent. Expenses, Interest
4,374.11
and Taxes Paid 11,351.62
Furniture and Fixtures
3,6S0.03
Individual Deposits Sub-
Cash in Vault and Amount
ject to Check 157,728.28
Deposited in Banks
7,802.02
Time Certificates 65,988.08
Cash Items
1,970.16; Cashier’s Checks - 2S3.7S
Advances on Cotton in
Bills Payable, Including
Process of Shipment
7,009.23
Time Certificates Repre-
Overdrafts (if any)
814.85
senting- Borrowed Money 39,2S1.52
County Warrants
10,387.09
T<*1 ’d
$30-1,633.58
Total $304,633.58
STATE OF GEORGIA, DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Before me came N. R. HENDERSON, Cashier of Farmers and Merchants
Bank, who being duly sworn, says that the above and foregoing statement is a
true condition of said Bank, as shown by the books of file in said Bank.
. N. R. HENDERSON, Cashier.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 30th day of March, 1921.
C. G. BKQWX, N. P., Douglas Co., Ga.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1921
Money in your pocket will f
be the result I
IF YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY SPRING MERCHANDISE I
IN OUR STORE! |
Prices are lower than they have been for years—and if such a 11
thing were possible—Values Are Better! No fancy words, or clev- 1
erly worded phrases are needed to convince our customers of the |
honest, plain values we are giving—past experience has taught I
them what to expect. These Spring Bargains tell the story! i
TRIMMED HATS -
$3.75, $4.75 and $6.75
Never have you seen such a collection
of shapes, straws and colors as are rep
resented. The trimmings consist of
ribbons in tailored styles—fruit, foliage
and flowers. Any hat.here you would
expect to pay at least one-half more for.
BANDED SAILORS
$2.95
We do not think you will find a bet
ter variety of the stylish rough straw
sailors than in this assortment. About
any color you could wish is here, such
as copen, grey, orange, tomato and
black.
GIRLS’ SAILORS
$2.95 and $3.75
These are of milan with long ribbon
streamers and come in new Spring
colors.
NEWEST DRESSES “
We’ve never shown so many pretty
styles. There are ruffles, embroidered^
waists, fluffy, side draped skirts, Eton
blouses and dresses with accordian
pleating—in all new spring colors. The
materials are:
All Wool Serge Dresses at $7.95
Taffeta and Crepe de Chine
Dresses at $14.75
Finest Taffeta and Other Silk
Dresses at $19.75 and $24.75
LADIES’SUITS
$24.75 and $29.75 *
We’re particularly proud of these
nicely tailored suits of all wool serge.
They are wonderful values. All new
models.
SMITH & HIGGINS
254 PETERS STREET
ATLANTA, GA,
LADIES’ COATS
Swagger sport coats with new stylo
collars, pockets and belts;
$9.95 and $12.45
LADIES CONGEE BLOUSES—of pure
silk, natural color, smartly tailored
models, special $2.95
LADIES’ WAISTS—of fiine voile and
of a linen finished fabric—either
tailored or lace trimmed $1.00
SPECIALS FROM
SHOE DEPARTMENT
LADIES OXFORDS—of brown leather
or black—with law or military
heels $3.95
LADIES’ PUMPS AND OXFORDS—in
brown or black, military or high
heels $4.95
MEN’S DRESS SHOES—Black or tan,
blucher or English toe—Goodyear
welt; special $5.95
MEN’S SHOES—Special lot of black or
tan $3.95
MEN’S WORK SHOES—Made on army
lasts, black or tan $3.50
MEN’S SUITS ~
$25 and $29.50
Young men’s new Spring models—of
all wool navy blue serge—coats satin
lined.
BOYS’ SUITS
$6.50 and $8.95 |
All wool suits in new styles; sizes 8
to 18; knee trouser models.
DRESS SHIRTS—in fast colored per-
eale and madras $.1.45
~ MEN’S HATS
No Name Make—All new Spring colors
and shapes $5.00
.Ino. B. Stetson Make $7.50
MEN’S BIG BUCK WORK SHIRTS—
Very specially priced $1.25
MEN’S WORK PANTS—in Carhartt’s
heavy weight Khaki cloth $2.00
OVERALLS — a good value — union
made; special $1.39
PAUL D. SELMAN, Dealer
WHEN BETTER. AUTOMOBILES ARE BUILT, BUICK WILL BUILD THEM