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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS
3
S SEISED F
II HNS S
Suspicion Points to Former Employes
and Woods Near the Scene Are
, Scoured—Violence Feared if Sus
pected Couple Are Captured.
In an effort to locate Walter Wilkes and Ernest Maynard, the
negro and the halfbreed sought as suspects in the murder of Mrs.
Sarah C. Stevens and her daughter, Nellie Stevens, and the burn
ing of their lonely country home, Sheriff J. A. McCurdy, of DeKalb
County, and Detective Rosser on Saturday are scouring the coun
try near the Stevens farm.
Mounted on horseback and equipped to stay in the woods for
several days, the officers purpose to question every person within
a radius of five miles, in order to gather all available information
regarding the crime, and to obtain, if possible, information that
will lead to the capture of Wilkes and Maynard.
The officers plan also to make!
another and more thorough
search of the Stevens home for
possivle clews, and probably will
,have the well dragged.
No Clews in the Well.
The latter, however, has about been
abandoned as a possible hiding 1 place
of clews. A newspaper man went
down into the well at the end of the
rope during one of the investigations
and found nothing in a fifteen-minute
search.
Sheriff McCurdy announced this
morning that he has entirely elimi
nated Wade Stevens, son of the mur
dered woman, and that all his efforts
will be directed toward the capture of
Wilkes and Maynard. Both young
^tevens and his chum, “Red” Mer
chant. were taken to Decatur by the
Sheriff late Friday afternoon, and re
leased.
It is not thought that the negro and
the halfbreed are in Atlanta. De
tectives* have searched every negro
hiding place in the city and have
found no trace of them. It has been
learned, through the statements of
1 Wade Stevens and several of the ne
gro's friends, that Wilkes was .n
town last Tuesday, the day of the
murder, but no trace can be found of
him since that time.
Boy's Story is Proven.
A five-hour investigation of the
scene of the crime and the surround
ing country Friday afternoon de
veloped the fact that Wade Stevens
was* telling the truth when he said he
left his home about 8 o’clock Tues
day morning, that the man whom I..
G. Self saw loitering about the Ste
vens home late Tuesday afternoon was
not Wade, and that the negro and the
half-breed who are now under sus
picion. Walter Wilkes and Earnest
Maynard, have been suspected of be
ing connected with several petty
crimes in the neighborhood, and are
' considered two of the most treacher
ous negroes in that section of the
'country.
Wade’s story of leaving home Tues
day morning was corroborated by J.
L. Cowan, who lives a mile beyond
the Stevens home, and who is one of
the most prosperous farmers of the
section. Mr. Cowan stated positively
that on last Tuesday morning about
10 o’clock he met young Wade Stev
ens in the road about a mile and a
half from the Stevens home. The
boy, Mr. Cowan said, was walking
slowly. They exchanged greetings,
Mr. Cowan said, but had no conver
sation.
It is not thought that any valu
able information will be developed
from L. G. Self’s story of seeing a
man loitering about the Stevens’
home Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Self,
who is the neighbor to whom Nellie
Stevens took her brother’s clothing,
said he passed the Stevens home
about 6 o’clock Tuesday afternoon,
and saw a man walk from the front
of the house to the rear and disap
pear behind the building.
Did Not Identify Man.
The little girl, Nellie Stevens, was
at the other side of the house feed
ing the ducks. It was first reported
that Mr. Self had identified the man
he saw as Wade Stevens. He said
Friday afternoon that he saw’ only
the man’s back and could not identify
him. He Maid he could not tell how
he was dressed, how large a man he
was, or whether he w T as a white man
or a negro.
Thomas H. Morgan, a milk wagon
driver employed by C. A. Nelms, the
first man to drive into the Stevens
yard after the fire Raid he passed the
Stevens home about fifteen mlnuten
after Mr. Self, and that he saw no
one, neither the man nor the girl, in
the yard. A light in one of the front
windows was the only evidence of
life.
No one could be located during the
investigation Friday who had seen
any strange negroes or white men in
the neighborhood of the Stevens
home, either during the day or on
the night of the murder. It was
learned that the two negroes who
were seen driving a wagon loaded
with oats from the general direction
of the Stevens home were in the em
ploy of J. L. Cowan, and were hauling
the oats to market.
Negroes Called Worthless.
Evidence that the negroes Wilkes
and Maynard were shiftless, treach
erous negroes who would stop at
nothing to gain their ends continues
to pile up, and the neighbors and
C.»9'* W "
t |o»s
Susav®C
* f cotSc
Sunday
\tne
rican
French Playwright
Still Is Pondering
Reporters’ Queries
Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian.
PARIS, May 81.—In an article print
ed in to-day’s issue of L’lllustration,
Pierre Loti, the famous French play
wright and author, says that the fol
lowing are some of the question ask
ed him by reporters upon his recent
visit to New York:
Are you an anarchist?
Are you an idiot?
Are you in favor of polygamy? .
What are your views on rhinoceros
hunting?
Are you feeble-minded? •
What is your income?
Were you ever in jail or an insane
asylum?
Do you believe in the sterilization
of criminals?
What do you think of American
girls? (Loti had only been in Amer
ica an hour.)
Can you cook?
Would you marry a suffragette?
Isn’t America a great country?
200-MILE INTERCOASTAL
CANAL IN TEXAS OPENED
GALVESTON, TEXAS, May 31.—
The last cut in dredging the Inter-
coastal Canal, which permitted the
waters of the Brazos and San Ber
nard Rivers to mingle and opened to
Texas a new 200-mile inland water
way for navigation from Galveston
to Corpus Christi, w’as completed to
day.
P ROMINENT figures at the unveiling of the Maine monument Friday and the celebration attending the event. In the group
are Mrs. William Randolph Hearst and her three sons—to the right, George Hearst, who performed the actual unveiling;
William Randolph Hearst, Jr., to the left, and John Randolph Hearst, in the center. At the top, to the left, is Miss Marion Gay-
nor, who laid on the monument the wreath contributed by the city; below, to the left, Admiral Sigsbee, commander of the ill-fated
Maine; the battleship South Carolina, and, below, the Rev. Father Chidwick, chaplain of the Maine.
friends of the Stevens family firmly
believe that when the police appre
hend them they will have caught the
murderers of the woman and her
daughter.
Even members of their own race
declared Friday that Wilkes and May
nard were bad men, and would not
hesitate to kill to obtain money. One
of the negro farmers of the vicinity,
Eulice Hambrick, living about three
miles from the scene of the crime,
declared that he would not trust
Wilkes and Maynard as far as he
could see them. He said they threat
ened to kill him once because he tried
to collect some money they owed him.
Wilkes and Maynard boarded with
Hambrick last January and Febru
ary, shortly after Wilkes returned
from a two-year trip to the North,
Hambrick said, and both owe him
money that he had loaned them to
purchase shoes. Wilkes owes him $7
and Maynard $4. He said he asked
them for the money at one time, and
the negroes threatened to kill him.
Tells of Half Threat.
“We’re going to get some money
from Mrs. Stevens some of these
days,’’ Maynard and Wilkes are said
to have told Hambrick. Maynard was
working for Mrs. Stevens at the time,
and Wilkes was working for Samuel
Farris.
Hambrick said he has not seen
either Wilkes or Maynard since
Wilkes was discharged from Mrs.
Stevens’ employ, but has heard of
them being in Atlanta. He said both
the negroes had often talked of the
large amount of money Mrs. Stevens
had, and they also had remarked that
she probably kept a lot of money
about the house.
To a number of farmers in the
neighbors, for whom they have work
ed, Wilkes and Maynard have de
clared that the Stevens family had
lots of money, and they also had ex
pressed their opinion that they kept
a large sum about the house. Wilkes
told Mr. Cowan at one time that “Mrs.
Stevens is mighty good pay; she’s got
all kinds of money,” and he said he
would like to have some of it.
To a number of farmers. Wilkes Is
also said to have declared that “Nellie
Stevens is a mighty pretty girl.”
Came Three Years Ago.
The negro Wilkes first appeared in
the territory near the murder a little
more than three years ago. He told
the farmers he came from LaGrange,
but more recently had been living in
Atlanta, working on the streets. He
worked for a number of farmers in
the neighborhood during the next
year, among them Samuel Farris, J. L.
Cowan and a man named Bacon near
Henrico, and C. A. Nelms. About two
years ago. while Wilkes was working
for Mr. Nelms and was alone on the
place, the Nelms home was robbed
and several hundred pennies, stolen.
The next day Wilkes was seen with a
quantity of pennies, and suspicion
was directed to him. He left the
country at once.
He returned to Atlanta last Decem
ber, and, after working in town for a
month, went into the country and
obtained employment with Samuel
Farris, a farmer living within a mile
of the Stevens place. At that time.
Maynard was working for Mrs. Ste
vens. and the two hegroes became
partners. Wilkes lived in a cabin on
the Farris place and Maynard lived
in the cabin on the Stevens farm.
The time of the negroes-was about
equally divided between the two
farms. Their conversation with farm
ers and negroes duripg this period
usually began and ended with guesses
as to the amount of money Mrs. Ste
vens had.
After Maynard was discharged
from the Farris place he endeavored
to get a job with Mr. Cowan, and
borrowed $8 as advance wages.
Wilkes stood good for the money,
which Mr. Cowan declares has never
been paid. Mr. Cowan says Wilkes
told him, after Maynard refused to
pay, that he w’ould pay as soon as he
could get some money from Mrs.
Stevens, which he declared would be
soon.
Got Work With Farris.
This money was borrowed from Mr.
Cowan on March 28. and a few days
later Wilkes was discharged from Mr.
Farris’ place and secured Maynard’s
job with Mrs. Stevens. Mr. Farris
said he discharged Wilkes because
the negro was treacherous and dan
gerous, despite his protestations of
religion and statements that he was a
preacher. Maynard then obtained
employment with Mr. Farris, and his
Intimacy w ith Wilkes continued.
Maynard was finally discharged by
Mr. Farris, and even though he had
no job he remained in the counttV,
spending most of his time with Wilkes
at the Stevens farm. About a month
c,r three weeks ago Mrs. Stevens dis
charged Wilkes for the sam§ reason
she had previously discharged May
nard—he insulted Nellie Stevens, and
was several times seen ledTlng in their
windows while they were dressing.
Wilkes and Mavnard left the Ste
vens’ home together, and have not
been seen since, save by Mrs. Ste-
\ ens.
Wade Stevens’ story that Wilkes
and Maynard have been seen prowling
around his home tince their discharge
was corroborated Friday by members
of the Cowan family. Last Saturday
afternoon while visiting at the Cowan
home Mrs. Stevens said she feared
the two negroes, and declared that
they had several times come there
and asked for money.
DeKalb Fighting
For Farm School
Representative Smith to Make Plea
at Meeting in Decatur—Candler
Will Speak.
R. F. Smith, Representative-elect from
DeKalb County, will discuss the pro
posed authorization by the legislature
of an agricultural school for the Fifth
Congressional District at a meeting
Monday in the court house at Decatur.
Mr. Smith will also do all in his power
to have this school located in DeKalb
County.
The agricultural school for the Fifth
Congressional District is located in Wal
ton County, but by the recent re-dis
tricting of the State, Walton County was
taken out of the Fifth Congressional
District, so this district has no agri
cultural school at all.
To remedy this condition, both mem
bers of the Legislature from DeKalb
County, Mr. Smith and Alonzo M. Field,
will endeavor to have a new school au
thorized for the Fifth District, and the
people of DeKalb County will endeavor
to have the school located in DeKalb
County.
At the same time Dr. A. M Soule,
of the State University, will address the
farmers of DeKalb County on the agri
cultural possibilities of the county. As
June 3 is the birthday anniversary of
Jefferson Davis, a patriotic address will
be made by C. M. Candler, chairman
of the State Railroad Commission, on
the life and work of Jefferson Davis.
The Agnes Lee chapter of the Daugh
ters of the Confederacy, the Clement A.
Evans Camp of the Confederate Vet
erans. the Farmers’ Union of DeKalb
County, and the Decatur Board of
Trade will all unite to make this occa
sion a success. W. J. Dabney, presi
dent of the Decatur Board of Trade, will
preside.
Jack London’s new story,
“The Scarlet Plague,’’ begins in
the American Monthly Magazine
given free with every copy of
the Sunday American.
Photo b'* e«mf»ee.u- <?;todio
Young Aviator Falls
To Death at Chicago
CHICAGO, May 31.—James Calo-
van, an aviator, waR killed when his
Curtiss biplane fell at Cicero Field
to-day. Calovan was 22 years old. He
had been flying for a year and a half
and was regarded ns a careful avia
tor.
Calovan ascended early and had
been in the air about half an hour.
He was outside the flying grounds
and was returning to descend within
the inclosure. The wings of his ma
chine became entangled In the
branches of a tree. Before he could
regain control, the machine plunged
earthw’ard and Calovan was crushed
beneath it.
Japanese Prepare
New Alien Protest
Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian.
TOKIO, May 31.—That the Japa
nese Foreign Office Is formulating an
other note of protest against the Cali
fornia anti-alien land law, which will
be forwarded to Secretary of State
Bryan, became known to-day.
The Idea that the United States
Government has issued Its final word
on the involved issues is prevalent
here.
THETIGHTSKIRT
Say It Is Hygienic, Non-Germ
Carrying and Corrects Bad
Walking.
CHICAGO. May 31.—At a meeting
of a branch of the local Medical So
ciety 25 doctors went on record as
favoring tight skirts for women as
hygienic, artistic and comfortable.
Of this mind were Drs. Maurice B.
Wolff and Norman Curry, who spoke
on the subject..
“Plaited and wide skirts are the
finest little germ carriers that were
ever invented,” said Dr. Curry. “When
I saw the woman of a few’ years ago
switching that wide, germ-laden skirt
from a public street car into her home
l shuddered.”
Dr Arthur R. Reynolds had decid
edly definite* views. “As long as the
Individual can walk to her own per
sonal comfort,” he said, “the narrow
skirt is a splendid thing. It is not
the germ carrier that the wider skirt
Is. Moreover, ir you have ever noticed
It often corrects a bad walk. Amer
ican women think it Is stylish and
pretty to turn their feet out at right
angles while walking. This a nar
row skirt makes it difficult to do;
therefore, it is a good thing. The
Indian walked naturally and turned
his toes slightly in. The narrow skirt
is gradually correcting a manner of
walking that was purely breaking
down the arch of American women’s
feet.”
DANIELS TO STOP
NAVT RESIGNATION
Officers Will Have to Be Physi
cally Disabled in Future to
Leave Service.
WASHINGTON, May 31.—Officers
of the navy who have their health
will not be allowed to resign here
after. The department Is determined
to break up the practice of men re
ceiving military and nautical train
ing, afforded *ree by the Naval Acad
emy at Annapolis, and then “jump
ing the job” for higher pay at the
first attractive opportunity.
The department Issued some
months ago a pronouncement against
the permission to midshipmen and
passed cadets to resign from the
service without physical deficiency
compelling retirement. Secretary
Daniels was asked: “At what grade
In the service will the line against
resignations be drawn hereafter?”
“At no point,” was the prompt re
sponse. “There can be no excuse ac
ceptable to the Navy Department for
the resignation of an officer who has
his health and the necessary amount
of physical vigor. It will not be tol
erated.
“It is not fair to the Government
that a man sliould go for four years
to Annapolis and receive compensa
tion while he is engaged in his studies
be graduated after having been the
Government’s charge for that long
and then disregard the obligation of
service he owes to his Government.
This applies to all ranks. There will
be few exceptions.”
Baltimore Stages
Suffrage Pageant
BALTIMORE. MD„ May 31.—Bal
timore to-day joined the sisterhood
of cities which have staged demon
strations in advocacy of woman suf
frage. The local suffrage organiza
tion turned out in force to do honor
to the morality play written by Mrs.
Christian Hemmick, Washington so
ciety leader, and produced at the
Lyric Thtater this afternoon for the
benefit of the cause.
Late to-day Baltimore and Wash
ington suffragists will form a pageant
which will march through the streets.
Heiress Wore Four
Pairs of Stockings
WHITE PLAINS, May 31.—A jury
In the Supreme Court decided that
Miss Susan A. Penfleld, a spinster,
61 years old, was competent to look
after herself but incompetent to care
for her property. Miss Penfleld In
herited an estate worth $80,000.
It was testified that Miss Penfleld
wore four pairs of stockings at one
time, that she smoked cigarettes and
dfank whisky.
WHY YOU SHOULD
GET A
KODAK
Because Kodaking is de
cidedly the most popular
and universal amusement in
the world. Years ago Ko
daking was a fad, and the
owner of a Kodak was call
ed a “ Kodak fiend.” Now
adays everybody Kodaks.
A Kodak is a positive ne
cessity to round out any
kind of pleasure. Picnics,
outings, vacations, etc., are
comparatively dull without
a Kodak. Kodak pictures
(snap-shots) are a perma
nent record of the most en
joyable moments in your
life—the best possible argu
ment in favor of a Kodak.
Then, they are easy to
operate; a mere child can
handle one successfully.
The price—well, that should
be the least of your trou
bles, when you can get a
practical little Brownie for
$1, $2, $3, $4 and up.
Larger Kodaks $5, up to
$65. Send for catalog and
new finishing price list.
A. K. HAWKES CO,
KODAK DEPT.
14 WHITEHALL
FIELD GLASS
; For your vacation trip, all styles
and CORRECT prices, at John L.
Moore & Sons, 42 North Broad
Street.
SOUTH GEORGIA FARMS,
Dakota, Turner Co. Terms:
10 per cent cash, balance 1, 2,
3, 4, 6 years, 6 per cent. Il
lustrated booklet FREE.
Write to-day. Edwin P. Ans-
ley, Realty Trust Bldg., At
lanta, Ga.
A HOUSE PAINT
That makes the painter’s work count
STERLING PAINT
Phnncc- M. Ills IS liP.nuND SO THOROUGHLY AND MIXED
ruuut:;>. Atl 329 S(l accurately that it defies burning
SUN AND 30AKING RAIN.
BEFORE YOU PAINT. LOOK INTO IT.
FOR EVERY USE.”
”WE HAVE A PAINT