Newspaper Page Text
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN.
■ffED.VBSDAT. SEPTEMBER ID, 1J0S.
4 • UNCLE J I MM r ' AT GEE
PENSIONED FOR ETERNITY
James McGee. the oldest member of
the Atlanta pol‘?e force, died nt 9:40
o'clock Tuesday night at his home, 417
South Pryor street.
"tfnefe Jimmy," as he was familiarly
known, was born In Dundalk county,
Louth. Ireland. May 4, 1835, and came
to America with his parents when he
vai I year* old. He lived for a while
In New York, and later moved to Au
gusta, Ga., where he was living when
the civil war broke out.
Enlisting as a member of Company
K, Nineteenth Georgia regiment, he
served throughout the entire w
Ing wounded twice, once he was shot
In the head, and this was the final
cause of, his death.
Immediately after the closd of the
war Mr. McGee came to Atlanta and
was one of the first policemen to be
chosen to protect the city during the
dangerous reconstruction days. Once
while trying to protect a cltlxen from
one Jf the Federal soldiers stationed
hare, he was shot and the bullet struck
the buckle of his beit. and buried Itself
In his trousers, though he was not hurt.
At another time l.e was shot in the leg
while on police duty.
."Uncle Jimmy" was, several times
urged to make the tace for an officer’s
place on the police force, but would not
do so -op account of his health.
For a number of years past he had
been on duty at the stutlon house, at
tending to whatever duties he saw fit.
Last May he was stricken with paral
ysis, from which he never recovered,
though up until three weeks ago he
was tnucii better. For the last three
weeks he had been sinking slowly until
the end came.
At the last meeting of the police
"UNCLE JIMMY" McGEE.
board a pension was pasesd up to him,
but ho died before he was ever offi
cially notified of the fact.
Ills wife and two children, John and
Kute MrG?o, and two step-children,
James Flynn and Mrs. M. T. Lambert,
survive him. Also two sisters, Mrs T.
<\ Murphv, of Atlanta, and Miss Anna
' ■-> i' 1 ' «o n K <•
All his life long "Uncle Jimmie” was
a devout Catholic, being connected with
the Church of Immaculate Conception.
The funeral service* will be held In
the church at 9:30 o’clock Thursday
morning, Rev. Father IIennes*y of
ficiating.
The following Intimate friends of Mr.
McGee will act ns an honorary escort:
Martin Nally, Mike Haverty. J. W.
Ijfimbert. William Ersklne, William Ro-
ga and Joe Gatens.
The pallbearers will be brother mem
bers of the police force and will be
composed of the following officers: R.
H. Osborne. W. N. Rheridan, G.
Llnnm, K. J. Florence, W. H. Gresham
and Charles Mitchell.
CMS AGENT
FEAR OF. DEATH PREVENTS
CZAR FROM ATTENDING
THE FUNERAL OFTREPOFF
Col. Nicolaieff Sur-
rounde I by Crowd
in Warsaw.
Warsaw, Sept. 19.—While Colonel
Nlcolaieff was walking In the streets
today he wa* surrounded by a crowd
and shot dead by an anarchist.
17. S. ARMY TO INVADE
CUBA IFlPEACE ISN’T
DECLARED BY OCT. 1.
Contlnu«<f from Pag* On*.
BOTTLERS READ!
EOR CONVENTION
OF NEXT MONTH
Mixers of AU Kinds of Dope
To Meet in Atlanta in
October.
Arrangement. for the entertainment
of the Georgia Bottler,’ Protective Ae
•notation and of the American Bottler*’
Protective Aaeoclatlon, both of which
' will hold conventions In Atlanta Octo
her 9, 10 nnd ft, wore completed at a
meeting held by a number of the prom
Inant men at the head of local bottling
concern, Tuesday evening. The meet
Ing wa, held In the nfltcea of Donald
A. Loyleae. 107, Kngllth-Amarlcun
’ building, nnd wna presided over by
A. Montgomery.
Thd canventlon will be one of tire
largest to be hold In Atlanta this full.
It Is believed that 2,000 delegates will
be In attendance. The committee on
entertainment hae prepared an elabo
rate program, consisting of trips over
the city, a barbecue, a smoker and
other features. Arrangements have
been made to have Pope Miller nnd hi*
troupe In the dly lo materially help
out with the pleasant features of the
convention.
The Committee.
The entertainment committee Is com-
poeed of the following-named:
Donald Loyless, publisher Southern
Carbonator and Bottler, chairman; Lee
Hagan, of Hogan A Dodd Company;
Frank Dowensteln, Monarch Manufac
turing Company; James II. Turner.
Crown Cork nnd Heal Company: Tom
Austin, Kocn Nola Company; Porter
Langston, Dope Company, with Mr.
A. Montgomery ex-ofildo member.
Bottled Drinke “Made Atlanta Famous.”
In the current Issue of the Houthern
Carbonator nnd Bottler Atlanta
claimed to be the bottling center of the
United Stales nnd the allegation Is
backad up by the names of the firms
which are proeperlng In this city. Be-
cause at the number of these concerns
and their liberality there Is no doubt
that the convention will be moat suc
cessful from every standpoint. It h
also the Intention of the Ueorgla as.
soclatlon to become a member of the
national body at the convention.
Many Conventions.
Throughout the summer the conven
tions which have been held In Atlant
have been numerous and now that the
cooler wenther of the fall la on they
will come even thicker and faster.
On the last day of this month the
National Retail Druggists’ Association
will hold a convention and some 3,nou
delegates are expected to find their
way to the Oate City nnd participate
In the entertalnmente which are being
carefully prepared by the entertain
ment committee, which Is headed bv
.V. L. Curtis.
This convention will be on Important
one and will be In session for several
•lays.
The largest convention of the year
will be held directly after the State
Fair closes, and In Itself will lie un ex
hibition of no little extent. The Na
tional Carriage Builders' Association
will be In session for about one week.
The agricultural building nt the fair
grounds will he entirely given up to
the exhibits of the elemental parts of
vehicles.
The fact that this Is the first time
this association has ever met South
of the Mason-DIxon line is n compli
ment of which Atlanta has shown Its
sppreclatlnn by the Interest which Is
being .aken.
INSANITY EXPERTS
EXAMINE THAW
it
Is Believed Prisoner
Will Plead That He
Is Crazy.
New York, Sept. 19.—Hurry K. Thaw
is put through a trylngly exhaustive
examination in the hospital rooms of
the Tombs today by three alienist*
brought there by the prisoner's coun
sel, Clifford VV. Hurt ridge.
This new move on the part of the
defense lead* to the belief that after
nil Thaw'* opposition he ha* agreed
Anally to permit hi* defense to be
based on a plea of Insanity.
The three physician* who examined
Thaw were Dr. B. D. Evun*, of the
New Jersey *tate hospital for the In
*ane at Murri* Plains, who acted for
the defense In the Terranova trial; Dr.
Christopher r. Holing, of the same In-
Htltutlon, and Dr. CUiarle* O. Wagner,
superintendent of the New York stute
hoHpItnl for the Insune at Hlnghampton.
It has become known that Mrs. Wil
liam Thaw, the mother of the young
man charged with the murder of Stan
ford White, ts trying to negotiate i
lease for the handsome property known
In Mattewun as the Howland estate. If
Harry Thaw Is finally sent to the
Mattewun asylum hit mother will be
leusing the Howland property be able
to be near him.
SCHOONER WRECKED
BY STORM'S FURY
Mpeelnl to The Ocvrglttu.
Charleston, S. C., Sept. 19.—Chief
Mate Gardiner Ooold, Caleb Herring,
cook; Frank Harrlngtonn und Manuel
Crabterr, sailors of the schooner R.
If. litbber, were picked up at sea and
brought to the shore yesterday by the
Clyde steamship New York, which ar
rived here from New York twenty-four
hours overdue yesterday morning. The
men were dinging to pieces of wreck
age and nearly exhausted, having been
In the water several hour*.
On hoard the New York. Mate Goold
told of the voyage of the schooner
Hibber, Captain Havre*, beginning at
Havunnah September #, when the vessel
cleared with a cargo of yellow pine
lumber for New York. The weather
was bad from the 12th, und on the
night of September It) It was found
that the schooner was leaking. The
storm was upon them, ami the lash
ings of the (leek loud parted and the
lumber was adrift. The port main
rigging was carried away, nnd a little
later the vessel turned turtle, casting
the crew Into the sea. A sailor named
Manuel had been lost before this, and
there were remaining live men. The
captain and u sailor named Anthony
caught a spur, and Mate Goold and
three others clung to a piece of the
deck. For hours they searched for
disappeared.
The rescue wu
of the storm.
made at the height
President Palma’s aides, called on
Messrs. Taft and Bacon. Mr. Sleeper,
American charge d’affaires, accompa
nied Senor O'Farrell and conferred
with them for about thirty minutes.
After the interview he said. In an
swer to Inquiries, he had been very
much pleased, but lie refused to say
more. It I* understood that Mr. Taft
listened to O'Farrell'fully and the latter
explained Palma’s point of view, laying
stress upon the fact that the president
was the more popular of the candidates
In the presidential election, on accoupt
of his long service In the Cuban cause.
Taft Calls on Palma.
The conference thla morning, how
ever, was not formal, but a mere af
fair of courtesy.
Mr. Tuft went at 10 o’clock to the
palace to see President Palma. Sec
retary Taft said that afterwards he
and Mr. Bacon would go to the Ameri
can legation on San Leguro street, and
then to Minister Morgan's residence at
Mariano, which Is ten miles outside the
city of Havana. It Is thought that Mr.
Morgan's house will be the best place
In which to receive nnd hear the revo
lutionary representatives, as then the
Insurgent leaders will not have to come
Into the city of Havana.
NEW DEAL DEMANDED
BY INSURGENT LEADERS.
By MANUEL CALVO.
Havana, 8ept. 19.—The United Staten
cruiser Des Moines with Secretary Taft
and his party aboard steamed quietly
Into Havana harbor early this morn
ing. They were Immediately landed
and went to the home of United States
Minister Morgan, where they will re
main (luring their stay In Havana. Thla
was done to avoid any possibility of
excitement due to the landing of the
party In the day time. The arrival of
the Des Moines waa timed with till*
end In view.
While the plans of Mr. Taft are not
known. It I* understood that a visit will
be paid to President Palma today ahd
then arrangements will be made for
the negotiation* for peace. Tho revo
lutionists have placed their forces
around Havana with a view of Impress
ing the American visitor*.
"Nothing to Arbitrate."
General Castillo Is quoted aa follow*
today;
"What have we to arbitrate with
Palma and his clique? His govern
ment, elected by fraud, Is Illegal and
must go out of existence. We have him
and Id* hired soldiers now like rata
In a trap. In 24 hour* we could de
stroy them. We will not recognise
him. We have fought for a principle
and we will keep on fighting until we
have established our point.
"For President Roosevelt and his
deputies we have the highest admira
tion. and respect them as sincere
friends of Cuba, as you may Judge
from our suspension of hostilities pend
Ing their goad offices, but we want
nothing else fronj Secretary Taft but
an Investigation of the last election,
which oxplnlns why we took the Held.
If the United States Intervenes to up
hold Palma’s power, we will fight on as
we did against Spain.”
Rebels Want to Fight.
The rebels regret the suspension of
hostilities. They say that |f fighting
had not been stopped they would have
captured Havana and their cause would
have been victorious. The demand for
the release of the prisoners created an
Insurmountable obstacle to further ne
gotiations.
At a meeting of the Liberal commit
tee. Senator Zoyas, who was enthusi
astically received, reviewed the events
that led to the present situation. The
party gave him a vote of confidence and
authorised him to carry on negotia
tions for peuce.
Committee Is Chosen. *
He told the committee that he would
enter upon no negotiations with the
government until nil the Liberals now
in Jail were released. He said the
party would insist upon the nullification
of the recent election. This was agreed
to.
St. Petersburg, Sept. 19.—The funeral
of the much-hated Trepoff was held
today at the chapel at Peterhof/
Cear Nicholas was not present, owing
to advice from Premier Stolypin, who
Insisted that It would be foolhardy for
the monarch to attend the funeral after
the discovery of the terrorists plot to
blow up the chapel during the services.
Full arrangements were made for the
attendance of the emperor and as a
consequence there were many promi
nent persons present.
Every precaution was taken to pre
vent an anti-bureaucratlc demonstra
tion, and the guards were instructed to
shoot any one who might be seen loit
ering about the chapel during the fu
neral.
PANIC FOLLOWS A CRASH
OF BOATS IN NEW YORK
New York, Sept. 19.—The Pennsyl
vania railroad's annex ferry boat No. 5,
loaded with passengers, wa* run down
by the big Pennsylvania tug Ashmore,
Just as she left her Brooklyn slip to
day. The bow of the tug became firm
ly fixed In the broken and tangled port
paddle wheel of the ferry bpat and the
two vessels thus locked together float
ed up the East river on the strong
tide, while the 200 passengers fought
and scrambled In the throe* of a panic.
Just then the tug Radner ran up to
the Annex, passed It a line and towed
It and Its passengers over to the Penn
sylvania station in Jersey City. There
the passenger* were put ashore, none
having been hurt.
HORSE TRAINER ATTACKED
AND INJURED BY ANIMAL
San Jose, Cal., Sept. 19.—J4ud Doble,
the famous drover and trainer, who
has handled trotting horse* for the last
forty years, and Is known throughout
the country, Is In a serious condition
here aa the result of being seized by
a vicious horse’s teeth, shaken JJke a
rat and thrown to the ground. Before
he could rise the animal reared, then
threw himself on the "prostrate form
of the trainer, crushing Doble Into
Insensibility. Only the timely arrival
of a stableman, who beat off the ani
mal, saved Doble'* life. Several bones
are broken.
OFFICER FIGHTS ACTORS
ALTER THE PERFORMANCE
THE SALE OF SEASON TICKETS FOR THE
TABERNACLE
Lyceum Course
HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO
OCTOBER 1st.
» The ,ale of season tickets waa to hove closed September 15, but
many people who were anxious to secure seats were unable to do so by
that date, bo the management has decided to extend the sale until Oc-
tober 1.
Nearly a thousand good seats arc left, but they're going fast and if
you want to attend these fine entertainments, you should buy your ticket,
as soon as possible.
Eight splendid attractions have already been engaged—the John
Thomas Concert Company, Ople Read, ’’Sunshine’’ Hawks, Italian Bov,'
Band and Elbert Poland, Spillman Riggs, Gilbert A. Eldredge, Mattlson
W. Chase and Whitney Bros.’ Quartette. Two more attractions will
probably be given without extra charge.
Seats reserved at Phillips & Crew Co.
$1.00 for Season Ticket
TICKETS ON SALEAT
Phillips & Crew Co., 37 Peachtree St.
Edmondson's Drug Store, 14 S. Broad St.
Knott & Awtry Shoe Co., 25 Whitehall St.
AN ATLANTA GIRL
IDENTIFIES MISSING
HEIR TO FORTUNE
* Continued from Page One.
GANG FOR LOAFERS
IN TIIE FUTURE
New York, Sept. 19.—Five ferry lines
omtectlng Manhattan with Green
Point and Williamsburg went out of
commission at noon today when the
forty-five firemen struck for higher
wage* and thousands of person* were
held up, while several of the ferry boat*
in midstream took an hour or more in
making a landing.
Special to The Georgian.
Bristol, Tenn., Sept. 19.—Being de
clined the courteny of admittance to
the performance by the "Little Duch
ess” Company, which played at the
Harmellng theater here last night, and
being told. It la aald, that he could go
to the gallery among the negroea, Po
liceman Samuel Odell, after the per
formance, twice knocked Manager
Comb*, of the show, down with his
fist, then floored two other male mem
bers of the company who took It up.
A fourth member, who entered the ine
lee and' struck Odell In the back, was
knocked down by a friend of the of
fleer.
The encounter occurred In the lobby
of Hotel Tip-Top, and In the presence
of a number of the lady members of
the company, who were badly fright
ened and fled to their rooms, antlclpat
Ing a shooting. Odell said he could
not possibly refrain from resenting the
Insult of being classed with negroes.
Won 7 Let Miss Bryan 7 Pet Poodle
Anywhere Near School She's Attending
Roanoke, Va., Sept. 19.—Miss Grace Bryan, daughter of the famous
Nebraskan, Is In the deptfis. The authorities of Hollins Institute, here,
where Miss Brynn Is attending school, will not permit her French poodle
to "matriculate.’’
All of Miss Bryan's pleadings In behalf of her pet have come to
naught, and the authorities of the school hove refused point blank to
enter into any negotiations. Whether Miss Grace will part wllh her poo
dle or go to some other school where the rules are less rigid, remains to
be seen.
7 WO WRECKED STEAMERS
SIGHTED OF THE COAST
KpcHal to The Georgian.
Charleston, S. C. t Sept. 19.—The
steamer Frnmfleld, with Captain Mc
Donald. put Into port here today, being
damaged by the storm off the Caro
lina coast.
She Is loaded with sugar and molasses
on route from Cuba to Now York.
The superstructure Is damaged and
the hold half filled with water. Off
Frying Pan Shoals two derelicts are
reported In latitude N. 33, longitude W.
approximately.
From schooner J. II. Jackson, Master
Pearsons. Mate Lung, Seamen Hans
and Gerchan and .Cook Frahr were res
cued by United States ship Cleveland
lute yesterday afternoon.
WANTED!
Two school boys as bundle-wrappers, for
Saturday evenings. Good pay.
Apply at once nt
McConnell Shoe and Clothing Co.,
30-32 Decatur Street.
A commission of six was appointed to
meet the American commissioners to
day to explain the situation and answer
nil question* relating thereto.
Senor Zayas said the Platt amend
ment had been used as an Instrument
of tyranny to prevent the Cubans re
belling against illegality. He 8Ald it
was the duty of the Liberals to stand
by their leaders In the field.
A telegram from Guerra de Molena,
Havana province, report* a skirmish
there. A loyalist bullet kilted a child In
the town. Three railway culverts be
tween Artemisia and Candelaria have
been blown up with dynamite.
Ships Reported Bought.
The reported purchase by the Cuban
government of the swift steam yachts
sMleen, Candida and Anita and the ru
mor that the government ha* author
ed the purchase of tho Tarantula
and Diana I* causing all sort* of ad-
.verse comment by sympathiser* with
the Insurgent movement against Presi
dent Palma nnd hi* advisers.
With four such vessels at their com
mand, the loyal Cuban* might success
fully combat any attempt on the part
of the rebel* to secure arms and am
munition from abroad. Properly armed
the boats could head off any attempts
of filibustering expedition* to land any
where upon the island.
The little navy would he of great
use also In transporting troops and
WALLACE SMS HE
ALLOWS NO NEGROES
J. C. Wallace, In whose name a *a-
loon Is operated at 7 Central avenue,
says he never allow, negroes In his
place.
This statement Is made because of a
complaint made against the publication
In Tuesday’s Georgian of the special
committee’s finding. In the number of
negroes and whites In saloons In and
near Decatur street.
The figures used were those formu
luted by members of the committee
from council nnd tho police department,
as tho result of the Saturday night
trip.
supplies to various points where they
might be needed In a hurry.
PALMA MUST "RESIGN,
DECLARE-CUBAN REBELS.
Havana, Sept. 19.—A commissioner
from General Menocal, returning to the.
rebel cpmp, says the revolutionary
army will not accept any terms other
than the annulment of the elections.
Including that of Presldept Palma.
One of the Liberal commissioners nt
the revolutionary headquarters In Ha-
ana province states that the leaders
demand the resignation of the govern
ment nnd the holding of new election,.
He adds that this decl.«#>n seemed to be
final. Had fighting not been stopped
they would have captured Havana and
their cause would then have been vic
torious.
The commissioner preferred not to
express an opinion a, to what the reb
els might do If the American commis
sioners decided In favor of President
Palma or to occupation of the country.
1,500 HORBES AND MULES
ORDERED BY GOVERNMENT.
Omaha, Nebr., Sept. 19.—That the
United States Is making active prepa
rations for possible trouble In Cuba
was shown In a rush order for the
shipment of 1,500 horse, and mules,
received from Washington at the chief
quartermaster’s office In this city. The
order came by telegraph. While It Is
not stated that tWf animals are for
Cuba. It Is underatood that Is their
ultimate destination. On September 21
proposals are to b* opened and fifteen
days after the awards are made the
horse and mules are to be delivered.
T
GIVEN 50 YEARS
AND JO LASHES
Armed Farmers Are Dis
gusted with Leniency
of Sentence.
Wilmington, pel., 8ept. 19.—Justice
moved swiftly today In the case of
Charles Conley, a negro, who on Sep
tember 9 attempted a felonious assault
on Mrs. Albert Frankish and brutally
assaulted her 12-year-old daughter,
Gussle. Conley' was arrested yesterday
and an hour later confessed the crime.
In the county court this morning he
was Indicted, and at li o’clock thl*
morning was on his way to the county
work house to serve a 50-year sentence.
Saturday he will also be whipped with
thirty lashes. He also was fined $200.
Feeling is running high among the
farmers, hundred* of whom are In the
city attending market, and many are
carrying guns and talking about tho
leniency of the sentence.
SAFE OF SEATS IS EXTENDED.
Seaton Ticket* for Tabernacle. Lyceum
Course Obtainable Till
October let.
Nursing Moinere and Malaria.
The Old Standard, Grove’s Tasteless
Chill Tonic drive* out malaria und
builds up the system. Sold by all
dealers fur 37 years. Price s0 cents.
Many people who have not yet se
cured seats for the Tabernacle Lyceum
Course will be delighted to learn that
the sale* of season tickets ha* been ex
tended to October 1. The price for the
entire course, reserved seat. Is $l.
Eight high-class attractions have al
ready been engaged and two more will
probably be added. Dates have been
positively announced ns follows: Oc
tober 1, John Thomas Concert Co.; Oc
tober 29, Ople Read; November 15,
Arthur W. Hawks; December 3, Italian
Roys’ Band and Elbert Folanil; Janu
ary ll, Spillman Riggs; March 12, Gil
bert A. Eldredge; April 3. Mattlson W.
Chase; April 15, Whitney Bros.’ Quar
tette.
As will be seen from this list, talent
of unusual excellence has been secured
and the courge will, no doubt, prove
to be the best yet offered in Atlanta.
AH attractions will appear In the
splendid auditorium of the Baptist Tab
ernacle, corner Luckle street and Tab
ernacle place. Tickets are now on sale
at Phillip* & Crew Co., Edmondson’*
drug store and Knott * Awtry Shoe Co.
Seat* will be reserved at Phillips A
Crew Co., where diagram of house I*
displayed. •••
Tom,” aald Miss Hawks to herself,
knew he came from up In this country,
but I wonder what they want with
him/
Tho young lady told her father about
the conversation she had overheard by
accident. Mr. Hawks hunted up the
two men who roomed next door. They
proved to be lawyers who were try
ing to gain a right of way for a rail
road.
"Did you want to And Thomas Sin
gleton Coart?” he asked.
"We did," said one of the attorneys,
"but Coart has been dead twenty
years."
HE’8 THE LIVEST CORPSE
THAT YOU EVER SAW."
"He’s the llvest corpse you ever saw,"
retorted Mr. Hawks. "Ho lives In my
houne In Atlanta.”
“If he can prove his Identity he might
pick up a mighty tidy sum over in Cra
ven county,” said the attorney, "but
he Is a little late l‘m afraid. The prop
erty has been sold.”
When Thcmas Singleton Coart heard
of the search for him he laughed. Then
he remembered that his grandfather
had owned large estates In North Car
olina and thought it worth while to In
vestigate matter*. C. L. Pettigrew, an
attorney, was retained ns his counsel
nnd the fight for a fortuhe began.
Four years agA on the court house door
at New Berne, county seat of Craven,
FAKE STORY TOLD
OF KU-KLUX KLAN
STIRS UP THE CITY
Contlnuad from Pag, On..
qulrements for admission. It has been
organized solely for the protection of
white women and the moving spirit,
are determined that It shall not be used
for lawless purpose*. The fact that
the organization of the Klan was advo
cated by Colonel English, who is chief
of staff to Governor Terrell, is of itself
a voucher as to the character of the
organization."
In large letters down the side of the
drawing is printed: “What .will be the
end of the deadly menacing uprising
of Atlanta to crush out with guns, rope
and dog* the fearful epidemic of negro
crime against her women?’
A photograph of some seven or eight
dog* hears the following caption:
“Part of the pack of bloodhound!
which Colonel English ha* presented to
the Klan to smell down lawless nt-
LOCAL ASSESSMENTS
MORE THAN NEEDED
The sub-committee which had chargi
of the recent primaries for the Atlanta
Democratic executive committee has
wound up Its affairs and paid all Its
debts. Regardless of the fact that
more had to be done than in 1$04, the
a bailiff posted a notice requiring one committee wa* put to less expense and
Thomas Singleton Coart, If living, or wa* able to return to the candidates 14
his devisees, heirs or assign* to come per cent of their assessments.
Into court on April 29, 1902, and make Soveral members of the committee
answer to a petition. The columns of advocate the purchasing of tents to be
the New Berne Weekly Journal con- erected at election times as polling
tnined hidden away among other dull places, thus saving house rent, which
and uninteresting legal notices the has heretofore been a considerable Item
same call for Coart. . But the court | of expense.
house door Is a far cry from Washing- J
ton street nnd the New Berne Journal
has but a limited circulation In At
lanta. Thoma* Singleton Coart sold
shoos contentedly nnd knew' nothing of
tho summons from the superior court
of the county of Craven. Six weeks
later, on June 14, the estate of 13.001)
acres was knocked down to the high
est bidder for $250.
A GRANT FROM THE CROWN
FIRST TITLE TO THE LAND,
title to that* property was older
than any of the veterans who Idly
watched the sale from the court house
steps. It dated back to 1775, when
George the Third ruled over the colo
nies of Groat Britain and granted land*
to his subject* in retut n for services,
• because it pleased him.
The canal through the great Dismal
swamp, the clank morass which after
wards inspired Irish Tom Moore to
write of a spirit maiden on a ghostly
lake, was Just being excavated at that
lime and Spyor Singleton, a Carolina
gentleman, furnished a number of
slaves for the work. In return his gra
cious majesty was pleased to grant to
Spyor Singleton and his heirs a tract
of land near Catfish Lake and embrac
ing 300 acres set out by the metes and
bounds of the period. Later grnnts*of
similar tracts were made and then Mr.
Singleton took In partnership Richard
Dubbs Speight and John Daves. When
George Washington took the reins from
the hand of the king the grants were
continued, the last being recorded In
1795 and the land aggregating 13,000
acres.
Spyor Singleton was gathered to hls
fathers and the land remained un
touched. The other owners followed
Singleton, each bequeathing a third In
terest to their heirs. The Singleton
third was divided between hls son
and daughter; the daughter became the
mother of Thomas Singleton Coart,
now of Atlanta, and the lands in North
Carolina were forgotten by the grand
son of the original owner.
OTHER HEIRS AWAKE;
AND PROPERTY IS SOLD.
But the heirs of Daves nnd Speight,
or their assigns, lived near the timber
lands and realized their value. In 1902,
hen railroads and lumber camps set
the price of yellow pine soaring high,
J. A. Bryan, J. J. Wolfenden and Caro
line Wolfenden, hls wife, then owner*
of the two-thirds, or, ns they claimed,
five-sixths, of the timber lands, made
petition to the courts for a sale of the
property for a division of the proceeds,
setting forth that the land could not
be fairly divided without a sale. Their
petition forms a part of the record In
the case of Brynn and Wolfefiden vs.
Thomas Singleton Coart.
The petitioners set forth in their pe
tition to the court that they owned
five-sixths of the property described
in the will of Thomas S. nnd W. G.
Singleton, and that Thomas Coart Sin
gleton. then unknown to any of the pe
titioners, owned an undivided one-
sixth interest. Thomas Singleton Coart
was not a resident of the state of North
Carolina, nnd could not by due dili
gence be found within its borders. The
petitioners had no knowledge of wheth
er he were living or dead, or hls heir
at law or his next of kin.
The superior court of Craven county
decreed that publication he made, or
dering the defendant, Coart, to bo pres
ent at the court house door on April
29 to answer the petition, and that the
order be printed for six consecutive
weeks in The New Berne Weekly Jour*
nal and posted upon the court hou.«*
door.
Nothing wa* heard of the lost heir to
tho Singleton lands and a court order
for the sale was Issued, the auction t
take place on June 14. 1902. Romulus
A. Nunn was appointed commissioner
to have the sale in charge. The New
Berne Weekly Journal was once mere
used to advertise the sale. But Thom
as Singleton Coart, busy In Atlanta,
did not read The New Berne Weekly
Journal. The day of the sale r
round as ail day* do and the property
was knocked down to James A. Hryan
and J. A. Meadow* for $250. Some
body must have been asleep to let such
property go for that sum, especially
when timber lands were being snapped
up by eager buyers from the cities. Rut
Thomas Singleton Coart, hundreds of
miles away In Atlanta, knew nothing "f
land* or auction, nnd the hour set Ur
his appearance passed by and he was
absent. Tho sixth Interest in the $250
was set aside by the courts to b#
claimed by him If he should ever ap
pear.
A LUCKY ACCIDENT.
Three years after the sale at the
court house door Mli* Hawks decided
to spend a week or two at .Uorcheau
City. There she Rverheard the conver-
Hatton of the two lawyers who won
dered what had become of Thomas Sin
gleton Coart, and that bit of luck cr
fate began the litigation for the Sin
gleton estate.
Acting through hi* counsel, < y;
Pettigrew, Mr. Coart filed an affidavit
before the court* of North Carolina
seeking to recover hls Interest, not In
the magnificent sum for which tne
land* were sold, but In the estate it
self. He demanded that the sal*
set aside, for the reason that he naa
no notice of the proceedings. He n<u
only claimed the one-8lxth interest
conceded to him by the petitioners, mu
another sixth left him by hls uncle,
Richard Singleton. He alleges fur*
ther that the plaintiff Wolfenden did
enter Into a contract with the rinj
Lumber Company to deed certain lanaj
for the sum of $21,600 and that nett
were the same land* purchased at in
court sale tor $125. He alleges tm
the purchase at the sale was not
bona fide purchase, Inasmuch as tn
purchaser* knew the value of the 'any
and purchased them for the inslgnm*
cant sunt of $250, the total amount pa
for the varlou* tract*, which were
according to the divisions of the *»ni; •
nal grants. He asked a motion or tn
ourt to set aside the sale. ,
Mr. Pettigrew paid a visit to t .
timber lands after being retained
the case and estimate* their va u.-
$100.4)00. The suit will be heard In tw
courts of Craven county, and Mr 1 1
Is confident that he will win hw> JjJJL
and become owner of property «
$33,000. ,. |||
If you recover that property ■
you continue to sell shoes to the
and women of Atlanta?” Mr. * ° il *’ l ‘
asked. But he merely smiled in ' J
marked that he liked hls work.
“JAP-A-LAC." ,
"Liquid Veneer,’" "^ aS *
eue” at the
GEORGIA PAINT AND
GLASS CO.,
40 Peachtree,
