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Every Thursday
Every Week
For Everybody
Democratic Executive Chief
Gives Facts of Judge’sAction
In Walter Roe Criminal Case
The following is an excerpt ol
the statement recently made by
the Hon. Hugh Howell, chairman
of the State Democratic Execu
tive Committee, in answer to the
charges made against him by
Judge Claude Pittman, candidate
for governor:
“In Pittman s Augusta speech
he mentions the case the negro
rapist, Walter Roe, who was tried
by Pittman for raping a white
woman, wife of a Bartow county
farmer. This case is one o' tht
most sordid perversions of justice
in the judicial history of Georgia.
The facts in the Walter Roe case
briefly are as follows:
“On August 6th, 1932, Waiter
Roe, a negro, attacked a white
woman in Bartow county, Pitt¬
man’s home county. After beat¬
ing this woman, the wife of a
farmer, over the head with a pis
tol and cutting her with her own
butcher knife, he raped her. The
first Grand Jury that met in Bar
tow county after this occurence,
indited Roe for tape; he was tried
and found guilty and se ter.ceu
to be electrocuted. Pittman im¬
mediately passed an order on a
motion fora new trial, suspend¬
ing the order for electrocution,
which motion remained dormant
for many months without being
hoard, during which time an ap
piieation was filed with the Hon
Richard B. RusseU, then Gover¬
nor of Georgia, and the prison
commission, to commute Roe’s
sentennee to life imprisonment,
and Pittman wrote a letter to
Governor Russell anJ to the pris¬
on commission urging that the
sentence be commuted because
there was some doubt as to the
eegro’s guilt.
“Base 1 on the letter, the prison
commission recommended clem¬
ency to the Governor. This case
was declined by Governor R. B.
Russell, Jr , on January 6, 1933,
just three days before he went
out of office as governor. The Roe
case then was brought before
Governor Talmadge, who was
sworn in as Governor of Georgia
on January 9th. This was the first
clemency ca.-e heard by Governor
falmadge.The records show tnat
tnis clemency case was also de¬
clined by Governor Talmadge ou
January 14, 1933] At the time
this case was considered by Gov-
ernnr madge, ™“l! p„ no 0 intimation ,, . r, was made rp ,
to them that a motion for a new
trial was pending. If any knowl
e dge of this had been known by
either of the governors they
would not have consider ed the
Case > b ,t would have referred it
tack to the courts.
Nearly eight months later, on
August 1, during which time
Pittman made no attempt to re-
sentence or pass on the motion for
new tr ial, and without notifying
anybody, Pittman granted a new
trial on the ground that the ver-
ict was not supported by the ev¬
idence. He then allowed Walter
Roe to plead guilty before him
whhout going before another ju¬
ry. on the same day, and printed
i- name as solicitor-general, and
Qmmended mercy, which is a
tar violation of the law. Judge
p ‘tunan then sentenced him
toe to
August penitentiary on the same dav
1, 1933.
Loe stayed in the penitentiary
oniy seven weeks and escaped,
ailu up to now Judge Pittman
no reward for the cap
lui> of the rapist of a pur 3 white
Ionian, the wife of a tenant farm
* r ‘ bartow county. I have an
u “ avi t from this who
( woman,
U waafceu to oppose all
Devoted to the Best Interests and Progress of Dade County ♦ Only Newspaper in the County ♦ "Square and the Sq
on
j j Small Boys Kill
201b. Wildcat
GNA— With a ‘ lightaro
knot” as their only weapon, two
small boys who were picnicing
near Wa\cross killed a vicious
wildcat weighing twenty pounds.
Edward Lawhorne, 10, of Way-
cross and Robert Newsome 13,
of Hortense, heard their hound
dog baying in the woods some dis
tancc awa.v and went to investi¬
gate They found him holding the
vicious, snarling animal at bay.
The cat ‘ made for’’ them, acsord
ing to their story, and they siop
ped him with tl e “lightard knot’’
finishing him off with other knots.
When their parents arrived on
the scene they met the youngsters
dragging the bleeding, dying ani
inal. Modest about their exploit,
they scarcely realized they had
killed one of the most dangeious
beasts of the south Georgia wood^
Shantytown Shavings
Once again the iron shod horse
iramps ruthlessly over a frighten¬
ed country. One5 more those of
noble blood cringe in heartbreak
ing, never knowing at what un
holy hour the ruthlessly iron shod
horse will come riding out of the
darkness to trample out their
very existence. Thus politics
will bring blood shed, heart ache
and distruction. Will petty poli
tics and disgusting ego bring war
and chaos once again to debt la-
dened, war devasted Germany?
Will those awlul guns belch forth
death once more for sturdy, inno¬
cent, home-loving men? God for¬
bid; and yet the harlinger of just
that looks out at us from head¬
lines that try to speak, but are
afraid. Let’s pray it shall not
come.
What a great pity that men and
women, full grown and intelligent
cannot learn to love peace and
cease to crave the shedding of
their brother’s blood. Many
years have drifted by since the
horrible world war conflict; yet it
lives in our hearts just as vividly
today as that never to be forgot¬
ten November day, when the
whole world went wild. Stil 1 , heed
of that memory 1 they are
marching steadily toward another
a thousand times more horrible.
Pearl Hall Beaty.
Revival Meeting at
Baptist Tabernacle
A revival meeting began Mon
day night here at the Baptist
Tabernacle; the services being
conducted by the pastor, Rev.
Henry Smith. The meetings are
well attended ana much interest
is being manifested in the services.
Uncle George O’neal is ill at his
home here.
representative WANT¬
ED-- The Fuller Brush Com¬
pany will establish an ambitious-
man or woman as local npresen-
tative. For particulars address
P. 0. Box 1575, Atlanta, Ga.
but did not know what they were
doing.” is
“The only reason Pittman
making these false charges
against me is that he has elected
to run for governor on a cam¬
paign of deception a».d not issues
and thinks he can fool the people
witli this sort of asmoke screen.’/
What He Means to the Seventh
District- Congressman
Seniority means an awful lot to a member of Con¬
gress. For the first few years that a Congressman stays
in the Washington privilege he is little more than just a member, with
of voting. It takes time for him to find out
what it’s all about. He’s a freshman in competition with
mature statesmen and politicians. He merely belongs,
but there’s not much that he can do about it. After a time
he gets on a few committees. If he’s a good politician and
a fighter, as time rolls along he may finally become the
ranking member on some important committee — the
chairman of an important committee. Then he’s arrived.
He is elevated from a mere figure-head to a generalissimo,
as it were.
Congressman Malcolm C. Tarver, since March 4, 1927,
has been the representative from the Seventh District of
Congress. He has proved himself faithful, loyal and ca¬
pable. Rut until the organization of the present congress,
he has been a minority member. The Democrats are
holding the whip handle. Tarver has arrived. His mem¬
bership in Congress means that the Seventh District has
the prestige and power of membership on the third rank¬
ing committee of the House, the Judiciary, regarded as so
important that no Democrat member on it is allowed to be
a member of any other committee. Not only that, Tarver
is not far away from the chairmanship. Two members
who outrank him have already retired. Others will not
be Georgia in the next Congress. |Only a little while longer and
of this may reasonably expect for him the chairmanship
committee.
Alabama has two great chairmanships—Henry Stea¬
gall, Chairman of the Banking and Currency Commit¬
tee, who has been in Congress 20 years, and John McDuf¬
fie, Chairman of the Committee on Insular Affairs, who
has served 16 years. Texas has six—J as. P. Buchanan,
Appropriations; Sam Rayburn, Interstate and Foreign
Commerce; Hatton Sumners, Judiciary; Marvin Jones,
Agriculture; Joseph J. Mansfield, Rivers and Harbors,
and Fritz Lanham, Public Buildings and Grounds. Of
these, Lanham alone has served as little as 16 years, and
the others run up into the twenties. Georgia has only one
important chairmanship, that of Chairman Vinson of the
NavaPAffairs Committee, who has served 20 years. The
reason lies in the fact that most of the members of Con¬
gress from Georgia who have had long service have died
or been retired.
Speaker Rainey has served 30 years, and Majority
Leader Byrns 26 years.
Why should th^ Seventh district sacrifice the advan¬
tages that come with seniority and start another man over
the road Congressman Tarver has already followed with
success for eight years? Even if the other man could do
as well as Tarver, at the end of eight years we will be
from the seniority standpoint just where we are now.
That is not all, Congressman Tarver’s record of accom¬
plishments is unusual for these first years. A statement
of some of them appeared in connection with his an¬
nouncement. His Prison Industries bill recently enacted,
and which is intended to decrease the manufacture of
duck in the Atlanta penitentiary, is of particular interest
to Polk county, where mills hurt by this competition are
located, as well as to Floyd, Chattooga, and the textile in¬
dustry generally. has been friend of the Veteran,
Congressman Tarver a
the widows and the children of World War Veterans. By
his championship of the interests of Veterans, his official
position, and his recognized authority on the subject, he
is one of the outstanding leaders in this connection in
America.
He has attained to authority and distinguished leader¬
ship in the United States Congress, reflecting influence
and credit upon his constituents of the Seventh District
and the state of Georgia. He has been tried and found
faithful, capable and loyal in the discharge of every duty
of his office. Now that he attained to positions of power
and influence, the Seventh District is just now about to
realize the full fruits of his diligent application advan¬ to his
duties, his peculiar fitness for the office, and the
tage of his mature experience and official positions.
His opponent, Tom Clemmons, is said to be a worthy
aspirant for this high office, but for the people of the Sev¬
enth District to change representatives now of all times,
just when our Representative has attained by long years’
service and seniority, a position of influence and power,
would be the height of folly. all probability will elect
The Democratic party in an¬
other president at the end of the present term. We al-
control of the House of Representatives < andj
ready have representative,
we should feel proud of the position of our
and send him back again this year, not only paying him
the compliment so greatly deserved by his years of capa¬
ble and loyal service, but in the natural advancement of
our own selfish interests in clinging to a Representative
that has meant so much to us in the past, and who will
mean so much more to us in the future.
We can’t believe Mr. Clemmons’ candidacy will be
taken very seriously, with all due respects to the candi¬
date personally, but we must not take too much for
granted, and if we approve the Yecord of Congressman
Tarver, and feel that his continuance in office will redound
to our glory and credit, let’s say so. Furthermore let’s do
something about it. Let’s determine to send him back to
Washington with the huge majority his loyalty and capa¬
bilities so richly deserve—The Rockmart Journal.
(Advertisement! _ , „ » „
Highway Work
To Begin Soon
Dade County seems to be “hold¬
ing what she has.” and even gain¬
ing ground, in getting a new pro¬
posed highway from the Tenn¬
essee State Line to Trenton.
All of the property owners,
over whose land the survey pass¬
es, have signed up, with the ex¬
ceptions of three or four, and
these adjustments will be made
in due time, it is said. A board
of appraisers, whose duty it will
be to appraise or*"condemn the
property of those who will not co¬
operate, will soon be appointed,
it is said. The Superior Court
Judge it is understood, will make
the appointments; recommonda
tions. however, will be made by
the county authorities.
There seems to be no doubt but
what the road will be under way
by the first of September.
County labor will be used in so
far as possible.it is said, especially
common laborers.
15-Night Union
Revival Closes
The interest in the 15-night
union revival grew continuously
through Sunday night. Many ex¬
pressed their desire to fiee from
the wrath to come and accept the
Lord Jesus as their personal Sav¬
iour. Jimmie Johnson, the FJvan-
gelist. and Tom jfekson. the Sin¬
ger, expressed their gratitude to
all who hflped in making the
meeting a success. Namely, Mrs.
Lewis McBryar, Mrs. G. C. Ta¬
tum and a number of others. The
Evangelist left Monday P. M. for
Cleveland, Tenn., where they will
attend a big Bible Conference,
beginning July 15, Dr. H. C. Mor¬
rison, Dr. A. T. Robertson and
many other outstanding minis¬
ters of the gospel, will be present.
Everyone is invited to attend the
conference. Dr. Bob Jones will
preach Sunday P. M. at 3:15 on
“Pearls of America.”
Cave Spring News
Watch! Look and listen . for the
date coming soon of a play with
plenty of thrills, and an unusua 1 1
play which will be instrumental
in drawing people closer to God,
with e nough comedy to keep folks
in laughter fora month. Subject:
“Farmer Brown’s Conversion to
Doctrine of Stewardship”. Ques¬
tion is ? ? Who is P’armer Brown?
? ? ? —Find out by watching for
date and coming to see it. fhe
Brown’s colored cook, Matilda,
keeps one continuously in mirth;
the part being played Mrs. Can-
ova Guinn. Those who saw her in
‘ The Young Irish Maid”, Christ¬
mas realize thev are in f r a treafi
Other characters will be nam¬
ed later. The play is to be given
for the benefit of the church. Let
all watch for the date and do our
best for God by bringing all our
friends to the play.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Guinn vis
-ited Mr. and Mrs. Canova Guinn
Sunday. Little Sara Mae returned
to Birmingham with them.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker were visit¬
ing friends in Cave Springs Sun¬
day.
Mrs. Elzy Forester and son
Luther, spent Wednesday night
with Mr. and Mrs. A, D. Forester.
Ott Hamilton of Tellico Plains,
visited Mr. and Mrs. Wesley For¬
ester recently.
Max Forever and family spent
the weak-end with L.F. Forester.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Amos of
State Expenses
Are Less Than
Income for '32
GNA— The state of Georgia
lived within her income in 1932,
figures of the census bureau hav •
revealed, expenditures during
that year totaling $32,826,276
and receipts $32,960,445. More¬
over, governmental costs were re¬
duced from $7.29 per capita in
1931 to $6.60 the following year.
The largest expense of the staty
was $19,212,490 for maintenance
of gpneral departments, including
$6,976,396 in apportionments for
education. The sum of $15,300,-
220 was spent on highways, $12,-
876, 815 being for construction
and the remainder lor mainten*
ance.
Business and non-business
licenses provided the major part
of the revenue of the state ir. 19
32, constituting 53.2 per cent of
the total. Property and special
taxes represented only 23.9 per
cent. Included in business licenses
are the cigar and cigarette taxes
and the sales tax on gasoline. The
latter levy showed a decrease of
9.5 per cent in 1932 fiom the pre¬
ceding year.
Rising Fawn Notes
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Holloman
ind daughter of Chattanooga, are
spending their vacation at their
summer home in the Cove.
Miss Mattie Slaughter, Mr. and
Mrs. L. W. Slaughter and Miss
Floring Slaughter and Mr. Virgil
Lyda visited ivir. and Mrs. J. G.
Phillips at Valley Head, Ala.,
Sunday.
The Rev. James Abercrombie
visited Mrs. J. M. Forester at the
Newell Sanitarium in Chattanooga
Saturday. •
Mr. and Mrs. Watson Bray have
to their I ome in Chatt¬
after visiting Mr, and
R. D. Castleberry and family.
Misses Ethel and Nettie Aber¬
crombie were guests of Miss Vir¬
ginia Slaughter recently.
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. West, Mrs.
Lonnie Smith. Mrs. Asa Reeves
and children have been visiting
at chickamauga, Ga.
The young folks of this place
entertained at the home of
and Mrs. J.G. Nethery Tues¬
evening honoring Charlie
who left Wednesday A. M.
Mount Berry, Ga., where he
be a student in the Berry
Fishing With Baskets
GNA— West point citizens
fishing with baskets last
when the fish pond that
S. Cobb of Columbus had
at an outlay of $3,000 wa*
by a heavy rainfall
washed out the darn. Thi
of three years’ careful work
away in a torrent of watee
Mr. Cobb’s collection of fish
spread over the count, yside.
spent Friday with
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bradford.
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lambert
church at Rising Fawn
Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Pitts and
of Flintstone, spent the 4th
Mrs. Sam Forester.
Mrr. Eldie White entertained a
of friends Monday night.
Guests were, Mesdames W. R.
Riddle, J. A Reeves and Canova
Guinn; Messrs Pyron Lambert,
Canova Guinn, Homer Lee For¬
ester, Asa Reeves; Misses Hasself
Riddle, Ethel Williams and Zula
Mae TumUa.