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VOLUME 79—NUMBER 48
Man Slashed
After Giving
Two Ride
The search continued Wednesday for a James
town, Ala. hitchhiker wanted in connection with the
slashing on Christmas Eve night of a man who had
given two youths a lift from Summerville.
Dwayne Bentley, 19, is being sought by Cherokee
County, Ala. officers in con
nection with the cutting on
Lookout Mountain of Clar
ence King Arthur, of Bir
mingham, Ala.
Bentley’s alleged compan
ion, Alvin Earl (Bud) Smart,
19, also of Jamestown, has
been charged with assault
with intent to murder in the
case. He was expected to be
transferred from the DeKalb
County, Ala. jail yesterday or
today to the Cherokee Coun
ty, Ala. jail, following a de
termination of exactly where
the cutting took place.
Sheriff Harold Richards of
DeKalb told The News
Wednesday it had been de
termined that instead of
occurring in DeKalb, as first
presumed, the incident had
actually occurred in Chero
kee County. Both counties,
as well as Chattooga County,
join atop the mountain in
the area where the cutting
episode occurred, near the
dam and old hotel site.
The 38-year-old Arthur,
who worked as a weaver in
Hitchhikers
May Be Tried
Here in Jan.
The two hitchhikers charged with the murder of
William (Bill) Copeland may be returned to Summer
ville from Savannah next week. They could go to trial
here in mid-January.
Roy Dale Chatterton and Woodrow Whisman
were charged with murder
Tuesday when Copeland’s
widow took out murder war
rants in Summerville before
Justice of the Peace Ralph
Brown, a fellow worker of
her late husband at Barwick
Mills.
Although it hasn’t been of
fically announced, it is vir
tually certain that Chatham
County officials in Savannah
will release the two men,
charged there with armed
robbery, to Chattooga Coun
ty. They waived preliminary
hearings in Savannah Tues
day on the charge and would
presumably be free to be re
turned here at any time.
Upon their return to Chat
tooga, the two will have the
opportunity of facing pre
liminary hearings. In the
event these are waived—a
possibility since the two
have reportedly admitted
the beating of Copeland—
the case would then await
action by the Chattooga
Elections, Progress Highlight 1964 in County
Elections highlighted the year 1964 in Chattooga County.
But it was also a year which saw continued economic
progress; more industrial jobs planned or made available;
the erection of a modern new county-wide high school; the
implementation of a modern tax structure; federal funds
okayed for an airport here; a county hospital controversy
and resultant administrative change; the deepest snowfall
since 1940; and one of the most brutal murders in the coun
ty’s history.
Countians elected a new sheriff and a new county com
missioner but retained most of the other incumbent public
officials.
They supported Lyndon Johnson for president and
whole-heartedly endorsed their own John W Davis for a
return trip to Congress.
Here are some of the top stories of the year:
Jan. 2—Deepest snowfall since 1940, six inches, blankets
Chattooga as the year 1964 makes it debut.
Feb. 6—“ Stop Polio” inoculation program launched.
Plans announced for erection of county civil defense build-
the 1940’s at Riegel Textile
Corp., Trion, has been re
leased from a Birmingham
hospital, Sheriff Richards
said. He had suffered se
vere cuts about the neck and
head but had managed to
subdue his attackers and
cause them to run away.
Arthur was quoted by his
sister, Miss Geneva Arthur
of Trion, as saying this is
what happened:
On his way to Birming
ham from Trion Thursday
night, he stopped at Alexan
der’s Case in Summerville.
While there, two men ap
proached him and asked if
he weren’t the brother of
Roy Arthur of near Cedar
Bluff and he said he was. A
conversation ensued and the
two asked if he were going
that way, saying they’d like
a ride. Arthur let them ride
but as they neared the turn
off point at Menlo, one
pulled a knife on him and
said they’d changed their
mind and didn’t want to go
(Continued On Page 4)
grand jury which next con
venes January 11. The next
criminal term of Superior
Court is expected to open
here January 18 and it’s con
ceivable that Chatterton and
Whisman will face trial here
that week.
Mrs. Copeland was accom
panied to Summerville Tues
day morning by her hus
band’s brother, Jim. Also
present at the signing of the
warrants was Georgia Bu
reau of Investigation Agent
Jack Knott of Summerville.
Mrs. Copeland reportedly
said she felt she was doing
what her husband would
want her to do in the matter.
She is the mother of four
children, ranging in age
from six to 18.
Copeland’s body was found
the day before Christmas
Eve in an abandoned farm
house on the Ira Walters
farm in Haywood Valley,
near the Floyd County line.
(Continued On Page 4>
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SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31,1964
Don’t Pick
Up Hikers,
Man Warned
“1 told him whatever
he did not to pick up any
hitchhikers,” said cutting
victim Clarence Arthur’s
sister, Miss Geneva Ar
thur, of Trion.
“He told me he wouldn’t.
But of course when those
men told him about be
ing acquainted with our
brother and others in the
family he thought they
were all right.”
Miss Arthur said she
admonished her brother
against picking up hitch
hikers as he left her home
after a Christmas Eve
visit Thursday night.
She said he lived with
an aunt in Birmingham
and was returning there
in his 1955 Cadillac when
the incident occurred. He
is single.
Miss Arthur said she
was called on Christmas
Day to Fort Payne to see
her brother and after he
awoke he told her of the
episode.
She noted that, in a
parallel to the Copeland
case, a man arrested in
connection with the cut
ting, Alvin E. (Bud)
Smart, was wearing her
brother’s sweater when
picked up. “It was a
Christmas gift from my
aunt,” she said.
When arrested in Sa
vannah, Roy Dale Chat
terton was wearing Wil
liam (Bill) Copeland’s
jacket. Chatterton has
been charged with mur
der in connection with
Copeland’s death.
Man Who
Found
Body Dies
Floyd County Deputy
Sheriff Frank Terry, who
with Deputy Eldon Milstead
found the body of William
iBill) Copeland in Haywood
Valley a week ago, died un-
(Continued On Page 4)
x ********************^*d^***
Uncle Ned’s
Notes
1 ********************<*****< '
Lookin’ back, I’d say this
ain’t been a bad year in
our county. Lotsa progress
been made. And there ain’t
no reason to think it’ll
stop. We got sum good
leaders and we got sum
good industry and we got
many good folks and that's
what it takes. Yep, I’d say
1965 will be as good, if not
better, than 1964 wuz in
our county.
ing. “Goat Man” visits.
Feb. 13 —County Commissioner John Jones pledges sup
port toward efforts to get small airport in county. Summer
ville News expands floor space by one-third. Sam McCain
named 1964-65 principal of Trion High, R. H. Miller named
1964-65 principal of Trion Elementary.
Feb. 20—Bills passed in General Assembly taking Chat
tooga officers off fee system and putting them on salaries.
Feb. 27—Joseph Lewis Fulmer dies in fire that destroys
Curtis Dean house. Juanelle Ramey and T. Eugene Dalrym
ple Jr. named STAR students, Sam McCain and George
Brooks named STAR teachers.
March s—Chattooga Democratic Executive Committee
breaks tradition and sets county primary Sept. 9 to coincide
with state primary Rex Cassidy named Lyerly School prin
cipal.
March 12—Construction starts on new Georgia Glove Co.
plant at Lyerly
March 19—Gloria Cook of Trion High and Dale West
brook of Chattooga High win coveted Riegel scholarships.
New Officers, Salary
System Go in Friday
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COUNTY OFFICIALS BEING SWORN—Chat
tooga Ordinary Paul Weems (right) is shown
swearing in on Monday the county officials who
begin terms on Friday. They are (left to right)
School Supt. James Spence; Chief Deputy Sheriff
Randy Roberts; Tax Receiver Ray Van Pelt; Dep-
IA. X & -JU
COUNTY JP’S, CONSTABLES SWORN—inese
officials of Chattooga County were sworn in by
Ordinary Paul Weems (right) on Tuesday morn
ing. Most are justices of the peace or constables.
They are (left to right, front) B. P. Rowlls, E. C.
Tags Go On
Sale New
Year’s Day
Chattooga Countians may
begin buying their 1965 ve
hicle tags on New Year's
Day, Mrs Emmett Clarkson,
tag agent, has announced.
(Continued On Page 4)
Watchnight
Service
Set in Menlo
A watchnight service will
be held In the Menlo Pres
byterian Church at 11:15
p. m. tonight (Thursday i,
sponsored by the Menlo
(Continued On Page 4)
April 2—Qualifications for county primary open. Chat
tooga Tuberculosis Committee saved after several persons
volunteer services.
April 9—Chattooga Board of Education announces plan
to thwart marriage of high school students. More candidates
qualify.
April 16 Riegel gets $3.3 million contract. City of Sum
merville adopts budgets totaling over half million. Efforts
underway to establish country club.
April 23—James Hames becomes second Chattooga
Countlan, ever to win National Merit Scholarship. Marsha
Lowry named "Miss Chattooga" More qualify as candidates
for office.
May 7—James Melvin Blevins convicted of murder in
death of Walker teenagers and given electric chair. More
candidates qualify.
May 14—-Steel goes up at new Chattooga High School.
Over 9,000 registered to vote.
May 21—200 high school diplomas to be awarded In
county Second superior court judge for circuit proposed.
uty Sheriff Gary McConnell; Clerk of Court Sam
Cordle; Sheriff John Frank McConnell; Deputy
Sheriff Elbert Tucker; Chattooga City Court Sol.
Arch Farrar; Tax Collector Emmett Clarkson; and
County Commissioner Harry Powell.
Colbert, Thomas Langston and John Brock; (left
to right, rear) John Fuller, Roosevelt Young (cor
oner), C. W. Morrison, H. L. Abrams, Herman
Cook, Robert Akins and M. D. Battles.
Classes
Resume
Monday
Schools will resume classes
in Trion and the Chattooga
system Monday after a two
week holiday recess.
Another holiday Is just
(Continued On Page 4)
Countians
Hurt in
Wed. Wreck
Mrs. Harold Tyree of Sum
merville was hospitalized In
Chattanooga Wednesday
afternoon following Injuries
received In an automobile
(Continued On Page 4)
Drag racing In county causes concern.
May 28—Efforts launched to establish drag strip In
county begun. Polio Immunization money to finance scholar
ships.
June 11—Option taken on site for county airport. County
retail sales increase.
June 18—Summerville News wins three “Better News
paper Contest” awards. Candidates qualify for newly-created
junior superior court judgeship. Jim Daniel, young blind
Summerville father, undergoes eye surgery at Boston, Mass,
in effort to have sight restored.
June 25—Tommy Lee Shropshire charged with kidnap
ping Summerville girl who escaped unharmed. New Trion
outdoor pool dedicated.
July 2—Menlo plans big July 4 celebration with Con
gressman John Davis of Summerville as keynote speaker.
July 16—Contract let on roofing repairs at several Chat
tooga County schools. Chattooga grand jury calls on hos
pital board to resign If It can’t Improve hospital situation.
(Continued on Page 4)
PRICE 10c
When Chattooga
County rings out the old
year and rings in the new
tonight, she will simul
taneously switch all her
public officials from the fee
to the salary system.
And she will also switch
to a new county administra
tion, a new sheriff and a
new Chattooga City Court
solicitor.
The clerk of court, sheriff,
tax collector and tax re
ceiver will no longer be fee
paid officers after today but
instead those holding these
offices will be paid out of
the county treasury. By the
same token, the fees they
collect will go into the
county treasury. With the
transfer of these officers to
a salary basis, the county
will be rid of the fee system
entirely. Earlier, the ordi
nary and solicitor were put
on salaries.
While the county makes
this tremendous switch, it
also will be switching ad
ministrations in county gov
ernment. Harry Powell, a
former warden of the Chat
tooga Public Works Camp,
defeated Commission er
John Jones this year and
will assume his duties to
morrow. He has named Ed
Buries county attorney;
J. W Pettyjohn warden;
and Mrs. Charles Lowry sec
retary-clerk.
At the same time, the
county will receive a new
sheriff. John Frank McCon
nell, warden at the Works
Camp for some two years,
defeated Sheriff Fred Ste
wart. He has named as chief
deputy Randy Roberts and
as other deputies Elbert
Tucker and his son Gary
McConnell McConnell and
his wife will live in the sher
iff’s residence located adja
cent to the jail.
In addition to a new sher
iff and a new commissioner,
Chattooga County also will
have a new Chattooga City
Court solicitor, Arch Farrar.
He will succeed Cecil Pal
mour who withdrew as a
candidate to succeed him
self in order to run for jun
ior judge of the Lookout
(Continued On Page 4)
Check
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Date Now!
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merville News!
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