Newspaper Page Text
The Camilla Enterprise. "
VOLUME XXIV.
SLAYER OF L. C. BULLARD GETS ONE
TO TWO YEARS IN PENITENTIARY
SELF-DEFENSE IS
NEGRO BOY’S PLEA
Two Other Murder Cases Are
Disposed of During Busy
Term. Court Adjourned On
Wednesday Afternoon.
Mitchell Superior Court adjourned
for the Term Wednesday afternoon
after one of the busiest sessions that
have been held here in several years.
In six days of work on the criminal
docket sixty-four cases were disposed
of, including three negro murder cas¬
es, one of which took up the entire
day Monday. Among the other cases
disposed of a majority were for vio¬
lations of the prohibition law and
those who are making their second ap¬
pearance on this charge found Judge
Custer much less inclined to leniency
than on their first appearance. Be¬
fore court adjourned Judge Custer
made the statement that in the future
he expects to make the penalty still
heavier for this class of violations.
The case that attracted more atten¬
tion than any other at this term of
court was the trial of William Bar¬
ron, alias William Barrow, charged
with murder in connection with the
slaying of L. C. Bullard, a well known
white farmer of Branchville communi¬
ty, on the night of the Tobacco Jub¬
ilee dance at Pelham, July 16th. Bar
row is a negro boy, apparently about
17 years of age, black as the ace of
spades, and gives no outward evidence
of a violent nature. His plea was
self-defense and while there was some
conflict in the testimony the jury ap¬
parently considered the evidence suffi¬
cient to warrant his conviction for
the lesser offense of voluntary man¬
slaughter with the minimum penalty
of one to two years in the peniten¬
tiary, and so found.
The negro Barrow went to Pelham
on the night of the killing with some
white people, driving a Hudson car
for them. According to the evidence
at the trial when the party drove up
near the tobacco warehouse in Pelham
car bogged down and several peo¬
ple who came along about that time
helped them out of the bog. Among
these were Mr. Bullard and Willie
Layton, a young man who lives near
Branchville and went to Pelham with
Bullard. Layton was the principal
for the state. He testified that after
the car got out of the bog Bullard dis¬
covered that someone in the car had
some whiskey and that he asked one
of the men in the party for a drink,
which was given him. He told the
jury that when the car was parked
the negro boy, Barrow was left in the
machine to guard it and that the white
members of the party went to the
dance. Mr. BuIUard also went up to
the warehouse where the dance was
in progress. Some time later Bul¬
lard returned to the car, according to
Layton, and asked the negro for a
drink. Layton testified that while
Bullard was in conversation with the
negro he walked up and placed his
hand on Bullard’s arm and said to
him, “Let’s go.” At that instant, he
swore, the negro fired and Bullard fell.
The negro then got out of the car
with the pistol in his hand and chased
him (Layton) around the car a time
or two, according to the witness. Fin¬
ally the negro went off toward the
warehouse and Layton returned to his
dying friend. Mr. Jim Anderson, a
well known white farmer of near Pel¬
ham, was an eye-witness and his story
a! told in the trial conflicted mater¬
ially with Layton’s. Anderson was
seated in his truck, he stated, when
the car was parked in about six feet of
him. He witnessed the first meeting
of Bullard and the parties in the car
and also the second visit of Bullard
to the car. He told the jury that Bul¬
lard and Layton came to the car to¬
gether, first approaching the car on
the right hand side and speaking fo
the negro, then as Bullard started
around the car he said he saw him
pull a pistol out of his pocket and
holding it in his hand as he opened
the door of the car. He heard Bul¬
lard tell Layton to “get in and get it”
and about that time a shot was fired
and Bullard fell. The Layton boy
ran off one way, he said, and the ne¬
gro jumped out of the car and ran off
toward the warehouse. No pistol was
found near Bullard nor on his person
and the state contended that he had
no pistol or if he had one he never
drew it. The defense theory
that Bullard replaced the pistol in
his bosom after the shooting and that
it was overlooked by those who ex¬
amined him and even by the under¬
taker when he was undressed. Later,
the next day after the body had been
prepared for burial, a pistol which
was identified as belonging to the de¬
ceased was found by the undertaker
in the basket in which the body was
removed to the undertaking rooms,
according to the testimony. A num¬
ber of prominent citizens of Albany
came down to testify to the good
character of the negro boy, Barrow,
and this unusual array of character
witnesses undoubtedly had a strong
bearing on the case. The negro in his
statement to the jury said that when
Bullard and Layton returned to the
car and demanded whiskey he told
them he had none and that Bullard
then drew a pistol and pointed it at
him while the Layton boy grappled
with him. In the scuffle a seat was
displaced and he saw T a pistol belong¬
ing to the owner of the car and in his
fright he picked it up and fired. He
then jumped out of the car and ran to
the warehouse to notify the owner of
the car.
Solicitor B. C. Gardner was assist¬
ed in the prosecution by Mr. Lamar
Cox. The defendant was represented
by Col. H, A. Peacock, of Albany, and
Col. J. J. Hill, of Pelham.
Another murder case tried Wednes¬
day was that of Jim Brown, who shot
John Robert Virgin several weeks ago
on Mr. Leon Perry’s place west of
Camilla. Virgin died several days af¬
ter the shooting as a result, of his
Wounds. Before his death Virgin de¬
clared that Brown shot him because he
tried to prevent Brown from shooting
his (Brown’s) son, with whom he had
become enraged. .In the trial Wed¬
nesday Brown pled self-defense and
witnesses testified that Virgin had a
knife and was about to make an at¬
tack on the defendant. Brown claim¬
ed that he did not shoot to kill but
merely to stop Virgin and prevent an
attack upon himself. Virgin was shot
in the leg near the knee, the load of
shot almost tearing the member in
two.
Following is a list of cases disposed
of in court since last Thursday morn¬
ing:
Ralph Davis, misdemeanor; plea of
guilty. Six months or $60.00.
Jack Bullard, having liquor and
transporting liquor; plea of guilty.
Twelve months or $75.00 in each case.
Will Smith, making liquor and hav¬
ing liquor; verdict of not guilty.
M. C. Peavy, misdemeanor; nol
prossed on payment of costs.
Mack Brown, making liquor and
having liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months of $100.00 in first case and
twelve months or $50.00 in second
case.
Dick Angus, making liquor and hav¬
ing liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months or $75.00 in first case and
twelve months or $50.00 in second
case.
George Barber, making liquor and
having liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months or $50.00 in first case and six
months or $50.00 in second case.
Scott Johnson, making liquor and
having liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months or $75.00 in first case and six
months or $50.00 in second' case.
Adam Irving, making liquor and
having liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months or $50.00 in first case and six
months or $50.00 in second case.
George Willis Ross, making liquor
and having liquor; plea of guilty.
Twelve months or $75.00 in first case
and six months or $50.00 in second
case.
Major Williams, making liquor and
having liquor; plea of guilty. Twelve
months or $75.00 in first case and six
months or $50.00 in second case.
C. D. Daniels, having liquor; plea
of guilty. Six months or $50.00.
Margaret Moore, having liquor;
plea of guilty. Three months or
$25.00.
Julius Quimbly, having liquor; plea
of guilty. Six months or $50.00.
Jack Hines, murder; verdict of guil¬
ty. Hines lives on Mr. Willie Join¬
er's place, nuear Branchville. He was
indicted for killing a negro in that
community over a year ago and was
tried at the October term last year.
A mistrial resulted and he went on
trial the second time at this term.
’Dave Parker, violating game law;
plea of guilty. Six months or
$30.00.
William Barron, alias William Bar
Continued On Last Page.
CAMILLA, GA„ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1925.
Dr. Carlisle Moves
To West Palm Beach
Dr. B. E. Carlisle, veterinarian, has
given up his practice here and has
moved to West Palm Beach, Florida,
where he expects to engage in the
real estate business. Dr. Carlisle has
practiced in Camilla for the past four
years and has made many friends
among the people of this county who
will regret to learn that he is moving
elsewhere. Dr. Carlisle will be suc¬
ceeded in Camilla by Dr. N. J. Taylor,
of Hazlehurst, a veterinary surgeon
of a number of year’s of experience.
Dr. Taylor arrived here last week and
is getting acquainted rapidly and has
made a very favoi-able impression.
SATURDAYLAST
DAY FOR ENTRIES
CANDIDATES MUST PAY IN BY
SIX O’CLOCK TO QUALIFY
FOR THE PRIMARY.
Saturday, October 24th, is the last
day for candidates to qualify for the
city primary for nomination of mayor
and other city officials. The primary
will be held on November 10th and
under the rules of the city Democratic
Executive Committee all candidates
must register with the secretary by
six o’clock p. m. on October 24th.
Candidates will be required to pay
fees assessed against them when reg¬
istering. Those against whom no as¬
sessment was made will be required
to register with the secretary just the
same.
So far no great amount of interest
has been stirred up in the campaign.
At present it appears that the only
contest will be in the race for mayor
between Dr. Jno, M. Spence and Dr.
F. L. Lewis. Both of these gentlemen
are active and the probabilities arc
that the race will be a lively one.
Mr. J. E, Brooks, whose name was
entered by friends for councilman
from the Fourth Ward, has with¬
drawn. In a note to the secretary of
the committee, Mr. Brooks gives no
reasons for his action, merely request¬
ing that his name be withdrawn.
This leaves Dr. D. P. Luke a clear
field from the Fourth Ward. The
other candidates for council, Mr. A.
J. Pinson from the Second Ward and
Mr. B. H. Jenkins from the city at
large, have no opposition, and neither
has Mr. E. J. Vann, Jr. city treasurer.
No formal entries have been made
for the three places to be filled on the
Board of Trustees of Camilla Public
Schools, though The Enterprise has it
on good authority that Dr. J. L. Gray
will be a candidate for one of the
places. So far this paper has had no
intimation as to whether or not either
of the old members whose terms ex¬
pire this year will be candidates to
succeed themselves. These members
are: M. H. Metcalf, C. E. Watt and
G. B. Cochran.
All who intend to become candidates
are reminded that it will be necessary
for them to register with the secre¬
tary of the Democratic Executive
Committee before six o’clock Satur¬
day, October 24th.
D. A. R. Has Program
For Columbus Day
The Hawthorne Trail Chapter D.
A. held a very interesting and enjoy¬
able meeting here on Thursday after¬
noon of last week. Mrs. E. E. Cox
and Mrs. M. B. Mock were hostesses
for the afternoon and the meeting
was held at the home of Mrs. Cox,
the rooms thrown open to the guests
being beautifully decorated with ail
tumn flowers and foliage. On account
of the bad weather none of the Pel¬
ham ladies were able to attend. Mrs.
B. L. Holton was a guest of the chap¬
ter.
After the business session a very
interesting program on Columbus Day
was carried out. A reading on Col¬
umbus was given by Mrs. B. L. Hol¬
ton. paper on Thomas Jefferson
was given by Mrs. J. D. Ledbetter
and a paper on Patrick Henry was
given by Mrs. P. C. Cullens. During
the social hour which followed, Miss
Mary Bennett Cox favored the com¬
pany of ladies with several beautiful
vocal selections. A delicious salad
course and hot tea were served as re¬
freshments by the hostesses.
Mr. Ernest Davis, Jr., went up to
Macon Sunday to carry part of the
Mitchell County agricultural display
jfor the State Fair.
FARM CENSUS FOR
MITCHELL COUNTY
ADVANCE FIGURES GIVEN OUT
BY FEDERAL DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE.
A statement giving some of the re¬
sults of the 1925 farm census for
Mitchell county has just been releas¬
ed by the Department of Commerce,
Washington.! The data is accompan¬
ied by siniilar figures for 1920 and the
comparison is interesting as showing
the depreciation suffered by farmers
following the post-war inflation and
the effect of the decline in prices on
crop production. The decline in farm
operations was not altogether due to
deflation, but in part to adverse wea¬
ther conditions during the years of
1923 and 1924.
The report shows that in 1925 there
Were 2500 farms as compared’ with
3,444 in 1920. The number of white
farmers in 1925 was 1,379, as com¬
pared with 1,414 in 1920, while the
number of colored farmers was 1,121
in 1925, as compared with 2,030 in
1920. From these latter ‘ figures it
Will be seen that while the number
of white farmers decreased only
slightly there was a decrease of al¬
most fifty per cent in_ the number of
colored farmers. The decrease in the
number of farm owners from 1920 to
1925 was very small, the figures being
787 for 1920 and 744 for 1925. The
number of farm managers increased
from 17 in 1920 to 30 in 1925. The
number of tenant farmers in 1920
was 2,640 as compared with 1,726 in
1925.
The census shows that there was in
1925 238, 442 acres of land cleared in
this county. Crop lands in 1924
amounted to 163,698, of this acreage
crops were harvested from 116,542
acres, 494 acres are given to crop
failures and 46,662 acres were fallow
or idle.
Farm values including land and
buildings in 1925 are given at $8,281,-
445 as compared with $12,761,468 in
1920. Land alone in 1925 is valued
at $5,926,835 as compared with $10,-
349,033 in 1920. The depreciation in
farm buildings was only slight, the
figures being $2,354,610 for 1925 as
compared with $2,412,435 in 1920.
The number of horses on the farms
decreased in the five-year period from
1,399 to 544, but the number of farm
mules decreased only about 230 head,
the number in 1925 being 4,280. In
1925 there was 12,058 head of cattle
as compared with 14,502 in 1920. The
number of hogs in 1925 was 29,928
as compared with 36,778 in 1920.
No crop figures are given for 1925.
In 1924 the cotton acreage was 26,-
233 and the yield 12,224, while in 1919,
the comparison year, thp acreage was
50,428 and the yield 13,822 bales. The
corn acreage was about the same in
both years and the yield slightly above
700,000 bushels in both years. The
average yield per acre was about 14
bushels per acre.
The number of young pecan trees
in the county increased from 37,018
in 1919 to 67,524 in 1924. The num¬
ber of bearing pecan trees in Mitchell
county decreased from 40,826 in 1919
to 34, 744 in 1924. There must be a
mistake in the figures on the bearing
trees, as there has certainly been no
decrease in the five year period but a
very substatial increase.
Fighting In France
Is Attraction Here
The moving picture feature, “Fight¬
ing in France,” is being shown at the
Camilla Opera House on Thursday
and ‘Friday evenings of this week un¬
der the joint management of Dr. C.
O. Rainey and Mr. H. M. Mitchell, of
Pelham. This picture is said to be
one of the most thrilling and interest¬
ing films made of actual fighting con¬
ditions during the World' War and it
is attracting large crowds wherever
shown. It is expected that the local
opera house will be filled to capacity
at the two performances given here.
Ride Flying Jinny
Today Benefit U. D. C.
All the children of the community
and grown folks as well, are invited to
take this (Friday) afternoon off and
ride the merry-go-round for the bene¬
fit of the U. D. C. Through the kind
co-operation of the man who.is oper¬
ating the merry-go-round, one half of
the proceeds Friday afternoon will go
to the Camilla chanter U. D. C. to b >
used in their worthy activities.
Adjourned Term Of
Camilla City
An adjourned term of the'
Court of Camilla, regular
term adjourned over, will convene on
the first Monday in November, by or¬
der of Judge Ben T. Burson. Several
important cases scheduled for trial at
the regular term, which was adjourn¬
ed on account of the rush of harvest¬
ing crops, will be taken up at this
term. The jurors drawn to serve at
the regular term are instructed and
directed to appear at the adjourned
term for service. A list, of the jurors
will be found on another page of this
paper.
HOPEFUL-CAMILLA
BOYS ARE WINNERS
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
WINS FIRST PLACE AND
$50.00 AT MACON.
The joint exhibit put on by the vo¬
cational agricultural classes of Hope¬
ful and Camilla High Schools at the
Fair at Macon this week won
place and the prize of $50.00 in the
main contest and two or three other
prizes in side contests staged in con¬
nection with the vocational exhibits.
The Mitchell County delegation was
under the direction of Prof. J, F. Reid
and Prof. C. F. Richards, vocational
teachers of Camilla and Hopeful, res¬
pectively.
In carrying off first honors in the
agricultural exhibits, the Hopeful and
Camilla boys were in competition
with vocational schools from all over
the state And their success makes a
fine showing for the work that is be¬
ing done in these schools along the
line of teaching the boys the princi¬
ples <j£ practical agriculture.
In addition to the first prize in the
main event, the Mitchell county team
won fourth place in the crop judging
and plant identification contest and re¬
ceived a cash prize of $12.00.
Ernest Davis, Jr. of the Camilla
school, was second high out of sixty
boys competing in one of the judging
contests^ winning a cash prize of
$ 6 . 00 .
Hopeful and Camilla did not decide
until last week to enter .the contest at
Macon and the exhibit taken to the
fair was necessarily hurriedly assem¬
bled, with little time to work out the
plans the teachers had in mind. With
more time they could undoubted¬
ly have made a much better show¬
ing.
The results of the various events
were not announced until late Wednes¬
day and the information did not reach
this paper until Thursday morning.
The Mitchell county party returned
home Wednesday night, but we were
unable to get in touch with them and
get additional details before time of
going to press.
Camilla Gins Will
Institute Gin Days
Beginning next week both the Ca¬
milla gins will operate only on Fri¬
day and Saturday of each week until
further notice. The Camilla gins
have served the farmers faithfully
during the present season, operating
day and night during the rush of the
season. Now that the crop is about
all ginned it is believed that ample
service can be given by operating the
gins two days a week. Up to the
present time the local gins have han¬
dled about 6,500 bales of cotton,
or about one-third the estimated pro¬
duction of the county.
Tom’s Comedians
Coming Next Week
An attraction which is billed for Ca¬
milla next week is Tom’s Comedians,
a dramatic and vaudeville organiza¬
tion which will show under a canvas
theatre on the City Hall lot. The
company comes with high recommen¬
dations from other places it has visit*
ed and promises the people of Camilla
a week of clean amusement. See ad¬
vertisement elsewhere in this paper
announcement for opening night.
Local Market.
Cotton.
Strict Middling _____________19 1-2
Middling -------------------19 1-4
Cotton Seed.
Per Ton ..........-........._$31.00
Peanuts.
_____________________$75.00
NUMBER 28-
GRAND JURY WANTS
GOOD PISTOL BONDS
SAYS INVESTIGATION SHOWS
MANY BONDS INSOLVENT OR
OUT OF DATE.
The Mitchell county grand jury
drawn for service at the regular Oc¬
tober term of Superior court adjourn¬
ed last Friday afternoon and the gen¬
eral presentments, including recom¬
mendations of that body, were read in
open court. The presentments are
published in full on another page of
this issue.
The grand jury reported the county
roads in good condition, generally,
and endorsed the practice of the Coun¬
ty Commissioners in replacing all
wooden bridges with concrete struc¬
tures. Attention of the county road
authorities were called to the fact
that a poje of the Baker County Power
Co. is standing in the right-of-way
of the Camilla and Newton road
(northern route) and that the same is
dangerous to traffic and liable to in¬
volve the county and power company
in litigation.
The Grand Jury found the court
house and county jail to in a bet¬
ter state of repair than usual. The
body recommended, however, that
that portion of the jail building
in which prisoners are kept be enclos¬
ed with a strong wire fence which
will prevent people from approaching
the windows. It was pointed out that
the ease of access to the windows is a
source of danger for the officers han¬
dling the prisoners and not for the
best interests of the state.
The grand jury, after giving a list
of the pistol toter’s licenses on file in
the office of the Ordinary, called at¬
tention to the fact that many of them
are out of date and that the bonds fur¬
nished as required by law, in many
cases, are insolvent. The body rec¬
ommended that these licenses be
brought up to date and that good
bonds be required of persons taking
out licenses. The attention of the
court was also directed to the fact
that some of the personal bonds fur¬
nished by guardians artd administra¬
tors are insufficient and recommended
that surety bonds be required in the
future. It was stated that these cri¬
ticisms were not directed at present *
county officials as the conditions com¬
plained of have been in existence for
a number of years and each succeding
officer has merely followed the prac¬
tice of his predecessor.
The grand jury reported the books
of all the county officers in excellent
condition. Special credit was given
the Tax Receiver and the Tax Collec¬
tor on account of the adding of 6,000
acres of land to the digest this year
that have not heretofore been return¬
ed.
The grand jury recommended that
Justices of the Peace of the coun¬
ty procure the new books now avail¬
able and keep them in accordance
with law. All vacancies in the offices
of Ex.-Officio Justice of the Peace
were filled and it was recommended
that an election be held in the Twelfth
District to fill the vacancy in that dis¬
trict occasioned by the death of Mr.
G. W. Galloway. The grand jury also
recommended that the County Com¬
missioners pay the Justices of the
Peace the usual fee for keeping the
Vital Statistics, stating that this is
an important matter and calling at¬
tention to the fact that some insur¬
ance companies, particularly negro or¬
ganizations, will not pay death claims
except on proof furnished by the
Health Board.
The grand jury called upon the offi¬
cers to enforce strictly the state law
against driving automobiles and
trucks on the roads at night without
lights and also in regard to children
under 16 years of age driving auto¬
mobiles, except when accompanied by
their parents or someone responsible
for them.
The grand jury announced a collec- .
tion of $22.60 for the Georgia Indus¬
trial Home, Macon, Ga.
Judge Custer thanked the grand
jury for the thorough and conscien¬
tious manner in which their investi¬
gations had been made. In regard t<j;
the pistol toter’s license, Judge Cus¬
ter said that the law should be strict¬
ly followed and good bonds required
of all persons and the same renewed
in the intervals prescribed. With ref¬
erence to the bonds required of guar¬
dians and administrators, Judge Cus¬
ter stated that the law allows person¬
al bonds to be taken in such cases and
that surety bonds can not be demand¬
ed without an act by the legislature.