From Days Gone By, Sept. 22, 1911

September 22, 1911. Mr. Lee Lumley, the Marshal of Kite, while on duty last Sunday night, shot Mr. William Cordry inflicting wounds from which he died Tuesday morning. It is said that Mr. Cordry was drunk, and disorderly, and defied the Marshal, and attempted to draw his gun when he met him, whereupon he was shot. Marshal Lumley was arrested and brought to Wrightsville, given a commitment trial and put under bond which was readily given. The Superior Court convened here this week with Judge B. T. Rawlings presiding, with Alfred Herrington, Solicitor. The criminal docket was taken up on Wednesday afternoon. The Lee Lumley case was continued until next term, 1912. Clifford Dixon was tried for the killing of Marshal Lindsey at Kite several months ago. The jury brought in a verdict of voluntary manslaughter. The case of his brother, Sherman Dixon was continued to the next term. The attorneys for Clifford Dixon have applied for a new trial. The Judge assessed his bond at $2500. Sherman's bond was set at $3000. The Dixon boys have since given bond and left for their respective homes, near Wrightsville. The crowds in attendance upon Superior Court this week have been swelled considerably by the presents of gypsies and neighborhood horse-swappers, who are in evidence round-about the horse racks on our streets. The exterior of the second story recently added to the National Bank is about completed, and now that entire block, including the Vivola building presents an attractive and up-to-date appearance. J. Y. Keen, a prominent merchant of Dublin was here this week with indications of opening a millinery store. The stockholders of the Wrightsville, Adrian and Lyons railroad will meet at Adrian on the 26th. Very vital business is to be transacted according to J. H. Rowland, superintendant. Dr. Ford Ware returned to his studies at the Medical College at Augusta. Emmitt Butterly left for Athens to study pharmacy at the University. R. Erle Brinson left to resume his studies in the medical college in Atlanta. Dr. W. J. Flanders, now of Atlanta, and a member of the state Board of Prison Examiners was here inspecting the convict camps. Mrs. R. L. Kent is at Rawlings Sanitarium for treatment. Mr. Gordon Kent of Adel was here with his wife who was suddenly taken ill and is at Rawlings also. Mrs. William Faircloth brought her mother, Mrs. J. P. Kennedy home with improved health. C. S. Blankinship, manager of the City Market has been tustling with a severe case of mumps. The five month old twin boys of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Peddy of Harrison, died Wednesday night, just within a short while of each other. The cause of death is not known. Much sympathy was extended to the bereaved parents in the untimely death of their little boys. Mrs. Donie Cary Fortner, wife of Mr. J. M. Fortner, who resides near Kite was found dead in bed early yesterday morning at the home of her uncle, Mr. William Cary. Mrs. Fortner had accompanied her husband to Wrightsville for a visit during court, and she was as well as usual on retiring Wednesday night. Early Thursday morning, her relatives were attracted by the crying of her infant that was sleeping with her, and calling to her, and receiving no response, they hasten to her bedside and found that she was apparently dead. Dr. Harris was quickly summoned, but when he reached her, life was extinct, and all efforts to resuscitate her failed. Her death was the result of heart failure while asleep. Her husband was not present when she died, he being one of the jurors in the Dixon trial, had been locked in with that body for the night. The news of the death of his wife was quite a shock to him. Mrs. Fortner was a comparatively young woman. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and was buried at the Fortner burying ground. She was survived by her husband, her mother and an infant three months old.