From Days Gone By March 12,1914

March 12, 1914.     Holding that the evidence adduced before B. T. Rawlings in two affidavits supporting a petition by Lee Kennedy for change of venue from Emanuel County superior court, was sufficiant to warrant the conclusion that Kennedy could not get a fair trial in that court, and holding further, that the judge should have granted his petition therefore, the state supreme court on Wednesday reversed Judge Rawlings and directed that the change of venue be granted.     A dissenting opinion filed by Justice Beck and Evans agrees with the majority in the belief that the evidence was sufficiant to indicate no fair trial could be secured, but differs with the direction that a change of venue be granted. These two justices believe that the proper direction from the supreme court should have been that a rehearing of the petition be held by Judge Rawlings.     Kennedy is charged with killing his wife, Mrs. Maude Kennedy, whom he is alleged to have shot and beaten in Swainsboro on October 25,1913, so severly that she died on November 20. On November 16, he was taken to the Chatham County jail for safe keeping, mob violence being feared. The affidavits were from his brother O. A. Kennedy, and William Faircloth that the public was bitterly against him. The law was changed last summer to give greater freedom for change of venue in criminal cases, to avert lynchings and conflicts between citizens and militia.     Mr. Leon Chester has been awarded the contract for building the new Baptist pastorium, the erection of which is already begun. Mr. Chester is a reliable first-class, up-to-date house builder, and the pastorium is being built near the old church site, corner of Valley and Court and will be somewhat on the bungalow plan, and when finished will be a very pretty and comfortable residence and quite an improvement on that side of town.     M. J. Webb who was convicted for killing a man named Fields near Adrian three years ago, and was sentenced to six years has been granted a parole by Governor Slaton after serving something over two years on the gang. Through the intercession of Col. W. C. Brinson and Hon. B. H. Moye, petitions from the trial judge and jury and some of the most influential citizens of Johnson County were presented to the Governor recomending he be liberated. Webb left Sunday a free and happy man.     Mr. S.A. Scott of Adrian is a candidate for representative of Johnson County. Mrs. H.C. Tompkins and children moved to Milledgeville. Messers. Laso Mosely, Henry Page and Troy Dent were in Wrightsville Sunday. Incidentally the gasoline gave out a few miles from town and they had to spend the night in the auto.     After an illness of several weeks Mrs. Pearl Gatlin, wife of Mr. W.R. Gatlin, died at her home in Wrightsville Saturday morning and was buried Sunday morning at Westview. She was a native of Washington County but lived here the last two or three years. Her death came as a surprise and is peculiarly sad. She is survived by her husband and several small children.