FROM DAYS GONE BY DEC. 29, 1916, 1917

December 29, 1916, 1917.
1916- Christmas passed off quietly in Wrightsville, Chief Jackson did not make a single arrest. It was not so quiet a few miles up the road. Macon Duggan, colored, was shot and killed instantly Christmas night about 8 miles out from town on the Tennille road by Mr. John Gatlin of Wrightsville in a fight. The trouble arose over a slight misunderstanding, eye witnesses say, and the negro drew out a razor to slash Mr. Gatlin's throat when the latter, quicker than it takes to tell it, saved his own life by shooting the negro dead in his tracks.
Mr. Gatlin, who was running a car for rent for his brother, Roger Gatlin, had started up in the northern part of the county with Duggan and two more colored people, a man and a woman. On coming to the forks of the road 8 miles out, Mr. Gatlin discovered he would give out of gas before he could make the trip across the county and get back. So he told the colored people that he had to get gas from somewhere and that they would go on by Tennille for it and then go on where they had started.
Duggan remonstrated with Gatlin, saying that he was not going by Tennille and this, Gatlin says, started the trouble. He called Gatlin off to the side and began a fuss. Just as Gatlin started to return to his car the colored pulled the razor and grabbed him around the arms but Gatlin managed to get out his gun and fired it straight into the man's face. He fell to the ground dead. As Duggan grabbed Gatlin he made a pass at him with the razor, hitting his neck right across the juglar vein. The mark was plainly visable.
Mr. Gatlin returned to Wrightsville and reported the killing to Don Kent, with whom Duggan worked for some time and they went back to the scene. He was dead with the razor still clasped in his right hand. No inquest was held as there were eye witnesses to the affray. These tell pretty much the same story about the affair. It occurred in Washington County and the sheriff made an investigation. All particulars bear out Mr. Gatlin's claim of self defense.
Mr. J. F. Davis was found dead in his bed in the eastern part of the couny. He was buried at Gumlog. Miss Maude Stokes and Mr. T. W. Raley were married Dec. 20th. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Stokes. His parents were Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Raley.
1917- Beginning the next Tuesday, January 1st, Wrightsville will have city mail delivery. Messrs. Holmes Hines and Shellman Martin accompanied Mr. Claude Tompkins to Sparta to witness Tompkins marriage. Mrs. Martha Tanner died at the home of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Layton, her daughter and son-in-law. She was buried at Piney Mt. Miss Sue Bryan came to sudden death on Dec. 24th at her sisters, Mrs. J. W. Brannon. She was buried at Westview.
Dan Cupid was on the job as three weddings were held on Christmas Day. Miss Nina Pearl Stokes wed Mr. J. D. Underwood. Miss Bertha McArthur and Mr. George W. Gordy were married at Soperton. Miss Helen Thelma Garrett of Sparta and Mr. William Claude Tompkins of Wrightsville were married. The groom is a son of Mr. Henry Clay Tompkins of Wrightsville.