FROM DAYS GONE BY, March 22, 1918

March 22, 1918.
REMEMBER THE MEN OF THE REGULAR ARMY.
Written by C. L. Holt, Company M, 3rd Infantry, Eagle Pass, Texas.

"The regular of our army is an independent care free fighting man who will never complain in any circumstances but we should like to say a word in behalf of this straight duty soldier who goes ahead with his task and does not whimper because the other fellows get all the goodies and attention from the folks at home.
So much has been made of our National Army men and our National Guardsmen whose home ties are perhaps stronger than those of our regulars that the man who enlisted to fight as a regular is receiving less thought and less of the good things of life.
The regular will not ask for anything except that which is due from the constituted military authorities. He can growl perhaps as frequently as any civilian but he growls only when he knows he is not getting what the law intends he shall have. For molly-coddling he cares not a bit, but he is just as human as any selective man or National guardsman in this whole broad land.
In these days when solicitude is felt for the selected man and guardsman, let some heart thought go out to the regulars. He does not get as many letters from home as the other men get. Frequently the regular has not family ties except those of the great human family but all that is appreciate when he knows he is being remembered.
No one ever asks about the fighting qualities of the regular because the question is unnecessary. He doesn't ask for kind thought or kind gifts, but he is grateful if he receives them.
The American people should not forget the foremost fighting man in the world, the regular, and they should try and convince him in some way that they appreciate the fact that he is taking his life in his hands for their sake and the sake of democracy."

FROM DAYS GONE BY, March 15, 1918

March 15,1918.
The local Board for Johnson County began the examination of the boys in class 1 Monday morning and 30 were examined each day. The work will be continued until all in class 1 is examined. It is not known yet when those who pass will be called into service at the camps but it is thought it will not be long.
The fair in Wrightsville this fall is becoming the talk of the county and in a short while plans are being laid by the promoters of it to organize a fair association and get matters underway. Many are interested and with the assistance from the two county agents we could have a good one.
There are a lots of girls and boys in Johnson taking a lively interest in the several clubs which are being organized throughout the county by the county agents. Miss Massey has enrolled over 140 members in the Girls Canning and the Poultry Clubs. Mr. Bridges has over 160 members in the Boy's Corn and Velvet Bean Club and the Pig and Calf Club.
Skilled mechanics and trained workers of any and all descriptions have been in consultation with Chairman Roundtree of the County Council of Defense seeking information relative to enrolling with the U. S. Public Service Reserve of the Department of Labor for work at home in some of the government's special war industries. This is a patriotic service and is entirely voluntary and good wages are being offered.
Let the loaf of bread represent a saving of 10 cent; the butter a saving of 50 cent, the sugar a saving of a dime, and the meat a saving of 30 cent, making a total of $1.00 saved each week. If each of the 20,000,000 families in the United States saved $1.00 a week in the kitchen, and that money were invested in Thrift Stamps, the government would have available $20,000,000 a week, and no one would feel the pinch of the savings.
The United States now has guns in Italy and France with a killing range of 17 miles. One of these guns, mounted on the courthouse square in Dublin, could kill Germans left in Wrightsville after Charlie Roundtree smoked them out.
Dr. and Mrs. T. L. Harris are the proud parents of a fine baby girl that just arrived in their home.
Johnson County has plenty of pigs and some to spare. Years ago, and not so long at that, pigs were needed here and were brought in from every direction but the situation has had a complete change. The farmers and others of the county almost to a home have plenty of meat to do them this year and some to sell. Those who are so fortunate as to be selling it are receiving fancy prices indeed.
This week through county agent Fred T. Bridges, ten throughbred registered pigs belonging to Judge Wm. Faircloth were sold for a big price to a man in Hall County. This is an example of what is being done in the hog-raising business in this county. Agent Bridges has a plan for a grading pen for use in selling hogs. This pen will be erected in Wrightsville and all who have good stock hogs for sale will be notified when to bring them in and the buyer will buy from this pen.

FROM DAYS GONE BY March 8, 1918

March 8, 1918.
After a successful two week revival at Brown Memorial, there were all told 33 accessions to the church, a number of these by letter, the remainder by experience. Rev. Reese Griffin, Pastor of the Methodist Church is arranging a special service at his church. At this time there will be raised in the church the National Service flag and a special dedicatory services will be rendered. All the parents of the soldier boys are urged to attend along with the public at large. Judge A. L. Hatcher will address the program with "Why we are in the war," and Editor C. D. Roundtree will deliver "War Saving Stamps and our duty as Patriots."
The local camp Woodmen of the World will give a public celebration at Mayo Hill schoolhouse. A fruit cake supper will be served. The commander, C. D. Roundtree will give an address on Woodcraft as it is and what it means.
It is not but a small per cent of the married contingent who live happily together for 50 years and enjoy life and peace and prosperity for all this time. But the exception rather than the rule is that of Uncle Henry G. Wheeler and his wife of Kite, who Tuesday were given a big day in celebration of their fiftieth anniversary of their marriage.
Uncle Henry, as he is now familiarly called by all his acquaintances, and his good wife, were married long before many now were born and this day they were rejoicing in the pleasures of 50 years together, with their children and grand children.
He served in the War Between The States and so did his good wife, who, while he was away fighting the battles of the South, was in Augusta making shells in the arsenal there, a shinning example of true patriotism. He has resided near where he was born all his life and the entire neighborhood was proud to turn out on this occasion.
To the union have been born 13 children, only 3 of whom are now living, viz, Messrs. Perry and Gordon Wheeler and Mrs. Maude Tapley. Mr. B. Y. Wheeler is the only living brother. Mrs. Wheeler was Miss Dudley Perry before marriage and she has 2 brothers and 1 sister living. They were married by Uncle Billy Norris.
On Sunday afternoon near Union Hill Miss Mable Jordan wed Mr. Terry Raines. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ed Jordan.
Mr. Emmanuel Irwin forewarns anyone harboring, feeding or hiring his son Luther Irwin, nicknamed "Dock", who is black, minor boy, 14 years old. If caught aiding him in any manner you will be prosecuted. Mr. Loring Clayton of the Wrightsville Headlight has been in bed for several days with the cold and lagrippe.
A list of colored registrants was delivered to Camp Gordon. They are: Will Rodgers, Eddie Whitefield, Ed Lowery, Solomon Riddle, Dave Cummings, Eugene Moorman, Ben Warthen, Homer Daniel, Frank Macklin, Nathan Haines, Ed Linder, Leon Kemp, Horace Bland, Gus Irwin, R. B. Solomon, David Adkins, Eddie Green, Lee Norris and Jimmie Tucker.

FROM DAYS GONE BY March 1, 1918

March 1, 1918.
One negro to his credit which he admits, another in his grave on his account, it is claimed, Nat Walker is now safely resting behind bars in the county jail and is being closely confined by Sheriff Willis Rowland until a jury sets on his case and decides his final fate.
Nat has a checkered career. According to his colored neighbors Nat is a bad character and has done a thousand and one things to terrorize the community in which he has lived for past years. So Nat was to be evaded as far as possible by people of his own color, who hated, envied and feared him.
Sunday night, February 17th, he shot a negro named Whitfield on the line of Johnson and Laurens but in Johnson. Whitfield died. Nat admits the killing but claims self defense. On Saturday night before a negro man was shot and killed on Mr. Tarbutton's place. By numbers this crime is lain at Nat's door. "Whistlers" blood is said to be on Nat's hands.
Anyhow Nat lay in. It was reported in town that Nat had made threats upon the person of one of the county's most highly respected, wealthy and esteemed white citizens. This report came from Nat's frightful "friends." This report gained some credence and getting an inkling of his whereabouts the sheriff and deputies went for a search of the territory where Nat was most likely to be.
Information was obtained as to his probable location, a search was made there. It was on the place of Mr. John Webb that the house of Nat and his wife was. So going there and beginning a search of the premises Mr. Webb told the sheriff where he was hiding. Nat had taken refuge for the day in the potato bank. The sheriff called to Nat to come forth which he did at once. Nat carried a pocket knife only.
The authorities do not place much credence upon the story of the various threats it has been claimed that Nat made because he was unarmed and for other reasons Nat awaits his doom pleasantly situated with the sheriff.
Wash Harris, colored, was instantly killed and another colored man badly wounded, Saturday night when the Ford car they were riding in left the road and hit a tree lying in the ditch, beside the road. A limb of the tree hit Wash in the breast, killing him on the spot. The other darkey, the driver, was hurt but will get over it.
The accident happened seven miles this side of Dublin on the upper road. Wash moved to the plantation of Mr. J. T. Fulford the first of the year. Mr. Fulford and son, John, went out with a truck and brought Wash into town Sunday morning where a coffin was procured and he was turned over to relatives for burial.
The medical office of Dr. T. L. Harris fronting the Bank of Wrightsville and beside the City Market is completed. The doctor is moving his equipment in now.
Living at home for all of his 80 years Uncle Ben Martin has lived at home in the true sense of the word. He has bank money raising corn, food of every kind suitable to his land and cotton as a surplus. He is now nearing his last activity, but he points to his life on the farm with pride.
This fifty-fifty crop proposition is nothing new to him, he says he has practiced it, his four boys have, also, and all of them are living a prosperous life on the farm by reason, of same. Uncle Ben went through the Civil War and knows all about war's hardships and battles, both at home and on the field of action. Thus his advice and council are of interest and importance at this terrible crisis at hand.

FROM DAYS GONE BY, Feb. 23, 1918

February 23, 1918.
Walter B. Medlin was the proprietor of the Hotel Saratoga in Macon in which he became involved in the murder of a barber which he lured to the hotel. He claimed the barber insulted his wife.
Walter escorted W. E. Baker, the barber, to an unoccupied room on the third floor of the building and shot him five times, then ran downstairs to the night clerk's room and threw his pistol on the night clerk's bed. This was early Saturday afternoon, later that afternoon he gave up to the sheriff. This is what was brought out in testimony before a jury empaneled by Coroner Stubbs late in the evening.
Medlin, who is in Bibb County jail, was bound over to Superior Court without bail upon the verdict of the coroner's jury, which was that "W. E. Baker came to his death from gunshot wounds at the hands of Walter B. Medlin and the same was murder."
According to a statement made to Deputy Sheriff Mullally by Medlin after the shooting, Medlin called Baker to an explantation of remarks he made to Medlin's wife. A friend of Baker's who was in the barber shop on Cotton Avenue, operated by Baker, came to him about 1 pm and said: "I am going to the Saratoga with Medlin, I'll se you at 2."
In testimony of Miss Sarah Enloe, clerk for the hotel, was that Medlin entered the office with another man and got the key to room 16. Miss Enloe told him it was occupied, that 15 was vacant. He then took key 14 and left with the man identified as the same one killed. "In 3 or 4 minutes after they left the office, I heard shots fired, but couldn't tell how many. A moment later Medlin came in the office, put the key on the counter and walked out of the office, saying nothing." Miss Enloe said she saw no pistol and no one was on the third floor when they went up together.
Mr. G. Croom, night clerk, said he heard shots fired he ran to door and opened it. He saw Medlin coming down hallway, passed him and went to his room. Croom said "What's the trouble?" Medlin replied, "I've shot a man", he then threw the pistol on Croom's bed and left.
A Mr. Tilloson heard the shots and met Medlin coming down the stairs and as passing told him to call an ambulance. Tilloson found a bullet on the floor of room 15 which had passed through the wall of room 14. A bullet was also found in a purse in Baker's hip pocket. It was a 32 caliber bullet and the gun found was a Smith & Wesson .32.
Medlin phoned his wife after he gave up to the sheriff and conversed with her about a doctor. The only weapon found on the slain man was a small pen knife. The .32 contained six shells, five of which had been discharged. The inquest was held at Hart's undertaking on Mulberry Street where the body was removed soon after the shooting. The body was found lying at the top of the stairs on the third floor, with the head toward the steps. Examination of the body showed that bullets had penetrated the left breast, left abdomen, left wrist and arm and the index finger of the right hand.