FROM DAYS GONE BY Jan. 16, 1920

January 16, 1920.

Over 500 votes were cast in the counties election. U. R. Jenkins won Ordinary; Ben Hill Moye, Judge City Court; W. C. Brinson, Solicitor City Court; J. B. Williams, Clerk of Superior Court; Jonah L. Davis, Sheriff; F. W. Hall, Treasurer; J. Nat. Riner, Tax Collector; J. A. Lindsey, Tax Receiver; L. R. Clayton, Coroner; Luther Lillard, Supt. of Schools.
The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Citizens Bank of Kite was held and the following officers elected. Dr. D. C. Harrison, President; J. E. Clarke, Vice-President; J. S. Stephenson, Cashier; Q. B. Powell, Asst. Cashier; V. J. Wheeler, Bookkeeper. The directors are J. L. Hatcher, M. J. Claxton, J. E. Clarke, J. S. Stephenson, J. B. Claxton, Dr. D. C. Harrison and J. M. Neal.
Mr. M. A. Jackson has moved his family to Wrightsville from Donovan occupying the house of Mr. I. R. Tanner formerly owned by Joe Walker. Doc Kemp thanks all the white people as well as the colored who helped him win the race for obtaining assistance in the campaign for funds for the Wrightsville Colored School. By their help he obtained $150 which was the highest amount.
This week H. L. and M. W. Richardson and W. J. Carter from Richland, GA. have leased for an indefinite period the Vivola Theatre and the soda water and cigar stand from the owners. The Vivola is no more. These men have changed the name to The Dixie Theatre and Soda Parlor. Their first program is the picture entitled "The Devil's Playground".
Mr. T. L. Chester, contractor, is remodeling the corner brick store vacated by F. A. Sinquefield, for occupying of the Farmers Bank (Evans Resturant Blg.). Miss Lucile Harrison was married to Mr. Ronie Arnett of Macon at the home of the bride.
Three coloreds made their escape from the Johnson County jail about midnight Saturday night. They used a long piece of iron from the inside but the marks around the outside where the hole came through shows evidence of work on the outside of the wall with a hatchet, officers believe they had outside help. The ones who obtained their liberty were George Toliver, held for house breaking in Adrian; Son Covington, held for stealing an automobile and John Jackson in connection with robbing the Wrightsville Hardware Co. Efforts are being made to apprehend the fugitives and Judge Wiggins is repairing the jail.
Monday night Charlie Dent, with his son, Willie Dent were driving into town this side of Cedar when the lights gave out and tha auto headed into a deep ditch. Both were injured with cuts and bruises. They left the car in the ditch and walked back to town to seek medical attention.
Lewis Mason, who was apparently a harmless Negro in the community around W. E. Smith's and Judge J. W. Sumner's between Wrightsville and Scott, was found lying dead in the swamp a quarter mile from Judge Sumner's home and about 200 yards from his own household last Thursday about 9 am by some men who were raking around turpentine boxes in the swamp. The find was reported and an inquest was held over the body. On Dec. 29th in the afternoon, Lewis left home, catching up with a Negro man and woman school teacher, going up the road towards E. J. Sumner's. The evidence shows that Lewis went to Sumners' store with a roll of money, bought some tobacco and started back down the road towards home in company with a couple of friends. He was not seen again until found last Thursday, Jan. 8th, having been dead 10 days.
A party came to the city for assistance in the inquest and the Coroner being absent from the county Justice Roundtree responded. J. T. Amerson, W. B. B. Snell, C. H. Kindon, A. W. Kitchens, W. J. Smith and W. H. Hall were summoned as jurors. A number of witnesses were examined and after the most careful investigation with the witnesses and evidence at hand at that time they made a verdict the dead man came to his death at the hands of parties unknown, the same being cold blooded murder in their opinion.
Lewis was evidentally killed on the road or somewhere else than where he lay. He had $1.07, a knife and some tobacco in his pockets. His favorite companion, the guitar, was lying silently beside him, having played its last tune lulled him off to his last slumber, and was keeping him company in that lonely, dismal swamp, the only witness to his death.
Upon his return from hunting Lewis, Judge J. W. Sumner got to work and searched the community and discovered some newly found evidence. Upon this before Justice Roundtree Monday morning he issued warrants for Buster Cason, Ben Jones, Duke Golden and Lillian Hilson. All four were arrested and charged with the murder of Lewis Mason.