From Days Gone By Feb 26, 1921

February 26, 1921.
    Death and destruction followed the path of the most violent tornado to hit this area of the state. The little town of Oconee took a direct hit, as did the nearby mill settlement of Gardner, where 29 persons were killed on Thursday. The schoolhouse was destroyed. Although filled with students at the time of the storm only one or two were even bruised. A two-story house was unroofed as a family of seven were eating dinner, but none badly injured. A relief expedition was sent in by the Atlanta Red Cross. The trees all along the river was scattered with clothes, sheets, etc. of what was left behind of the people's belongings.
    Coroner L. R. Clayton holds inquest into the suspicious death of Minnie Sassnett. Minnie and her three year old baby lived with her mother in the Blue Run part of Wrightsville. On the night of Feb. 11th she went over by the stockade to visit a neighbor. Jim Smith, a colored gent of the same dive, arrived in five minutes afterwards and began pecking admittance to this house. Minnie went out, Jim caught her and began beating her, a running fight ensued.
    Minnie's head had a long, deep gash and several brusies. She told her mother Jim did it. The woman of the house said Jim came and T. S. Morgan, a stockade guard saw Jim fighting Minnie. It looked like Jim was liable and he was arrested.
    Minnie went on with her work cooking for Mrs. B. B. Tanner but complained with her head. Mrs. Tanner sent her to Brinson's drug store for medicine. While there she bought rat poison containing a large amount of phosphorus. Minnie vomited a lot just before she died. They said it smelt like matches. She woke Monday complaining with her head and by 9:30 was dead. Her brother demanded a Coroner's inquest. Dr's S. M. Johnson and T. L. Harris performed the autopsy. The Coroner's jury found that Minnie Sassnett died Feb. 21st from taking rat poison, self-administered, the same being suicide.
     Ugly charges were brought against revenue officers S. M. Moye, Adrian M. Kea, James A. Woods, W. F. Stockman, W. L. Nichols, Carl Edwards and Jesse Brown. A federal Grand Jury brought indicments to these officers.
    The charges are for furnishing "protection" and taking a large amount of money for same, and for "demanding and accepting money feloniously". On various occasions it is alleged the prohibition officers accepted "hush" money and whiskey. The report goes they took anything from a couple chickens to a gallon of "shine" to cover up liquor traffic.
    Although somewhat local in operations this has brought statewide attention. Mr. Moye saus he is a victim of a "frame-up" on his part to enforce the law. He says he has never accepted a cent from anyone and was able to show it at trial. He and Woods gave $3000 bonds and employed Governor-elect Thomas W. Hardwick for their defense.
    Miss Julia Young, the only single daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Young died Feb. 14th. She was 26 and had been sick about six weeks. Besides her parents she was survived by two brothers, H. T. and D. O. Young, four sisters, Mrs. F. O. Wombles, Mrs. Oscar Cox, Mrs. H. T. Watkins and Ellie Watkins. She was buried in Westview.
    Another landmark of the county passed away last Wednesday at home near Kite. Uncle Allen Meeks; known the countryside over as Judge Meeks for he was a justice in his district for many years and considered one of the county's best men.
    On his 67th birthday he was buried at Gum Log as hundreds came out of respect. He was twice married. His first wife a sister of Isham and Henry Stephens of Kite. His second a Miss Thigpen. She and several children survived. He was a member of Kite Lodge Masons serving as treasurer.