March 30, 1923.
The criminal end of Superior Court last week was full of exiting trials and the courtroom was full. Modie Taylor was given 4 years in the pen. Alvie Price was tried on assualt with attempted murder of Mr. E. J. Sumner on Dec. 23, 1922. The jury was out for only a short time, returning a verdict of guilty as charged, and fixing the sentence of Price in the pen from 2 to 5 years.
Late Thursday afternoon the trial of the Rowland-Hadden murder case took place. Judge Shurley told the court that this case would proceed on into the night until it was finished. The jury took the case at 11pm. Norris Rowland was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to serve from 4 to 5 years. Marcus Rowland pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and fined $75. A new trial will be sought for Norris Rowland and Alvie Price. This was a costly court to the county.
A disastrious fire almost destroyed the Tennille shops and round house of the W. & T. Railway early Monday morning. The fire was discovered in the shops about 1am, supposedly originating from sparks of a freight engine that was being fired up. The round house, the machine and blacksmith shops, the stationary engine and storeroom went up in the blaze. The car shop, paint shop, lumber sheds, paints, oils nor waste house were damaged at all.
Engine 54 was in the round house at the time with heavy repairs nearly complete and engine 20, ready for service, went through the fire with consequent heavy damage. Engine 40 was pulled out of the round house ablaze and considerable damage was sustained to the steel cab, wooden running boards and the tank. In a statement from Pres. Charles Moloney the losses are partly covered by insurance. All trains were run out of Tennille Monday regardless of the fire.
A local group of Boy Scouts was organized here by Mr. W. W. Rivers, Scout executive of the 12th district. The Troup is sponsored by the Methodist, Baptist and Christian churches here. W. C. Brinson was appointed chairman of scout work. Others helping ate H. T. Hicks, J. B. Williams, C. S. Claxton, E. N. Anthony and T. V. Kent.
The 9th Division of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows will hold its annual convention here April 4th hosted by Johnson Lodge No. 110. Mr. J. T. Drake of Adrian expects to enter the race for sheriff. Mr. W. D. Rowland is also being pressured to run. The Grand Jury recomends the abolishment of the county treasurers office in order to save over a $1000 per annum to the county.
The local banks released their statements of condition. The Scott Banking Company $52,323.02; Exchange Bank $289,419.88; The Citizens Bank at Kite $140,590.47; Bank of Wrightsville $382,412.63; The Farmers Bank $168,487.02; Bank of Adrian $141,506.80.
Mr. M. N. Odom has moved here from Swainsboro to open up a auto paint shop in the Kennedy building next to the office of Claxton & Cook. The month of February saw 115,080 Ford cars sold exceeding January by 15,000 making 11 consecutive months Ford has produced more than 100,000 cars a month. The production of 6,000 cars a day fails to meet the demand for Fords.
The Poets of Lanier, Macon defeated the Redjackets 34 to 17 and the Bearcats 91 to 18 at Macon. These are possibly the last basketball games of the season.
Elder Swain M. Anderson died March 15th at his home in Emanual County. He had been suffering for years. He was of the old-line Primitive Baptist faith and preached it for 30 years. He was buried at Hebron church at Garfield.
