From Days Gone By Dec. 14,1923

 December 14,1923.

    Chief of Police Thomas J. Kersey of Hazelhurst was shot down in cold blood Sunday evening in the yard of Warren Waters, white, the entire head being filled with buckshot from the first load and the head almost completely severed from the body by a second shot fired 35 minutes later into his neck as the chief lay dead on the ground. 

    Chief Kersey was probation officer for Waters, he violated his probation and Kersey went to arrest him when Waters shot him from the house. Waters fled but was surrounded in a friend's house 5 miles away and was captured Monday morning. He was first carried to Mt. Vernon but fearing violence the sheriff lodged him in Bibb County jail.

    Bob Johnson and Jim Cope, two other white men were charged with complicity in the crime. Tom Kersey was a good man, born and lived most of his life in Emanuel County, and for some time a deputy for Sheriff R. W. Coursey, his brother-in-law. He is a nephew of Mrs. T. D. Holt of Wrightsville. He was buried at Lamb's cemetery near Sardis church and survived by his mother, wife and a lot of relatives.

    Col. William C. Pope runs for Solicitor, G. S. Kight for Tax Receiver, J. B. Williams for Clerk, Col. B. B. Blount for Judge City Court.

    Mr. Turner Scarboro and little child, who were badly hurt in Columbus are getting better. Their escape from fatal injury was miraculous when they were crossing a street and a street car hit Mr. Scarboro who was carrying his small child in his arms. The babe is still in the hospital there. Turner came home with his father, Mr. W. T. Scarboro.

    The Fair Association met in the court house. The charter was revised and voted to increase the capital stock from $3000 to $7000 by selling shares and not by assessment. Those owning stock were not affected but asked to buy new stock in the fair to pay off its debt. E. A. & W. H. Lovett hold the note of debt. The amount owed is $3750.

    There will be an Old Time Fiddler's Convention at the Dixie Theatre with cash prizes. The Johnson County Auto Company is now Cullen's Garage being purchased by Z. A. Cullen's and is on the east side of the court house.

    Warden Wright has made camp near New Home and now constructing roads in that area. He will be here until the winter season calls them into camp at the city stockade.

    The average farmer is in better hopes this time than he was a year ago and has better and firmer hopes for 1924 than he did for 1923. That is gaining prosperity back in a measure sure. For when the hopes are high it is a mighty good sign that there's to be something doing in the crop line.

    Some letters to Santa were written by Susie Price, Sincie Lue Powell, Russell Harrison, Leslie Powell, Myrtle Lou Hodges, Delma & Zelma Oliver and Edith Carter.