From Days Gone By Dec. 7,1923

 December 7,1923.

    A row started in Macklin's storehouse about dark Sunday night when all of darktown's hangers around were sojourning in and near Frank's place when Jim Smith, a sort of bully, paraded himself into the room and is said to have started something which ended in his death. Jim must have been drinking and Frank wanted him to get out of his place cursing. Jim was out for trouble that night and Frank didn't want any for he starts from his place after the police when Jim darts a knife wound near Frank's jugular vein.

    Jim left the room in a hurry and the crowd came in to see how bad Frank was cut, Jim entered again and the two grappled. Jim slashed him again on his left side. After the first cut Frank put a pistol in his pocket, then when Jim fell to the floor with Frank on the bottom, Frank shot Jim, killing him. It is said the pistol snapped four times before it fired.

    In the melee Jim cut another colored boy a bad gash on the arm. The dead man, Jim, didn't have a good reputation around town and was feared by most all of his race. There were several eye witnesses to the killing. Dr. Brantley dressed Frank's wounds which included a self inflicted bullet wound on the leg when his pistol fired as he lay on the floor.

    Cotton ginned in Georgia prior to November 14 amounted to 543,240 bales as against 681,508 last year. Johnson County had ginned 4,555 against 4,283 last year. Burke County still leads with 20,550 against 15,020 last year.

    Rev. M. R. Little, one of the leading preachers of the Baptist denomination accepted the call to Pleasant Grove. Rev. Johnnie W. Waters, 28 years old, a congregational Holiness minister who has been here 4 or 5 weeks assisting Rev. F. D. Sorrow, Rev. W. T. Martin and Miss Leona Martin, died at the home of Mr. & Mrs. W. G. Burns having been ill for several days.

    One livestock dealer has shipped to this county 16 carloads in the last few weeks with more to come. This is Mr. Ivey R. Tanner, a member of the city council. Mr. Tanner says this is going to be a thriving business in the county before many years.

    In the General Election for Mayor and Council of Wrightsville held Dec. 4th, Mayor T. V. Kent was re-elected and the new Councilmen are M. S. Duggan, R. R. Martin and Ivey R. Tanner.

    Mr. Uree Walden, the 20 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. C. G. Walden, died Nov. 22nd at the home of his parents near Donovan, having been in ill health for sometime. He was a good, consistent member of Beulah Church, a splendid boy and was well liked by the entire community. He was buried in Beulah cemetery by Rev. J. C. Griner.