From Days Gone By Feb. 21,1925

 February 21, 1925.

    The Board of Education met to discuss the New Home and adjacent school district in locating a place for a new and modern building.

    The Bell Telephone Co. are telling the Farmers to repair their own phone lines damaged from the recent flooding. The phone company say they do not own the Farmers lines.

    Mr. & Mrs. C. L. Pritchard of Kite had a 5 lb boy born February 8th named Buford.

    Leston Powell, 79, died at his home in the Eastern part of the county Sunday from a variation of troubles. He was a large real estate owner and a member of Oaky Grove. Besides his aged wife he was survived by his children Silas L., Leston, Jr., Mrs. T. Pullen, Mrs. Chas. Colston and Mrs. Wiley Cheaves.

    Was Gus Tarbutton killed in cold blood by accident or wanton murder? This is the question on most minds of the people of 3 counties since his tragic death Tuesday right on the brink of the Oconee River in Johnson Co., on a high bluff that is separated from the highest bluff on the river in that section by a gentle stream that echoes of the gun that fired the fatal shot. Thirty feet further west his body would have fallen into the river.

    In company with C. G. Rawlings and J. J. Tanner and the colored driver of Rawlings, Hal Hooks, Tarbutton went to the back of the large farm of the Rawlings estate on a business mission hunting bauxite deposits. Mr. Tanner carried a double barrelled shot gun to shoot snakes and such.

    On this high cliff Tarbutton was in the lead and the steep precipice was about to be descended when the gun fired and Tarbutton fell headlong down the slope. Tanner said the gun fired as he (Tanner) slipped and fell to the ground. Rawlings was some distance back according to Tanner.

    Coroner Loring R. Clayton summons a jury at the family's request believing foul play involved. They made the verdict charging Tanner with murder; Rawlings as accessory, the driver and another colored man as material witnesses. Tanner and the Stephens negro were jailed by Sheriff Claxton. Warrants being sworn out by the Coroner.

    It has been many a day since the county was stirred as it has been since this tragedy occured. Many reports are going the rounds about it and the details of Mr. Tarbutton's death is the subject of conversation in 3 counties. Mr. Tarbutton was buried in Sandersville.