From Days Gone By April 23,1926

 April 23, 1926.

    Wrightville High School announced the graduating class of 1925-26. Ruth Humphrey, Lois Jackson, Agnes Morris, Inez Lillard, Mary Sanders, Iduma Jenkins, Vivian Outlaw, Ruby Renfroe, Annie Lou Mosley, Nancy Williams, Odessa Moore, Louise Neal, Elmer Jackson, Harry Rowland and Ellwood Jackson.

    Mr. J. H. Rowland was named new head of the Commercial Club. L. A. Lovett, vice-chair; E. L. Rowland, treasurer; secretaries Mrs. H. B. Johnson and C. D. Roundtree. The County Agent M. E. Crow discussed building a hatchery here. Mr. W. H. Lovett is adding two new industries in the city. A new gin and large cotton warehouse next to the W. & T. on the old ice plant property. T. L. Chester will do the building. This will make three gins for Wrightville, two of them new.

    Another new business is opening in May next to Moye & Company where Jacob Kaplan has run a dry goods store. When he vacates a grocery and feed store will take it's place. E. H. Parker runs a junkyard in front of the depot.

    The county banks released their statements of condition. Exchange Bank, $368,115.22; Bank of Wrightsville, $340,159.27; Bank of Adrian, $104,320.75; Citizens Bank of Kite, $137,626.62; Farmers Bank, $137,054.40.

    Charlie Rawlings was transferred to Sandersville jail by order of Judge Camp. Charlie's brother, Dr. William Rawlings is said to be in a dying condition and Charlie will be allowed at the Sheriff's discretion to visit his brother's bedside. Also should he die, Charlie will be allowed to attend the funeral under armed guard.

    Mr. William Henry Blankenship, 86, died at his daughters, Mrs. Alice Smith near Linton. He is survived by W. E., Claude and Cicero, and  daughter Mrs. Willie Ausbon. He was buried at Linton.

    Charlie Weldon Claxton, small son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry J. Claxton, died at the family home in Kite from pneumonia. He would have been six on May 22nd. He was buried at Kite cemetery.

    Miss Adel Waller of Pringle and Mr. Arlie Outlaw of Wrightville were wed in Aiken, S. C. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Waller. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Outlaw.

    Miss Lillie Mae Lowe and Mr. James Carter were wed at the grooms parents, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Carter. James T. Miller, J. P. Performed the ceremony.

    Mr. Silas L. Powell and family returning from Kite their auto left the bridge this side of Mrs. Newton Smith's home and capsized in the water. He and his wife were hurt some but the baby escaped injury.

    While driving the little pony cart of Ralph Lovett, young misses Mary Lovett, Nancy Rowland and Estelle Clarke were hurt when the pony through the girls out of the cart. A nearby boy threw a missile and hit the pony causing the accident. Mary's back was hurt, she receiving the worst of it. The other girls were badly bruised.

From Days Gone By April 16,1926

 April 16, 1926.

    Whether it is against the law to "set up" a still in the court house or not is a question, but the Sheriff and his deputies "set up" one there Friday for the observations of the general public, an exhibition of a raid they made late Thursday not far from town up near the county line at the home of Charlie McCray, colored. It was a "cute effect", this lard can still all set and ready to go in the Sheriff's office as hundreds passed by to see it.

    It was a lard can, a jug for a "thumper", and a copper pipe about six feet long. McCray is said to have had this outfit in his house and had two of his colored friends along with him at the time of the raid. All three were harnessed by the law and are now out under bonds and the officer has a quantity of "evidence" from the house which he holds as usual until trial. "Blind Tigers" are targets in this county and the Sheriff aims to control as much of it as he can.

    Dr. W. J. Flanders, our State legislator from Johnson County came near having a bad accident near Unadilla while traveling to his daughter's home, who at the time was with them. Some man met them and side swiped his auto. None of them were hurt.

    Mr. & Mrs. R. L. Stephens left for Atlanta to attend a Shoe and Hosiery Convention. Agent Crow had another successful poultry sale here. Hens brought 26 cent per pound, stags 22 cent, and fryers 45 cents. Turkeys brought 30 cents.

    The Wrightsville Commercial Club met Thursday night. Mr. L. A. Lovett made a report of the erection of Wrightville signs. He put up 395 signs, going as far as Fitzgerald, Hazelhurst, Reidsville, Waynesboro, Greensboro, Madison and Macon. One route reaching as far as Thomasville. The cost to the club was $90.83 for erection, posts, hotel expense, labor, lumber all told.

    A city wide revival will start next Sunday with preaching every night at both Brown Memorial and Wrightville Methodist. Judge Kent has added four new residences to Wrightville in the past four months.

    Mr. N. A. Meeks of Ochlocknee, Ga. died at his home there leaving his wife and four children. He was once a resident here and many relatives still here. He was a brother to Mrs. W. C. Chester and Mrs. W. T. Rowland and Mr. John A. Meeks of Moultrie.

    In a surprising wedding at the closing of the J. C. Penny store in Macon, Harry S. Hall, department manager and Miss LaVada Price of Wrightville were wed. Soon after they left for Tucson, Arizona, the home of the groom. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Dennie C. Price.

From Days Gone By April 9,1926

 April 9, 1926.

    Two Lewis boys and Red Cason drew fines in City Court from a row Sunday at James Grove Church where a large crowd was at worship. Some kind of dispute got the boys dander up and soon threats of pistols and weapons of various sorts started when the deacons came out to quiet the affair. Sheriff Claxton arrested the boys and landed some heavy fines.

    Ralph Rawlings Tanner, a son of J. J. Tanner and no blood relation to the Rawlings family was held in Bibb County jail on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of R. C. Cridlin, a traveling salesman from Richmond, Virginia. On March 12th Cridlin was crossing the street when Ralph hit him with his auto. At the time Tanner was charged with reckless driving. Cridlin was sent home to Virginia but later died from his injuries. Tanner claims if Cridlin hadn't been jay walking the accident would have never happened.

    The druggist, merchants and officials, city and clubs, and a number of citizens protested to the legislature against the proposed tax on soft drinks.

    Sheriff Claxton gives notice that after April 15th he will make cases against all auto owners who do not display their 1926 license tag on the rear of their autos. John E. Beasley files for bankruptcy.

    Farming has gone well this week with ideal weather. Planting corn and some cotton is being done all over the county.

    Farmer, dairyman, stockman, merchant and general all-round good citizen, Mr. William Jackson of Donovan, shows his hand along once in a while at some figures in almost everything he does. He kills a lot of meat every year, and this has been a good season for him. When he kills the meat he has his own cold storage room. A few days ago Mr. Jackson had a lot of 10 head of hogs he killed. In this lot were three head which when butchered weighed 1515 pounds. Their weights were 601, 512, and 402.

From Days Gone By April 2,1926

 April 2, 1926.

    Thursday morning Judge Camp began the second trial of J. J. Tanner accused of the murder of Mr. Gus Tarbutton on Ring jaw Bluff. The State was represented by Solicitor Fred Kea, former Solicitor E. L. Stephens, former Judge John Luther Kent, Col. W. C. Brinson and Col. Jack J. Harris. The defense was Evans & Evans and Wright & McMillian of Sandersville, Charles S. Claxton, Thomas E. Hightower and former Governor Thomas W. Hardwick.

    Six panels were sworn from which to obtain a jury. The jury consisted of J. N. Hall, D. A. J. Price, J. T. Horton, H. E. Webb, T. W. Stapleton, J. R. Grice, W. Marcus Anderson, Samuel Foskey, Buddie Brantley, F. M. Tapley, C. L. Williams and N. T. Beasley.

    The testimony was grilled as strongly as in the first trial. Several witnesses could not attend, some had died, others had gone beyond the court jurisdiction. It was fought stubbornly on both sides. All the evidence was concluded at 6:15 Saturday night with a packed courthouse all through the trial. The jury got the case in time to consider it but a few minutes when the Judge ordered the Sheriff to care for them until Monday.

    The jury came in about ten Monday morning with a verdict of guilty and carried the recommendation to the Judge for mercy. Tanner had nothing to say before the Judge passed a life time sentence on Tanner. Attorneys for Tanner immediately filed a motion for another trial and this motion will be heard May 15th.

    The annual meeting of the Wrightville & Tennille Railroad was held in Savannah. All officers and directors were reelected. A dividend of 6 per cent was declared on Preferred Stock and a dividend of 3 per cent on Common Stock.

    Mrs. R. H. Rowland entertained her father, Judge John Luther Kent on his 58th birthday. The mumps, the kind which gives you the big jaw, has been raging all around the county.

    The Southern Agricultural Works have offered $100 for the best five acres of cotton in Georgia. Agent Crow is urging all boys in the corn clubs to enter this contest.

    There will be a soil redintegration or soil building demonstration here in April on the J. H. Rowland plantation three miles east of Wrightville. The public will be interested to see the growing vetch on this piece of ground.

From Days Gone By March 26,1926

 March 26, 1926.

    After a week suspension Judge Camp called Superior Court to order. Hon. Morris T. Riner was selected Grand Jury foreman and Milledge Meeks bailiff. 

    Monday several civil cases, land claims and divorces came up and the court moved fast. Judge Camp halted long enough to draw 100 extra jurymen for the Tanner re-trial. Tuesday the Burns and Walker civil case was taken up. It is expected the new trial of J. J. Tanner will begin Thursday morning.

    Mr. Carl L. Holt was brought here a corpse from Hollywood, Florida having met his death there when W. W. Whittkemp, a traffic cop, shot him one time near the heart as Holt sat in the car of Mr. Delos Hammock. Holt fell back and his only remark was, "Well, boys, he's got me."

    Mr. A. W. Hightower, Quergeon Martin and Hammock were with him when the cop rode up beside them on his motorcycle and stopped them. The cop mounted the running board with gun drawn and inquired of the speed they were going, the driver, Martin saying about 38 miles. 

    After discussion Hammock got out and according to Hightower, Mr. Holt said to let him get out and he pushed the front seat over to get out when the cop shot him. None of them were armed. An unloaded pistol was in a hand bag untouched. The cop had his gun drawn as he mounted the running board. The other three said it was inexcusable and unwarranted, that the officer bitterly cursed them and they had done nothing to warrant such deadly force. The officer claims self-defense.

    Holt was brought here and buried in Westview. He would have been 28 in May. He is survived by parents, Mr. & Mrs. Tom D. Holt, 5 brothers, Gordon, Homer, Otis, Linton and Golden. Two sisters Mrs. Jesse Thompson and Mrs  George W. Gannon.

    The Postal department changes Route 3 and 5 giving both routes to one carrier, Silas L. Powell. Combining these routes gives one carrier 55.67 miles. Thomas E. Jenkins will be the Route 1 carrier. Mr. William T. Crawford is building a new residence on North Marcus.

    Mr. J. Tom Flanders died at home Sunday morning and was buried at Piney Mount. He was a son of Elbert and Jane Rowland Flanders. Mr. Barney Flanders was his brother. He was married twice, his first wife a daughter of Fred Carter. After her death he wed Mamie Tucker.

    Mrs. R. W. Cullen's of Eastman died and was buried in Westview. She was 82. Her sons are J. F., N. A., R. F. and Z. A. Cullen's. Two daughters Mrs. J. H. Lawrence and Mrs. W. E. Southard.

    Mr. Remus Hutcheson, a son of Henry Hutcheson, died at home in Adrian and was buried at Poplar Springs and was 38. He was twice married, his last wife was Miss Cleo Bray and five children survive. For a while he was a cashier at the Bank of Adrian then went into the sawmill business.

From Days Gone By March 19,1926

 March 19,1926.

    It was a cold one here Saturday night. The ice was thick Sunday morning and many autos, hydrants and pipes were the worse off when the rays of sun began to melt it.

    The main building of the 12 th district agricultural school at Cochran was destroyed by fire late saturday. Low water pressure prevented the firemen from fighting the flames in the two story building. Defective wiring is believed to have caused the fire. No insurance was carried on the building.

    Prof. W. M. Pettis is very interested in the building of a basketball court on the school grounds near the college. A court such as he would design will cost around $1,500. The court is really needed and will add much to the school and the property.

    Judge R. Earl Camp called the Superior Court to order then shortly adjourned it until next Monday. Judge Camp stated that out of memory to the mother of Judge J. L. Kent lying a corpse it was the respectful thing to do. Civil business will be tried Monday and Tuesday, criminal on Wednesday and the Tanner trial on Thursday.

    Before signing the order for adjournment the Judge signed the order validating the road bond of $200,000 that just passed by the voters.

    Sheriff Lovett J. Claxton and son, Deputy Carl Claxton and bailiff Willie T. Rowland made two whiskey raids Sunday morning. First they went to the William Oliver farm and searched the house occupied by Inman Deal, white. They found 5 half gallon fruit jars full in the back of the house and a full quart sitting on the mantle. Deal was jailed and plead guilty and given a fine of $100 and 8 months probation.

    After arresting Deal they raided Lee Kitchens home up the Tennille road. Lee had a gallon jug full and ran into the arms of Willie T. Rowland who captured the jug before Kitchens could pour it out. He plead guilty and given a fine of $300 and 12 months and the latter to be probation with good behavior.

    Dr. William Rawlings is in a Baltimore hospital for several weeks now and will remain there thirty more days to recuperate.

    Mrs. M. B. Kent died Sunday after a brief illness believed to be heart related. She was the widow of Capt. Thomas W. Kent and was 86, a member of Brown Memorial. She was survived by three sons, Judge John Luther, Cashier Robert L. and J. Gordon. Two daughters, Mrs. H. W. Snell and Mrs. B. H. Lord, and a sister Mrs. A. R. Sterling. She was buried in Westview.

    Mr. J. H. McCord, 86, died from cardiac asthma. His wife and several children survive. He was buried at Pleasant Grove.

    Mr. H. Connelly died Saturday from heart failure and buried in Westview. He was an expert wood worker and his work was in most every home here in the city.