From Days Gone By April 7, 1932

 April 7, 1932.

    A delegation of lawyers and citizens of the county are in Atlanta today appearing before Governor Richard B. Russell, Jr., asking him not to allow a parole to Charles G. Rawlings, who is now in the penitentiary convicted in the slaying of Gus. A. Tarbutton on Ring Jaw Bluff February 17, 1925. On March 31st, the prison commission granted Rawlings a parole passing the recommendation on to the Governor. Since then the Governor has received many letters and messages against his release..

    This trial was one of the most sensational in the history of the State. Held in Wrightsville where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to life in assisting in the slaying of Tarbutton to collect insurance. He was killed up on the Oconee with J. J. Tanner, also serving a life sentence.

    Rawlings is now past 70 years of age, very feeble, and has grown worse since his incarceration in Milledgeville, and now an object of pity according to some reports. It is said he has been paralyzed for some time and the parole was recommended on the account of his helpless condition. Governor Russell is holding a hearing today on the clemency matter and relatives of the deceased man and others will make arguments against his release.

    The local American Legion Post is preparing for the 12th District Legion Convention to be held here. The streets of Wrightsville are being decorated with the uniform flags adopted by both State and National American Legions. This consists of a 12 foot pole and a 4 x 6 U. S. flag in front of each Wrightsville business.

   The Wrightsville & Tennille railroad will discontinue its Sunday trains between Tennille and Dublin on May first. It has provided Sunday train service for more than 45 years but the railroad says the 4 Sunday passenger trains produce less than $10 per day in revenue which is equal to one fifth of the cost of coal used in operating these schedules. Last Sunday only two tickets were sold amounting to only 62 cents. Only the mail train will run on Sunday morning around 6:30 am. Hon. B. H. Lord, General Manager of the W. & T. delivered checks to six counties amounting to $18,312.02 for 1931 taxes. That's ten percent of the lines total earnings.

    Manager W. N. Watkins of the local Georgia Power Company office has carried out a campaign in selling the electric range and water heaters selling race and has sold over 100 precent of his quota and looking to do 200 precent. He is the first in the company to pull this off. Mr. Earnest Hitchcock is operating a shoe shop next to T. V. Kent's store. Mr. John M. Johnson files for bankrutcy. The local banks statements of condition are, Bank of Adrian $49,926.91; Bank of Wrightsville $188,907.79; The Exchange Bank $183,509.00.

    Idylwild, one of the most popular resorts in the state will open this week under the new management of J. W. Claxton and J. A. McBride. The pavillion is being prepared for the opening dance with a new modern Electrola being installed. Also the swimming pool will be open at no charge.

    Officers Tom Brantley, James Tapley and Jimmie Carter answered a call to Scott late Saturday on a whiskey violation report. Armed with papers they entered the house occupied by Henry Kight and family. They found a lot of bottles, some with very little whiskey in them and others with shine. Several fruit jars containing whiskey were captured or emptied. Kight was arrested but made bond.

    Congressman W. W. Larsen obtained him a bride at Jeffersonville, Twiggs County, when he and Miss Margaret Van Dyke were married. She is a Virginian, daughter of Nellie and Frank Van Dyke of Fairfax County. She graduated Wesleyan College in 1911. Larsen's first wife was a Miss Strange of Emanuel County who died about 4 years ago. Miss Willie Ivey of Tennille and James Claxton of Kite were married in Sandersville. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Henry J. Ivey.

    While riding a flat on a truck little Grace Thompson, baby child of Mr. & Mrs. Lofton Thompson, fell off and was dangerously hurt being knocked unconcious from falling on the hard ground. Robert Clarence Ellison, 8 month old son of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Ellison, Jr. of Adrian, died Sunday evening from diptheria in Dublin at Claxton Hospital. Besides his parents he was survived by grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Edd Ellison, Sr. and Mr. & Mrs. H. C. Williams.