From Days Gone By June 13,1925

 June 13,1925.

    The public uttered the utmost confidence in the ability of the man who is to complete the carving of the Stone Mountain Memorial and the South especially is squarely behind this work. Mr. Lukeman, the sculptor, is a better man for the job than the deposed sculptor. The South is rallying to the sale of the Memorial Coin which depends on the final touches of this lasting memorial. Mr. C. D. Roundtree was appointed to handle coin sales in Johnson and all the County's ladies are fully committed to help in the sale of the coins. This work must be completed while the veterans of the sixties are still with us, at least some of them.

    Agent Crow is putting on another chicken sale June 17th. The empty chicken car will be in town and will be loaded all day if it takes it. The last sale here netted more than $1000 for the chickens sold.

    Dr. Flint Flanders and his farmer, Will Wadley, are growing some fine cotton. Will brought in a large bloom this week.

    Capt. C. T. Wright has moved his convict camp and road building force to the western part of the county. The proposed Bee-Line may get some attention also while in the area.

    New Home School votes for consolidation by a vote of 82 to 35. Price Drug Company has put in a new and modern soda fountain. Mr. Albon Hatcher graduates in law at the University of Georgia. He is the son of Judge and Mrs. A. L. Hatcher. Miss Ruby Smith from here, married E. L. Black at Brookville, Florida.

    Mrs. W. A. Mixon died at her home Thursday night following a months illness. She was 53, a mother, a wife, and a Baptist. She is survived by her husband, Rev. W. A. Mixon, 3 sons and 2 daughters. She was buried at New Home.

    Mr. David A. Mills, 78, a Confederate veteran and citizen of Johnson Co. for 17 years, born and raised in Washington Co. and a Baptist for more than 40 years, died at his son, Mr. A. A. Mills Friday morning after an 8 day sickness that began on his birthday. His wife preceeded him in death by just 3 weeks. They were both buried at Pleasant Grove. His living children were A. A., Mack, Foster and Sam Mills, Mrs. Willie Schwalls, Mrs. Martin Lord and Mrs. Harvey Blount.

From Days Gone By June 6,1925

 June 6,1925.

    The Bee-Line highway from Kite to Macon will be surveyed as soon as the officials of Johnson and Wilkinson counties submit official request in writing to the Highway Department. This was agreed to at a meeting in East Point. Judge A. L. Hatcher of Johnson and Dr. Evans of Wilkinson submitted the proposal and it was also granted for an engineer to locate this road and the place to bridge the Oconee.

    No one at this point knows where the bridge will be located until the road is surveyed. Those from Johnson's delegation were, U. R. Jenkins, A. L. Hatcher, J. H. Rowland, C. D. Roundtree, O. H. Tompkins, R. P. Hicks, W. J. Flanders, R. E. Brinson, W. D. Sumner, D. C. Harrison, J. S. Stephenson, Jas E. Clarke, John M. Johnson, S. D. Howard, M. T. Riner, Z. A. Anderson and Leonard Claxton.

    The county Fair is set to be held November 3rd to 8th. Thousand dollars will be offered in premiums. Mr. Arthur B. Price turned in the first full cotton bloom on May 27th. Mr. & Mrs. Murphy Norris had a baby boy.

    Dr. Wade R. Beddingfield is doing some good surgical and medical work in Augusta according to The Augusta Herald. It accounts the restoration of the eye sight of an Augusta lady was a wonderful exploit of the skill this young man posesses. The lady had been blind for a year but now can see as good as ever. Dr. Beddingfield is a product of one of the best families in Johnson County.

    Friday afternoon Sheriff Lovett J. Claxton and Deputy Carl Claxton made a raid on a large copper still outfit in the Eastern part of the county, bringing in the entire outfit including some "shine". The still itself was one of the largest seen in the county yet, and created a lot of interest. A lot of "mobby" was turned out.

    It is reported that this still played a role in another raid some months ago. The officers made a second raid Saturday morning near Meeks bringing in a lard can outfit, worm, pipe, etc. The officers are on the lookout for whiskey operations and have succeeded lately in turning in alot of business in this line.

From Days Gone By May 30,1925

 May 30,1925.

    The last spade of Earth has been thrown up and placed on the Jefferson Davis Highway across Johnson Co., the road now being built from one side of the county across to near Lovett. The county has finished it's portion. Not only the Davis Highway has been built through Spann district but all the public roads in that district are in a good fix. A big barbecue and lemonade picnic was held for Ordinary Jenkins and Capt. Wright at the home of W. D. Sumner.

    Interest is high in the proposal to erect a concrete bridge over the Oconee River between Washington and Wilkinson line, about halfway between Milledgeville and Dublin. At present there is no bridge between these two points. Efforts are being made to swing the Savannah to Macon highway via Statesboro, Swainsboro, Wrightsville, Irwinton and Gordon which would give a direct line to these two points.

    Another projected road from Augusta to Macon, via Wrens, Louisville, Sandersville, Tennille and connect with the Bee-Line a few miles from the river where both roads could use the same proposed bridge.

    Judge Camp will come to Wrightville this morning to finish hearing the motion for a new trial in the J. J. Tanner case. Much time was taken over the affidavits of Noah Covington's children who denied Noah was at Jesse Covington's home the night before Tarbutton's death. It is a fight that will last many months.

    Rawlings will be tried June 22nd. The motion for change of venue now lies in the Supreme Court with a verdict expected in a few days.

    Part of the life insurance from Southern States on Gus Tarbutton, $145,000 was deposited with the registry clerk of the U. S. Court. This sum is being claimed by several firms and people, among them are 4th National Bank of Macon, Citizens Bank of Sandersville, The War Finance Corp. and the 4th National Bank of Atlanta. Others are seeking to establish rights to the funds or parts of it. All claims are to be heard in Augusta by Federal Judge W. H. Barrett.

    Mr. Willie T. Rowland was appointed Johnson's new Game Warden with the resignation of W. T. Kitchens. The Barnes brothers, G. W. and Lee, have filed for bankruptcy.

From Days Gone By May 23,1925

 May 23,1925.

    The voluminous record in the new trial motion by J. J. Tanner's lawyers caused a week's postponment of that hearing and will be heard in Dublin tomorrow by Judge Camp in Chambers. The defense submitted a long 1000 page record in the case. Tanner and Rawlings remain in jail here pending disposition of their cases.

    Thirteen graduates of Wrightville High School will receive their diploma's. The class roll as follows: Edith Bryan, Wesley Brinson, Clay Chester, Rowena Chester, Merry Nell Davis, Lizzie Lee Davis, Erna Flanders, Dicy Hall, Bessie Will Harrison, Willie Mas Kitchens, Theo Parker, Lizzie Lee Smith and Bessie Wynn Powell.

    Mrs. R. T. Lovett, Dr. and Mrs. M. D. L. Peacock and Dr. and Mrs. Meeks of Kite left for Dallas, Texas to attend the Confederate Reunion there. They will be guests of Mr. Roscoe Peacock while there.

    The wife of Mr. Church Harris died April 10th. She was 44 years old. Before marriage she was Miss Mae Norris. She left a husband and six children. She died from pneumonia. She was a member of Rehobeth and was buried there.

    Mrs. D. A. Mills, one of the oldest mothers of the county died at home near Spann. She was 76 and survived by her husband, three daughters and four sons. She was buried at Pleasant Grove.

    Macon welcomed the counties interested in the Bee-Line highway with enthusiasm. A resolution was passed. It was pointed out by Johnson and Wilkinson the road would shorten the distance from Wrightville by 20 miles. Currently to get to Macon you have to go to Dublin or Milledgeville. Not only milage savings the farmers on this route would be opened to better markets.

    They have been bottled up since the first colonists settled there. The Oconee a major barrier between the two. One Johnson resident stated not more than 15 residents of Johnson had ever been to Irwinton only 30 miles away. Much trade here which logically would go to Macon now goes to Savannah or Augusta.

    Fortunately the raw materials for road building exists along the proposed highway. The route is an old Indian trail that follows the natural line from Balls Ferry to Macon.

    Over four years ago Johnson County began this Bee-Line project and has been pushing it steadily onward ever since and now has road visions of it's success.

From Days Gone By May 16,1925

 May 16,1925.

    The new trial hearing for J. J. Tanner for tomorrow, may not happen owing to the large volume of the record in this case. The defendants attorneys said they're 1000 pages of this record haven't been put in order in time for the hearing. After this mass of testimony is put into written shape each side will want time to review it. Tanner is still in jail pending the result of this hearing.

    The May Term of City Court convened with a big docket. Judge Blount ordered the audience that no smoking or chewing would be allowed in the court room. A somewhat unusual thing took place when one white man and nine coloreds plead guilty to gambling. All were fined $40 each or 8 months.

    Several were found guilty by juries, 3 or 4 others pleaded guilty, a verdict of not guilty in a trial of 2 white men from Adrian, and a jury aquitted another. This ended Monday's session.

    Tuesday the trial of criminal cases went on with a number of convictions and in one case, that of a colored boy, 3 seperate counts for having whiskey at a colored church and 2 other charges for the same thing.

    The Board of Education voted to consolidate Rehobeth and Green Hill. A petition was filed opposing this by some patrons of the school districts directs Luther Lillard, school superintendent order an election on June 12th at Rehobeth so the voters of that territory can vote on this.

    Sunday night Dr. Flint Flanders and Donaldson Perkins left their autos at Flanders home overnight. The next morning all the oil and gas in both autos were bled dry.

    Dr. J. G. Carter, Sr., one of the County's wealthiest citizens died at home in Scott Friday morning. He had been sick a few days. He was 79, a Mason, and practiced medicine for 51 years. His children were M. C. Carter, Mrs. Z. T. Houser, Dr. J. G. Carter, Jr., C. R. Carter and Mrs. C. A. Heckle. Two brothers, G. W. and J. Warren Carter and sister Mrs. Nathan Barwick. He was buried at Carter's Chapel.

From Days Gone By May 9,1925

 May 9,1925.

    An inter-county Bee-Line Highway delegation was formed from 4 counties an met in Macon with it's Chamber of Commerce. There is no stone too large that it cannot be unturned in efforts to establish this route. Delegations from Johnson, Bibb, Wilkinson and Twiggs are involved. This route will save 20 miles between Wrightville and Macon which means alot to all points in between. Macon is eager to get this project moving. It is hardly probably a chance for Johnson to get on the Coast-To-Capitol Highway as the plans never included Johnson. It is more important than ever that the Bee-Line is a success.

    A large delegation from Kite, New Home, Rehobeth, Green Hill, and Moore's Chapel met with the Board of Education to discuss the consolidation of several schools.

    Prof. A. J. M. Robinson is in bed believing to have had a light stroke. Mr. & Mrs. Johnnie Sumner's little child was run over by a large truck but will make it alright.

    Harry Lee Britt, the 4 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Lewis B. Britt died May 4th from a short illness. He was a grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barnes. He was buried in Westview.

    Miss Lillie Maye Smith, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. S. D. Smith married Mr. Tom Hargraves in Chattanooga. She works with the Richmond Hosiery Co.

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney is playing at the Dixie Theatre.

    Alleging that Gus Tarbutton was murdered by J. J. Tanner who is now on a life sentence, and C. G. Rawlings awaits a trial on murder, making false representations in securing life insurance for $50,000 and $5,000, the Prudential Co. filed an equity suit in Augusta asking for the policies be declared null and void.

    The petition consists of the failure of Tarbutton to disclose the full amount of insurance on his life at the time the two policies were purchased, also there was a conspiracy to kill the insured.

    Rawlings already filed an affidavit with the company for the purpose of collecting these policies, $50,000 of which is double indemnity in case of accidental death.

    H. F. Tarbutton, brother of Gus and administrator of the estate has challenged the right of Rawlings to collect on the grounds that Rawlings himself, together with Tanner, conspired to kill Gus and by this act has forfeited any claim to the policies. H. F. claims for himself, as administrator, the right to collect the insurance.

From Days Gone By May 2,1925

 May 2,1925.

    Fifteen to twenty counties met in Savannah for the big road meeting. At this time the paved highway is not planned to come by Wrightville or Kite. The counties were in heated discussion on the pros and cons of the different routes.

    Johnson, Wilkinson and Bibb are likely to begin a zoning project of their own and pave or build a road from Kite to Macon, if Emanuel wants to join that's fine too. The published maps show a route going through Dublin which is out of the way. The people of Johnson are anxious for the Bee-Line Highway. This proposed highway will intersect with the Dixie Overland here for Savannah, branching here from Dixie Overland going by Wrightville and Irwinton into Macon instead of the route through Dublin. This will shorten the route from Swainsboro to Macon by 30 miles.

    For the past five years Emanuel and Johnson has had differences over building the concrete bridge at Adrian with part of it in each county. Due to a technicality in the contract Johnson refuses to pay it's pro rata share. Emanuel won't talk of the Bee-Line till the bridge issue is settled. The people here are pressing Johnson to settle this and move on. This road cannot be a State highway until this is settled.

    County Agent Crow distributes $5,478.81 to Farmers selling carloads of hogs, poultry and 450 dozen eggs.

    Mr. L. R. Anderson has Idylwild resort officially open for the summer season. Rex Ingram's metro masterpiece "Scaramouche" featuring Alice Terry, Lewis Stone and Ramon Novarro, is at the Dixie Theatre.

    Beauty'y Noble Edith 526988, a senior yearling Jersey cow owned by William Jackson of Donovan has completed an official test in which she produced 308.86 lbs of fat and 56.79 lbs of milk in 273 days. Carried calf for 167 days of this time and her milk severaged for the test. With this good record she qualifies for the Register of Merit of the American Jersey Cattle Club based in New York.