Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for FEBRUARY 1937 February 1937 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: C Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net February 6, 2007, 10:09 pm The Cleburne News February 1937 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County Alabama for FEBRUARY 1937 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, FEBRUARY 4, 1937 IN MEMORY OF H.C. DEESE During the hours of the night, January 20, God saw fit in His great wisdom to clip the little thread of life of a loving husband, father and grandfather, H.C. Deese. He will be greatly missed in his home for he was a great lover of the home. He was honest, truthful and stood for the right above all. He believed and trusted a true and living God; even during his hours of sufffering he would call upon God and sing praise to His name. We feel assured that he's now singing with the angelic host which is a perfect choir with no discords, which in our imagination is very beautiful. Grandfather was born Oct. 12, 1869; he was 67 years, three months and seven days old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, 12 children, 27 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was laid to rest in Macedonia cemetery with Owens of Heflin in charge. A granddaughter. ------ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, FEBRUARY 11, 1937 PLAINVIEW News J. M. Monroe of Plainview was badly hurt last week, having sawed off his hand at a sawmill and is doing fine it was reported on Tuesday. ----- MR. NOAH A. SOX IS LAID TO REST AT EDWARDSVILLE Funeral services for Noah A. Sox, age 77, who died at his home at Edwardsville Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, were held at the M.E. church on Monday afternoon at 2:00, Rev. Mr. Morton of Fruithurst officiating. Burial was in Edwardsville cemetery with Owens of Heflin directing. Mr. Sox had been a resident of Edwardsville for a number of years, being one of the town's oldest citizens. He took an active part in the civic, social and church activities of the little town. Surviving Mr. Sox are the widow Mrs. Sarah Sox; three sons, Spencer of Atlanta, Ga., Claude and James; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Johnson of Durham, N.C., Mrs. Nellie Burgess and Miss Sarah Sox of Edwardsville and two grandchildren. ----- MRS. POLEY PESNELL BURIED AT CROSS ROADS SATURDAY Funeral services for Mrs. Edna Pesnell, wife of Mr. Poley Pesnell, who died at her home near Ai on Friday morning at 11:45 o'clock, were held Saturday morning at Cross Roads church at 11:00 with Rev. Styles of Georgia officiating. Surviving Mrs. Pesnell are the husband, five sons, Austin, Lester, Theo, Allen and Joseph; and one daughter Mrs. Velma Boalts, all of near Ai community. ----- E.H. VANCE CARRIED TO HOSPITAL LAST FRIDAY E.H. Vance, well known Fruithurst merchant, who was stricken ill on Monday of last week, was taken to an Anniston hospital Friday in a serious condition, it was reported to The News on Saturday. ----- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, FEBRUARY 18, 1937 DEATH STALKS WITH FLAMING SIX-GUNS; Two Men Killed Outright; Woman and Man Seriously Wounded in Sunday Night Gun Battle Blazing pistols Sunday night claimed the lives of two men, seriously wounding another, shattered the arm of a fourth man and critically wounded a young women in what Sheriff Prestridge believed was a "jealousy shooting" at a roadhouse a few miles from Fruithurst. Burton Austin, 33, operator of the roadhouse and Herbert Clayton, 33, are dead; Oneal Clay, 17, is shot through the lungs; Albert Bell of Tallapoosa, Ga., has a riddled arm, and comely Ruth Jean McDaniel, 20, was critically shot in the abdomen, seven bullets penetrating the intestines. Miss McDaniel was carried to an Anniston hospital Sunday night, being brought to Heflin by Sheriff Prestridge. Clay, who is in a hospital at Anniston, was not found until Monday morning, the sheriff stated Tuesday and with a bullet wound in his lungs, is in a critical condition. Sheriff Prestridge said Tuesday that beyond a doubt Clay was one of the two masked men who entered the roadhouse. It is believed that Clay was shot by Austin, as a pistol with three empty shells was found near his body by officers upon their arrival at the scene. Two brothers of Clay visited him Tuesday and pleaded with him to "tell the truth" to officers in their investigation of the shooting. Sheriff Prestridge gave the following story to newspaper men, after stating that the only two witnesses, Fred Dryden and Loyd Gentry, who were in the roadhouse, were vague in their description of the masked men: Upon the arrival of the Sheriff at the roadhouse no one was inside except the dead men, Austin and Clayton, and the wounded woman. But it was learned that the masked gunmen struck without warning, entering the building, commanding that everyone "throw up your hands" and started firing immediately. Both were said to have used pistols. Clayton was shot one time, the bullet penetrating his head and Austin was shot five times in the breast and abdomen. The woman dropped with a bullet in the abdomen, officers said. The Sheriff said Tuesday that if Clay is one of the gunmen be believes he will make an arrest within a short time, adding that Clay may confess, naming the second man. The Sheriff has a mask and pistol in his possession that may have been used by Clay, who said he lay in a nearby field all night. It was first thought that the killers arrived at the roadhouse in an automobile, but officers said Tuesday that they apparently had walked to the place. No effort was made to rob either the cash drawer or the occupants of the establishment. The masked gunmen, after warning "to make no move for 10 minutes", are said to have backed to the door and left the scene of the shooting. It was learned that Austin had been warned "to get rid of the woman". This with extortion notes said to have been received by Austin twice since Christmas, is believed by officers to have led up to Sunday night's shooting. The first note tied to a stick of dynamite was found in Austin's yard, it was said and demanded money. Austin was instructed to place the money beneath a church in Fruithurst. The second note was delivered through the mail and post office inspectors were investigating. The second note stated that Austin had failed to obey instructions and that the writer was "ready to act accordingly." Investigation of the progress of postal inspectors was not learned. The woman told Anniston Star reporters that she was unmarried, giving no permanent address to attendants at the hospital. She said she had been at Austin's roadhouse about five weeks. Whether Austin returned the fire of the masked gunmen was not determined. However there were three empty shells in a pistol near his body and the pistol smelled as it if had been recently fired, Sheriff Prestridge said, but witnesses were unable to say whether Austin shot at the killers. Associated with Sheriff Prestridge in the investigation are State Patrolman Irvin Owen and Lee Burrow and Special State Officer Leon Hall. Funeral services for Clayton, who is survived by his widow, five children, his parents and other relatives of the Lebanon community, were conducted at 3 p.m. Monday at Friendship church, Rev. Rufe Johnson and Rev. Mr. Williams officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, directed by Owens of Heflin. Funeral services for Mr. Austin were held at Cane Creek at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdsay, the Rev. C.C. Keathley of Heflin officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery, Owens in charge. Surviving are four brothers and two sisters. Pallbearers were Steve Hulsey, Ben Hulsey, Aubrey Whitley, Homer Austin, Harve Austin and Morris Hicks. -------- FUNERAL SERVICES MONDAY FOR ROBINSON AT LIBERTY HILL Funeral services for James L. Robinson, 59, of Chulafinnee, were conducted from Liberty Hill church Monday afternoon, the Rev. E.A. Riddle officiating, assisted by Rev. Mr. Craft. Burial was in Liberty Hill cemetery, Jones of Anniston in charge. Mr. Robinson who had been a resident of Chulafinnee for eight years, died at the home at about 4 a.m. Sunday, after a week's illness. Survivors are his widow, three sons, Malmon of Chulafinnee and Leonard and Phillip of Delta and a daughter Mrs. Hazel Haywood of Fulton, Ga.; three sisters, Mrs. Lula Williams and Mrs. Mattie Dingler of Waco, Ga., and Mrs. Ommie Jeffers of South Carolina. ------ NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR PARDON OR PAROLE Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, convicted Nov. 11, 1935 in Cleburne County Circuit Court, and sentenced to a term of 20 years in the penitentiary for the offense of 2nd degree murder, will make application to the Governor and Pardon Board of Alabama for pardon or parole. Virtis Holland ------ MRS. SARAH ALICE HARR PASSES Fruithurst, Feb. 15 News has been received here of the death of Mrs. Henry Harr, a former resident of this place. Mrs. Sarah Alice Harr, 80, died at her home in Excelsion Springs, Mo. on Jan. 18, 1937. Mrs. Harr had been in failing health for the past year and suffered a stroke of paralysis which was the immediate cause of her death. Mrs. Harr was born at Rock Grove, Ill. on April 8, 1856. SHe married Mr. Harr January 9, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Harr recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Harr wrote many beautiful poems and was a great social entertainer. She was standing at the piano singing "A Stranger at the Door" when she was stricken. Besides her husband, Mrs. Harr is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Pearl Harr Buck; two sisters and a brother. Mrs. Harr was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Excelsion Chapter of the Eastern Star. Funeral services were conducted by a Prebyterian pastor, with interment in the Masonic cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Harr made their home in Fruithurst several years before moving to Missouri and will be remembered by many. ------- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, FEBRUARY 25, 1937 BIRTHDAY DINNER A birthday dinner was enjoyed Sunday, Feb. 14, by a host of relatives and friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Ingram. Those present were: Mack and Mrs. Thomas of Alexander City Silva Waters and family A.B. Teague Dave Sutton and family Ligon Morrison and famly Artemus Morrison and family John and Woodrow Ayres Pete Brady Everyone enjoyed the nice dinner which Mrs. Ingram had prepared for her husband's birthday. A friend ------ NOAH BEASON PASSES Noah Beason died at his home near Oak Grove Saturday after an illness of more than two years. He was laid to rest in Ai cemetery on Sunday. Survivors are his wife and several children. ----- CARD OF THANKS We take this method of thanking each and every one for the beautiful floral offerings during the death of our dear husband, father and son. May we especially thank the sheriff, patrolman and undertaker for their assistance during the dark hours of our bereavement. Mrs. J.P. Clayton and family Mrs. Lillie Clayton and children ----- BEGGS RITES AT ANTIOCH Funeral services for "Aunt Sis" Beggs, 77, pioneer Cleburne countain, who died Friday after a long illness, were held at Antioch on Saturday. Interment was in the church cemetery. "Aunt Sis" was widely known in the Arbacoochee and Abernathy communities of the county. She is survived by a large number of relatives. ------ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape1345gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 11.9 Kb