Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for JUNE 1939 June 1939 ************************************************ 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 March 7, 2007, 2:22 pm The Cleburne News June 1939 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for JUNE 1939 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, JUNE 1, 1939 FINAL RITES FRIDAY FOR MR. LOYD TURNER Tallapoosa, Ga. May 25 Mr. Loyd Turner, 27, son of Mr. Jim Thomas Turner, died at the home near Lebanon last Wednesday night after a sudden illness. Mr. Turner was a native of Cleburne county and his many friends and relatives were shocked by his sudden death. Funeral services were held at Concord Baptist church Friday morning at 11 o'clock, with Rev. R.L. Skinner offciating. A large number of friends and relatives paid their tribute of respect. Pallbearers were Mr. Claude Turner, Mr. Clyde Turner, Freeman Harris, Mr. F.J. McHugh, Mr. A.M. Turner and Mr. Howard Monroe. Burial followed in Concord cemetery. Mr. Turner is survived by his father Mr. J.T. Turner, one brother, Mr. John Turner, all of Hopewell, Ala., and two sisters, Mrs. Tom Chandler of Cedartown and Mrs. Pearl Norell of Hopewell, Ala. R.J. Miller Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. ------ SERVICES ARE HELD FOR MRS. PESNELL Funeral services for Mrs. Doris Alice Pesnell, age 19 of Edwardsville Route 1, near the Ai community ws conducted at the Ai Church on May 23 with the Rev. P.P. Johnson officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery, directed by Brown-Service of Heflin. Mrs. Pesnell died suddenly at her home May 22. Her death was a shock to her many friends and relatives. Mrs. Pesnell is survived by her husband Hugh D. Pesnell and one son, H.A.; her father J.S. Lambert and four sisters, Mrs.Nettie McMahan, Mrs. Lillian Bennett, Mrs. Lorraine Morgan and Mrs. Dura Warren, all of Cleburne county; three brothers, Ernest Lambert of Birmingham; Alton Lambert of Bessemer and Clyde Lambert of Edwardsville. CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank everyone for their kindness during the short sickness and death of our darling Doris. May God bless everyone is our prayer. Hugh Pesnell and baby J.S. Lambert and family Mrs. Alice Gaines Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Pesnell ------ WATKINS FUNERAL HELD SUNDAY Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Heflin Baptist church for James Watkins, age 65, who died at his residence here at 11 o'clock Friday night. Mr. Watkins had been ill about four months following a stroke of paralysis. Interment was in Black Cemetery, directed by Jones of Anniston. The Rev. Roy Niager officaiting. Surviving Mr. Watkins are his wife, five daughters, Mrs. James Brimer, Mrs. William Owens, Mrs. Elijah Owens, Mrs. David Payne and Mrs. Rosa Phillips, all of Heflin and a sister, Mrs. Kate Hollis of Anniston. ------ FUNERAL SERVICES FOR J.M. HARRIS Funeral services for Jessie M. Harris, age 76 of Heflin Route 3, were conducted at the New Harmony church at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, with the Revs. H.R. Carter, E.A. Riddle and the Rev. Zaner officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery, directed by Brown-Service of Heflin. Mr. Harris passed away at his residence in the early hours, May 23. Mr. Harris had spent his entire life in this county, having lived in the same house for 65 years. Besides the widow, Mr. Harris is survived by one son, Doyle Harris of Heflin; two daughters, Mrs. W.H. Grubbs of Heflin and Mrs. M.W. Wright of Anson, Texas and one sister, Mrs. Sara Jane Edwards of Heflin. ------ SERVICES HELD FOR ACCIDENT VICTIM Anniston, Ala., May 25 Funeral services for George Thomas Jr., a 38 year old WPA worker who was found dead beside the Southern Railway track at Choccolocco Station within 200 yards of his home on Wednesday morning, were conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon at Harmony Baptist church. Burial was in the church cemetery with Usrey in charge. Mr. Thomas retired about 7 o'clock Tuesday night and his wife told investigators she did not know when he got up. It was calculated that his death occurred around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The body was discovered by a railroad section worker about 4:30 o'clock. Death was said to have been caused by a crushed skull, a four and half inch gash being in his head. Survivors are the widow, five children, John, Aubin, Helen, May Jean and Ollie, all of Choccolocco and his father George Thomas of Edwardsville. ------- FUNERAL OF MR. BURNS HELD AT CHURCH Anniston, Ala., May 26 Funeral services for John Abner Burns, age 74, who died at his home on Piedmont, Route 2, Wednesday night were conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Rabbittown church by the Rev. H.R. Arnold. Interment was in the church cemetery, with Usrey in charge. Surviving are five sons, Carl of Jacksonville and T.C., Alexander, Jack and Herschel, all of Rabbittown; two daughters, Mrs. Clifford Baird of Gadsden and Mrs. J.F. Gidley of Jacksonville; a brother Henry of Alexandria and a sister Miss Hulda Burns of Rabbittown. ------- MAN, AGED 90, BURIED IN COFFIN BUILT WITH OWN HANDS Lineville, Ala., May 25 In a coffin he fashioned with his own hands and placed at the head of his bed several years ago, John Sims, age 90, was buried Thursday in Providence Church cemetery. Often he had observed that one should be prepared for death, so he had bought and paid for a vault with the understanding that it would be delivered when it was needed. His tombstone already was in place with the inscription complete, except for the final date. The Rev. C.B. Wellborn officiated at the services. He had been asked to do so several years ago. ------- LOCAL News Mrs. W.B. Merrill, Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Merrill, Carl and Fred Merrill will attend the reunion of the Jones family at Frisco City this week. The occasion is the 82nd birthday of J.W. Jones, Mrs. Merrill's father. ------ FRUITHURST News May 29 Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Laminack and Miss Nora Laminack of Birmingham were called Monday to the bedside of their father Arthur Laminack who is seriously ill. ---- NAUGHER TO APPEAL SENTENCE Birmingham, Ala. May 26 Defense attorneys today prepared to appeal to the State Supreme Court the life sentence given W.M. Naugher, a 46 year old Oxford, Ala. steelworker for the slaying of Dennis Burrows. Burrows was shot in a downtown terminal while he and Mrs. Naugher were sitting together. A Jefferson county jury deliberated three hours and 40 minutes before sentencing Naugher. The State's attorneys had asked for the death penalty. ------- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, JUNE 8, 1939 HILL FUNERAL HELD SUNDAY Funeral services for G.F. Hill of Heflin, age 72, was conducted at the New Harmony Church on Sunday, June 4 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. W.D. Boling and the Rev. Roy Niager officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery directed by Brown-Service of Heflin. Survivors are the widow Mrs. Fannie Hill of Heflin; one son, Oco Hill of Clinton, North Carolina and one daughter Mrs. J.L. Norton of Heflin. Pallbearers were Fred McMurray, A.L. Black, Dr. O.F. Staples, C.A. Matthews, Horace Houston and Arthur Vaughn. ------ POLLY GIVES UP; HANGS HERSELF IN CALHOUN CO. JAIL Anniston, Ala., June 1 Apparently despondent over the prospect of having to return to the federal prison for women at Alderson, W. Va., a pretty 20 year old blonde, hanged herself about an hour after being placed in the Calhoun county jail early Wednesday night as a federal prisoner. Two notes were left by Polly Owens, formerly of near Heflin, in her cell. One was apparently for her lover and the other was apparently for authorities. She expressed morbidness at having to return to prison and said she couldn't stand it. The last hour of her life was an eventful one. She had left the city jail in high spirits believing that she was to be set free, according to a cell mate. Shortly after she was locked up at the county jail she asked for a pencil and some paper. A youth in an adjacent cell provided the pencil and paper. About 15 minutes before her body was found hanging from a towel noose she had asked Walter Warlow the jailer for a towel. At 7 o'clock Mrs. W.L. Borders, wife of Sheriff Borders, carried the girl her supper. She spoke but got no reply. Calling Mr. Wardlaw, Mrs. Borders told him "she's just standing there by the window and won't answer." Mr. Wardlaw went into the cell. He found she was dead. A year ago, Miss Owens was given a 13 month sentence in connection with the white slave traffic charges made against her and others in connection with the operation of the Wagon Wheel on the Bankhead Highway west of Anniston. She was released from Alderson Prison about the middle of March, three months before the completion of her 13 month sentence. On April 18 she was arrested by Anniston police in connection with an automobile accident and was fine $100. and costs on charges of driving an automobile while intoxicated. She had been in the jail since that time. The parole warrant was received Wednesday afternoon by Hiram Allen, deputy U.S. Marshall. Shortly after Miss Owens was arrested by Anniston police she told newspaper men she will had about two and a half months time if she was sent back for parole violations, adding "but I'll never go back." She had described prison life as being "a hell you can't imagine." Miss Owens celebrated her 20th birthday anniversary in the city jail May 26. Funeral services were conducted at 10 o'clock Friday morning at Salt Creek church by Rev. U.T. Adams. Interment was in the church cemetery with Usrey in charge. Surviving are her parents, a brother Bert and three sisters, Clyde, Jesse Lee and Mrs. Wilmer Roach. ------- FUNERAL SERVICE FOR BUCHANAN Funeral services for James A. Buchanan, age 54 of Bowdon, Ga., near Ranburne, were conducted at the Ranburne church at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 1 with the Rev. Harmon D. Moore officiating. Brown-Service of Heflin was in charge. Mr. Buchanan passed away in a Birmingham hospital. Surviving Mr. Buchanan are his wife and mother of Ranburne; one brother, Ross Buchanan of Ranburne and two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Cosper of Graham and Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd of Birmingham. Pallbearers were his sons and sons-in-law. ------ GRIEVED WIDOW LEAPS OFF STONE MOUNTAIN Atlanta, Ga., June 2 A despondent mother identified as Mrs. Mary L. Barrer, 38, took her life yesterday by leaping from the peak of Stone Mountain. She plunged 1,100 feet down the sheer side of the dome-like granite mountain, hurling past the unfinished Confederate Memorial carved in the side of the peak. Notes left to her three children attributed her despondency to the recent death of her husband. ------ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, JUNE 15, 1939 GIRL IS KILLED AS LIGHTNING STRIKES HOE SHE CARRIES Cullman, Ala. Struck by a bolt of lightning which traveled down the hoe she carried over her shoulder as she scampered for home to avoid last week's storm, Ruby Lindsey, 14 year old attractive girl of the Goodhope community, five miles from here, was fatally injured. Jasper Lindsey, father of the dead girl, reported to authorities that his daughter and a neighbor youth had been hoeing in a field when the storm struck. Both started to run for shelter, the boy several feet distant from the girl. Suddenly there was a loud crack, and the girl fell, the hoe handle spintered and the girl fell unconscious to the ground. The left side of her face and hair were badly burned. The boy was uninjured. ------ LOCAL News Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Alewine and son of El Reno, Oklahoma and Mrs. J.J. McLendon and children of Ponce City, Oklahoma were recent visitors to relatives and friends in Cleburne county. ---- DEATH CLAIMS MR. DAN MEDLEY AT PALESTINE Piedmont, Ala., June 9 Dan Medley, age 82, died at his home at Palestine at 2:45 after several days of illness. Funeral services were conducted at Cherry Grove church at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Usrey was in charge. Surviving are two sons, William of Tallapoosa and Joel of Palestine and four daughters, Mrs. J.M. Tumlin of Eastaboga; Mrs. Side Tumlin of Talladega and Mrs. Mickey Hollis and Mrs. Minnie Foster of Palestine. The Piedmont Journal ------ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, JUNE 22, 1939 CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our thanks and deepest appreciation for the loving sympathy and kindness shown us during the sickness and death of our dear father, son and brother. Mrs. J.A. Laminack and children Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Laminack W.G., E.J., R.W. and L.B. Laminack ------ ELROD - THROWER Mrs. Ethel Hardman of Bremen, Ga., announces the engagement of her daughter Syble Delonia Elrod to Spurgeon R. Thrower of Heflin, the marriage to take place in the Fall. ------ LOCAL News J.M. Otwell of Carrollton, Ga. passed through Heflin on Tuesday enroute to his home, from Moselle, Miss. where he was been visiting his sister Mrs. A.B. Ray and Mr. Ray. ----- FRUITHURST News June 19 The many friends of Mr. James Arthur Laminack will regret to learn of his death at his home here last Wednesday morning, June 14. Mr. Laminack has been in poor health for the past few years but his death came as a shock to his family and friends. Mr. Laminack was born in Fruithurst Nov. 12, 1891 and has spent most of his life here. Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, Clyde Laminack of Birmingham, and Dedrick Laminack of Organ; three daughters, Mrs. Ray Roberds and Miss Nora Laminack of Birmingham and Miss Myrtice Laminack; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Laminack, and four brothers, Grady Laminack of Muscadine and Lenard, Wilburn and Everett Laminack. Funeral services were held at Morris Hill church on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. J.A. Duke and Rev. C.W. Crowe. Pallbearers were his two nephews Bill Laminack and Marshall Laminack, and R.W. Savage, Charlie White, J.E. McCrary and Howard Ward. ------ The many friends of Mrs. Charlie Erickson will regret to learn of her sudden death which occurred at her home in Birmingham on June 7. Mrs. Erickson made her home here for many years before moving to Birmingham and had a host of friends here. She was loved by all who knew her. Surviving are her two daughters and two sons. ------ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, JUNE 29, 1939 BILL BRIMER HELD IN MURDER CASE Fain Rowell of Heflin was shot last Thursday afternoon and Bill Brimer Jr. was jailed on a charge of murder in the first degree. Sheriff Prestridge and his deputies made the investigation and reported as follows: Brimer purchased six pistol cartridges on Thursay morning. That afternoon, he, Mrs. Homer Brown, Clay Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Fain Rowell drove down about one mile beyond Cedar Creek church and turned around. Just after they turned around, Brimer, who was driving, stopped his car, walked back to the rumble seat which was occupied by Stephens and Rowell, and shot twice at Rowell. One bullet entered Rowell's body near the heart. The party then returned to Heflin and Rowell was placed in an ambulance. He died on the way to the hospital. At that time Brimer denied all knowledge of or participation in the crime. However, all eye witnesses agreed that Brimer did the shooting. Brimer is held in jail without bond. Brimer was found guilty of manslaughter in 1933 and served a term in the penitentiary. Law enforcement officers say that he has a long criminal record and has served several terms in the penitentiary. Brimer's case will probably be held at the Fall term of the Circuit Court. Funeral services for Mr. Rowell were held at 1 o'clock at the Brown - Service Funeral Home. Interment was in the Heflin cemetery, with the Rev. Roy Niager officiating. Surviving Mr. Rowell are his widow, Mrs. Willie Mae Rowell, one brother James Rowell; a father G.H. Rowell of Raydol, Ga., and his grandfather Jim Rowell of Heflin. He was 20 years of age. ------ DAMAGE SUIT FILED AGAINST GARNER HOSPITAL Anniston, Ala., June 21 Suit for $25,000 damages aganst Garner Hospital has been filed by Luther Dryden of Cleburne county as the results of the death of his wife Mrs. Mable Dryden, about two years ago. The plaintiff alleges that Mrs. Dryden's death resulted from the application of a solution of bichloride of mercury, which was not prescribed by the attending physician. The complaint alleges that the solution was one to 1,000 and should have been one to 10,000. Mrs. Dryden was seriously burned when an oil stove exploded at her home in Cleburne county the latter part of April 1937. She was brought to the hospital here the day she was injured. ------- RALSTON - WRIGHT Miss Lula Beatrice Ralston of Daviston and Doverd Wright of New Site were happuly married on June 21 at 8:30 p.m. in the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Harris, uncle and aunt of the bridegroom, and the bride's sister, Mrs. Omelene Hallmark. Mr. Wright is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Wright of New Site and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. D. Harris of Daviston. Mrs. Wright is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Ralston of Daviston, formerly of Cleburne county. Their many friends wish them a long, happy life. ----- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape1384gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.7 Kb