Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for JANUARY 1916 January 1916 ************************************************ 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: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net April 16, 2005, 6:40 pm The Cleburne News January 1916 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for JANUARY 1916 NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, January 6, 1916 CHARLIE PESNELL SHOT AND KILLED; Sherman Knight acknowledges to firing fatal shot but claims he mistook Pesnell as an intruder. Another life is snuffed out in Cleburne and two families and other relatives are bowed down in grief. While one more soul is sent to it's maker, a young man is shut up in the county jail because of the ever-ready, ever handy, pistol. The whole of Heflin and Cleburne county and vicinity was shocked early Friday morning to hear of the killing of Charlie Pesnell, a prominent citizen of Heflin, at the hands of Sherman Knight, 21 years old, a young man living ten or twelve miles south of here. It is said that it was quite an accident that the murder was committed and Knight is greatly worried over the affair. From Knight's statement, the killing occurred at near nine o'clock last Thursday night as Knight was returning from a neighbor's house. As he came up the the walk of the house Knight noticed someone standing near the door. Thinking that it was his father he did not pay any particular attention to the person and went into the house by another door. On entering the house Knight asked where his father was and received the answer that he had already retired for the night. Then young Knight grew suspicious of trouble brewing and quickly armed himself with his father's pistol. He stepped to the door and on looking out saw a person walking from the house to the road. Knight says he wanted only to frighten the would be intruder and fired a shot in the air. Thent he person ran a few steps. Knight fired a second time and then a third time. No sound was made from Pesnell and when Knight asked two or three times who it was, Pesnell did not answer. It was then that Knight fired first at the object. Pesnell was well known in and around Heflin, having been living here for some time. Sherman Knight is a young man of some twenty years. It seems that no trouble ever existed between the two families and if Knight had a reason for taking Pesnell's life it is not known, as Knight declares they were all on good terms and were the best of friends. No one knew of the murder until the next morning after the deed was done, when Knight's father went to see if any indications of footprints could be found. He went a few steps and saw Pesnell laying face down, near the house. On going back to the house he first told young Knight that he had killed a negro when he shot, but on examination found it to be Pesnell. Knight was taken into custody last Friday by Sheriff Rowell and lodged in the jail at this place where he waits a preliminary hearing. Pesnell was about 50 years old and lived in Heflin with a sister. Another sister resides a few miles out in the country. He also has a grown son. Besides a large number of relatives in this county, he has kin folks in other sections of this country. The interment was at Cane Creek, near Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon. Whatever imperfections that Charlie might have had, it is known that he was a true to a friend as a needle to the pole. There are conflicting stories regarding the killing and The News gives the facts just as it received them. This awful tragedy should teach the county more forcibly than ever the truth that the deadly and ever ready and ever handy pistol is one of the worst curses that infests our county. Al the grief of the mother of the unfortunate boy and the tears and heartaches of the relatives of the dead man will not unlock the prison doors nor will it bring back to life Charlie Pesnell. The preliminary trial of Knight will come before Judgte P.F. Currie, Justice of the peace of Beat 11, next Saturday morning, January 8th. Johnson & McMahan will represent the defendant while Col. C.H. Vann will look after the state's interest. ________ MR. R.F. GAINES DIES AT HOME NEAR BOAZ, ALA Mr. R.F. Gaines who was born and reared in this county, but who moved to Marshall County about 35 years ago, died at his home near Boaz the 26th day of December after an illness of short duration. Mr. Gaines was well and favorably known to many of the older people of this county, and his death will carry sorrow to many who knew and honored him. He was a cousin of Mr. M.L. Gaines and Mrs. T.A. Weathers of this county. He is survived by his wife and several grown children. Two brothers, Mr. James Gaines of Edwards County, Texas and Mr. H.F. Gaines of Mountain Park, Okla., survive him, and three sisters, Mrs. Jane McDaniel, Mrs. Loucinda Aldridge and Mrs. F.M. White. Mr. Gaines was an uncle of Mrs. J.W. Barnes of this place and a cousin of the editor of The News. ____ LOCAL News As Mr. W.T. Smith, a one armed man from Heflin, was passing Fourth alley and Twenty-Sixth street Christmas night about 7 o'clock, a negro asked him if he wanted to buy some whiskey, says a Birmingham paper. He said yes the report goes, and was conducted to a dark corner in the alley where the negro held the blade of a knife against Smith's throat while a woman confederate robbed him of $30. When they tried to get his watch, Smith protested, yelling, and they ran. Nathan Kilgore, a negro arrested in a poolroom near the scene of the robbery, was identified by Smith on Monday as the man who robbed him. ____ Miss Nannie Ayers is visiting her sister, Mrs. Artie Gregg. __ W.E. Mays of Italy, Texas has been visiting his brother Rev. Mays here. __ Mrs. J.W. Wade, who has been quite sick for several days was not improved Thursday morning. __ Mr. G.W. Moore of Whitesburg, GA visted his son here last week, Mr. G.J. Moore, and is going from here to Birmingham to visit other children. __ Mr. Ralph Morgan who is attending a medical college in New Orleans, Louisiana, has returned to that place after spending some time in Heflin with homefolks. __ Col. T.A. Johnson who spent the christmas holidays with his family in Hugo, Oklahoma, has returned to Heflin and has been quite sick at the Central Hotel. __ Mr. V.A. Cook left last Monday for Indianopolis, Indiana where he goes to take treatment at a sanitarium. His hundreds of friends hope his trip will not be in vain and that he will soon be restored to his wanted health. ___ The many friends of Homer Mims will be happy to learn that he has greatly improved after some time of severe sickness. He was in Atlanta at the time when taken and the family was at once called to his bedside. But when last heard from was resting well and we hope to see him at home again soon and quite well. ___ MARRIAGES FOR DECEMBER L.S. Lett and Miss Bertha Hall J.W. Strickland and Miss Emma Harden Alves Hackney and Miss Hattie Price W.A. Weathers and Miss Rosa Lee Warren F.M. Bonner and Mrs. Emily L. Weir J.L. Hilley and Miss Mealie Crumpton W.T. Goodman and Miss Ada Vaughan A.B. Harry and Miss Bertie Albright T.C. Merrill Jr. and Miss Lee Denham C.C. Cannon and Miss Essie Long Dunston Hale and Josie Hall L.E. Haynes and Miss Luna Crumpton Jesse Butler and Miss Bessie Dunn T.B. Johnson and Miss Dora Wright D.H. Vaughan and Miss Leila McMahan J.B. Yates and Miss Anna Prestridge ____ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, January 13, 1916 KNIGHT IS HELD TO GRAND JURY Sherman Knight, who is alleged to have shot and killed Charlie Pesnell on the night of December 30th, in or near the latter's home, was given a preliminary hearing before Justices of the Peace D.W. Gray and F.P. Currie in Heflin last Saturday. Some six or eight witnesses were examined by both the state and defendant. Lawyers Johnson and McCahan represented the defendant and Col. C.H. Vann appeared for the state. After hearing witnesses both for the state and defendant, the justices ordered Knight held, his bond being fixed at $1000. Knight furnished the required bond and was liberated Wednesday morning. ___ HEFLIN Route 4 News Mr. and Mrs. Tom Howell were the guests of their daughter Mrs. Bascum Thrash the first of the week. ___ Mr. Oscar Thrash and wife spent last Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. William Blake. __ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, January 20, 1916 LEGAL NOTICE State of Alabama, Cleburne County Probate Court January 10, 1916 This day came I.W. Skinner and filed in this court his petition, together with a paper purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Ann Gable, deceased, late of said county and state, for probate and record in this court and it appearing from said petition that the following named persons, legatees and devisees named in the petition are non-residents, to wit: M.E. Brown A.A. Southerland J.J. Gable Perry Gable It is ordered by the court that the 21st day of February 1916 be set apart for the hearing of said petition and that notice thereof be given for three successive weeks in the Cleburne News, a newspaper published in said County, notifying all persons to be and appear before me on that day and contest said application if they think proper. A.H. Glasgow, Judge of Probate. ____ LOCAL News Mr. S.J. Waits, a good citizen of Borden Springs, was in Heflin Monday and called and renewed his subscription and also that of his brother's at Paris, Texas for which he will please accept our thanks. ___ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, January 27, 1916 SHOAL CREEK News Mr. Houston Cheatwood left the last of the week for Central Mississippi where he expects to make his future home. __ RANDOLPH AND CORINTH News W.D. Landers and Lisha Mavison are on the sick list. These gentleman have been sick for some time but hope to see them well soon. __ Royce Currie and Themon Lipham attended the funeral of Mr. Brooks' son at Wesley's Chapel last Thursday. __ GRANDMA DODD Grandma Dodd died at the home of her son, Mr. M.W. Dodd, on the morning of January 15th. If she had lived until the 13th of February she would have been 91 years old. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was a member of the MIssionary Baptist church at Concord. Her many friends mourn her death. A friend. ___ IN MEMORY OF MRS. J.W. COX On January 11th, sister Mary F. Cox, wife of Rev. J.W. Cox, fell asleep after a long and lingering illness. She was Miss Mary F. Miller of Walton County, Georgia and was born on the 5th day of June 1838. She was married to Rev. J.W. Cox on January 21, 1855 and joined the church the same year. Thus making her married life as well as her connection with the church 61 years. She was always a consistent member of the Methodist Church south and was ever true and faithful to her church. In this connection she lived and died and never swerved from her christian integrity. All long down the years she was a faithful wife and a tender mother. She was indeed a help mate to her husband who was a minister of the gospel. When the great day of final reckoning shall come and the crowns are bestowed will she be forgotten? No, verily, she will not be forgotten. While her husband was off in the discharge of his duties as minister, she was at home looking after the domestic affairs. Will she not be counted worthy to receive a crown of life along with her husband? Her funeral was attended by the writer who spoke on the final victory over death and the grave. Her remains were laid to rest in the old church yard at old Hurricane where sleep so many of the faithful of the day of long ago. Her life was consistent. She said that she loved everybody and was ready to go. Her influence will live on after her. "Blessed are the dead who died in the lord. They shall rest from their labors and their works do follow them." May God's richest blessings rest upon her beloved companion who is left to mourn her loss and may her memory be a rich heritage to her children and her grandchildren. G.B. Boman ______ LOCAL News At the public sale of Mr. Houston Cheatwood, north of Edwardsville, on the 17th, among articles sold were household goods and a dining room table that had been in the home for 52 years. ___ Married on Thursday of this week, Miss Ruby Dodson of Buchanan to Mr. Rufus Campbell of Rockmart, the wedding occurring at the home of the bride's parents. Mrs. Campbell is the daughter of Mr. A.R. Dodson, editor of the Buchanan Tribune, and Mr. Campbell is a prosperous young business man of Rockmart. The young people left immediately after the wedding for Birmingham where they will spend several days before returning to Rockmart, their future home. ___ Mrs. Nancy Mobley, mother of Mrs. C.W. Stephens of Heflin, died at her home near Carrollton, Georgia on Wednesday, after an illness of several weeks. Mrs. Stephens has the sympathy of the entire community in the death of her mother. ___ HIGHTOWER News Mr. J.R. Nolen and sister attended the funeral service of Sammie Otwell's baby at Union Hill on Wednesday the 18th. ___ The wife of Mr. Barlow Hanvy was laid to rest at Lost Creek on Friday evening the 14th. __ The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Snow was laid to rest at Lost Creek on Wednesday afternoon the 19th. It lived in this world only about one hour. __ Mr. Walter Faulkner and family are on the sick list. __ Mrs. W.C. Duncan from Shubbardville is visiting her daugher Mrs. Pitts and also her son Mr. G.W. Duncan here. __ Miss Pecky Key who has been confined to her bed for some time seems to be improving some. __ Mr. C.E. McCollum and family moved from this place to Bowdon, Georgia on the 13th where they will make their future home. __ LETTER FROM J.E. BROWN FROM QUITMAN, TEXAS If you will give an old Alabamian space in your valuable paper for a few lines, I will try to give your readers a description of this part of Wood County, especially. This is a timbered country, oak gum and all kinds of hard wood, and a little pine and plenty of good water, a good many springs. The soil is dark sandy loam, and will grow anything from a peanut to ribbon cane, in fact, I think it is a good poor man's country. I left the good old state of Alabama 15 years ago; have lots of relatives around Muscadine and Edwardsville and friends scattered over the county. I am always glad to get your paper for it is like receiving a good letter from home and I think it is improving with each issue. There has been a number of my friends who have passed from this life to the Great Beyond in the last 15 years, the last one being Charlie Pesnell, all of which I regret to learn. Well, Mr. Editor, for fear my letter is getting too long, I had better close, wishing you a prosperous 1916. If any of my friends wish to write me personally, I will be glad to answer their letters. Yours respt., J.E. Brown ____ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape400gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 15.4 Kb