Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for OCT 1921 October 1921 ************************************************ 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 May 8, 2005, 3:08 pm The Cleburne News October 1921 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for OCTOBER 1921 NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, October 6, 1921 WORLD WAR HERO AT REST IN NATIVE SOIL The remains of Adair Harper who was killed in action on the western battlefront in France during the World War, were laid to rest in the Chulafinnee cemetery Sunday afternoon, October 2, 1921, the body arriving in Heflin Tuesday night of last week and received by the American Legion and carried to the F.P. Owens Undertaking Co. where it lay in state until Saturday morning, and was carried to the old home at Chulafinnee and tenderly laid away. The Rev. J.W. Grubbs conducted the funeral services and make a splendid and touching talk. He was followed by Captain W.L. Verge who was a member of the same batallion, the 2nd, as Harper, and was familiar with the conditions under which this noble hero paid the supreme sacrifice. Chulafinnee W.O.W. conducted the burial services in an impressive and touching manner. Young Harper was a member of Co. F, 9th Infantry, Second Division, and was killed October 8, 1918 on the Champagne Front, near Chemin Des Dames, during some of the fiercest fighting on the western front, which hundred of thousands of Americans, Frenchman and Englishmen were thrown Hunward as one mighty wave, into a gigantic battle which raged for forty-seven days and nights in which forty four German divisions were consumed, crumbling to dust before the onrush of the Allied Armies. The Second U.S. Division suffered heart breaking losses but the battle had to continue and did continue until the Americans stood in Sedan, then the Armistice was signed. Several hundred attended the funeral services to pay tribute to the fallen hero. ____ MCCOY HELD WITHOUT BOND J.A. McCoy, seventy-two years old, charged with the killing of John Laminack about two weeks ago, near the home of the former, while McCoy, a daughter and the slain man were in a store alone a few miles north of Muscadine, was given a preliminary hearing before Judge D.S. Baber in county court on Thursday of last week. After hearing the evidence of two or three state witnesses, the court ordered the accused held to the grand jury without bond. The defense introducted no witnesses. ___ MRS. GUTHRIE BURIED AT Ai Mrs. Frances Guthrie who died at Logan, Alabama was brought to Heflin for burial at Ai church by the side of her husband, who preceded her to the grave twenty- seven years ago. She was 95 years of age and was in good health up to the time of her death which came suddenly. She is well known in Cleburne and spent practically all her life here. The body was accompanied by W.A. Wright and wife and Mrs. Jane Oakley of Logan, Mrs. Eliza Guthrie of Fairburn, Georgia and Mrs. M.E. Mayfield. The Cleburne News deeply sympathizes with the bereaved ones. ___ HENRY MORROW SHOT BY SHERIFF Parties from near Fruithurst were in Heflin the first of the week, report that while Sheriff Benton Adams and his posse were passing a party of men near the public road, and as one of the men, Henry Morrow, a married son of Jim Morrow, was leaving his companions, it is said that Sheriff Adams fired on him with a shotgun, the charge taking effect in Morrow's legs, hips and lower part of the body. A physician, it is said, was called and removed 47 shots. Henry Morrow, the unfortunate young man, is an ex-service boy, having served 18 months overseas as a private in one of the most famous divisions, and carries an honorable discharge. It is not known whether or not the officers found any whiskey in Morrow's possession. ____ DELTA Community News Mrs. Catherine Cockrell was found dead in bed early Saturday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H.F. Stephens where she was visiting. __ J.R. Fullerton of BIrmingham, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Nelson of Bethlehem, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Gailbraith of Pell CIty, attended the funeral of Mrs. Catherine Cockrell on Sunday. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, October 13, 1921 VETERAN CALLED BY GREAT REAPER The entire town and community were profoundly shocked last Thursday morning when it was announced that Mr. Dack Pounds was dead, having passed away early in the day at the home of his son Forney Pounds. Mr. Pounds was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens, and had lived in Cleburne all his life with the exception of a few years spent in Marshall County. Mr. Pounds was born August 5, 1840, therefore was 81 years, 2 months and 1 day old at the time of his death. He had been married three times, the first wife being Miss Eliza Scott; the second wife Miss Odelia Jane Burgess and his third wife being Miss Frances Wigley. He and his second wife were converted about 1880 and joined the Methodist church and remained with that church until after his wife died; and after his marriage to Miss WIgley he unitd with the Baptist church at Pine Grove. He lived an upright christian life and was an old Confederate veteran, having served full time in the war between the states. Mr. Pounds was made a Mason at the age of 25 at Arbacoochee and it was with Masonic honors he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Pine Grove on Friday, the F.P. Owens Co. having charge of the funeral arrangements. Besides many friends, five children survive. Rev. G.B. Boman officiated at the interment. The News extends sympathy to the bereaved. ___ SHOOTING NEAR LECTA ON TUESDAY Word was received on Heflin on Wednesday morning of a shooting affray near Lecta, ten miles east of this place in which two farmers were the principals and in which one of the men received a pistol wound in the thigh. It is reported that Leland McElroy went to the field where Sam Steen and his son Henry were hauling hay, and while there a difficulty arose, it is alleged, and Henry shot McElroy through the thigh inflicting only a flesh wound. McElroy claims that he went to the field to collect a debt that he claims Henry is due him and that the latter shot him. Steen tells an entirely different story and claims that McElroy was advancing on the older Steen with a drawn knife and that he shot to protect his father. ____ MCCALPIN KILLED BY OFFICERS News was received in Heflin this morning of the killing of C. McAlpin by a raiding party headed by Bob Ferguson and our sheriff and was shot four times by the former officer, while running it is said. The killing occurred Wednesday afternoon at John Long's store in Beat 2. No details of the cause of the tragedy could be learned at the hour of going to press. ___ ROY OWEN, 22, SHOT IN RAID During a raid Monday in a section north of Muscadine on a raid on an illicit distillery, Roy Owen, said to be about 22 years old and unmarried, was shot and painfully wounded. The charge of shot is said to have struck Owen in the lower part of the leg, riddling the back muscles. After being treated in Heflin by Dr. Wright, the wounded man was carried to Anniston and placed in a hospital. It is said that Owen was at work around an illicit still and when commanded to surrender he made an effort to escape with the above result. The raiding party was headed by Sheriff Benton Adams and J.H. Draper. ___ PRICE STARR IN HOSPITAL Price Starr, brother of Roy and Lindsey Starr, was carried to an Anniston hospital last week suffering from blood poison. Two operations have been performed up to Wednesday when it was said he was resting fairly well. ___ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, October 20, 1921 OFFICER FERGUSON SLAYS C. McALPIN A warrent charging Bob Ferguson, a federal prohibition officer with first degree murder, was issued here last week, following the alleged brutal slaying of Chalmers T. McAlpin, age 20, according to information received from Cleburne officials. The tragedy occurred near Jno. Long's store in Beat 2, while Mr. Ferguson, Sheriff Adams and other officers were searching for illicit stills. Reports received here indicate that the boy was shot in the back while running from the officers and while he had stooped to crawl under a barbed wire fence. He was unarmed according to information of his friends. The shooting occurred near the Georgia line in this county. The people in the community are highly wrought up over the cold blooded manner in which Mr. Ferguson snuffed out the boy's life, it is said. The trial will be held in Anniston under federal jurisdiction. ----- FULL AND COMPLETE STORY OF THE KILLING OF CHALMERS MCALPIN BY OFFICER FERGUSON For the purpose of getting more complete information regarding the tragedy which occurred near Long's store in Cleburne County, a representative of The Tallapoosa Journal made a trip to the vicinity of the shooting where Chalmers McAlpin was shot and instantly killed on Wednesday of last week. Following is the story from The Journal: After interviewing a number of witnesses it appears that Chalmers McAlpin was tried in federal court in Anniston some time ago on a charge of operating a still and that he plead guilty and was later released when he paid the authorities $50. and costs. Many of the people who knew the boy believe that he was only shouldering the responsibility for someone else and that he was not the real one who was guilty. The Journal representative found that the slain young man lived in Georgia and was killed in Alabama. The spot where he fell is about three miles by dirt road from his home. It is said that the officers raided a number of stills on that day. A number of people with whom the reporter talked stated that Archie McAlpin, a cousin of the slain man was arrested a short time prior to the shooting. The arrest took place at the home of Archie's father. Archie stated that he was at work on a Ford car when the officers came up. He states they told him they wanted him for making liquor and was very much surprized when they conveyed this information to him. He says that the nearest still destroyed by the officers to where he lived was on the property of the Traylor's in Alabama, about three quarters of a mile from his house. He says the only reason the officers gave for suspecting that he was operating a still was the fact that, according to the officers, there was some sort of trail or path leading from the immediate vicinity of the still to his father's home and he thinks the officers just arrested him to have something to do. Archie McAlpin lives in Georgia. He says the officers had no warrant for his arrest. He was released temporarily after the shooting occurred. According to the statements made by those whom the reporter met in the vicinity of Long's store, Chalmers McAlpin with others was working on an automobile when the officers approached. They say that he had been told the officers were inquiring for him but quite a few thought this was told in a joking manner and he being young, took is seriously, as he had feared the Cleburne county grand jury might find a true bill against him on the same charge for which he had been tried some time back in federal court. As the officers to to the store, McAlpin walked away very briskly going behind the store where he evidently hoped the officers would not notice him. They say the sheriff seemed to be after him and from all appearances, knew whom he was after. Sheriff Adams is said to have gone to the rear on one side while Ferguson on the other side. Then, according to those present, there were about five or six shots fired while the officers were still standing behind the store. McAlpin was making record time towards the woods beyond the home of Major Tanner on the hill back of Long's store. According to Mr. Tanner and his sons, McAlpin was out running the officers with Sheriff Adams behind him and Ferguson a short distance behind the sheriff. When Ferguson reached the Tanner home, McAlpin was on another hill only a short distance from a barbed wire fence beyond which was considerable woods. Sheriff Adams was a short distance in front of Ferguson and to the left of a "bee-line" from Ferguson to McAlpin. McAlpin seemed to be running for "dear life". Ferguson then, the witnesses say, placed himself in an advantageous position between a cherry tree and the well, drew his pistol, raised his left arm and rested the gun on his left forearm and proceeded to aim, carefully and deliberately. He fired once and they think he missed; bang, went the gun for a second shot. Then a third shot and it is believed this is the one which hit McAlpin and he thereupon fell to the ground. The sheriff and Ferguson walked to where the lifeless body of the boy lay and only a few seconds after they reached him. M. Tanner and C.L. Tanner arrived on the spot which was right at a barbed wire fence, the head of the young man being almost under the line of barbed wire. As the two young men stopped, one of the officers who had his hand over the young man's face, asked them who it was and after bieng requested to remove his hand, the officer was informed that they thought the young man was one of the McAlpin boys. A few seconds elapsed and one of the boys said he would go and tell those who were at the Long's store about the killing but the officers requested that both of the Tanner boys go and when they returned with the crowd they say that Officer Sanford took a 38 special from the young man's pocket and not from under his body as claimed by the officers in the article appearing in the Anniston Star. According to those intereviewed, a brother of the dead boy told the officers that the gun taken from the pocket of the young boy did not belong to the dead person; that his gun was at home and that his brother had never owned or had in his possession the gun which was taken from him. Everyone in the neighborhood including all of those who saw everything which took place, agree that at no time during the chase did Chalmers McAlpin show any desire to fight, shoot or otherwise molest the officers and those with whom the Journal reporter talked branded as false the statements that Chalmers McAlpin turned on them and Officer Ferguson shot him through the left breast as he was in the act of drawing a pistol from his pocket. All those with whom the reporter talked and who were present when the gun was taken from the dead boy agree that the gun was taken from his pocket and not from under the body and many have asserted that in their opinion, the gun was placed on him while the Tanner boys were away to tell the others of the tragedy. When the others went to the home of Chalmers McAlpin they found in his trunk a .32 calibre gun which according to his family and friends was the real gun that belonged to him. According to one of the doctors who assisted in conducting an autopsy over the dead boy's body a bullet entered his back between the tenth and eleventh ribs, two inches to the left of the spine, ranging upward, forward and inward at an angle of 45 degrees, passing through his lung and heart, passing out in front, between the second and third ribs, two inches to the left of the middle line of his breat, which would indicate he was shot in the back while in a stooping position. According to parties with whom the reporter talked, the Sheriff stated he thought McAlpin was a man by the name of Burdett who is said to have escpaed from jail some time ago. The above statement is the true story of the whole affiar according to the very best information that Journal can get, among our informers being such men as Major Tanner whose reputation for veracity will stand an acid test, say those who know. Also, the statements of Messrs. J.T. Long, M.Tanner and C.L. Tanner. They are published for information of the public who seems to have taken much more than ordinary interest in the whole case, while the community visited last Friday by the Journal representative seems to be aroused to a marked degree, and determined that the offender shall be brought to justice. __________ LELAND McELROY IN COUNTY JAIL Sheriff Adams and Deputy Tom Black made a trip to Trickem Valley on Sunday and arrested Leland McElroy who is charged with bigamy. He was placed in county jail in default of bond. ____ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, October 27, 1921 MACEDONIA News Mr. Grady Pollard and Miss Clio Harris were happily married last Sunday. The people wish them much success. __ HIGHTOWER News Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Fowler and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Burson of Bowdon spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Bradbery. __ Mrs. Austin Martin is real sick at this writing. ___ LOCAL News Just before going to press, The News learned that Mr. L.G. Pettyjohn had passed away at a hospital in Atlanta where he had been carried a few days ago for treatment. Mr. Pettyjohn was a prominent business man of Birmingham, his former home, and the interment will be in that city. The News extends sympathy to the bereaved. ___ Rev. Edwin R. Stephenson, Methodist minister, was declared not guilty of the murder of Father Coyle, a Catholic priest, by the jury, the verdict being brought into court four hours after the case had been given to the jury. When the verdict was read there was a shout of triumph by a spectator who ran from the courtroom. Judge Fort instructed an officer to find the man and arrest him but he was not to be found. Mrs. Stephenson was present by the side of her husband when the verdict of not guilty was read and the two were driven to their home in an automobile by a deputy sheriff after the defendant had shaken hands with the jury and thanked them. ____ DOUBLE WEDDING Two weddings that are of much interest to their many friends was that of Mr. Houston Morris and Miss Pearle Boman and Mr. Herschel Hollis and Miss Grace Boman. The double wedding occurred at Fruithurst last Thursday, Rev. G.B. Boman, father of the brides, performing the ceremony. ____ HILL - HOWLE Wedding Married, on Wednesday morning at the home of the groom in Heflin, Mr. G.F. Hill and Mrs. Fannie Howle, REv. W.M. Wade, pastor of the Methodist Church, South, officiating. The bride, who is a sister of Mr. J.R. Tolleson of Hartselle and Mr. A.L. Tolleson of Heflin, came to Heflin Tuesday night from Johnson county, Texas where she has lived for several years. ____ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape472gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 19.0 Kb