Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for APRIL 1903 April 1903 ************************************************ 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 June 22, 2005, 12:21 am The Roanoke Leader April 1903 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ROANOKE LEADER", Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama for APRIL 1903 NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, APRIL 8, 1903 ROCK MILLS News W.L. Wilson and wife of Roanoke were the guests of Jas. Wilson, the former's father, last Sunday. __ Emmet Keeble and Miss Kate Owens were united in marriage last Sunday a week ago at the home of the bride's parents. J.B. Jones, Esq., officiated. __ Leslie Peden and Will Hendon engaged in a difficulty a few days ago in which the latter was wounded, being shot through the right shoulder. __ WEHADKEE News Miss Mary Hood who has been visiting her sister Mrs. Hester has returned to her home in Clay county. __ Several days ago Bob Bennett and a negro living on J.J. Awbrey's place had a difficulty. The negro allegedly abused Bennett and later Bennett took his shot gun and went to the field where the negro was at work and emptied a load into his body inflicting a serious wound. Bennett has left for parts unknown. __ LOCAL News The negro murderer Tom Barsh will be hung in Wedowee next Friday. The law provides that the execution shall be private. __ Mrs. Jno. H. Ray is visiting the family of Mr. J. W. Ray. __ Mrs. Robert Brown is in LaGrange visiting her sister Mrs. Z.T. Gorham, who will with her husband, move to Texas on the 15th. __ Attorney Samuel Henderson of Wedowee returned from Montgomery yesterday where he had been to see the governor and the pardoning board in an effort to have the death sentence of Tom Barsh commuted to life imprisonment. Barsh is sentenced to hang in Wedowee next Friday. When Mr. Henderson left the capital the board had not finished examining the evidence in the case. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, April 15, 1903 CORBIN News J.A. Moon is dangerously sick. __ Mrs. Jim Neely is very sick. __ Rev. Henry Stevens spent Thursday night with his daughter Mrs. W. White near Roanoke. __ TOM BARSH HANGED FOR MURDER; FIRST EXECUTION IN RANDOLPH COUNTY Wedowee, April 10th. Today at 11:45 o'clock Tom Barsh, colored, paid the extreme penalty of the law, having been on the 20th day of February 1903, sentenced to death for the murder of Willie Birdsong, colored, on the night of the 30th of November 1902. This is the first legal execution of a criminal in the history of Randolph County. About 5,000 persons witnessed the execution. The negro arose about 5 o'clock this morning and ate a hearty breakfast, after which he sang "Jesus, my All to Heaven is Gone" using the chorus, "I'm going home to die no more". When seen by your reporter at 8 o'clock he said that he wished this occasion to be a warning to the people both black and white. That his advise is: "beware of the first drink; that pistols, whiskey, bad company and bad women were ruinous and should be shunned". In response to the question as to whether or not he was prepared to die he said "I feel prepared for the ordeal which I am about to pass. I have prayed many, many times and the burden that rested upon me at the beginning has been rolled away and I feel that my sins have been pardoned." He was then shaved, and the Sheriff with the help of a negro, bathed and dressed the prisoner. At about 9 o'clock four preachers, two white and two colored, went to the cell and talked and prayed with the negro. At 10 o'clock the Sheriff and deputies went to the gallows, which is situated about 80 yards from the jail and prepared the rope. At 10:45 the coffin was carried down to the gallows. Services were held in the jail at 11 o'clock. The hymn "Rock of Ages" was sung, after which Rev. W.T. Holdridge led in prayer. Afteward this the start was made to the gallows. The parting between the condemned man and his wife was very touching. Seldom is such faithfulness seen. The devotion shown by the wife for the condemned man was sublime, indeed. Many were moved to tears at their sad parting. Immediately before starting to the gallows, Tom called for a cigarette and was allowed the privilege of smoking. After reaching the gallows prayer was led by Roy Reaves, colored, after which a talk of some thirty minutes was made by the condemned man. He said that he wished this occurance to be an example to both races, and that he would advise them never to take that first drink of whiskey. In part he said "this is my last day here. Since I have been in prison I have experienced many things. I am guilty of the charge against me. When my father died some years ago, people told me good things to do and advised me rightly. I did not follow their advice and I remember now the promptings and admonitions to do right. Boys, take notice. Let this be your last day to go astray. Let your good deeds overcome the bad ones. Keep out of bad company. Step by step you are led from bad to worse and in a moment's time you have committed some act that can never be undone. Beware of the first drink. I took to drink and here I am. I am now reaping what I have sown. I have sown bad and I am reaping the bad. I feel today that I am a witness for the lord and if I could be turned loose now I would never cease to warn the sinful to shun their ways and turn to god. Change your wicked ways before it is eternally too late. I feel that I have overcome all my wrong doings. I believe my way is open from here to Glory." Prayer was then led by the condemned man. At 11:45 he stepped upon the trap door, while the rope was placed around his neck by Sheriff Kent. The black cap was then adjusted by Deputy Fuller. "Farewell, everyone ! ", rang out the prisoner's voice. The trap was sprung by Sheriff Kent at 11:46. The corpse was turned over to the wife of the condemned man who carried him to High Shoals for burial. Fully 5,000 persons witnessed the occurrence. ____ LOCAL News Dave Shelnutt, a young farmer living seven miles northeast of town, was thrown from his wagon Saturday and his right arm was broken and his elbow badly injured. __ Mrs. Beeland of Harriman, Tennessee, stopped over in Roanoke a few days with her sisters, Mrs. J.D. Weathers and Mrs. J.F. Turner, while enroute to her old home in Conyers, Ga., whither she proceeded Monday. __ Mr. Young Ponder arrived on Roanoke Wednesday evening from Valparaiso, Indiana. He will spend the summer at his home near Truett. __ His many friends here will regret to learn that Dr. J.W. DeVaughn of Milltown was stricken with paralysis on the left side Saturday and at last reports he is not expected to recover. __ A report has reached Roanoke that Rev. and Mrs. Austin P. Finley have been drowned in the Mississippi flood. We trust this sad report will prove untrue. __ The Leader learns with regret of the serious illness of Dr. T.H. Bonner at Hickory Flat. His friends in that section hope to see him well again. __ A card from A.W. Birdsong requests that his paper be changed from Kissimmee, Florida to Antioch, Georgia. His friends in these parts will be pleased to learn that he has returned from the Land of Flowers and Alligators. __ The infant of W.A. Mulloy died Sunday night and was interred Monday afternoon in the town cemetery. The child was only a few weeks old when it's mother died a few months ago. This is the second child Mr. Mulloy has lost since the death of his wife. __ Mrs. Clara Stewart of Salisbury, N.C. arrived Friday to spend some time with relatives here. She is a sister-in-law of W.H. Stewart. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, April 22, 1903 ROCK MILLS News Prof. Ware was called to his home near Texas, Georgia last Monday on account of his mother being dangerously ill and remained at home until Friday. His mother died on Wednesday. SHe was buried at Prospect on Thursday. __ Mrs. G.W. Emory left for Atlanta yesterday to visit her daughter Mrs. Lon Gross. She was accompanied by Geo. W. Emery Sr. __ NAPOLEON News Mrs. Milligan Earnest gave birth to twin boys yesterday. They both died shortly after they were born. __ Tom Kirby's baby is very sick with whooping cough and is not expected to live long. __ Dr. George Traylor says that the small pox is very plentiful. There are several cases and many exposures. __ LOCAL News Mrs. Annie Cleary is ill. __ Edna Hooper continues quite sick. __ J.R. Ryan left last Thursday to spend ten days at his old home in Edgefield, South Carolina. __ Miss Bessie Mimms who formerly lived in Roanoke, will be married in Oxford today to Mr. Houston Smith. __ Capt. B.F. Weathers called Monday and gave us a dollar to send The Leader to his old war comrade in Texas, John T. Talley Sr. This example is worthy of emulation. __ T.M. Swann was in Roanoke Monday to meet his brother, Dr. J.C. Swann with his family, who came from Atlanta to attend a reunion of the Swann family at the residence of Capt. W.A.J. Swann on Tuesday. Dr. Swann's family will remain in the county two or three months. __ R.W. Cauthen of Columbia, S.C. is visiting his brother H.H. Cauthen. __ Wash Hornsby had his arm broken on Saturday. It is said that he was attempting the high dive from a dogwood tree. __ The trial of Hollis B. Parrish, charged with murder is now being concluded in Birmingham. The plea of the defense was insanity. __ Mrs. M. Moon, W.Y. Chewning, B.E. Satterwhite and R.L. Schuessler attended the funeral of Dr. DeVaugh at Milltown on Friday. __ Deputy Sheriff Fuller returned Sunday from Tuscaloosa where he had been to carry John Spence, a demented young white man, to the asylum. __ The Leader regrets to have to report the death of Dr. DeVaughn, whose illness we mentioned last week. His sufferings ended Thursday morning and the funeral occurred Friday forenoon from the Milltown Baptist church of which the deceased was a member. Dr. DeVaughn was a genial, whole-souled man, whom everybody liked. He will be greatly missed by relatives and many friends. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, April 29, 1903 NAPOLEON News (by G.O. Hill, correspondent) Mrs. J.M. Joiner has returned from a trip to Clay county to see her husband who is engaged in the nursery business there. __ A goodly number of people speak of going to the memorial exercises at Roanoke. I hope we have a good time and a nice day. There are so many of the old soldiers who cannot afford the expense of going to the far off reunions, who I think ought to take advantage of our county memorial meeting and all turn out at least on this day. It is very impressive indeed when we meet and hear the roll called once a year. Every time a dear old comrade or more fails to answer "here" and someone present reports him dead. Then the uppermost question in every heart is, will it be me next? And am I ready with my lamp trimmed and burning, prepared to go out and meet the bridegroom, that I may attend the marriage feast and great reunion over yonder? It is awful to comtemplate that a brave old comrade, after being so courageous in this life, should carelessly fail to have the countersign when the time comes to cross the line into eternity. Somehow there is a fondness old soldiers have for each other that others do not or cannot experience. And when the report says, "dead", we are rejoiced to know that he died in Christ, a faithful soldier to the end. G.O. Hill ___ HAPPY LAND News There will be a quilting at Mrs. T.L. Dunn's this evening. __ Mrs. W.C. Kitchens and son of Lanett, visited relatives here last Saturday and Sunday. __ WELSH News J.Y. Simmons is very sick at this writing. __ Mrs. Sallie Grady of Five Points visited her parents Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Cole on Saturday and Sunday. __ "Uncle" Warren Dean has the smallpox, so reports say. __ LOCAL News A telegram was received in Roanoke Saturday afternoon, announcing the death near Carrollton, of Henry E. Holmes, a son-in-law of Bluford A. Sharp. Mr. Holmes was taken with a congestive chill while working and died within a few hours. H.W. Davis and Miss Vic Sharp attended the funeral on Sunday. __ Mrs. John Brown, living near Double Head, was paralyzed on Saturday. __ Perry Slay left for Texas on Sunday after an extended visit to friends in this county. __ Mrs. W.I. Manning and daughter Mrs. A.M. Johnson arrived here from Norfolk, Virginia yesterday and proceeded to the country to visit relatives. __ C.P. West and his son C.P. West Jr. of Union Springs have been in Roanoke the past few days, prospecting with a view to locating here. __ B.G. Sanders left yesterday afternoon for Hot Springs where he will remain three weeks and where he hopes to lose a rheumatic ailment. __ Leng King, the Chinaman, is here and has begun his laundry operations. __ C.D. Barnes went over into Heard County, Georgia on Saturday and on the following day was married to Miss Lucy Thompson who lived four miles north of Franklin. They arrived in Roanoke Monday morning where they are at home at Mr. Barnes' residence in east Roanoke. __ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/newspape618gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 13.6 Kb