Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for DEC 1909 December 1909 ************************************************ 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. Teal Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net October 10, 2005, 9:59 pm The Roanoke Leader December 1909 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ROANOKE LEADER", Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama for DECEMBER 1909 NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, December 1, 1909 PRETTY CELEBRATION OF SILVER WEDDING OF MR. AND MRS. M. WADE CARLISLE LAST THURSDAY EVENING The most brilliant social affair of the year was witnessed by a large party of friends at the beautiful colonial home of Mr. and Mrs. M. Wade Carlisle last Thursday evening, the occasion being the celebration of their Silver Wedding. The bride and groom of twenty-five years, receiving their guests in the east front room appeared handsome and happy, the youthful radiance of their wedding day still lingering on their faces. No ceremony was needed now to strenthen the bonds which time had turned to silver; however, congratulations and good wishes were showered upon the couple by all their admiring friends. Music added charm to the occasion, while around a large table, brilliantly illumined and resplendant in decorations, all preserving the silver effect, refreshments were served, faultless in preparation and dainty in form. The decorations throughout were both elegant and artistic. The crowning feature of the evening came as a surprise to host and hostess, and to most of the guests as well. Mrs. J. Carter Wright was presented to speak some words appropriate to the occasion which she did most gracefully and effectively, referring to friendship existing between the hostess and herself since the latter's entry into the former's home as a bride twelve years ago. Concluding, Mrs. Wright presented Mrs. Carlisle with a large and handsome silver loving cup, appropriately engraved. The latter's response to this unexpected compliment consisted more in tears and smiles than in spoken words. Every guest joined in the sentiment of the giver and applauded the beautiful incident, leaving with best wishes for the return of many happy anniversaries in the lives of the host and hostess who had made this occasion one of such rare pleasure to their friends. ---- LOCAL News Miss Berta Freeman left Monday to accept a position as teacher in a large school at Buford, Georgia. --- Miss Matilda Zobel has returned from a visit of some weeks to relatives in Illinois and Missouri. --- Sunday afternoon, Rev. S.L. Dobbs received a telegram announcing that his venerable mother was dying in DeKalb county. He left Monday for her bedside. News yesterday was that she still lingered. This good man, who has carried consolation to so many broken hearts, has the sympathy of all our people. --- Miss Mary Phelps and brother Gordon are expected to arrive today from Oklahoma. --- Mrs. J.B. Howard who has been visiting her sister Mrs. Kyle, has returned to her home in Augusta. --- CORBIN News G.A. Cross Jr. sold out last Saturday, preparatory to moving to Oklahoma to try his fortune. --- Sam Smith sold out last Monday to go to Oklahoma. --- NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, December 8, 1909 L.P. WHITE DEAD Love P. White was found dead in bed this morning at the home of his brother Dow, where he went yesterday evening. A bottle of medicine and a box of headache tablets were found in the bed with him. An inquest will probably be held. The deceased was a painter and brick maker. He leaves a wife and several children. --- LOCAL News The four month old child of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Holliday was found dead in the bed last Thursday morning. The sad occurrence was a deep affliction upon the parents who have the sympathy of the community. --- Rev. F.H. Farrington and family will arrive in Roanoke today and be given a cordial welcome to their new home. Mr. Farrington will occupy the Baptist pulpit next Sunday and there will doubtless be a large congregation to hear him. --- R.W. Almon, a man well known in this section, dropped dead in Carrollton, Georgia last Thursday. --- BROUGHTON News Dec. 6th Miss Sarah Pullen was buried at Broughton on Saturday. Her death was due to heart failure. --- NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, December 15, 1909 J.H. NIX PAROLED; GOVERNOR SHOWS CLEMENCY TO WELL KNOWN RANDOLPH COUNTY MAN Montgomery, Dec. 9th A stroke of Governor Comer's pen made two women who were in his office Tuesday very happy. For by it, a parole was granted J.H. Nix of Milner, Randolph County, who is serving a term in prison for killing a man. The two women were his wife and daughter who had come with their petition. The pardon board had passed favorably on the case some time ago. Mr. Nix, who was a merchant of Milner, was sentenced to one year and a day for kiling a man in his store last year. ---- MR. DOBBS MOTHER DIES Friday evening, Rev. S.L. Dobbs received the sad news that his venerable mother was dead at her home in DeKalb county. She had rallied from a former spell, only to succumb at last. Bro. Dobbs left Saturday morning to attend the funeral which was held on Sunday. He will be home the latter part of this week. The deceased was 76 years of age. In his great loss, the devoted son has the sympathy of his many friends. --- FUNERAL OF L.P. WHITE The funeral of Lovick P. White, the young man whose premature death at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening of last week brought sorrow to many, was held at the Methodist Church last Thursday morning, conducted by Rev. S.L. Dobbs, asisted by Revs. A.S. Brannan and George Stoves. The jury empaneled by Justice Awbrey rendered a verdict that the deceased came to his death by the use of bromidia, or some other drug, taken without suicidal intent. --- LOCAL News R.E. Taylor, while on a ladder trimming a tree one day last week, sustained a fall that seriously injured a knee. He is still confined to his room but is some better. --- W.W. Wood who returned last week from a trip to Oklahoma expressed himself as well pleased with that country. --- Emil Zobel went to Manchester on Monday where he is doing some work for the A B & A Railway. --- HAPPY LAND News Mrs. Geo. Halsey is on the sick list. --- Mrs. Perry Brown is under the doctor's care. --- NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, December 22, 1909 SHIRLEY OWENS KILLED; FORMER ROANOKE YOUNG MAN WAS MURDERED NEAR WEST POINT West Point, Georgia, Dec. 18th Shirley Owens, a collector for the Atkinson & Turner estate, was killed last night on a plantation near Gabbettville by Solomon Hezpeth, a negro man. They became engaged in a difficulty it is said, an an automatic pistol of Owens dropped from the scabbard and was picked up by the negro who shot the collector three times, which resulted in the death of Owens. The negro escaped and officers have failed to arrest him. The body of Owens was brought to West Point and will be carried to Union Springs, Alabama for interment. Masons will have charge of the funeral. Owens was a nephew of N.L. Atkinson and a cousin of E.K. Miller of this city. --- Shirley Owens formerly lived in Roanoke with his mother and sisters and was highly esteemed by Roanoke people where he has visited during recent months. His untimely end is widely lamented. A later report is that the murderer and the murderer's sister have been jailed. -------- MARRIED IN ROANOKE Monday evening at 6 o'clock, Dr. H.U. Mashburn, a popular young dentist of Wedowee, and Miss Willie Thompson, of the faculty of Wedowee College, were married at the Commercial Hotel in Roanoke, Geo. W. Stevens, Esq., officiating. The next morning they left for Eclectric, in South Alabama, to spend the holidays at the home of the bride's parents. --- LOCAL News The Leader was notified last week by S.S. Lovvorn to change the address of his paper from Lamar this county to Fort Payne in DeKalb county, where he has moved. In his leaving, Randolph county has lost one of its best citizens. Wherever he goes Mr. Lovvorn can be depended upon to stand up for the best interests of his community and country. --- Mrs. L.P. White is preparing to move to West Point the latter part of this week. --- R. Jeff Davis and J.W. Lewis of Arkansas, former residents of this section, arrived yesterday on a visit. --- Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Belcher and son and Miss Mattie Jeff Belcher left yesterday to visit relatives at Temple, Texas. --- Mrs. N.D. Ward, who has been the guest of her sister Mrs. W.N. Spinks, left last week for Samson in south Alabama. --- Mrs. W. Lewis and chldren will leave soon to join Mr. Lewis who has gone to Oklahoma. --- Z.J. Wright and daughter Miss Ida left yesterday on a ten days visit to the former's mother and daughter in Oklahoma. --- Mrs. Dick Breed died in Lowell of pneumonia last Thursday. The remains were carried up the county for burial. --- Invitations are out announcing the approaching marriage of Miss Voncile Henderson to Mr. Lycurgus Leftwich which will occur at the home of the bride's parents at Standing Rock on Dec. 29th. The Lineville Headlight --- WEHADKEE News The Green Davis hold homestead at Omaha was sold a few days ago at seventeen dollars per acre. --- The Ballard estate has been divided among the heirs. --- NAPOLEON News (by G.O. Hill, correspondent) Dec. 16th One of the most unique events ever witnessed by the people in this area was the Golden Wedding of Mr. P.G. Bailey and his wife Mrs. Ann Bailey at Haywood yesterday. After singing one or two choice selections from the Old Sacred Harp, the old couple, who had lived in connubial bliss and in unalloyed contentment for fifty long years, still sprightly and vigorous and in the bloom of health, marched out on the front veranda, attended by your correspondent and wife on the right and Mr. Nat Shelnutt and wife on the left, facing a concourse of no less than two hundred and fifty people. After a preliminary talk and prayer for the occasion by Bro. J.M. Joiner, Bro. Bailey rehearsed a brief synopsis of some of the various incidents of his long married career, which wonderfully interested the young and was remarkable for its success. For fifty years neither one had received from the other a harsh word or an evil thought to mar their continuous and harmonious affinity. Dr. Hood pronounced the ceremony which was only a simple reaffirmation of the marital vows taken fifty years ago. The Dr. delivered a sound lecture to the young on the sacredness of married life, together with its inummerable benefits. Of eleven children born to this couple, nine reached manhood and womanhood. Each one honored their God and fond parents as well, early becoming christians, now leading the lives of good, useful citizens. The family has become very numerous, consisting now of fifty-four grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. After photographing the large concourse of people, a table was spread in the front yard which was a marvel to behold in its extent as well as in the choice viands under which it groaned. Grandma Bailey, stepmother of Bro. Bailey, who will be eighty-seven years old next Monday, Mrs. Nancy Savage, age eighty three, and Mrs. Mary Pittman, age eighty-one, were honored guests of the occasion, receiving numerous congratulations. The day was a beautiful one, enjoyed to the fullest extent by all present and one to be remembered and talked about. It is the sincere wish of the numerous friends of Bro. Bailey and his good wife that their lives may be spared to a yet riper old age and that the remainder of their journey to the tomb may be smooth and tranquil and their last days their happiest ones. ---- NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, December 29, 1909 MRS. BARFIELD DEAD Mrs. S.J. Barfield died Monday evening at the home of her niece Mrs. O.D. Slay in this city. The interment occurred here yesterday afternoon after funeral services conducted by Rev. W.D. Burkhead. The deceased was a member of the Presbyterian church and was highly esteemed. --- CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY IN THE TALLADEGA HOME NEWSPAPER OFFICE; LEON JORDAN FELL DEAD AT THE END OF A FRIENDLY WRESTLE From The Talladega Mountain Home, Dec. 27th Friday afternoon, Dec. 24th, there occurred in the office of The Mountain Home, a tragic death which shocked the office force beyond expression. Just as the last papers were coming from the press, two young men, employees of the paper, engaged in a friendly scuffle, and almost in a twinkling of an eye, one was dead. Unobserved by other people in the office, Darsey Manning and Leon Jordan began to wrestle. When they were noticed they were locked in each other's arms with no effort on the part of either to strike the other. Those in the office made no attempt to interfere but with a passing glance considered the struggle in play and continued their work. In a minute, young Jordan told young Manning that he had enough and when the latter turned him loose, giving him a shove against the mailing counter, and walked out the door, Jordan fell against the counter and immediately to the floor. He probably was dead when Darsey turned him loose for no sound or word was uttered. For a moment those about Jordan thought he was shamming and paid no attention to him but when after a short interval he did not arise, one of the employees went to him to investigate. He was immediately placed on the counter, thought to be overcome in some way but no thought of death entered any one's mind. Manning had returned to the office by that time and was told to summon the doctor to which he asked "what for"? He was told that Leon was hurt. Two physicians were summoned and immediately the young man was pronounced dead. Soon thereafter the body was removed to the office of Dr. D. Fausett where it was thoroughly examined. At six o'clock a coroner's inquest was held where the office force of The Home and Dr. Fausett testified. After a thorough investigation by the coroner, before a jury of leading citizens, Manning was released on his own recognizance until Saturday afternoon. The jury did not desire to make a verdict until the arrival of relatives of the deceased young man who reached the city Friday night at 10:30. Two brothers, Mark and J.P. Jordan came to the city. They were grief stricken over the death of their brother. However they cleared the situation much the statement that Leon had been subject to heart trouble and had been treated for the same. The deceased had been employed at The Home since August and to all appearances was strong and vigorous, this weakness not being known. After the arrival of the brothers the body of the deceased was turned over to an undertaker and Saturday morning was carried to his home at Roanoke for burial. Saturday afternoon the coroner's jury made the following verdict: State of Alabama, Talladega County We, the undersigned jurors after being duly qualified by R. Heine, a Coroner of Talladega County, to inquire into the cause of the death of Leon Jordan, a white man, find that Jordan came to his death in Talladega County on Dec. 24, 1909 in the printing office of The Home. We find that the cause of death was heart failure by a scuffle or wrestle with Darsey Manning. The affair was evidently a friendly tussle and in no way was Darsey Manning criminally liable and we fully exonerate the young man from any effort or desire to cause the death of the deceased. Witness our hands this Dec. 25, 1909 J.A. Edwards, Foreman F.A. Bowie J.B. White L.L. Brothers J.F. Davis W.F. Slaughter Messrs. Mark and J.P. Jordan before leaving the city expressed their entire satisfaction witht he investigation of the sad affair an in no way attached any blame or bore ill feeling toward anyone. It was a sad early Saturday morning when the two brothers left the city with the body of Leon Jordan. Not yet daylight, there was the sound of Christmas cheer on the blustry morning air as the city awakened, but the little group at the railway station was in the depths of despair. All The Home force felt keenly the tragic ending of one of their associates on the eve before Christmas. Leon Jordan was a hardworking, painstaking employee, fully feeling the interests of the business and doing what he could to make its success. He always did more than was required of him and never shirked a task. Among his friends and associates out of the office he was popular and esteemed among all who knew him. To his relatives in a neighboring city The Home management can say, he was a good boy and did not forget them. Even a few minutes before his death he was heard to express joy at the prospect of going home that evening. Leon will be missed in the office as the days go by and will not be forgotten by his associates who were his friends. Darsey Manning who was unwillingly a party in this sad tragedy, feels deeply the affair and has the sympathy of all in the office who know the tragedy is plainly a proven mystery. His father, Judge M.N. Manning, was overcome by the incident and was among the first to meet the relatives of Leon Jordan on their arrival in Talladega and the last to leave them when they returned home. --- The following letter has been received by Mrs. M.A. Jordan and family, written by Judge M.N. Manning, father of Darsey Manning, the young man who was engaged in the friendly play with Leon Jordan. The letter is very much appreciated by the bereaved family. Talladega, Ala. Dec 27, 1909 My Dear Mrs. Jordan, I beg to assure you that none have felt more keenly your sorrow and sympathized more deeply with you in your sad bereavement than my own boy, his mother and myself. By this strange providence our sorrows have been interwoven as to make us feel peculiarly closely drawn to you and your family in this time of great affliction for us all, and I feel that there is a unity of grief and sorrow experienced and felt by us in the death of your dear boy that makes us like partakers with you in your sore bereavement. While our sorrows have been seemingly all we were able to bear, your two manly sons who came here on their sad mission, did and said much to lighten and brighten our sorrow and we cherish their assurances of no ill will toward our boy as one of the most precious expressions of sympathy that have fallen upon our hearts during all these dark hours. Your boy and mine were up to his last expiring breath the best of friends and I long for the coming of that blessed day of reunion of loved ones, when Leon will tell you the same from his immortal lips; and next to yourself my boy laments his untimely death. Your sorrow is of one kind, and his of another. I am painfully conscious that I can pen no words that will lighten the burden of your sorrow; if I could how glad I would be to write them. In times like this our trust must be fixed in God who is alone able to give that consolation that heals the broken heart. The ways of the divine providence are past our understanding, but believing that God is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes, we shall have to await till we all meet over yonder before we shall fully know his purposes in the dispensation of his providence. In the meantime, may God through the riches of his grace comfort and sustain you and may you feel assured that you have the most profound sympathy and tenderest affection of a sorrowing father and mother and their heart crushed boy in Talladega. Yours deepest in sympathy, M.N. Manning ---- SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. LEON JORDAN A most pathetic occurrence was the sudden death of Mr. Leon Jordan in the office of the Talladega Home on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. The result was evidentally due to heart failure following a friendly tussle with a fellow printer. The remains were brought home over the A B & A railway by Messrs. J.P. and M.H. Jordan on Saturday on the morning train and were carried to the home of the deceased's mother, Mrs. Mary Jordan. Sunday morning the interment occurred at Bethel after services conducted by Rev. A.S. Brannan. The shock of the death of this noble young man was a terrible blow to the fond family and elicited for them the hearty sympathy of the community. The deceased was a promising youth, a hard worker and a devoted son and brother. Even when a mere boy on the farm, after his father's death, he did a man's part. Wherever he went this bright young man made friends among the people. Though a mere lad in age and denied many of the advantages of life, his career was a heroic one and must be a source of comfort to those who loved him and for whom his heart beat in loving loyalty until stilled by death. In this connection the editor, who has been closely associated with Mrs. Jordan and her family, wishes to commend the noble, christian spirit they have displayed under very trying circumstances, toward the unfortunate young man connected with the tragedy and towards the stricken members of his family. ---- A GOOD RECORD Wm. R. Jordan with his wife and two children, was called to Roanoke on Christmas day by the sad news of his brother's death. Mr. Jordan is the oldest of a family of ten children, the first of whom to die was on Christmas Eve. Mr. Jordan early entered into the battle of life for himself and since the death of his father he has been of much help to his younger brothers and sisters. When quite a lad he entered The Leader office without a dollar to learn the printer's trade. He has since held many positions to various newspaper offices and in every case he has made good. Less than ayear ago he accepted a position on the reportorial staff of The Columbus Evening Ledger and has already been made city editor, being promoted over men older in years and experience. ---- LOCAL News Mr. W.Z. Fletcher and Miss Clara Thompson, both of Wadley, were married Sunday night. --- A.L. Truett and family were called here from Columbus on Saturday on the sad mission of attending the funeral of Mrs. Truett's brother, Leon Jordan. --- Grady Whitten and Miss Dodgen were married Sunday afternoon at the home of the bride's uncle at Welsh. --- J.A.M. Adamson of Cooledge, Texas is visiting relatives and friends in his old home county. --- Luther M. Stewart is among the Texas tourists back to the old home county this week. --- Mr. and Mrs. McKelvey were called here from Texas by the fatal illness of the former's sister, Mrs. Barfield. --- Douglas Shealey was arrested here last Wednesday night for having broken jail at Ashland with three other negroes. --- The Leader learns that Mr. Jas. A. Fuller and Miss Beulah Prince were married Christmas Day. --- Joe and Glenn Jordan spent yesterday in Talladega. They are more than ever convinced by their further investigations that there was no foul play connected with their brother's death. --- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/newspape710gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 23.4 Kb