Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper Abstracts for NOV 1896 November 1896 ************************************************ 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 January 22, 2005, 9:01 pm The Randolph Toiler NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE RANDOLPH TOILER", Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama for NOVEMBER 1896 NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, November 6, 1896 LOCAL News The members of the Weathers family and a number of their friends attended the family reunion on last Saturday, being the 85th birthday of the patriarch I.T. Weathers. All say it was an ever memorable occasion. There were 100 of the children and grandchildren present and 43 absent. All of their 12 children are living. Of the grandchildren 143 are living and 12 are dead. Mr. Weathers is one of the oldest and most honored citizens of the county, he and his wife having moved here from Georgia with two small children in 1842. ___ WEHADKEE News Mr. J.E. Stitt and wife attended the reunion of the Weathers family at Roanoke last Saturday. __ Prof. H.M. Roberts opened his school at this place on Monday. __ Mr. J.F. Brown and wife of Lamar visited relatives in this community Thursday and Friday. __ Miss Evie Stitt has accepted the school at Big Spring. __ Mr. Charles Presnal and Miss Fannie Veal were married at the bride's home at High Shoals last Friday night, J.B. Weathers, Esq., officiating. We wish for the happy couple a long and prosperous life and hope that few clouds may cross their pathways. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, November 13, 1896 NON-RESIDENT NOTICE State of Alabama, Randolph County, Probate Court To: J.M. Herrin of the State of Texas; Sophronia Varner of Campbell Co., GA; and Alice Barker, wife of Wm. Barker of Heard County, GA: You will take notice that on the 28th day of November 1896, a petitition to have the dower of Jane Herrin, widow of S.W. Herrin, deceased, assigned out of the lands of said S.W. Herrin, deceased, will be heard by the Probate Court of said county, at which time you may appear and contest said petition if you think proper. This November 11th, 1896. A.J. Weathers, Judge of Probate. ____ LOCAL News Mr. James G. Pate was presented by his charming young wife with a pretty little girl baby on the 7th inst. __ There are only three prisoners at the county jail now; the Clifton brothers and a Mr. McCormack, a white man charged with carrying concealed weapons. John Rutland, colored, convicted of carrying concealed weapons, was taken away to Tewakla Lime Works near Opelika on Tuesday last, where he will serve about six months. __ NAPOLEON News Mr. J.M. Anderson, the son of Thomas Anderson, got back from Texas on October 31st. Mr. Anderson went to Texas three years ago this fall. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, November 20, 1896 A ROANOKE TRAGEDY Last Friday night at Roanoke, Mr. S.H. Striplin, the town marshall and two deputies, Mr. Peter Miller and Mr. Hiram Welch, shot and killed Mr. Charles Murphy, while attempting to arrest him. There were, it is said, seven bullet holes through Murphy's body, any one of which would have produced death. The Marshall was shot through the hand and Mr. Bonner, who had hold of Murphy was shot through the arm. Mr. Murphy's remains were buried at Wedowee last Sunday, Rev. L.G. Gunn conducting the funeral service. A large concourse of people from both town and country attended the funeral. A warrant was issued for Messrs. Striplin, Miller and Welch and they had a preliminary examination before Judge of Probate Weathers last Monday after which he admitted them to bail in the sum of $500. each which they immediately gave. J.A. Walden testified that Murphy came into his restaurant that night in an intoxicated condition and ordered supper; that he had his pistol out and threatened several times that he would kill Striplin; that when the defendants came to make the arrest he tried to prevail upon them not go to back where Murphy was, that it was a very dangerous thing to do, but they refused to take his advice. Bonner testified that he had been with Murphy all day and ate supper with him. He finished eating first and went to the front door, where he saw the defendants and also Mayor B.C. Jones and Mr. Coon McPherson. That Mayor Jones prevailed on him to go back to Murphy and seize his pistol when his arrest was attempted; that he went back and sat down by Murphy who had his pistol laying across his lap. That when the defendants came in they said "hands up" and Murphy sprang from the table with his pistol toward defendants. He seized his arm and held the pistol pointed toward the ceiling until two shots were fired from it, when a bullet struck his arm and he knew nothing more that happened. He did not know who fired the first shot, Murphy or the defendants. Amos testified that he was in back room of restaurant behind a post and saw the difficulty and Striplin fired first shot. George testified that he was out in front of the restaurant and saw defendants and Coon McPherson go in to make the arrest; saw defendants go nearly to Murphy; where they stood a short time and returned to front door. Then they held a short conversation with Mayor Jones and then returned to Murphy. Heard Walden beg them not to go back there. Radney heard Murphy, a short time before the killing, curse Striplin and threaten to kill him. Two or three other witnesses also testified to the same. Longshore testified he told Striplin that night that Murphy had threatened to kill him. McPherson heard that an attempt was to be made to arrest Murphy. He went down there to prevail upon him to go to his hotel where he had a room engaged. When he got to front door he met Bonner coming out. Bonner told him not to go back there, that Murphy was expecting them to come to arrest him and might shoot McPherson before he found out who he was. He then persuaded Bonner to go and seize his pistol so he could not shoot when they attempted to arrest him. Bonner went back there and the defendants followed shortly afterward. Not expecting any serious trouble he went immediately behind defendants. When defendants entered Murphy jumped up and said "hold up there" and presented his pistol. His pistol went off into the ceiling. He could not see Bonner; knows Murphy shot first because smoke went toward ceiling from Murphy's pistol, before smoke went towards Murphy from defendants' pistol. ____ LOCAL News Mr. T.M. Swann and his bright little neice Miss Pearl Prescott went to the Opelika Fair on Friday last. __ Miss Mary Swann, a charming young lady of Swann's Hill is visiting her sister, Mrs. J.S. Prescott of this place. __ CHRISTIANA News Mr. John Prestage has sold out and is going to Mississippi. We hate to give him up, he is a good citizen. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Friday, November 27, 1896 CHRISTIANA News Old Uncle Jeff Hadnett has been sick about four months. He has got able to travel again and is visiting his son W.T. Hadnett. __ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/nw126newspape.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb