Tazewell County, Virginia, Newspaper Articles: Clinch Valley News--August 23, 1907 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Michelle Burress http://www.cvnotes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clinch Valley News August 23, 1907 GRAHAM --------------------------------- Miss Lola GILLESPIE and Miss Bessie GREEVER have returned from Cincinnati, where they attended an excellent elocution school. They both received diplomas from the school. Miss Virgie BOONE, who has been the guest of Mrs. H.C. CALLOWAY, has returned to her home at Troutville, Virginia. Mrs. J.E. BONHAM has taken charge of Hotel Graham, and will continue the management of that hostelry in the future. Mrs. BONHAM for sometime conducted the Mingo Hotel at Thacker, leaving there for Jamestown, where she was burned out by the big fire. It is needless to state that the Graham Hotel will flourish under her efficient management. G.C. BURTON has return from Roanoke and Salem, where he spent several days on a business trip. Thomas GILLESPIE, a civil engineer, whose home is at Wittens Mills, is quite ill here with pneumonia. C.A. GRAHAM and Charles SMITH have gone to Eggleston, where they have joined an engineering corps. The Misses MATHEWS, who have been the guest of Miss HICKS, have returned to their home at Big Stone Gap. The new brick building of J.E. BAYLOR is nearing completion and will be one of the handsomest blocks in Graham. It has a thoroughly up to date front and will be occupied by a dry goods company. POCAHONTAS --------------------------- About three-thirty o'clock Tuesday morning, G.H. LAWRENCE, of the firm of Howard & Lawrence, heard a noise on Center Street of some breaking glass, and on going to his widow discovered that a party was effecting an entrance to the clothing store of Joseph MILLER. Mr. LAWRENCE immediately ran to the room of his partner, C.A. HOWARD, Jr. and awakened him, informing him that a burglar was breaking into the store of Miller. Mr. HOWARD got to the scene of the trouble first and was followed by LAWRENCE. On arriving he found a negro coming out of the broken hole in the door, and on calling to him to hold up his hands, the negro did so, but with a pistol in each hand pointed at Mr. HOWARD. To save his own life Mr. HOWARD fired, one shot taking effect between the eyes and coming out the back of the burglar's head, killing him instantly. The dead man was searched, and had in his possession eleven watches, and eleven pistols, which he had gotten from Miller's store. The negro was about 30 years old and has been identified as John WILLIAMS, alias the Kid, alias Sam HEGMAN. He is a native of Bedford county, this state, but has been living at Welch and Keystone for some time. He only came to Pocahontas on yesterday. An inquest was held on Tuesday, composed of the following gentlemen Police Justice, John W. OWENS, acting coroner: W.W. BRENEMAN, D.J. TAYLOR, Joe MATZ, J.W. DEATON, J.H. MCNEER and Dr. George H. ZIMMERMAN. The conclusions reached by the jury was "that the negro came to his death by a pistol shot fired by Mr. C.A. HOWARD, Jr. and we verily believe same was fired in self defense etc." After the inquest was held a warrant was immediately sworn out by Sergeant G.W. MAYS for the killing of John WILLIAMS by C.A. HOWARD, Jr. Mr. HOWARD was arraigned before Hon. John W. OWENS, who on hearing the evidence of Messrs. G.H. LAWRENCE, R.L. PEMBERTON, G.W. MAYS and Joseph MILLER rendered the following decision: Upon hearing the evidence to the within charge I adjudge the defendant, C.A. HOWARD, Jr., not guilty of felonious killing as charged, but find the killing purely in self defense and dismiss the defendant. Given under my hand this the 20th day of August, 1907. John W. OWENS, Police Justice. C.A. HOWARD, Jr. is an native of Floyd County, this state, and has lived in Pocahontas a number of years, having come here from Bluefield, where he was for several years associated in business with E.S. PEDIGO. He is a good and law abiding citizen, is chief of the fire department and is a man who can be relied on to do any service called on for the good of his fellow man. It was only a few months ago that a negro desperado shot at the police of this town in the day time and it was Mr. HOWARD, whose nerve and quick action came to the rescue of the police. Without the aid of a gun he held the desperado until he was place in irons. Mr. C.A HOWARD is well known in Tazewell, having made frequent business trips here. He is the junior member of the firm of Howard & Lawrence, the well known clothiers of Pocahontas, and is a law abiding and public spirited citizen of his town. FALLS MILLS ---------------------- H.D. DUDLEY very fittingly celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday last Saturday by a re-union of his family. His married sons and daughters, with their wives and husbands, all gathered at the old home for the first time in years, and spent a pleasant day. The day will be long be remembered. Ollie WALKER and wife spent Sunday with Mrs. WALKER'S grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex BUCKLAND. Miss May ETTER left Sunday for a visit to relatives on Clear Fork. Luther WAGNER, of Upper Mud Fork, is reported to have typhoid fever in a mild form. Mrs. B.P. COMPTON was called Sunday to the bedside of her daughter, Mrs. RUSIN, who has typhoid fever. Miss Annie CARTER and her brother Walter, of Graham, are visiting their uncle, J.H. HARRY. Mrs WALKER, of Bramwell and Mrs. GREEVER of Kenova, were visiting their uncle, H.D. DUDLEY, last Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles CARTER are the proud parents of a girl baby. ---------------------- The August term of Circuit Court will commence Monday. Neither the criminal nor civil docket are over crowded this term, consequently the session of the court will not be a very lengthy one. Only two murder cases of importance are to come up this term. Addison BEAVERS, who killed his father, Alex BEAVERS, in the Northern part of the county several months ago. This case will be of considerable interest, as it was reported at the time that young BEAVERS killed his father in defense of his mother and sister. Chapman & Gillespie will defend Beavers. Nick WOODS, colored, who was arrested in Columbus, Ohio and brought here to jail, will have to face the charge of murdering Bud ROBINSON, also colored, at Pocahontas, on December 31st, last. WOOD'S case is scheduled for trail next week. There are also docketed eight or ten cases of felonious assault which are to be disposed of at this term. Mos of them are for cutting and wounding, and are of minor importance. The most important one, however, is against HATCHETT, a police office at Pocahontas, for striking Mary YABNISKY, while arresting her husband, Andrew YABNISKY. There are twenty cases of damages against the Pocahontas Colliers Co., for $10,000 each, which were set for this term, but have been postponed until the October term. The damages are asked for by persons who has been injured in the mines and administrators of those who have been killed. T.C. BOWEN, A.S. HIGGINBOTHAM, H.C. ALDERSON, W.M. MINTER and Judge Samuel W. WILLIAMS, represent the plaintiffs, and Henry & Graham and Chapman represent the defendant company. CEDAR BLUFF -------------------------- Miss Carrie MCGUIRE left Cedar Bluff on Monday for the home of her brother at Farmersville, Texas, much to the regret of her many friends here, who will sadly miss her during her protracted absence. Her visit to the Lone Star State will extend through the fall and Winter. Mrs. J.R. KING, wife of our pastor is visiting friends at her home in Bristol. Mrs. T.A. REPASS is visiting her children at Tip Top this week. Mrs. Mary WINGO left Cedar Bluff the first of the week for Bristol on her annual visit to the home of her brother, Col. A.S. MCNEIL of the city. There are now about fifty guests at the Blue Sulpher Inn at this place, and all seem to be enjoying themselves to the fullest extent. Misses Elizabeth and Mayo HURT are visiting friends in Wise County. Miss Mary BROWN, on of Cedar Bluff's accomplished teachers, in company with friends from Paint Lick, left on Monday for Jamestown. Miss Emily ASCUE, of Paint Lick is visiting friends here this week. Our Methodist pastor, Rev. J.R. KING, celebrated the rites of matrimony one afternoon last week on the banks of the Clinch River, at the crossing below McGuire's Mill. The contracting parties were Miss Ida BARNES and Mr. Orville NELSON. After the ceremony they went rejoicing on their way. BLUESTONE --------------------- It is now the season of rest for the farmers, just before the coming of the threshing machine. Misses Gertrude RUCKER and Annie HOLBROOK spent Sunday night with friends on Bluestone. Mrs. Robert THOMPSON returned to her home on Mud Fork, after spending a week with her father, W.C. HARMAN, who has been on the sick list, but is improving. Rev. J.W. HELVEY preached a very interesting and instructive sermon at Ebenezer Sunday Morning. The smiling face of Charles WILSON, of Abbs Valley, was seen in our midst Saturday evening. Russell WAGNER and brother, Henry, were at Church Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. A.P TABOR were visiting their daughter Mrs. JOELLAFO oon Brush Fork Saturday and Sunday. Mr. SCOTT, J.H. SUMMERS, Dexier SHRADER and others were very busy getting their cars of lumber ready for shipment. TIP TOP ------------------ News has just reached here of the death of the wife, Fannie, and a son, Bascom, of Flemming COMPTON, of Ellston, Va. It seems that the son was running a dinkey near Johnson City, Tennessee, and in some way fell off a bridge and was so badly hurt that he only lived about one hour. His mother had long been a great sufferer from rheumatism, and it is supposed that she died from shock, as she lived only a short while, perhaps a day, after her son was killed. They were formerly resident of Bluestone, this county, and were well known and related to the COMPTON families of Tazewell and Bland. Mrs. COMPTON leaves a husband and several grown sons and daughters. Charles and Millard COMPTON, of Bluefield, both N and W. conductors, are her sons. The son left a wife and several small children. A small child of H.G. ATKINS died several days ago, and was taken to Graham and buried. Mr. David N. WAGNER of near Bailey, on of the oldest citizens of this section, was right sick last week, but is well now. ------------ Miss Ida PAINTER and Tyler F. WITTEN of Wittens Mills, were married at the brides home at Five Oaks, Wednesday afternoon by Rev. S.O. HALL, pastor of the Presbyterian church. None but the immediate friends, besides the near relatives of the contracting parties, were present. Miss PAINTER is a daughter of Mrs. M.J PAINTER, of Five Oaks, and is popular among a host of friends in this county. Tyler F. WITTEN is secretary of the Wittens Mills supply Co. and is a son of S.A WITTEN, of Wittens Mills. Mr. WITTEN is a sober and industrious young business man and has the confidence and respect of the people of his community. Next to the preacher in authority in the conduct of the wedding was Mrs. J.J. FAGG, a close relative of the Painter family, of McComas, West Virginia, who is not a novice by any means in officiating at functions and social events of this kind. The maid of honor and best man were Miss Frankie PAINTER, sister to the bride and W.W. WITTEN, brother of the groom. Other attendants were E.S. HURT, of St. Paul, and Miss Cora GREEAR, of Wittens Mills; E.S. HOWARD and Miss Emma WITTEN; Cary PAINTER and Miss Annie WITTEN. E.M. DAVIS and daughter, Miss Leta, of Rural Retreat, relatives of Mrs. WITTEN. Mr. and Mrs. WITTEN left Wednesday afternoon for a visit to the Jamestown Exposition. ------- Walter RIPPEY, colored, was brought here and lodged in jail last night by Chief of Police George MAYS, of Pocahontas, charged with attempted criminal assault upon Lanie Ella CARR, near the Browning mines yesterday. The officer stated that feeling against the negro was running high at Pocahontas yesterday, and for safe keeping he hurried the man away from Pocahontas on the first train to Bluefield, where he caught the excursion train which returned to Tazewell last night. The CARR girl and a young sister were picking berries near the Browning mines, when the negro approached them and knocked the older girl down with a stick. The younger girl fled, and the negro was attempting to accomplish the foul deed, when he was scared away by the approach of a white man. The negro disclaimed any knowledge whatsoever of the crime.