The Hattiesburg news., November 27, 1908, Image 1

About The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917

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VOL. II. NO. 232
HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI. FRIDAY. AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 27, 1906
PRICE FIVE CENTS
FLETCHER
* ASKS FOR
FULLTERM
Stirling Will Not Be Candidate and
Judge Smith is Not Now
in the Race
MEMBERS BF THE BAR
FAVOR JUDGE FLETCHER
>
'Petitions Now in Circulation Asking
-Governor Noel to Name Judge
IFIetoher For Full Nine-Year Term
■ and Are Liberally Signed.
Jackson, Miss., November ' 27.—Al
though only a little more than a week
on the state supreme bench, and with
the surprise of his appointment still
fresh on the public mind, the frlendB
of Justice R. V. Fletcher are already
active throughout the state working
for his appointment for the full nine
years' term which begins at the ex
piration of the present unexpired
term for which he was appointed, on
May 10, 1909.
Prior to the death of Judge Cal
hoon two weeks ago there were, be
sides himself, three applicants for
the next term: Hon. J. B. Stirling
of this city, who has since been ap
pointed attorney general; Capt. Frank
Johnston, also of this city, and for
mer attorney general and Judge Syd
ney Smith of Lexington, judge in the
fourdh circuit cohrt district.
All these gentlemen had numeroua
endorsements from the bar of the
state, with a rather large preponder
ance In favor of Judge Calhoon. His
death, therefore, leaves many mem
bers of the bar unpledged, and al
ready a large number of them have
signed the petitions being circulate^
In behalf of Judge Fletcher.
In view of his acceptance of the
attorney generalship, it Is not be
lieved that Gen. Stirling will remain
an applicant for the judgeship, in
which event a large number of other
attorneys will be released from their
pledges to him, and doubtless Judge
Fletcher's petition will come in for a
good share of them.
On account of the peculiar circum
stances under which the appointment
of Judge Fletcher came about, there
seems to be a somewhat general im
pression that he will not apply for
-the long term, having previously an
nounced 'ills determination to resign
as attorney general and retire to priv
ate practice because the salary was
mot sufficient to justify his continu
ance in that position. That objec
tion Is, presumably, removed in the
present case, however, the supreme
judges drawing $4,500 per year, 'or
$2,100 more than the attorndx gen
eral.
In discussing this judgshlp here a
•few .days ago, Judge Jeff Truly of
'Fayette, who served a nine year term
■on the supreme bench, made the rata
-er broad -assertion that there is not
A lawyer In tbe state who would re
{y
Wi
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦ THE DAILY NEW8
♦
RR0GN08TICATOR. ♦
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♦
n
■M
Washington, November 27.—Fore
cast for Mississippi:
Rain tonight and Saturday.
fuse tbe appointment If tendered him,
however much he might make out of
blB private practice. Whether this
Is true or not, and while Judge
ftetcher will not commit himself on
the proposition, there Is every reason
to believe he would accept the ap
pointment If tendered him, and It Is
further believed that he will make a
formal application for the appoint
ment when, In his opinion, the proper
time arrives.
Apropos of the question of salary,
Judge Fletcher now draws a salary
of $1,000 per year more than Judge
Calhoon received, although not more
than judges Whitfield and Mayes, who
each receive $4,500 per year, While
their late associate received only $3,
500. This apparent discrepancy Is not
due to any distinction as to relative
merit, but to the fact that, soon after
Judge Calhoon's appointment, the leg
islature . passed a bill Increasing the
salaries of the supreme Judges from
$3,500 to $4,500. A constitutional pro
vision prohibits the increasing of a
Judge's salary during an existing term
of office, therefore the law should not
become effective In any case before
the expiration of the existing term.
In 1903 Judge Whitfield's term ex
pired, and with his re-appointment he
received the legislative Increase of
salary. Judge Truly's term Expired
In 1905, and Judge Mayes, immediate
ly upon his appointment, began to re
ceive the Increased salary,
with the
Fletcher, the law passed In 1902 has
Just become actually and fully opera
tive.
Thus,
appointment of Judge
CAGE FELL
DOWN SHAFT
Hearst News Service.
Springfield, Ills., November 27.—A
cage filled with miners in the Deve
reaux mine this morning fell from the
top of the workings to the bottom of
the pit. Several men were killed by
the impact.
R. L. HARRI8.
Edgar G. Harris, editor of The News,
yesterday received a telegram from
Oolagah, Oklahoma, announcing the
death of his brother, R. L. Harris.
Deceased was a native of Montgomery
county, Miss., and a young railroad
man well known throughout the state.
For several years he was train dis
patcher for the Illinois Central Rail
road at Water Valley, and later held
a similar poaitlon at Birmingham, Ala.
ALL OVER THE STATE
Daily News SpeclaL
Jackson, November 27.—With the
passing of Thanksglvlag, the really
busy season In Mississippi opens, and
from now on through the Christmas
holidays every minute of the time
will be devoted to strictly business
matters.
It Is the season to which merchants,
particularly, look forward for the sea
son's profits, when they cqncentrate
their energies on money-getting and
on making good, In many Instances,
heavy losses Incurred during the dull
er period of summer.
About five and one-half million bales
of cotton have been brought into
sight—very little less than half the
full crop, according to the opinion of
experienced cotton men. How much
of this has actually been sold Is prob
lematical, but certain It is that the
disposition to sell has been greater
this year than for several years past,
and there is a good deal of cotton
money now In circulation In the South.
This disposition to sell—If It can
be called a disposition under the cir
cumstance — Is attributed, oddly
enough, to the low price, although that
is the very reason usually advanced
by those who advocate holding. But
one appears to bfe a theory, while the
other is a fact resulting from exist
ing conditions, and Is explained by the
practical observation that with a low
CAPITAL
flearst News Service.
Paris, November 27.—Following sen
sational charges as to the 'suppres
sion of evidence in the case of Ma
dame Stelnhell, accused of the mur
der of her artist husband, and yes
terday charged by the Paris newspa
pers with poisoning Ex-President Felix
Faure, M. Leydett, the magistrate who
has been conducting the Investiga
tion, today withdrew from the case
and the papers were turned over to
Judge Boucard. Much political capi
tal Is being made out of the affair
by the opponents Of the government.
LAMPHERE
SENTENCED
Hearst News Service.
La Porte, Ind., November 27.—Ray
Lamphere, yesterday convicted of Ar
son In connection with the supposed
murder of Mrs. Belle Guuness and
family, was today sentenced to prison
at Michigan City. He appears to be
lieve now that the possibility of his
conviction for the murder of the Gun
ness family has been removed..
CRUSHED UNDER
HORSE; MAY DIE
Hearst News Service.
Montgomery, Ala., November 27.—
W. M. Shoemaker, agent for the
Southern Express Company In this
city, and one of the best known citi
zens In Montgomery, Is in a critical
condition as the result of Injuries re
ceived today as tbe result of his
horse falling on him.
price it requires more cotton to dis
charge existing debts, and as these
debts must be discharged, the cotton
must be sold to raise the money.
But it is only fair to assume that
many farmers have paid their debts
and will bt spending the proceeds of
the remainder of their crops at least
during this busy period preceding the
New Year. Certainly many of them
have reached the point where they
have some money to spend outside
their debts, and the merchants have
their plans already laid to get their
share of this money during the next
month or two.
Up to this time weather condition*
have been rather against, a good trade
with the dry goods people, although
the lopal merchants report a satisfac
tory business In spite of that handi
cap, which has permitted a good cot
ton picking Beason In spite of its
drawback to the commercial world.
With the advent of cold weather,
which will Inevitably be here soon,
there will be a great revival of busi
ness in all lines, and among tbe dry
goods tradt in particular.
The Jackson merchants have laid In
unusually large stocks, preparatory
to handling an immense trade, and
almost all of them have largely In
creased their sales- forces. And what
applies to Jackson Is undoubtedly true
throughout the state, aud most of the
South, If not all of 1L
zsa i-=
CIRCUIT COURT GRAND JURY
RENDERS SENSATIONAL REPORT
mtrsiw
WEEK IN WASHINGTON
!
Daily News Special.
Jackson, November 27. —Gov. Noel
has only one out-of-towg engagement
before he leaves for Washington
spend a week attending yneetlngs and
conferences of greater at li
Importance.
to
ess national
This engagement ts'to deliver an
address before the Daughters of the
American Revolution Muring their
meeting there on Thursday, December
3. He will leave the cafttal, probably
on Saturday, for Washington, where
Hie conference of Governors for the
conservation of our natural resources
will begin on Deceml
7, followed
by the National Industrial Congress
and Rivers and Harboi
ingress, the
SENATOR THOMAS P. GORE
VISITS HIS 00YH00D HOME
Special to The Dally News.
Eupora, Miss., November 27.—Unit
ed States Senator Thomas P. Gore,
of Oklahoma, familiarly known In Mis
sissippi as the "Blind Boy Orator,"
is spending a few days at his old
BETTER TO GIVE
THAN TO RECEIVE
—Says T^pc^efelltr,
Hearst News Service.
New York, November 27.—The lim
ited scope of money has taught John
D. Rockefeller, the richest man In
the world, that "It is better to give
than to receive."
At least he bo declares himself In
an article which will be given to the
public In the December number of the
World's Work.
"The Intrinsic
value of money,"
INSANITY
IS PLEA OF
LEWELEYN
Young Man Alleged to Have Parti
cipated in Numerous Burglaries
is Now on Trial
This morning's session of the cir
cuit court has been taken up with
the trial of Joe Lewellyn on a plea of
Insanity before a special jury. Sen
ator D. M. Watkins and A. E. Ander
GEORGIA MOB AFTER
AN IMPUDENT NEGRO
Hearst News Service.
Columbus, Ga., November 27.—A
posse of several hundred determined
citizens Is today looking for a negro
who attempted criminal assault on
Mrs. Andrew Zellers, wife of a prom
inent farmer.
The negro at an early hour this
series of meetings occupying prac
tically the entire week, during which
the brains and statesmanship of all
the states are supposed to be
centrated upon the national capital.
In the Interim, the governor will de
vote himself to the routine duties of
his office, no Important events be
ing scheduled for the next few days,
either in or out of the executive of
fice, requiring executive action.
During the governor's absence In
Washington the affairs of his office
will be in charge of Lieut. Gar. Luther
Manship, this being the third time dur
ing the present year that he has guid
ed the reins of state government while
Gov. Noel has been outside the state.
con
home near Walthall In this county.
Senator Gore is In the best of health
and says that he Is enjoying a rest
from politics. He will leave shortly
for Washington to resume his duties
on the floor of the senate.
says Mr. Rockefeller "Is nothing, and
any attempt to pervert its use to the
satisfaction of inordinate desires can
only bring pain to its possessor. For
this reason, I want to urge young men
to begin their business careers with
out the Idea of getting from the world
all they can by hook or crook. Let
your thoughts linger where they can
be most effective in the work of the
world."
son presented the plea of insanity i and
District Attorney McLaurin repre
sented the state In the matter. The
plea is in defense of the charge of
burglary.
The prisoners will probably be sen
tenced this afternoon—that Is, those
of them who have been convicted or
who have pleaded guilty.
It is Btated that the grand jury
found a true bill against W. C. Mil
ler, charged with the killing of Joe
Mitchell In the Hotel Hattiesburg bar
ber shop last spring.
J. W. Hollis, who was charged with
setting fire to his mother-in-law's resi
dence last spring and who had been
bound over to await the action of
the Inquisitorial body, waa not Indict
ed by the grand Jury. •
Jupiter Brown, a negro 16 years of
age was indicted charged with rape
on Susie Porter, a ten-year-old negro
girl on Tuesday night on Seventh St.
morning appeared at the front door of
the Zellers home and at the point of
a pistol demanded admittance from
Mrs. Zellers, who answered the door
bell. She escaped through a back
door and attracted the attention of her
husband who was at work In the
field some distance from the house.
The negro pursued her Into the hack
•d
WIRT ADAMS
WINDING DP
SACK TAXES
Many of the Larger Cates Have
Been Settled By Decision of
the Supreme Court
$37,000 IS SECURED
IN HINDS COUNTY ALONE
Former Campaigns on the Part of the
Revenue Agent Have Caused Mer
chants and Others to Be More Care
ful—Few New Claims.
Dally News Special.
Jackson, November 27.—State Rev
enue Agent Wirt Adams is about
winding up all pending back tax cases
not Involving litigation throughout
tbe state for the past five years—1903
to 1907, inclusive. Many of the back
ax claims pptered by Mr. Adams and
not properly kept7oru!a^TffW^P
some oversight solvent credits were
not cancelled when they should have
been. In many other cases the tax
payers have been unable to make such
a showing, and settlements have been
made between Mr. Adams and the par
ties, afterward being approved by the
various boards of supervisors.
Most of the larger cases, which
have resulted in suits being entered
to enforce collection, have been set
tled through decisions of the supreme
court, although there are yet a few
cases pending which have not yet
reached the supreme court stage.
Some of these extend even back of
the five-year period referred to, and
are part of the long list originating
out of Mr. Adams' vigorous campaign
for the collection of back taxes for
settled.
the sixteen-year period up to 1903.
During the settlement of these
cases, besides the larger cases In
which some of the railroads
were par
ties, about $37,000 was collected In
Hinds county alone, and fully $6,000
will be collected in this county for
the latter five-year period, despite the
fact that the former campaign caused
merchants and others to become much
more careful in seeing that deeds of
trust and other evidence of obliga
tions were properly cancelled when
paid.
It is expected that at the next meet
ing of the board of supervisors to be
held In Raymond beginning December
7, practically all these cases for this
county will be closed up. In fact,
those In the first district, In which
Jackson Is located, have been already
yard, but turned and fled when Mr.
Zellers started for the house.
The negro made his escape, but Mrs.
Zellers gave a good description of
him and declares that she can iden
tify him without a doubt. A posse
was at once formed and started In
pursuit of the negro, who will prob
ably be lynched If captured.
Snperviiori Are Censored For Lax
Examination of Books of
Tax Collector <
COUNTY FARM PRISON \
VERITABLE FIRE TRAP*
J. W. Hollis, Charged With 8etting
Fire to Hie Mother-In-Law's Home,
it Not Indictel by the Grand Jury_
Other Court Itema.
The grand Jury adjourned yesterday
morning and submitted the following
report:
To the Hon. W. H. Cook, Judge:
We, the grand jurors, impaneled at
the November term of court, 1908,
for the circuit court of the county of
Forrest, beg leave to make this, our
final report:
We have carefully Inquired Into all
violations of the law committed in
said county that came to our knowl
edge, so far as we have been able to
get witnesses. We have examined
297 witnesses and found 97 true bills.
We have examined the reports and
settlements of the tax collector and
sheriff and to the best of our knowl
edge and belief they are correcL
We have examined the books of
the chancery and circuit clerk's offices
and found them in splendid condition.
We have also exalniued the books oL
tht
nm
latlon of the
sheriff and tax collector's books each
month; also we find that they are too
negligent In allowing fees of Jurors
and witnesses In cases in justice of
the peace courts, When the prisoner
is sent to the farm to work out the
fine. We find that they allow the pl
acers costs In such cases and but
rarely ever allow the jurors fees, and
we recommend that they look after
such things more closely.
We have also examined the county
farm and find said premises In clean
and pretty fair shape,
ers all appear to be healthy and well
as far as we know they are cared
for In a humane
The prison
way. We suggest
that there be more adequate house
room, or prison, to take care of the
prisoners as the jail is made of wood
and very small to accommodate the
number of prisoners. We also believe
with the present arrangements there
is some danger of the prisoners be
ing burned. Owing to the fact that
the jail is made of wood and the cells
are Iron, it would be difficult to get
them out in case of fire.
We recommend that the city
thoritles be more diligent In the
forcement of the law, especially
to illegal sale of liquor and Sunday
violations.
au
en
a a
We now wish to extend thanks to
the court for his excellent charge and
for courtesies shown
wish to thank our able district attor
ney for his prompt and efficient
Ices.
us. Also we
serv
We now extend our thanks to all
the officers of the court for kind
and courteous attention, and having
finished our labors, we beg to be dis
charged.
BILLIK S MOTHER
SUCCUMDE TO GRIEF
Chicago, Novmber 27.—Mrs. Barbara
Billtk, mother of Herman BUllk, con
demned to die in this city two weeks
from today, for the murder of the
Vrzal family, Is dead in Cleveland. It
Is said that she was killed by the Im
pending fate of her son. Billik col
lapsed with grief In his ceil when
told the news of his mother's death.
1
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