Sylacauga News – 28 January 1926

Articles from The Sylacauga (Alabama) News – 28 January 1926

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Will L. Coker Announces For Tax Assessor

Mr. Will L Coker announces in the News this week his candidacy for Tax Assessor of Talladega county subject to the democratic primary to be held next August.
Mr. Coker has served as chief clerk in the probate office for many years and there is possible no man in the county better known to all the people. His efficiency and uniform courtesy during all these years has won for him friends throughout the county and even among state officials who have had occasion to examine the office in which he serves.
As to his competency to fill the duties of the office he seeks it might be said Will Coker can fill any office in the county with equal ability. In fact he is considered one of the most efficient public officials in the state.

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City Ready For White Way

The City Council informed the Exchange Club Tuesday that the city was ready to begin work of erecting the White way, and called on the Exchange Club, to collect the funds that have been promised for the purpose. The White Way committee, headed by Mr. S.P. McDonald, will soon make a canvas of the property holders to complete the final collection of these funds. It is now very probable that the lights will be turned on at an early date.

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W.E. May Dies Suddenly

Mr. W.E. May died suddenly at his home, Whistler, Ala., on January 19th at the age of 69 years. The funeral services were conducted by D. Lockler, at Mobile, and the interment ceremony resided over by Dr. A.H. Reid, of Sylacauga, Thursday January 22, the remains being intered in the Fort Williams cemetery near Fayetteville. Mr. May was one of the pioneer citizens of Talladega county, having spent most of his early life here, moving away about twenty years ago. Beside his wife he is survived by two sons, A.J. May, of Chattanooga and W.A. May of Birmingham; and two daughters, Mrs. W.A. Graham of Whistler, and Mrs. W.L. Knappe, of Miami, Fla.

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Two Negroes Arrested For Robbing Bon Air Store

Jack Cruise and Calvin Jones were arrested here Monday as they were about to take train for Florida by officer Lakey of the Sylacauga police force. Their arrest followed the robbery of the Luzanne store at Bon Air Sunday night when a shot gun, some shirts and knives were taken. They were carried to the county jail Tuesday afternoon.
It is reported that Cruise is an old offender and was released from a term at the reform school about three months ago.

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Venerable Woman Dies

Mrs. Arletha Reed, age 78, died at the family residence at Mt. Olive Sunday night and was interred at Mt. Olive Monday afternoon, Rev. W.L. Holdridge, pastor, assisted by Dr. J.L. Pastor(sic), conducting the funeral services. A short time ago the deceased was stricken with an attack of paralysis, and never recovered from the stroke.
Deceased is survived by five sons, Sim Reed, Miles Reed, J.C. Reed, Ed Reed and Columbus Reed, and one daughter Miss Valley Reed. The deceased was a member of the Methodist church at Parkdale and was a highly respected woman.

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Sheriff Prevents Escape

On Tuesday when Sheriff George Burke and Sylacauga night policeman W.H. Lakey were conducting Jim Beck and A.P. Lee to the Talladega county jail from their preliminary trial, Lee made a break for liberty, but ran only a short distance when he was halted by sight of the officers drawn revolver and the urgent call of his father, who was going with the prisoners to the county bastile.
In last weeks issue of the News was published an account of the capture of these by officer Lakey while they were engaged in the robbery of Clarks restaurant.

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Local Officers Fired On While Raiding A Still

Both Chief Cornett and Persons Received Shot Wounds In The Face But Not Serious. Still Was Taken.

Mr. J.C. Cornett and Policeman Jack Person had a narrow call Monday morning when they flushed a gang of moonshiners in the Wehatchie mountains, West of Sylacauga.
The officers had the location of the still and were making a raid upon it when the moonshiners fired on them. Cornett was shot in the breast and Persons was struck in the throat and neck. The fact that the shot were small was possibly all tht saved the lives of the officers. The aim was apparently true to the mark.
As both officers were bleeding and not knowing how badly they were wounded returned and had their wounds dressed, and finding their condition was not serious returned to the still which they captured and brought in together with two negroes suspected with being implicated.
The officers report five parties were at the still, two white men and three negroes. It is claimed the moonshiners are known and will soon be captured.

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Foster Wade and Son In Jail Charged With Murder

Foster Wade and son Clyde, were tried before a coronor’s jury in Talladega the first of the week on the charge of killing Ben Purvis ten miles North of that city Friday night of last week. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and the parties remanded to jail without bond.
The murder is classed as one of the most brutal that has occurred in the county for many years. Purvis was called from his home to help fix an automobile tire. Failing to return his wife became uneasy and gave the alarm and the neighbors began a search. Officers were also notified and joined in the search. The body of Purvis was found near the Coosa river the head badly beaten and body bruised.
At the trial Mrs. Purvis said she recognized Wade when her husband was called out to help repair the automobile.
The report is that Wade and Purvis had a fight during the holidays resulting from the report that Purvis had informed on Wade for making whiskey and bad blood existed between them. Purvis was tried and fined $10.00 for whipping Wade.

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J.L. McClain Candidate For Re-Election As Tax Assessor

Mr. J.L. McClain makes his announcement in the News this week for re-election to the office of Tax Assessor subject to the action of the democratic primary.
Mr. McClain has served in his present capacity for about seven years and if there has been the slightest criticisim of his work the general public is not aware of it. He is ever courteous and obliging in the discharge of his official duties and his efficiency is unquestioned. His friends are numerous throughout the county.

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Local Happenings

Mr. J.E. Jordan visited Birmingham the first of the week.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wright were visitors to Union Springs the first of the week.

Mrs. H.B. Foster and Miss Cora Carter visited Birmingham Wednesday.

Mr. W.H. Runge, president of the Alabama Marble company made a business trip to Jacksonville, Florida the first of the week.

David A. Steinberg, former member of the firm Steinberg Brothers, Talladega, has leased the new store ___ Hightower Brothers on South Broadway and will open within the next few days a gneral dry goods store. Fixtures are now being arranged. This takes the last store ___ for rent in the city.

Wanted to sell – furnishings of 15 room hotel corner of Broadway and 4th street. Reasonable price.

Mr. J.W. McKennon, a prominent merchant of Talladega Springs, was a visitor in Sylacauga the first of the week.

Little Miss Charlotte Crumpler, of Birmingham, has been visiting her ___ Miss Zuola Crumpler the past few days.

County Surveyor B.E. Ogletree, has been engaged for several days doing survey work in this section of the county.

Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Mitchell, of Fayetteville, left the first of the week for West Palm Beach, Florida, where they expect to spend some ____.

For Sale – One good saddle horse and saddle, at a sacrifice.
Mrs. T.E. Reeves, General Delivery, Sylacauga

Broken bottles are getting to be a menance to automobiles on the Sylacauga-Talladega highway. These bottles apparently fall from the soda water trucks that use this highway daily. A few prosecutions would soon stop this carelessness.

Mr. Lloyd Edwards, of Birmingham spent the weekend with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Ross Edwards.

Mrs. Arthur Taylor visited Birmingham the first of the week.

Mr. Grover Ogletree who has been serving the city in putting in the storm sewers has accepted a contract in Florida. His family will remain in Sylacauga.

Mr. M.C. Strewart, attorney of Birmingham, has been spending several days with his parents, Judge and Mrs. Geo. H. Stewart recuperating from an attack of illness. He expects to return to his home this week if his condition continues to improve.

Mrs. Walton Cruise, proprietress of the Peggy Lory Hat Shop leaves this week for the northern markets to buy her spring stock of millinery. Mrs. Cruise is recognized as one of Sylacauga’s most popular milliners and for several years was in charge of the millinery department of the Johnston Department Store.

Mr. Fred Howard, for many years assistant cashier of the First National Bank will leave this week to take up his duties with Dodge Car Agency in Gadsden. Mrs. Howard and little son are making a visit to Mr. Howard’s mother and father in Tenn, and will join her husband in Gadsden.

Postmaster A.E. Matson has employed O.L. Teel to meet all mail trains for the purpose of receiving and dispatching local mail, succeeding S.A. and Joe Barnett who have both resigned from this position.

Dr. French Craddock spent the first of the week in New Orleans, attending the American College of Surgeons of which body he was elected a Fellow in October. While at the meeting he was elected secretary of the Alabama group.

Dr. A.R. Moseley, made a business trip to Enterprise the first of the week.

Wanted a few more boarders at 1404 Eight Street. Elegant rooms, good table service, reasonable rates.
Mrs. Bevis

Mr. Harvey Hunter, who has been with the Palace Drug Company for several months, leaves Friday for Macon, Ga., to take a course in pharmacy.

Marriage Announced

Formal announcement has been made of the recent marriage of Miss Helen Harrington to Mr. C. Hartley Van Velzer, of Chicago. The marriage was consumed in Chicago where Miss Harrington has been making her home for some time. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harrington of Sylacauga.

Mrs. Kate A. Sims from Renfroe is spending a few days with Mrs. O.B. Nickerson.

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Wise and otherwise Club

The Wise and otherwise Club held a most delightful meeting at the home of Mrs. J. McDonald. The home was very attractive with pink and white carnations. Mrs. Foster McDonald gave a splendid talk on the life of Gene Straton Porter
Piano duet -by Mrs. Pitts and Mrs. Hebson.
Mrs. Hoke Smith had a splendid paper on Kathleen Norris
Mrs. T.R. Mathews gave the life of Mrs. Atherson.
Mrs. R. Stewart gave a five(sic) version of the story “Four Dresses”.
The guest tried a most interesting game, Miss Mildred Ardiman won the prize, a box of stationery.
The hostess served a delicious plate. Each guest was given a favor. The guest of the club were Messrs Prickett and Remson.

New Store To Open
Goodwater Jan 28
W.E. Shaw, who was formerly connected with the Peoples Trust and Savings bank of this place and later engaged in the mercantile business in Goodwater, and for the past two years in the poultry business near Goodwater has returned to town and will open a new store near the post office on Main Street.

Card Of Thanks

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Dobson of Gantt’s Quarry wish to thank their friends for the many kindnesses shown them during the recent illness of their little son, Donald Ray.

Mr. and mrs. Clyde Dobson

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Notice Issuance Letters

Probate Court
Estate of Mrs. Minnie Lee Hooten, deceased

Letters testamentary upon the estate of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 22nd day of January, 1926, by the Hon. E.A. Hammett, Judge of the Probate Court of Talladega County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

U.G. Hooten, Executor

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Dies of Pneumonia

T.C. Holmes, a farmer of near Renfroe, 42 years old, died at the home of his father, BF. Holmes, 209 West Street, Talladega, Saturday morning at 2:30 from pneumonia.
Mr. Holmes was taken ill about five weeks ago. He remained at his home until Friday, when he was brought to Talladega. He was born in Georgia, but has lived in Talladega County, near Renfroe, the greater part of his life.
Funeral services are to be held Sunday, with burial at Dry Valley or Oak Grove, relatives stated Saturday morning. His father, wife, eight children, four brothers and five sisters survive him — Talladega Home

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