1919 March 6– Sheriff Bell has returned from the north bringing A H Hamilton who was indicted by the last grand jury of the charge of deserting his wife and family. He has been away from DeFuniak about 3 yrs and until the last few months has contributed nothing to their support. The sheriff found Hamilton at work in Philadelphia and when brought back was placed in jail.
*Influenza Breaks out in Two Places: The school at Glendale closed on Friday one
month earlier than intended owing to the influenza. There will be 3 months summer
school. At least 35 cased were reported in Knox Hill area. Ben Hearin, aged about
22 yrs died at Glendale from influenza last Thursday (February 27, 1919) and Mrs Hearin is reported very
ill. William Wilkerson aged about 50 died Sunday morning (March 2, 1919), other family members are
ill. Mrs Mattie Evans, widow and her entire family of small children are down. Her
husband and invalid for a number of years died not long ago. Mr T C Gressott and
wife are both ill. A number of the Micham family are ill. Robert Reddick of Knox
Hill has pneumonia, and other members of the Rushing family are ill.
*Charles Carter arrested by Sheriff Bell charged with alleged sale of intoxicating
liquors on night of December 25. It was at Carter’s home that Marion Hall, now
in jail under sentence of death shot Arnold Mitchell. At the same time shot Carter,
who was in critical condition for some time. The witnesses named in the warrant
are Marion Hall, Hilburn Nowling, Sullivan Nowling Jr, Alvin Miller, D Nowling
and John Campbell.
*Mrs R L Burnham aged about 66 died at Freeport at 9:30 pm, Friday Feb 21 and
was buried Sunday at Hatcher Cemetery. Mrs Burnham was a Miss Evans and was
born and reared in Walton co. She leaves 3 living children, Mrs Mollie (Grady) Ward,
Mrs Amanda (Charles) McCaskill, A J Burnham; Mrs Emma Collett, a gr dau of
Canada arrived a few days before she died.
*Isaac Hand charged with the murder of his young wife, whose body was found in
well on January 7, in Vernon has been indicted for murder. According to the Marianna
Times-Courier, Hand made his confession to Sheriff Lewis of Jackson Co. Hand said
“Mr Lewis, you are the only friend I have, you have been kind to me all along. When I
went after my wife, I intended carrying her home and making a living for her. After
leaving home we bought lunch at Bonifay and went to the house of a friend to spend the
night. On arrival we found no one home. We had food & bedding and knowing of a
vacant house near Vernon, we decided to go there and camp. After feeding the horse,
my wife asked me to make a fire. I brought ar armful of wood in and she opened her
suitcase and got some matches. I tried to start the fire but the wood was wet and wouldn’t
burn so I got up and told her that I was through with the fire. She told me to get some
light wood knots. I did so and when I threw them down one hit her foot and she asked if I
was trying to break her foot. She got up, went to her suitcase, got out a razor and came to-
wards me. I saw an old ax handle and picked it up, told her if she came any nearer I would
knock her block off. She said ‘you won’t’ and came on and I peeled her one and she
dropped. I struck her harder than I had intended and started to Vernon for a doctor. I realized
I had no money so I returned to where my wife was lying and decided that she was just
about to pass in her checks. I was so badly frightened I picked her up and thru her in the
well. I returned to Bonifay and the next day sold my horse and buggy and got on the train
to Iron City.
*1919 Mar 13– Charles Carter acquitted. Newt Nowling testified that he didn’t even know what
Christmas was on, or the day of the week, but remembers Carter selling him rum. Marion
Hall (who shot Carter & killed Arnold Mitchell) said he purchased 2 quarts of rum for
$3.50 from Carter on the morning of the shooting. George Keen testified that Carter was
hauling lumber from a mill south of Mossyhead to Mossyhead at that time of day until dark.
Mossyhead is 12 miles from where Newt said he saw Carter at dark. The jury was about
five minues in returning verdict.
*Marriage Licenses returned:: T Scott & Isabell Dyson; C Brown & Myrtle Pelt; A Hunt &
Clara Randolph; C L Brown & Lina Weatherspoon; W F Scarbought & Grace L Adkison;
B Monroe & Nancy Coleman; M Paul & Celia Clements; A Nowling & Bernie Whitson;
W McCracken & Myrtle Jackson; I Turner & Ella Jackson.
*1919 Mar 20– James, age 18 son of Mr & Mrs W H Butler, died Tuesday. The funeral was Wednesday
morning. He was brother of Mrs John Kennedy, Bert Butler, Mrs Charles Gardner and
Van Butler.
Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson