General News
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 an 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.
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 an 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 towards 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.
[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]