The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1905-12-15
,MISSISSIPPIMATTERS
Contest Over Convict Contract.

Gov. Vardaman has raised one of the
biggest issues of recent times IN thiS
State by securing an injunction, from
the supreme court enjoinIng the board
of control from leasing the Sandy
Bayou plantation. belonging to State
Senator McLaurin. This action was
taken after a majority of the board had
voted 10 accept the proposition made by
Senator McLaurin 10 pay the State s2o,-
600 a year for working his place. The
governor protested against this action,
claiming that the board of control had
no authority under the law to lease any
place or work any convict= on any but
the States lands. Commissioner McNair
voted with the governor. but Attorney
General Williams and Commissioners
Bradley and kincannon voted for the
lease. The writ of injunction was is-
sued by Chief Justice Whitfield. but 1t
was not served until after the ma jority
members and Senator McLaurin had
signed up the papers. \ fight IN the
courts will follow.
There are about 1000 acres in the
Sandy Bayou plantation. and it takes 20
or so convicts ts work it.
The biggest and strongest lansi com
pany in the State is in course of forrtie-
ton in Jackson. and Will be organized
and begin active business the 1st of
January. The company i 10 be formed
by home and Eastern capital. OF which
there will be an unlimited supply. so
that the very largest tracts of pine and
delta lands may be bought for cash and
sold on time payments. The company
has already purchased $40. 200 acres of
pine and hardwood timber lands. and
by the first of the year will be ready
l.. in,
the State.
There were |. l23 names ON the States
prison rolls on Nov. 30. a gain of thir-
teen over the month previous. During
the month of November twenty-five
were discharged: there was one death,
two pardons and two escapes. \ death
rate of one for more than 1000 speaks
well for the management of the MisSis-
sippi convict farms. and it is doubtful
If there is another State in the Union
that can make such showing.
\ citizen of tie Delta country has
written the railroad commission to
know whether or not the railroads have
a right to charge 1 cents fare where the
passenger does not have ticket. That
has been the impression for some years.
The commission insists on it, and So do
the railroad companies. The idea Is to
encourage passengers to pay their
money 10 the company agents and not
to the conductors, the latter Directing
to being bothered with cash fares.
Lauderdale county citizens were the
winners of nearly all the first prizes
offered at the Jackson fair for Poland
China and Berkshire hogs and Ply
mouth Rock chickens. w. s. White
of Zero entered six Poland-Chinas and
carried of six blue ribbons, and his one
Plymouth Rock entry secured the bonus
and the ribbon. y. Ii. Harrington of
Daleville entered five Berkshires and
received four first ard one second prize.
7. b. Sale has been found not guilty
Of the charge of numbering j. Il. Bell.
This brings TO 4 close one of the most
important criminal cases ever heard in
this State. Sale and Bell met one af-
ternoon last July. on the streets of
Aberdeen and engaged in pistol duel,
in which Bell was killed and Sale
wounded. The trouble was the out
come of business correspondence be-
tween Sales mother and Bell involving
the rental of 4 house. Both families
are exceedingly prominent and wealthy.
The dead body of well-dressed man
of % or go years of age was found on
the public highway near Gloster. On
the dead man were found letters adj
dressed to Rev. John Moody and mail
ed at Ocala. North Carolina. Other
letters bear recommendations from the
pastor of the Baptist Church at Ocala.
stating that Rev. Moody was minister
in @ cd Standing. The dead man wore
afa,e-
were Inferred in the Baptist cemetery
At GloSter. members of that congrega-
ton taking charge of the funeral ar
rangemcntS.
Will Horn was convicted at Gulfpori
last week of the murder of j. G.. Smith
of Hattiesburg.
One of the saddest tragedies in the
history of Arcola occurred in the
family of Mr.. and Mrs Robert Poague,
when their little 9-month-old boy met
an untimely death from the explosion
of lamp. Mrs. Poague lighted the
lamp and placed it on the machine. and
stepped out of the room for moment.
when the little fellow, trying to pull up
bv the scarf covering the machine, up
set the lamp with the above result.
has introduced n bill in congress in aid
of the common schools in Mississippi.
This bill provides that all public land
in the State shall be disposed of by sale
under laws to he enacted 10y the legis-
lature of Mississippi and the proceeds
To be used for the common schools OF
the State.
Lewis Scott, a desperate negro, was
lvnched near Cleveland last week. lie
was being taken to Jail on the charge
of obtaining goods under false pre-
lenses and shooting an officer when a
mob overpowered the officers. took the
pris oner from them and hung him.
New Hope Presbytery of the Cum
berland Presbyterian Church. embrac-
ING a number of East Mississippi coun-
ties. convened ut Alderman with about
thirty-five ministers and laymen in at
tendance.
The governor has offered reward Of
$3.50 for the arrest and conviction oi
Rufus Ousley. the Attala county negro
,,hc l-ifIa1 I ,,airs | Oya a bifa man