The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-07
FOOT IS AMPUTATED
COTTONWOcO CITIZEN ACCIDEN-
TALLY SHOOTS HIMSELF.
George Smith Thought He Heard
Chicken Thieves and while In
Pursuit His Gun Was Prema-
tuFely Discharged.

Cottonwood, April 6.--(Special--
George Smith, who resides a few miles
east Of Cottonwood was accidently shot
Thursday night.
Mr.. Smith heard his chickens max
ing a noise as IL something was try
ing to catch them. He took his shot
gun and started for the fowl house
through the dark. The gun was cock
ed and while making his way in the
dark, Mr.. Smith made an awkward
step which discharged the gun. the
contents taking effect in his right foot
near the ankle. nearly severing 1t from
his body.
Surgeons from Cottonwo God were hur-
riedly summoned and the foot was am
putated yesterday afternoon in an ef-
fort = save him from blood poisoning.
1t is feared he may lose his life as
result of the painful accident
Mr.. Smith Is about As years old and
has a large family.
Nit Minus, alias John Ward, negro,
was recently arrested at his home near
Cottonwood and taken to Columbus.
Ca. to stand trial for the murder of
his wife alleged to have been commit
ted in that city six years ago. He has
just been tried for the offense and
sentenced to hang, April 20.
Minus came to this section of Ala
hama about six yearse ago. shortly al
ter his crime. He went under the
name of John Ward and under that
name shortly married another woman
in this county. His second wife was
accidentally burned to death near here
early in last month and through the
newspaper account of the accident the
authorities in Columbus learned of his
whereabouts, they having heard some
time ago that his name had been
changed to John Ward after he left
that section. He was arrested less
than a month ago, carried back to Co
lumbus and has, already had trial
for the foul murder of his first wife
and sentenced as above dated.
Since his coming to Alabama, Minus,
or Ward. as he was known here, had
accumulated considerable property ana
had been known as a quiet. hard-work-
ing negro. He is SO years old and of a
ginger-cake color.
The recent heavy frost in this sec
ton did a great deal of damage to
garden, truck and growing crops. 1t
has given the corn a great setback.
A heavy rain fell throughout this
section last night. This rain was
very much desired by the farmers,
there not having been a season for the
past ten weeks. Many of the small
streams have been dry, while ponds
which have stood the droughts OF
many summers have been dried up.
This Is thing unprecedented In
| this section at this season of the year.
A very strong company was organ
ICED In Cottonwood this week for the
| purpose of developing the new town
| of Compass Lake, which is situated
| Just over the line in the State OF
| Florida.
The officers of this company are
among the leading business men apd
capitalists of this section. They are
| as follows: H. p. Calhoun. president;
Jacob Jones, vice-president; w. c.
| Granger, secretary; DR.. B. -. Chalk
err, treasurer; j. w. Marshall, John
| T. Jones, DR.. w. P. Chalker, William
Hughes, Frank Peacock directors.
The company proposes to erect and
equip a modern hotel for the enter
| tainment of visitors to the Lake and
| also to put a number of launches and
| row boats on the big lake to be used
by fishing and pleasure parties. Com
| pass Lake Is one of the most beauti-
full bodies of water in the South and
| 1t is predicted that a city of several
| thousand Inhabitants will surround II
within a very short while. 1t Is st'
uated on the new railroad from Cot
tonwood to st. Andrews Bay, and
prospectors are arriving there by ev.
cry train.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. M. Cassaday of
cambridge, Ga, are visiting in COT
tonwood, the guests of Professor and
Mrs. Claude F. Cassaday.