The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-05
TEACHER ANSWERS IN COURT ABOUT
 WHIPPING CHILD

Anniston, April 4-(Special.) )-"Just how hard is teacher in a public school al lowed to chastise refractory specimen of young America" Is a question that i: being threshed out in the circuit court here In the suit of Melvin Prater, minor, against Miss Bessie Alexander an erstwhile teacher at Webster's Chape school, near here, from whom he seeks damages in the sum of $25OO.
 This IS not the first time that the par. ents of the boy have sought redress from Miss Alexander, who is said to have gwen young Prater such a sound thrash ing that he was badly injured. The cast came before Probate Judge M. Crook last year, but was thrown out of court. Ii is also said the grand jury declined tc take action in the case. following which civil action was brought
 Teachers all over the state will be in terested in the outcome, which has at- tracted considerable interest here. RAINS MEAN SHORT CROPS Farmers in the Annston district are becoming distressed over the continued rains, which have delayed planting sev- eral weeks. Continuous rain Wednesday upset all the good effects of the sun shine the first three days of this week and have also put the roads in bad con dition again. Farm experts here say the rains will cause a short cotton crop ano better prices. Much land however due to rains and labor shortage, will not be under cultivation.
 MAY RE-ENTER NAVY
 (x11U Willie txbo boo cJ,i fas the Etowah Trust and Savings bank at Gadsden. after resigning 8 position he held with Armour & Go. here, has gone to Chicago to resume his connection with the packing company, MT. Willis is on the naval reserve list, and is said to have received notice to hold himself in readiness to be drafted
 STUART ADDRESS THURSDAY
 The use of the Anniston auditorium has been secured for the address Thursday evening by the Rev. George Stuart, the eminent evangelist, lecturer and temper ance worker, now pastor of the First Methodist church in Birmingham. Dr. Stuart Is well known in Anniston, and a large crowd is expected to hear his Iec- ture.
 PATENT JUST RECORDED
 A government land patent, dated August Q, 1851, ana signed Dy MdrCll Van Buren, president of the United States, was recorded in probate court today. The ancient document was writ ten on sheepskin and was well preserved, although the ink was dim.
 It conveyed tract of 155 acres of land in Benton" county to Sara and Washington Waggoner at "Mardisville.' Benton county was long ago changed to Calhoun county and Mardisville is now Schenck's Springs.
 The document was filed by James Clark, of Schencks Springs, and is the oldest document recorded in this county in many years being 80 years old.
 As old as the document is, there are still several men living in this county who remember when the Waggoners got their patent from the government, and the parents of these dealt direct with the Indians in obtaining their. property, and have held claims to it ever since then. PECULIAR EXECUTION OF MULE
 John G. Ledbetter, a well known farmer of near Oxford, lost a fine mule a day or two ago in peculiar way. While turn ing land one of the mules attached to a blow was pushed into an unused well on the Ledbetter place, and went down with the kicking end on the bottom of the well. An alarm was sent out, and the neighbors responded in large numbers for the purpose of rescuing the mule from its uncomfortable and perilous position. A rope was finally attached to the mule and the neighbors heaved away with a will and as the mule neared the surface the rope>slipped, caught around the mule S head and broke it's neck.