davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
WOMAN DIED FROM
GUNSHOT WOUND
Mrs. John Tucker Accidentally
Shot By Her Husband While
Hunting Rats.

Mrs. Sophronia Tucker, aged As
years, wife of John Tucker, a far
mer residing between Harrington
and FELTON,, died early Saturday
morning at the Milford Emergency
Hospital from gunshOt wounds re-
ceived Friday morning when a gun
held by her husband was accidental
ly discharged. The accident hap
pened while Tucker and his wife
were trying to kill rat which they
had located under a chicken coop.
In some manner the gun was dis
charged and the full load of shot
lodged in Mrs. fuckers face. Part
of the face was torn away. She was
rushed to the Emergency Hospital
in Milford where the doctors did
everything possible to save her life.
Though conscious When admitted to
the institution she was unable to
talk because of the injuries which
she had sustained. The husband,
suffering mental torture because of
the accident, related the story to the
hospital authorities. He refused to
leave his dying wife's bedside, and
was with her when the end came
about o'clock Saturday morning.
Funeral services were held at her
late home on Monday afternoon, and |
interment was made at Hollywood |
cemetery by VIM. G. Powders, fu-
neral director of Milford.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
EXPECT REHOBOTH BAY
SURVEY REPORT SOON
Government Engineers Now Work.
ing On Baffling Project

A report on the progress of the
survey and the possibilities and
costs Of reopening the inlet which
leads into Rehoboth Bay and In
dian River, Sussex county, is looked
for this week at the U. S. Engineer
Office in Wilmington.
Acting in response to an urgent
appeal made several weeks ago
from residents along the bay and
river, and through the influence of
U. S. Senator du POnt, the Board of
Engineers of the War Department
arranged with Col. Earl I. Brown,
U. S. Engineer for the Wilmington
District, to make a survey of the
situation, costs of which, amounting
to approximately S2500, were prac-
tically guaranteed by Senator du
Pont, who sent his personal check
for the sum named to cover the
obligation.
Col. Brown Immediately ordered
the district engineer survey boat and
surveying party to move from Cape
May, where they had been at work,
to the Rehoboth Bay and Indian
River and report on what could be
done to reopen the inlet.
In the appeal made by residents
CONTINUED on page y
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
TOMATO GROWERS TO
INSPECT KENT FIELDS
Tour OF County Will Take Place
Next Tuesday, August 4th, Be-
ginning At Dover.

Tomato growers in Delaware and
throughout the eastern shore of
Maryland have been given an urgent
invitation to join an inspection tour
OF some of the outstanding tomato
fields on Tuesday, August 4th, which
will be the first tour of this nature
ever conducted in this section of the
country. 1t is expected by those in
charge of this tour that several hun
dred farmers in these two states will
take advantage of this opportunity
to look over these various tomato
fields in which experiments are be-
ing conducted by the agricultural
extension departments of the Uni
versity of Delaware and the Univer-
slty of Maryland cooperation with
the local growers and Gamers.
According to the plans of this tour
as arranged by Kent County Agent
e. Wilson, of Dover, and
Edgar W. Montell, tomato produc-
ton specialist for the eastern shore
and peninsula, the growers from the
southern and central parts of the
county will assemble in front of the
post office in Dover at 8 o'clock on
the morning of August 4. This will
also be a convenient meeting place
for those growers from Sussex coun-
CONTINUED on page y
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
WAX HEAD In WATER
STARTS MURDER RUMOR
Head Fished Out Of River Makes
Excitement In Milford

Considerable excitement and COM
ment was caused in Milford Tuesday
morning when John Bennett, local
barber, found a wax head floating
along the edge of the MispilliOn Riv-
er near the Valiant Fertilizer Fac
tory. The head was put in a bag and
taken to a nearby wharf, and the
rumor spread like wildfire that a
murder had been committed and a
search was about to be started for
the body. Further examination dis
closed the head to be a wax figure.
It seems that when Charles Huber
left Milford about a year ago he
gave the wax head to DR.. William
Marshall, who used It as an Orna-
ment on his boat. Recently DR.. Mar
shall sold the boat and in cleaning it
the head was thrown overheard. It
fioated down stream and lodged in
the bushes along the stream, and re-
mained there until found by Bennett
on Tuesday. Persons who first saw
the wax head were very secretive
about the real truth of the find and
allowed the idea to spread that a
human head had been found.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
WIDOW WAS TO HAVE
WE'D JAMES A. CAREY
Mrs. John DOWnes Says The Trag-
edy Prevented Marriage

James Carey, Eastern Shore land
owner, was to have been married
July 18, the day after he was found
slain near Willards Station. This
romance in the twilight of the mans
life was revealed by Mrs. John
Downes, who was to have been the
bride. She has been neighbor of
the Carey family for more than
twenty-five years.
Il had not seen Mr.. Carey since
the Sunday before the MURDER" Mrs
Downes said. ''He again asked me to
marry him. He said he was getting
old and wanted home. I told him I
would give him my answer Friday
night. That was the day he was kill
ed.
'I guess it is all for the best. Who
knows?
"The first time he asked me to
marry him told him it was i'm
possible. Then he remained away
for several days. After a while he
resumed his visits. When he came
Sunday we had long talk. If he had
come Friday night guess the ans
wer would have been yes
eve would have gone to Salisbury
Saturday to be married. There were
other things to be attended to.
''I pitied Mr.. Carey. He said he
was leading the life of a wandering |
dog that he had enough money to
provide all the comforts we needed
for the remainder of our lives, and
that he would bind most of his prop
erty over to me before the marriage.
He owned about six farms in this
section"
Widow Downes is about As. Carey
was "a. He had been somewhat of
since the death Of his wife,
more than twenty years ago. He
cOnfided his business and financial
matters to no one.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
EARLY APPLE CROP has
BEEN A MONEY MAKER
Growers Who Had Their Fruit In
spected Received Fine Prices

Determined to make the most of
their efforts from fruit producing
line, Delaware fruit packing and
shipping houses in Kent county are
utilizing expert fruit packers from
the State of Georgia to make their
hampers of early apples more at
tractive.
Last week was the bumper week
for early apples and it was the bus
lest early apple week the state has
ever experienced. More than 900
carloads of early apples have gone
forward by railroad to say nothing
of the amount shipped by motor
truck. Last year the entire ship
ment by railroad tOtalled but $50
carloads and the growers consider
ed they had a good season. This
year, however, it is anticipated that
the crop will yield at least 1000,
perhaps LOO carloads.
These Georgia fruit packing ex-
perts made long hours at steady
continuous work last week. This
week the early apple season is rap
idly drawing to close.
The prevailing prices have ranged
from SIPS to $3.50 per bushel, and
these prices are paying ones for the
growers.
The thing which the grower Of
early apples fears most came last
Wednesday and Thursday, when, be-
Continued on page y
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31


After weeks Of anticipation and
preparation for the event, the RO-
tary Club of Milford was presented
with its charter last Friday evening
by Q. D. Garrettson, former district
governor Of the Thirty-fifth District,
who represented Gil" Palen, gov
ernor Of the Fiftieth District in
which Milford is located. The exer-
cises followed dinner at the New
Windsor Hotel, at which 125 Rotar-
ians and their guests were present.
The menu served to the club and it's
guests was up sto the usual high
standard of the meals served at the
local hostlery.
Edward P. BardO, past-president
of the Wilmington Rotary Club, was
chairman of the evening. This honor
was conferred upon Mr.. Bardo by
reason of the great effort he had
made in securing the charter and or
ganiZing the local club. The princi-
pal address of the evening was made
by Everett C. Johnson, former Sec
retary of State, and publisher of the
Newark Post. His subject was "Ro-
tary." He impressed upon his lis
teners the great work being done by
Rotary International, it's aims and
manner of accomplishing things set
out to do. He spoke of how he per-
sonally had been benefited by hav-
ing become a Rotarian-not in a
monetary way, but by reason of the |
comradeship and understanding
which had directly resulted through |
his afiliation with Wilmington Ro-
tarians. Always an excellent speak
er, Mr.. Johnson was at his best Fri
day evening and for three-quarters
continued on page y
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY
HAS PRIZE WINNING COW
LydOn Caulk, Jr, Has Won Prizes
Amounting To $3.50 With Animal

The youngest exhibitor in the live
stock department at the Kent-Sus-
sex County Fair was Lydon Caulk,
Jr., 12-year-old son of L. D. Caulk,
of Woodside, who is connected with
the Eastern Shore Ayrshire Breed
ers' Association. In the midst of the
group of Ayrshires owned and ex-
hibited by Mr.. Caulk in the cattle
house, is Sahara's Fashion Plate,
the 5-year-old COW owned by young
Lydon. This COW has cost him $3.50,
and it has won for him $3.50 in
prizes. 1t has never been defeated in
any contest, and until three years
ago it was capturing blue ribbons at
the Kent-Sussex County Fairs when
shown in the same class with Hol-
stems, practice that has been drop
ped for the past two years by the
Fair Association
Mr.. Caulk, Sr., is a breeder of
many years experience, and is one
of the pioneers who introduced the
Ayrshire breed in this district of
Delaware. When the boy was two
years old he was given calf. His
CONTINUED on page y
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
HARRINGTON FAIR
BIGGER AND BETTER
THAN EVER BEFORE
approximately 10000 Adults And
Children On The Grounds For
Opening Day.
A GREAT POULTRY SHOW
Breeders From Delaware And
NeighbOring States Exhibit
Their Finest This Year.

Delawares. only fair, the Kent and
Sussex County Fair, opened at Har-
rington on Tuesday with an attend
ance unequaled in the six years his
tory of the association. Late in the
afternoon when everything was in
full swing, it was estimated fully
10000 men, women and children
were present. Hundreds of people
came from Maryland, Pennsylvania
and Virginia for the premiere. The
fact that Tuesday was Children's
Day and that the kiddies were ad-
mitted free of charge accounted for
the large number Of youngsters.
Interest was lacking in no corner
of the fair grounds. Everything was
in order and everything was inter
esting. The cattle exhibits, swine
exhibits, the handicraft and Boys
and Girls Clubs work drew large
crowds. The poultry house was
thronged at times, particularly in
the afternoon to its capacity.
The harness races were exceed
-ingly popular.
Music was furnished by the Lib
erty Fire Company band of Penns
Grove and at intervals between the
races, special vaudeville and dare
devil stunts were given by the Fam
GUS Five troupe.
Among the most interesting spots
in the fair was the poultry house.
The exhibit contained 522 fowls,
half of which were entered in the
fancy classes and the other half in
the utility class. Frank A. Vadakin
will judge the latter and Newton |
Gosh of Vineland, ~ j., will judge
the former classes.
Among the large breeders who
had a number of birds on exhibition
was R. NJ. Head, of West Chester,
Pa, who has been experimenting
and breeding poultry for the past Is
years. His most curious specimens
we're the naked neck hens and roos-
ter and a pair of young ones. The
adults are the results of crosses be-
tween the bronze turkey and buff
'ock rooster. For the past four
years, Mr.. Heald has been expert
nenting with these two species and
wo and half years ago, he finally
CONTINUED on page fiVe)
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
FAMILY REUNIONS TO
BE HELD In SEPTEMBER
Davis, Kinder and Noble Families
VIII Make Merry At Old Bethel

At meeting of the executive COM
mittee in charge of the recurring
reunion of the Davis, Kinder and
Noble families, it was decided to
meet at Old Bethel Church, where
the descendants of these pioneers
met in reunion for the first time
forty years ago.
September 2, 1925 at 1O:3O a. m.
is the time selected when the fol-
lowing program will be rendered.
Rufus F. Noble, Esq, will preside.
Harry W. Davis, Esq, will have
charge of the music. Rev. J. IT.
Whedbee, of Seaford, pastor at Beth
ell, and Rev. F. C. MacSorley of Fed
eralsburg, former pastor, will give
Introductory addresses; others will
give welcoming words; in addition
to which a great-grandson of EnnaIs
Davis, Rev. Charles Herbert Cannon.
of Hyattsville, Md, will deliver a
special address.
A picnic lunch and a social after
noon will follow the exercises of the
seventh reunion of these families
who settled around Bethel and Fed
eralsburg in the 18th century. In
1881 they united in building the an
cient church, the second dedicated to
Methodism on this peninsula. From
far and near, the loyal descendants
delight to gather on this sacred his
toric spot, cherishing and perpetu-
ating the memories of the revered
foreparents, and of what this ancient
church stands for. Thus strength
ening the bonds of consanguinity of
those of middle life, and hallowing
the ties of relationship of rising gem
eratiOns
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
MAY GET
DRYENFORCEMENT JOB
Former Milford Man Has Been
Mentioned In Connection With
Appointment.

at is going to be a clean-cut bus
mess organization for the efficient
accomplishment of its purpose. u
This is one of the requirements of
General Lincoln G. Andrews, assis-
tant secretary of the treasury, in
charge of prohibition enforcement
These specifications are going to be
strong factor in the selection of
the district administrator from the
sixth district which includes Della
ware, and which has also streng-
thened the belief here that Senator
Coleman du Pont and Congressman
HoustOn's candidate will get the ap-
pointment.
While the name of the candidate
for "dry administrator for the Del
Observation-Disclosures of Column
bia District is withheld, it was stat
ed on good authority on Monday that
William J. Swain, present Prohibi-
ton director for Delaware, is not be-
ing urged for administrator.
1t is limited that General A. R.
Benson, of Dover, former Secretary
of State of Delaware, or former
State Senator Wallace S. Handy, of
Dover would be acceptable to Sen
ator du POnt and Congressman
Houston for administrator and that
General Benson is being urged ac-
lively for the place.
Mr.. Handy formerly resided in
Milford. Until few months ago ha
headed the State Automobile TitIing1
at Dover.
In dispatches sent from Washing
ton in the last few days to newspa-
)ers in this district, it had been the
opinion of these correspondents that
Delaware would get the appointment
If administrator for the Delaware
Maryland and District of Columbia
district.
If the Delaware candidate is Sc
ected, it will mean that he will
lave considerable patronage to dis
'ose of when he selects his force of
'ffice and field workers.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
BETTER FACILITIES AT
EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
Automatic Elevator viii Be INSTALL
ed And Nurses Home Equipped

A meeting of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Milford Emergency Hos
pital was held in the Office of The
L. D. Caulk Company on Tuesday,
July 28, at 4:30 p. m. This was the
first meeting under the direction of
the new president. The attendance
indicated a real interest on the part
of the directors. There were pres
ent: G. Layton Grier, George H..
Hall, R. Arthur Derrickson, Col.
TheO. Townsend, Chas. D. Murphy,
VIM. E. Valiant, w. S. Simpler, Gov.
J. G. Townsend, Harry ViVen, Loud
er N. Hearn and VIM. C. Smith.
The directors visited the hospital
and made a survey of the needs of
the institution, after which they at
tended dinner at the Windsor Ho-
tel.
Committees were appointed to ar
range for repairs to the nurses
home adjoining the hospital, and to
look after the decorating of the hos
pital building.
A report was read from the Otis
Elevator Company making sugges-
tions for the installation of an up
to-date automatic elevator. The in
stallatiOn of the elevator will make
possible the use of four more rooms
on the third floor. These are very
much needed, as from time to time
the facilities of the institution have
been taxed to the limit.
New committees were appointed,
and there will be a good deal of ac-
tivity around this hospital in the
near future.
Mr.. R. A. Derrickson was elected
vice president. Mr.. Louder N.
c. D. Holzmueller, and c. E.
Varney were elected directors.
Plans for bazaar to be held this
all will soon be in operation.
Reports from all over the south
ern part of the state indicate that
he men and women are going to do
their part to make the hospital a
success.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
SEAFORD WOMAN SHOT
HERSELF WHILE DESPONDENT
Miss Grace COUIbOurn In Salisbury
Hospital As Result Of Wound

Miss Grace Coulbourn, aged 20
years, daughter OF Captain and Mrs.
Benjamin S. COulbourn, of about five
miles from Seaford, is in a serious
condition in the Peninsula General
Hospital, Salisbury, Md, with a bull
let wound in her right breast. Ply
sicians attending her believe she
will recover if complications do not
develop. 1t is said that the young
woman attempted to take her own
life with her fathers revolver.
Failure to secure a position as
music teacher in Philadelphia and
poor health, are said to be the
causes that led up to Miss CouI-
bourn's attempt to kill herself. She
is a graduate of the Peabody Insti-
tute of Music, Baltimore. Last
Thursday she went to secure a posi-
ton which, however, did not mater.
1alize. She returned on train reach
ing Seaford early Sunday afternoon
and went to the home of her parents
in the country.
About 4 o'clock Miss Coulbourn
went to her room and shortly after
wards persons in the house were at
tracted by a revolver shot. On in
vestigation they found the woman
in the room with the wound in her
breast and the revolver nearby.
Drs. Haines and Howell were call
ed and ordered her sent to the hos
pital at once. By means of an X-ray
the bullet was located under her
right shoulder blade.
The Coulbourn family lived in
Seaford for years but moved to their
present home on a farm several
years ago.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
FRANK P. TRUTTT DIED
AT HIS HOME In MILFORD
Well-KnOWn Newspaper Solicitor
Passes Away After Short Illness

" Frank P. Truitt, possibly as we'll
known to the citizens of lower Kent
and Sussex counties as any man
who has resided herein for years
died at his home on Causey avenue
South Milford, Wednesday morning
after several weeks illness. He was
65 years of age/ A widow and two
daughters, Miss Lille Truitt, who
resides with her parents, and Mrs.
Stanford Marvel, of Dover and one
son, Allie Truitt, survive him. For
years past Frank Truitt has acted
as a newspaper solicitor for the
weekly newspapers of lower Della
ware, and his duties took nim to the
homes of the citizens Of the rural
districts of the state. He was Of a
genial disposition and made friends
rapidly with those with whom he
came in contact. Mr.. Trultt acted
as a solicitor for the Milford Chron-
icle for more than thirty years, up
until the World War, at which time
he worked at one of the munitiOn
plants. Following the war he was
employed by the Capitol Printing
Company at Dover as solicitor.
Last November he severed his rela-
tions with that company and was
employed by the Milford Chronicle
to act as a subscription solicitor. Up
until the time of his last illness he
worked steadily at his job. One of
his specialties was buying antique
furniture, of which he has handled
hundreds of curious pieces.
Funeral services will be held this
afternoon at 4 o'clock, and inter
ment will be made at Odd Fellows
cemetery by William G. Powders,
funeral director.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
ANNUAL PICNIC KENT
COUNTYFARM BUREAU
Outing Will Be Held Next Thurs
day At Bowers Beach..-Large
Crowd Expected.

Thursday, August 6, is the date
of the annual picnic of the Kent
County Farm Bureau, and Bowers
Beach is the place where this out
ing will be held, according to a re-
cent announcement made by Ed.
Willim, president of the county or
ganization, and County Agent Rus
sell E. Wilson. This was decided in
a special meeting of the executive Z
committee held last Wednesday ev-
ening, at which time the various
committees were appointed to for
mulate plans toward making this
picnic the largest and most enjoy
able farmers outing held in Kent
county in several years.
A committee consisting of R. Har-
ry Wilson, G. D Paradee, w. V. Co.'S
den and Mrs. Harry T. Smith, of Do
yer, and Mrs. George W. Collins of
Magnolia was appointed to prepare
the games and contests for this oc-
casiOn, and the farmers and their
families of the county may look
forward to spending an enjoyable
day taking part in these games and
other outdoor sports scheduled for
this annual event. Those who at
tended the picnic last year at Bow
ers, will remember the sociable and |
spirit with which the peo-
pie as a whole entered into the diff
erent contests, and the committee in
charge of the amusements this year
hopes that a similar spirit will pre-
vail among those who will be in at
tendance at Bowers Beach next
John NJ. Roe and Arthur F. Dawes
were appointed on committee to
make all necessary arrangements
with the management of the beach
for the use of the grounds on that
day, as it is expected that several
hundred farmers and their families
from all sections of the county and
counties will attend this
annual event in the history of the
Farm Bureau. County Agent Rus
iell E. Wilson has been instructed
~ the members of the executive
committee to send notices to the
armers in the county inviting them
o attend this picnic, and every pos
ible effort will be put forth by those
n charge of this affair to make it a
lay Of interest and pleasure to all.
Milford chronicle., 1925-07-31
GEORGETOWN TEAM TO
CROSS BATS WITH MILFORD
Milford Boys Fighting Georgetown
For Lead In Game Tomorrow

A base ball game of interest to
every fan in Milford will be played
in town tomorrow when Georgetown
will play the Milford boys on the
local grounds. By winning this
game Milford will go in a tie for
first place with Georgetown in the
Sussex County League. Strawbridge
pitched for Milford at Georgetown
last Saturday and defeated them by
the score of 12 to 4. He is scheduled
to pitch again tomorrow and the
local boys will be on their toes to
help him beat Georgetown again.
This game will be called at p. m.
sharp and all who can should at
tend as the boys need your quarters
if they are to continue to play in
their approved style during the past
several weeks. Come out and see a
good game and help your home town
boys along.