davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Jury Retonvened
Monday; "A Witnesses
II True Bills Are
Found By Body
Two No Bills

The Holmes County Grand Jury
reconvened Monday for a one-day
session in which A witnesses were
examined and IL true bills returned.
The cases are reported to include
a number of cases involving WhiSk-
ey and slot machines.
The full report follows:
TO THE HONORABLE S. F. DAVIS
JUDGE OF THE FOURTH CIRCU-
IT COURT DISTRICT OF MISSISS-
IPPI:
We, your Grand Jury, duly elect
ed, empaneled, sworn and charged
at the regular October 1916 Term
of the Circuit Court of Holmes CO.
unity, Mississippi, having heretofore
met and recessed, and having re-
convened on this day, met again on
this date in due and legal session.;
and we now submit that we have
been in session one % day and have
heard AZ witnesses and have found
2 mo Bills" and 10 return into
open Court, with this report, IL
True Bills" which we herewith
submit to your Honor.
And now having reported our
actions in the premises we beg to
be discharged, subject to recall
when and if ordered by Your Honor
during the current term of this
Court.
This October 21st, 1916.
J. G.. HERBERT, JR. FOREMAN
ATTEST: j. N. HEARN, CLERK.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Bill Ellis Freed On
Slot Machine CHARGE

o. E. Ellis, Durant, charged with
possession of gambling devices in
the form of slot machines at a
place operated by him known as
highway 81 Driven" south of Dur
ant was found mot guilty" by a
holmes county jury in Circuit Court
last week.
Ellis did not employ a lawyer and
acted as his own counsel.
The state put a witness on the
stand, Mr.. M. l.. Rodgers, of Durant,
widely known citizen, who testified
that he had been in the Ellis place
and described the slot machines in
detail.
Ellis denied having slot machines
in his place the time mentioned by
the states witness.
Another case against Ellis which
had been appealed from JP R. E.
McNeer'S court in Durant, originally
set for last Friday, was not tried, but
has been postponed.
Members of the jury serving on
the Ellis case were:
Jurors Listed.
II. R. Brock, Wade Ray, Otis Step
henson, M. f. race, o. B. Bradley,
r. F. Austin, I. w. Ware, j. B.
Yeager, j. w. Roberts, Rogers Nc
Bride, Joe Harthcock and w. O.
Harthcock.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Argentine Ant and
Rat Campaign
Starts Nov. 4th

o. T. Guice, Jr., Inspector for the
Mississippi State Plant Board, adj
vises thta on November 4, a cam.
paign against Argentine ants will be
conducted in the Argentine Ant in
tested areas of Durant followed by
a rat campaign beginning on Nov.
ember 5.
The Argentine Ant campaign will
be under the supervision of the Mis-
sissippi State Plant Board and ant
poison will be placed in aluminium
cups and nailed about on trees and
other objects in the four general
infested areas in Durant. Argentine
ants were alost eradicated in Durant
at n time, but owing to the scar.
city of materials during the war
the campaigns were discontinued.
The rat campaign will be put on
under the supervision of the State
Plant Board and the Fish and Wild.
life service. Crews working in put.
ing out the rat bait will endeavor
to contact every property owner and
for best results the rat poison should
be placed in out houses around
dwellings and in accessible atticS
where rats are bad. The property
can be of much help in COO.
perating with the men putting. out
the poison by telling them where
they are bothered with the rats. The
well known Red Squill will be used
in the residential districts. Red
Squill is a very effective rat poison
and is relatively harmless to man
and other animals. In parts of the
business district a recently Develop
ed rat poison known as 1880 will be
used. Mr.. Guice explains that a
successful rat campaign was conduc-
ted in Durant last winter and adj
vises that many towns should fon-
ow the good example of Durant In
helping rid their towns of these
pests.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Town Meeting Held Friday;
Unions Not Wanted
Open Forum Discussion
To CrystoIize Opinion
Held Al City Hall

Durant citizens held a town meet
ing Friday night at the City Hall for
the purpose of discussing the in
dustrial future of Durant. Under
particular consideration at this time
was the question of union activity.
Mayor w. E. Howell presided.
Unanimous opinion expressed at
this meeting attended by about two
hundred people representing practi-
cally every business in Durant was
that the industrial future of Durant
is best served without labor unions.
The majority of Durant citizens
are not organized and have nc desire
to be, was the generally expressed
opinion.
Factory Discussed
The contemplated addition to the
Durant Manufacturing Company
building which was built and is
owned by the City of Durant also
came in for considerable discussion
AS soon as the certificate of neces-
sity can be issued by the Balance
Agriculture With Industry Board a
100000. bond issue will be held to
double the size of the present build
ing. This will in time double the
number OF employees at the plant
with corresponding increase in pay
rolls.
1t was also generally agreed that
should union activity continue here
there is some doubt whether Durant
citizens would vote favorably on the
issue.
"Durant c1rlzens are noI interested
in voting for a bond issue to put
the CLIO or any labor union in buxt-
ness" as one citizen expressed it.
Unions Turned Down
Already six towns in Mississippi
have voted mo Union" in elections
held. They are Corinth, Monticello,
Bonneville, Hattiesburg, Natchez.
Other towns had community meet
ings and in some cases have passed
resolutions by the Board of Alder
men stating they did not want labor
unions. Winona is reported to have
taken such action.
1t is reported that should elect
ions be held in Durant at this time
that the vote not to organize would
be overwhelming.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

one. But they did admit whipping
which naturally made them suspects
when his body was found in a lake
in another county.
In this case the Sheriff, Mr.. w. L.
Murtagh, performed the duties of
his office admirably. He made as
complete and thorough investigat-
ion as anyone could ask. The negro
mans body had been found in the
lake and buried in an unknown
grave when the Sheriff was notified.
Promptly he started the investigat-
ion which resulted in six white men
being jailed in three or four days.
District Attorney Howard Dyer
and County Attorney Pat M. Bar
rett prosecuted the men with all of
the evidence at their command but
they did not have enough evidence
to establish the guilt of the men.
The men involved, we know, re-
greet the negro's death. Even if they
arn't guilty they still have to live
with themselves for the rest of their
lives.
Perhaps this case will result in
more serious consideration being
held for the personnel rights of oil
men. white or black. II IS q situation
demanding deliberate consideration
from thinking men and women
everywhere.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Bulldogs Win $40
Over Sunnower

The Bulldogs from Holmes gener-
ated power in the second half to
crush the Trojans from Sunflower
in Conference game at Kosciusko
Saturday evening.
The first half was close with
Holmes taking a TO lead late in the
initial quarter on two well executed
passes from Howell to CASTOR for
40 yards and a second from Howell
to Mcdonald for touchdown. Howell
kicked extra point for placement.
Holmes marched deep into Sun
flower territory on several occasions
in the second period but were I'M
able to score until late in the third
period. A beautiful running pass
from Walden to Rhodes in the end
zone featured the third period.
Holmes was on the Trojan Is as the
period ended, and Johnson hit pay
dirt on the first play of fourth per-
iod on an end run. Burrows, center
intercepted a Trojan forward at the
fifty and ran to the Is from where
Ward swept end for the fourth coun.
ter, Late in the last period Ward
again circled right end for a counter
standing-up. Smith kicked the point.
Final score, Holmes 80, Sunflower
0. Summary: First downs Holmes
Il, SunfloW 6; Passes attempted
Holmes IL completed Z, Sunflower
attempted 20 completed S; Penalties
Holmes Is yards, Sunflower As
yards. Scoring Mcdonald, Rhodes,
Johnson, Ward Q, Points after touch
odwns Howell 1. Smith l (place-
ments).
Holmes played most of the game
without the services of Haynes,
Wingback, and J. Burrell, Guard,
both injured in early part of first
quarter. Roy Kuykendall left the
game in fourth period due to injury.
Holmes linemen played a bruising
GENE, and looked plenty tough for
fuwture opponents. Ables, Morris,
Culpepper, Bailey, and Mcdonald
Stood-out for Holmes. Practically
every man on the Bulldog squad
saw some service during the closing
periods, and held the Trojans well
il hand. Sunflower attempted many
passes in the late stages of the game,
but were unsuccessful in reaching
pay-dirt. A capacity crowd witness
ed the game under the sponsorship
of the American Legion.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Thad Di(kerson Is
Freed In Negro
Boys Killing
Pickens Man Shot
Youth Fatally
Lost April There

Thad Dickerson, former Pickens
white man, charged with murder
IN the pistol death of Stanley Denn-
IS, l6, negro schoolboy, in April was
found innocent fly a Holmes Circuit
Court jury Thursday after it had de-
liberated less than 80 minutes.
Dickerson took the stand Thurs
day to refute testimony of state wit
nesses that he shot the negro with
out provocation or warning.
Dickerson said the negro boy,
bouncing a basketball, bumped into
him as he crossed a Pickens street
Sunday morning April A. He said
when he demonstrated with the
negro, the latter advanced on him,
seized his hand and bit his fingers.
Dickerson said he drew his pistol
and fired between the negro's legs,
but the latter continued to advance,
reaching for his hip pocket.
Dickerson testified he then shot
the negro in the leg hoping to stop
him, and when this failed he shot
him fatally through the heart.
States Witnesses
The state had put Mr.. Hal Peter
son, white Pickens citizen, on the
stand. According to reports re testi-
fled the colored youth still had a
basketball in his hands as he went
down after being shot.
Peterson said as the boy sank to
his knees falling the ball rolled over
his shoulder and fell to the ground.
Mayor H. S. McKie, also of Pick
ems, testified in the court that in his
opinion Dickerson was definately
under the influence of intoxicants,
officials reported.
Floyd Upshaw, of near Pickens
corroborated the testimony of Dick
erson, officials reported.
The state was assisted in the pro-
secution by Hon. H.. H. Johnson Lex
ington, who was retained by a group
of Pickens white men.
Jurors Listed
M. E. Grace, Oscar Rodgers, H.
V. Brock, J. B. Yeager, Rogers Nc
Bride, Otis Stephenson, Grady
Bailey, Ed Powell, Boyd Moss, o. B.
Bradley, w. B. Frost and Benny
Byrd.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Five Men Freed
OF M~ansIaughter
In Negro's Death
Jury Returns Speedy
Verdict In w. J. Dodd
Case Late Tuesday

Five Holmes county white men
accused of manslaughter in the
fatal beating of a Holmes negro in
July, were freed late Tuesday after
a trial jury returned a mot guilty"
verdict after four minutes deliber-
alton.
Two of the defendants, Spenser
Ellis and James Roberts, were &C
quilted on a verdict directed by
Judge S. F. Davis before the case
of the other three went to the jury.
Acquitted by the jury's verdict
were Jeff Dodd Sr., Jeff Dodd Jr.,
and Dixie Roberts uncle of James.
The men had been accused of the
fatal flogging of Leon McAtee, who
was employed on the Dodd farm.
The following story was told
through the combined testimony of
state and defense witnesses.
On July % the Elder Dodd had
McAtee arrested on a charge of
stealing a saddle which, it develop
ed later, was actually stolen by
another negro. Dodd said he went
to the county Jail, withdrew the
charge and paid the court costs after
McAtee had agreed to help find the
saddle.
Dodd said he then called Dixie
Roberts, who also had lost a saddle,
and Jeff Dodd Jr., and with them
and James Roberts went to a field
neal the McAtee home. They were
joined later by Ellis, and after foil
owing the negro's directions for
some time without finding the sad
die, lost patience.
Negro move" cloimed
The elder Dodd said he told Nc
atee if he didn't find the saddle he
would send him back to Jail, where
upon, he said the negro made a
move" toward him. Dodd testified
he struck the negro "as hard as
could four Or five times with my
fist" and that the other men came
to his rescue. McAtee finally broke
and ran and Jumped over a fence
as he headed toward his home.
Henrietta McAtee, The negro's
wife, testified she saw McAtee that
afternoon with the five defendants.
She said his lips were bruised, his
eyes "poppish" and that his hands
were bound with a rope. Later, she
said, she saw Ellis pickup truck
60 by with McAtee doubled up in
the back. Two days later his body
was found floating in a bayou in
Sunflower County.
The state contended the jury,
from this sequence of events, could
reach a reasonable verdict of guilty
OF manslaughter." The defense, how
ever, claimed, the state had failed
to link the defendants with the
negro's death, and that testimony
showed the last time they saw Nc
Aztec the negro was able to jump a
fence and continue running.
Jurors on the Dodd ct al case
were: w. E. Luby, G. w. Trigleth,
j: A.. Mcdaniel, Chester Killebrew,
Charles F. Canender, Ed A. Mann,
James w. Killebrew. Homer Brock,
H. E. Chisolm, L. E. Mabry, Earl
Covington, ]. T. Alderman.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Durant Tigers Meet
Alderman Friday

Durant Tigers meet the strong
Alderman eleven Friday night on
Bennett Field at eight o'clock. The
largest crowd of the season is ex-
pected to see Durant try for its sixth
win in as many starts.
The Alderman eleven is the
strongest opponent the Tigers have
met this season and Durant goes
into the game the under dog.
Spirit of the boys on the team Is
high and they are expected to give
a good account of themselves.
Magnolia Goes Down
Magnolia went down to defeat
here last Friday night when Durant
defeated them 10 in one of the
hardest contested games of the sea-
son.
The lone touchdown was made in
the last few moments of play, c
cording to accounts.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Ward Rites Held :.
AT McAdams Home

Mrs. Laura Annis Ward passed
away Friday at her home in Nc
Adams after an illness of three years.
Cause of death was heart trouble.
She was 88 years of age.
Funeral services were held at the
family residence at 2:30 o'clock with
the Rev. Roper and the Rev. Clark
conducting. She was a member of
the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.
Interment was in Sails cemetery
with Southern Undertaking Asso-
citation in charge.
Surviving are the husband, r. S.
Ward, and four daugters, Mrs. Dell
Bell, McAdams; Mrs. Eunice
Blocker, label, Okla; Mrs. Estelle
Cummins, Sails; Mrs. Bessie Nc
Lellan, Durant. Ten grandchildren
survive.
Sympathy is extended the family
in their bereavement.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Army Recruiter In
Lexington Friday

M/Sgt. Holmes of the Jackson Re-
cruiting Station, will be in Lexing-
ton every Friday from 9 A. M. to 8
p. M. for the purpose of enlisting
men seventeen years of age up.
Men enlisting for three years or
more will be given their choice of
the Army Air Force or some branch
of the Army Ground Forces. He is
also accepting enlistments for eight
cen months or two years.
Sgt. Holmes will make his head
quarters in the post office.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
First Baptist Church
Sunday School 9:45 Am.
Worship ll:00 A. M.
3. I. u. $500 P. M.
Worship 7:00 p. NJ.

Laymen's Day was a great success
in our church. Crowds were good
last Sunday. We hope to see all of
you at church the 9th.
This is State Mission Day. Our
goal for the Sunday School is $4,000
Please pray, come, and work.
Our church worw seems to be on
the Up Grade and the Lord be Civ
en- the praise.
Sincerely, c. M. DAY, Pastor.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Rusche Infant Is
Buried At Coxburq

Funeral services were held We'd
nesday, October 9th, for Herman
Grady Rusche, infant son of Mr.. and
Mrs. c. j. Rusche, of Eden.
Services were held at Coxburg
with Southern Undertaking in
charge.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Legion and Auxiliary
To Meet Oct. 18th

District 8 of the American Legion
and Auxiliary will hold its annual
conference at Carthage, October 20,
7:30 P. M.
Reports will be given from each
Post in the District, and plans made
for the incoming year. District Com
mander Jacobs would like to have a
good representation from this dis
trict.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
Mississippi Valley Boys
At Bethesda School

The Mississippi Valley BOYS will
be at the Bethesda School October
2Sth, at 1880 P. NJ.
Admissior-Adults - soc - child
ren-25e. Everyone is invited.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

Miss Hazel Branror, MIR. Claud
Wilkes and Miss Bonnie Brannon,
of Gadsden, Ala, offended the Ala
bama-Tennessee game in Knoxville
Saturday.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
mes-a2 Position Sunflower-Q

Walden, Ward, Rhodes. Smith, Rem
froe, Montague, Irving, Weaver Gas
ton, Nix, Atkins, Martin, Burrow,
Strickland, Harpole, McQuarv, and
Leavell; Sunflower : Coleman, Sorr-
Gus Rellafinni, Martin, Fielder, Poor,
Stephenson, and King.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

The Rev. c. NJ. Day is conducting
a revival meeting in Kosciusko this
week.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

For some time the ~bootleggers Of
Holmes county have been operating
with what amounts to practical i'm
punity from the law. The few times
they were caught all they have had
to do is to get them a lawyer . pre-
ferably one who could get them a
favorable" jury -. and it only
takes n or two to get a jury.
But a new day is here.
Now the bootleggars do not feel
they have to hire a lawyer.
Last week in Circuit Court in
Holmes county we had the case Of
a man being accused of the possess
ion of slot machines.
In spite of the fact that it is gen.
orally known the man over a long
period of time had been operating
a b~ootlegeing joint with slot mach
ines, the slot machines displayed
for weeks at a time in open plate
glass windows for all the passing
world to see, a Holmes county jury
found him mot guilty"
Testifying on the stand against
the bootlegger was a reputable cit
izen.
The jury took the word of the
b~ootlegger.
And he didn't even have to hire
q lcwyer.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

Another case in Holmes county
Circuit Court last week found a
white man being tried for shooting
a l6-year old negro boy. The white
man claimed the boy made a move
toward him.
Reputable witnesses on the stand
declared the negro boy never even
dropped the basketball he was
bouncing until he fell down dying
in the street. The Mayor of the town
in which this happened declared the
white man was definately under the
influence of intoxicants.
The negro boy was popular with
the white men of the community
for they made up a pool of money
and hired counsel to help the state
prosecute the man.
But the Holmes county Jury try
ing the mar found him mot guilty"
We wonder if God sees it that
wuY.
The great majority of white peo-
pie regret and deplore the circum-
stances surrounding the death of a
slightly built 35 year old Holmes
negro man. Two of five white de-
PENDANTS in the case for manslaugh-
ter admitted to the Sheriff they had
whipped the dead negro but claimed
they did not kill him. There were
no witnesses to the whipping nor
his death.
II is generally conceded that none
of the men involved, all reputable
men, would deliberately kill any
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

You'll enjoy Aliison's delicious
rneuls-served By the open log fire.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24

We would not deliberately violate
a rule of anyone's court.
For the past year in Holmes coun-
ty we have waged an unceasing
campaign for law enforcement with
special reference to enforcement of
prohibition and gambling laws. We
ingly the present administration Of
Sheriff Murtagh. We at first asked
him to clean up Holmes county, then
begged and pleaded with him to do
SO, finally demanding action.
AL our efforts have been directed
to better conditions and increase
public confidence in law and order
which upplies equally to our courts.
Little has been done.
But we shall stop trying.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-10-24
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
by Huxel Brunnon

NlliZeIS VI OuIdIlt ilelu dn OptIl
meeting Friday night to discuss our
industrial future.
1t was the unanimous opinion of
those present that the best interests
of the working people in Durant in
assuring the industrial future of this
town would best be served without
labor unions.
1t is understood labor union organ
izers have been active in Durant for
some several weeks. They r under
stood to have left town.
The general opinion seems to be
the hope they are gone for good.
The gentlemen probably realized
they were not too welcome in the
first place and that, in the second
place, they were not using much
sense. They were about TO kill the
goose that layed the golden egg.
The plant in which they were try
ing to secure signatures for an elect
ion now employs about l4l people.
Contemplated is an expansion
project in the immediate future
doubling the plants size, employees
and payroll.
The labor unlon organizers prop
ably realized their best interests
would be to lay low until the future
anyway.
We have been charged with con-
tempt of court.
The charge is that we violated a
rule of the Honorable S. f. Davis
Holmes County Circuit Court. He
had told the witnesses in a case be-
ing tried not to talk to anyone
about the case.
The writer, not knowing this,
taken to a witness briefly regard
ing her testimony for the purpose
OF accurately reporting it to the
press.
1t is as simple as that.
We shall not "try" the charge
here. The hearing is set for Monday
morning at nine o'clock in Lexing-
ton.
The action of the writer (talking
to a witness) was reported to Judge
Davis by Deputy Sheriff Harvey
Majors, who is employed by Sheriff
w. l.. Murtagh.
We did not violate q law -. but
q rule of Judge Davis court.
Wouldn't we see q great improve
ment in general conditions If oil the
lows Of Holmes County were given
the some attention by the Sheriffs
office that the rules Of Judge
receiver