85 Years Ago: July 20, 1939

PAROLE GRANTED TO MRS. WYNN
A protracted legal battle over the freedom of Mrs. Julia Wynn, of Dexter, convicted on February 8, 1934, of murder in the fatal shooting of Mrs. J.E. Burns, also of Dexter, was culminated today when the Georgia Prison and Parole Commission issued orders for her release on parole.
Mrs. Wynn, who has been in jail since October 6, date of the fatal shooting at the Dexter post office, was ordered released on July 18 in a letter from the commission to authorities at the Milledgeville State Farm, where she is incarcerated.
W.A. Dampier, attorney for Mrs. Wynn, announced that he received official confirmation of the parole today in a letter from M.E. Yancey, clerk of he commission.
The legal battle over the Wynn case had gone before the Supreme Court of Georgia twice, resulting in one mistrial and one verdict of guilty with recommendations for mercy, and lately it was carried before the Parole Commission.
Mrs. Wynn’s first trial resulted in a mistrial. Her second trial brought a life sentence after a Laurens Superior Court jury had found her guilty of murder with recommendations of mercy, early in 1934.
Later in 1934, the Supreme Court of Georgia refused to reverse the verdict of the Laurens Superior Court, and on extraordinary motion, a new trial was filed.
On August 23, 1935, Judge J.L. Kent, of the Laurens Superior Court, refused the motion. The Supreme Court likewise refused the motion, and Mrs. Wynn was later sent to Milledgeville to serve a life sentence.
Col. Dampier said that recommendations he presented before the Prison and Parole Commission for her immediate release were signed by the trial judges, prison officials under whom she served more than six years, jurors who served during trials, and a large number of citizens of the county.
The parole, issued by the State Prison and Parole Commission, specified that she must not return to her home county of Laurens except by express permission. She will live in Thomaston and will be employed as a housekeeper, the commission was informed.
The parole petition, filed by W.A. Dampier, Dublin attorney, admitted that Mrs. Wynn killed Mrs. Burns but said that she did so in self defense “fully believing at the time she made the fatal shot her life was in imminent danger.”
The petition said she was advancing in years and in frail health.

GUARDSMEN LEAVE FOR CAMP
Polished to a bright hue in drill maneuvers and equipment, Dublin’s two National Guard companies, comprising some 94 men and officers, will leave here in the small hours on Sunday morning for Anniston, Alabama, where the annual two-weeks’ training school will be conducted.
Extra drills other than the usual one-night-a-week meetings have brought the guardsmen of Company K and Headquarters Company of the Third Battalion up to a high level of efficiency and put their equipment into shape for the coming camp.
Col. L.C. Pope, Commander of the 121st Infantry of which the Dublin companies are a part, leaves here on Saturday for the Anniston Camp, Ft. McClelland. With Col. Pope will go the newly promoted Plans and Training officer of the Infantry, Major C.F. Pope, former company commander of Company K.
With the promotion of Major Pope, the infantry company here and its 64 men were left to the command of First Lieutenant Cliff Prince. Second Lieutenant Chris White will be in command of the first platoon and regiment. Joel Lord will be acting commander of the second platoon.
In Headquarters Company, there are 25 men and two officers commanded by Lieutenant Brooks Bryan, the other officer of Headquarters Company.
The National Guard units, loaded with such equipment as will be needed, will pull out from the M.D.& S. Railway depot early Sunday morning. From Dublin the troop train will proceed to Macon where it will join other national guard units and proceed to Atlanta, where a large troop train will be formed for the final lap of the journey to Camp McClelland.
In Atlanta, the Dublin troops will have a five hour lay-over before the large troop train will be formed
At Ft. McClelland, the Dublin troops will join other companies of the 121st Infantry for two weeks of training in all types of warfare, returning to Dublin on Sunday, July 29.
Monday will be devoted to straightening and making camp. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will be spent on the rifle range. Saturday will be inspection. On Sunday a regimental parade is planned. The final week will be devoted to maneuvers.
Company K Roster
First Lieutenant Cliff Prince; acting company commander; Second Lieutenant Chris White in charge of the first platoon, and Sergeant Joel Lord in charge of the second platoon. Durell Sapp is first sergeant.
Sergeants:
Palmer H. Currell, Walter J. Jackson, James D. Ladson, Alton L. Killingsworth, Hubert B. Willis, Henry L. Walden, Comer F. Holton, Herbert C. Holton
Corporals:
Emory A. Beckham, Earl R. Beckham, Hubert R. Clark, William K. Lindsey, Curtis D.Tomlinson, Claxton H. Veal
Privates First Class:
Letcher C. Curry, Gladstone D. Daniel, Cecil H. Edwards, Julius C. Edwards, Morris B. Hutcheson, Ernest H. Lee, Kittrell Lindsey, James K. Maddox, Henry M. Purvis, James V. Tipton, Freeman J. Shepard, and Wilbur M. Witherington
Privates:
Ellis E. Beckham, Hershal L. Daniel, John W. Daniel, Charles R. Garrett, Gilmer F. Garrett, Albert L. Graham, Allen Graham, Roger S. (?), Willis V. Holland, James R (?), Paul McLendon, Rowe L. McLendon, James R. Morrison, Jmes W. Neuman, John C. Passmore, George W. Bryan, William B. Russell, Thurman (?), Roy W. Shepard, George H. Snellgrove, Milo Tomlinson, Richard W. Brandon, James E. Veal, Wallace C. McCook, (?) Weaver, Jaces C. Weaver,James S. Witherington , Willie L. Young, William (?), James H. Perry, Joe (?) Smith, Clinton Pope, Howard Witherington, Richard W Brandon, James B. Veal, Wallace C. McCone, Casdon L. Stewart, William D. Keen, 1st cook
Men in Headquarters:
Roster of Headquarters Company follows:
First Lieutenant Ralph L. Webb
Second Lieutenant Brooks Bryans
Sergeants:
Bennett Carroll, Otis Sanders, Forrace S. Sconyers, Jr., Franklin C. Tindol, Delmas Webb
Corporals:
Thomas Godwin, Addison,B. Savage
Privates First Class:
Basil E Dunn, Grover C. Dunn, Emory F. Scarborough, Leroy Southerland
Privates:
Rufus L. Autry, Jr.,William A. Beckham, Legare Bracewell, John W. Camp, Graham P. Dowling, Henry T. Kalb, Morton C. Mason, Jr., Fred L. Smith, Joseph B. Stanley, Wilbur C. Stanley, Emil E. Tindol, Joe H. Vaughn, Charles Wheeler, Jr., and Vivian R. Wynn

DUBLIN DEBT CUT
Reduction of Dublin’s bonded indebtedness during the first six months of this year by some $4,764.20 was revealed today by Dr. C.A. Hodges, Mayor.
Dr. Hodges said that a report of city finances as of July 1 of this year revealed the bonded debt at $13,369.88 as compared with $18,134.08 on January 1 of this year. He said that the bonded debt had been reduced from approximately $21,000 to its present level since January 1, 1937, when he took office as mayor.
Dr. Hodges said that warrants outstanding against the city could have been paid off during the first six months of this year had not the critical school financial situation required use of additional city monies. He said that $5000 was advanced by the city to the schools on the fall budget and that outstanding warrants against the city figured $4,709.88.
Included in the report were figures showing that receipts during the six-month period ran well ahead of disbursements, leaving a larger amount of money on hand at the close of the period than on January 1.
Total receipts during the six-month period including $438.85 in the bank were placed at $72,572.39 while disbursements totaled $70,120.96, leaving a total of $2,451.43 at the beginning of the second half of the year, Dr. Hodges stated.
Highest receipts during the six months’ period came from the city’s 15 mill ad valorem tax, the financial statement revealed. Property taxes put into the treasury of the city $30,417.49 as compared with $27,419.72 during the six month period from January 1, 1938, to July 1, 1938, showing an increase in valuation of property in the city.
Meantime receipts from the city owned water department showed a slight drop, the cause of which could not be ascertained. Receipts during the first six months of this year from the water department totaled $10,780.22 while receipts over the same period of last year totaled $10,805.18.

SUPREME COURT RULES ON DUBLIN CASES
Service Station Case
The Supreme Court refused today to grant a rehearing on a decision handed down on June 14, sustaining an injunction granted by Laurens Superior Court restraining J.B. Wilson, filling station operator, from “disturbing” guests of the adjoining hotel property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The filling station is represented by R. Earl Camp and L.F. Watson and Evans Hotel et al by C.C. Crockett.
Centerville School Case
The court also passed on the Centerville School case, ruling in favor of the Laurens County Board of Education and Dudley School District trustees.
R.M. Stanley and N.P. Metts, acting as trustees for the Centerville property, had filed suit to prevent dismantling and removal to Dudley of the school building. The school has been consolidated with Dudley.
The County Board and Dudley Board are represented by Nelson & Nelson. Attorneys for Stanley and Metts are Rollin Stanley, Palmer Hicks, and C.C Crockett.
Land Recovery
The Georgia Supreme Court today reversed the judgment of Laurens Superior Court in dismissing the suit of C. Flannery Pope against W.H. Lovett to recover possession land surrendered to Lovett in settlement of a debt.
Pope claimed that he transferred to Lovett with the understanding that the latter should manage the farm and apply rentals and profits toward paying off a $557 debt. Pope contended the obligation was retired and sued Lovett for recovery of the land.
The Laurens court dismissed the case on demurrer, but the Supreme Court ruling holds the suit is valid. It will now be tried in the Laurens Court.
R.M. Daley represents Lovett, and C.C. Crockett is attorney for Pope.

OFFICERS QUIET ON RACE
With the deadline for qualifying in the coming city election only a few days away, incumbents and prospective candidates today continued to stay away from positive public statements regarding their intentions despite reports being circulated that all present city officials will seek re-election.
Neither Mayor Charles A. Hodges nor the four members of the council – Martin Willis, Milo Smith, P.C. Hutchinson, and M.Z. Claxton – have announced publicly their intentions to seek re-election, but persistent reports are going the rounds that the entire present slate of officers will qualify before the July 22 deadline.
Mayor Hodges, interviewed today, said that he had no statement to make as to his intentions, but friends say privately that he will offer for re-election.
Councilman Claxton said that it was a little too early to say whether he will seek re-election from the Fourth Ward but that friends were urging him to make the race and “I see no reason why I should not acquiesce.”
Councilmen Smith and Hutchinson were out of town and could not be contacted today to get an expression as to their intentions in the coming race.
Councilman Willis of the First Ward has made no definite statement as to whether he will seek re-election, but it is generally agreed by friends that he will be in the race.
Meanwhile, the talk was heard of opposition for incumbents, but no definite statement could be gotten from any who have been mentioned as prospective candidates for the five city offices.
At the same time ,the executive committee announced rules governing qualified voters in the election. A statement issued by that body follows:
“Laws set by the state assembly state that to be qualified a person must have paid all poll tax at least six months prior to the general election. This means that every person to be qualified must have paid all poll tax not later than May 4th, 1939, which will be six months prior to the General election to be held on Monday, December 4th, 1939 (1939 taxes are not yet due) and have their name registered on the registration book at the office of City Clerk located at the City Hall.
“All who have complied with the law, as above, and who live within the legal limits of the City of Dublin are qualified voters and will be listed as such. Persons who are doubtful of their being qualified should get in touch with the committee immediately to be assured of being on the qualified voters list.”

FIRST OPEN LINT
W.G. Hutchinson of Adrian today claimed honors for bringing the first bowl of open cotton to the Courier-Herald office for the 1939 crop.
Mr. Hutchinson, who thinks he will make eight bales of cotton off 11 acres in production, says that boll weevil infestation is the worst in several years. However, he said that that the recent dry, hot weather has done much to save the present cotton crop.

44 UNEMPLOYED FIND JOBS
The Dublin office of the Georgia State Employment Service placed 44 unemployed workers in jobs during the week ending July 1, 1939, the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation has announced. Of the number, 21 were found jobs in private employment and 23 on public works projects.
Cordial invitation is extended to the public to take advantage of the free services offered by the agency, whose chief functions are to find jobs for unemployed men and women and to assist insured workers in filing their claims for unemployment compensation benefits if and when they lose their jobs through no fault of their own and meet the legal requirements.
Total placements of 2,035 were made by the Service during the week.
The officers registered 2,984 unemployed men and women seeking employment, while representatives called on 991 employers to familiarize them with the services offered by their local office and to acquire information regarding their employment needs.

POPLAR SPRINGS, South
By Mary Frances Harden
Prayer services at Poplar Springs Saturday. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Fordham were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Fordham on Sunday.
Misses Mary Frances and Martha Harden were recent guests of their uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Tucker.
Mr. and Mrs. Millard Rowe and children, Mrs. J.R. Garden, and J.S. Wynn and Theron Wynn were Saturday guests of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Tucker and Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Tucker of Lyons last Saturday.
Miss Alpha Rowe was the Thursday guest of Miss Mary Frances Harden, and Miss Mary Frances Harden and Martha Harden were Wednesday guests of Miss Dahlia Thaggard.

PLEASANT SPRINGS
By Mrs. J.K. Beasley
Miss Martha Pope of DeLand, Florida, has returned home after a recent visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Forth.
Miss Louise Pullen has returned home after a delightful visit in Winnsboro, South Carolina, with relatives and friends.
J.A. Johnson and family DeLand, Florida, are visiting here.
Misses Katie Mae and Alma Chafin of Macon were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Chafin.
Leon Thomas of Clinton, South Carolina, is visiting relatives here.
Misses Nell Shephard and Nell Hilburn were Sunday guests of Opal and Jonnie Beasley.
Among those visiting Grady Johnson last Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Johnson, Thurmon Johnson and family, Mrs. C.B. Senn, Kelly Beasley, and J.A. Fourth.
Mrs. Roy Chafin spent Sunday with her mother, Mrs. Dollie Clements.

COLORED NEWS
The annual social given by the Caterie Club was hailed as one of the most unique occasions of the season. Washington High School auditorium on July 14,1939, was beautifully decorated with inflated rainbow colored balloons and artistically arranged with red and white paper designs.
The Cateriens and their guests were in their prime. The young ladies were beautifully decorated in cotton evening dresses while the young men wore light trousers and dark coats.
The most outstanding features of the affair were the Caterie Novelty Orchestra and the shower bag. The Novelty Orchestra played a melody of three numbers during intermission, which were “Margie,” the CLub theme song;”Paint What You Do,” and a saxophone solo, “Let A Song Go Out of My Heart.”
The shower bag was filled with red and white balloons imprinted with “Caterie Club 1939.” When the balloon bag was ripped open by six Cateriens, balloons rained down all over the hall, creating much amusement for all those present.
Cleo Burke, Reporter.
Mrs. W.A. Thomas had as her guests last Monday several of her very close relatives, and while there they enjoyed a delicious chicken dinner.
Miss Nellie E. Pitts left the city on Friday morning to spend the summer with her sister and uncle, Mrs. Ruby North and Homer Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida. While there she will visit points of interest in the state.
Carnel Martin is spending a short while with his uncle in Macon. Mr. Martin is a student and valuable football player at Georgia State Industrial College in Savannah,Georgia. He is a graduate of Washington High School of this city.
The many friends of Miss Bessie Pearson will regret to know that she is still on the sick list and hope for her a speedy recovery.
Miss Essie Mae Martin is attending summer school at Washington High School.

REEDY SPRINGS NEWS
By Mrs. Harry Minton
Preaching services were held at Reedy Springs Church on Sunday with Rev. Giddens in charge.
Cecil Gay spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Dominy and family.
Mr. ,and Mrs. N.P. Dominy spent Wednesday and Thursday with Carrol Dominy.
Lessie Mullis attended revival services at Antioch Church on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Dominy were Monday and Tuesday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Dominy.
Mr. and Mrs. N.P. Dominy and daughter and Mr. Harrison attended revival services at Antioch Church on Tuesday.

CEDAR GROVE
By Ruth Bates
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Harden were Saturday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Faulk.
Mrs. Lonnie Bates and children were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs L.A. Alligood.
Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Amerson were Saturday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Faulk.
Mildred Bates is visiting Vertie Mae Alligood.
Mrs. Willis Davidson spent the week end with her sister, Mrs. E.K. Bryant and Mr. Bryant.
Miss Ruth Bates has returned to her home after visiting her sister, Mrs. E.H. Melton, and Mr. Melton near Dublin.

CADWELL SCHOOL ACCREDITED
Excellent conditions of Laurens County schools were emphasized today with the report that the Cadwell High School ha been placed on the accredited list by the Georgia High School accrediting commission.
The announcement was made along with revelation that nine other schools in the state had been placed on the accredited list.
Several days ago the commission revealed that 57 schools of the state, including four in this immediate vicinity but none from Laurens County, had been lopped off the accredited list due to the fact that they did not operate nine months during the past school year.

LOCAL TEAMS MEET ON SUNDAY
Baseball fans of Dublin are said to be in for a real treat on Sunday afternoon when the rival teams of Dublin-Rentz and the local Greenies settle their differences on the diamond here. Intense rivalry for prestige in the city has been manifest between the two teams ever since the season began.
Dublin boys have disputed from the beginning the right of the Dublin-Rentz club, one of the leaders in the South Georgia League, to use “Dublin” in their team name claiming that Dublin gives no support to nor has any interest in the club.
Two Dublin players are on the team.
“The team of Hobbins and Hadden thought they would bring a bunch of countrymen from Rentz over to show us how to play ball, but we sent them back down there to play ‘bush’ ball even if they have clung desperately to the name Dublin,” H.M. Hatcher, Jr., manager of the local club, said today.
“Within a few days Hobbins is going to learn that if he had listened more and talked less, he could have found plenty of players around Dublin,” he continued.
Both teams have shown marked improvement in their last few games. The Dublin-Rentz club has won ten of its last 12 league games, and the local Greenies, with the addition of top-notch pitchers and a show of more power at the plate, have taken their place in the upper rank in this section.
On the mound for Dublin-Rentz will possibly be Wallace Lumpkin, knuckle ball ace, while the hurler for the Greenies will be Jack Thomas, mainstay of the local outfit. Giddens will make his first start for the locals behind the plate.
Attendance ha been increasing at every game, and it is expected to be the best of the season this Sunday.
Dublin-Rentz Club Answers
The management of the Dublin-Rentz Baseball Club made the following comment today:
“This is a reply to the article in yesterday’s paper about the coming ball game on Sunday between the local club, or Dublin Greenies, and the Dublin-Rentz Club of the South Georgia League.
“In the first place, who ever heard of it being against the law or against the rules of baseball to call a club anything that one wanted to. Just because there are only two players on the Dublin-Rentz Club who are from Dublin is no reason why we should not be allowed to call our club the Dublin-Rentz Club. According to that, the Macon Peaches should be called something else besides Macon because there is not a single player on the entire club of fifteen players who is from Macon.
“Mr. Hatcher stated in his article that those country men from Rentz tried to show his men how to play ball, and he soon sent them back to Rentz. We would like know just exactly when all of that happened. The truth of the matter is that the Dublin-Rentz Club has been trying to get a game with the local Greenies for about a month now, and they didn’t have the nerve to play us.
“We want to thank Mr. Hatcher here for cracking up our team the way he did. Probably we don’t deserve it. But we have a good club now, and we should be able to give Hatcher’s Greenies a pretty good game.
“Of course they will beat us, but we will at least have the chance to see a real ball club (Greenies) in action, and it will be a good chance for us to learn something about how to play ball.
“So, come out, folks, and watch our Greenies lick us. And we assure you that we will do the very best that we can.”
The Dublin-Rentz Baseball Club, South Georgia League.