100-year-old news highlights from The Evergreen Courant from Oct. 1917

Marion Martin Davis

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in October 1917.

The Evergreen Courant likely published five editions during the month of October 1917, but only four of those editions are available on microfilm at the Evergreen-Conecuh Public Library. What follows are a few news highlights from those newspapers.

In the Oct. 10, 1917 edition of The Courant, owner and editor George W. Salter Jr. reported that “the dead body of Henry Thomas, horribly mangled, was found on Monday afternoon near the south end of Murder Creek trestle. Acting Coroner J.C. Cheney empaneled a jury to inquire into the death of the man and after making investigation the jury rendered a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to his death by being struck by or falling from a moving train. Thomas was an employee at the saw mill of J.R. Smith, a few miles east of town.”

Nancy Jane Davis

Also that week, readers learned that a “shooting and cutting affray occurred on Sunday last among some men at a church about six miles from Brooklyn. As a result, Joe Turner Bradley and Homer Bradley and two other men, whose names could not be learned, were more or less seriously cut and shot. What brought about the trouble could not be learned definitely.”

Salter also announced that week that “the Conecuh County Fair will be held Nov. 7, 8 and 9 at Evergreen. Each day will be a special day. Wed., Nov. 7, will be Farm Crops Day; Thurs., Nov. 8, will be Livestock Day; Fri., Nov. 9, will be School Day. All animals and articles exhibited must be brought in on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 5-6, as far as possible, so they can be arranged.”

Also that week, in news from the Castleberry community, it was reported that the “recent storm caused a damage of $300 to the county high school building here, according to the principal. As the state is without funds for this purpose, the money will have to be made up by the people of Castleberry.”

In the Oct. 17, 1917 edition of The Courant, under the headline “Blackwell Brothers Recaptured,” it was reported that “Will and Bob Blackwell, who escaped from Pensacola jail on the night of the hurricane, were captured by the sheriff of Escambia County, Fla. on Thursday last near Coffeeville in Clarke County and were taken back to Pensacola and safely lodged in jail. They are under sentence of death for the murder of Mr. (Marion Martin Davis) and Mrs. (Nancy Jane) Davis, an aged couple of Okaloosa County, Fla. and were in jail pending an appeal to the supreme court for a new trial. It is stated that under the Florida law their escape automatically dismissed the appeal and the time of their execution will now be fixed by the trial judge.”

Readers that week also learned that “G.R. Boulware returned on Saturday from the veterans’ reunion. He says Birmingham entertained the veterans royally – the best reunion he has attended in a long while.”

Salter also reported that week, under the headline “Save the Blown Down Timber,” that “there is a vast quantity of timber throughout this section which was blown down by the recent hurricane and unless persons who own it take prompt measures to utilize and get something out of it, much of it will go to decay. The Pensacola Excelsior Co. of Pensacola, Fla. writes The Courant requesting us to call attention of timber owners to the fact that practically all of this pine timber can be utilized by that concern if it is properly prepared for shipment before it begins to deteriorate. There are thousands of trees that can thus be turned into money which otherwise would be a total loss.”

Also that week, in news from the Castleberry community, it was reported that a “carload of 25 fine horses from Colorado were unloaded here Sunday.”

In the Oct. 24, 1917 edition of The Courant, under the headline “Prominent Citizen Passes Away,” that “Edward A. Beaven, one of Evergreen’s most prominent and highly esteemed citizens, passed away peacefully on Monday night surrounded by his family and friends. The funeral occurred from the family home on Belleville Street, conducted by Dr. R.A. Moody. Interment in Evergreen cemetery.”

Also that week, Salter announced that “the Ghosts, Witches and Goblins invite you on Halloween to the spookiest party ever seen at Mt. Zion school Fri., Nov. 2, at 8 to 11 p.m.”

Readers that week also learned that “local huntsmen aver that the recent hurricane will result in a big crop of squirrels. There are so many trees down it is rendered extremely difficult to slip up on one of the cunning little animals.”

Salter also reported that week that “J.F. Pierce of Lenox was here a few days ago and assured us that Brushy Creek beat will be well represented at the county fair. He wants the fair visitors to take particular notice of a 900-pound mule raised in that section. And then there will be other things from Brushy, besides the school children.”

Also that week, in news from the Belleville community, it was reported that “Melvin Hines, who has been in Arkansas for the past two years, returned home Thursday and was greeted with a smile and hearty handshake.”

In the Oct. 31, 1917 edition of The Courant, Salter reported that “Jerry Thornton is in jail on a charge of murdering one of his race. On Sun., Oct. 7, at a church some miles from Brooklyn, several men became involved in a shooting and cutting affray in which Joe Turner Bradley was so seriously shot that he died a short time thereafter. Jerry Thornton was arrested in connection with the trouble and last week he is said to have made a clean breast of the part he played in the mix-up, admitting that he fired the fatal shot that ended the life of Joe Bradley. Since that time, we learn he denies any knowledge of the killing. He will be held to await the action of the grand jury.”

Also that week, under the headline “Fatal Accident on Alger-Sullivan Works,” it was reported that “two laborers, Marion Floyd and Albert Square, were killed and the foreman, Jeff Harrison, was seriously injured in an accident which occurred on Monday on the Alger-Sullivan works. The foreman and several laborers were on a lever car crossing the Bankston Creek trestle when a log train overtook them. Seeing their peril, Foreman Harrison and several others jumped off, but the two men named were caught in the smashup and killed instantly.”

Salter also reported that week that “the Presbyterian Church which was wrecked during the recent hurricane has been razed to the ground. The Presbyterians are contemplating the erection of a nice brick edifice though the plans are not yet materialized. For the present, the congregation is worshiping in the Episcopalian church.”

Also that week, under the headline “Death of Young Lady School Teacher,” readers learned that “one of the teachers in the school at Mt. Zion, Miss Lide, died on Monday night following a brief illness. Her remains were shipped to her late home at Marion.”

Salter closed out the month with a reminder that the “County Fair opens next Wednesday morning and it promises to be the biggest and best we have yet had. The Courant would admonish every citizen to do his or her bit towards making it a big success.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of November 1917 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.