WOODRUFF CO. NEWS.
PUBLISHED THURSDAY OF BACH WSOK AT
McCBOKY. ARKANSAS.
WALTER W RANEY, Editor.
Entered at the Post-Offloe at MoOrory
Arkansas, as Second-Class mall,matter.
June 11th, 1902.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
One Year. In advance. 81.00
Announcements.
Prosecuting Attorney :
We are authorized to announce J. M. Vine
yard, of Helena, as a candidate for the oftlce
of Prosecuting Attorney for this, the First
Judicial District, subject to the action of the
democratic party.
Circuit Court Clerk.
The News is authorized to announce Wm.
Moorman, of Autrusta. as a candidate for the
office of circuit court clerk of this county sub
ject to the action of the democratic party.
County and Probate Court Clerk
We are authorized to announce F. B. Win
free. of Tip, as a candidate for the office of
county and probate court clerk of this county
Bubject to the action of the democratic party.
The News is authorized to announce Ed B.
Carl-Lee of Auirusta, as a candidate for the
office of county and proDate court clerk of
this county subject to the action of the Dem
ocratic party.
Sheriff and Collector,
We are authorized to announce T. Eck
Simpson, of Augusta, as a candidate for the
office of sheriff and collector of this county
subject to the action of the democratic party.
The News is authorized to announce W.
R. Cain, of Augusta, as a candidate for the of
fice of sheriff and collector of this county sub
ject to the action of the democratic party.
Tax Assessor,
The News is authorized to announce W
B. Fakes, of McCrory, as a candidate for the
o'flee of tax assessor of this county subject to
the action of the democratic party.
Representative .
The News is authorized to announce Elmo
M. Carl-Lee. of Augusta, as a candidate for
the office of representative of this county
subject to the action of the democratic party.
The News is authorized to announce R. B.
Keating of McCrory, as a candidate for the
office of representative of this county sub
ject to the action of the democratic party.
County and Probate Judge.
The News is authorized to announce J. F.
Summers, of Augusta, as a candidate for the
office of county and probate judge of this
county subject to the action of the democrat
ic party.
The News is authorized to announce Esq.
Chas. N. Henri, of Pumpkin Bend Township,
as a candidate for the office of county and
probate judge of this county subject to the
action of the democratic party.
The News is authorized to announce Esq. S.
F. Watson, of McCrory, as a candidate for
the office of county and probate judge of
this county subject to the action of the demo
cratic party.
Treasurer.
The News is authorized to announce C. L.
Jackson, of Grays, as a candidate for the
office of Treasurer of this county subject to
the action of the democratic party.
OUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
Below is a list of those who
paid us iu advance for the News
since our last issue.
Hon. R. W. McFarlane, Little
Rock, J. C. Clary, Warren, Ark.
Mrs. W. W. Beebe, Plunkett,
Ark.
WHITE MAN KILLS NEGRO.
Wednesday noon Dec., 18,
on Main street and Edmunds ave
nue, was the scene of a shooting
affray, which resulted in the death
of one negro, Bob Thompson
whose death was caused by bul
lets from a pistol (38 special) in
the hands of Plulmer Coleman.
According to the testimony of
the dead negro’s father, John
Thompson, the trouble began at
his (John’s) home in the country
Wednesday morning when Bob
was drunk and began cursing and
abusing his father and mother.
Mr. Coleman told Bob to stop at
once, and Bob then proceeded
to give Mr. Coleman to under
stand that ’twas none of his busi
ness what he did to the old folks.
Our readers can see in the wit
nesses’ testimonies, which we print
below, just how it all came about.
Both Coleman and the negro
came to town Wednesday morning
and happened to meet each other
in the Fakes Mercantile Co’s store
when the trouble was renewed.
Bob told Coleman that he did not
care to fight inside the house but
to come out-side and he would
settle it with him. They went
outside the building and some very
abusive words were passed. Bob,
(as stated iu Mr. Ridgeway’s tes
timony) drew a knife,“and to this,
Mr. Coleman responded with his
A MERRY CHRISTMAS
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I
Christmas comes only once a year and why not go to
Comers and buy you a nice suit of clothes, hat, shoes and any
thing else you might need. If you will only give us a chance,
we will save you money.
We have only a few more children’s suits leftt and at the
prices we are making, they must go, and all must go by the
first of the year.
Don’t delay, but just come forward and dress up and all
have a swell time. Now friends, we wish to thank one and all
for favors this year and wish for all a great Xmas and prosper
ous new year. Yours to serve,
Comer & Comer 1010 Easy place,
Tireless Toilers For Trade.
gun which at once put Bob on the
run, Mr. Coleman pursuing him
around the front of the Fakes]
Mercantile Co’s., store, firing six
shots two of which hit the negro
who fell in the alley between the
above store and Comer & Comer’s
store, dying in a few minutes af
terwards.
Mr. Coleman was immediately
arrested by City Marshal J. P.
Taylor, and stood a preliminary
trial before Esq. S. F. Watson
Wednesday evening and was bound
over on a $500.00 bond. The
witnesses testimonies were as fol
lows.
STATE WITNESSES
WILLIS COOK.
I first saw Thompson in Bur
kett’s room, which is located over
John Shearer’s store in this city.
Saw Thompson was in trouble
(bothered.) He said to Burkett
that Mr. Coleman started to the
house after a gun, he supposed.
He caught Coleman in the collar
and stopped him telling him that
no one man could win a fight. I,
Thompson, came to see you, Bur
kett, as he or they was not treat
ing him right. Mr. Burkett and
and myself told him to go ahead ]
and Mr. Burkett told him he
would fix everything alright.
Thompson went out in town. Soon
afterwards, I came down stairs
from Burkett’s room. R. M.
Comer was with me and saw
Thompson swearing at Coleman. ]
Thompson was in middle of street
between Fakes Mercantile Co.,
and Thompson-Hailey Co’s stores, i
I said to Comer that something
was wrong and I would stop it. I
lost some time in speaking to Mr.
Melton at the front corner of
Fakes Mercantile Co’s store. Be
fore I spoke to Melton, I heard
Thompson say, “Come on g
d-you and we will see Mr.
Burkett.” Coleman said to Thomp
*»
son
me a
‘Don’t curse me,
of a
you called
Thompson
cursed back at Coleman. Cole
man began to shoot at Thompson
as he turned. Would not say
whether he, Thompson, intended
to run or not. I was at this time
50 or 60 feet from the men. I saw
Thompson run around corner of
Fakes Mercantile Co. Coleman
shooting at him. Did not see
Thompson fall. Saw Knife lying
by Thompson’s side within a foot
of his dead body, but knife was;
closed. Thompson was taking1
last breath when I looked at him.
STROTHER TAYLOR.
I first heard talking in ware-'
room of Fakes Mercantile Co. j
Someone said, “There would be
trouble.” I walked to back door
and saw who they were, but tho’t
they were joking. Thompson and
Coleman were talking. I was
standing at stove when they left
the room. Thompson said to
Coleman, “I don’t want to have
trouble in here, just come out
side.” I heard them talking out
side, but can not say what words
they were using. "When I went
outside, I looked to see Thompson
who was facing me when I first
saw him. Just in a moment bet
turned, slipped and fell. He got
up and had gone a step or two
when first shot was fired. As I
came back in store, heard more
shots. This was the last I saw un
til Marshal Jno. P. Taylor had
Coleman under arrest. Did not
see Thompson with any kind of
weapon.
JOE PARKER.
I saw Thompson when he fell.
He had a knife about half opened,
in his hand. Saw knife as he
started to run. He held it until
he fell. Saw him start from pres
ence of Coleman with knife in his
hand.
PRANK POWELL.
As I r eturned from dinner Cole
man and Thompson were in back
end of grocery-room of Fakes
Mercantile Co., fussing about call
ing Mr. Burkett some name. Cole
man said he did and Thompson
said he did not. Coleman, step
ping back and getting hold of a
jug said he would break jug over
his, Thompson’s, head. Thomp
son said he did not want trouble in
there, but to come out side. I
know nothing else of trouble ex
cept heard shots outside.
DEFENDANTS’S WITNESSES
A. E. RIDGEWAY.
I first heard fussing in ware
room and walked back there. I
then returned to stove. Heard
Thompson say, “If you will come
outside, I will settle it with you,’
or words to that effect. A crowd
followed them out. I also follow
ed. Coleman was standing at
back corner of Fakes Mercantile
Co’s, office. As I got out-side,
heard Thompson call Coleman a
lying-of a-, also draw
from his pocket aud acted as if to
open a knife. Saw something that
resembled a knife. Did not see
but two shots fire.
DR. W. E. POLLETT.
I had just left the drug store
and started to dinner. Was in front
of Nolen’s store when I first heard
an oath with a-of a-at-!
tached, which I considered as j
Thompson’s voice. As I looked in
the direction that the voice was
heard, I saw Thompson in a stoop
ping position and had something
in his hand as if in the act of open
ing a knife. While in that posi
tion a gun fired. As gun fired
Thompson started to run and fell
to his hands. As he arose, a sec
ond shot was fired, Thompson run
ning nearly towards me, but not
in a direct line. After he fell, I
went over there and the knife was
lying by his side. After his body
was laid upon the sidewalk, I
picaed up the knife and am still in
posession of same. It is very hard
to open.
JOHN THOMPSON.
Robert was under the influence
of whiskey and cursed and abused
me and his mother. W e were
loading cotton, his mother and me
on Mr. Dave Burkett’s place, on
*
Possum Creek, this (Wednesday)
morning and he came up to the
wagon still cursing and abusing
us. Coleman was on my porch
and Robert caught hold of him,
threatening him to everything, for
him (Coleman) trying to stop his
abuse upon me and his mother.
Coleman then proceeded to leave the
house to avoid trouble with Robert.
Robert then said to Mr. Coleman,
j “Where are you going! I will to
you,” he having a brick in his
hand at this time, and calling to
his wife to bring him his gun and
ammunition, that he (Robert)
would blow his (Coleman's) brains
out. This being on the farm this
morning, after breakfast. I fa
ther state that I am the said Robert
Thompson’s father and my present
wife is his own mother.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
ANDREWS & WOODS
(ThU Partnership fa* Civil Batlnen Oaly.>
LAWYERS
Augusta Arkansas.
-A*
*
C. L. ADAflSON,
Jeweler, Optlcanq^Egg*^
Watches, Clocks, Jewelry
Silverware, Etc. Etc.
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
TWELVE MONTHS.
REPAIR WORK A SPECIALTY. _
AUGUSTA. ARKANSAS.
* .... ^