NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for FEB. 7, 1935 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, FEBRUARY 7, 1935 B.F. SNOW DROPS DEAD AT HOME Tift County, Ga. B.F. Snow, well known Tift county farmer, dropped dead at his home in west Tift county, Ga., on the G.W. Peters place, about 2:20 Monday afternoon. Mr. Snow had been chopping wood and stopped to grind his axe and dropped dead. The sudden death of Mr. Snow was a great shock to his family and a large number of friends throughout this section. It is said that he ate a hearty dinner Monday and apparently was in his usual health until he was stricken and fell, dying before medical aid could reach him. Funeral services were held at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Ty Ty Baptist church of which he was a faithful and loyal member, conducted by Rev. D.C. Rainey. Interment was in the Ty Ty cemetery with Bowen's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Benjamin Franklin Snow was born in Cleburne county, Alabama on June 10, 1865 and was in his seventieth year. He married Miss Lou Overton of Alabama and she survives him with 10 children, E.C. and W.B. Snow of Tifton; Mrs. L.C. Whitten of Tampa, Fla.; Mrs. C.H. Hand of Atlanta; Mrs. L. Pearman of Tifton; Mrs. George Fowler of Alabama; Mrs. Tom Stephenson, Miss Myrl Snow, Mrs. W.M. Bryan, MIss Bertie Lou Snow, of Tifton. One child, Delbert, died at the age of four in Alabama. Two brothers and three sisters also survive; Tom Snow of Fort Worth, Texas; W.T. Snow of Hopewell, Ala.; Mrs. C.G. Farmer, Mrs. L.D. Walker of Bowdon, Ga., and Mrs. Mollie Abercrombie of Alabama. Mr. Snow was a good farmer and moved to this section 16 years ago from Alabama. He was an honorable and upright man, a good citizen, and a host of friends join in extending sympathy to the family in their great bereavement. ------ ATTEMPTED MURDER IN CLEBURNE COUNTY A twenty-two calibre rifle bullet penetrated the window of Mrs. Fannie E. Anderson, a resident of the east section of Cleburne county, and striking her just back of the right eye and wending its way through the head, leaving her in a precarious condition, was the cause of the arrest of her son-in-law Johnnie Spurlin, 22 year old farm boy, living on the same acreage along with Mrs. Anderson. The shooting is said to have occurred about 7:30 Monday evening. Tuesday morning, Sheriff Prestridge, accompanied by a deputy, went to the Macedonia section, as it is familiarly known, and took into custody the son-in-law, Johnnie Spurlin and a grandson of the injured woman, Louis Anderson. Upon interviewing young Spurlin, he maintains that he knows absolutely nothing concerning the shooting of his mother-in-law. He admits however, that he had told neighbors that he would have the farm to rent soon. It seems that at present, according to Spurlin's version of the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the shooting, the deed to the property on which the shooting occurred is now in his wife's (Spurlin's) Name and that Mrs. Anderson was in the act of entering a civil suit to recover possession, and in making the remark that "he would have the property for rent soon", was based on the assumption that he and his wife would win the contention. But, there is another side to the case which bears strong evidence of the fact that he was the perpetrator of the deed. The circumstances surrounding the case warrant strong suspicions that he is guilty or knows all about the shooting, at least. Mrs. Anderson was shot with a 22 calibre rifle. Ostentatiously, Spurlin, together with Louis Anderson, grandson of the victim, took a 22 calibre rigle and started "possum hunting." Upon reaching the woods, according to young Anderson's story, Spurlin took the rifle and started homeward. In the meantime he treed a coon but upon Spurlin's return with the gun, his first thought was that they should go home and forget about the possum hunt, which they did. Upon reaching the house and on entering, Spurlin acted surprised at the fact that his mother-in-law had been seriously wounded. Tuesday morning upon hearing of the shooting, Sheriff Prestridge arrested Spurlin and Louis Anderson and brought with them to Heflin a 22 calibre rifle. Both are being held in the Cleburne county jail awaiting a hearing and the results of the injuries sustained by Mrs. Anderson. ------- MR. J.A. THOMPSON PASSES AWAY Funeral services for Mr. J.A. Thompson, 65, who died at his home north of Edwardsville on Friday evening, Feb. 1, were held Sunday Feb. 3 at 11 o'clock at Upper Cane Creek church. The Rev. Carl Carnell officiated. Interment was in the church cemetery with Owens of Heflin in charge. Surviving are the widow Mrs. Nerve Thompson; ten children; 7 boys, Earl, Ellis, Bob, Jim, Ewell, Norman and Noel Thompson; three daughters, Mrs. Ethel Bannister; Mrs. Ellen Charles and Miss Elzie Thompson, all living near Edwardsville. ----- JAMES AUSTIN WILSON; Agriculturalist by Choice; Educator for Years; A Man Fully Worthwhile and One Held in High Esteem by a Large Circle of Friends An individual possessed of a versatile mind, capable and willing, is one who can be of vast service to any community and its people. A man who can fit into almost any position in life is to be envied, yet such a man is our esteemed friend and good citizen, James Austin Wilson, tax collector for the county of Cleburne. Mr. Wilson is a native of the county, being born in what is known as the Hopewell section. Like most other boys he attended the public schools, while in the interim he helped his father on the farm. After finishing his studies he began teaching school and for a period of ten years he followed this profession, most of the time teaching in and about his native section. As a teacher it is truthfully said he was a master of the situation. In 1920 Mr. Wilson came to Heflin and engaged himself with Atkins & Owens, of whom he acted in the capacity as clerk for some time, or until 1927, when he embarked in the mercantile business for himself, which vocation he continued for exactly a year, selling out and again pursuing farming, his hobby in life, until 1930 when he was elected to the office of county tax collector. Mr. Wilson married Miss Emma McMahan, daughter of Henry and Katie (Wiggonton) McMahan and to them five children have come to make the home happier and brighter, namely: Henry Luther, Grace, Lucille, Natye and Lelia Belle. Mr. Wilson is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Woodman of the World. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Methodist church, while Grace, Lucille and Natye are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Wilson, since assuming the duties of tax collector almost four years ago, has earned for himself a fine record, and one that will stand out in bold relief as a symbol of honesty, faithfulness and strict attention to the public who had business with his office during his term. As a citizen he is recognized by his worth; ever aggressive; always having the various interests of his neighbors and friends uppermost in mind, and willing at all times to serve in any capacity what will help us onward and upward. The principal hobby of our townsman is farming. He is vastly interested in farm work in and throughout the county, being the owner of two large tracts, one of two hundred and sixty acres upon which he now resides, and another of two hundred acres which is being tilled by his son and eldest child, Henry Luther Wilson. His new home is situated about four miles east of Heflin. James Austin Wilson, as a citizen, posseses many capabilities, and as an officer, teacher and agriculturalist, he has transplanted in the minds of others many thoughts that have gone far toward making Cleburne county and its inhabitants better, much better, indeed, by and through his assistance and willingness to share with others the fruits of his labors. The Cleburne News feels that our subject is most worthy of commendable mention in these columns and trusts that he will live to help and advance our several interests for many years to come. ----- MRS. PHOEBE (BROWN) HUNNICUTT; Born October 26, 1841; The Grand Old Lady of Cleburne; A Native Daughter, Still Enjoying Good Health and Exceedingly Active The writer could readily utilize columns in dwelling on the life, habits and demeanor of the "grand old lady of Cleburne county", Mrs. Phoebe Hunnicutt, wife of the late William Randolph Hunnicutt who passed to the great beyond on October 19, 1900. This most excellent lady, still filled with the spirit of grandeur in all its phases, greeted the writer as he entered the parlor of her cozy home here in Heflin, with grace, congeniality and with a buoyancy that would add much to one forty years her junior. The hour spent with this superlative and aged individual was not only entertaining, but it was interesting and instructive. It was food for deep and concentrating thought; it was to hear and to know many of the secrets of longevity, for it has been a life study with him, hence he longed for the opportunity to be with and converse with Mrs. Hunnicutt today. At the age of ninety-three, she still enjoys all her senses and is also endowed with good health, relatively speaking. Mrs. Hunnicutt is a native of that section known as Cleburne county and was born in the Muscadine region, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hooper) Brown, on October 26, 1841. She resided with her parents until the age of twenty years when she was wooed and won by William Randolph Hunnicutt, a scholarly young school teacher in the neighborhood. To this marriage nine children were born, three boys and six girls. The three boys have since died, the last one, John, passing away in the year 1920. One girl is also dead, the remaining five living today, one married and four with the aged mother, all deeply devoted to her and are constant in their care of this sainted soul, whose star-lit and sunny disposition is yet the realm of real happiness in and about this pleasant home. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hunnicutt resided for about three years in the Muscadine section or until directly after the close of the War between the States, thence moved to Edwardsville, at that time, the county seat of Cleburne county. Mr. Hunnicutt was later elected to the office of Probate Judge, which office he filled with credit to himself and his constituency. He was re-elected and served in this capacity for a period of twelve years. When the county seat was later moved to Heflin, Mr. Hunnicutt, together with his family returned to farm life on lands owned by him and situated about four miles south of Heflin. In the nineties they moved to Heflin and Mr. Hunnicutt had much to do with the plating of the city. Here he entered upon mercantile pursuits which he continued until his death, Oct. 19, 1900. Throughout his life he was ever active in community building. He was elected Mayor of Heflin when this little progressive city was in its infancy. Ever he took a decided interest in anything that would help this community on to the better things in life. Mr. Hunnicutt was active in Masonic work. He was and she is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and today at her ripe age, Mrs. Hunnicutt seldom misses a service, unfavorable weather being the only obstacle she allows in her way. Since coming to Heflin more than forty years ago the Hunnicutt family have occupied the home where they now reside, and where this noble creature still lives in comfort, ease and luxury, surrounded by the four daughters who are spared by the grace of God to comfort her in her declining years. The Hunnicutt home is situated on a three acre plot standing almost in the center of Heflin proper. Everything 'round and about this home bespeaks the fact that these faithful daughters are inbued with a single thought, that of making life pleasant and serene for their sainted mother, the only real and true friend that man here on earth possesses. In this issue of the Cleburne News, Mr. C.F. Dodson, now seventy-three years old, for twenty years an editor, and all others connected with the force of the paper, together with the writer, join in extending congratulations to this most estimable lady, whom the writer feels fully deserves the title of "the grand old lady of Cleburne county", and we sincerely trust she will live and enjoy health and the stamina to do for many years to come, for unquestionably she is a marvelous lady whom everybody loves and holds in the highest regard. Fact is she is a wonderful asset to the community and a criterion from which the coming generations can profit, if they will, by observing her rule for life and health, cheerfulness and obedience to God and your fellow man, truth and honesty. ------- BORDEN SPRINGS News Feb. 4 Mrs. Shoemake died at her home here last Monday night. Funeral and burial services were conducted at the church of Christ on Wednesday afternoon. She is survived by her husband and five small children. ----