Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--ANOTHER NEAR FIRE--J. T. Randolph, who recently purchased the John Blakely property, and who was to have moved the first of the week, has postponed that event until such time as he can again clean house, repaper and repaint, fire being the cause. Having finished cleaning every room in the house at noon Friday, following the work of painters and paper hangers, Mrs. Randolph went home to dinner and told her husband that the house was ready. When she returned she found a tramp knocking at the door and on her telling him that no one lived there was struck speechless by his telling her that the house was on fire. Taking the keys from Mrs. Randolph he was soon in the house and succeeded in putting out the flames of a burning coal oil stove, which had exploded, and which Mrs. Randolph had left burning in order to dry the rooms. The woodwork near the stove was quite badly burned and the pain in all five rooms blistered and the wall paper filled with soot, as were the floors. Altogether it was one awful mess, and if Mrs. Randolph relieved her feelings by a good cry and "Dutch" said things he would not dare teach his Sunday school class, we don't blame them in the least. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--I. J. EMBREE INJURED--I. J. Embree, while at work at the Walton mine Wednesday, had two ribs broken by a flying prop and will be unable to work for some time. Bad luck seems to have a grudge against Mr. Embree, since this is the third time he has been injured in the past two years, escaping with his life on the former occasion by the breadth of a hair. Wednesday's accident was caused by a fall of coal. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--J. H. RYLE STRICKEN WITH PARALYSIS--J. H. Ryle, one of the county's very best men, while doing some work about the church building at Yates Wednesday, suffered a slight stroke of paralysis. Late yesterday afternoon he had partly regained his speech and was reported as doing as well as could be expected. His host of Higbee acquaintances and friends hope to soon hear of his permanent recovery. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--Miss Mabel Edwards will leave today for McAlester, Ok., for a visit with her brother, W. C. Tippit, and to attend the wedding of her cousin, Miss Marie Hokey, which will occur early next month. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--W. I. Williams received a message from his son, Jesse, Monday, advising him of his arrival in New York from France. He was to be sent to Camp Upton and expected to be at home in a short time. Jesse was a member of the 356th Infantry, 89th Division, as were most all of the boys from Higbee, and it is presumed all will be at home about the same time. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--Paul Murphy who was called home from New York last week by the death of his brother, Earl, and who would have been discharged from the navy the day following his departure, will return Sunday for his discharge and will then return to Higbee and go in the store with his brother, Mark. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--Ed Bradley informed us yesterday that he and his father, W. H. Bradley, of Yates will leave tomorrow for El Dorado Springs to attend the trial of Hal Bailey who murdered Mr. Bradley's son, James, at that place several weeks ago, an account of which appeared in the NEWS at the time. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--A. J. Brown of Clark, and a son-in-law, of J. S. Stockton of that place died near Lisbon, Howard County, Wednesday of last week from injuries received the day before when a lot of wood fell on him. He was engaged in sawing wood and lumber from logs that had been stood on end, and in removing a log the entire pile fell on him, breaking his collar bone and ribs and crushing his chest in. Interment was made at Clark where funeral services were held. A brother of Brown's we learn, was killed in Oklahoma fourteen months ago, being caught under a wagon load of iron piping and having his breast crushed. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--Mrs. Lee Hairl received a card yesterday from her brother, J. W. Stevenson advising her of his arrival from overseas on the 25th. He expects to be at home in a short time. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--Mr. Thos Carey and Miss Goldie Atkins of Moberly were married in Columbia on the 21st. The bride is a sister of Mrs. John Ware of this place, and has many friends here who join the News in best wishes. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--30 May 1919--Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Andrews and daughter Miss Gladys went to Fayette yesterday to attend a piano recital at Howard Payne College, their daughter, Miss Alberta, being on the program. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--WALTON EARL MURPHY--Walton Earl Murphy, brief mention of whose death was made in our last issue, met his death at Newport News, Va., on the morning of Tuesday, May 20, 1919, which was caused by a fall of thirty-five feet. Mr. Murphy was employed by a large contracting concern engaged in government work at Newport News, and at the time of the accident was unloading a car of steel from a flat car, which was on trestle work on a level with the top of the ship was under construction. A derrick was used to lift the steel, and as the boom swung around for the chain to be hooked to another load, Mr. Murphy, as is the habit of nine such workers out of ten, reached up to catch the hook in order to steady it and stop it all the quicker. He was wearing a pair of gauntlet cotton gloves at the time, one of which was partly torn or ripped. The cook caught in this part of the glove and before Mr. Murphy could think he was swung clear of the car and platform by the swinging cable. He made frantic efforts to get hold of the cable with his free hand, but as it was beyond his reach he could not do so. Just as the swinging block was moving to a platform that would have carried Earl to safety, the glove gave way and in falling he struck the edge of the platform, breaking his leg, when he was turned head over heels and plunged to the ground thirty-five feet blow, landing in a pile of steel. His neck was broken and the left side of his face more or less bruised. He lived four minutes after his fellow workmen reached him, but of course never regained consciousness. The body was prepared for burial and arrived here Friday accompanied by H. T. White of Chicago, one of the deceased's closest friends, and who witnessed the accident. Paul, a brother, who was in the Navy at New York, and who had been notified went to Newport News to accompany the body home, but arrived two hours two late, reaching here Saturday morning. Funeral services were held at the Christian church Sunday by Rev. E. Y. Keiter of Moberly in the presence of one of the largest crowds ever seen here on a similar occasion, every family in the town and community it seemed, being represented. There was an exceptionally large turn out of young men of about Earl's own age, and this with the fact that they were more than anxious to do anything that would lighten the sorrow of the little mother and brothers, together with their beautiful floral offerings, spoke more eloquently than words of the deep sorrow they felt at parting with such a near and dear companion, and of the deep and tender sympathy they felt for his loved ones. Walton Earl Murphy was the second son of Mrs. Belle Murphy and was born in Higbee on August 16, 1894, and was therefore in his 25th year. He was a big hearted, industrious young man, and had been a hard worker since early boyhood. Several years ago he left home to follow the trade of structure iron worker, not that he disliked home, but that he might earn the highest possible wages, the greater part of which he lavished on his mother not only on account of his love for her, but in appreciation of her having made a home for them despite all obstacles. The deepest sympathy of all goes out to his loved ones. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--PROMINENT STURGEON WOMAN DEAD--Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, widow of Dr. A. J. Harris, died at her home in Sturgeon on Monday, May 26, 1919, after an illness of several months from a complication of diseases, aged 74 years. Mrs. Harris, whose maiden name was Hersman, was born in Monroe county of May 23, 1845, and was married to Dr. A. J. Harris of that county in 1871, and a few years later moved to Sturgeon, where Dr. Harris practiced dentistry until his death a few years ago. They were the parents of five boys, but two of whom are living, Dr. Chas. Harris , and Harry Harris, both of Sturgeon. The former is quite well known here, having practiced dentistry here several hears ago and made many warm friends who join the News in profoundest sympathy. Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday by Rev. W. C. Gibbs of the Christian Church, her former pastor, and interment made in Pisgah cemetery. It was the good fortune of the News man to know Mrs. Harris personally, having been one of her closest neighbors for many years. We never knew a gentler or kindlier soul, or a more consecrated, Christian character. She was all that wife, mother, friend and neighbor could be, and in her passing Sturgeon, as well as her sons, has suffered an irreparable loss. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--T. B. MAGRUDER SERIOUSLY INJURED--T. B. Magruder was seriously injured while at work in the Walton mine Friday of last week, and that he was not killed is providential. A loaded coal car being in his way in the entry near his room, (or having been asked by a driver to give the car a start down the hill, being another version of it,) he got in front of the car, and hardly touched it when it began to move, as its position on the grade was such that almost a breath would have started it. It started with such suddenness and force that Mr. Magruder was not able to get from in front of it, and he was not able to go over it, the roof, he states, being too low. He was pushed, rolled and dragged for about 90 feet when the car ran over him and came to a stop. He was brought home as soon as possible, when it was found that his hip had been dislocated and two ribs fractured, and that he was otherwise badly cut and bruised. Symptoms of his having been internally injured developed a day or two later, but have about passed away, we are please to state. While his recovery is confidently looked for, he suffers a great deal, and is in the care of a trained nurse. His many friends join the NEWS in the hope that he will soon be up and around as usual. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--AN AUTO WRECK--What might easily have proved a fatal auto accident, occurred just east of town Saturday evening about 8:30, when a car, containing Misses Maude Dysart and Elizabeth Patterson of near Yates and Garnet Page and Claude Stevenson, and driven by the latter, collided with A. T. Burton's car. Miss Nelle Burton was at the wheel of the latter car, and had shut off the power as she rounded the curve in the road just at the edge of the wood, and was not going, the family states, not to exceed ten miles an hour. They also state that the car was on the extreme right of the road and that as the Ford came around the curve from the west at high speed Mr. Stevenson either lost control of the car or something went wrong with the steering gear, as it shot to the left of the road right in front of them, the Ford being struck almost squarely in the center. That the impact was considerable can be judged from the fact that the Burton car, an Overland, was skidded several feet to the north. Mrs. Burton, who was in the rear seat, was the only person to be injured in the least, being thrown against the side of the car and having a big gash cut in her left cheek, which required several stitches to close. Both cars were damaged, the Overland to the extent of $10 and the Ford $50. Mrs. Burton attributes the fact that no one was killed, or at least badly hurt, to the fact that Miss Nelle, and not Mr. Burton was at the wheel, as the latter would have probably been making his usual speed of about 25 miles per hour. It was indeed a close call for all concerned, and their friends are delighted to know that they escaped so easily. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--ARTHUR SNEDEKER HOME--Arthur Snedeker, who recently landed from overseas, and who was the first Higbee boy to be wounded in France, arrived home yesterday, to the delight of his legion of friends and has since been kept busy shaking hands, and of course is as delighted to be home as his friends are to have him among them once again. He is the picture of perfect health, and long since recovered from his wound, which was a machine gun bullet in his leg. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--COUNTY COURT PROCEEDINGS--Huntsville, Mo, May 26--Randolph county Court--George T. Bridges is adjudged to be a person of unsound mind and is ordered taken to State Hospital No. 1 Fulton, Mo. John William Allen is adjudged to be a person of unsound mind and is ordered taken to State Hospital No. 1 Fulton. Certificate of insanity filed by Dr. S. C. Adams. J. M. Williams, insanity case, $5. A. B. McCoy, insanity case, $5. C. P. Fullington, insanity case, $5. Friday, 30 May 1919, Vol 33. No 6--CELEBRATED 75TH BIRTHDAYS--An occasion of very rare occurrence was celebrated yesterday at the home of H. C. Hubbard and wife of Renick, when children and relatives gathered to celebrate their seventy-fifth birthday, that being the anniversary of their births. The guests took with them well filled baskets and a big noonday feast was enjoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard were the happiest of all present by this attention and love shown them. They were also delighted with the silver shower of money they revealed when they turned their plates to begin eating--Moberly Democrat. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.