1 May, 1896--Ed. St. Clair, of Clifton Hill was here Monday and rented S. S. Cave's blacksmith shop at that place. 1 May 1896--FROM EBENEZZAR--At 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon Garrett Lyon and Miss Rose Holtzclaw were united in marriage at the home of the bride's father, John A. Holtzclaw. The happy couple were made one by Rev. Jas. Linn, of Clifton Hill, in the presence of only the immediate relatives of both the contracting parties. All join in wishing Garrett and his beautiful Rose many long and happy days. 1 May 1896--CARROLLTON, MO--April 30--William Taylor was hanged here today for the murder of the Meeks family. The drop fell at 10:56 a.m. Death was instantaneous. 1 May 1896--Married, on the 26th, Garret Lyon and Miss Rosena Holtzclaw, daughter of John A. Holtzclaw, Rev. Linn officiating. The News extends good wishes. 1 May 1896--A dispatch from Macon says: Mrs. Bettie Finnel, aged 75, of Marceline, and Peter Dowell, aged 80, were married by Probate Judge Roberts here today. Fifteen of 20 children and grandchildren of the couple witnessed the ceremony. Mr. Dowell is a wealthy farmer, living near New Cambria. 1 May 1896--John W. Wack, a stock dealer, committed suicide at Salisbury a few days ago. He had just returned from Chicago where he struck a poor market for his stock, which is supposed to be the cause of the act. 8 May 1896--Burton, Howard county, six miles south of here, was the scene of a fatal shooting scrape Saturday evening of last week which resulted in the death of Jas. Dennis, and the wounding of Jo Will and Jas. Dougherty. The facts in the case are hard to obtain but from what we can learn it appears that Dennis and Bill Broadus became engaged in a quarrel when Jo Will Dougherty interfered and separated them. Dennis took exceptions to this and picked up a rock and knocked Dougherty down with it. Joe's brother, James, pulled his gun when Dennis told him not to shoot, that he would quit. Dougherty paid no attention to this but shot twice, one ball entering the body a little below the left arm pit ranging toward the heart. The other ball entered the body about three inches below the right arm pit and back. Although in a dying condition Dennis drew his pistol and shot the Doughertys--Joe Will in the leg and Jas. in the head, inflicting painful wounds. Dennis then walked a few feet and dropped dead. The Doughertys gave themselves up to the Constable and were placed in jail to await their preliminary trial which was set for yesterday. 8 May 1896--Mrs. Hulda Burton left Monday for Norman, Indiana Territory, to visit her son L. T. Burton. 8 May 1896--Married, near Armstrong, on the 6th, Prof. J. E. Harvey and Miss Opal Hulett, the accomplished daughter of Thos. Hulett and wife, Rev. J. A. Greening officiating. The News extends good wishes. 8 May 1896--Mollie Andrews vs. Joseph B. Andrews, suit for divorce. This case excited more than ordinary interest, the court room being crowded to suffocation during the trail. The petition was long and interesting and recited with great precision the indignities heaped upon the plaintiff. The testimony showed that the plaintiff had been ruthlessly deserted without just cause of provocation and that the defendant had resorted to every conceivable device to divest himself of his property, both real and personal so as to defeat alimony. The evidence tended to show that the defendant was possessed of seven hundred acres of land, and a large amount of personal property and that he had attempted to deed his property away since the desertion. After hearing all the evidence the court granted the plaintiff absolute divorce with restoration of former name of Mollie Milliken, and granted her alimony in gross $2,500, and allowance of $125 for attorney fees. It is expected that the matter will be settled, if not, execution will be issued, the land levied on and sold. The people generally feel that the verdict was right--Sturgeon Leader. 8 May 1896--It is reported here that Thos. L. Davis, who recently moved to Clark from here, has deserted his wife, and that in company with his sons, John and Robert, has gone to Texas. Just how the rumor started we don't know, but hope there is no truth in it. 8 May 1896--Judge John R. Hull, of Huntsville, one of the oldest attorneys in the county, dropped dead Wednesday evening at Huntsville, of apoplexy. 8 May 1896--Married, near Elliott, on the 6th, Mack Blackford and Miss Mills, daughter of Bob Mills and wife. The News extends congratulations. 8 May 1896--Married, on the 6th, Wm. Rankin and Miss Hanna Broaddie, Justice Rankin, the father of the groom, officiating. The News extends good wishes. 8 May 1896--Mr. Isaac Jones and Miss Maggie Jones drove out to the residence of Rev. W. B. Anderson Wednesday and were married. The News wishes them a smooth journey through life. 15 May 1896--WILSON ECHOES--James, Lee and Willie Palmatary are visiting relatives in Macon county this week. Jim makes regular trips and stays a little longer each time. 15 May 1896--WILSON ECHOES--It is with sorrow we chronicle the death of "Grannie" Shatto. She died Friday, and her remains were laid to rest at the New Hope grave yard on Saturday following her death. 15 May 1896--Born, on the 12th, to Ben Owen and wife, a daughter. 15 May 1896--Wm. J. Jones, aged 75 years, dropped dead Thursday of last week at his residence west of Paris. 15 May 1896--Born, on the 10th, to Dudley Bradley and wife, a daughter. 15 May 1896--Waller Patrick, aged 58, committed suicide at his home near Harrisburg, MO, Tuesday evening by hanging. Deceased was a brother of H. E. Patrick, of near Higbee. 22 May 1896--FROM EBENEZZAR--Mrs. Abner Holtzclaw visited Mrs. D. L. Barron Sunday. Mrs. H. is nearly 80 years of age and for one so old enjoys fair health, and can get around almost as pert as a young girl. 22 May 1896--Born, on the 30th, to Wm. Oldham and wife, a daughter. 22 May 1896--MADE GOOD HIS THREAT--Sturgeon, MO, Men Quarrel, Threaten to Shoot and Do It.--Sturgeon, MO, May 19--The result of bad feelings for some time past, together with bad whisky, caused John Hawkins and Tom Clark to quarrel last Thursday, when Hawkins carved Clark's coat to pieces with a knife and threatened to kill him at first sight. Today Hawkins was passing, going to dinner, when Clark stepped to the porch and fired two loads of buckshot, both taking effect in Hawkin's arm, hip and breast. Hawkins is seriously hurt, and may die. Clark gave himself up and is now in jail. 22 May 1896--J. E. Rucker received a dispatch from his son-in-law, Dr. A. A. Thomson, of Waxahachie, Texas, the first of the week informing him of the death of his son, John D. Thomson. Young Thomson spent the summer here a year of two ago, and made many friends who will be pained to learn of his death. 29 May 1896--Born, on the 22nd, to John Harris and wife, a son. 29 May 1896--Died, near Burton, on the 23rd, Mrs. Elizabeth Graves, wife of J. B. Graves, aged 62 years. Mrs. Graves had been suffering from heart trouble for some time and her death was not unexpected. 29 May 1896--Willard Harris, a prominent citizen of Fayette, took his life Saturday last, by shooting himself through the head. 29 May 1896--S. Lessley and W. E. Ward went to Roanoke Wednesday to attend the funeral of Ruben Taylor, who died suddenly at that place Monday evening. 29 May 1896--Prairie township was the scene of probably a fatal shooting affray last Friday morning, between J. W. Gentry and Cole Embree. An old feud has existed between the men for some time and it is said that Gentry rode up to Embree's house last Friday morning and after a few words, emptied the contents of a shotgun into Embree, wounding him, perhaps fatally. Gentry gave himself up and is in jail at Huntsville. 29 May 1896--A DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONE--Houses Unroofed and Blown Down--Trees Two Feet in Diameter Twisted Off and Uprooted--Fences and Outbuildings Leveled.--EIGHT KILLED IN AUDRAIN COUNTY--At 2:30 p.m. Wednesday a small funnel shaped cloud was observed in the southwest not more than a mile and a half from Higbee where a number of the citizens watched it form and start on its tour of destruction. The first place struck was the dirt dump at the Interstate mine where all the trestle work was torn down and the fan damaged. The next place visited was that of Jonas Robb where the kitchen was blown from the foundation. The storm then entered the woods pasture of W. H. Burton, one and half miles south of town where it seemed to spread and gather force and for nearly a mile mowed a swath 200 feet wide, twisting off and uprooting large oak and elm trees. As the storm left the pasture it struck the barn which was unroofed and badly shaken up. Two or three small stables, feed sheds and hen houses were completely demolished. Arthur and May Burton were in the barn at the time it was struck and say they hardly had time to think before all was over. The orchard was badly damaged. The residence which stood about 40 yards from the barn escaped injury: The cloud then headed northeast. Mrs. D. H. Osborne's house, a few miles east of here, was demolished. Seven box cars that were standing on the sidetrack at Camp, were blown across the main track and some were torn to kindling wood. Passenger train No 48 came near running into the cars, but the cool head of the engineer probably averted an awful wreck. As soon as he discovered the obstruction he reversed his engine and put on the air and stopped his train in a few feet of them. Had the train not bee a few minutes late it would have struck the cyclone and no telling what would have happened. The storm kept on its course to the northeast blowing down trees, fences and barns. A school house near old Shafton and residence were blown down. The storm passed south of Renick about two miles, destroying Ira Shirley's residence and outbuildings. A cyclone cellar on the premises probably saved the lives of the family. Another residence near the Shirley place was blown down and three men slightly injured. The storm then headed for Audrain county and demolished Friendship church 6 miles north of Sturgeon. A dispatch from Mexico states that the Bean school house near that place was carried away and a daughter of Joseph Ware was killed and Lulu Eubanks and Hilda Blase fatally injured. At the Dye school house six miles further southeast, five children were killed, three outright, and two dying later at Mexico. At Vandalia about 5 miles of telegraph poles and wires were blown down. 29 May 1896--Reuben Taylor, one of Randolph's oldest citizens died suddenly Monday afternoon at his home near Roanoke, of neuralgia of the heart, aged 76 years. 29 May 1896--John Hawkins who was shot by Tom Clark at Sturgeon one day last week will recover. Two or three days before the shooting, Hawkins cut Clark's coat into carpet rags while the latter was on the inside of it and threatened to kill him. Hawkins says he had nothing against Clark when he cut at him several times that he was drunk and "only in fun." Clark will perhaps put up the plea that he was only in fun. 29 May 1896--IN LOVING MEMORY--Of little Sylvester Pope, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Pope, who died Jan 21st, 1896 of that dread disease, membranous croup. (What followed was a long, angst filled speech about losing a child, followed by a poem. I omitted it because of time constraints). Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.