The following are selected articles from a Newspaper titled, "The Higbee News" which was issued out of the town of Higbee, in Randolph County, Missouri from the years 1888 through 1953. The editors were W. H. Welch and his son H. Scott Welch. This paper covered the Higbee area and also a great deal of the northeastern part of Howard county. The copyright notice at the end of this transcript is there for the sole purpose of keeping this work free to the public, and to ensure that it is not harvested by a fee-based corporate genealogy site, or published in any format for profit. If you decide to use the information from this transcription, PLEASE LIST ME AS THE SOURCE, rather than the paper. My transcription is another generation removed from the microfilm, and would thus be a third generation copy of the original paper. For proper documentation, a researcher should obtain a photocopy of the microfilm for their own permanent records, and use my transcript as a guide or index. The microfilm is available for interlibrary loan through the State Historical Society of Missouri, and a copy is also on file at the Moberly Public Library, generously donated by the Higbee Historical Society. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 1, Col 6--STORE ROBBED--The grocery store of Medley Burton was entered some time Wednesday night, December 22, entrance being gained through the basement door, which was not very securely locked, but which the thief did not find out until he had pried one of the hinges loose, and made away with all the money in the safe, about $430 in cash and checks. The store was short of help that day, Geo. Walton being at home sick, and the force was worked to such an extent that Mr. Burton did not have time to make a deposit at the bank, and placed the money in the safe, never thinking anyone would take it, as he had never been in the habit of keeping money in it, and he knew nothing of the robbery until the next morning when he opened the safe and found the money gone. Finding the basement door forced open, he sent to Moberly for the bloodhounds, but nothing came of their work, they taking a trail to the north part of town, and on another trip going as far as mine No. 11, where it is said a stranger had boarded the south-bound train that morning. But it was no stranger who did the job, but some one well acquainted with the store, and who no doubt saw Mr. Burton put the money away. The money drawer on the opposite side of the store was also opened and $5 or $6 which had been placed in a sack with a notation as to the amount and by whom paid written on the sack, and which had been put in the drawer about noon, indicating that the party knew just where to look for all the cash in the house. That it was home talent is also indicated by the fact that a professional burglar would have had a sweet time opening the safe, as it had a one-way combination, Mr. Burton having made the change when the combination stuck about a year ago, and one who did not know this could never have opened the safe save with nitroglycerin. Mr. Burton does not know how much of the amount was in checks, but thinks there may have been as much as $150 or more. Several who gave him checks on the 21st and 22nd (checks for both days being taken) stopped payment on them, giving another, and in this way Mr. Burton will likely recover $125 to $140. It is too much to hope that he will ever recover much more than that. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 1, Col 6--FALLS FROM WAGON, DIES--Silas Booth of Harrisburg, 71 years old, died Wednesday of last week from injuries received in a fall from a wagon. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--The commitment to jail here last week of Mrs. Daisy Dallas with her two-year-old daughter, for deserting her five-weeks-old baby at Moberly two weeks ago, recalls my experience with a negro woman and her suckling baby when I was sheriff of the county. This woman, whose name I have forgotten, was convicted of grand larceny, I believe, and sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for two years by judge Hockaday at the circuit court at Moberly, February term, 1892, I believe. What to do with the picaninny was a puzzle to me. I advised with judge Hockaday and Frank P. Wily, prosecuting attorney, about the matter, and the case stumped them too and they saw no legal way out of the predicament. I could not desert the baby or take it away from its mother, if some good Samaritan would not take it off my hands when I carried its mother to the penitentiary. Court attaches and other of course, had some amusement over the matter at my expense. I did not want to keep the baby in jail until some legal proceedings could be had in the county court to get it a home. Judge Hockaday said he had no authority over the young one, and Mr. Wily said he had no legal authority to order the child taken from the bosom of its mother, and I plead that I had no legal right to take it from its mother either, not to place it in jail for safe keeping. Finally, Judge Hockaday said: "Mr. Sheriff, I think the only thing you can do under the circumstances, is to let the mother carry the baby along with her to prison." Then I said, "Your honor, suppose the warden should refuse to receive the baby, what then?" The Judge, with rather serious expression, said: "In that case you might have to bring it back home with you, but I think it best to take that chance." Well, with other prisoners I carried the woman and baby to the penitentiary. The war was not in, but his deputy, with some hesitation, let the young one in with its mother, on condition that I see the warden about it before returning home. David R. Francis was Governor of the state and John Morrison of Howard county was warden, with whom I was acquainted. When I returned to the prison Mr. Morrison was there and had been informed of what had been done with the baby. Well, we had a verbal scrap over the matter, though good naturedly. The child was off my hands temporarily, at least, and I took it that I had "nine points" in my favor, and was not worrying much. He insisted strongly that I take the child back home with me, but as I hadn't promised the deputy to take the child back, but only promised to "see" the warden about it, I stood pat on that "technicality" and held the warden off. Then he said he would send the baby back at the county's expense as he had no legal right to keep it in prison. I countered that I had no legal authority to take it from its mother and that judge Hockaday suggested to me to let the mother bring the baby with her, and that if he sent the baby back by messenger I might refuse to take it off his hands and that the messenger could not afford to desert the child. He said he would take that chance all right. After talking the matter over a while longer I told Mr. Morrison that I would lay the matter before the county court when I returned home and they probably would take some action about it. "Well," said the warden, "I will consult the Governor about it, and what he says do, I will comply with it at once." Well, my guards and I got out of town before the warden got a conference with the Governor. In a short time Gov. Francis issued a pardon to the woman and she returned home with her baby and that ended the matter. But every time I took prisoners to the pen after that Mr. Morrison would laugh and say: "Well, Dameron, have you got any baby prisoners in that bunch?" Since writing the above, Mrs. Dallas has been released from jail and with her little two-year-old daughter sent to relatives in Kansas City where she expects to get employment, and I presume the criminal charges preferred against her for child desertion will probably be dismissed. Money was made up to defray her expenses to Kansas City. her six weeks old baby is being cared for in Moberly. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Probate Judge Rollie Morris, seems to prefer men for his chief clerks rather than women, contrary to the course of Judge Vasse. Mr. Morris has appointed Attorney A. C. Gladney as his chief clerk at Moberly and Gilbert Minor as clerk of the Huntsville court. Mr. Minor is a son of Prof. Jake V. Minor, principal of the Huntsville High School, and was born and reared a few miles south of Huntsville and is a sterling young man. He possesses qualifications that will enable him to make an efficient clerk. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--A case of unusual interest was tried in Judge Vasse's Probate Court here last Tuesday week, December 21. John R. Long, aged 83, who died very suddenly at the home of Ernest Riley, a few miles from Huntsville, last September, was possessed of considerable property. John W. Derigne, northeast of Huntsville, was appointed administrator of the estate by Judge Vasse. Mrs. Emma Hodge of Milan, Mo., filed a claim in probate court against the Long estate for $3086 for board, nursing, etc., of the deceased. The administrator refused to approve the claim, hence the suit. Ms. Hodges was represented by attorney P. M. Marr, of Milan, Mo., and Hunter & Chamier appeared for the administrator. The trial was held in the circuit court room and attracted quite a crowd. The case was tried before a jury of twelve citizens, with Judge Vasse presiding. It was a hotly contested trial. The jury brought in a verdict signed by nine of them allowing the plaintiff $2000. An appeal was taken to the circuit court by the defendant. The following named citizens composed the jury: Hon. W. T. Heathman, w. M. White, W. E. Music, Ben Dameron, W. R. Bousman, W. T. Owens, Alex Shaw, Hall Bell, W. L. Summers, Robt. Hardister, J. P. Manuel and J. H. McDowell. Mr. Heathman was foreman of the jury. The administrator is a nephew of the deceased. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Miss Nina Johnson, a splendid young lady, and efficient clerk and book-keeper for the W. Y. Terry Grocery company here, was married to Mr. H. D. Finnell of Moberly Sunday, December 26, at the Methodist parsonage in Clifton Hill by the pastor, the Rev. K. E. Davis. They will reside in Moberly. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Married, Christmas day, at the parsonage, by the Rev. F. P. Davidson, Victor Theval and Miss Opal Hess, both of Moberly. Also Mr. Harvey Edgar of Jefferson City and Miss Elna Corbin, of Huntsville were joined in holy wedlock by the Rev. Mr. Davidson. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Miss Beuna Heifner, aged 26, died at the home of her brother, Clarence Heifner, here Tuesday, December 27, of typhoid fever, after a short illness. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and funeral services were held at Hickory Grove church, near Darksville, conducted by the Rev. Homer Huff. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Mrs. Ella R. Martin, aged 65, devoted wife of H. C. (Shorty) Martin, died very suddenly at her home on E. Mulberry street here Monday afternoon, December 27, of heart failure. She had been busy all day with her household duties, and was apparently in her usual health up to about 5:00 o'clock, when she was stricken with heart trouble and died before her husband succeeded in getting a physician. She was born in this county on June 10, 1861, and was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Theo Yowell, pioneers of the county. She was married to Henry C. Martin on April 28, 1892. Besides her husband she leaves one son, Claude Martin, of Clark; one sister, Mrs. Belle Brooking of this city, and four brothers, John K. and Orville Yowell of Huntsville; Virgil Yowell of St. Louis and Theo Yowell of Kansas City. She had been a devoted member of the Baptist church for many years. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. f. P. Davidson, assisted by the Rev. O. L. Hunt. Burial in the city cemetery. Thursday, 6 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 35, Pg 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron.--Eugene Lee of Armstrong, a young widower aged about 30, came to Huntsville September 9 (Old Settlers' Day) of last year to take in the exercises of the day but more particularly, on the lookout, I opine for some Huntsville or Randolph "sweetie," who might be matrimonially inclined. Well, he met and formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary Ethelyn Halley of this city, a high school girl, attractive and scarcely 16 years of age. It seems to have been a case of "love at first sight." Anyhow, courtship and engagement was the result. Miss Ethelyn's father, Earl Halley, objected to her marrying so young, and forbade Mr. Lee calling on his daughter. But they would meet at some friend's house unknown to her father and step-mother. At odd times during school days Miss Ethelyn clerked in Judge B. H. Shiflett's grocery store. Perhaps no one in town knew she was engaged to Mr. Lee. Christmas Eve she took part in the Christmas tree exercises at the Baptist church. Sunday following she secretly made ready to elope with Mr. Lee, and did so very cleverly, leaving a note to her parents stating that she was going to get married and would return to visit the family if her father would receive her husband, and if not she would not return either. She stated to a friend before leaving that they were going to Glasgow to get married, but that may have been a ruse. When she did not return home Sunday evening and her parents found the note, Mr. Halley got busy with Sheriff McCanne and Constable Bagby, declaring that he would "make it hot" for the officer who issued them license or the party or parties who made affidavit to his daughter's being of legal age. But the officers failed to get any trace of them. The Armstrong Herald of last week reported their marriage on Thursday following their elopement on Sunday, but did not state where they were married nor by whom. And that is all that is known of their wedding here. They are supposed to be at the groom's home at Armstrong. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. They may not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded media, CD, etc. without specific written permission from Kathy Bowlin. Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes & comments, etc. is. It is however, quite permissible to print or save the files to a personal computer for personal use only. Permission is granted to public libraries, and genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for the use of their patrons. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections, comments welcome.