Friday, 4 Aug 1916--A HOWARD COUNTY TRAGEDY--Wm. Hocker, one of Howard county's prominent farmers, killed his hired man, Sam McKenzie, in the yard at his home near new Franklin about sunrise Tuesday morning following a quarrel. According to the information received through Denny Smith, coroner, who with sheriff Dollard was called to the Hocker home about 6:30 o'clock, Hocker and McKenzie had a hot quarrel earlier in the morning and when McKenzie returned from the barn where he had fed the horses, the two men began shooting. Each had a good revolver and each used it effectively. McKenzie was shot in the face and through the body. He died from an internal hemorrhage soon after the firing ceased. Mr. Hocker was shot through the hand and through the chest just above the heart. The bullet left the body under the left arm. He was also shot through the leg. The cause for the shooting is not known. Mrs. McKenzie told the coroner's jury that the tragedy followed a quarrel earlier in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie and their little daughter have lived with Mr. Hocker in the same house for several weeks. Prior to their moving to the Hocker home they lived near Fayette. McKenzie was about 40 years of age. His wife is much younger--Fayette Advertiser. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--OBITUARY--Mary F. Swetnam, daughter of Sidney S. and Susan Swetnam, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, 25 Apr 1833. While yet a small child her parents moved to Adair county, near the present site of Kirksville. Here she grew into womanhood and was married to David Alexander, April 13, 1854. Three sons and one daughter were born to this union, the daughter, Susan H. Brooks, of Fall River, Kan., being the only survivor. At the outbreak of the civil War Mr. Alexander enlisted in the Confederate army and was killed in the battle of Corinth October 4, 1862. She lived a widow until February 13, 1868, when she was married to Francis Hairl. Two sons and two daughters were born to this union. Two sons and one daughter survive: A. L. Hairl, Higbee, Mo.; G. w. Hairl, Chesea, Okla., and Mrs. J. T. Seelye, Pueblo, Colo. Later on the family moved to Randolph county, on a farm near Higbee, Mo., at which place Mr. Hairl died June 20, 1880. December 18, 1884, the family left for Clark county, Kan., where for several years they endured the hardships of the Kansas pioneer. Several years later she moved, with her eldest son, Sidney Alexander, to Indian Territory, near Vinita, now Oklahoma. She united with the Lone Oak Christian church, near Vinita, and was baptized September 19, 1897. In 1903, during the last illness of her son, Sidney, she moved back to Randolph county, Mo., but during the past six years she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Susan H. Brooks of Fall River, Kansas. Here she died July 20, 1916, after a lingering illness, aged 83 years, 2 months and 25 days. During her long life she saw the western country transformed from a wilderness and desert into a civilized community, and saw populous cities spring up and grow in uninhabited spots. During her life she belonged to the army of pioneers "who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Pastor J. R. Roberts of Eureka, formerly pastor of the Christian church at Fall River, conducted the funeral at the home July 22, 1916, and after a never-to-be-forgotten sermon the body was laid to rest in the McBrown cemetery. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on the 3rd, to R. B. Burckhart and wife, a daughter. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on the 3rd, to R. R. Karrick and wife, a daughter. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on July 31, to James L. Wheeler and wife, a daughter. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Mrs. Mose Stevenson, who has been quite sick for the past week, is slowly improving. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--A. D. Dougherty, who recently moved to Elliott from this place, moved to Woodlandville, Boone county, this week. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--T. D. Williams returned Tuesday from Chillicothe where he had been to visit an uncle whom he had not seen for thirty-seven years. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--R. M. Thacker and wife and little son of Rich, Okla., were here the first of the week, the guests of Mr. Thacker's brother, Prof. W. B. Thacker. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Geo. Fisher of near Myers left Thursday, for a two weeks ' visit with his sisters, Mrs. Sue Wilson of Lafayette county, and Mrs. M. V. Hargis of Troy, Kan. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Mrs. Will Rankin and niece, Mrs. Opal Curin, who brought the body of the former's mother, Mrs. Jane Brodie, to Higbee for burial from Butte, Mont., Friday, returned home Monday. Funeral services were held in the L. D. S. church Saturday afternoon by Eld. Wm. Kelso, and interment made in the city cemetery. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--A team driven by Mrs. B. F. Kirby, ran away Tuesday, quite painfully injuring her 12-year-old daughter, who was thrown from the wagon and struck by a barrel of water, which was thrown out at the same time. But for the fact that the lick, was a glancing one, the accident would have perhaps been a fatal one. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Mrs. Jas. Palmer, who has been making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Will Baker, of near Yates for several months, was this week declared of unsound mind and was taken to the state hospital at Fulton by Dr. T. H. Dinwiddie on Tuesday. Ill health and brooding over her husband's death, caused her to break down. Her old Higbee friends join the NEWS in the prayer that she will soon be fully restored mentally and physically. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on July 28, to Crews Cooper and wife, a son. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on July 29, to Ira Hamilton and wife, a daughter. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on July 28, to Carl Harlow and wife, a son. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Born, on July 28, to Chas. H. Timmons and wife, a daughter. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--WM HACKWARD DEAD--Wm. Hackward, one of Higbee's most highly respected citizens, died at his home in this place at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 1916, following an illness of several months. As he had long since made his calling and election sure, he was not afraid to launch out into the unknown when the Grim Reaper beckoned to him, and the visit was no doubt a welcome one for him, for his sufferings for months had been intense. But he bore them without complaint. He was born January 8, 1847, in Weirdale, England, and was married on May 18, 1871, to Jane Peart of the same place. On coming to the United States he located at Huntsville, and about twenty-five years ago moved to Higbee where he had since resided. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom survive, viz: Mrs. Lizzie Taylor, Colo.; Mrs. Minnie Richards, Calif; Mrs. Mary Lay, Joseph and Thomas Hackward of Higbee, and Wm. Hackward of St. Louis. We had known Mr. Hackward intimately as a neighbor and friend since he first moved to Higbee and in all those years never knew him to do an unkind deed or say an unkind word of anyone, and we believe that all who knew him can say the same. Funeral services were conducted at the tabernacle Monday by Rev. J. J. Copeland, pastor of the Methodist church, of which he was a devout member, assisted by Rev. Ben Robson, his boyhood chum and lifetime friend. Altho' the tent has a seating capacity greater than any two churches in town, it was more than full, many being compelled to stand on the outside. This gathering of friends and acquaintances spoke in more complimentary terms of his worth as a citizen and a man than any eulogy that could be written. Interment was made in the city cemetery. Besides his widow and children, he leaves a brother and two sisters, all of whom reside in England. The sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved ones. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Marjorie, the 4-year-old daughter of W. C. Burton and wife, got off an entirely new one the other day. Someone having use for a match sent Marjorie into the house to ask for one. She was asked what she wanted with it, and realizing that there was danger in it for her, replied, "I won't turn it on." Friday, 4 Aug 1916---MRS. ROSINA JOHNSON DEAD--The Death Angel has again visited Higbee and taken from one of its homes one of its best known and best beloved women and mothers in the person of Mrs. Rosina Johnson, who passed peacefully away at her home in this place at 5 a.m. Monday, July 31, 1916, following an illness of two weeks, the immediate cause of death being paralysis, which developed a few days before. Mrs. Johnson, whose maiden name was Tippit, was born in England, October 5, 1856, and came to this country with her parents when she was twelve years of ago. She was married to A. B. Johnson in 1876, and moved to Higbee in 1883, and had resided here since. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom survive, viz: Mrs. R. F. Laight, Mrs. Chas. Solberg, Mrs. Willie Mae Macey, Mrs. Dan Rice and Miss Lillian Johnson. She also leaves an adopted son, Alex Brown Johnson, who loved her as his own mother, and whom she loved and treated in every respect as if he were her own child. She will be sadly missed not only by her children and the intimate friends who knew her best, but by the whole community, for it was her greatest pleasure to minister to those in sickness and distress and to lend them encouragement by comforting words and charitable deeds. She was a devoted Christian and had been a member of the Christian church for many years. Funeral services were held at the home at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon by Rev. Ben Robson, and the immense crowd, which even the large lawn would not accommodate, spoke most eloquently of the esteem in which she was held. Following the services at the home the Order of the Eastern Star, of which deceased was an honored member, took charge and the body was lovingly and tenderly laid to rest in the city cemetery by the side of her only son, Charles, with the full honors of the Order, the ceremony being the most beautiful and impressive ever seen here. The NEWS joins the community in sympathy to the bereft. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--G. R. Rennolds, who went out to the G. W. Lessly farm north of town Sunday morning to see about some cattle he had on pasture, came within an ace of being bitten by a big rattlesnake, being about to put his foot on it when the snake gave warning. It was a sad mistake on the snake's part for Mr. Rennolds neatly sidestepped, and getting a club killed the snake, which measured some five feet and had seven rattles and a button, indicating, so they say, that it was seven years old. The snake was of the diamond variety, and such a beauty that Mr. Rennolds wanted to bring it to town with him in the car, but both Mrs. Rennolds and Mrs. O'Dell, who accompanied him, objecting so strenuously, he left it but brought the rattles. this is the first snake of the kind we have heard of being killed around here in recent years. Mr. Rennolds is of the opinion that there are several more on the farm, which he says is an ideal place for them. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--The following from a distance attended the funeral of Mrs. Rosina Johnson here Wednesday: W. C. Tippit and miss Mable Edwards, McAlester, Ok; Mrs. Elizabeth Lorance, Savanna, Okla; Mrs. John Barron and daughter, Novinger; Mrs. Mary Baily and son, Huntsville; Harry Burrell and wife, Moberly; Miss Velma Williams, Laddonia; Mrs. Albert Summers, Joe and Thos. Hall, John Davis and wife, Elliott, and Wm. Bowen, St Louis. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--W. E. PEARCE DEAD--W. E. Pearce, who succeeded J. C. Cain as agent of the Katy here several years ago, died suddenly at his home in Lamar, Colo., on last Sunday from apoplexy following a stroke of paralysis. Interment was made at Nebo, Ill., his old home. On leaving here, Mr. Pearce went to Colorado and had been agent for the Santa Fe at Lamar ever since. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Clarence Feland was arrested one day last week upon the complaint of G. C. Walker, of the firm of Oldaker & Walker, charged with doing an undertaking business without a license, as provided by the city ordinances. The case was to have come up Monday, but was postponed until Monday of next week. Mr. Feland will be represented by F. E. Murrell and the city by W. P. Cave. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--On last Sunday Mr. C. T. Ware, one of Howard county's oldest and most highly respected citizens, residing near Burton, celebrated his 87th birthday. About 100 relatives, neighbors and friends gathered at the home with well filled baskets and a most enjoyable time was spent by all. Mr. Ware's sister, Mrs. Jane Durnil, of near this place, who is in her 92nd year, was among those present. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--Through the kindness of Mrs. B. E. Kirby, her father, T. A. Comstock, of Salisbury, will read the NEWS for a year. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--W. D. WELCH IMPROVING--W. D. Welch, who has been in the Santa Fe hospital, San Francisco, since July 16, suffering from paralysis of the left side, as mentioned in last week's NEWS, is slowly improving, according to a letter received from him Tuesday, and dated Aug. 27. We quote from his letter: "I suppose you think I have treated you shabbily in regard to writing, but it was not my fault. I fell recently and nearly broke my right thumb and of course could not write. They say troubles never come singly. At least it proved thus in my case, for on the 16th I fell out of my berth, a distance of about five feet, landing on my head. I was sure down for the count, and when I came to myself the next morning I found that my left side was paralyzed. A doctor was called and recommended me to Dr. Morton at Frisco and I have been here since, flat of my back. The doctor says I am coming out of it fine, and I do feel much better than I did a few days ago. However, I am far from well yet, and to fully recover the use of my left side an operation may be necessary. this I do not dread, as Dr. Morton is one of the most skillful surgeons in the United States. I am not worrying. Can sleep all the time, get three good meals a day, served in bed at that, so I should worry! But laying foolishness aside, I am doing nicely and expect to be up 'ere long and go to hard work again." A telegram, dated July 31, from Dr. Morton brought encouraging news, as follows: "Your brother improving slowly. A few weeks before he will be able to travel. He may need a trephining operation on the skull, but think we can get him through without it. Friday, 4 Aug 1916--(Kathy's notes: the Higbee Blues beat Mexico 7-1.) Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.