Friday, 11 Feb 1916--JOHN C. TRUESDALE DEAD--John C. Truesdale died at 11:50 o'clock Sunday night at the family home two miles northeast of Renick. He is survived by a wife, six sons, James Truesdale, of Clark; Ome, John, Simeon, Jerre and Samuel Truesdale, all of near Clark, and two daughters, Mrs. Annie Clifton, Chamois, Mo, and Mrs. Lizzie Carr, of near Sturgeon. Mr. Truesdale was born February 9th, 1829 and lacked only three days of reaching the age of 87. He was one of the pioneer citizens of this county, an honest, upright and industrious farmer, his long and useful life helped to make this part of the country one of the best sections of Missouri--Moberly Democrat. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--ITEMS FROM RUCKER--Bob Gray and family left Rucker Wednesday for West Plains where they expect to take charge of a hotel. A birthday party was given at Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Bradley Saturday night in honor of their son and daughter, Orville and Fleeta May. About 75 were in attendance. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Through not hearing of it, although we asked several from that neighborhood, as well as E. E. Newman, who carried the risk, if they had any news items to report, we failed last week to mention the burning of the residence of Douglas Edwards of east of town, which occurred on the night of January 27. The fire was discovered about 11 o'clock and is supposed to have caught from a defective flue. Mr. Edwards lost most of his household effects, as well as a lot of meat and other supplies in a summer kitchen, which was also burned. He carried about $1000 insurance, which will not cover the loss by half. He has since erected a 2-room house, which he will use until warm weather. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--ATTEMPTED SUICIDE--Mrs. Richard Smith, following, it is said, some words with her husband at their home in the south part of town, attempted to take her life about 8 o'clock Saturday night of last week, drinking four ounces of wood alcohol. Dr. G. M. Nichols was summoned, and reaching the home almost immediately soon emptied her stomach of the poison by means of a pump. It had begun to take effect, however, and it was some time before Mrs. Smith was pronounced out of danger. In a few days she had recovered from all effects of the poison. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--HAMILTON-DAMERON CASE TO SUPREME COURT--Judge Divilbliss at Carrollton set aside the verdict of $500 given W. T. Dameron against John N. Hamilton at Carrollton last September. Both parties to the suit are citizens of Huntsville. Mr. Dameron is postmaster of the county capital and former editor of the Huntsville Times. Mr. Hamilton is editor of the Herald of that city. The case was first tried here before Judge Waller, resulting in a verdict for Hamilton. Dameron sued for heavy personal damages for an alleged libelous article about him published in the Herald. Later on a new trial was granted Dameron on account of erroneous instruction given Hamilton. Hamilton then appealed to the supreme court, which tribunal upheld Judge Waller's ruling granting Dameron a new trial. Dameron took the case to Carrollton on a change of venue last fall, and the trial there before Judge Divilbliss and a jury resulted in a verdict of $500 for Dameron. Hamilton asked for a new trial and the judge set the matter for a hearing today. When the case came up today and was argued by Whitecotton & Wight of this city, for Hamilton, and J. P. Boyd of Paris, for Dameron, Judge Divilbliss set the former verdict aside and granted Hamilton a new trial. It is said that Mr. Dameron will appeal the case again to the supreme court.--Moberly Democrat. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Kirt Dollard, well known here, who has been threatening to get in the race for sheriff of Howard county, formally announced this week. His father is the present sheriff, and the experience Kirt has acquired as deputy has made him familiar with all the duties of the office. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Born, on the 9th, to Edgar (Curl) Pitney and wife, a daughter. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--B. J. Lay orders the NEWS sent to him at 802 Dickerson Ave. Detroit, Mich., in which city he has located. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--JUDGE M. M. BURTON DEAD--Judge M. M. Burton, familiarly and affectionately known as "Uncle May," died at the home of his son, A. C. Burton, just southeast of town, at 9:30 o'clock Sunday evening, Feb 6, 1916, following an illness of several months, the direct cause of his demise being general debility incident to his great age, he being in his 94th year. Following the custom of the family, funeral services were held at the home Tuesday, being in charge of Eld E. Y. Keiter of Moberly. Despite the bad roads and the cold, the large and commodious house would not begin to accommodate the large crowd of sorrowing friends and relatives who had assembled to pay their last respects to this grand old man. Interment was made in the Burton cemetery on the farm where he was born, and on which he spent the most of his life and within sight of the home in which he died. Thus ends the life of one of the best men this county, or any other, for that matter, ever produced. He was all that father, husband, friend and Christian gentleman ought to be, and to know him was to love him. During his active years he conducted extensive business interests, and we have yet to hear of a person who had any dealings with him speak of him in anything but terms of veneration and respect. Even when he entered the field for political honors, which was at a time when manhood and real worth alone counted, his enemies, if he ever had such, could not point to a single low or mean thing he had ever done. He was above such things, even as a young boy, and Death found him in his old age patiently waiting with a record about as spotless as it is possible for a mortal to have. While he was as firm as granite, he was as gentle as a woman and hardly knew the meaning of the word harshness. His life was such that, looked at from any and all angles, it will be a monument to his memory more enduring than bronze, and the influence of it in an ever-widening circle may, for all we can tell, go on and on, turning to God many yet unborn until it laps the shores of eternity. To the only son, who though a father and grandfather, feels that he is, in a way, the last of his race, the sympathy of all goes out. The following sketch is taken from "The History of Randolph County," published in 1884: "Judge May M. Burton was born in this county, December 14, 1822, and was reared on his father's farm. His father being a man in good circumstances, the son was given an excellent general education. In early life he started as a school teacher, which he followed for several years, and became quite popular and successful in his chosen calling. On the 5th of December, 1845, he was married to Miss Minerva Brooks, a daughter of William H. and Susan (Pyle) Brooks, of this county. After his marriage Judge Burton settled down and engaged in farming. He secured an extensive tract of land near his father's old homestead, on which he resided and continued farming and stock raising until 1870. Inheriting to a marked degree the stronger and better qualities of his father's character, he too, became successful in agricultural life, and quite prominent as a citizen. In 1856 he was elected to the Legislature over George Settle, a prominent man of the county, by a large majority. In 1870 he was elected a member of the county court, and has since been re-elected from time to time, having served in all nearly eight years. The year that he was first elected a member of the county court he retired from the farm and engaged in mercantile business in Higbee, Mo, and in 1878 he moved to Sweet Springs, in Saline county, where he continued for about three years. Returning to the farm in 1881, he has since lived a retired life, having an ample competency on which to rely as old age comes on apace, and something to leave each of his children. Judge Burton's first wife died in April, 1881. She had borne him two sons whom survive: Ambrose C. and William H., both of whom are carrying on the farm at the old homestead. Judge Burton was married to his present wife July 5, 1883. Her maiden name was Sarah A. Lassiter, a daughter of Henry Lassiter, an early settler of the county from Kentucky. Her first husband, Robert G. Gilman, was for many years treasurer of the county and one of its most highly respected citizens. He died November 9, 1872. the Judge is a man still hale and well preserved. His eye is as bright and his step as elastic as would be expected of one 10 or 15 years his junior. Only 62 years of age as yet, to all appearances he still has much activity and usefulness. No man in the county is more highly esteemed." Friday,11 Feb 1916--Mrs. William Wall, aged 71, died at her home near Clark on the 5th. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Mrs. Joe Rubin of Montavista, Colo, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Frank (Bud) Goin. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--A son, born on the 6th to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Atkins makes them the parents of twelve children, all of whom are living. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Mrs. Anna Atkins is visiting relatives in Moberly. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Mrs. Julia Smith celebrated her 71st birthday on the 8th, having for her guest her son, Joe, of Armstrong. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Judge J. W. Viley, one of Howard county's oldest citizens, died at his home in Roanoke on the 4th, following a long illness. He was born in this county in 1837 and moved to Howard in 1882. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. R. M. Bagby of Fayette, and one sister, Mrs. S. B. Yancey of Armstrong. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--A FATAL ACCIDENT--Katy Brakeman Run Over While Coupling Cars--Dies in Moberly Hospital--Roy Delp, an M. K. & T. brakeman, whose home was in Clinton, was run over here at 4 o'clock Wednesday morning and received injuries from which he died a short time later. Just how the accident occurred will never be known as he was too weakened from the shock to tell anything about it, but it is presumed that he slipped on the snow as he went to make a coupling. A fellow brakeman, who was only about two car-lengths away when the accident occurred, and who was the first to reach him, found him with his body outside the track and the right leg across the rail crushed to a pulp, one wheel having passed over it, but not cut off. His right hip was also badly crushed, but whether he was caught between the drawheads or not no one knows. Drs. Dinwiddie and Burkhalter, the company's local surgeons were called, and gave the unfortunate man emergency treatment, but as they thought it best and quickest for further treatment he was placed in the caboose and a record run made to Moberly, the doctors accompanying hi m, and placed in a hospital. He lives but about forty minutes after reaching Moberly. Mr. Delp is about 35 years of age and is survived by his wife and two children. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--Higbee people in general, and the friends of J. W. Bottoms in particular, as he had long been considered past redemption, were given the surprise of their lives this week when the news of his engagement to Mrs. Lizzie B. Smith leaked out. They had intended to keep the matter a profound secret, we understand, not taking even their closest friends into their confidence, and spring their wedding as a surprise, but the secret was not guarded as securely as they thought. We are not at liberty to state when the wedding will occur, but can say that our readers will hear of it in a very short time--perhaps in a few hours. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--MARRS-REITER--Mr. Raymond Marrs of this place and Miss Bertha Reiter of Roanoke were married in Huntsville on Tuesday, Feb 8, 1916, by the Rev. E. M. Richmond. The groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Marrs and is one of Higbee's substantial young men and worthy of the fair prize he has won. The bride, who is quite well known here, is one of Roanoke's most popular and accomplished young ladies. The NEWS joins others in congratulations and best wishes. Friday, 11 Feb 1916--S. C. Blythe, who went to Victor, Colo, several months ago intending making it his home, returned Saturday, the altitude not agreeing with him. He will make his home here for the summer, at least, and his legion of friends hope he will remain permanently. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.