Hi Peggy, Thanks you so much for the fine work on the old newspaper articles. Please tell us where we can search. I have been a member of the Weakley list for a number of years. I have been in search for any article about an accident at the Martin Roller Mill, date 17 March 1885. A cousin, Robert M Nethercott was killed in that accident. This was noted in the family Bible. Robert was only 20 years of age. I have been successful tracing his family after his marriage. He and Virginia A Kennedy were married 10 Dec 1884. Their baby, Robbie Nethercott, was born in November 1885. All this has been found but I have been unable to find anything about this accident. Please tell me where I can do some searching or if you find anything please share. Thank you so very much Ed Cardinal [email protected]

OMG Peggy, I think we got a winner here!!!!!!!!!!! Just got home and can't do anything now due to the pain but believe me when I can..........thank you so much..........pj 1842-12-12 DAILEY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER- District of Columbia A brutal affray took place at Dresden, Weakley county (Tenn) on Saturday, the 19th ultimo, between Frank McDaniel and Joseph Atkinson, brothers-in-law, both of Weakley county, in which the latter received three severe stabs from the former with a shank of a pit-saw file, which caused almost instantaneous death. Both parties to the affray were under the excitement of drink at the time of its occurrence. 1842-12-13 PUBLIC LEDGER-Pennsylvania An affray took place at Dresden, Weakley county, Tennessee, on the 19th ult., between Frank McDaniel and Joseph Adkerson, brothers-in-law, in which the latter received three severe stabs from the former, with the shank of a pit saw file, which caused almost instantaneous death. McDaniel was immediately secured in prison. Both were intoxicated. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

Great job, Peggy! You are always so good at digging out genealogical treasures! Thanks, MaryCarol

1917-05-29-NEW ORLEANS STATES-Louisiana [Long article about killer tornado.] The known Tennessee dead are: Carroll county: Milton Couch, Mrs. Couch, Mrs. Caroline Green, Mrs. William A. Green. Weakley county: John Stark, Ike Adams, Mrs. William Bragg. [Among others in Tennessee.]

1912-11-22-NEW ORLEANS ITEM-Louisiana 66 YEARS A MASON, DIES NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 22.-Mason Ezell, 91, for 66 years a member of the Masonic order, died yesterday at this home in Weakley county. He was the oldest Mason in the state.

1909-01-03-AUGUSTA CHRONICLE-Georgia NIGHT RIDER'S WIFE 'LIED' FOR HUSBAND Conscience-Stricken She Tells the Truth WAS INTIMIDATED Mrs. Morris On Being Recalled Said Husband Was Not at Home-Hurried From County Under Guard Union City, Tenn., Jan 2.-The defense rested its case in the night rider trials this afternoon and the state began its rebuttal testimony which will be concluded Monday. The grand jury likewise made its final return, including several indictments, and was discharged. When court adjourned until Monday Mrs. Wad Morris, whose sensational confession of perjury today was the star feature of the trial accompanied by her husband and baby, under the protection of six soldiers left for Dresden, Weakley county, where she will live in the future. She was in such terror of her life that she did not even wait to get her other two children or her personal effects. The state put but one witness on the stand before adjourning. Bob Curlin, driver of the hack which plies between Union City and Walnut Log, on the Lake. Curlin drove some of the defense's witnesses to Walnut Log the night the fish docks were burned and saw them leave his conveyance to join the night riders. On cross examination he said he took two quarts of whiskey with him on the drive and at the end of it had a little less than a quart left. Asked if this had no made him "feel his oats," he grew indignant and replied: "What, drunk on a quart in an hour's drive? Why, I can prove by Uncle Bill Gibbs that I drink a quart before breakfast and never feel it." Asserting that on the witness stand yesterday she had deliberately perjured herself for the defense and conscience- stricken, desired to tell the truth, Mrs. Morris, wife of one of the eight alleged night riders, asked to be recalled today. Wad Morris swore he was present the night Captain Rankin was killed and recognized some of the defendants. Mrs. Morris, his wife, on the stand yesterday, swore that her husband was home that night. She left the stand pale and trembling and sent for the attorney general. "I have done a great wrong," she said. "I have told a lie. My husband was not at home that night. He was with the riders. I was forced by my relatives to testify as I did. I want to see my husband." Her brother-in-law tried to get her to leave the city with him but the attorney general ordered him away and took Mrs. Morris to her husband. The meeting of the young husband and wife, separated since October 30, was silent but pathetic. After alibi witnesses had been called today the attorney general asked that Mrs. Morris be permitted to correct her testimony. She took the stand and said: "I was persuaded to tell a lie yesterday on the stand. I was told by Joe Hogg and Jack Long that unless I swore that my husband was at home that night the soldiers would hang him. They also threatened me and I was afraid, so I told this lie. Now I want to tell the truth." The witness bore the taunts and innuendoes of the defendant's attorneys and the glares of the indicted men patiently but she was badly frightened, and often seemed on the point of collapsing. She declared the attorney general refused to listen to her until she summoned some of her relatives to advise her. The defense attempted to show that some of the accused men were Odd Fellows. Judge Jones sharply shut out the testimony with the remark; "Odd Fellows must be tried the same as anyone else in this court."

1908-12-17-GRAND FORKS HERALD-North Dakota NIGHT RIDERS LEAVE NOTICE Union City, Tenn., Dec. 16.-Night riders have made their appearance in Weakley county, visiting the home of John Vaughan, a prominent farmer, who is not a member of the dark tobacco association. He sold some of his crop at Fulton, Ky., and a night or two ago night riders left at this door a bundle of switches, accompanied with a note to effect that if any more tobacco was sold in a similar way, he would be whipped. Deputies are now guarding his home.

1908-09-29-TRENTON EVENING TIMES-New Jersey HOLD WEDDING IN CEMETERY Young Couple Choose Odd Place to Escape Parents MEMPHIS, TENN., Sept. 29.-Although he procured his license in the office adjoining that of his father, who is Sheriff of Weakley County, Tenn., the marriage of Lewis Acree to Ollie Pierce, sixteen years old, was not revealed until the records were searched and the secret was discovered. They were married by Justice Neal under a monument in the cemetery at Dresden. The couple and the justice went to the cemetery in order that the ceremony might not be interrupted by the parents of Miss Pierce, who objected to the marriage.

1906-08-23-MARIETTA JOURNAL-Georgia Jospeh Castleman, living in Weakley county, Tenn., called at the home of his divorced wife and killed her with a shot gun and instantly killed himself with the gun. He was 60 years old and she was 50.

1905-03-13-MACON TELEGRAPH-Georgia ONE MAN DEAD IN SHOOTING AFFRAY DRESDEN, Tenn., March 12-In a shooting affray with pistols at Lynnville, Ky., a line town in the northern portion of Weakley county, Bert McClain, aged 17, was instantly killed by John Canter, who in turn was killed by Walter McClain of Dresden. There are no particulars yet as to what the trouble was about.

1902-11-29-WASHINGTON BEE-District of Columbia MYSTERY IN FIRES Fourteen Conflagrations in Forty-Eight Hours Terrify a Family Down in Tennessee. Residents of Weakley county, Tenn., are stirred up over a series of mysterious fires that have been breaking out in the house of Josiah Page, about two miles from the town of Gleason. The first blaze sprung from apparently no cause whatever last Thursday, and was promptly extinguished by Page and his family. Not more than an hour later the house was again discovered on fire, in a different place, and the blaze was again extinguished. By this time the family was excited, and they began to hunt for the cause of the mystery. Then even while they were looking at the house another blaze was seen creeping out near the roof. Persons from Gleason heard of the occurrence, and to satisfy curiosity A. S. Brummitt, president of the bank of Gleason, in company with Dr. Bandy, Dr. Bledsoe and other responsible citizens, went out to be convinced that there was nothing at all in it. The party had not been there more than 15 minutes when, to their surprise a blaze was seen shooting out from the roof of the house, and to make the proposition more unreasonable, after that was put out other fires started in less than 30 minutes. The members of the family are honest people of average intelligence and are terror stricken, having removed everything from the building and taken their household goods to other quarters. Fire had broken out 14 time in 48 hours, and hundreds of people are flocking out to witness the sight. The writer of this drove out to the place and, though incredulous, stood and saw the fire start from the west gable of the house, though no one was within 50 feet of the building. The whole community is wrought up over the matter.

1900-08-26-DALLAS MORNING NEWS- Texas Arthur Pittman, Greenville, Tex- Mr. Big Hat- I inclose herewith my picture for publication in The News. It is very seldom I allow a newspaper the privildge of using my picture, but since The News has done so much toward strengthening my wonderful knowledge I feel that it should be endowed with the privilege. I was born on March 2, 1880, near Milan, Gibson County, Tennessee. My first ten years were spent on a farm, so you see that when I shall have reached the topmost round on the ladder of fame I can boast of having been born on a farm and in a log cabin. In, 1890 I changed my place of abode to Greenfield, Weakley County, Tennessee, where I resided till 1897, when I decided to cast my fortunes with Texas. My education is limited, owing to the fact that I stopped going to school at the age of 12 to assume work in a factory. Eugene Hubbard, you expressed my sentiments to a "t" on every subject you touched. Look out for me on Oct. 6. [Hand drawn picture in article] Correspondence solicited.

1899-05-17-MORNING SUN-Illinois A Rockford lady bought a box of strawberries at her grocer's last week and took them home wrapped up. When they were being prepared for the table she noticed that the box had been written on, and on looking more closely she made out the following, much stained by the juice of the berries: "Any one wishing an unknown correspondent address to Gladys Bruce, Sharon, Tenn., Weakley county." On the other side of the box was written: "Gladys Bruce-I am the packer of these berries." Who is Gladys? Is she a winsome maiden with the color of the strawberries she packs on her cheeks and the glint of the sunlight in her hair? Is she a dark-eyed beauty of the Southern state, tall and stately, or is she short and cherubic? The answer to all these surmises can be obtained by addressing the lady herself at the above address. Perhaps this is the commencement of a romance. Who knows?

1897-10-14-SUN-Maryland A Suit Without Parallel Memphis (Tenn.) Lawyers have within the last couple of days brought suit in Weakley county for damages for defamation of character, alleged to be contained in an epitaph cut on a tombstone. Such a cause for action is probably unheard of in the annals of the courts of the country. In December, 1896, L. B. Cate was shot and killed by one Bill Penic. Penic was indicted and tried on the charge of murder. He was defended by the same lawyers who are now acting for him in this civil suit. The accused was acquitted on the pleas of self- defense. The parents of the deceased, L. B. Cate, thought to honor his memory by erecting a suitable tombstone over his grave, and having cut in the marble a legend setting forth some of the circumstances of his taking off. The following was cut on the tombstone: "L. B., son of J. C. and L. J. Cate. Born April 10, 1870. Married Willie Freeman December 21, 1887. Was shot and killed by Bill Penic December 11, 1896: caused by Penic swearing to a lie on Cate's wife. Aged 26 years 8 months and 1 day." It is alleged by Penic that this stone was lettered by J. H. Hutchinson, of Martin, and it is alleged that the stone was exposed to public gaze in the yard of Hutchinson for quite a while before it was erected at the head of the grave containing the remains of the deceased Cate. Since the vindication of Penic by the trial jury in Weakley county he has sought reparation for the wording of this tombstone. The complainant seeks damages from the sculptor and the father of the deceased in the sum of $10,000.

1894-7-26-BISMARK TRIBUNE-North Dakota Capps, is serving a term in jail for working on Sunday. Capps was arrested June 8, 1893, he was fined $10 and costs, amounting in all to $51.80. His case was appealed to the sumpreme court of Tennessee, which affirmed the judgment of the lower court, May 24, 1894, at Jackson, fixing the cost at $58.64, making as a grand total the sum of $110.45, to be served out at the paltry rate of 25 cents a day. This will necessitate the prisoner's confinement 442 days, or one year and nearly three months. The associate further says that Capps has a wife 24 years of age, and four children, the eldest being only 6 years old, and one of them sick at the time of its father's imprisonment. His family is left all alone a quarter of a mile from any house. He is a poor man, and unable to support his family during his confinement. He does not deny working on Sunday, but did so because he had rested the day before, according to the Bible; because he recognized his God given right to labor six days in the week, beginning on the first as did his creator; and because, in acceding to the demands of the state to rest on Sunday, he would be denying his Lord. Hence, he refuses to pay the fine and costs, regarding them unjust, since the state is attempting to enforce upon him a dogma of religion, with which it can of right have nothing whoever to do. Therefore he has gone to jail, though a physician stated that he could never live in that unhealthy place the time required by the enormity of the state's assessment.

1892-12-14-KALAMAZOO GAZETTE-Michigan His name is Cleveland Stevenson. The leading attraction in the town of Martin, Tenn., just now is a 13-year-old boy with a remarkable name. Cleveland Stevenson is the youngest son of W. W. Stevenson of that place. He was born at Mounty Pelia, Weakley county, Tenn., in 1879. His father at his birth asked the attending physician to name the child. The doctor had just arrived from Buffalo, N. Y. He was a personal friend of Grover Cleveland, who was then mayor of Buffalo. So he said to mr. Stevenson: "Let's name him Cleveland Stevenson, after a man who, if he live will be president of the United States." So they had the child christened Cleveland Stevenson. Now that he has the name of both the president and vice persident-elect the boy is fairly worshipped. The boy's friends are going to send him to Washington the 4th of March in great style to witness the inauguration of the president.-St. Louis Glove-Democrat.

1892-07-17-DALLAS MORNING NEWS-Texas Tennessee The Hawks and Turbeville families in Weakley county have beenat touts for some time. Turbeville trespassed on Hawks' land and was assaulted by Hawks. Warrants for the Hawks' arrest were at once sworn out and he was arrested. The trial was held at Dresden and at its conclusion a general fight resulted between the four Turbeville brothers and old man Hawks and his three sons. Jack Hawks fired at Jack Turbeville and was knocked down with a brick. Henry Trubeville was stabbed twice and dangerously wounded. Sheriff Lafen succeeded in separating the parties before further danage was done, but a renewal of the fight is expected.

1892-05-09-DALLAS MORNING NEWS-Texas Tennessee A young man named Galey, a farmer in the fifteenth district of Weakley county, shot his uncle through the leg. The farms of the two men joined. The uncle was trying to shoot Galey with a shotgun at the time the young man fired.

1890-09-27-DAILY REGISTER-Illinois Tennessee Superstition The greatest excitement is being created in Weakley county by the appearance of a witch in the family of Frank Hays, living near Greenfield. Mr. Hays' granddaughter, about 14 years of age, is the object upon which the wicked phantom has centered. The young lady is prostrated and hundreds are flocking there to see the effects of the attack, which, strange to say, no one can explain. She is perfectly sane until she hears them coming, when she goes into violent spasms, and declares she can hear roaring as like distant thunder, and she can see animals making their way to her. Now comes the strangest part of the story, and a number of the most reliable men in the county can vouch for this as a fact, there being eyewitnesses to the same. After each attack a small roll or bat of cotton is found clinging to the victim's neck just above her breast, and the most incredible ones have held their hands very lightly against her neck and found, after the spell is over, beneath their hands the mysterious cotton. When the rumor first went out that this strange case was in the country the people all ridiculed it, but the excitement is now at its height on the account of all being at a loss to account for the whole affair.-Cor. Memphis Avalance.

1884-10-30-NEW YORK HERALD-New York Death By Poison [By Telegraph to the Herald] Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 29, 1884-Andrew Swaim, a prominent citizen of Gleason, Weakley county, was poisoned two days ago and died last night. A man named Taylor has been charged with the crime. Taylor has been imprisoned and there are threats of lynching him.