Freestone County, Texas
History
1931 News
The Mexia Weekly Herald 09 Jan 1931
Friday Page 4
Lindly Home in Wortham Burned
WORTHAM, Dec 30. (Sp) - The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lindly,
on West Main street, was burned Monday night. The fire alarm
was turned in about 11:30, and the company had to work for several
hours to save adjoining residences. The Lindly home was a
complete loss of $15,000, partly covered by insurance. Origin
of fire not known, and the Lindly's were away from home and had
been since Friday.
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The Mexia Weekly Herald 30 Jan 1931
Robert E. Lee, Jr.
Wed in Groesbeck
GROESBECK, Jan. 27 (Sp). - Robert E. Lee, Jr., was married in
Groesbeck on Saturday afternoon. It was not known whether the
bridegroom was a descendant of the illustrious Confederate
commander, but his name was the same.
Miss Ethel Grace Cates of Wortham became the bride of Mr. Lee
in a ceremony performed by County Judge Johnson Wakefield
in the court house Saturday. The couple will make their home
in Wortham.
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The Mexia Weekly Herald 20 Feb 1931
Front Page
CONCRETE FOR WORTHAM ROAD TO BE STARTED
Early Contract Is in Prospect for Important Link
OTHER WORK
Local Leaders See Good Chance for Hillsboro Road
Contracts for the paving of Highway No. 14 from Limestone
county line through Wortham to Richland will be let before
summer, speakers assured the Wortham Lions club in a meeting
Wednesday at noon. The state highway department has indicated
that the concrete hob will be under way in a few weeks, J. I.
Riddle of Mexia, told the Wortham Lions.
At the same time Mr. Riddle, chairman of Mexia's road building
committee, expresses confidence that the dirt work on Highway
No. 14 from Groesbeck to the Falls county line at Kosse will be
underway soon, and there is a good chance to get a designation
for the road to Hillsboro via Coolidge.
Accompanying Mr. Riddle to Wortham were W. W. Barnett, Noel
Hollingsworth, and Phil Karner, also members of the committee
which has become famed for its successes in road building.
....
Page 4
BUTLER CASE IS DELAYED
Accused of Killing Oscar Harrison at Wortham
FAIRFIELD, Feb. 25 - (Sp). - The case of W. C. Butler, charged
with the murder of Oscar T. Harrison near Wortham in Freestone
county last August, set for today in the 77th district court at
Fairfield was continued on motion of the defendant and reset for
the third Monday in May. The deceased was a tenant on the farm
of Mr. Butler, and the killing grew out of some controversy
over the sale of cotton grown by the deceased, and occurred at
the barn of Mr. Butler's home in early morning just before day
break.
Mr. Butler is also defendant in a suit for damages brought in
the 87th district court of Freestone county, by the widow and
child of Oscar T. Harrison growing out of the killing of
Harrison.
A special venue of 60 men had been drawn for the trial of the
Butler case, and were discharged by Judge H. ?. Kirby upon the
continuation of the case. The jury for the week being also
discharged finally as no other case was found ready for trial.
This is the last week of Judge Kirby's February term of court;
after which he returns to Limestone county for the March and
April terms of 77th district court.
MRS. SIMMONS DIES SATURDAY
Roy Simmon's Mother to Be Buried in Dallas Monday
Mrs. Hamp Simmons, 76, former resident of Mexia, died early
Saturday morning at the home of her son, Roy Simmons, Wortham
oil man and financer. Death came at 2 a.m. Saturday.
Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. in Dallas at the
First Presbyterian church, with Dr. M. W. Anderson officiating.
Mrs. Simmons was an active member of that church for many years,
having a record of 18 years without absence from Sunday school
while not out of the city.
Surviving are one son, Roy Simmons, of Wortham; four sisters,
Mrs. W. M. White, Sr., of Mexia, Mrs. A. B. Rennolds, of Mexia;
Mrs. John Reed of Austin, and Mrs. Charles Browder, of Grand
Prairie; and three brothers, Dr. E. A. Means, Dallas; LeRoy
Means of Colorado, and John Means of Dallas.
Mrs. Simmons was reared in Mexia the daughter of a pioneer
physician, Dr. T. L. C. Means. Her husband preceded her in
death by a number of years.
....
Page 5
Notice
Selling or buying land? Insist on an accurate Survey made by
qualified land surveyor. Phone 114. Wortham. Ernest Fietes.
Page 7
REGENTS WILL HEAR REPORTS
TEHUACANA. Feb. 17. (UP) (Sp.) - A complete report of the
work done by and in Westminster Junior College during the
last twelve months will be made to the Board of Regents who
will gather at the school Friday for a two-day meeting. Plans
will be made for the coming year, results and plans of the
school's campaign will be made and the proposed gymnasium on
the campus of the school will be one of the chief topics of
discussion.
Besides the regents there will be President Franklin W.
Stepenson and Dean Wayland P. Moody present for the meeting.
The members of the board are: Prof. John T. Black of Ferris
(president), O. D. Hallum of Tehuacana (secretary), J. B.
Bounds, W. D. Moody, H. F. Ferguson, Dave Bounds, all of
Tehuacana, Rev. G. W. Sanders of Wortham.
M. L. McCandless of Greenville, Dr. J. D. Davidson of Teague,
Rev. L. W. Shivers of Teague, Rev. J. A. Richardson of San
Angelo, Carlos Webb of San Angelo and A. N. Box of Lone Grove.
J. C. BYERS OF COOLIDGE DEAD
COOLIDGE Feb 18 (SP) - J. Clinton Byers, one of the best loved
and well known citizens of Coolidge died at the family residence
Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the age of 57. Mr. Byers had
been in ill health for sometime but was able to be up a few
days before he took seriously ill.
The deceased was born near Wortham Sept. 27, 1874 where he
lived until a young man. He was united in marriage to Miss
Sybil Livingston of Hope Ark. Aug 30, 1903, and this couple
settled in Wortham where they lived a number of years before
moving to Coolidge. One son was born to this union.
Mr. Byers was very active in all religious affairs, and served
for a number of years as director of the choir of the First
Methodist church here, of which he was a member.
He had also served on the Board of Stewards of that church.
Funeral services were held at First Methodist church Tuesday
afternoon at 2:30 and were conducted by Rev. J. J. Creed,
assisted by Rev. J. R. Curry of Waco. Interment was made in
the Wortham Cemetery.
He is survived by the widow, Mrs. J. C. Byers; one son, Wallace
Byers of Wharton and two sisters, Miss Leona Byers of Coolidge
and Mrs. Luther Allred of Oklahoma City.
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The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Texas)
April 10, 1931; Page 4
FORTY CASES TO BE PASSED ON BY JURORS
FAIRFIELD, April 6 (Sp) - A special grand jury was organized in 87th district
court here Monday to review the 40 or more felony cases which Sheriff Jim
Sessions has worked up during the short three months of his term of office.
J.R. Hawthorne, of Streetman, was made foreman of the grand jury, and 11
other men selected to help him review the largest number of cases presented to
a special grand jury in years.
Present Cases
County Attorney Verloe Gephert was busy presenting cases to the grand jury
and a jail full of defendants unable to make bond was at the other end of the
court house from the jury room.
Scores of whiskey stills have been captured and men arrested at the stills
jailed. Then there are murder cases, swindling charges, and the slaying of
W.J. Fagan in a whiskey raid was to be presented the jury for action if it so
desires. A deputy sheriff shot Fagan during a raid and the aged man died almost
instantly.
Jury Members
Other members of the grand jury are J.S. Irwin of Teague; W.B. Savage of
Donie; C.E. Childs, of Fairfield; J.T. Drumwright, of Wortham; James Guest, of
Liberty; J.S. Smith of Dew; W.W. Ford, of Cotton Gin; Will Shelton of Freestone;
Curtis Hagler of Winkler; O.C. Smith of Wortham; and Cliff Coleman of Kirvin.
R.R. Childs was made dorr baoliff and the sheriff's force will act as riding
bailiff.
Judge W.R. Boyd set the second and third weeks of his term for the criminal
docket, and the first and fourth weeks for civil jury cases. The month promises
to be a busy one.
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Malakoff News of Malakoff, Henderson County, Texas
July 2, 1931
Miss Mildred Shirley returned home Thrusday from a several weeks visit in
Wortham. Little Jerry Peurifoy returned home with her for a visit.