Looking Back

(Editor’s Note: This column looking back at St. Francis County’s history is featured each Friday on this Lifestyles page along with the week’s History Photo. The items included in this column were printed in previous editions of the Times-Herald.)

February 1923

Dairycroft Farm - The Dairycrofters of Palestine have just told us what their grocery bill cost them last year and we've wept ever since. Imagine it folks, just exactly $140.07 cash was spent, the farm furnishing every other article. The total amounted to $498.07, but this extra $358 wasn't noticed because cash didn't enter in. Forty dollars a month was the average for groceries and furnishes a good living for two. The garden sold to the kitchen at prevailing prices from month to month, just what the grocer could have paid the Dairycrofters. And the garden produced everything from great luscious strawberries and gloriously white Japanese cabbage to whopping big Irish potatoes. And those wonderful black and white cows sold oodles and oodles of thick, yellow cream to the same kitchen for the same price that the creamery paid the producer. And butter and milk, too. The purebred Barred Rock chickens furnished eggs and fry and capons for the same kitchen all the year through. The fruit closet was filled with canned vegetables, preserves and jellies all from the farm to take care of family needs through the winter. But material joys are not the only blessings that come with the farm. One has solitude when one wants it. One has one's feathered and furred friends who never betray. And, best of all, one has communion with Nature. There is nothing that compares to it.

New Castle Items - Phil Devereaux has pneumonia and we hope he will soon recover. ***Miss Elizabeth Miller, who is in training at the Baptist Memorial Hospital, is visiting her mother and grandparents. ***Bruce Batts was a Sunday visitor at Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Webb's to see their daughter, Miss Myrtle. ***Miss Oliver Hamilton spent Wednesday night with Miss Josephine Smith and reported a nice time, as Johnny Armstrong was over to see Miss Josephine. ***Miss Carrie Hamilton, as you know, is in the contest for the Dodge car. She is hoping she will win, if not a car, a worthy present. ***Misses Connie Hamilton and Katherine Devereaux spent Wednesday night with the teachers of New Castle, Misses Harris and Christopher and had a nice time playing Rook, but bigeyed Dennis wasn't there. ***Miss Oliver Hamilton is planning on going to Forrest City High School next term. We hope the young lady has great success. ***Miss Lettie Finn spent Tuesday night with Mrs. Walter Luterall reporting a nice time. ***Charliy Baskin, Misses Annie Dill, Johnnie Hamilton, Elizabeth Miller were Sunday evening visitors at the home of Miss Carrie Hamilton. ***Miss Oliver Hamilton has her hair all prettied up. I suppose she is looking for the charming Louis Devereaux. ***Mr. Hooks is Wesley crazy now, but no wonder. There is a Miss Vera Satterfield down there who is attracting his attention.

Four Die in Electric Chair - Four slayers paid the death penalty for murder in the electric chair at Little Rock. All faced death calmly. The men went to the chair in this order: Duncan Richardson, Ben Richardson, F.G. Bullen all convicted of the murder of Ira N. Culp and Will Debord, convicted of murder of Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Silsby. Duncan Richardson stepped into the chair at 7 o'clock. The current was applied 7:02. Debord, the last man to take the chair, was executed at 8:02. Duncan Richardson, aged 29, was brought into the death chamber several minutes before the apparatus was ready. "Good morning, gentlemen,” he smiled to the witnesses and attendants. Richardson displayed no nervousness or fear. He walked about the chair, looking at it and started toward the switchboard where the executor was at work. The executor moved quickly away. "Don't be afraid of me," Richardson, who was not handcuffed said. "I would as soon have you do it as anyone." When the apparatus was ready he entered the chair voluntarily. He was pronounced three minutes latter. Ben Richardson, 19, was pale but calm. He said nothing. Bullen, after being in the chair five minutes, was removed and placed in a casket. The undertaker noticed he appeared to be breathing slightly and refused to take the body. The body was removed and placed back in the chair and the current reapplied. As Debord was being strapped in the chair he shouted angrily to an attendant "Look out there fellow; you're mashing my hand."

Chicken At Large - We are asked to say something about the running at large of chickens. This is rather a hard subject to deal with in a small community. The questioner hasn't any chickens, but has a garden, but can't keep the garden on account of her neighbor's chickens and as chickens and gardens do not mix, the chickens are bound to come out on top. The handling of this problem is each neighbor should respect the other's efforts in trying to beautify their premises.

Bridge Over St. Francis - As a companion movement to the hard surfaced roads projects, a number of property owners in Marianna and in the Delta district east of the city are now planning to create an improvement district for the purpose of constructing a steel bridge over the St. Francis River. A mass meeting was held at the Elks Home and a feasible plan for financing the bridge was presented, discussed and adopted. A committee consisting of Dr. O.L. Williamson, C.E. Dagger, R.I. Mixen, D.S. Plummer and J.T. Robertson was appointed to draft a bill for passage through the general assembly creating bridge district embracing the City of Marianna and practically all the territory east of the L'Anguille River. The method of financing the project will be for the county to pay about one half of the initial cost of the bridge. In reality, it is the county's business to build the bridge, but on account of the heavy expenditures necessary to construct such a long and substantial bridge and because the county cannot issue bonds, it will be necessary for the improvement district to do the financing. The plan in a nut shell is substantially as follows: it is estimated the bridge will cost between $150,000 and $175,000. Recent bridge projects that have been completed in other places show the cost of the structure at ought not to cost more than $150,000. With this figure as a basis, it is proposed to create a district and issue bonds to the extent of $150,000.

For Mayor - W.C. Oursler Sr., announces in this issue that he is a candidate for mayor of Forrest City, subject to the action of the voters at the primary to be held Feb. 27. Mr. Oursler is one of the best known men of the city and will receive strong support from all classes. He is running, not as the candidate of any class or faction, but from solicitation from numerous friends. He promises, if elected, to give the office close attention, to see that the ordinances of the city are enforced, to safeguard the interests of the taxpayer against extravagance and to to conduct the affairs of the office that there will be and just effort of criticism. Mr. Oursler has been a resident of Forrest City for more than a dozen years and is throughly familiar with its needs. He will be glad to personally discuss the problems of city government with the voters on any occasion they may desire.

Storage Plant - Contract was awarded today for the construction of a $6,000 cold storage plant for the Grobmyer market. Contract was secured by Breeht & Co., of St. Louis, who make a speciality of installing cold storage plants. It will, of course, be located in the market building and will be great improvement over handling meat in the ice cooled refrigerators.

Man Dies and Two Mules Drown - Coroner Eugene Barrow and Deputy C.M. McGaha were called north of Pine Tree to hold an inquest over the remains of John Posey. The facts, as brought out at the inquest, were about as follows: John Posey and two daughters, aged 14 and 18, were driving to Hunter in a log wagon, drawn by four mules. At Second Creek the water was out of the banks and the mules pulled off the road into about 8 or 10 feet of water. Posey got out to unhitch them, but became so weakened he was unable to get back to the wagon, but managed to get to a tree and was rescued from the tree by his daughters, who swam out to him, bringing him back to the wagon. They left him in the wagon, walking to Hunter for assistance. Posey died from exposure before assistance reached him. Two of the mules were drowned also.

Wheatley Locals - Tommie Whitted was a business visitor in Goodwin. ***Mrs. W.H. Toney and little son of Helena are visiting in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs G.C. Smith. ***George Watley of Cotton Plant visited his sitter Mrs. T.F. McCarty. ***Everyone is glad to see Mr. I.W. McCool up and in town again, after being kicked by a horse last week. It was thought at first he was seriously injured. ***We are very sorry to state at this writing that Uncle Johnie McPhaul who has been sick for some time is no better. Lemon Locals - Henry Hobbs returned from Marianna where he has been on business. ***Ernest Stephens, who had the misfortune of getting one of his fingers cut off, is improving nicely. ***The little boy of Mr. James, who was run over by a wagon, is improving fast and will soon be able to return to school again. ***J.L. Ferguson, who has been real sick with the flu, is up and about again, to the delight of his many friends.

Oil - Brinkley, Woodruff County Arkansas, promises to be the next center of interest to the oil fraternity. The Knox & Adams well, located on the James farm, 5 1/2 miles east of Cotton Plant, was hailed in the presence of many citizens of Cotton Plant and vicinity. A real showing of oil and gas was seen by all. Much excitement prevails in the little village. The oil is said to compare favorably with that of the Smackover field. Oil men from many fields of the country have witnessed the showing of this well.

Fire Destroys the Big City of Round Pond - Fire starting in the grist mill of H.H. Hardin, in the rear of his store, resulted in the greater part of the business section of Round Pond be destroyed. Nine stores and one residence went up in flames and the greater parts of contents of each were destroyed, the flames spreading so rapidly that there was no time to remove goods. Charles Flemming, for many years, one of the most active boosters of the thriving little city, was the principle loser. His twostory brick and two framed buildings were destroyed and practically all his stock of merchandise, together with house furnishings and wearing apparel went up in the flames. His loss will exceed $45,000 with less than a fourth protected by insurance. The Belamary Co. were probably the next heaviest losers, their store and merchandise representing a loss in excess of $15,000, largely covered by insurance. Also lost to the flames were: H.H. Hardin, frame building, occupied by H.H. Hardin as market, grocery, grist mill and residence. C.V. Warr, frame store building occupied by C.V. Powell drug store. C.V. Warr, frame residence, occupied by W.M. Hardin. L.L. Shawver, light plant. Belmobry Co., general store first floor, and residence of R.C. Bryan second floor. The store of Woods-Rea Co. was threatened but escaped serious damage.

Man Kills Rival In Love - C.A. Bonner, aged 60, a farmer who lived about three miles south of Marianna, was shot and fatally wounded about 9 o'clock last night. He told officers that he was wounded by I.T. Hilton, aged 84, his neighbor. Hilton is in the Lee County Jail without bond pending a preliminary hearing. In his dying statements to officers, Bonner said he was driving along the road near his home when he was overtaken by Hilton, who began cursing him. Hilton accused Bonner of causing his wife to leave him and told him he was going to "blow his brains out." Bonner jumped out of his wagon, he said and sought refuge behind it. Hilton fired a shot from his pistol and Bonner's team became frightened and ran away, leaving Bonner unprotected, according to the statements of officers. Hilton fired several more shots, one of which inflicted a fatal wound. Bonner died about an hour after being shot. Officers say Bonner was not armed when Hilton is said to have fired upon him. Hilton was married about seven years ago. His wife is 60. She left him last summer. Since then, Hilton is said to have often accused Bonner of causing the separation. Bonner was a friend of Mrs. Hilton's former husband, and often visited his house. Both men were well known here, each having owned his own farm. D.P. Hilton, a Marianna cotton buyer, is a son of the accused man. Bonner is survived by his wife and one son.