Back

GENERAL NEWS

Miss Virginia PEERY, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. PEERY, Tazewell Avenue, who has been quite sick for several weeks, is improving slowly.

Joe WHITE of Raven, charged with forgery, is in jail here, having been arrested near this town by deputy sheriff Alex BOOTHE. WHITE is said to be wanted in Bluefield, Russell County and other places.

Prof. A.S. GREEVER was over from Burke's Garden Wednesday and stated the snow was fourteen inches deep and Tuesday morning the mercury was twelve below zero.

Raymond PEERY, Clarence PEERY, M.L. PEERY and J.B MEEK have escaped the cold spell this week, having gone to Florida, where they will spend a vacation.

W.L. PAINTER and L.A. TYNES are in New York attending the national automobile show.

Miss Annie Howe SURFACE, who has been visiting relatives in Norton, has returned to her home here. Her cousin, Miss Virginia PEIRCE, accompanied her home, and will be her guest for several days.

George and Felix REPASS, sons of Albert REPASS, were held up in the public highway near Gratton the first of the week, according to reports reaching here, and demand made by unknown men that they had over what maney they had. Instead they put spurs to their horses and made a safe getaway. The men who attempted the robbery are said to be former employees of the Tazewell T??er Corporation which has re??? its working force very materially recently.

Dr. William PEIRCE, of the Peirce Drug Company of Everts, Ky. is at home visiting his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Isaac PEIRCE. With his brother, Eugene PEIRCE. Dr. PEIRCE recently engaged in the drug business in the Kentucky town and the firm has prospered. Dr. Robert JACKSON, of this town is in Kentucky doing the prescription work in Dr. PEIRCE'S absence.

Miss Etta HANKINS leaves tomorrow to join her father and mother in Roanoke to be absent several months.

Mr. G.W. DOAK, George W. LEWIS and Prof. E.F. WITTEN are still confined to their homes but in pretty fair shape, and said to be improving.

Up to this date no trace has been discovered of the two men who burglarized the home of Mr. Walter LEFFEL as described elsewhere in this paper. The common opinion is that the two men "beat it" as rapidly as possible into North Carolina as they were headed in that direction after the robbery. A report was current here yesterday that the two men had been captured on Flat Top Mountain, but the report could not be confirmed.

Notice is hereby given that I have sold my interest in extract and lumber business on what is known as the Ireson place, east of Five Oaks, heretofore operated under the firm name of Poole and Co. to R. L. JOHNSON and G.E. SCHAUT, who assume all contracts, debts, etc. of the firm of Poole and Co. W.T. POOLE, St. Paul, Va.

George W. LEWIS butchered three porkers this week that tipped the scales at 1260 pounds - 420 each, who's next?

We have sold an interest in our grocery business to Mr. Walter E. THOMPSON, taking effect January 1st, 1921. The future business will be conducted under the firm name of Boyer and Thompson. We hope with this INTERESTED AID in the selling and management of our business, to be able to give you better service than has been possible in the past. We thank you for your past business and trust to have you continue as a customer of the new firm. Respectfully, J.B. BOYER & Co.

Mr. Samuel WILLIAMS, for a half century a well known and highly respected citizen of this county, died at his home at North Tazewell, on Thursday of last week. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and 84 years old. Besides a widow he leaves one son, David, of Thompson Valley, and four daughters, viz: Mrs. W.L. VERMILLION, North Tazewell, Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. M.C. WILLIAMS, Tennessee, and Miss Matilda WILLIAMS. The burial took place on Saturday of last week, in the new cemetery.

Lexington, Va. Jan. 13 - S. Houston ST. CLAIR, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. ST. CLAIR of Tazewell, a fourth year student at Washington & Lee University, has made the scholastic honor roll of that institution, composed of students in all departments except that of law, who attained an average of ninety per cent on the work of the first term.

William Otis CALDWELL, a veteran of the world war, came up from the city of Pounding Mill Wednesday on business and called at this office and made application for a Victory Medal. A glance at his discharge from the army would indicate that he is entitled to a victory medal of the highest order, having been in a number of the battles of the great war and was wounded on the Vesle river. A matter of peculiar interest is that after CALDWELL received his wound, he was sent to Base Hospital No. 41 where Henry T. HALEY, Fred and Alex ST. CLAIR, Willie MAY, Garland PEERY, Tom WORSHAM and Kenneth PATTY were important attaches. The meeting of CALDWELL with the other Tazewell boys is said to have been very Frenchy insofar as display of affection goes.

Recently State Highway Commissioner COLEMAN located the State highway through Tazewell County from the Town of Tazewell to the Russell County line by way of Liberty Hill and Maiden Spring, following the present Fincastle road. As soon as this route was adopted by Commissioner Coleman, more than two hundred freeholders of Tazewell county appealed from his decision to the State Highway Commission composed of five members, and they ask that the highway be located from the town of Tazewell west by way of the Fair grounds, Pisgah, Maxwell, Pounding Mill, Claypool Hill, Wardell and Indian branch to the Russell County line, thence up Indian branch to the Fincastle road near Befast in Russell County. Notice has just been received here that the State Highway Commission will reach this place Tuesday morning, January 25 to view the routes and to hear the appeal, the hearing of the appeal to be at the court house at 2 PM. Much interest is being manifested in this contest and no doubt a large crowd will be in attendance at the hearing on the 25th. Citizens from Raven, Doran, Richlands, Cedra Bluff, Bandy, Baptist Valley and other sections are joining forces with the people along the new route, asking that the river and Indian branch location be adopted. The coal companies which are large taxpayers, are also active in their support of the river route. The persons in favor of the new location down the river and up Indian branch claim that this will give a water route clear through and that there is less than a miles difference in distance, and will accommodate hundreds of more people, and will connect the business localities in such a way that great benefit will result, and that it will give direct connection with the new road that will be built into Buchanan County from Raven. Under the law the decision of the Commission of five is final, from which there is no appeal. Lawyers have been retained by both sides. Harman and Harman represent the persons supporting the river route, and Chapman, Peery & Buchanan represent those in favor of the route by way of Liberty Hill and Maiden Spring. The act of the legislature provides that the state highway shall run from Graham to Tazewell, thence to Rosedale, Lebanon, etc. So far as we are advised the location of the highway has not been fixed from the Burke's Garden Siding to the Town of Tazewell. Would it not be to the interest of both North Tazewell and Tazewell for this highway to come down the river by way of the Town of North Tazewell, thence to Tazewell, following the street car line, and passing through both towns? There are several good reasons why this should be made along this line before it is too late.

Mr. Penn CROCKETT, whose sudden death at his home in Coeburn, was nephew to Mrs. Mary C. BOWEN, of this town. This family of the name are natives of Washington County, where the remains of Mr. Penn CROCKETT were taken for burial. Reese T. BOWEN of the Cove, attended the funeral and burial. Deceased was found dead in his law office about ten o'clock on Friday night last. He was about 47 years of age, and leaves a widow and several children.

Bluefield, West Virginia, January 10 - Charlie WATKINS charged with shooting with intent to kill his wife, Clara WATKINS and brother in law, Connor BURRESS, was released today under a five thousand dollar bond pending preliminary hearing. The shooting occurred at an early hour Sunday Morning at WATKINS home in this city. The woman was shot through the body and is in a critical condition at the local hospital. BURRESS was shot through the right arm. Another shot passed through the lapel of his coat and glanced under his chin, severing the skin of his throat. BURRESS was recently tried in Tazewell County, Va. for the murder of Kelly HANCOCK, at Graham. Conflicting stories have been told by all the participants in the affair at the WATKINS house early Sunday morning.

The sad news has just been received of the death of the mother of Ivine PURCELL one of Fuller Brother's most popular clerks. It was recently that the store was closed on account of the death of his father. Irvine has recently suffered a severe attack of rheumatism and was in the hospital. He certainly has had his share of trouble. W.D. FULLER who has been in Oklahoma for months looking after his oil interest is expected to arrive on account of the death of Mrs. PURCELL, she being his sister. The deceased lady lived in Rye Cove in Scott County, Virginia.

Should Tazewell be beaten by Norton tonight in the basket ball contest which won't happen, we will ?? put up a pitiful plea of one kind and another as we did the Coalfield Progress, in its issue of last Tuesday, accounting for the walloping Tazewell gave Norton last Saturday. Watch Tazewell repeat the victory of last Saturday on Nortons own battle ground.

Bluefield - The city council, after discussing conditions, is particular relative to other cities and also local conditions directed that the night police force be augmented by the addition of 3 men and further directed the full enforcement of the Sunday closing laws, beginning with Sunday, January 16. The order directs that all drug stores sell nothing but drugs, bulk ice cream and milk. That all so called restaurants which are operated for the sale of fruit and other things must close. All gasoline stations must close. All cigar stands must close. The sale of daily papers will be permitted and sale of smoking and other tobaccos to guests of hotels will be permitted. Bluefield Daily Telegraph

There has been some talk in the community that the bold burglary on Clear Fork must have been committed by parties very familiar with the LEFFEL home and surroundings, and therefore committed by men of that community. Such a rumor is entirely without foundation. The people of Clear Fork are law abiding and that these highwaymen were members of that quiet, moral community is unbelievable. The only possible ground for suspicion was that the men seemed strangely familiar with the surroundings at the LEFFEL home, but this is not sufficient for suspicion. The burglars were evidently on watch and took advantage of Mr. LEFFEL'S absence, knew that his wife was alone. The writer has known Clear Fork people for years, and volunteers this vindication of even a suspicion of two of her citizens. If it is true, which is not certain, that those bandits were discharged employees of the Tazewell Timber Corporation at Gratton, no blame or ???? in the world can possibly be charged to the corporation. Lumber men employ hundreds of men whose moral character they do not know and could not know if they would. A man known to be a highwayman or a thief would not be taken off of course and sometimes, no doubt, a bad man gets in without the knowledge of the management. In these days of a scarcity of hands the only requisite is that the man shall be able to fill his place and do his work. The writer knows also the member of this firm of the Tazewell Timber Corporation, and these lines are voluntarily written to allay and combat any aspersion or unfavorable criticism that may be place upon the corporation by reports that the devilment perpetrated on Clear Fork recently was by employees of the corporation