Mangum Weekly Star. (Mangum, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 5, 1915 Page: 1 of 8
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Weekly Star.
VOLUME XXVIII.
MANGUM, GREER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA, AUGUST 5, 1015.
EIGHT PAGES
NUMBER 7.
M'CUTCHEON RESIGNS I
AS COURT CLERK
following Investigation By the
Commissioners he Resigned
• • • • • • •
• •
WEEKLY WEATHER FORE-
CAST
Oklahoma City, Tues., Aug. 3.
Issued by the T*. S. Weather
Bureau, Washington, D. C.
For the Week Beginning
Wednesday, August 4th. 1915.
For the Gulf States, embrac-
ing Louisiana. Arkansas, Okla-
homa and Texas.
Generally fair weather is
Indicated with no unusually
high temperatures. *
• ••••••••••••••a*
• NEGRO IS SHOT
BECAUSE OF INSULT
and Later is Placed Under GRAND JURY TO
Arrest-Released on Bond
"August 5th, 1915.
"To The Honorable Board of County Commissioners:—I this day
present to your body through Mr. W. P. Ponder my resignation as Court
Clerk of Greer county, Oklahoma.
ANDREW McCUTCHEON."
The above resignation, which in a measure is self explanatory,
was handed to the board of county commissioners this morning, and ae-
fepted immediately; Mr. McCutcheon and family left on the morning Rock
Island train for their old home hi Alabama.
The resignation was not unexpected; for soitfe time reports hiva
been coming to the county officials that all was not right in the court
clerk's office, and this week the board of county commissioners instituted
an investigation into the affairs of the office; the investigation revealed
several cases where litigants had been overcharged in fees, but no in-
stances of where the cpunty had l03t anything by the transactions.
. Under the statutes when an officer under the color or supposed
authority pf law collects money to which he is not entitled, he is subject
to a charge of extortion, punishable by a term not to exceed 12 montna in
jail and a fine.
A3 stated before the commissioners went itato the investigation
reluctantly, and hoped nothing fwould be found warranting action upou
their part; however, as the investigation progressed it became evident to
them that It was their duty to prefer charges against Mr. McCutcheon if he
did not resign; he was given the choice of resigning or having charges
filed against him, and chose the former course!
Below is a copy of the order passed by the board of commission-
ers, unanimously:
"In the Matter of Investigating the Office of Court Clerk, and Con-
sidering his Resignation:—The board having under investigation the con-
duct of Andrew McCutchean, Court Clerk, in and for Greer county, Oklaho -
ma, and having become satisfied that he has been guilty of extortion in
office, and having been guilty of habitual intoxication In office, the Coun-
ty Attorney was instructed to prepare suitable oharges to have the said
Andrew McCutcheon removed from office, and pending the preparation of
auch charges the said Andrew McCutcheon has tendered his resignation
as such Court Clerk;
"It is therefore ordered that the charges be not prepared and that
the said resignation be accepted to take effect upon its acceptance.
F. M. OVERTON, Chairman,
I. M.' STIMSON, Commissioner."
G. A. BUtLL, Commissioner."
The commissioners have not yet completed their- audit of the
clerk's books, but so far as the investigation has gone, no case has be»en
found where Greer county has lost any money; even though it should de-
velop that the county is loser, the bond of 15,000 3igned by Messrs. F. H.
King, J. D. Curreathers, J. L. Ewing, J. W. Lovett, W. P. Ponder, Henry
Chambers, J. L. Guthrie, G. F Geyer and Zack Pryse is ample to cover any
losses.
Andre-w McCutcheon has more friends in Creer county than any
other man in the county, perhaps, and these hundreds of friends will want
to believe Andrew'3 version of the affair, that they were mistakes; so far
as is known no effort will be made to prosecute him, 3ince he has resign-
ed and since the county has lost nothing. Of course if any one should' flle
a complaint, a prosecution would have to fallow. The whole affair Is to
be regretted for Andrew McCutcheon has always been known a3 a big
hearted, Jovial fellow, loyal to his 'friends and, as said before, these friends
are loath to believe he has been guilty of Intntlonal wrong doing.
LATER:—A warrant was sworn out In county court charging Mc-
Cutcheon Mjith extortion In the case of B. F. Cart- vs. J. S. Fallerton, where-
in he is charged witty extorting something like $10. He was arrested on
board the train between Mangum and Chickasha, and was brought back on
the noon train. The information was sworn to by Sheriff W. B. Henry.
Deputy Court Clerk Ona E. Daws ha3 been named as temporary
court clerk and will serve until the commissioners make a permanent ap-
pointment. The commissioners have given no indication of who they wlil
appoint; there are several applications and the commissioners are going to
take their time and 3elect some competent, capable official.
CITY TO PRACTICE
"CRUEL ECONOMY"
TO HAVE BETTER PICTURES
Manager Jno. S. Slocura, manager of
the Woodrow theatre, left yesterday
for Oklahoma City, where he goes to
select his film esrvice for the Wood-
row for the coming winter months.
Mr. Slocum will arrange to show (n
Mangum each week a Mutual Master-
peice film, one of the most widely
known films of the country; these
are the very best films to be obtained
and 3ome of the highest priced talent
in the movie worli la employed in the
making of them. They are expensive
to show in a town the size of Mangum
but Managor Slocum says he means
to show only the best pictures at his
theatres and wants to give the people
their money's worth. He Is an up-
to-date show man and always takes
the public Into confidence tellifag'them
what he is doing for them.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The pastor will preach at both
hours. "Baric To nethel," will be the
evening sermon; "Back to Pentecost,"
will be the evening sermon. All are
cordially invited to worship with us.
Strangers welcomed.
HOLMES NICHOLS, Pa«tor.
NOT CONVENE
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
GREER COUNTY, STATE OF OK-
LAHOMA.
HON. ONA E. DAWS,
Court Clerk of Greer County, Ok-
lahoma1;
It having been made to appear to
ipe by an order of the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners of Greer county,
Oklahoma, that the matters for which
I heretofore called a Grand Jury for
the July Adjourned Term of the Dis-
trict Court In and for Greer county,
Oklahoma, to assemble on the 9th day
of August, 1915, have been fully In-
vestigated by said Board, and by 3aid
Investigation fully accomplished, and
done all in the premises that a grand
jury could have done; and the said
Board of County Commissioners hav-
ing requested me to 3ave the county
the expense of having a grand jury
empanneled, and It Is appearing to
ire that said request Is reasonable
and should be granted, and that said
grand jury should be excused.
It Is therefore, hereby ordered, that
the said grand jury be, and the same
are hereby excused, and you a3 court
clerk are hereby directed to notify
each of said grand jurors that they
are excused from attendance on this
July Adjuorned term of said court.
Witness my hand and official sig-
nature on this the 5th day of August.
1915. " *~
T. P CLAY, Judge
of the District Court
Some two or three weeks ago we
mentioned the fact that the amount
of money asked for by the city com-
missioners for general purposes
could not be raised without a special
levy; last Saturday the excise board
met and this fact was discovered and
called to the attention of the city of-
ficials.
A meeting of the city commission-
ers and the city manager on Saturday
evening, the estimated needs were
materially reduced because of a re-
duction in salaries and doing awny
with some officers; the biggest cut
wa3 in the salary of the city mana-
ger, who voluntarily reduced his sal-
ary from $1,500 to $1,200 per year;
$25 per month was allowed City At-
torney Edwards and ex-officio city
clerk with which to provide help for
this office, and the office of deputy
clerk was abolished; this office was
held by Howell Cocke, who drew $70
per month, thus making a net saving
of $45 per month; the services o* n
driver for the street sprinkler, was
dispensed with, doing away with on-
other $60 per month; the office of
sanitary commissioner was abolished,
saving i$40 per month, and Marshal
Tuton was changed from day duties
to nightwatchman, Nlghtwatchman
Burden tendering his resignation,
thus saving another $70 per month.
The saving3 total about $3,000 per
year, and means that no election for
a special levy will have to be called.
However the street sprinkling wi't
be met by a special tax against the
abutting property owners who derive
the benefit from the sprinkling, and
the ones served by the sanitary con
mlssloners wi'l have to pay for his
services in the future Instead of :t
coming out of the city funds.
On Wednesday, after cutting off a
small amount asked for sinking funds,
the county excise board approved tho
city estimate.
Because of insults offered to his
wife, J. W. Powers on Sunday even-
ing. about 8:30, fired four shots at
Oscar Carter, a negro cook, employed
• ' at the Harris hotel, two of the shots
- taking effect.
The insult to Mrs. Powers Is said
to have occurred Saturday afternoon
when the negro met her and spoke to
her and attempted to crowd her off
the sidewalk, according to reports.
Powers brooded over the matter all
day Sunday and at about 8:30 that
evening the negro was passing along
East Jefferson street in front of fie
Star office, when Powers, came up be-
hind hits and a3ked him if he was
the cook down at the hotel; the negro
replied in the affirmative, Powers
leveled hl3 gun at him and fired at a
distance not over twelve feet.
A Star man and W. &. Watt, editor
of the Democrat, were sitting in front
of the Star office, but just as the first
shot was fired the Star man beat a
hasty retreat into the Star office:
tli' negro evidently tried to follow the
Star man Into the office, but owing to
the fact there is no handle on the left
hand screen door, he failed to open
that door; while he was standing in
the door Powers fired a second -'hot
at him; this shot missed the negro
and lodged in the door of the Star
floe. It is needless to say that the
Bt;:r man retreated just as far back
into the ojlldlng as possible,and he
t< el3 confident lie could have outi.'in
any bullets coming in his direction.
The negro then ran down North
Court 3treet, Powers firing two more
■hots at him while he was running.
W. D. Black, who was at hU livery
barn on Commerce alley, ran out and
caught the negro and held him, think-
ing the officers were after him; as
goon as he saw what was wrong he
turned the negro loose.
Powers gave Ms gun, a forty-five
calibre, into the possession of Jailor
Counts, who had arrived upon tho
scene by this time.
The negro was found hiding In the
rear of the European hotel; upon ex-
amination it was found that two bul-
lets had taken effect, one passing
througli the fat part of the thigh,
while the other struck the right hip
and ranged around his body, striking
his spinal column and shattering th,e
bone 3lightly and finally lodged Just
under the skin, near the other hip.
Monday Powers was placed under
bond in the sum of $500 upon a charge
of assault with intent to 1(111; he
readily made bond and Is now at lib-
erty. The negro is said to be get-
ting along well and will recover in a
few days, doubtless,'and he said that
he would leave Mangum as 30on as he
was able to travel.
Uncle Jack Elklns, one of the pro-i
gresslve citizens of the Reed com
munlty, was among those transacting
business In the city Monday; Uncle
Jack says he Is feeling fine, never
had prospects of better crops, espec-
ially pumpkins, in his life.
ANTI-SOCIALIST
SPEAKER COMING
John Basil Barnhlll, of Washington,
D. C., editor of the Anti-Socialist, and
one of the best known anti-socialist
speakers in the country. Is coming
to Greer county and make six
speeches exposing the fallacies of
socialism; he extends an urgent In-
vitation to any socialist, big or little,
to meet him and offers to divide time
with any of them.
Mr. Barnhill has debated with manv
of the most noted socialists of the
country; Is said to b^ a very ablo
speaker and one who is at all times
courteous and fair to his opponents.
That Mr. Barnhlll enjoys the confi-
dence of those with whom he has
lived Is attested by the fact that he
used to represent his district in con-
gress.
Following is a list of the places and
dates where Mr. Barnhlll will speak
■in Greer county:
Mangum*Monday, August 16, 2:30,
p. m.;
New Hope. Monday, August 16th, 8
.p. m.;
Reed, Tuesday, Augu3t 17th, 2:30
p. m.;
Deer Creek School House, Tuesday,
August 17th, 8:00 p. m.;
Granite, Wednesday, August 18th,
2:30 p. m.;
Brinkman, Wednesday, August 18.
8:00 pvm.
As said before, Mr. Barnhlll ex-
tends an urgent Invitation to any so-
dal'st speaker to n.eet him and dl«-
cis'" the Issues of socialism and will
divide time with him; undoubtedly
Mr. Barnhill is a man of ability and
in case arrangements are made for
some socialist speaV^F to divide time
with him, some interesting discus-
sions may result. W. M. Covington,
one of the active socialists of the
county, is trying to make arrange-
ments for some one to meet bfm, and
it Is likely arrangements will be per-
fected. As an indication of who Mr.
Barnhlll Is, we quote the following
from a statement of Walter Thomas
Mills, one of the best known socialists
of the country:
"Fcr 3ome year3 I have debated
with anyone I could persuade to
make a public attack on Socialism.
Among these have been Judges,, law
yers, congressi ien, a few clerymen
and others. I held a series of such
debates at chautauquas with J. B.
Barnhill, and he has been the only
man who ha3 even ever attempted 'o
make a direct attack on Socialism.
A debate with him brings the real is-
sue into direc. discussion."—Walter
Thomas Mills. •
BUYS PROPERTY AT ALTUS
OLD RESIDENT
DEDICATES HOME
Some months ago the home belong-
ing to Rev. J. W. Solomon, at Reed,
was destroyed by fire; immediately
he began rebuilding another home,
and this week the final work was fln-
irhed and he Invited a large number
of his friends of the Reed community
and from Mangum to visit him upon
Wednesday evening of this week and
ip&rtake of a dinner, as a sort of dedi-
cation affair.
About 150 friends from Reed, Man-
gum and other portions of the coun
ty gathered to do honor to Brother
Solomon whom they all love and re-
spect 30 much; .the dinner, an ele-
gant one, was served at about 6
o'clock; following the dinner, Rev
Holmes Nichols,-pastor of the Baptist
church here, preached to the audi-
ence; various members of the audi-
ence voluntarily told of their ac-
quaintance with tne host and his es-
timable family and their many lova-
ble qualities.
In this connection it may be stated
that the Solomons are among the old'
est residents of that section of Gre^r
county; Rev. Solomon Is one of the
pioneer Baptist proachers of the
county, and during tho early days fito
has traveled n\iles every week to
help spread the gospe' of religion; no
mnn In Greer coun more gener-
ally loved arid respected than is
Brother Solomon; always a living
monument to righteousness, he has
by his example Inspired numbers of
people to lead a better life.
His friends over Greer county and
southwestern Oklahoma trust that his
beautiful new home will not meet the
Consummating negotiations thdt
had been under way for ten days the
deed to the Moore building on the
northeast corher of the square, the
lower floor of which Is occupied by
the Russell department store, was
transferred Thursday from J. P.
Moore to B. E. Davis, of Mangum. The
consideration was $38,000 in cash,
land and property. The deal was
made through Bill McDaniel.
Overshadowing in Importance and
money consideration the purchase by
the federal government a few months
ago of four lots on the southwest cor-
nor i>f the squaer for >$17,000, the
Moore-DavU deal Is doubtless the lar-
gest realty transfer that has been
made In Altus for several years. The
consideration Includes some of the
finest city and farm property In Greer
and Jackson counties.
The Moore structure 13 one of the
finest store buildings in southwestern
Oklahoma, and the result of the trans-
fer of ownership Is problematical.
The new owner. Mr. Davis. Is one of
the dry goods merchants of Mangum,
and he intimated to parties while here
last week that he might move his
large stock of goods to Altus this
fall, probably after September, when,
it is understood, the present lease on
the Moore building . expires,—Altus
Democrat.
TWO ROOMS—Furni3hed for light
housekeeping; modern convenlen
ces, $10 per month; also one nicely
furnished bed room for $6 per month.
Call at 127 W. Johnson & Cor. 8. Okla.
7 2tadv.
COUNTY ESTIMATE
SLIGHTLY REDUCED
The county excise board, composed
of the county judge, county attorney,
county treasurer, county clerk and
county superintendent, met last Sat-
urday for the purpose of passing upon
the estimates of the county, the cit-
ies and towns, townships and school
districts of Greer county.
Some of the officers. County Clerk
Hearne and Superintendent Misa
Kate Terry, were not preient, though.
Deputy County Clerk Cunningham
took the place of Mr. Hearne.
The county estimate was the first
one taken up and changes were made
In only two funds; the salary fund
wa3 reduced $200, from $19,575 to
$19,375; the court fund, for which
$9,375 was asked, was reduced to
$9,000. The amounts approved in the
other funds were as follows: Road
and bridge fund, $3,500; state high-
way and construction fund, $3,50);
state road maintenance fun, $2/l00;
poor and insane fund, $12,800; wid-
ow's and orphan's compensation,
$200; supply fund. $5,500; contingent
fund, $4,000; separate school fund,
$2'P0; special court fund, $10,000;
sinking fund, '$78,454. Not all of this
amount, however, will be raised by di-
rect taxation: a total of V33.177 is ex-
pected to be received from sources
other than taxrtlon, reducing tha
amount raUed by taxation to $45 337.
A levy of one-fourth mill was auth-
orized in addition to this to support
the free fair; the board took the view
that they had no authority to refuse
a levy, and they authorized ^he one-
fourth mill levy; they will raise some-
thing like $2,500 with which to pay
the expenses of the township fairs
and the county fair.
The estimate for the city of Man-
gum was taken up next; it was dis-
covered that the amount asked for
by the commissioners could not be
raised by the limit of taxation, based
on the valuation of last year, hence
the city officers were called Into con-
ference and the city estimate passed
till later.
The board adjourned till Monday
when they approved a portion of the
city estimate; they then met again on
Tuesday and finally approved tho
amounts asked for by the city offic-
ers.
Owing to the fact that the state
board of equalization has not acted,
the board was forced to adjourn, for
nearly all the towns and townships
ask for nfore money than can fee raid-
ed upon the valuation of Ia3t year, if
the limit is not to be exceeded.
As soon as the state board has act-
ed the county board will again meet
and continue in session until the es-
timates are approved.
same fate as the other one, and that
they will live many years to enloy
the home. Among the Mangum peo-
pleattendlng wero J. D. Curreathers
and wife, Dr. and Mrs. Ney Neel,
Dr. Q. F. Border. D. T. Covington and
wife, Holmes Nichols, Mrs. H. H.
Wyman, W. H. Dickey and Mrs. Cun-
ningham.
THE WEEK'S COURT
HOUSE HAPPENINGS
The county commissioners met
this week in regular monthly session;
the principal business was approving
the official reports of the variou3
officers, passing on claims, etc. The
report of Court Clerk McCutcheon
3howed that during the month of July
that office earned $327.40 in fees, and
collections amounting to $291.65 we/e
turned into the county treasurer; of
this amount a portion of it resulted
from turning into the county treas-
ury some fees that had been deposit-
ed with the clerk and had remalno:!
there for over one year with no claim-
ant showing up.
County Clerk Hearne's report shows
that office to have earned, collected
and deposited with the county treas-
urer $204.83; July was a rather poor
month for this office, in fact one of
the poorest ones for some time.
County Judge Thacker earnod
$53.45 during the month and collected
and turned In 914.50.
Five new suits were filed in dlv
trlct court, as follows: G. A. Pursley
vs. Lots McGulrt, replevin suit: Kan-
sas City, Mexico & Orient Ry Co. vs.
A. C. Watt, constable of Mangum city
township, replevin suit; First State
Bank of Mangum, vs. S. H. Kester, ot
al, foreclosure of real estate mort-
gage; Peyton E. Brown vs. T. 9. Wil-
cox, injunction suit; Glenn A. Dill vs.
C. R. Roberts, suit on note.
Business has been better in the
marrjago license line than for some
weeks past; a total of three were is-
sued during the week to the follow-
ing parties: Bishop A. Goosby and
Prlsclalla Haston, of Jester* Albort
L. Taylor and Vera Mae Lowe, of
Duke; Early M. Herndon, Gould, and
Delia M. Burden, Mangum.
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Wileman, Herbert. Mangum Weekly Star. (Mangum, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 5, 1915, newspaper, August 5, 1915; Mangum, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc285219/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.