Savannah Courier
These transcriptions were donated to the project and transcribed by: Edward R. Harrell
Jan 23, 1896 - Reward
of $400: It is offered for the arrest of Gus Thomas. Here
is a chance for some men with plenty of courage to get $200 from the United
States government. He will also get $200 from the State. Of course there
is some danger in the undertaking as the perusal of the following will
show: Under the provisions of the Sundry Civil Act of March 2, 1895, making
an appropriation for detecting and bringing to trial and punishment person
guilty of violating the internal revenue laws or conniving at the same.
I hereby offer a reward of $200 for the arrest and delivery to the United
States Marshal, Western District of Tennessee, of one Gus Thomas,
an illicit distiller of Hardin County, Tenn., who is also charged with
the murder of John Kennedy on or about Dec 12, 1895. Jos
S. Miller, Commissioner. Approved: J. G. Carlisle,
Secretary
} Gus Thomas has been a source of trouble to revenue officers for some time. Lately his brother Ed.Thomas, was killed in Hardin county. Gus has been under arrest several times, but of late he has eluded all efforts to effect his capture. He is a desperate fellow and swears that he will not be taken alive.
- Memphis Scimitar
} Sheriff Story has fifteen boarders at his jail hotel at
$12.50 per month with the good credit of Hardin
county to back them.
} Some mothers of Savannah think they have
some sweet little boys; but most of the little sweets have a very poison
vocabulary.
} It is of fact, that C. L. Hefner means to have a laundry established in this town soon. Success to him in is the outcry.
Jan 30, 1896 - Three Behind Bars: Yet Foiled in Their Effort.That daring Gus Thomas and three of his pals come within one quarter of a mile of the public square of Savannah last Tuesday night. They were on the lookout for one Coon Qualls, who visits in Springtown, and at this time was supposed by them to be in this section, hence they came within a stones throw of the jail. Sheriff Story gathered a posse of men and gave chase to them locating them above town in a farm house of Dr.Barlow. When surrounded the fun began. Four well armed men in the house and the officers on the outside.The situation was critical for a time. Thomas, on being afforded an opportunity fired at Sheriff Story, the ball of a 44 Winchester scalping his overcoat collar. Everything, for a time was held in dead sus-pense, all awaiting an opportunity. Thomas told the officers that he would die there before he would be arrested. Shortly after daybreak someone was seen crawling out from under the floor of the cabin in which the outlaws were barricaded, and to start across the field, close inspection showed it to be
Gus Thomas, and the chase began, firing as they ran. Officers fired some (?) or dozen shot at Thomas and he returned a fusillade of Winchester balls. When he got to the woods he easily eluded his chasers, though they think he is shot in the legs. The parties in company with Thomas were Sam Parks, Dick Thomas and Charley Byrd: they surrendered and are in safe keeping. At this writing the Sheriff is on the trail of Thomas with his bloodhounds. Young Thomas that is now in jail is a younger brother of Gus: he has a large amount of money on his person.
Later - Charley Byrd while out trying to make bond, skipped the officer and is again at large.
Feb 6, 1896 - Gus
Thomas:
A Stripling Of One Hundred And Twenty-Eight Pounds And Twenty-Six Years
Old: Last issue we gave you an account of this merchant and his friends
in coming so close to Savannah, and of the capture of the three, and giving
chase with the bloodhounds, which we can say led to his capture. Yes, he
was trailed into the haunts of the 9th District from the scene of the first
encounter; followed his trail to where he crossed the river; crossed the
hounds over and followed him to within a few miles of his home, finding
him at the home of one John Counce. He was hid away under
the floor, and it was with great heroism that unlodged therefrom. It was
known to the officers that he preferred death to be arrested, and that
he was an expert shot, and was well armed with heavy arms. Finding his
lodging was all that was needed. The bold daring leadership of Ex-Sheriff
J.
A. Counce, Deputy Marshall G. W. Shaw, and
Sheriff
Story was sufficient to beard this lion in his den. The floor
was ripped up plank at a time, until he was discovered crouched very low
upon the ground. When he found he was powerless, he saluted the officers
with a cheerful "hello". When asked to raise his hands he very submissively
did so, and he had the handcuffs placed on him, and he was hurried away
for the Savannah jail.
} Gus Thomas is one of the nerviest fellows that can be found and a man of extra natural abilities. He has a fair business education. There are many people in the 9th District who will rejoice at his arrest. He was a terror to them, and they were friendly to him only through fear.
The section in which he and most of the wildcatters
of this illfated portion of Hardin County reside is joining the Miss. line,
and is one of the wildest portions to be found. Many dark and chasmlike
hallows are in this section, and grown into a perfect heath, making it
a place of great seclusion.
} Eye witness: After the house had been searched and Thomas had been located in a certain corner of the cellar, the men were stationed as follows: Britton, Hindman, Deal, Meredith, and Rhone, on the outside to watch the house; Hardin at the hole in the floor over the cellar entrance, Story, Shaw, Marler and Counce were in the north room on guard and taking up the floor.When one of the two planks were raised, Thomas was seen and several guns were thrown on him. At that same time being ordered by several to put his hands up and be handcuffed, he put up one hand with the remark, "I guess you have got me."
Shaw ordered the other hand up, which was not slow to come. He(Shaw), having the handcuffs in his possession, put them on him; Thomas was then lifted out into the room, and the men on guard outside came in. Thomas had his Winchester and one pistol with him or in his hands when first seen, but did not use them. I could not say whether or not he made an attempt to do so, as I could not see him out of the hole.
The above is a statement of the closing facts in the Gus Thomas capture. R. A. Hardin, Jr.
Feb 20, 1896 - Some of the women of Adamsville intend to make war on drunkeness in that town. They should begin war at home by smashing the black bottles hid in the closets. The work well done at home, the war will very soon come to a successful close - Independent.
Mar 12, 1896 - Riggs,
Dickson and Sam Bundy were sent to the pen for 15 years
for stealing a hog from Judge Patterson.
} Savannah has a fire bell, which can be heard
quite a distance. It weighs 600 pounds and will be placed on top of the
bank building. It will also be used as a Lodge bell.
} If the boys and young men, who get drunk and raise sand around this town of nights, think they are not known, they are very much mistaken, they are the talk of the town.
Apr 9, 1896 - Senator Isham G. Harris was at Shiloh last week, and succeeded in marking the spot where Gen. Albert S. Johnston fell. The venerable Senator was Johnston's chief of staff officers and assisted that gallant confederate chieftan from his horse when he received the mortal wound. The place as recognized by Senator Harris is altogether different from that supposed to be the scene of Johnston's dying moments.
Apr 16, 1896 - North Savannah is the coming part of town. Six years ago the first house, the Story residence was erected, now we have in these parts six residences, the town school and one of our first churches. It is highly probable that in this year there will be several more buildings go in this favored section.
Apr 23, 1896 - The
Savannah District:(Too long to copy. It is about Shiloh, Senator Harris
and Gen. Albert S. Johnston)
} Gus Thomas was brought out of jail and tried in two cases, one for making, and another for selling whiskey without license,last Saturday. He was found guilty and bound over to the United States Court under a bond of $500 in each case.
Oct 23, 1896 - We learned that one day last week, a negro, for the second time, poisoned the well of Col. Meeks, of McNairy county, who is well known in these parts, by putting Paris-green in his well. The negro was apprehended by the Col., and an attempt to arrest him, resulted in his getting alarmed and making good his escape, he made his way to Florence, Ala., where he was arrested.
Oct 28, 1896 - Woodmen
Of The World: Messrs. Leland and Totty were here in
the interest of the W. of W. This is one of the finest progressive Secret
Orders in America. (There is more to this article should you care to read
it)
} Circuit court will be a big one this time as some heavy trials are to come up, among which are Gus Thomas for killing Kennedy, and the Wood Boys for killing Milligan. Much interest will be attached to this term of the court.
Nov 12, 1896 - The
Wood
trial was before the court this week and attended with a great deal of
trouble in getting the Jury. It is one of the hardest contested cases that
has ever been tried in Savannah, having a fine array of law talent on both
sides and a long list of witnesses.
} We know the names of the boys who disgraced themselves by throwing hymn books and bibles over the church and Sunday school last Sunday. These boys need to be looked after and there are parents in this town who are sadly neglecting their duty. Ask your boy what he knows about it.
Nov 19, 1896 - We
understand that three of the individuals composing the trial jury in the
Wood
case, are rather a sullied characters; one having been in the Savannah
jail for stealing water mellons, another for house breaking, and one is
under indictment in McNairy county for larceny. How is this for upholding
the law of the land?
} James and Walter Wood:
(Read it. They were in jail four years and had four trials during that
time, yet are free.)
} Gus Thomas was tried in only one case this court,for shooting at Sheriff Story. He will remain in the Savannah Jail until April, to ger a hearing from the Supreme Court on his Dr. Martin murder case, but may be tried at the March term for the Canady murder.
Dec 4, 1896 - Frank James' Ambition: St. Louis, Nov 27. Frank James, brother of Jesse James, the notorious train robber and ex-member of the James gang of outlaws, is an aspirant for the St. Louis police Commissionership. His candidacy has the support of Chief Harrigan
- American
} Savannah will soon have a plaining mill of its own, a thing that is much needed and one that cannot, fail to be a success. We think a grist should be attached to this industry and give us another very much needed enterprise.
Dec 4, 1896 - Many
of the Savannah and Hardin County people will regret to hear of the death
of Lendsay Sanders, the Hotel man at Bethel Springs. He was
known far and wide as one of the most obliging men in the country to the
traveling public.
} Savannah is a little towny these times, new
street lamps about the place.
} Gus and Dick Thomas are in Jackson jail, having been carried there by Sheriff Story, for safe keeping.
Dec 10, 1896 - Nixon: Arthur Duncan says the Bethel Springs water is the best water in this section.
Dec 17, 1896 - Since there will be some changes in the business affairs of the COURIER, with the end of the year, every body indebted to us will please come forward and settle at that time.
Feb 5, 1897 - Adamsville:
Perry
Story, Mr. Garey and Guy Perkins were arrainged
here Saturday before Esq. Wesson for carelessly shooting
the little eight year old son of Mrs. Lindy Browder, who
lives five miles west of Adamsville on the road to Selmer.(There is more
to this article and other news from Adamsville)
} Senator Isham G. Harris
is quite sick in Washington. He is not considered dangerous, though his
extreme old age make it possible that he will not recover.
} The death of Senator Harris
during the sitting of the General Assembly would probably put Gov. Taylor
in the United States Senate.
} Typical of human life,is the Williams milling property, now owned by the Savannah Lumber Company. It once stood, an in-dustry of which Hardin County had a right to boast,being employment for, from twenty to thirty-five hands and a living for as many families. But at last the ravage of time has made inroads and decay has prostrated her building. She is a thing of the past.
Mar 5, 1897 - The City of Paducah put off two hundred cannon at Pittsburg Landing Tuesday, that will be used on the Shiloh Battlefield to mark the location of the different batteries during the great battle of 1862.
Mar 12, 1897 - The
great powers of Europe are against the Greeks in their effort to free the
Island of Crete from Turkish rule.
} Mr. and Mrs Gillispie:
Obituary of Rev. A. M. Gillispie. Following that, is mention
of his daughter, Mrs. Hudiburg, dying a few days later.
} A. G. (Gus) Thomas:(
Note: This is a brief sketch on the noted ninth district law breaker.)
} The prosecution of Gus Thomas
in our Circuit Court has elicited more or less interest and comment for
the past year, and his lawlessness in the ninth district in this county
has been a subject of much concern for the past five or six years.
} Gus Thomas
was 27 years of age last Monday, the day he was arraigned in court charged
with the murder of John Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy
was ambushed and murdered at his woodpile, just about daylight on the morning
of Dec 13, 1895, and the grand jury at the March term, 1896 thought he
was murdered by Gus and his brother Dick Thomas and John
Bryson.
But on account of the absence of important witnesses the State asked for
and secured a continuance of the case to the next term of the court. But
Judge Patterson in commenting on the failure of the State
to have its witnesses in attendance ordered attachments to issue at once
for these with instructions to have them put under a good and solvent bond
or lodge them in jail until the next term of the court. Gus is now under
a sentence of 15 years for the murder of Dr. Martin at Red
Springs on Dec 31, 1894. Also one year for resisting an officer on Jan
29, 1896, when he was arrested.
} Cannon For Shiloh: The City of Paducah, on her last trip had, for Shiloh Park 188 guns, weighing 267,500 pounds. There were twenty-four 30 pounders, Parrott rifles; 40 twelve pounder Howitzers and 122 six pound, bronze guns. They are to mark the places where the different batteries stood when the battle was fought. For freight on the cargo the boat gets about $650.
Mar 19, 1897 - The
Shiloh Reunion: (About the reunion that is about to take place.)
} Gov. Taylor liberated twenty-seven convicts in two days of last week. At that rate it would only require about two months to liberate the entire.
Mar 26, 1897 - For
the benefit of the old widowers and bachelors we will say that Savannah
has lots of single ladies, whose ages are delicate subjects to talk to
them on.
} We have a well of splendid water just west
of our office,well equipped with buckets and rope that we would be glad
all our neigh-bors would use water from.
} Deputy Sheriff Counce
will sell season tickets, giving privilege to play marbles in the courthouse
yard, at 50 cents. Apply at this office and deposit your cash.
} The overflow of the Mississippi river has
covered 800 square miles in the state of Arkansas.
} Hamburg has been submerged for several days, many of the people have been driven from their homes.
Apr 2, 1897 - We
see there are 1000 Tennesseans in Hill County, Texas who will visit the
Centennial in June. The Centennial agent of that county is making arrangments
with the rail roads for cheap transportation.
} W. T. Counce, constable of the 10th brought Tice Griffin down Tuesday and lodged him in Jail on a capias from Circuit Court. Griffin will be remembered as the man who robbed the mail between Pickwick and Iuka about four years ago, for which he served three years in a federal prison.
Apr 9, 1897 - Shiloh Battlefield: (This is about the reunion that was just held there.)
May 7, 1897 - Among
the last acts of the Legislature were the provisions made for a state flag.
Its dimensions are to be in the ration of 4 to 6 and the colors to be red,
white and blue. We are pleased at this patriotism, as our great state had
no flag.
} On last Saturday land could be seen on the Arkansas side of the river at Memphis for the first time in nine weeks.
Jul 16, 1897 - Harris Dead: Senator Isham G. Harris. This the senator's obituary.
Sep 3, 1897 - Beginning
with this issue of the paper it has new Editors and Proprie-tors, named
H.
C. Thompson and A. J.Fowlkes.
} By a vote of 575 for to 31 against, the county
site of Lewis county was by the popular vote changed to Hohenwald last
week.
} A Mrs Landrum, of Lauderdale County, gave birth to five children last week. From last accounts all were alive and doing well.
Sep 17, 1897 - After
Wildcatters: G. W. Shaw, our Deputy Mar-shal went to Selmer
Monday, accompanied by Bill Wade, col., to be tried before
Commissioner
Stumph on a charge of selling whisky. Mr.
Shaw
is making it hot for wildcatters these days.
} Watch Savannah Grow: If you don't believe
Savannah is grow-ing, just look around and see what is being done, at this
time, in the way of building. Two new bricks are under course of erection
on main street adjoining Baker Bros.,Capt. Irwin's
new residence is moving along rapidly to completion, and there is talk
of other buildings being erected in the near future.
} A special to the American, from Columbus, Ohio, of the 13th., says, Rev. G. F. B. Howard has escaped from the Ohio penitentiary. Howard was convicted at Jackson, Tenn., and sentenced to 9 years for using the mails for fraudulent purposes.
Sep 24, 1897 - Savannah has: 1 hotel, 1 dental shop, 1 tin shop, 1 silversmith, a number of new buildings under course of construction, 1 livery stable, more pretty girls of any town of its size in the State, the young men are few in number, but polite and handsome, no vacant houses, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 churches, 1 college with 144 pupils enrolled, 4 practicing physicians, 7 attorneys at law, 12 dry goods and grocery houses, 2 drug stores, 1 repair shoe shop, 2 barber shops, 1 library hall, 2 butcher shops, a substantial banking institution, plenty of enterprising monied men, good people, the county site, between 1200 and 1500 population, a reasonably fair county paper, a healthy location, and is surrounded by a rich belt of farming country. What have you got Bro Enterprise? Name them.
Oct 1, 1897 - Hardin College: This article has a list of its students and their grades for the month ending Sep 24, 1897.
Oct 15, 1897 - Gus Thomas Attempts Escape: Last Saturday evening when the guards in the penitentiary lined the prisoners up to be in their cells for the night Gus Thomas was missing. A search was made and he and Hyatt, the Clarksville train robber were discovered secreted in the harness shop. They had painted stripes out of their clothing and intended to scale walls by means of timber lashed together. Thomas was immediately transferred to the Davidson county jail for safe keeping, under an order from Judge Patterson.
Oct 22, 1897 - A local mathematician has figured out the amount of tobacco used by W. D. Jopling during sixty-five years he has been squirting amber between his teeth. Supposing him to use each day a four inch plug, it would make a plug 7,980 feet long. At ten cents a plug, the cost would aggregate $2372.50. Well might our venerable sheriff proclaim: "Men and brethren what must I do to be saved."
- Selmer Symposium
Oct 29, 1897 - During
the past six weeks there has not been an idle carpenter in the vicinity
of Savannah, and the result is several new residence and a two-story brick
on main street, besides numerous improvements all over town. Truly the
hammer and saw and trowel have made merry music here this fall.
} A. K. A., the Mud Creek correspondent to the Selmer Symposium, in his article to that paper last week, says: "A two days law suit before a magistrate came to a close Friday at Hardin Academy in the 11th civil district.
The parties arraigned for trial were Mrs May Green and Rev. Thompson. The charges were house burning. The defendants were bound over to the circuit court."
Nov 12, 1897 - There is considerable excitement among the farmers four miles west of Jackson, Tenn. over the appearance of a panther in that community. A man was attacked by the dreadful beast and narrowly escaped with his life. Live stock have suffered from his depredations, and it is likely a panther hunt will be arraigned to capture the beast.
The yellow fever situation is fast improving in this and other States, and it is to be hoped that these States that have fell victim to the dreadful disease, may soon be practically free from the pest.
Nov 19, 1897 - Ten thousand six hundred and fifty-two murders were committed in the United States last year.
Nov 26, 1897 - Gov.
Taylor
has pardoned Harrison Sipes, of McNairy county, convicted
of abduction and a violation of the consent law. He was sentenced to 14
years.
} Jim Powers, Deputy U. S. Marshall, of McNairy county was over from Selmer Monday, mixing with friends on our streets.
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