Waldron, Ark., Thursday, Feb. 6, 1919

J.W. Martindale plead guilty in circuit court Tuesday for defrauding the Waldron Hardware-Mercantile Company [on] a cotton sale transaction in December. He was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary.

Martindale, with an accomplice, brought some cotton samples to Waldron in December from Bates claiming the ownership of several bales, and sold same to Mercantile Company receiving part cash and part in cashier's check. He was apprehended in Joplin, Mo., when he tried to cash the check after spending the money.

Bob Hayes, his accomplice, was arrested later in McAlester, Okla., and lodged in the Waldron jail. He broke jail about January 14 and has not since been apprehended.

Rumor has been current on the streets of Waldron for the past several weeks that a suit would be filed in the circuit court testing the legality of the contract let by County Judge Payne last summer for the building of bridges on Fourche river. An examination of the court records show that no suit has yet been brought, and no positive statement can be had from anyone on the subject.

The bridges are already under construction, and the warrants have been issued in payment of same.

The Waldron Baptist church was organized in 1883. For some time Eld. E.L. Compere was pastor. The church worshiped anywhere they could find shelter. Eld. L.F. Patterson was pastor for a number of years, during which time a house of worship was erected. It was a two-story frame building and was owned jointly by the Baptists and Odd Fellows. The church recently sold its interest in the property to the lodge.

Some of the prominent Baptist ministers of the State have served this church as pastor. In addition to those already mentioned were such men as W.L. Compere, J.W. Hulsey, F.M. Carter and W.M. Kelley. The church has also produced some strong preachers, among the number being Dr. Otto Whittington, now general enlistment missionary for Arkansas of the Baptist Home Mission Board of the South. The present pastor began work in October, 1916.

In 1917 the church undertook the task of erecting a house of worship suited to its needs, and in spite of the distressing war conditions last year the building is now well on toward completion. The picture reproduced here will give some idea of the building. There is considerable inside work yet to be done. When finished the building will seat 750 people. It will have eighteen Sunday school rooms, and will be an ideal Sunday school work shop. The building and grounds will be worth about $20,000 and it will be perhaps the best building of any kind in Western Arkansas between Fort Smith and Texarkana.

Every citizen of Waldron and Scott county should take an interest in this enterprise. The value of all property in town is increased by having such a building here, and every one should help these Baptists bear the burden of this building.

There is a considerable debt on the building and it must be listed in the near future. In a few days a campaign will be put on and the situation will be fully explained. Every member of the church will be expected to do his or her best, and every citizen of the town will be given an opportunity to help put this commendable enterprise "over the top."

Denengheim, Germany, Dec. 29. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Whitington: Today is Sunday and I'm at leisure today and will write you. We are members of America's picked troops who are doing guard duty on the Rhine. We are here to see to it that "Heinie" complies with the terms of the armistice to a "t." We were at Rampart in France and were getting ready to go into the lines again when the armistice was signed Nov. 11th. Then we began the longest march in the history of the American army. We crossed that portion of France held by the Germans at that time, crossed Alsace, Lorraine, Luxenburg, crossed the Mozella river at Soalberg and entered Germany on the morning of December 3rd. We are near Coblenz, on the Rhine now.

We had a very good Xmas. My company had an xmas tree and we had presents for all the men. We bought them out of our company funds. We had a very good program, singing, jokes, etc., of course we were all lonesome for home folks but we knew we couldn't go home, so we had a very good time. I am well and weigh 158 now. I weighed 145 when I enlisted so you see I haven't fared so bad. I was in the thickest of every important battle we had. I will give you the names of the ones I was in. We first went into the line at Choteau-Thierng, we supported the mosines [marines?] there and we dug 30 miles 2nd line trenches there, we were in the big drive that started at Chezy and Gordalula and after driving the Germans through Neully, we were finally relieved on the Vesle River. We built bridges across the Vesle under the direct fire of the Germans. Many of the bridges we built were blown to pieces and lots of our boys were killed but we got across. Our next drive was at Verdun, then we were in the St. Michil drive and helped to cut off that Salient and when we stopped on that drive we were only a few miles from Metz Germany, and then without a rest we were hurried to the Argonne woods. We fought in mud and water for 23 days, and this was America's greatest battle. The battle lasted for nearly two months. It started on Sept. 26, and our regiment was in front of the infantry. We went over as "wire cutters" and went ahead of the dough-boys. So you see my regiment and my division started the greatest battle of the world and the one that won the war, and for nearly a month we fought hand to hand with Germans. They had every available division of reserves they had against us but we took "Dead Man's Hill," a hill that the French had tried to take for four years and failed. Other divisions may claim the honor but I saw it "took" and know who did it. Then for 22 days we fought them the fiercest battles that was fought. Chateau-Thierny and the Argonne were the two greatest battles and we were in both. So you may know that I can tell you some stories of war that are real. I also know the other divisions who were with us and I [am] going to call anyones bluff who are fooling the folks back home and telling them the "hero stuff" when they were not in it at all.

Hope to be home before many months now. Love and best wishes. John Hulsey.

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Bendorf, Germany, Jan. 1, 1919. My Dear Father and Mother: I will drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well and doing fine and hope you are all the same. Today is our thanksgiving day here the first of 1919. I think I will be home soon, likely in four months, I am in the second division and don't think it will have to stay here much longer. The first and second divisions are the two that did lots in winning the war, or that is what everyone thinks that know them, they were over here in time to see some of the scrap; however, those that I came with five or six months ago did not get so much of it. There are many boys who came over with our divisions that will never return. I came awful close to being one of these several times, could see no hopes, but made it alright. I knew the boy you sent me the picture of in the paper with the exhibition train, he was in my division and battery; I was in 75 feet of him when he lost his arm. He would have known me if you had asked him about Jerry as that is what they called me in place of Jerome. I am glad it is all over and know you all are happy to hear it and know that I got through O.K.

I received the package you sent Xmas and was glad to get. I had a good Xmas and know you all did. I am in Germany across the river Rhine and have been here more than a month it is a fine country and we travel most all the time now. Would like to get back by spring so if dad gets a car I can help run it. I received sisters present and was glad to get it. Would like to see the babies I miss them very much.

Let's all hope that I will get back in four months. Well, there is lots of dutch girls here but I can't talk to them very much. I can't write much about the war but will talk lots when I get home; can tell you some things that will make your eyes bug.

Good luck to all. Jerome Bates.

Arthur South orders the Record sent to his address at Bates.

Mrs. G.P. Caver is spending a few days this week the guest of friends at Hot Springs.

J.A. Rose of Mountain township was a caller at the Record office while trading in Waldron Friday.

L.E. Leming of Belleville sends the Record the prerequisite for weekly visits for the coming year.

Harley Bird, who has employment in the State Land Department at Little Rock, visited home folks the past week.

E.H. Ball of Louisiana, a former citizen of Scott county, is visiting friends and attending court at Waldron this week.

Judge Dan Hon and Col. Jo Johnson were among the Fort Smith attorneys upon attendance at circuit court in Waldron this week.

Sam Young, a former resident of Scott county but now of Ada, Okla., is visiting his old home in Brawley township and friends at Waldron this week.

Prof. G.C. Ellis has been giving his work as chairman of the Armenian-Syrian Relief campaign close attention this week and informs the Record that indications are good for raising the amount expected from Scott county.

Miss Anna Center is visiting in Hot Springs this week.

Dr. Duncan returned Sunday from a brief trip to Fort Smith.

Milton Eddy of Mena was visiting Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Whittington the first of the week.

W.H. Wilson of Booneville transacted business and visited friends in Waldron this week.

G.T. Lawson of Tate township had his name added to the list of Record readers while in town Friday of last week.

W.D. Parker, who recently moved from Weeks to Shady Point, Okla., orders the Record sent to his address in the future.

E.B. Miller of Cauthron came up Saturday and delivered a valuable lecture to members of the Masonic order Saturday evening.

Otis Evatt of Pine Bluff visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Evatt, and other relatives and friends at Waldron the past week.

Uncle Wm. Taylor of Olio called at the Record office Tuesday and handed us the necessary for another year, although his time is not out for several weeks.

Roy Beasley of Huntington spent several days in Waldron the past week attending the sick bedside of his father, R.L. Beasley, who suffered a severe attack of influenza.

Cecil Elliott of Cedar Creek was transacting business in Waldron latter part of last week and gave the Record an order for some stationery for the firm of Abbot & Elliott.

W.E. and Wesley Hoover of Oliver township were callers at the Record office while in town Tuesday. Wesley has been just recently discharged from the navy, where he served during the war.

J.L. Center, who went to Little Rock several days ago, suffered an attack of influenza while there, but is now improving and writes that he will visit St. Louis and other points before returning home.

The Record is in receipt of a card announcing that Judge W.A. Falconer has opened an office for the practice of law in the Merchants Bank building, Fort Smith, and his many Scott county friends wish him a successful practice.

E.T. Wright, who lives two miles west of town, informed the Record Saturday that he had sold 25 1/2 pounds of butter during January from four cows, two of them 2-years-olds. The butter was all sold privately and brought the highest price. The cows are thoroughbred Jerseys.

Floyd Powell of Lamb township arrived in Waldron last Thursday on his way to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Powell on a brief furlough from military service.

Floyd arrived in the United States about a month ago from France where he saw active service in the hardest fighting of the war. He left here in June, but lost no time in getting to the front, and not a soldier in the service saw more fighting for the length of time on the front. He was wounded in the left arm the latter part of October. He returned Wednesday to Fort Riley, Kans., where he will remain in the care of army physicians until his wound is considered entirely healed.

Ben Code, charged with breaking into the postoffice at Coaldale Jan. 16, plead guilty to the charge of burglary in the circuit court Monday and was given two years in the penitentiary.

Code secured about $5.00 for his effort and was arrested by Sheriff Bird the morning after the robbery. Code is a citizen of the country-at-large and was passing through the country when he said he was prompted to only a short time before the deed was committed, and never before. [Copied as written.]

The death angel visited the War Hospital in France and took from it a beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Tolleson, on June 17, 1918. He was respected and beloved by everyone. He was born at Boles, Ark., March 29, 1895. John is sadly missed among the returning soldiers. It was very hard to give him up, but all must answer God's call. He was good and at heart to everyone who knew him. He was taken from home January 10, 1916, has never returned on furlough and has been missed two years and one month. But John is not the only one who is missed. There is many a poor mother's son who has been called the same by God to live in a brighter and happier home. Weep not for John is not dead but has gone to live with Jesus; we well know where to meet him waiting by the golden gate. He leaves a father, mother, three brothers, five sisters and a host of friends to mourn his loss.

We desire to thank our neighbors and friends for their kind assistance and expressions of sympathy for us during the sickness and death of our wife and mother. May the richest blessings of God be with you all. Ernest Holland and children.

Mr. Marion Castleberry and Miss Esther Blakeny were married Wednesday evening at 6 o'clock at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Irwin in East Waldron, where Miss Blakeny had made her home for the past two years. Rev. S.B. Barnett read the ceremony that made them man and wife.

Both are well known in Waldron and have many friends who wish them a happy and prosperous future.

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Hon, Ark., Jan. 31, 1919.

Dear Miss Carlile:

I am sending you the program for Feb. 12, and I hope you will get to be with us this time.

Floy Presley--How to raise chikeus [chickens]

Wilma Pyles--When to set a hen.

Hubert Plummer--What to feed a pig.

Otto Selwin--When to feed a pig.

Georganna Powers--How to grow tomatoes.

Gurth Pyles--How to make a tomato bed.

Edna Doyel--Rec. The clucking hen.

Opal Plummer--Rec.

Song--The Russians were crushin' the Prussians.

Miss Carlile--Can turkeys be successfully raised with chickens.

Mr. Sargent--General talk.

Gladys Plummer, Recording Secretary.

Following is a list of the grand and petit jurors serving at the regular February term of the Scott County Circuit Court:

Grand Jurors

Petit Jurors

"Well, here goes the first one." With these words H.C. Johnson of Fort Smith swallowed the contents of a 10-cent vial of carbolic acid at the soda fountain in the Shillcut drug store. Three minutes later he died.

Johnson entered the store and asked for a 20-cent vial of carbolic acid. Not having that size, the clerk gave him two 10-cent bottles, took his money and paid no further attention to his customer. Johnson walked toward the front of the store as though to leave, but paused at the soda fountain where he drank the contents of both bottles.

Nothing was found in the dead man's pockets to indicate any cause for his act. He had a certificate of deposit issued by the Mercants National bank, Fort Smith, for $770.75 and he had $43.84 in cash.

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FOR SALE: Nine hogs, one year old; one sow and pigs. Bargain to quick buyer. See W.E. Hoover, Center Point, Hon, Ark.

Circuit Court convened at 10 o'clock Monday morning with the able charged juries from Judge Paul Little, and in the afternoon the grind of disposing of the docket was begun with rapidity.

The Jesse Little case, which was tried here in August, 1917, with a hung jury, was continued until the August term. Most of the other cases were of a minor nature.

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STRAY--Small bay horse, about 13 hands high, branded 77 on left hip. Owner may get same by paying expenses. W.A. Reed, four miles west of Waldron.

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