The Current Local from Van Buren, Missouri • Page 1

DO ii A I ll i I i ii ii ixj i in) it S- I I XJ A. Democratic in Politics Succeeding the Van Buren Times Established 1876 Subscription: $1.00 a Year Volume XXXVI VAN BUREN, CARTER COUNTY, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1919 Number 22 FREMONT FLASHES ton's legal wife, was a witness ANOTHER VEEK OF COURT A HEV TRIAL FOR WELTOH for the prosecution in the trial. Frank Snider has purchased Her evidence was relative to the the B. I. Gibbs property and wi life of her mother and Welton at take possession soon TWO SUPPOSED BURGLARS AN JURY FAILS TO REACH AGREEMENT O'Neill.

Neb. The defense in ARE CONVICTED Marley Greene departed Wed troduced testimony to show that nesday for Reward, where Welton and Mrs. Hofland had he has secured a position. Second Week of Circuit Court Hines. Director General of Railroads, damages; judgment for plaintiff, appealed to Springfield Court of Appeals.

Ollie Nichols vs Alex Nichols, divorce; decree for plaintiff. State ex rel W. E. Coleman, Collector, vs E. Bray, back tax; judgment for plaintiff.

Ella L. Suffern vs Frank L. Suffern, foreclose deed of trust; foreclosure ordered. Montgomery Ward Co. vs Charlotte M.

Campbell, account; Mrs. Hofland Denies Former Con wife and four-months-old baby. On the occasion of her first visit she says Welton induced her to pose his sister. She returned to the Welton home again in January she says, Welton told her to tell Pearl Welton that she (Mrs. Hofland) was Welton's "When I told Pearl Welton that I wa3 Frank's wife she flew into a rage and tried to kill me," Mrs.

Hofland said in her testimony. "She knocked me down separated by mutual agreement Drummer H. A. Lucy of Bis and Welton deeded his interest Near Close With Many Cases To Be Tried fession and Attempts to Implicate Welton marck, was in Fremont Wednes in the ranch near O'Neill to Mrs, day calling on our merchants. Holland.

When her mother re The following cases in circuit Frank Welton, charged under M. uuawel the grocery ceived the ten year prison sen drummer, was in Fremont this court have been disposed of since tence at Eminence last June the our report last week: week calling on our merchants. State vs Mid-Continent Iron Billy Clay of Van Buren, came continued. and we scuffled on the floor, i Hofland girl collapsed and lay critically ill at the home of Sheriff John T. Bay for several weeks.

After her recovery she violation of board of health up Sunday afternoon for a visit C. Hunter vs Guy L. Musser, When I finally freed myself from rules; information quashed and with particular friends in Fre note; judgment for plaintiff. amended information filed. mont.

Wm. V. Tabor vs Mid-Contin remained in Eminence, the peo State vs W. W. Tipton, dis her I ran to the barn.

Pearl was getting up from the floor when I left the house. Sometime later when I returned to the house, Several people of Fremont and ple of the town sympathizing ent Iron damages; change of venue to Reynolds County. turbing the peace; acquitted by a grand jury indictment with aiding the killing of his wife, Mrs. Pearl (Tyler) Welton, at their farm home near Teresita, in Shannon County, on January last," will be given a new trial at the next regular term of the Carter County.circuit court which convenes on the second Monday in April. After an all-night deliberation, twelve men, true and tried, failed to reach an agreement as to the, guilt of the accused, the final ballot being fcight for acquittal and four for Midco have been attending cir with her and showing her every jury.

kindness. There were few other. cuit court at Van Buren this Andrew Walton vs Walker D. State vs Miles Jarvis, posses week. important witnesses examined Hines, Director General of Rail Frank met me in the yard and told me that Pearl had committed suicide by jumping into the sion of burglar tools; convicted Welton's case was brought here roads, damages; settled.

Mrs. Wm. Orrick left Wednes and sentenced to two years in R. W. Zessler vs D.

Jay Flint- day for South West City, to the penitentiary. jer, partition; judgment for spend a few days visiting with cistern with her baby in her arms. Frank and I then went to the cistern. He put the baby. on a change of venue granted by Circuit Judge Dorris on account of the sentiment against him in Shannon County.

He was in State vs Virdie Barton, grand plaintiff. her mother at that place, larceny; continued. Van Buren Mercantile Co. vs which was alive, in the bucket W. M.

Greene of Cape Girar conviction. Estate vs Arthur undine, as dicted last June by a special J. D. Kilgore, C. D.

Simpson and deau, spent a few days here last sault; fined $100.00 and costs, The trial of the case began last F. E. McGhee, account; dis week visiting with his father, J. grand jury called when citizens of the Teresita community pe stay of execution granted for and I drew it up. He then tied a rope around Pearl's body and after he had climed out we pulled the body out.

Frank said we Thursday forenoon, and in the missed. L. Greene, and other relatives. ninety days. Paris Phippa vs Walker D.

J. W. Smith Son, the local State vs Jack Hurst and Tom titioned the court to make an in vestigation into the circum Hines, Director General of Rail stock dealers, shipped a car of stances of Mrs. Welton's murder roads and Mid-Continent Iron damages; continued. cattle to market Tuesday.

Mr, Almond, operating pool hall without license; Hurst fined $50.00, Almond acquitted. with a view to implicating him Smith accompanied the shipment, The neighbors doubted Mrs. Hof Esker Woodard vs Walker D. State vs C. E.

Mouldin, pos Mrs. J. W. Smith entertained Hines, Director General of Rail matter of selecting a jury from the venire of forty men and the beginning of taking evidence no time was lost A number of witnesses were used, both for the State and the defense, and the testimony of these related-mainly to events connected with the coroner's inquest, the preliminary trial, and the confessions ma.de by Mrs. Hofland regard to the fatal tragedy in which i land's story that she killed Pearl Welton alone.

The case was session of burglar tools, convicted the J. Greene family to six o' roads, damages; continued. and sentenced to two years in clock dinner Tuesday in honor of hard fought on both sides. Pros State ex rel W. E.

Coleman. the penitentiary. Marley Greene, who departed had better fix up some kind of a story to tell the neighbors as we were likely to get into trouble." When cross-examined Mrs. Hofland was vague and indefinite. To many questions she manifested an indifference and contempt and in several instances had to be prompted by the court before she would make a reply.

Most of the answers were, "I do not remember." She said she did not remember telling the coroner's jury at Teresita or Sheriff J. ecutihg Attorney John W. Mc- State vs Thomas McKeon, pos next day for California. Collector, vs Carter County Land Fruit a corporation, H. H.

Spencer and Kenneth H. Spen Clellan was aided by ex-Cong J. S. Ferguson, plant superin ressman Robert Lamar of Hous session of burglar tools; continued on application defendant. cer, hack tax; judgment for tendent for the Mid-Continent ton, president of the Missouri plaintiff.

Iron returned from Williams Bar Association, and L. B. Shuck State ex rel W. E. Coleman.

Civil Docket Springfield Grocer Co. vs A. A. Mrp. Welton was killed.

The tes timony 4n the main was sub ville this week where he has been Collector, vs Alexander Van Bus- of Eminence, one of the attorn Lowe, account; settled. kirk, back tax; jndgment for tor several days inspecting ore eys who defended Mrs. Hofland. stantially the same as that adduced at the trial of Mrs. Hof- plaintiff.

H. A. Dildinevs Western Union properties. In the handling of the testimony T. Bay that she choked Pear! Wnd last June when i the prosecution displayed the I residing Elder W.

J. Velvick Telegraph damages; judgment for plaintiff. Weliuii to death, and denied aiadt icted of the murder. most consumate skill. Every of Poplar Bluff, will hold quar Missouri Health Week 'One of the vital lessons learn The defense based their plea witness was accorded the great terly conference at the M.

E. M. M. and R. H.

Eastwood vs F. Dixon, damages; dismissed. ed from our experience in the for acquittal on the ground that est respect, with possibly one ex Church, South, on Tuesday, No great world war was the recog Lenora Banks vs Joe Long, Ott ception that of Mrs. Hofland, vember 11. Everyone invited to vveuon nau noimng uo wuri the murder of his wife and his attend the services, who denied ever saying things Long, Mrs.

Wiley Mrs. ulu Peters (nee Long), Cora attorneys, arguing in his defense which she had formerly said and The first number of the lyceum that on the day of the inquest she stated to different persons that she desired to make a confession to relieve her conscience. In short, her testimony was disappointing to the prosecution. The woman gave no reasons why she shielded Welton and took all the responsibility of the crime on herself when she made the confession to the coroner's jury at would not acknowledge her sig course was given here by the (declared no conclusive evidence had been offered to show that Long and uuy Long, damages; change of venue granted to Rip- nature to the signed confession Southern Musical Company, which was a decided success. ey County.

Welton was an accessory to the she made. The stubborness of Ida McMillan vs Robert McMil- the witness perturbed the equa The next' number on the program crime. Mrs. Carrie Erickson-Hofland of "O'Neill. who an, divorce; dismissed.

nimity and temper of the State's be given January 21, 1920, nition of the public health needs. The importance of this work is apparently shown by the high percentage of rejections of men between the ages of 21 and 31 in the draft on account of tuberculosis. "The Missouri Tuberculosis Association has done pioneer work in "health education. The Public Health Week movement contemplates the broadening and centralizing of all public health activites which are necessarily closely related. The work has George E.

Welch vs Ella lived with Welton for thirteen attorneys and she was. question Teresita, and when she told of ed rather sharply at times as to bright, the cord that bound him years as his common law wife on the killing during her trial in Welch, divorce; deoree for plain tiff. so closely to a kind father and a a ranch near O'Neill, and who what she knew and didn't know. Eminence last June. When Van Buren Mercantile Lo.

vs has twice confessed, that she choked Pearl Welton to death What is true as to the handling of the State's side is also true as loving mother's heart must be severed. We may not understand the inscrutable ways of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway cross-questioned about her motive she merely hung her head and replied, "I do not know." damages; dismissed. and threw her body into a cistern to the handling of the defense, Wm. H.

Hoffman vs John during a lit of jealously when In his testimony in his own be Judge W. N. Evans of West Plains, who for a quarter of a Lord, or Bee reason of His dealings with us now, yet how comforting to know that it is not of Kerr, ejectment; judgment for she visited the Welton home for a second time last January, de my hearty endorsement. plaintiff. century occupied the bench in November 30 to December 6th change, but the will of God.

Luther Norris vs Christy Belle half Welton clung steadfastly to his first story and that told by Mrs. Hofland in- her He said he was in the timber this circuit, and Attorneys S. A. nied her former confession and in her testimony at the trial tried has been designated as Health Norris, divorce; decree for plain Cunningham and S. Clark, of And that He has not only prom- Week and during that period an tiff.

to fasten suspicion on Welton intensive campaign for the con James A. Ward vs Bessie Mrs. Hofland was sentenced to Eminence, two of the most prom- ised to make all things work to-inent attorneys of this section, gether for good to them that love used every word of evidence for Him, but He has given us assur- ten years in the penitentiary by Ward, divorce; decree for plain tiff. cutting wood when the murder occurred, and vthat when he returned to the house Mrs. Hofland told him that Pearl had commit-, ted suicide by jumping into the a jury in the Shannon County the defendant to the advantage ance that hereafter we shall un trol of tuberculosis will be undertaken.

From December 1 to 10, the Red Cross Christmas seals will be sold throughout the state Benjamin F. Hanley vs Robert of their client. Their arguments derstand the reasons for which circuit court last June, and was were esDeciallv forceful, elo- He doeth all things. Lloyd is Pettis, et al, quiet title; judg brought to Van Buren from Jef ferson City under guard as a wit quent and practical. safe with Jesus.

He was con cistern with the baby. Welton's story to the jury hung together to finance the anti-tuberculosis work. I earnestly hope that verted in the faith several ness. She was taken back to the very well with one exception. A every citizen of Missouri will put In Memoriam months before his death.

He penitentiary Friday afternoon neighbor, who had been helping forth his best effort to aid in this following the completion of her To us the trees lower their was verv Paueni wrounoui nis i BtilnAoo c-rtstlrA rf Vila CauinF evidence at the trial. Until she him cut wood for several days prior to the murder, testified that boughs, and mourn the loss of a and asked others to come to appeared on the witness stand all important work, which is so far reaching that it touches every home and every individual in the nation." on day or the tragedy he flower that has been plucked Thursday night she had' stead went to the welton home to go from earth. It was with deep Do not grieve because your lov fastly shielded Welton in her ed one early found the gates of regret that the people of this stories of the murder, declaring Frederick D. Gardner, Governor. ment for plaintiff.

Ella Kennedi vs Wm. Kennedi, divorce; decree for plaintiff. R. O. Kessinger vs Walker D.

Hines, Director General of Railroads, damages; settled. Oscar L. Rogers vs Zilla Rogers, divorce; decree for plainiiff. James E. York vs May York, divorce; decree for plaintiff.

Martha Gooch vs Chas. Gooch, divorce: decree for plaintiff. Virgil Vincent vs Bessie Vincent, divorce; decree for plaintiff. Elzie Moss vs Nora Mos3, divorce; decree for plaintiff. Whitwell Moore vs J.

P. Hancock, account; judgment for with Welton to the timber, but Welton told him that he was too ill to work and that he was not gold, early left the family circle community heard the sad an un that he was cutting wood in the timber some distance from the for the blessings of the fold; he expected announcement of the death of Lloyd Terry, known to going to cut wood that day. They has filled his earthly mission, W. C. T.

U. Meeting The Wayne County W. C. T. were cutting the wood with a sealed his book and gone to rest; God has called him, "come up U.

will hold an all day institute cross-cut or double saw, which requires two men to operate, the neighbor said, and if Welton higher," do not question, He on I nday, November 7, at the knows best. Parents, brothers, Christian Church in Piedmont, the meeting to open' at 9 o'clock a. m. Free lunch in basement many here. In October, 1918, the dark-winged angel of death entered the home of Mr.

and Mrs. T. C. Terry, at Belk, and claimed their eldest son, Lloyd. He had been ill of influ-enaa after which pneumonia developed and passed away at the age of 18 years," 11 months and sisters, Lloyd is waiting, in that home not made with hands: look went to the timber at all that day he cut wood alone.

Another witness testified that an inspection of the ground surrounding plaintiff for $175.00. ing, watching for his loved ones, Nelson B. Johnson vs Thomas and free entertainment for all out-of-town guests during their stay. Men, women and children weep not, Jesus understands; the cistern failed to show that a Mullens et al, to quiet title; judg house when she killed Mrs. Welton.

The testimony she gave created quite a sensation. "I never choked Pearl Welton to death," she testified in a voice barely audible to the jury. "I never struck her with anything." Mrs. Hofland said she was deserted by Welton more than three years ago. She made a search for him and declared she located him on a farm in Shannon County, near Mountain View, where he had married Pearl Tyler, the daughter of J.

T. Tyler. She said she decided to visit Welton when she learned these facts and upon her arrival there during the month of May last year she found Welton living with his! ment for plaintiff. rom adjoining counties are in 6 days. body had been removed from the bottom of the cistern, and scout years ago these words were spoken.

"Let the children come to me," in his earthly arms He held them, looked and blessed vited to attend. The state and John Harris vs Walker D. ed the idea that the body of Mrs. Hines, Director General of Rail-; roads, damages: motion for newj trial filed and continued. Welton and the baby had ever been in the well.

them tenderly. "For of such the Heavenly Kingdom," what a solace in your sorrow, knowing He will watch and keep Lloyd until the morrow; happy family Mrs. Hofland's daughter, Miss He removed to Belk, his parents when a "small boy. Two years ago he visited relatives and friends here. He was a most exemplary young man and will be greatly missed in the home and by his large circle of friends.

Oh, why is it right to move the star that shines so Henry Marler vs Walker D. national W. C. T. U.

conventions will be held in St Louis, November 14-20. Every Missouri woman should avail herself of this opportunity of a life-time to attend the largest convention of women in the world. Minnie Lee Munchs. Hines, Director General of Rail-; Myrtle Hofland, who until her mother's arrest and confession road3, damages; motion for new trial filed and continued. i then united, all life's trials and sufferin past, no more death or separation, hdme with Jesus; home at last.

A FRIEND, i ast January did not know that Wm. Chilton vs Walker D. her mother was not FraDk Wel.