The Atmore Advance from Atmore, Alabama • 1

YOUR HOME. I NEWSPAPER i MOST WIDELY READ WEEKLY NEWSPA State Dept. ei Archive! tid IT! .1. IN SOUTH ALAB Devoted To The Interest And Upbuilding Of Atrftore The Trading Center Of Southwest Alabama VOLUME XXVI NUMBER 14 ATMORE, ALABAMA THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 1950 SINGLE COPY 6c Cunningham Woman Found Guilty; Gets Life For Husband's Death Injured Will Be Here Thursday Bobby Davis Passes Blue Devils To Victory Over Foley Lions; 26-0 1 A "Every Light A Chunks 'Em Mis.

Bessie Lee Cunningham, Little Rock community farm wife, Thursday was found guilty of the murder of Arthur Cunningham; her fourth husband, by a jury in Escambia County Circuit Court In Lrewton. The jury deliberated about two hours before reaching a The case went to the jury at 2:40 P. M. Penalty was set by the jury at life irhprosin-ment. "The indictment against.

Mrs. Cunningham for the murder of her third husband, Willie Eugene (iJuddy) Cunningham, was continued by Judge F. W. Hare. The trial had lasted for three days, beginning Tuesday morning with the selection of a jury of kmJ i ni.i.i.inl 11 1 iilf nimmi By SAM FCRD The Atmore footb squad, making a successful 'or a higher berth in state grid ion ratings, bowled over Foley '26-0 Friday night to run their season's victory string to 7 straight.

The Blue Devils, who ranked 5th in the state last week, have moved into a fourth place tie with the upstate Tuscaloosa eleven, and are topped only by Phillips of Birmingham, Etowah County, and Sidney Lanier of Montgomery. Lanier was tied last week by an uncelebrated Woodlawn team from Birmingham, but this failed to oust the Poets from the top three. The Tuscaloosa club has 5 victories and one defeat. Tuscaloosa, Lanier, and Phillips are three of the largest schools in the state, and the smaller local team and their coach Gordon "Bill" Golson, should be handed a terrific pat on the back for their sensational brand of football that has won them statewide acclaim. In racking up win number seven, the undefeated Blue and White team met the once beat Foley Lions on their home field, and ihowed the Foley fans and a large number of Atmore followers a neat air attack, as well as their usual bruising ground barrage.

The Blue Devils chose the air route for 19 of their night's total of 26 points. This unleasing of air power featured the right arm of 130 pound tailback, Bobby Davis, and the receiving and running of "Choo-Choo" Charlie Madison and Sam Jack Cassity. Davis, who was finding the mark all evening via the ether pitched 3 touchdown heaves to establish himself as a part of a potent scoring punch featuring himself and Madison. Davis to Madison throws, netted the locals their first two T.D.s. and a Davis to Cassity toss scored the third.

It was another complete one to Cassity that notched the second successful extra point try in the 3rd period. After a couple of Atmore back-field in motion penalties at the start of the contest, the Lions of Foley got a glimpse of the usually early Atmore scoring punch. On what wa tually the second play of the i. ie, Davis uncocked a heave frt-iti his own 45 to Madison, who gobbled it up on the Foley 30, shook off a few would-be tacklers, and scampered into the end zone standing up. The second quarter was barely underway when Davis, the lightest man on either team, hit the All- Elaborate Plans Made To Entertain Alabama Maid Of Cotton Thursday Agricultural and civic leaders Prayer For Peace Xmas Light Theme Plans'for a city-wide.

Christmas lighting program got underway here this week with two local civic groups announcing plans for lighting the streets ana decorating the homes. Mrs. H. Smith, president of the Atmore Garden Club, stated the garden club would participate in the state-wide program of the Garden Clubs of Alabama, emphasizing the slogan "Every Light a Prayer for A special state-wide broadcast will start the program, and cities throughout Alabama will turn on their holiday Christmas lignts at the same The Chamber of Commerce win continue to erect the street lighting decorations, and the Garden Club is contacting every merchant in an effort to get a special Christmas tree, about eight feet tall ani lighted, in front of each store. The Garden Club will also sponsor a home decoration contest with' prizes given to the best decorations in specified classes.

Mrs. Smith said definite plans and the classes would be announced later. Bureau Speaker JOHN C. LYNN The Farm Bureau meeting at the Flomaton School. Tuesday night, November 7th, will hear John C.

Lynn of- the American Farm Bureau Federation, who will talk on "Farm- Organization Work." General Election To Be Held Tuesday Tuesday, November" 7, will be General Election day in Alabama Below is a list of the candidates and parties they represent: United States Senator, Lister Hill, Democratic Party, John G. Crommelin, Independent Party; Governor. Gordon Persons, Democratic, "John S. Crowder, Republican; Lieutenant-Governor, Jdmes B. Allen, Democratic, R.

G. Hawkins, Republican; Attorney Si Garrett; Secretary of 3tato, Mrs. Agnes Baggett, Democratic, Mrs. Percy M. Pitts, Republican; State Auditor, John Bran-Ion, Democratic, diaries H.

Hem-bree, Republican; State Treasurer, Sibyl Pool; Superintendent of Education, W. J. (Bill) Terry; Commissioner of Agriculture and' Industries, Frank M. Stewart, Democratic, James H. Jones, Republican; Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Place No." Joel B.

Brown; Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Place No. 2, Davis F. Stakely; Associate Member of Public Service Place No.l, Jimmy Hitchcock; Associate Member of Public Service Place No. 2, C. C.

(Jack) Owen, i Congress, George M. Grant; Circuit Solicitor, A. H. Elliot; State Senator, J. H.

Faulkner; House of Representatives, Leslie B. McCoy; Sheriff, J. Luther Coroner, W. O. Henderson; Members bl County Board of Education, Oris E.

Davis, Thomas E. MciSllian; Board of Revenue, District 1, M. J. Cook; District 8, C. Fore; Constable, W.

H. Wolfe. Besides the above offices to be voted for there are several pro posed amendments to be voted on. Governor-Designate Gordon Per sons this week urged every quali fied voter of the state to go to the polls next Tuesday and vote. Voting places in Atmore will be in the City Hall and the American a Albert Elyan Amerton, seaman, U.

S. Navy, was Injured In action In. the Korean area October 12. Seaman Amerton was a 'crew member of the mine sweeper, Pledge, 'which struck a mine and tank off the east coast-of Korea. 24 enlisted men were injured when the ship Albert is the son of Mr.

and' Mrs. Horace Edison Amerton, Rt 1, Atmoce. Third AlaFlora Fair Said "Best Ever" By Fair Chairman Everything but the weather was "the best ever" -according tdthe annual summary of the AlaFlora Agricultural Fair released this week by W. O. Harper, chairman of the annual event sponsored by the Atmore Chamber of Commerce.

The Fair, the third annual such event, embraces residents of five counties, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe in Alabama, and Escambia' and Santa Rosa in Florida. Harper stated in his summary the 1950 edition of the Fair was the best thus far "from a standpoint number of exhibitors in the Individual classes, the educa tional, exhibits sponsored byvajr oar government-and private firmsv and in the quality of the livestock shown." He quoted the judges of the beef cattle and hog divisions of the fair in comparing the quality of the animals to any yet shown In Alabama and remarked that At-Tiore was in the ideal spot for a Mg livestock show for Southw! Alabama and Northwest Florida. Winners in the individual women's classes and the men's classes took home $980 of the $1200 offered and the winners "were from every county in' the Fair, the first ime since the fair beginning in 1348," Harper stated. The educational exhibits were the "finest ever seen In South Alabama and included such standouts as the Production and Marketing Administration exhibit, Alabama and Florida forestry and wikL'tfe exhibits, artificial breeding, cotton uses and production, corn yields, and soy bean uses," he concluded. Clean-up Campaign Sponsored In Canoe A clean-up campaign, whicbr is a community affair, is being spon sored by three Canoe organiza tions, the Canoe Study Club, Home Demonstration Club, and the This campaign is to be the week of November During this time everyone is asked to thoroughly clean up around -their own premises.

1 Wednesday, Nov. 8, will be "get together" day for everyone in Canoe. The meeting place will be at the old gin site and everyone is asked to bring lunches. The purpose- of this "get together" is to clean up all vacant lots and sites in the town. Lunch on that day will be spread at the Canoe school, the will sell drinks.

Accordirig to a statement by Mrs. William Farrar, the cleanup campaign has long range plans. They, the different Canoe organizations, have tentative plans to make a Canoe vacant lot into a recreation park. Signs will be erected to guide the public to a garbage dump so as to keep people from dumping trash -on the road side. town-wide effort is being? made to make this campaign a success, posters have been put In all stores, and news letters have been sent to all Canoe citizens.

All residents are asked to bring tools to work with on "get together" day. A direct' appeal Is made for eevryone to participate In this campaign. 12 men from a list of 68. This completed by Tuesday afternoaa, the prosecution, under the direction of A. H.

Elliott, circuit solicitor, placed on the witness stand six witnesses Tuesday in an effort to prove that the farm. wife had poisoned her two husbands, Willi Eugene "Buddy" Cunningham and Arthur Cunningham. The former died on May 11, 1949, and the lat-I or on August 28, 1950. J5he had married Arthur three months af' ter the death of Willie Eugene. Highlighting the testimony was that of Dr.

Nelson E. Grubbs, associate state tpxicologist, who testified that he had made examinations on the bodies of the two brothers. He stated that he found enough arsenic in their bodies in quantities more than sufficient to cause death. Other witness testified they found paris green) lead arsenate, Hot Foot roach killer and a lice powder in the smokehouse on the farm home of the Cunninghams In the Little Rock community. 4 Bessie Lee was placed oti the' witness stand' at three o'clock Wednesday and emphatically denied having anything to do with tHe poisoning of either-yaila Eugene- or Arthur Cunningham, he third and husbands.

Defense Attorney Hubert Hall of Bay Minette, had previously entered a motion for. a mistrial -on the grounds of illegal evidence relating to the death of Willie Eugene Cunningham. Judge Hare overruled his motion. Mrs. Cunningham, when asked by Solicitor Elliott if she had not insured her third husband, Willie Eugene Cunningham, for $2250, and kept giving him poison until lie died, answered with an emphatic "No:" When confronted with an insurance check for $1,250 which she had deposited in a Flo-maton bank, she could not remember the amount, further testifying that she thought -the check was for $750, not noticing the check, as to the amount.

She also stated she did not, notice the deposit slip given her by the bank when she deposited the check. Mrs. Cunningham was on the witness stand approximately two hours. She was the last witness placed on the stand by the defense. Rotary Club To Sponsor Cub Pack Of Boy Scout The Atmore Rotary Club held its monthly business meeting last Tuesday approving a resolution to sponsor a Cub Pack of Boy Scouts under the direction its Youtt Committee.

The need was em-, phasized for Den Mothers and Den Dads, as this was the weakness of previous Cub Packs, inasmuch -as the leaders did not get the co-operation of the parents. The Cub Pack movement is a home-centered, activity for boys, and unless parents work with their boys between meetings, the organization cannot reach its proper goal, of progress. A committee consisting of Rotar-ians Les McCoy, J. H. Sherrill, Minor Gorman and Garland Butler was appointed to confer with Dr.

Reid concerning the revival of hearing tests for children of the sixth grade of Public Schools all over the County. It was announced that Governor Mullins would visit Atmore on November 28th to make his annual visitation. John H. Sherrill, Jr. announced that a committee of representative Scouters met with the Com mittee of the Community Chest, and that It was decided that the Boy Scout Organization put on its own drive for funds to support the Scout at a later BOBBY DAVIS JUST PLAIN TALK By J.

E. EVERETTE, JR. Atmore had the AlaFlora Fair Brewton had the murder trial. The question is, which one attracted the most people with the least expense involved? My opinion is that Brewton got the best end of the deal. It was reported here that spec5 tators by the hundreds flocked to Brewton Tuesday, the openin day of the trial.

Although rainy weather kept many people away from Atmore's fair, I don't believe a Florida hurricane could have kept some people away from this particular trial in -Brewton. Someone tqld me a local doctor stated he saw, one of his supposedly critically iUpatients in courtroom Taudience, and from all accounts the trial was doing her more good than; his The best deal for Atmore would be to have the court house moved here and have the AlaFlora Fair Had there been red reflectors on the corner of Horner Street and Pinsacola Avenue last Friday night a very serious accident could have been avoided. Pensacola Avenue is off-set at this point, and anyone not familiar with our city, or if the weather happens to be bad as it was last Friday night, it is practically impossible to see this offset at this point. It would be nice for the City to put some form of reflectors on this corner. I believe it would help avoid future accidents.

Bobby Davis probably played one of his best games of football last Friday night in Foley. His passing was perfect in every respect as he was hitting his receivers with every throw. I stand to be corrected on this, but I don't believe Bobby has been taken out of a game this, year. Just a reminder to our past and remaining opponents This little Sammy Baugh-Harry Gilmer combination weighs only 130 The Atmore Blue Devils are now holding down fourth place in the entire State. I'm not selfish, but in my way of thinking I believe they should be further up the list.

I base my statement on competition played, comparative scores, and games won. Commerce Heads To Hold Meeting The regular monthly meeting of the officers and members of the Board of Directors of the Atmore Chamber of Commerce will be held Monday at noon at the Hotel Burton. Principal items for discussion will be the 1950 AlaFlora Fair report and the continuation of the agricultural event, the appointment of committees to nominate officers for the year 1951, and other items relating to present and future industrial prospects. The meeting will begin prqmpt-ly at 12:00 and will last one hour. Claude D.

Kelley, president, will Notice Judge Peavy will be in Atmore November 7-8, at the City Hall, to sell automobile licenses. Atmore Resident Dies Wednesday Clifford Rutledge Rankin, 67, died early Wednesday morning, at. bis home following a long borttaha reared in Brewton, Ala. He came to Atmore in 1922, and was connected with Ford Motor Co. for many years.

He was a member of the Baptist Church, Deceased will, be remembered for his prowess i irr, golf, having been the winner in many Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at three o'clock from the home with Barton-Service in charge of arrangements. Interment was held in. Oak Hill Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Lena Lee Rankin; two brothers, H. C.

Rankin of Brewton and Gordan Rankin of West Palm Beach, one daughter, Mrs. W. F. McDowell and one grand-daughter, Laura Anne Waseman of Pensa-pola; one sister, Mrs. C.

B. Sawyer of Anniston and a number of nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers, Jim Bray, Bernard Trimmer, Floyd McDowell, Richard Hodson, Johnnie Vickery, and J. A. Lee.

Honorary pallbearers, Robert Cruitt, Dr. J. O. Lisenby, H. H.

Dees, Charlie Sowell, S. L. Rollins, Charley Kilpatrick, George Bowab, T. M. Faris, R.

E. Hodnette, W. R. Maxwell, Guy Sharpless, E. F.

Goldsmith. Dr. W. R. Holley, and H.

C. Williams. Midget Blue Devils Play Friday Night The much improved Atmore Midget Blue Devils will take on Bratt Junior High, -Friday night, November 3, at 7:30 o'clock. In their last engagement came out. on top by a score of 7 to 0.

The local boys are expected to give a. better showing of themselves in this game "as. they have had game 'experience and more practice. Since the "big" Blue. Devils have an open date this Friday night a large crowd is expected to be in the Municipal stadium to see this gridiron battle.

Come out and see the future Blue Devils play! Blue Devils Move To Fourth Place The JMmore Blue Devils moved up one place in this weeks polls of sportswriters. The Blue Devils have gone seven straight games without a loss, and scoring 192 points against their opponents with only 39 points being scored against them. The Devils will have an open date this Friday night' began readying, Atmore for welcoming Alabama's Maid of Cotton, Miss Ann Adams when she arrives here next Thursday mornings for her only visit to Southwest Ala bama. F. A.

ReWj County Agent, stated the Tuscaloosa, beauty would ap pear in only Atmore and Montgomery in' South Alabama and a royal reception was being planned. Miss Adams and her offieial party will make the trip in two airplanes. Others in the party in addition to the Maid and her mother, Mrs. 'William F. Adams, will, include Levice Ellis," Extension Clothing Specialist, A.P.I.

Jack House, State Editor, Birming ham News; Miles Denham, State Editor, Birmingham Post-Herald; Frederick Heidelberg and R. D. Jones, National Cotton Council representatives, and Andrew W. Smith, Public Relations Director, Alabama State Fair. Scheduled to arrive by plane at 10:45 a.

m. she will be met by various City officials and members of the Chamber of Commerce, and be carried through town led by the Escambia County High School band in uniform. After an appearance at the high school, she will be entertained at a luncheon of local cotton ginners, city officials and officers of the Chamber of Commerce. The 21-year-old beauty was crowned Alabama Maid of Cotton during the annual State Fair in Birmingham competing with county Maid of Cotton entrants from every County in Alabama. She will compete in Memphis for the title National Maid of Cotton with other state winners after the first of the year.

Schools To Observe Education Week The week of November 5-11 will mark the thirtieth observance of American Education Week. The general theme of American Education topics is "Government of, by, and for the people." Daily topics bringing out the glory of education in America and exemplifying democracy at work will be brought to 'American parents by means of the press, radio, store window displays anj visitation. Both Atmore schools are cooperating with the county program. On Thursday, November 9, pupils of the high school will be presented over WATM in a playlet, "Lift a Mountain," a story of Horace Mann in early American schools. On" Friday pupils of Atmore Elementary Schcool will have charge of the program over WATM.

Parents are urged to know their schools and the teachers of their children. Visit your schools during American Education Week. Meet the teachers. Form a cooperative team for the good of your child. State Candidate again on the Foley 40, that Madison took over for the score.

This play covered 65 yards. Before the half ended, the Blue Devils returned to the round, and put on a sustained dr' from their own 35 to Foley pa to show everyone their attack was just as poison as ever. Charlie Madison and Jack Cassity sparked this 65 yard treck down field. However, it was another Bobby Davis aerial that provided the six points. Davis laid one in Cassity's arms in the end zone to wind up the half's scoring festivities.

After the intermission, the Atmore eleven added another counter in the third stanza after a Madison sparked drive from midfield, with Cassity doing the scoring honors from the Foley six. The Lions made it a battle all the way when they came to life offensively in spurts throughout the evening, but their deepest penetrations of Blue Devil soil came in the final quarter. They reached the Atmore 11 and 5 yard lines, but each time the tough Atmore line held, and Foley was shut-out. Billy (Continued on Back Page) Bratt Pioneer Buried Monday Funeral services for Hanks, 81, were held at Bratt Monday at 11 a. with the Rev.

Coleman, Perdido, officiating. Burial was in the Bratt Cemetery with Barton-Service directing. Mr. Hanks, a pioneer resident of the Bratt community, died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Ashcraft, Route 1, Atmore.

A native of Alabama, he moved to the Florida rural com- -munity in 1905. Survivors include eight sons, C. and R. both of Route 1, Atmore; T. and W.

both of Pensacola; Shep and the Rev. Lee Hanks of Birmingham; Henry, Mobile: Albert, Alabama; two daughters, Ashcraft and Mrs. Walter Amerson, both of Route 1, Atmore; 59 grand-children and 72 great-grand-children. Legion building, date..