The Devine News (Devine, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 29, 1922 Page: 4 of 8
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THE DEVINE WEEKLY NEWS
PUBLISHED ON THURSDAYS
THE FUNERAL OF A CITY COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEW
THE LOCAL COURT DOCKET
W. L DUBOSE & SON
Editors and Publishers
Subscription $1.50 Per Annum
Invarialby in advance
Entered at the Post Office at
Devine, Texas, as second class
THURSDAY JUNE 29, 1922
A City that had once been live
ly, progressive and prosperous,
suffered an attack of civic anem
la and declined until it reached
that condition where it was gen
erally refered to as “a dead
one.”
It was on its way to the ceme
tery.
Hiram Hogitall, whose motto
“Get It While the Gettin’s Good"
is sufficent ■ introduction, dug
the city’ grave.
The firm of Pinhead, Pessi-
mist & Crepe Hanger embalm-
ed the remains.
• Cotton prices reached 22 cent
and better, in Devine this week,
and (her went lown several
The News doesn’t try to at-
tend to other people’s business;
but the best codes of newspaper
ethics insist that a newspaper
has a moral duty to perform for
’the community in whichit re-
ceives its support; and we some
1 times try to fulfill that duty.
The farmers have been mak-
ing hay while the sun soines,
and prospects for a cotton crop
chay e., materially brightened in.
the past ten days. If the wea-
ther remains hot and dry for
wo weeks more, we will have
a pretty .decent crop set on ,is
the belief of our best farmers.
———O----
San Antonio has voted a
$2,000,000. bond issue for school
, purposes to supplement the
a state aid. It is believed that
$ $10. will be about the apportion-
E ment of the state for next year,
■.and that means either a reduc-
i tion of teachers salaries, or a
■ shortening of the term, unless
■communities do vote special tax
Ration upon themselves.
Devine, with its common
■point rates with San Antonio,
■ which is not accorded any other
■town of our size |n this section,
■ south or west of the city, will
■ eventually make Devine an im-
■ portant shipping point. Factor
located anywhere between
■ Devine and San Antonio get the
■ benefits of these common point
grates.It has already been felt
corn shipments north; but
■ our best corn trade is from the
I south and into Mexico.
!■ . S —---n------
Wrong doers dread publicity
more than the courts; they dont
mind paying the fine for gamb-
ling, boozing, or disturbing the
peace and dignity of The State
of Texas, in any way, if only
the papers won’t publish their
names.
—----o—---
Very little interest is being
taken in any of the state offi-
cers at Devine. There seems
to be little danger of Neff not
getting there with two or three
thousand votes to spare; we
■ don’t know much, or care much
about the state offices and there
are so many good men running
for U. S. Senator, that we are
sure the best man will get in on
the run off in August—so why
should we worry.
The firm of Selfishness &
Swinesnout, who had always
been so busy feathering their
own nest that they, never had
any time for the City’s iffairs,
donated the City’s shroud.
Pinchem and Pennysqueezer,
who never believed in advertis-
ing, furnished the coffin.
Old Pompus Purseproud, who
never gave a penny to a public
enterprise, drove the hearse.
A select quartert from the Cli
que Club sang the Doxology.
The Rev. Mr. Mossbach prea-
ched the funeral sermon
Mr. Home Town Knocker fur
nished the tombstone and old
Billy Bellyacher carved the epi-
taph.
i Messrs Doolittle, Croaker Put
tyhead and Whatstheuse acted
as pall bearers.
. The only person who had no
official part in the obsequies
was Mr. Live Wire, who got off
the train by mistake and at-
tended the funeral because
there was nothing else to do be
tween trains.—Editorial in the
Corpus Christi Evening Times.
The News gets enough circu-
lar letters from Austin, Washing
ton, and various departments
together with K. K. K. and Anti
K. K., and other miscellaneous
dope to fill this paper each week
but we prefer to give local news
the right of way; we had rath-
er tell about Farmer Doodlebugs
fine pigs or Mrs. Doodlebug’s
chickens, or how Farmer Jones
is killing the weevils, than to
fill up with some fillthy dope a-
bout some run down aristocrat
up in New York, or Chicago,
trying to get a divorce because
his wife was caught out riding
with Colonel Fixum.
----o—--
The muck -raking editors
who write up peopie, with pens
dipped in vitriol, are generally
irresponsible fellows, who only
have a typewriter, or a fountain
pen, and a small office rented.
They depend upon their daily
receipts to hire their sheets
printed, and can say what they
please. No one would fool a-
way any time and money suing
them for libel, and if they only
get to jail now and then, they
make it the more sensational..
They foster prejudice, stir up
the weakminded and are prime
causes of mobs losing their head
and sometimes murdering inno-
cent people.
With no county candidates to
vote for, and the light wine and
beer question left out, there will
be little incentive for Medina
County voters to turn out, in
the primaries. July 22nd. At De
vine ,we have several candidates
for local officesand we ought to
If we had a candidate for gov
ernor from Devine, and he could
be elected by a solid vote from
Devine, we have some men here
7 who would oppose nlm. If some
man wanted to build a million
dollar factory in Devine, we
have some men here who would
oppose the enterprise.—Devine |them a boost; but we won’t even
News.
be interested in these. We have
two men for district offices, and
we ought to turn out through
town and county pride and give
Devine, Texas, June 26, 1922.
Editor Devine News:
The News for June 15th con-
tained several observations re-
lative to the business of the lo-
cal courts and the efforts of the
officers conducting the same,
and while none of these appear
unduly critical yet the comment
occasioned thereby would seem
fairly to call for the presenta-
tion of a few accurate facts. 1
thereby submit the following for
the consideration of the good
people of this past of Medina
County:
Since the writer assumed offi-
has not only been self-sustain-
ing but has turned money into
the County Treasury.
DAVID C. BROWN
County-Attorney, Medina Co.
ce a little more than two years
ago one hundred and sixty-six
criminal cases have been spread
upon the docket, of the Justice's
Court at Devine. Of this num-
ber one hundred have resulted
in convictions; twenty-seven
have been dismissed; seven have
failed in securing arrest of the
offender; fifteen remain undis-
posed of; one has been transfer-
ed for want of jurisdiction; and
sixteen have been found—not
guilty. Of this last number,
two acquittals were had upon
request of the jury by the pre-
secuting attorney for the reason
that to him the evidence did not
warrant asking for conviction.
Of at least four of the others,
at various times, some member
of the juries trying same have
told the writer that the jury had
no doubt that the defendant was
guilty but that through softness
of heart the acquittal was gran-
ted. This leaves ten cases in
which we must suppose that the
accused was acquitted for good
cause, or less than six per cent,
of the total cases filed found not
guilty for juries or the Court for
some of the acquittals were gran
ted by the Court in cases where-
in a jury had been waived.
During the same- time only
sixteen juries have been drawn
in criminal cases or less than
eight a year, or one jury on the
average of about each seven
weeks. Eight jury trials per
year, using one-half day to each
for each year. If the same six
men had been used in all of
these cases thev could not well
afford to complain at the a-
mount of tithe sacrificed to the
benefit of society through its
courts. A comparison of this
period with the /wo years Im-
mediately proceeding shows ei-
ther a decrease in crime or an
Increasing laxness on the part
of the officers fo rdurine the pre
vious period no less than two
hundred and seventeen cases
were -ported
With respect to cases against
Mexican women charged with il-
legal practice of medicine can-
dor compels me to say that none
of these wee “worsted up” by
the officers but all were reporte!
in by Medians. Further com-
ment on these cases will not be
indulge in at this time as the
evidence should amply support
the particular charges in each
case.
Is it possible? It’s strange
how far the obstructionists will
go in some towns! We under-
stand that there are towns
where thev have what they call
“knockers”. A knocker is said
to be a very smart fellow, that
he is always nosing into other
people's business and when he
hears of a progressive move be-
ing started in his town, he gets
out his little hammer and goes
to knocking. He lets up a ter-
rible wall and says “it can’t be
done ” and that they are trying
to kill the town. He finds
fault with the streets and never
does anything to help keep
them up; he finds fault with the
school and contributes nothing
to its support; he says the mer-
chants are robbing the people,
when he owes them for three
month’s supplies; he cusses the
, newspaper and is not even a
subscriber,so is not supposed to
inemanrauhms about "—Po-
do that, unless we get stirred up
some way.
■ ---0---—
The News could make the pa-
per more interesting to s.me by
publishing a hundred things we
hear and know that we do not
publish. The editors of this
paper are of different tempera-
ments. tastes and habits and
are in position to know practi-
cally everything that goes on in
town. The town is a little a-
bove the average in morals we
think, but still there are folks
here that could do a lot better
than they do and their names
are known at The News office,
too.
It is hard to tell whether Billy
Mayfield’s Weekly review of the
“Kites and the Jews.'’ or the Af-
ternoon dailies’ latest divorce
suits in Chicago, s the most in-
teresting. or disgusing: but
seems that the average reader
wants something out off the or
dinary; something sensational,
if not salacious and vuslar; and
the “Wampus Cat" are being
The case most largely com-
mented upon, that of the “bad
Mexican language", was filled
by a Mexican woman who asked
for protection of the law that
she might occupy ner premises
in peace. The officers are cog-
nizant of sufficent facts ia con-
nection with this case to have
made a very different showing,
but such facts would not have
been properly admissible under
our statutory rules of pleading
and therefore their introduction
was not tendered.
In a Justice or the Peace
Court the accused in a criminal
case is afforded a jury unless
waived by him or his attorney,
and in the absence of the waiver
it becomes the duty of the Jus-
tice to swear his Constable and
command him to bring in a pan-
el of twelve men, from which to
select the jury to try the case.
Therefore the Constable has no
option in the matter of summon
ing jurors. For that matter
neither has the Justice nor the
prosecuting attorney. Out of
abundance of fairness it could
* be added that many cases are
• “stalled off” by the officers in
the belief that complaint is be-
ing urged in a temporary fit of
anger or humiliation, but when
the complaint is repeatedly stat-
ed it cannot always be ignored,
and as certain rights are guar-
5 anteed to an agrieved individual
so it is necessary that such gri-
evances be heard in conformity
with law, neither does the law
differentiate between the rights
cant Ana tisa oilesed va-
REMARKS
The News' is glad to publish
the foregoing review of the local
court docket, from County At-
torney Brown. The News be-
ieves our local officials are con-
scientious in their work, and we
have only noticed a criticism,
regarding the possibility of their
being a little over zeal ous in
finding complaints, "166 in a lit-
tle more than two years”. Do
we understand that “Only six-
teen juries have been drawn”
and “sixteen cases nave been
found not guilty?” Does this
mean that our juries have neg-
lected to do their duty ? In the
“100 which resulted in convic-
tions”, did they all plead guilty
rather than employ counsel an.
fight their cases? Did those
“sixteen juries” who said “not
guilty” feel that their time had
been taken, in vain, however
small it may have been in time
or trouble? We have always
stood by our local officials in
the enforcement of laws but
with a thousand variations of
law, and the proneness of the
ignorant, especially of our tran-
sient Mexican population, is it
wise and are we overzealous in
these things? The fact that
under the former county attor-
ney, there were even more cases
filed, is not germane to the sub-
ject we are discussing. We are
not criticising men but policies
We shall be glad to have our
good County attorney make fur
ther explanation. It appers to
the ca sual observer that there
is a wrong some where. A full
and free discussion will help us
to arrive at the truth of the mat-
ter; either in fixing the blame
upon the juries, or upon the liti-
gants, or overzealous officials,
in taking cases that were not
meritorious.
----0—--
LAW IS ENFORCED
A New York man found a
loaded revolver on the sidewalk
after a fight, hurried after a
policeman to give it to him and
was arrested on a charge of vio-
lating the Sullivan law. He
spent the night in a cell, but was
discharged when taken before
a police court magistrate in the
morning with the warning that
if he ever found revolvers on the
sidewalk, to let them stay there.
While this man was spending
the night in jail, thousands of
thugs and crooks were roaming
about the city carrying fire arms
and endangering life and pro-
perty. His effort to protect the
public landed him in a cell. The
thugs were unmolested.—Syra-
cuse Post Standard.
A rigid enforcement of law
without regard to the intent or
purpose, will often catch an in-
nocent man, while all around
him.may be violators who are
too shrewd to get caught. It
is the youthful, mexpierenced
and the ignorant . and simple,
who are most often caught.
Over in a neighboring county,
a man was indicted by a grand
jury for letting his' neighbors
have a little alcohol, in a case
of sickness; while bootleggers
and blind stills were no doubt
running, close In violation of
both the letter and spirit of the
law; with malice aforethought
and wicked intent. Men have
sometimes taken articles of
food to save the lives of his fam-
ily, and afterwards offered to re-
turn or repay; but a rigid en-
forcement would condemn him
as a criminal.
SENIOR B. Y. P. U. PROGRAM
Handkerchiefs
The desire to buy in dozen lots will
occur to all who see our large
stock of handkerchiefs for men,
women and children.
We have some beautiful patterns in
fancy lace effects, as well as the good
serviceable plain, linens. Also many with
border embroidery and corner initials in
white and the various colors
Courtesy Is Our Watchword
and Quality Our Standard
LOGGINS & LILLY
The Camp Wood Register,
edited and publisher by R. Dol-
lahite, who also edits and pub-
lishes the Rock Springs Leader,
comes to us marked X. Bro-
ther Ripley is an Ex-Lytle man,
and we are glad to see him
spreading out in the newspaper
world. Heal ways stands four
square for correct morals and
honest principles.
The initial number of “Fletch-
er’s Farming”, a farm paper of
sixteen pages, neatly printed
and full of interesting matter,
has reached our office, and as
before stated, we wish Editor
Davis, of the Hondo Anvil Her-
ald success in his new venture.
With another paper, and a new
linotype machine, he is well pre
pared to edit a farm paper on
the side; and probably make it
the main thing in his paper line
later.
---0-—
Devotional Meeting
God’s Providence in Human
Friendship.
Scripture 1 Sam 20: 32-42
July 2,1922 ‘
Leader—Mrs. R. R. Redus ,
Scripture Reading—Clyde Ken-
nington.
Introduction— Leader.
L., The Story of the Ideal Friend
ship as Outlined in the Scrip-
ture—Eula Lilly.
II. A Providential Friendship—
Manruerite Howard:
ITT. The unselfishness of True
Friendship—Miss Louise Bled
soe.
IV.: True Friendship must prov
itself in a Practical way.—Jno
W. Howard. 7
V. Jesus the World’s best
Erlend-Myrtle Howard.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Political Advertisement) '
For Commissioner
The News is authorized to a
nounce
J. W. ROBERSON
as a candidate for reelection t
the office of County Commit
sioner of Precinct No. 4, Me
dina County, subject to the Jul
Primaries.
---—0-----
% For Representative
The News is authorized to an
nounce
GROVER C. MORRIS j
as a candidate for reelection 1
the office of Representative 9
the 77th District, subject to til
action of the Democratic Pi
maries in July.
. --------o------—
For Constable ]
The News is authorized to|
nounce:
E. J. BOWMAN
If strictly adhered to, the late as a candidate for the office;
test proposed by the Democrat- Constable of Precinct No.
ic executive committee, would subject to the Democratic P
cut out every young man, just maries in July,
becoming eligible to vote; and ---+—
most of the women, who for The News is authorized to 4
the first time will wish to vote nounce
in tre July jrimanes; but we
suppose it will not be interpret-
ted to mean that; in fact, it is
not being put on the ballots in
many places at all. It was evi
dently aimed at the bunch, who
voted in the American party last
year and are now clamoring to
get back into the Democratic
primaries. They will vote, re-
gardless of the pledge, and then
in the November election will
he found voting the Republic
ticket many of them.
J. H. HESTER ]
for office of Constable, sub,
to the action of the Democra
Primaries.
We are authorized to announ
J. R. STROUD -
as a candidate for reelection
the office of Constable, PrecN
5 subject to the July Priman
---------o-----
The rest of the summer Palm
Beach suits will be pressed for
50 cents.
Bring it to Snookums
— ---
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
I Hereby announce as a d
didate for the office of Just
of the Peace, Precinct
Medina County Texas. Sub
to the action of the Democn
primaries.
E. A. Reasons
-.....--O--------I
We are authorized to anno
p. 8. ROBERSON i
as a candidate for reelectio
Peace Precinct No. 5. sul
to the action of the Democ
Which is your favorite maga-
zine? We’ll save yours weekly,
or monthly for you.
Lion Drug Store, primaries in July.
TIOL 01
TEELS GARAGE
[0 L
Emerson New Standard Mow-
ers and Rakes— Lawn Mowers.
Bell
of r
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W. L. DuBose & Son. The Devine News (Devine, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 29, 1922, newspaper, June 29, 1922; Devine, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1660674/m1/4/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Library and Archives Commission.