Hartley County News Articles


Channing Courier

June 26, 1909

A Ghastly Find

J. E. Wofford, of Oldham county, was in Channing Tuesday evening and reported the finding of a man's skeleton near his home, about five miles west of Tascosa. District Attorney J.C. O'Bryan communicated by phone with the officers of Oldham county and arranged for a meeting to take place the following day, Wednesday, at the place where the skeleton was found. W.C. Collings, of the Collins- Messner Realty Co., kindly offered his services and his automobile, and conveyed District Attorney O'Bryan and Sheriff Martin to the appointed meeting place. An inquest was held by Squire Wilson, of Tascosa, who was accompanied by Deputy Sheriff McGee. The verdict was that deceased's death was due to causes unknown.

From all appearances the man had been dead for months. Nothing was there but a skeleton dressed in winter clothing. The head had become detached and had rolled some distance down a gentle slope from the other bones. On the spot where found, the skeleton was placed in the ground. No prayers were said, no songs were sung. His requiem from the time he breathed his last till all that remained of him had been consigned to mother earth, was the murmur of the winds, the songs of the birds, the lowing of the cattle, and perhaps the howling of wolves.

Judged by the clothes he wore, which were of the substantial kind, and his shoes, which were of the heavy and made to wear make, it is safe to say that the dead man's occupation had been that of a common laborer. It is also safe to assume that he had either been working on a section or with an extra gang or in a gravel pit a short time previous to his death.

The only clue that offers the remotest possibility of identification is a name upon the hatband and likewise one under the clothesmaker's name in the left hand inside pocket of the coat, both of which are too dim to be read with the naked eye. A microscope is to be used, and it is hoped that this will make the name sufficiently clear as to be read and by this means tell who the dead man was.

The bleached appearance of the head attracted Mr. Wofford's attention, which lay near a trail on which he was riding. He immediately investigated and in a short time found the skeleton.

Every Dog Has His Day

The dog poisoner has been getting in his work. Several canines that were enjoying life, liberty and the pursuit of grub in Channing this week are probably chasing antelope or some other toothsome food in the redman's happy hunting grounds. They were given the deadly dope, which accounts for their demise. In all towns in this section there are all sorts of dogs, the good, the bad and the worse than that; dogs that are not worth the price of the meat which was given to effect the end desired, and also dogs that to their owners are worth more than several hundred pounds of beef, financially speaking, and of a value inestimable in dollars and cents for their fidelite to their masters and the keen enjoyment they furnish while hunting behind owner in the field. Such a dog as the last named, the property of J.C. Thompson, county clerk, was among those poisoned. We cannot believe, neither does Mr. Thompson, that the poison was specially given in this instance, but that the poisoner scattered the stuff promiscuously here and there and the dog running up against it met

Woman's Home Mission Society

The devotional meeting of the Woman's Home Mission society was held at the home of Mrs. J.T. Bouldin, Wednesday, at 3:30 p.m. There were nine members present and two visitors. One new member was added to our number. The dear Master, our blessed Lord, was surely with us in our meeting as was shown in the circle prayer in which all took part, visitors as well as members joining in, and well might we feel that the house was a consecrated place. Ssister , let us climb high and yet higher in the Master's work.

The Home Mission Sewing society will meet with Mrs. S. M. Dowlen next Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Those who belong are kindly requested to be present.

Work for the night is coming when man's work is done.

Let us begin by replying to Cain's question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Yes, we are our brother's keeper and our sister's keeper.

The holy words, "be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves," should be considered at all times.

How many wounds we inflict by a harsh use of the tongue. We utter thoughtless words, forgetting them in a moment, but they often leave a pang in some heart for days, perhaps for years, to come.

"Speak kindly, let no word of ours

Distress another heart;

'Tis easier far to make the wound

Than to withdraw the dart."

Children's day a few Sabbaths ago one of the little speakers recited beautifully a little poem beginning like this, "Shall we take and take and never give?" We cannot remember all the words, but the memory of the sweet little maiden's recitation started a train of thought in our heart and we felt that when God has given us so much, and we take and take, surely we may help an unfortunate sister or brother along life's rugged pathway and it may come to pass that we shall hear these blessed words from the Master, "As ye have done it unto the least of these ye have done it unto me."

Mrs. J.T. Bouldin

Press Correspondent


submitted by Robert McLain

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