Henryetta Daily Free-Lance – 1922 (George Riley Hall, Editor & Publisher)

March 15, 1922

CHRISTOPHER RETURNS AS JUDGE SUPERIOR

Conferring with Attorneys this Afternoon – This Division of the Court Has Been Kept Alive – Jury May Be Called Monday

Judge H.M. Christopher arrived here this forenoon about 11:00 o’clock from Okmulgee, where he returned to his home last Sunday, after an absence of more than a month, following the sensational discharge of a grand jury in his court.

On his arrival here today he went at once to the office of the clerk of the superior court, in the city hall.

No demonstration marked his coming, either hostile or out of the ordinary in the greeting extended him. A few lawyers dropped into the clerk’s office during the hour before noon and shook hands with him, one or two remaining for a chat.

He did not open court this forenoon, nor was any business presented to him by the attorneys. Just before the noon hour he said he would be here this afternoon and would confer with the attorneys and see what was the outlook. He added that they would then arrange for proceedings as the business of the court demanded. He said a jury would probably be called to appear next Monday and take up the docket where he left off, but this, he said, would be determined after consulting with the attorneys as most of them engaged in pending cases resided in Henryetta and there would be no trouble in getting them together to talk it over.

The February term of the superior court for the Henryetta division was duly opened by Judge Christopher on February 6th. After hearing court cases and a number of motions and demurrers, a recess was taken to Monday, February 13, when a jury was to have appeared. The veniremen did appear on that day, all but two or three, but on the day preceding the deputy clerk, Hugh J. Connor had received a telegram from Judge Christopher, sent from Coyle, advising him to set the docket forward a week and to adjourn the court from day to day. The clerk told the jurors to go home and wait until they were advised of the time for them to return.

The court was opened and adjourned, first by Deputy Sheriff Frank Jones, for a day or two and since that time, W.W. Melton, who is bailiff of the superior court and also a deputy sheriff, has been performing that duty, not missing a day and the term of the court has been in no way interfered with by the absence of the judge other than causing a delay in the disposal of the cases before the court. The term did not “die,” but is alive and ready for business and Judge Christopher said he would go right along with the term until it is necessary for him to open court in Okmulgee, March 28, for which date a special term of the Okmulgee division of the court has been called.

At no time was there excitement in Henryetta over the occurrences in Okmulgee, most of the interest there being manifested by depositors in the failed Bank of Commerce, a bank in which Henryetta people had no interest.

During all the time Judge Christopher was away and his whereabouts unknown, indifference might be used to describe the attitude of the Henryetta people, as it does today. Outside of the attorneys and parties having cases pending in the court, there has been but little heard of what was supposed to be going on in Okmulgee.

MORGAN TONIGHT

Hoot Gibson, the hard riding young Universal star, is scheduled to spur across the screen of the Morgan Theatre tonight and keep moving until “Action,” his new and smashingly dramatic western story reaches its whirlwind finish.

“Action” could not have been a better story if it had been built to Hoot Gibson’s measure.

Clara Horton, the exceptionally appealing little emotional actress plays opposite the star while the remainder of the cast will give theatregoers an opportunity to watch the best work, of popular players.

“Action” is his first five reel starring vehicle and a production which immediately gave him a permanent place in the foremost rank of western starts.

Also Episode No. 1 of the great historical serial, “Winners of the West,” and Billy House and his whirlwind company in vaudeville. This is the last night of vaudeville this week.

THE EDISON RECITAL

A large and enthusiastic crowd Dann Trio last evening at the high school auditorium. This was a joint recital by the above artists and a New Edison machine.

Reserved seats had been exhausted for some time before the hour of opening, and it required a little additional time for all to get comfortably seated. But slightly after 8:30 Mr. Hindermyer appeared on the stage and explained how the Henryetta Furniture Company was giving this concert, and went briefly into the efforts of Thomas A. Edison to perfect an instrument that would not only copy a sound, but would recreate music.

Finishing his speech, he stated that the two Edison machines standing on the stage were borrowed for the occasion. One belongs to Mr. George Peters, who has used it in the Olympia Confectionary for the past five years.

The other belongs to Mrs. O.W. Meacham, who has used it in her home for the past eight years. Thus it was that the instruments were not in any sense special for the occasion, nor were they better or even different in the slightest particular form the average Edison.

Then this noted tenor put on a record of his production, “Home At Last.” He sang in unison with the machine, but would suddenly cease and let the machine go on. Thus it was extremely difficult to tell when he sang and when he did not, save by the movement of his lips. He rendered three solos in this manner, singing part of the time and remaining silent in part. The demonstration was heartily cheered.

He then introduced Miss Rosylind Davis with her violin, and she played in unison with her own record, refraining from touching the strings at times. Her work was wonderfully good, equally so on the machine or on the actual violin. No artist has ever rendered more pleasing violin music on a Henryetta stage than did this young lady. She was cheered and encored.

Then Miss Felice Dann rendered “The Lost Chord,” on an E flat cornet and played as the others had done – part of the time only. This difficult composition was rendered in a most pleasing manner both by the living artist and by the Edison, people finding it difficult to determine when she played, and when the Edison recreated her music.

Mr. Hindermyer then rendered three solos in like manner. During the performance of one of them the lights were switched off, and the audience was left to listen to the man and machine. At the conclusion of the number the lights were turned on, and the audience was surprised to find the man gone, and machine rendering the music alone.

The last three numbers were perhaps the most enjoyable f the entire recital. Pieces were selected by all of the artists. The most gorgeous if we may be permitted that term in this connection, was the March Militaire, by Schumann. This was wonderfully done.

The entire recital was the work of the local people, the Henryetta Furniture Company. They put it all on and the people expressed much appreciation. The editor enjoyed the music very much, and is ready to testify that the New Edison is a wonderful agency in the re-creation of the human voice as well as instrumental music.

DIVORCE CASE FILED

Ethel Bodry has filed suit in the superior court against her husband, Jesse Bodry, for divorce. She alleges in her petition that they were married during the year 1910 and have four children, aged 11, 9, 4 and 2 years, respectively. She further alleges that on October 15, 1919, the defendant was convicted of a felony, in the superior court of Okmulgee County and sentenced to serve three years in state penitentiary. She asks for a decree of divorce and the care and custody of the children.

March 16, 1922

JURY CALLED IN SUPERIOR COURT

Before leaving the city yesterday afternoon Judge Christopher made an order for the calling of a jury to appear in the superior court Wednesday, March 22. The same veniremen called for the jury March 13 will be summoned again.

Judge Christopher will not be back to Henryetta before the beginning of the jury trials unless the attorneys notify him they have matters coming up for disposal. Then, in that case, he may be here Saturday and Tuesday.

GOOD SHOWING IN PRODUCTION FOR K. K. K.

Ben C. Eastin, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, has been so busy reporting new oil wells in the Henryetta field that he has the drilling “lingo” rather mixed up in his last bulletin on the coming Oklahoma State Coal Exposition and King Koal Karnival and this what he produces:

“After Chairman Vic Kingsbury assembled his crew for the 1922 development, and each department had made a location, Creegan got his rig on the ground and begun active drilling southeast by southwest by northwest by northeast and struck pay sand at the first turn of his drill. So far he reports more different producing sands than all other drilling in the entire district, and not a dry hole, although he found some water which was pumped out, giving him a good producer. Carl O’Hornett has already begun making locations on his contracts and the drillers in his part of the field will have their rigs on the ground by April 1st.

Dick Pullen has also spudded in and says the indications are for several big natural gushers in his district.

Charley Shockley who has charge of the night assignment. Jim Hinton has closed operations, says with a corrected location he expects to run all pipe lines to their capacity.

Fellows and Eastin are keeping well up on the log and are spreading the publicity of this Henryetta pet-coaleum production to the world, while Thaxton, Matthews, Bullock and Sanson, new geologists in the field, are drilling industriously on their assignment to the end that King Koal Karnival will be a world beater in 1922.”

MODERN HOTEL IN HENRYETTA ASSURED

Developments at the Forum Luncheon today make it certain that Henryetta shall have a modern hotel, and that in short order.

President Earl Morgan stated that certain plans had been discussed for the enlistment of Barclay Morgan in the hotel proposition, and asked Mr. Morgan to make a statement. This brought a ready response from the veteran builder, and Barclay Morgan outlined briefly how he would undertake the work of building the much needed hotel. We will not go into details, but merely say that at the conclusion of the speech everybody cheered.

This means a hotel of a hundred and ten rooms, with elevator, big lobby and all that is implied in the term modern hotel. Amongst other good features of the situation is that Mr. Morgan can build it quicker than anybody. He has the ground already, and everybody knows his splendid ability in the way of building. He has done little else for years, and can accomplish more in a given time than anyone else.

We merely surmise that the building would be located in a certain piece of ground which we known Mr. Morgan owns, and the location would be ideal.

TWO FIRMS MOVED

The Conklin Music Company and Mac, The Tailor, have vacated the Evans building on Main, in order to turn it over to the owner who has leased it to some new mercantile firm.

Mr. Conklin was forced to store his stock because the new building which he has secured for his store cannot possibly be finished before April 1. At that time the music store will be located in the new Blaine building between Second and Third on Main.

Mr. McIntosh has moved his tailoring establishment into a room on North Fifth in the Burnett-Moore building, formerly the Hawes building.

Thus shall three blades of grass grow in the commercial garden where only two grew before.

PINKSTON SELLS OUT

Attorney C.J. Pinkston has sold his interest in the real estate and insurance business hitherto conducted under the name of Campbell & Pinkston.

Mr. Pinkston desires to devote himself entirely to the practice of law here, and not let any other business occupy any part of his time and attention.

This is a very wise notion, for the young man is well qualified for that profession. Nor is he entirely a novice at the bar nor yet a “briefless barrister.” He has been in law here for several years, being formerly associated with Barclay Morgan in the practice of law.

Now, however, he will go it alone, and as soon as he can procure office room, will hang out his shingle.

The new member of the real estate and insurance firm may be announced now, or not until April 1. Just now we shall not make the announcement.

Free-Lance desires to say in the matter of young Pinkston, that he is not only well qualified as an attorney, but is a fine, up-standing young man who will be found trustworthy as well as capable.