Mr. Bill Harrison and Mr. Jeff Sayers traded horses this week, and it is thought that neither one got cheated, but Bill Harrison got a cow to "boot", and that night she laid down in a sink hole and the milk ran out and drowned her.

February 28, 1924 -- 

PISTOL DUEL IN VALLEY SUNDAY -- Joe Smith and Isaac Hill Engaged in Shooting Affray Over Old Grudge With Fatal Results.  Last Sunday afternoon a drama was enacted in Thompson Valley that might have been taken from one of the scenes of the wild west that are produced on the screen today, with the exception that the participants in the Valley were shooting to kill instead of realistic photo effect.  Joe Smith, a teamster at Adams and Thompson Lumber Company, and Isaac Hill, employed by that same company met and settled forever an old grudge that had existed between them - Smith died in the attempt and Hill lies at his home with his body shot to pieces by bullets from Smith's revolver.  The two men staged the gun battle behind an old stable near Hill's home, and according to the best information obtainable, they emptied their pistols at each other and then clinched and fought open handed until Smith dropped dead.  An old colored man nearby stated that he could only see the flash of the pistols, but that after the first shot was fired there was a continuous roar of pistol shots.  After the smoke had cleared Smith was found dead in his own blood, with a bullet wound through his head and one through his heart - Hill was severely wounded in the neck and one hand and a hole in his stomach.  The guard of the pistol which he used with such deadly effect was shot off.  Hill was taken to his home nearby, and suffered Sunday night and nearly all day Monday before a doctor could be gotten.  The body of Smith was left where he fell until Monday noon when C. T. Patton and Sergeant Thompson went to the scene of the shooting and held an inquest.  The snow had partially covered his body.  The people of the neighborhood had refused to cover his body or even touch it until the officers arrived.  A coroner's jury composed of Marion Young, H. C. Harrison, Harvey Kitts, Guy Merritt and W. E. Thompson, foreman, was sworn in and the usual verdict was made, stating that the deceased had come to his death by a gun shot wound, etc.  Hill was required to give bond of $500 for appearance at the next term of the Tazewell Circuit Court.

December 26, 1924 --

Mrs. Carter is recovering slowly from injuries sustained recently when she was the victim of a severe fall at the home of her son, Z.V. Carter.  She is being nursed by Miss Helen McGuire, formerly of the Mattie Williams staff.