1917 Extracts from Barry County, MO, Newspapers
An interlibrary loan of microfilm from the State Historical Society of MO was the source of the below given data. Extracts from Barry County, MO, Newspapers

Extracted by: Donna Cooper, Coordinator
April 21, 1917, Saturday, Cassville Democrat, Barry Co., MO


Smothered To Death


The following telegram in Joplin Globe, gives the particulars of the death of a boy that formerly lived in this city, and who was a son of John Hutchens and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Hutchens of this city.

Blackwell, Okla., April 16, Police today were inclined to abandon the murder theory in connection with the death of 9 year old Ray Hutchens, whose body was discovered early Sunday morning in a trunk in the home of his mother, Mrs. Bessie Hutchens, keeper of a local rooming house. Three persons arrested Sunday were held in custody today pending the verdict to a coroner's jury.

Police are working on the theory that the boy smothered to death after having playfully crawled into the trunk with the intention of unexpectedly jumping out later to surprise his mother. Marks on the body of the boy, officers believe were cause by his struggle to free himself when he found the trunk lock snapped shut.

Marshall Hutchens and his son Robert went to Blackwell, Okla., Monday morning. The mother of this boy and the father have been separated for several years and he was living with the mother.

They returned Thursday and are of the opinion the body was murdered and placed in the trunk.

Lewis Carlile Dead:


Lewis Carlile died April 12, at his home northeast of Purdy, near the Macedonia Church. Lewis was raised in Cassville, by the late Wm. Carlile, whom many of the old time citizens will remember. He left a wife and two sons to mourn his death. The remains were interred in Arnhart Cemetery. Early in life he was a member of the M. E. Church.

County News:


John Coats died at his home in Exeter, Saturday night of bright's disease, age 70 years; 10 months and a few day. Funeral service were held Sunday and interment was made in Crow Pond Cemetery near that place. He was a Federal veteran of the civil war. He had been a member of some church.

John Wilson Coats was born in Polk County, Mo., June 17, 1846 and died April 16, 1917, age 70 years, 10 months and 16 days. Feb. 15, 1872 he and Miss Sarah E. Smith were married and ten children were born of this marriage, of which nine survive the father, six sons and three daughters, two brothers and three sisters; Mrs. Emma Byers of Duneweg and Mrs. Joshua Hamilton of Aurora, his sisters were with him when death came. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Chas. Vanzandt, Sunday afternoon, April 15 and interment was made in Crow Pond Cemetery south of Exeter.

Teachers Employed


Wheaton, E. S. McKinley superintendent, Fred McGlothlin, principal, Misses Alma Howard, Blanche Marney and Jewell McCall;

Oak Ridge, Lyman Crane;

Mountain Home, Lon Wood;

Clio, Albert Thomas;

Union Valley, Laura Roller;

Sparks, Bessie Lowe;

Johnson, Dema Ghan;

Lone Elm, Joe Lowe;

Long, Oscar Prier;

Pleasant Valley, Mrs. Ocie Antle;

Clark, H. H. Counts;

Corsicana, Meda Tarvin;

Green Ridge, Lillie Davis;

Ridgley, Mrs. Frances Judd;

Hailey, Mrs. Geo. England;

Potts, H. H. Patterson;

Fairview, Danie Brock;

Cedar Mound, Volley Doty;

O.K., Lora Bacon;

Lone Star, Dema Tankersley;

Shady Grove No. 5, Goebel Ray;

Walnut Grove, Willa Henbest;

Hinneman, Effie Hutchens;

Cedar Bluff, Fred Lowery;

McDowell, Mrs. Blanche Paris;

Purdy, Albert Mott, Ruth Beasley, Beulah Mooney;

Cassville, Elsie Ayre, Mrs. Bloomer, Misses Lora Reese, Nettie Smith, Neva Hamilton, Chas. Bryant;

Butterfield, John Wallen.
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