Today in Johnson City History, Monday, November 18, 2024
Death of an attorney, juveniles in trouble, Al Capone
Tuesday, November 18, 1924: A century ago today, according to the Johnson City Chronicle, “Funeral rites for J. Stanley Barlow, whose death occurred on Sunday morning after a period of illness, and following a recent paralytic stroke, were conducted at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon from his late residence, 1411 North Roan street (sic).
“Throngs attended the service, hundreds standing on the lawn, since only a comparatively small proportion of the crowd was able to gain admittance to the residence.
“The service itself was notably simple, but doubly impressive, consisting of prayer by Dr. Jason L. MacMillan, past of the First Presbyterian church (sic); the reading by Rev. N. H. Cardwell, pastor of the First M. E. Church, of several marked and favorite chapters from a Bible belonging to the deceased, and the singing of hymns ‘Abide With Me,’ and ‘Crossing the Bar,’ by a male quartet, composed of Rev. Noel Cardwell, Jason Clark, George Oliver and Raymond Harrell. A wonderful array of floral tributes attested the esteem of hundreds in mute eloquence.
“A procession of more than a hundred automobiles followed the remains in a procession which led to Oak Hill cemetery (sic), where interment was made with simple rites.
“Out of respect for the memory of the deceased, circuit court, now in session at Jonesboro, was adjourned for the day, while members of the local bar attended the services in a body.
“Active pall-bearers were:
“Jas. A. Pouder, Hastings Winston, O. K. Morgan, John Pardue, Oscar M. Fair, Earl M. Miller, George C. Sells and J. A. Wampler. All the other members of the Johnson City bar served as honorary pall-bearers.
“J. Stanley Barlow has been one of the leading members of the Johnson City bar for the past fifteen years; was United States Referee in Bankruptcy for the Northeastern Division of the Eastern District of Tennessee for the past six years and was universally regarded as a lawyer of keen perception, deep and thorough study and pronounced natural ability. He was an influential character in public life, was a lifeling (sic) active member of the Methodist church and won and maintained social prominence through a magnetic personality.
“He was born in Hannibal, Missouri, May 27, 1887, the family moving to Johnson City ten years later, and this city having been the home of the deceased since that time. Following his graduation from the University of Chattanooga, he began the practice of law in Johnson City, but during that period spent a part of several years in Washington as secretary to Congressman Sam R. Sells. Until about two years ago, he was a member of the law firm of Miller and Barlow, having associated in the practice of law with S. E. Miller, a brother-in-law; since which time he had been the senior partner in the firm of Barlow and Miller, being associated with Robert R. Miller.
“Mr. Barlow was an expert shorthand writer, which profession he employed for some time in connection with the courts and legal studies and was a court reporter of widely known ability.
“Eight years ago, he was married to Miss Emily Miller, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Miller of this city, and niece of ex-Governor Alf A. Taylor, and to the union five children were born, four of whom are living: Sanna, Emily, Jean and J. Stanley, Jr., the latter being only three months of age. He was the only son of James S. and Adelaide Morrison Barlow, his mother now living in this city. Of his five sisters, four are living: Mrs. W. W. Schermerhorn, Portland, Oregon; Mrs. C. E. Oliver, Houston, Texas; Mrs. Sam T. Millard, of Johnson City, and Mrs. H. A. Thompson, of Philadelphia, Pa.; a sister Mrs. S. E. Miller, having died a few years ago.”
The University of Chattanooga is now known as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Sunday, November 18, 1934: Ninety years ago today, according to the Johnson City Press, “Two boys in their ‘teens, brothers who got into trouble Thursday when they were allegedly caught taking beer and later found by officers in possession of a quantity of finished flooring said to have been taken from the Sells Lumber company (sic), are scheduled to receive a novel sentence this morning. The boys, Carl Haws, 16, and George, slightly younger, must go to Sunday school today and every Sabbath hereafter until further notice.
“Mrs. Ann Parsons, juvenile judge, has also handed down a decision that they are to become members of a club which the Rev. J. W. Broyles, Methodist minister, has organized for the benefit of boys in trouble. And, their father was told, they must start to school Monday morning, or he will be summoned to court and fined. Arrangements have been made for providing them with clothes and books.
“A companion, Leroy Burgess, also implicated in the flooring transaction, was found to be at home on parole from the state industrial school for boys at Nashville. He was returned to the institution Saturday morning.
“The Haws boys’ dog, like his masters, is out of luck because of Deputy Sheriff Oscar Tipton’s discovery of the lumber. The brothers told Mrs. Parsons they ‘swiped’ the material to build a dog house (sic)!”
Saturday, November 18, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported news with a dateline from Baltimore and a date of November 17. The Associated Press provided the story. “Behind a barrier of secrecy, ‘Scarface Al’ Capone, ruler of Chicago’s gangland in the fabulous days of prohibition, tonight began treatment calculated to relieve a brain disorder that attacked him in prison more than two years ago.
“Union Memorial hospital (sic) authorities and his attending physician, Dr. Joseph E. Moore, widely known syphilologist and an instructor at the Johns Hopkins medical (sic) school (sic), issued a guarded statement asserting Capone would be treated ‘as a patient…and not as a public personality.’
“But they turned aside all questions relating to his present condition.
“Capone is suffering from paresis, a progressive brain paralysis.
“’He is chronically but not acutely ill and his condition is not likely to change much from day to day,’ Dr. Moore said tonight in a subsequent statement.
“The physician added that ‘It is medically inadvisable for him to have strangers in his room.’
“Asked if Capone is rational, Dr. Moore said: ‘No comment.’
“Hospital authorities emphasized that the former gang czar would be allowed no visitors and that the $30-a-day suite on the fifth floor of the institution would be closed to all except hospital attaches and members of the family.
“His wife, mother, and brother, who accompanied him to the hospital yesterday after his release by federal authorities at Lewisburg, Pa., were reported to have been joined by another bother and taken quarters at a midtown hotel.
“Meantime, Police Commissioner Robert E. Stanton spoke rumors that a ‘heavy guard’ had been placed about the hospital to thwart possible gangland reprisals against Capone.
“Stanton declared additional police would not be assigned to the vicinity unless hospital authorities requested it.
“Federal agents accompanied Capone from the west coast’s terminal prison, where he completed a seven-year term for evasion of income tax payments, Attorney General Murphy said, but since his formal release at Lewisburg, no agents have been in his company.”
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