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From: "Mike & Kathy Bowlin" <>
Subject: [MOHOWARD-L] Higbee News, 18 Nov 1926, Pt 1 of 3
Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 09:31:29 -0500


The following are selected articles from a Newspaper titled, "The Higbee News" which
was issued out of the town of Higbee, in Randolph County, Missouri from the years 1888
through 1953. The editors were W. H. Welch and his son H. Scott Welch. This paper covered the Higbee area and also a great deal of
the northeastern part of Howard county. The copyright notice at the end of this transcript is there for the sole purpose of keeping
this work free to the public, and to ensure that it is not
harvested by a fee-based corporate genealogy site, or published in any format for profit. If you decide to use the information from
this transcription, PLEASE LIST ME AS THE SOURCE, rather than the paper. My transcription is another generation removed from the
microfilm, and would thus be a third generation copy of the original paper. For proper documentation, a researcher should obtain a
photocopy of the microfilm for their own permanent records, and use my transcript as a guide or index. The microfilm is available
for interlibrary loan through the State Historical Society of Missouri, and a copy is also on file at the Moberly Public Library,
generously donated by the Higbee Historical Society.
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Thursday, 18 Nov 1926, Vol 40, No 29, Pg. 1 Col. 1--A MOST DEPLORABLE
MOBERLY TRAGEDY--Col. Frank Forney Shoots And Kills George Sours,
Former Business Associate.--One of the most deplorable tragedies that has happened in
Randolph county in many years, was the killing at Moberly Tuesday night about 12
o'clock of George Sours by Col. Frank B. Forney of the Forney Clothing Company, and
which has cast a gloom over the entire country, as both men were among Moberly's most
prominent and influential citizens. Mr. Forney's friends, who are legion, will be glad to
know that no blame whatever can be attached to him for the unfortunate affair.
According to a telephone message to the NEWS yesterday afternoon, Mr. Sours
went to the home of Mr. Forney about midnight, and after the family had retired and were
asleep, and effected an entrance, but how, we are not advised. Being awakened by the
noise, Mrs. Forney, who was sleeping on the second floor, got up and turned on the hall
light and then peered over the banisters to see who the intruder might be, but could not
do so, as he had his overcoat collar raised and his hat pulled down over his eyes. Seeing
her, Mr. Sours fired at her and then ascended the stairway, going, it is said, towards the
room occupied by Mr. Forney, which was just across the hall. He spoke to no one, so far
as we could learn, stopping in the open door of Mr. Forney's room, revolver in hand, and
with his features still concealed by his collar and hat. Mr. Forney, who had been
awakened by the shot, and who heard the approaching steps and perhaps a cry from Mrs.
Forney was standing on his bed, revolver in hand, when Sours stepped in the door, and
immediately fired four shots, all of which took effect, Sours sinking to the floor without
uttering a sound and dying a few minutes later.
Mr. Sours was for years a clerk in the Forney Clothing Co. store, as well as a
stockholder, but retired from the firm some two or three years or more ago, later
embarking in the clothing business for himself, but was forced to make an assignment
several months ago. At the time of Mr. Sours' retirement from the Forney firm their
relations were not very cordial, it is said, but so far as we can learn Sours had never made
any threats against Forney. That he harbored a grudge, however, and may have
considered Mr. Forney as being responsible for his business failure, is probably from his
action at having entered the Forney home at such an hour and in such a way. His firing at
Mrs. Forney would indicate that he was not himself for the time being, being either
temporarily deranged over his business troubles, or not himself from drink, if he ever
drank to excess or at all. We go to press too early to give the result of the inquest, which
was to have been held Wednesday evening.
Mr. Sours was about 58 years old, was generally considered one of Moberly's
most substantial citizens, and had a wide circle of friends throughout the county who
deplore his untimely end, and who sympathize profoundly with his family. No one we
are sure, regrets more than Mr. Forney, the unfortunate affair, whose feelings of horror on
finding that the intruder was a former business associate, were probably beyond
description.

Thursday, 18 Nov 1926, Vol 40, No 29, Pg. 1 Col. 1--OUR HUNTSVILLE
LETTER--The following was received from W. T. Dameron after the pages containing
his regular letter had been printed:
William H. Smith, Huntsville's oldest citizen, died about 4 o'clock this (Tuesday)
afternoon, at his home on South Main street, principally of old age.
Mr. Smith was born in Boone county, Mo., Jan. 1, 1833, and had he lived to
January 1 next, he would have been 94 years old. the last time he was out of his room
was in August, last, when he was taken to the polls and voted. He commenced sinking a
few days ago when his appetite failed him. He suffered no pain and died as quietly as a
child going to sleep. For many years, in his younger days, Mr. Smith was a prominent
business man in Boone county, prior to the civil war. During the war, and several years
thereafter, he was a prominent merchant of Quincy, Ill. Later, he moved to Fayette and
resided there before settling in Huntsville, about 18 years ago. His wife preceded him to
the grave about 8 years ago. He was a man of a bright intellect and well versed in the
history of his country. His memory began to fail him only a year or two ago, and up to
the time he began to fail in health, he could write a plain hand better than most people
younger than he. He was a wonderful old gentleman in many respects and much could be
said of his active career. While residing in Fayette he became a member of the Christian
church, and died as he had lived, a good man and citizen. He leaves two sons, C. W.
Smith, of Huntsville, and Cort. Smith of St. Louis, and a grandson, Guy Smith of this
city. He also leaves one aged brother, ? Smith of Columbia. His funeral will be held
Thursday afternoon. Burial in the city cemetery.

Thursday, 18 Nov 1926, Vol 40, No 29, Pg. 1 Col. 2--SCHOOL HOUSE BURNS--The
Grimes school house, east of Moberly, the school being taught by Miss Goldie Pitney,
was completely destroyed by fire Monday morning at ten o'clock. The fire was caused
from a defective chimney. The janitor started the fire as usual at 8 o'clock that morning
and it was nearly ten when the teacher happened to look at the ceiling to find flames
making their way through the ceiling of the house. When the alarm was given the pupils
rushed outside with their arms full of books, and other things they could get hold of
easily. By active work on the part of the teacher and pupils, only a small amount of the
contents was lost.
The school board met with Supt. Robertson Monday afternoon and discussed
plans for continuing the school term and classes will likely resume their work in a week
or two.

Thursday, 18 Nov 1926, Vol 40, No 29, Pg. 1 Col. 2--MRS. J. S. GRAVES
OPERATED ON--Mrs. J. S. Graves, who has been in poor health for some time, and
who went to a Boonville hospital for treatment ten days ago, underwent a very serious
operation Monday. When heard from yesterday she was doing nicely.


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Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. They
may not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded media, CD, etc.
without specific written permission from Kathy Bowlin. Although public information is
not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes
& comments, etc. is. It is however, quite permissible to print or save the files to a
personal computer for personal use only. Permission is granted to public libraries, and
genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for the use of their patrons.

Kathy Bowlin
Additions, corrections, comments welcome.

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