A look back

By Staff
Researched by Dr. Bill Stewart
Examples of the use of guns both for good and for ill are never hard to find in the newspapers.
1907, July 24 – Albert Ridgeway allegedly fired point blank at John Sparks with a single-barrel shotgun two days ago in Cullman. According to reports reaching Hartselle, Ridgeway was standing in the doorway of Scheunig's saloon when he saw Sparks coming down the street. He then hurried to the rear of the saloon where his horse and buggy stood and retrieved his shotgun. Sparks dodged down almost to the ground as Ridgeway fired and was not hit. The men's troubles stemmed from a failed business partnership.
1896, July 25 – A pistol in the hands of Shote Garrett, 15-year-old Decatur youth, came near to ending the life of Mose Jordan, a boy much younger than himself, late Monday night. The wounded boy lies at the home of his old grandfather with a 32-cal. bullet in his breast, yet it is said by his physician that he is in a fair way to recover. Apparently the assailant used the pistol in a bullying way to intimidate a crowd of neighborhood children playing in the street without his intending to harm any of them. Garrett fled from the scene of the shooting and remains at-large.
1917, July 26 – Hunters can expect to pay about 70 cents per box for gun shells when they go out for game this fall.
1916, July 27 -Dirigible balloons, like the one seen near Somerville some months ago, arent popular in parts of Morgan County. A decade ago, when the Aero Club of America was holding its transcontinental races, some farmers started a bombardment of nails, tacks, salt, and bullets from rifles and shotguns.
1898, July 28- The roster of the gallant first regiment of the Alabama volunteers who, to a man, "remember the Maine" as they do battle against Spain, includes local residents J. E. Echols and W. H. Sims.
1870, July 29 – Bertram Ryland has a claim for $10 resting with the Morgan County commissioners. This is the sum he is due for conveying William Austen (wounded by gunshot) to the county jail.
1937, July 30 – Melvin Osborn enjoys hunting with friends in Long Bottom near his home on Hartselle Route 2.