Muhlenberg County Kentucky

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Bailey Beauty Shop

New beauty shop for Greenville

The Bailey Beauty Shop will open Wednesday, April 6, at Greenville, in the Dexter Building, formerly occupied by the hospital. An invitation is extended to the ladies of Greenville and vicinity to be present at their opening night at 7 o'clock to inspect the shop and take part in a beauty culture demonstration. The Zeno Machineless Ave and the Oil of Tulip wood Machine Permanent Waves will be demonstrated.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark Bailey of Central City, proprietors of the shop, have devoted a long period of time in studying, practicing and determining the way to bring best results in every phase of beauty culture. The permanent wave system practiced is outstanding and is well-known to their many customers.

The shop will be modern, convenient and up-to-date in every respect.

Barrett, Lyman

Lyman Barrett given two years
Former Hartford postmaster pleads guilty to conversion of postal funds

Louisville, Ky., Dec. 5. - Pleading guilty to conversion of $1,108 in postal funds, Lyman G. Barrett, 47, former Hartford, Ky., postmaster, today was sentenced by Judge Mac Swinford to two years in federal prison.

Declaring that Bartlett [sic], a widower with five children, had used the money not for gambling but to buy food and clothing for his family, Defense Attorney A. Scott Hamilton urged clemency. He said the funds had been repaid.

Judge Swinford declined a plea for a probated sentence.

Batsel, Adelia Moorman

Mrs. R.W. Batsel's Birthday-

Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Batsel have happily decided that Friday, January 13, 1939, was one of the most pleasant days of their very long lives, in fact a red-letter day that brought to them much joy, great pleasure.

Mrs. R.W. Batsel was born on January 13, 1859, therefore is 80 years young - not old. Her many friends called on her to wish for her many happy returns of her birth date, and this hospitable home was full of merriment all during the day.

At noon the doors of the dining room were thrown open and Mr. and Mrs. Batsel led the procession and awaited the seating of their guests. Candelabra carrying colored candles furnished the light, the decorations in the room being potted plants and cut flowers. The setting was lovely and added greatly to the pleasure of all assembled.

Mrs. Batsel was Miss Adelia Moorman, daughter of J.C. Moorman and Katherine Nicholls Moorman, and was born at Moorman. The town of Moorman was named for her father. She spent her entire life in Muhlenberg county and was a graduate of the South Carrollton College, which, at the time, was considered one of the best colleges in Western Kentucky.

On February 14, 1875, she married Mr. R.W. Batsel, who was then agent for the L.&N. railroad at South Carrollton. Mr. Batsel was eight years older than his young bride. They spent the early years of their married life in the home of Mrs. McCown, this home at that time being one of the beauty spots of Muhlenberg county. Later in life they built their home on a farm close to Moorman and there they reared their family of 10 children, nine of whom survive. About ten years ago, Mr. Batsel turned his large land holdings over to his sons and retired, and move to Central City.

Mrs. Batsel is a typical lady of the Old School. Gentle, kind, unassuming, cultured, courteous to all, she numbers her friends by her acquaintances, and each and every one of those acquaintances now hand to her a bouquet of good wishes for at least Twenty more birthdays.

Those who called on Mr. and Mrs. Batsel on this festive day were:

Mrs. Edgar Nicholls, Mrs. Mary Howey, Mrs. Nell Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Eaves Barrett, Miss Louise Barrett, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Whitmer, Miss Suzanne Whitmer, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Batsel, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Batsel, Miss Belle Batsel, Mary Lyon Batsel, Mr. and Mrs. Moreland Batsel, Elizabeth Batsel, Eleanor Batsel, Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Greenwood, Miss Margaret Ann Greenwood, Susie Batsel, Mrs. W.A. Lam, Mrs. S.D. Hill, and Miss Rena Wolcott.

Batsel, Clarence

Batsel receives praise from Louisville fight

Johnny Denson of Indianapolis, a light-heavyweight, gained an 8-round decision over Clarence Batsel of Central City in the feature bout of the Ziegler Athletic Club card at Columbia Gymnasium, Louisville, Monday night.

The Courier-Journal said:

“A left shoulder, carried high, contributed to the discomfort of Central City's ‘Jawbreaker’ Batsel. The finely-built, power-puncher, with a couple of quick technical kayoes on his local record, couldn't get over his hard right. His Indianapolis Golden Glove opponent Johnny Denson, employed a swinging left hand to the grocery department to carry the eighth-rounder most of the route.

Batsel never once failed to make a fight of it, his attack making Denson's defense appear deft. Clean-cut blows, and exhibitions of sportsmanship contributed to the fine performance, with Batsel often attacking a point where Denson's wasn't.”

Bennewitz, Robert, Guffy Childers, Ollie Ortkiese &c.

Robert Bennewitz, convicted of robbing the Bank of South Carrollton in 1933, who escaped from the Greenville jail, has been arrested in Detroit. He was under a seventeen-year sentence.

…more.

Blair, Claude

Man injured by car on Greenville highway

Claude Blair, 39 years old, suffered a broken hip and internal injuries Monday evening about 7 o'clock when hit by a hit-and-run driver on the Central City-Greenville highway. He was removed to Central City in the ambulance of E.J. Anderson and Tuesday morning was taken to the Greenville hospital.

Blair was walking from Omaha, Neb., to the home of his brother, C.A. Blair at Dyerburg, Tenn., carrying a suitcase, and was picked up by a car containing several men who offered him a ride. While passing through Central City the party suggested stopping at a restaurant here. Blair alighted the car and as he did so the men drove off taking his suitcase and all of his belongings which he had been carrying. Being stranded, he started to walk along the highway, intending to walk to the home of his brother. On the road near the county infirmary he was hit by a hit-and-run driver, the car passing over his body.

Blake, Owen

Owen Blake taken into custody after four-year evasion
Escaped from Greenville Jail with Bennewitz and Childers on May 5, 1934.

Owen Blake, who escaped from the Greenville jail on May 5, 1934, at the time three other prisoners, two held in connection with the daylight robbery of the Citizens Bank at South Carrollton, was arrested in Butler County Monday night by Sheriff Peck O'Neill, Jailer Jim Ben Lacefield and Butler County officers. He was returned to Muhlenberg county.

Blake, Robert Bennewitz, Guffy Childers and Osby Shelton escaped after two bars on the “bull pin” windows on the ground floor had been sawed away. Bennewitz and Childers had been sentenced to the penitentiary in connection with the bank robbery, which was staged on November 20, 1933. After their escape, they drifted into Butler county, where it is alleged they shot and fatally wounded W. P. Minnic, 60-year-old Bulter county farmer. Childers surrendered a short time later. Bennewitz was arrested in Detroit and returned to the Eddyville penitentiary. Bennewitz was killed at the prison during an attempted escape.

The arrest of Blake, who after four years evaded officers, was the last of the escaped prisoners to be captured. Childers and Shelton are now serving sentences in the Eddyville penitentiary.

Blake, at the time of his escape, was being held on an automobile theft charge. Other indictments, it is said, have been returned against him.

Bohannon, Joe

Greenville, Ky., Feb. 27. - Mr. Joe Bohannon was in Frankfort and Louisville last week.

Boren, Maxie E.

Russellville man found at Browder with bullet in head
Died at Greenville Hospital about noon today; Official investigating mystery.

“Red” Boren, 26 years old, was found in a critical condition at Browder at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday night. He had been shot in the back of the head. He died at the Greenville Hospital shortly before noon today.

Boren was found where the road branches off the Russellville Highway for Rochester. He was taken to the home of Buck Knight, who lived near the scene, and county officials notified. He was removed to the Greenville Hospital by Deputy Sheriff Rhode Kennedy about midnight.

The victim was not identified until this morning. The Sheriff of Logan County, whom local officials contacted as soon as the victim's identity had been established, came to Muhlenberg county to assist in helping to solve the mystery. A brother of Boren accompanied the Logan county sheriff to Greenville.

Coroner Lonnie Bryan, being notified this morning of what would develop into a murder case, started immediately to conduct an investigation. A key, pocket knife and a .38 Kirtley, close to where the victim was found, were turned over to Coroner Bryan.

Deputy Sheriff Kennedy said several people in Browder heard three shots a few minutes before the man was found.

The body was removed from the Greenville hospital to a Russellville undertaking establishment where it will be prepared for burial.

Bowles Children

Tragedy-Hit Orphans Helped By Community

By Nat Basham, Messenger & Inquirer, Regional Manager

Central City, Ky. - Residents of the Midland community on Ky. 70, six miles west of here, are going all out to help five children who were left parentless when tragedy struck at their home Wednesday night, Nov. 11.

The children, four boys and a girl, ranging in ages four to 17, became orphans when their father, Benjamin Bowles, shot their mother and later took his own life while the children were asleep.

This past Friday and Saturday, neighbors of the Bowles family completely renovated the interior of the six-room frame house which was badly in need of repairs. To make it a more desirable place in which to live, women in the community papered a bedroom which will be occupied by the children's grandmother, Mrs. Daisy Jones, 55, who is presently residing in Chicago, but plans to return to help care for the children.

A half dozen or more men volunteer workers were busy Saturday with brushes and rollers painting other rooms in the house. Future plans by the group of workers call for work on a spacious upstairs room which was started but never finished. They also plan to paint the exterior of the home. Timmy, 11, one of the four sons in the family, was on hand Saturday to watch the proceedings.

Workers also were noticed outside the home replacing broken door and window glasses. Two new rugs were being unpacked and will be installed when the painting is completed.

Most of the paint and materials used in refurbishing the home were donated by Central City merchants.

Timmy and his sister, Cynthia Gail, 12, and their three brothers, Gary, 17, a senior at Bremen Consolidated; Terry, 13, and Jakie, 4, are living with neighbors in the small community until the remodeling project is completed on their home and until their grandmother returns from Chicago.

A drive to obtain funds to meet the needs of the Bowles children was started last week by members of the Women's Missionary Society of the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Several individuals and civic organizations in Muhlenberg County have already contributed to the support of the children, however more funds are needed for proper care of the youngsters.

Anyone wishing to contribute to their support is asked to send a check to Buel Richey, Route 1, Central City, or to J.W. Wright Jr., Route 1, Bremen.

Boy Scout House

Boy Scout House to be Dedicated Thursday, June 8
Refreshments to be served and public is invited to inspect building

The Boy Scout House, recently completed, will be opened for public inspection on Thursday, June 8. From 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon and from 7 to 9:30 in the evening, refreshments will be served. Money livered [sic] by Rev. Arthur Gross, of Scouts.[sic]

The dedication address will be delivered by Rev. Arthur Gross, of Greenville, and the benediction by Rev. Wade Weldon, pastor of the Methodist church.

Arrangements have been made for music, and an enjoyable time is promised all who visit the Scout House on June 8.

The Scout House is a log building, located on a corner of the park in North Central City.

The building committee is composed of James Rice, Dr. A.P. Hannephin, Dave Cohen and Ralph Lawton.

The local scout troop is composed of thirty-eight scouts and twenty cubs.

Brackett, John

John Brackett in truck mishap
Employee of street department is brushed from running board of truck.

John Brackett, 50, who was injured early last Sunday morning when he was brushed from the running board of a city truck on which he was riding to his home, receiving a badly fractured leg, is reported to be getting along nicely.

Brackett was brushed off the running board of the truck when the truck passed a large truck parked on Third street between Reynolds and the South Carrollton road. He was an employee of the city street department and was being taken to his home after completing the night's work. The city truck was driven by Wes Malin.

Brackett's injuries were dressed at the office of Dr. J.H. Harralson, being later removed to the Greenville hospital.

Bremen: Storm Echoes

Storm Echoes. - Over one hundred houses in the bottom lands between Evansville and Mount Vernon, Ind., were swept away by the wind and water in the recent storm.

At Bremen, Muhlenberg county, Ky., every dwelling in the place was destroyed. Six people were reported killed and nine badly injured.

Reports from Glasgow, Ky., show that thirty persons were killed in the neighborhood of that town. It is as yet impossible to give their names.

Bridges, Harry

Mr. Harry Bridges, of Louisville, made the city his regular business visit yesterday. Of course he subscribed for The Record.

Buell, Don Carlos

Gen. Don Carlos Buell. - This most accomplished officer and distinguished solider, who rendered the timely aid that saved Gen. Grant from a disastrous defeat at Shiloh, has purchased an interest in an extensive oil and coal speculation in Kentucky, and been elected one of the officers of the Company. - Cincinnati Enquirer.

This is the “Adrie [sic] Petroleum Company,” of which Gen. Buell is the President, the land being situated in Muhlenberg county. And every true Kentuckian will hope that the treasure hidden in the soil of his State, will be developed in such quantities as to generously repay the General for the services he so ably rendered Kentucky in 1861 and '62.

Burch, William Henry

Paradise Farmer Slain Monday at Greenville Depot
William H. Burch dies instantly; Aubrey Cox, 35, former tenent, surrenders after shooting.

Shot four times, William Henry Burch, 58, Paradise farmer, went to his death at 12:15 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Illinois Central railroad station in Greenville.

Aubrey Cox, 35, former tenant on Burch's farm, surrendered after the shooting, and is in the Muhlenberg County jail, charged with murder.

Cox, according to reports, found Burch with Mrs. Cox in Greenville. He following them from the business section to the depot, Burch was shot twice in the back and twice in the chest. He died instantly.

Witnesses said Cox then turned the gun on his wife, but it failed to fire. Mrs. Cox now lives at Rockport.

G.H. Lovell, Greenville police chief, said three witnesses told him Cox, whose wife recently has filed a divorce suit, fired upon Burch without warning. No argument preceded the shooting, Lovell said.

Burch is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Viola Harris, South Carrollton, to whose home his body was taken; Mrs. Zylther Ferguson, Johnson City, Tenn., Mrs. Altha White, Nelson; Mrs. Clarence Noffsinger, Chicago; and three sons, Byron Burch, Fordsville; D.E. burch, Nelson, and R. A. Burch, Central City. His wife died two years ago.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Nelson Creek Baptist church by the Rev. O.P. Bush. Burial was in the Nelson Creek cemetery.

Burden, Charlie

Charlie Burden injured in automobile crash.

Charlie Burden, of Browder, sustained minor cuts and bruises about his face Saturday on the Greenville pike, near Anton, in Hopkins county. Mr. Burden reported that he was blinded by the lights from an approaching car. Mr. Burden lost control of his automobile and the cars collided. Mr. Burden was taken to the Madisonville hospital for treatment.

Butsinger, John & Mary Nettie Sapp

Slays Wife and Ends Own Life
Central City man attacks mate with hatchet.
Had been threatened and appealed to police for protection.

Central City, Ky., Aug. 31. - John Butsinger, a tailor, who this morning attacked his wife while she was in consultation with an attorney regarding a suit for divorce and killed her, died tonight of burns which he suffered by saturating his clothing and his shop with gasoline and then applying a match.

Butsinger died in the courthouse yard where he was carried after he had been pulled from the blazing building in which he had his shop. He suffered terrible agony, for the skin on his hands and body hung in shreds. His head was swollen twice its normal size.

Burial of the tailor will be in Central City, while his slain wife will be buried at Leitchfield tomorrow.

The double Central City tragedy was the result of marital differences, which arose between Butsinger and his wife, although they had been married but six months. Three months after the wedding husband and wife separated after a series of quarrels, the wife renting a house which she occupied with her mother. Butsinger had importuned his wife to return to him, but she turned a deaf ear to his appeals, assenting that it was impossible for them to agree.

Thirty minutes before Mrs. Butsinger was killed she talked to neighbors while on her way to the office of Attorney James Stroud and told them that her husband had told her that she would belong to him, dead or alive, but that she thought differently. However, she appealed to the Chief of Police.

Mrs. Butsinger was sitting in the office of the attorney when her husband entered, carrying a keen-edged hatchet. He struck her twice in the head, the first cutting off the right ear, and the second penetrating the skull.

Attorney Stroud fought the enraged man, and broke several chairs over his head. Then Butsinger turned on the lawyer with the knife and the latter fled, with Butsinger pursuing him.

Rushing through the principal street, flourishing his bloody hatchet, Butsinger dashed in his shop in the rear of the C. H. Blandford insurnace building, crashing through the glass window pane.

He tied a rope around his neck and attempted to choke himself to death. Failing in this, he poured gasoline over his clothing and his shop, and then applied a match and the building was a mass of flames.

Butsinger was forty years old and left Germany seven years ago. He came here from Louisville. Mrs. Butsinger was Miss Mary Nettie Sapp, and formerly lived in Leitchfield. She was thirty-nine years old.

Updated April 7, 2024.

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