The Way It Was

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

100 years ago

Two Methodist congregations plan $1 million skyscraper

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Chicago's tallest church will soon rise at Washington and Clark streets, if plans which were undertaken Monday night are carried to completion.

These plans contemplate a $1,000,000 skyscraper on the site now occupied by the First Methodist Church. Within the great building will be a huge auditorium for the accommodation of worshippers.

The rest of the building will be devoted to offices.

50 years ago

Boys death ruled an accident

A coroner's jury last night, after hearing testimony of witnesses in the fatal shooting of Gary Whitworth, 17, Moundville, Sunday afternoon while en route home from a hunting trip with two other boys, returned a verdict stating that the lad met his death from a bullet accidentally fired from a 22-caliber rifle.

The jury deliberated less than 10 minutes.

Witnesses questioned by Prosecutor James Woodfill were: Sheriff Les Hunt, Dr. Roy W. Pearse Jr., who was on duty at the Nevada Hospital when Gary was brought in; Calvin Halcomb, Nevada, who drove the three boys to the hospital after they stopped at his farm following the accident; James Lee Berry, 16, Nevada, who was holding the rifle when the tragedy occurred, and Ronald Hinds, 15, who was sitting behind the wheel of the car and whose foot slipped off the clutch causing the vehicle to lunge throwing young Berry off balance as he was placing the rifle back in the car with jolt causing the weapon to fire.