Another Humorous Burnt Store Story by Wallace Chapman

 Burnt Store’s Hall "Wins" Case, and Without Lawyer - Gets Just What He Asks For

The following story, discovered by Graham Segger during his historical research, was published 103 years ago under the byline Wallace Chadman, Punta Gorda in the March 19, 1921 issue of the Tampa Sunday Tribune

Mr. Al C. O. Hall, a semi-prominent house-holder of the Burnt Store district, and a member of the Witenagemot of that place, appeared in Justice of the Peace court early yesterday morning and voluntarily confessed to being guilty of the misdemeanor of intoxication. He asked the court to administer a stiff fine, the highest one the law permitted. The Burnt Store district lies southeast of Punta Gorda, and is a fertile tract of land which is rapidly being settled. The place had never been given a name, and a few years ago when an old store was consumed by fire, the appellation, "Burnt Store" was given it.

The justice entered the case in the criminal part of his docket with great reluctance, probably on account of the prominence of the gentleman, and even suggested that the docket entry could just as well be "State of Florida vs. John Doe," in order to conceal the real name of the defendant: but to this suggestion Mr. Hall vigorously objected, and strenuously insisted that the entry set forth his real name and the true state of affairs. He demanded that a complete record of the case be made, including his plea of guilty as charged by himself, so that it would always show up against him and so that he could refer to it at any time during the remainder of his natural life.

"And now, jedge" continued Mr. Hall, as the justice finished the entry of the case and the confession of guilt in open court, "now, jedge, if you are ready to assess and apply the fine, I desire to say a few words tending to convince the court of many and manifold aggravating circumstances, facts, details and items, which call for the heaviest fine known to the law of the land and warrant the assessment of it against me."

The amazement of the Justice at this speech cannot be described. Never in his long career as a justice of the peace had such a plea been entered in a case before him. He pulled his feet down from his desk and in so doing nearly capsized backwards, but finally righted himself, squared around, and told the gentleman to proceed.

Mr. Hall's Sad Story

"Jedge, I’ve saw these here sharp and lean lawyers get up in court to represent someone that didn't want to lie for himself, but had pleaded guilty because, it was cheaper to do that than to try the case; and them there lawyers would spiel to the court about what they called 'extenuating  circumstances - and they’d orate and promulgate and expostulate on the proposition why the smallest fine in the book would be as much as was desired by the defendant in the case at bar, and they'd pray the court for mercy and leniency and clemency, and to please make the fine so small that there 'ud be enough left of the feller's farm for a fee and they'd lay great stress on the claim that it was a first offense, and they'd guarantee that their client would never again, never, commit the first offense again, and so on and so forward.

"And, jedge, in many cases the court would bring himself to believe that the ends of justice would he served by considerin' the extenuatin' details, and he'd administer the minimum fine to the defendant, and then the 'tarnal lawyer would charge a double fee because he had got the fine so low. Now, jedge, I am acting as my own lawyer in this case because I was afeared that if I got a lawyer to enter this plea of guilty he'd twist it around some way, and get you to refuse it, and discharge me, and then he'd charge me five hundred dollars for getting me cleared when I didn't want to be cleared.

"Jedge. I'm only a plain, blunt man like Hark Manthony was in the time of Caesar, and I can't overwhelm you with eloquence and citations from the annotated decisions of the police court of Wauchula, but if you will grant me a little time I shall try to show you why I should be imposed with the biggest fine that a Burnt Store resident ever drew.

"In the first place, jedge, I went into that state of intoxication of my own free will, aforethought, and premeditated, and as voluntarily as a grown up girl lets her mother do the cookin'; and it wasn't my first offense by a good'eal, tho' I hope it may be the last one; and I didn't even consider the kind, quality or quantity of the swig I was fillin' up on, and I didn't care whether it was rainwater, oatmeal mash and alcohol, or alcohol, rainwater and oatmeal mash, or vice-versa, and when I had imbibed about five gallons of it I didn't care for home, friends or work, death, hell, heaven, or lying in state in purgatory a few months. I'd throw my money into the streets or spend it for something I didn't need any more than a grasshopper needs hard coal in winter.

"And jedge, may it please your honor, when I got to the highest point of my souse on that amalgamated swig. I'd stand right up anywhere or everywhere, and, right in the faces of all the Websters - Daniel, Noah and Zeke - deny that there was any such thing as 'morality,' and bet them fifty bucks that their old dictionary didn't contain such a word; and I'd argue and dispute and contend that there wasn't any difference between good and bad, and that, if there was the bad they had the best time by far, and I’d growl at my friends, curse my relatives, load the old shotgun for my enemies, claim the whole earth and the rest of the family of planets, and threaten ejectment proceedings against everybody whose name appeared in the last census book.

And, jedge, just one or six more words and I am through. I don't claim that I was drunk and went about the streets of Burnt Store staggering like an underfed dog. But I do claim I was intoxicated - poisoned - had taken something by mouth which had a toxic or poisonous effect; and that's one of the chief reasons I am entitled to receive at your hands the highest sum that ever went into the fine and forfeiture fund. Jedge, I should never have prosecuted myself if I had gone to the places where it is possible to procure an old-fashioned, good-natured, good-feeling, good-everything, good-night jag, and gotten up in the morning with pleasant memories of the evenin' and hearty hopes of a repetition thereof without running any risk of making more work for the undertaker. And then, jedge, if my time limit has not been reached, look at the business side of it. What was my truck farm doing while I was on that diet of gasoline and boiled sorghum? Not a thing. Nothing working but ground moles and leaf curlers. Why, I was even glad and rejoiced to say, 'to perdition with business; I'll be there to take care of it in a few days.'

"And, now, jedge, thanking you for your attention, I ask that I be given and granted the heaviest fine that the statutes of law provide, and I submit that I am entitled to it for the reasons adduced."

The justice entered up the highest fine provided by law, and 'Mr. Hall took from his clothes a roll of bills big enough to dam Fisheating Creek during a flood and threw it upon the desk. The change was made and Mr. Hall stuffed the balance into a gunny sack and kicked it out into the hall. "Who says that I can't win my own suit without a lawyer?" said he, as he prepared to depart.

"You presented your case very well," said the justice, "and were entitled to the decision. I am glad you are satisfied with it; but isn't there something back of it all? A bet or a wager or a promise or something like that?"

And the Explanation

"Jedge, if you agree not to reverse yourself or remit that fine, I'll give you some further information." "I agree." said the judge.

"Well, about three months ago our family physician hinted to my wife that he believed I had tuberculosis, and it frightened her almost to death. She mourned around the house as if I was already dead and the insurance company wouldn't settle. One day my Aunt, who had over heard talk about my ailment, said to my wife:

"What you-all mo’nin’ about?  My ole man was as full of dem tubercule germs as a fe’ther bedtick is full of straw, and he et only one meal a week. One day a man comes along an' he says he could b’l up a dicocshun what, 'ud kill germs as big as anerconder rattlesnakes. An dem dar two men, dey jis keep my boilers and pots red hot fer two days, an' then they drink up that extrac' and my ole man laid around like daid for five days. Den he done gits over it, an' ah hain't seen or heerd a sign of a germ about him since.'

"So, jedge, I thought I'd try Auntie's remedy, and I must say that I'm ready to give a testimonial to any concern that puts a patent on that stuff.

Graham has been researching the life and writings of Wallace Chadman, who wintered in Punta Gorda from about 1912 to 1924. For a time he was the town’s attorney,and was also a regular contributor of humorous stories to various newspapers across America. A Tampa Tribune article of February 14, 1918 described him as follows “sage, philosopher, lawyer and humorist, of Punta Gorda. Chad’s philosophy of life is to make at least two smiles bloom where one flowered before.”

Ponce De Leon Discovery of Florida on Easter

 

The feast day of Easter is connected to the discovery of our state of Florida by Ponce de Leon.   

Although it is thought by many that Ponce De Leon first sighted the peninsula of Florida for the first time on March 27, 1513, and thought it was an island, it was likely one of the Bahamas he saw then. Ponce actually went ashore on Florida's east coast during the Spanish Easter feast, Pascua Florida, on April 7.  He thus named our state after the day naming  it La Pascua de la Florida. 

After briefly exploring the land south of present-day St. Augustine, his 

expedition sailed south to the bottom of the Florida peninsula, through the Florida Keys  and up the west coast as far north as Charlotte Harbor.   There they briefly skirmished with the Calusa before returning to Puerto Rico.

From 1513 onward, the peninsula discovered by Ponce that Easter became known as La Florida.

Ponce de León returned to the Charlotte Harbor area in 1521  to start a colony, but was driven off by hostile Calusa, and died in Cuba from wounds received in the fighting. He is buried in the cathedral in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

Women’s Clubs Empower Early Punta Gorda Ladies

Back in the day in the early part of the twentieth century before women got the vote, women’s  clubs were very important for women to gain any political clout.  Through clubs, women  were able  to identify and solve problems within their communities while also gaining influence. These groups empowered women to address critical needs in their community.   Through their involvement in these clubs, more women began to see themselves as civic actors. These clubs also offered women a space for fellowship and learning,  and they became training grounds for learning activist skills such as organizing and speaking.. 

In  Punta Gorda, for example, women of the time formed a civic improvement club among others. The Women’s Civic Improvement Association was organized in 1911 to lobby for fences to keep open- range cattle from wandering into town and grazing on gardens -- leaving unsightly tokens before moving on.The effort was rewarded in August when the City Council adopted an ordinance "prohibiting running loose of horses, mules, jackasses, bulls, steers, cows, sheep, hogs or goats." The following year, the Civic Association and the Cattlemen's Association won the "privilege of fencing in the town.

The Civic Improvement group were also the drivers behind the formation of the Punta Gorda Women’s  Club still in operation today. Judge William F. Cooper sold the land to build a club facility for $1 in December, 1923  to Emma Hancock and Emily Carleton as trustees for the Women's Civic Association. Cooper's only stipulation was that the Tourist Club "should have the use of the auditorium with all lights and conveniences, free of charge to them.

The other two clubs at the time were the Fortnightly Club, which was the first founded,  in 1896 by teacher Norma Pepper.  It was said they discussed Shakespeare, gave reports on literary classics, and "raised their eyebrows at split infinitives.”  A photo of this group is below.   The other club that joined to form the Punta Gorda Woman’s Club in 1925 was the Married Ladies club.  

A Federation charter was granted the newly merged club on August 15, 1925. With this, the members began a drive to raise money for construction for a building.  They sponsored pancake suppers, pageants, rummage sales, dances and many other projects. No little pressure was applied on their husbands. Two members, Mrs. Martin and Miss Vera Speck, loaned substantial amounts. In two years, the clubhouse was ready -- including a stage where former Married Ladies members could perform skits.

Source: Charlotte Sun, January 23, 2000 based on interviews with Punta Gorda Woman’s Club and records of the Club.  

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Punta Gorda's Brief Time as the Southern Most Point of the American Rail System

 

The first train arrived in what is now Punta Gorda in August of 1886, making the town of Trabue the  southern-most terminus of the American railroad system.  It was founder, Isaac Trabue, who convinced the Florida Southern Railway to take the railroad they were building south to his town rather than across the Peace River to Charlotte Harbor.

   

Later in 1886, the Florida Southern began construction of the "Long Dock," a pier located near where the Isles Yacht Club is today.  The pier was forty-two hundred feet long and extended to a channel 14 feet deep, with tracks on the dock that gave the railroad access to seagoing-vessels, for shipment of merchandise and travel by passengers to New Orleans, Fort Myers, Cuba and other points north.

In 1894 the Florida Southern fell into bankrupcy and the line was sold to Henry Plant.  Plant not wanting Punta Gorda to be the major seaport on the southwest coast, but Tampa, had the track that extended to the long dock torn up and Punta Gorda lost it moment in time as a major seaport.  Soon thereafter, in 1902 the Atlantic Coast Line bought the Plant Line and began extending the railroad furtther south.  By 1904, the railroad reached  Fort Myers and Punta Gorda was no longer the southern most point of the American system.  

In Memory of those From Punta Gorda who were the first from here to Give their lives for our Country

 

This plaque honoring fallen hero’s from Charlotte County mentions two men killed during World War I who were from the Punta gorda area: Augustine Willis and Raleigh Whidden.   Lindsey Williams wrote about them in an article which we summarize below.

The first person from the Punta Gorda area to be killed during World War I was Augustine Willis of Charlotte Harbor Town, as reported by the Punta Gorda Herald in October 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Garrison L. Willis received Monday the heart-breaking news that their son, Augustine, had been killed in one of the  battles being fought in France.  Augustine and his father, Garrison, were gill-net fishermen at Charlotte Harbor. There were three Willis families there  at the time -  Garrison, Mott and Emmett. 

It was said of him in the Herald at the time that"he was one of the noblest young men of DeSoto County (Charlotte was not split from DeSoto until 1921) and was warmly esteemed by all who knew him." 

A letter regarding his death dated September 8, 1918  abounded in fervent expressions of sympathy for the bereaved parents and of praise for the dead youth. The following are extracts from it: 

 

"'I am writing you for the remembrance of your son, Augustine, who was at my side when he met his death. His manly form is always before me as I sit and ponder through the long evenings. 

 

"'He was, and is yet in a way, my dearest friend and chum. He at all times commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. 

 

"'He met his death a few minutes after we had promised each other that should one of us be killed, the other would write to the bereaved parents and relate to them the sad news. It is in fulfillment of this promise that I am writing to you. 

 

 

"'His name will always be spoken with reverence by those who knew him, and it will go down as that of one whose military and personal record was without a stain. 

 

"'His last words to me were -- 'Write mother and father if I get killed.'" 

 

* * * 

The second military death from Punta Gorda was that of Raleigh Whidden of Punta Gorda who was severely wounded a month after Augustine Willis -- as related in the December 18 issue of the Herald 1918.   

Notice of his death appeared in the January 15, 1920, edition of the Herald. The paper noted that 18-year-old Whidden died at Carlstrom Air Field, Arcadia, where he was taken for treatment after his Army discharge. 

His obituary pointed out that Raleigh was a charter member of Punta Gorda post of the American Legion. His death was the first of the organization. Braxton Blount, representing the post, drove in his car to Gardner, Fla., to assist in burial arrangements. Raleigh was

buried in the family plot there between his mother and father.