Worth County, Georgia
Crime News Gleanings

Quintet Advanced on White Man with Heavy Clubs and Other Weapons He Fired on Them With Pistol and Shot Down all Five
Cordele, Ga. August 14.— Parties arriving on the Albany and Northern train this afternoon bring reports of a shooting affray which occurred near Oakfield, 15 miles southwest of Cordele, this morning in which two Negroes were killed outright and three fatally wounded by a woods-rider named Malfis. Malfis is a woodsman for the Oakfield Naval Stores Co. Telephone and telegraph wires are down, but all stories agree that the woodsman had words with several Negroes In their settlement Saturday night. In consequence seven of them waylaid him as he started on his rounds today. About 8 o'clock, while three miles east of Oakfield, he was confronted by the Negros, who were advancing on him with "chippers" clubs and other weapons. Malfis whipped out a large revolver from his holster and opened fire. Two Negroes dropped dead Instantly from his unerring aim, and three others fell to the ground mortally wounded. By the time Malfis could reload his pistol the other two had fled.
The angry woodsman pursued, but did not again get a glimpse of them. The corner's jury holding an inquest this afternoon, it is not likely that Malfis will be arrested. [Augusta Chronicle, 15 Aug 1905 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

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Home Changes Counties; Negro Gets New Trial He Lives in Oakfield District, Was Tried in
Cordele
Dec. 24.— Because the state supreme court has declared the Warwick and Oakfield districts, supposedly annexed to Crisp county by a legislative act of 1911, still a part of Worth county, extraordinary developments have arisen in the case of Handy Hardy, a Negro, convicted at the last term of Crisp superior court for carrying concealed weapons.
Hardy lived in the Oakfield district, and his case was the only one of citizens living in the Warwick and Oakfield districts brought into superior court of this county during the time that these districts were supposed to be in Crisp county. He had been placed on the Crisp county chain gang before the supreme court decision became known. On motion Judge W. F. George has granted Hardy a new trial, the case turning on failure to prove venue. He has been carried to Sylvester and placed in the Worth county Jail, awaiting a trial in that county on the charge against him.
[Macon Weekly Telegraph, 25 Dec 1912 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

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Arrest Oakfield Cashier
Tampa. Florida July 24.—J. A. Fountain, former cashier of the Exchange Bank of Oakfield, Ga., was arrested here today. He Is charged with being short $15,000 in his accounts, according to the detective who made the arrest, Fountain is being held in the city jail pending the arrival of the sheriff from Worth county. Georgia. He should be receiving mail under the name of A. C. Small, the detective said. [Macon Weekly Telegraph, 25 Jul 1920 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

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Cashier Guilty -- John A. Fountain of Oakfield Bank Gets 18 Months Sentence
Sylvester, Ga. Aug 11, John A fountain former cashier of the Exchange Bank, Of Oakfield, Ga. indicted for embezzlement of Between $11,000 and $12,000 from this bank, was convicted yesterday in Worth Superior Court and sentenced to six months in jail and twelve months in the chaingang.
[Macon Telegraph, 12 Aug 1921 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]

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