A local man not only survived a severe stab wound in 1949, he also ran across a lot and climbed a fence while critically injured and inebriated. Other headlines revolve around civic growth.
100 years ago
June 11, 1924
• A survey by the Southeast Missouri Agriculture Bureau showed big growth for Butler County: the population rose last year by at least 18,000 and around 2,100 new homes were built. These figures are reportedly a conservative estimate.
• A clip-clopping hunt is on for a Qulin marshal’s stolen horse and buggy. Lawman J.F. Huey reported his mare and bright red buggy were taken from his barn last night. The primary suspects are two people seen asking for directions south of Poplar Bluff around 3 a.m.
__75 years ago__
June 11, 1949
• A man survived being stabbed last night, then climbed a fence and laid on the ground for hours before being taken to a hospital.
Butler County Sheriff Bill Brent stated Bert Richmond, 35, was found with a 10-inch stab wound across his abdomen. He was discovered at 6:30 a.m. by farmer on Tram Road, lying on the ground with his intestines protruding and spleen punctured. He was rushed to Doctors Hospital in Poplar Bluff.
Investigators found his assailant, Albert Sayers, hiding in the woods a few hours later. Sayers said he and Richmond were drinking the previous night when an argument started. Richmond reportedly slapped Sayer’s 7-year-old daughter, who is paraplegic, and hit Sayer in the head with a whiskey bottle. Sayer retaliated by stabbing him with a skinning knife. Richmond fled into the darkness. Remarkably, he scaled a fence after the stabbing.
Doctors expect him to recover.
__50 years ago__
June 11, 1974
• The Bootheel Regional Planning Commission will discuss plans to establish of port authorities at their next meeting. A bill to form port authorities in Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi, Scott, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties has already been sent to the governor. Presently, Missouri’s port authorities are only located in St. Louis and Kansas City.