General Notes

Luther Dudley was the son of a baptist minister and was somewhat
typical.     He worked at several occupations including carpenter,game
warden , farmer,
and gambler.  He was a heavy drinker and smoker(primarily hand rolled
Prince Albert) and probably died prematurily as a result of those
habits.  His  death was due to Pancreatic Cancer and his last year of
life was horrible he existed on morphine shots and lost from 185# down to
around 50#.  A drinking buddy of his related to me on his death bed that
Luther had murderd a man at the Smith McGee bridge in Hart Co.  Mr Jude
Isom who related the story to me state that the gentleman was killed with
a small hatchet and that Luther always carried one especially when he was
drinking and gambling.  According to Isom they were that night returning
form a night of same plus drinking .  He stated that he did not see the
fatal blow but that he heard a thud and a splash when the body hit the
water. Mr Isom denied all  personal involvement and gave full credit to
Dudley as the perfomer of the murder most foul as it was reported in the
local paper.  Dudley did have a foul temper when he had a hangover .  I
can personally attest to that(WCF_ grandson).  Dudley was an avid reader
of the Holy Bible and never washed his hair.  He would always brush his
hair for 100 strokes and
I never saw him with his hair dirty.  On sunday he would read the bible
for hours and simutaneously brush his hair while smoking.  My brother and
I lived with our grandparents while our father was in service (WW11) and
our mother  worked in a sewing plant in Hartwell.  Our greatgrand father
Marion Allen also lived in the house during and after that time until his
death.  Dudleys children give various accounts of his meaness and/or
generosity.
   His mother left the family and moved away from my greatgrand father
because of jealousy.  He was a Baptist minister and " women were
attracted to him" .  Willie Pulliam from Elberton who knew the family
said there was some cause for her jealousy!  She moved in with he son
Yancey Valentine Dudley who appeared to be her favorite.  Willie is the
niece of Yancey by marriage and knows a good deal about the situation.
  Of all the peoble that I saw my grandfather interact with he seemed to
dislike my uncle Haley Allen the most.  Haley was a little slow (family
hx. says this was due to being struck by lightning )  but I suspect there
was little wrong with Haley except terminal lazyiness.  We had a battery
powered radio and each night Haley would show up to listen.  He clunked
on the bridge just outside the yard and we were always forewarned of his
eminent arrival.  Once there he would knock at the door and ask " is he
on" and my grandfather would always ask "who Hale" , Haley would always
answer "Mr. District Attorney" . Neither would talk until the show was
over and Haley without Comment would get up and clobber on home to Lois.
Luther would always
grunt "Damn" as uncle left.    When I was ab



out 8 yrs. old my grandfather was away from home under the influence of
"demon rum" and it was time to plow the garden . As a result the job fell
on me . with neophyte hands I Caught the mule and placed the collar and
stymes on he and hooked the trace to the sled , loaded the plow, and
yelled in an authoritative voice" get up" .  My only problem was that I
did not fasten the lines to the bit .  The mule lurched forward and the
trace hit him on the leg and frightned him .  He immediately ran and the
more he ran the harder the trace hit him .  Parts of the plow were found
between our home and Elbert Co. where the mule finally freed himself of
all encumbering equipment and stopped to rest.  He was eventually
recovered by a very unhappy grandpa.  Fortunately he saw humor in the
situiation and I was not clobbered. Grandpa always looked for reasons to
leave the field and on one hot day Kenneth and I were in the field with
him.  Kenneth got a grain of sand in his pants and screamed" I've been
spider bit".  Luther immediately unhitched the mule and throwing Kenneth
on his back we hauled ass to the house never to return to the field that
day.  Once home Kenneth didn't die and we all watched him as he made a
full recovery in about five minutes.  Both Kenneth and I after that were
frequently bit by various spiders and snakes and rushed home for a full
day of observation.
For some reason the doctor was never called.