The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, April 16, 1925
pg 1

Two Women Sentenced in Grayson County
Sherman, April 13 - Conviction of Mrs. Nellie Overley, alleged Sherman woman bootlegger, in the Fifty-ninth
district court Saturday afternoon, of possession of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale, made a total
of six convictions on felony charges in that court last week, two of the six being women charged with violation of the Dean act, the first women to be convicted under that charge in Grayson County.

Mrs. Simmie Combs, 32, alleged woman moonshiner of Denison, was found guilty of manufacturing intoxicating liquor and given one year in the penitentiary, Friday, April 10.
Mrs. Combs was the first woman convicted of manufacturing liquor in Grayson County since the passage of the Dean act making the offense a felony. Mrs. Combs attempted to prove in defense testimony that she had employed the still, which was found in her home on West Morton street, Denison, in preparing prune juice for her four children, who are said to be afflicted with tuberculosis, and also that whiskey had been prescribed by a physician for her children. Arresting officers testified that they found a still in operation and approximately 350 gallons of fermented mash in her home.

Mrs. Nellie Overley was convicted Saturday, April 11, of possessing intoxicating liquor for sale, and given one year. Officers testified to finding two and one-half gallons of corn whiskey in her home on N. Broughton street, Sherman, the glass containers of which were said to have been broken by Juanita Overley, 17-year-old daughter of the defendant. Defense testimony was introduced in an attempt to prove that the liquor was not in possession of the defendant, and that it was the property of  her son, Gunby Odneal, was placed in her house without her knowledge, but with the knowledge and consent of her daughter, who is also under indictment for alleged possession of liquor.



The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, April 16, 1925
pg 2

WOMAN GIVEN YEAR IN LIQUOR CASE
Sherman, April 12, Mrs. Nellie Overly of Sherman was convicted and given one year in the penitentiary late Saturday on a charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquor. She is the second woman convicted in District Court
last week. A new trial was asked.



The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, April 30, 1925
pg 1

39 Are Convicted of Felonies
During One Term of Court

Nellie Overly, Sherman woman, was convicted on a charge of possessing intoxicating liquor for the purpose of
sale and given one year.
Simmie Combs, Denison woman, was convicted on a charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquor and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.



The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, July 9, 1925
pg 1

Fifty-Eight Cases Set
For Trial Next Week

Sherman, July 7 - Fifty-eight cases, fifty-two of which charge violation of the liquor law, have been set for Monday, July 13, in the Fifty-ninth district court.
The cases that have been set for Monday are as follows: Nellie Overly, eight charges of violation of the liquor law; Juanita Overly, violation of liquor law; Bill Alexander, violation of liquor law; Earl Thurman, six charges of violation of liquor law; George Boggs, driving a car while intoxicated; Lela Mae Lewis, charge of theft and burglary; Stanley Holt, assault with intent to murder; L. R. Short, violation of liquor law, two cases; Simmie Combs, thirty-two charges of violation of liquor law.



The Waco News-Tribune
Thursday, April 29, 1926
pg 8

CRIMINAL APPEALS
Submitted on state's brief - Nellie Overly, Grayson . .
Submitted on appellant's motion for rehearing - Nellie Overly, Grayson . . .



The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, May 27, 1926
pg 1

NELLIE OVERLY FAILS TO
GET NEW HEARING

Sherman, May 26, - Nellie Overly's motion for a rehearing before the Court of Criminal Appeals at Austin was
overruled by that court Wednesday, according to a press dispatch.
Mrs. Overly, of Sherman, was convicted some time ago on a charge of violating the liquor law and was given
one year in the penitentiary. On appeal to the higher court the conviction was affirmed. Wednesday the court
overruled her motion for a rehearing in the case.