Clay County AlArchives News.....Insane man causes News Media Sensation.  May 27, 1910
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 18, 2023, 5:07 pm

Ashland Progress May 27, 1910
Milton Hughes, a negro, who is said to have been partially demented for some 
time became thoroughly crazy last week and in a combat with his father injured 
him somewhat, though not seriously, by staking him several blows. He was then 
brought from his home near Bluff Spring to Ashland and placed in jail for safe 
keeping and on Sunday evening was sent to the insane hospital in charge of ex-
Sheriff W.D. Mayo, his wild and frantic behavior has been the subject of 
considerable comment and some highly exaggerated stories concerning him have 
been published in a number of the daily papers. The report that he killed 
several members of his family is entirely false.

May 23, 1910, Birmingham News: 
Sheriff W. D. Mayo, of Ashland, was in Talladega Sunday night with Milton 
Hughes, an insane man from Clay County, who went insane over thinking of the 
comet. Hughes upon going insane killed his father by striking him over the head 
with a piece of wood. He also fatally injured his son by striking him in that 
same manner. Hughes escaped from the sheriff on the public square of Talladega 
and was chased for half a mile before captured. In his race he broke window 
fronts and hurt two of his pursuers badly by clawing them in the face. He tore 
every piece of raiment from his body before captured and had to be tied with 
ropes. Upon leaving Talladega Monday morning he appeared perfectly rational. 
Sheriff Mayo states that Hughes is a well-to-do farmer, owning several acres in 
farmlands and has money in the bank. While in custody this morning he had a 
handful of cotton which he procured from his bed in jail, trying to sell it to 
the onlookers for seventeen cents a pound, declaring that it was a sample of the 
best bale of cotton he had.

This story ran in several Alabama Newspapers:
Talladega Ala. Said by other negroes to have been crazed by the comet, Milton 
Hughes, a negro, last night killed his wife and child near Ashland, Talladega 
County. Brought here today, he broke from his guards and ran, handcuffed, down 
the principal streets pursued by a mob. 

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