Dale County AlArchives Obituaries.....Bailey, Peyton W. July 3, 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 April 4, 2009, 5:44 pm The Southern Star, July 11, 1888 The Southern Star Ozark, Dale County, Ala. Wednesday, July 11, 1888 Page Three A Horrible Murder One of best and most Highly respected citizens of Dale shot down in his field Just six miles east of Newton, on the Newton and Columbia road, is one of the prettiest farms in the county; this is the very spot where Capt. P.W. Bailey has resided for many years, and was the scene of one of the most fiendish and diabolical murders that has ever been committed in this county. On last Tuesday Capt. Bailey was plowing in his plantation about one miles from his house, in a field of cotton the black hearted wretch who died the act was lying in ambush in his wait, and as he went to turn his mule at the end of the row, a load of duck-shot was discharged at him, lodging in his right side just under the right nipple, killing him instantly or at least supposed to have killed him instantly, as there were no signs of even a struggle for life. The report of the gun was heard at the house about nine o’clock in the morning. A Negro by the name of Aaron Long, who was working on the same plantation nearby, found him lying on the ground dead, when he started from his work to dinner and immediately gave the alarm, whereupon Drs. Morris and Baxter were summoned and a post mortem examination made. They say that nine duck-shot entered his side, one of which was extracted. In a very few hours the settlement for miles around were gathered together at his house, and a posse composed of many of the best citizens of that country was formed, and at once began to search for the fiend, but at this writing all efforts to capture him have proved futile. Capt. Bailey was a quiet, law abiding citizen, and was much respected and esteemed by all who knew him, and no one had the least idea that there was in the whole county a man so degraded and so mean as to murder him. About two months ago, or just after the beat meetings had in this county on the Senatorial question, Capt. Bailey wrote a letter to the Editor of the Star, by request, giving the particulars of the beat meeting at that precinct, sent it to the post office at Newton by James E. Windham, one of his neighbors. It is now thought that Mr. Windham broke open the letter and read its contents, as after returning home, he reported things that were in the letter claiming that the Editor of the Star had furnished a copy of the letter at his request; such, however, was false, as the Editor did no such thing, nor did he receive any word or letter from Windham asking for a copy of Mr. Bailey’s letter. Afterwards Mr. Bailey accosted Mr. Windham on the subject, when, as we learn, a few angry words were exchanged between the parties. Without telling all that we have heard on the subject, lest we do someone an injustice, we will say that, at present, the suspicion resting against Mr. Jas. E. Windham is strong and well founded. Mr. Windham has not been seen by anyone with the exception of his family, since the murder, however, just before the murder he was seen with a gun in a small patch of woods adjoining Mr. Bailey’s field. A reward of five hundred dollars has been offered for the capture of Mr. Windham. Mr. Windham is a native of Dale County, has a wife and several children two of whom are very ill at present. Mr. Windham is known to be a desperate character, and when once offended is regarded as very dangerous. It is said that he was heard to threaten Mr. Bailey, and further, that he has not spoken to Mr. Bailey since the time they met and exchanged angry words about the letter to the Star. Heroic efforts are now being made to find Mr. Windham. Capt. Bailey’s neighbors are justly irritated at the foul murder. Who can conceive of a more heinous crime? An old man tottering under the weight of full near seventy years, his long beard white with age, his limbs enfeebled by the cares of life, assassinated while quietly at work in his cotton field! What can we say of the fiend who could raise his hand against such a man? The murder of Capt. Bailey serves to remind us of the depths to which human depravity can descend. Indeed it does seem that more than human meanness would be required to urge a man to the commission of such a deed. We blush with shame when we think that Dale County has been the home of such a vile murderer. Capt. Bailey was buried on Wednesday evening at 4 o’clock at Sylvan Grove, near his home. He was a mason of good standing – was at one time a representative in the legislature from this county. He was a kind neighbor and a good citizen, and all regret that he came to such a sad and unnatural death. The Southern Star Ozark, Dale County, Ala. Wednesday, July 11, 1888 Page Three At present the evidence supporting the suspicion that Jas. E. Windham is the murderer of Capt. Bailey, is almost conclusive. In fact there is no one well acquainted with the facts in the case, who has any doubt on the subject. The Southern Star Ozark, Dale County, Ala. Wednesday, July 11, 1888 Page Three A Liberal Reward will be paid for the arrest and delivery to the Sheriff of Dale County, Ala. of James E. Windham who is believed to be guilty of the murder of Peyton W. Bailey. Said Windham is between 45 and 50 years of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, weights 150 or 160 pounds, blue or gray eyes sunk deep in the head, sallow complexion, talks drowlingly through his nose, long eyebrows extending entirely across the bridge of his nose, and had on when he left a pair of No. 8 box toed shoes, rather heavy built, when last seen wore light sandy whiskers and mustache, dark hair slightly gray. Other papers will please copy. The Southern Star Ozark, Dale County, Ala. Wednesday, July 25, 1888 Page Three Suicide James E. Windham, the man who murdered Capt. P.W. Bailey several days since, was found dead near his residence on last Thursday. The Coroner’s jury returned a verdict of “death by poison.” All attempts to capture Mr. Windham were of no avail, and it was thought up to last Thursday, that he had gone to Florida or at least to parts unknown. It is thought that Mr. Windham went home, shaved and dressed himself, then took some kind of poison, and went out near his house and sat down by a tree to await the dreadful result. One of the most horrible murders has thus resulted in the murderer taking his own life with his own hand. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/obits/b/bailey671ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb