Dallas County AlArchives News.....George T. Sharpe Murdered February 23, 1853 ************************************************ 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: Larry C. Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 November 17, 2010, 10:16 pm Advertiser And State Gazette-attributed Items February 23, 1853 “Horrible Murder”-Advertiser and State Gazette-Feb. 23, 1853, Montgomery, AL [See notes beneath articles] “We copy from the Selma Enterprise an account of a most atrocious murder committed in Dallas on the 14th inst., by a man named Noales on the body of George Sharp, of Burnsville. We see by a handbill that the relatives and friends of the murdered man offer a reward of five hundred dollars for the apprehension of the murderer; and the Governor, by proclamation in another column, offers a reward of four hundred dollars--making in all nine hundred dollars.” “Horrible Murder” “We are exceedingly pained to learn, that Mr. George T. Sharp, of Burnsville, was murdered on the 14th inst., by a man named Noles. The circumstances of the horrible affair were, as we learn from an eye-witness, the following: Noles had been guilty of the infamous crime of incest with two of his daughters, and a warrant had been issued for his apprehension. Mr. Sharp had been deputised to serve the warrant, and in the performance of this duty he, on the 14th inst., with a posse of men, proceeded to the house of Noles, about two miles west of Burnsville, for the purpose of arresting him. When they reached Noles' residence he was seen standing at the corner of his house with a gun in his hand. Upon the near approach of the party, he raised his gun and fired, the shot taking effect upon Mr. Geo. T. Sharp, killing him almost instantly. The gun was loaded with buckshot, one of which struck Mr. Sharp in the breast, two in the region of the heart and one in his forehead, thus producing death almost instantaneously. Noles…[crease in original copy]...good his escape. Parties are out in search of him and we have little-[doubt?]-but that he will soon(be?) caught. A reward of $500 has been offered for his apprehension. Noles is about six feet one inch high, dark complected, high cheek bones and of thin visage. He had on when he left a white wool hat and cotton homespun clothes. Seldom has anything happened in our county, more calculated to harrow the feelings than the above. Thus has a young man, endeared by his many amiable traits of character, to a large circle of relatives and friends, been cut off in the bloom of his youth, by the ruthless murderer. We deeply sympathise with the relatives in this, their sad affliction, and sincerely hope, that the All-wise Ruler will support the aged and venerable mother in her heavy bereavement. Selma Enterprise” ____________________________________ The items above were found on microfilm at the Alabama State Archives, in the paper, and date as noted. A third item, a “proclamation” from the Governor is not shown here as a useful copy was not made. See that item from a later issue in a separate entry. A search for the “original proclamation”, in the papers of the Executive Office and Secretary of State in the Alabama Archives proved fruitless. Many of these news articles were attributed to the newspapers of Dallas Co. AL(Cahaba & Selma)where the crime took place, and the trials were held. For more on the trials of Joseph Noles(Knowles)see two transcripts of Alabama Supreme Court appeals on this site. An unused “Extradition paper” is also found in these court records. For more on this unfinished story see the website: Knowles In Georgia: http//members.tripod.com/knonga Additional Comments: See Alabama Supreme Court appeal transcripts on this site! File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dallas/newspapers/horrible90nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb