Marion County AlArchives News.....UNDERWOOD - mail carrier murdered December 17, 1886
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Veneta McKinney http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00016.html#0003775 April 1, 2007, 8:08 pm

Vernon Courier - Microfilm - AL Dept Of Archives And History December 17, 1886
Vernon Courier, (Vernon, Lamar County, AL) Dec 17, 1886, Pg 2
MURDERED – THE MAIL CARRIER ON THE HAMILTON AND HALEY ROUTE
Found Dead in the Road With Two Loads of Buckshot in His Brain
Robbery the Motive for the Murder
No Clue to the Perpetrators of the Foul Deed
INTENSE EXCITEMENT
From the Marion Herald of Dec. 2nd
	On last Tuesday evening a ripple of excitement was caused in Hamilton 
by the announcement that Mr. PONTIUS UNDERWOOD, the mail carrier on the route 
from this place to Haley’s Post office, had been foully murdered about three 
miles from Pearce’s Mills , on this side. By night the ripple had increased to 
an uproar and nearly every man had left the place to join in the search for 
the murderer, and to render any assistance necessary in the disposition of the 
remains of the unfortunate young man. From several men who have visited the 
place where the murder was committed, and who were with the searches until a 
late hour yesterday evening, we learn the following:
FACTS ABOUT THE MURDER:
	The body was first discovered by a Mr. WEATHERLY who at once reported 
it to the people of Pearce’s Mills. Two loads of buckshot had struck him, one 
on the right cheek and the other just under the left ear. The last named shot 
was the fatal one. The entire load of shot went clear through his head and 
came out over his right eye, making a horrible wound, and capable of causing 
instant death. When found he was lying in a 
POOL OF BLOOD
and in the same position, apparently, in which he had fallen from his horse. 
The mail bags were found at a distance of about two hundred yards from the 
spot, cut to pieces and the mail scattered about on the ground. Although his 
pockets were not touched, there can be but little reason to doubt that
ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE
for the crime, as he was a quiet, inoffensive and peaceable young man and so 
far as is know, hadn’t an enemy in the world. But there was no registered 
matter in the mail, so he got no money.
	Mr. UNDERWOOD was a son of Mr. JESSE UNDERWOOD, an old and highly 
respected citizen, who has lived in the Haley neighborhood for many years. The 
young man was, we suppose about 20 years of age.
	The excitement and indignation of the citizens is at fever heat, and 
if the villain is caught before they have time to cool down it is safe to say 
that he will be lynched. Determined men are doing all that can be done to find 
some clue to the murderer, but everything is yet shrouded in mystery.



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