Monroe County AlArchives News.....Sheriff Harrengton Killed! July 2, 1902
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Elizabeth Lloyd  Marsden marsdenfam@hotmail.com October 8, 2007, 9:46 pm

Monroe Journal July 2, 1902
Jesse Pittman Fatally Shoots the Sheriff and a Negro Woman

Another shocking tragedy occurred here Monday afternoon which causes sorrow 
and distress to many hearts and casts a pall of gloom over the entire 
community.  The circumstances leading to and attending the tragedy, as near as 
we are able to get them, are substantially as follows:

For some time past there had been a dispute between Mr. William Davis and 
Alice Snider, a colored woman, over a land line.  Mr. Davis posted a notice of 
warning to trespassers.  Recently the Snider woman had the line run by a 
surveyor, and on Monday proceeded to erect a fence on the line so marked.  
Monday afternoon Sheriff Harrengton, accompanied by Mr. S.A. McDuffie, walked 
down to where the work was in progress.  Soon after they arrived, Mr. Davis, 
his son, his brother, J.B. Pittman, and his brother-in-law, W.J. Curry came up.

Mr. Davis inquired if it was intended to disregard his warnings and to build 
the fence despite his protests.  Mr. Harrengton disclaimed any intention to 
interfere, but urged that the matter could only be settled in the Courts.

A general quarrel ensued, Mr. Davis finally ording that work be stopped and 
all of them get off the land.  Mr. Harrengton replied that since he (Davis) 
seemed disposed to "cut up" about it, he would remain and see the fence 
completed.  Mr. Davis commanded Howard Snider, a son of the woman, who was 
engaged in digging a posthole, to desist, which he refused to do.  Mr. Pittman 
remarked that he would stop him, drew his pistol and fired two shots at the 
boy, striking him in the arm, and then turned quickly and fired on Mr. 
Harrengton and the woman with fatal effect.  Mr. Harrengton died almost 
instantly.  The woman expired in a few moments.  Pittman, it is understood, 
has absconded. Mr. Davis was seen by the Journal reporter and asked for a 
statement, but acting under the advice of his attorneys, he declined to say 
anything.  It is learned from other sources that the plea of self-defense is 
claimed.  The affair is most deeply deplored throughout the entire community.
Mr. Pittman is a young man about 24 years old and bore a good reputation in 
the community where he formerly lived.  He has resided here only a few months. 

Additional Comments:
Mr. S.A. McDuffie, Monroeville postmaster

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