Obituary for Raleigh F. Hand, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/obits/rfhand.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= December 2001 A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY ---------------------------- Our community was greatly shocked last Sunday [1 May 1898] afternoon, between 5 and 6 o’clock, by the announcement that Mr. R. F. HAND had been shot by his youngest son, Bunyan HAND. Dr. J. C. SWANN was summoned and at once discovered that the wound was fatal, a ball from a 45 calibre pistol having passed through his bowels and out at the small of the back, fracturing the backbone. The story of the tragedy is perhaps best told in the following testimony given before Judge [A. J.] WEATHERS in a preliminary investigation on Tuesday: TESTIMONY OF MR. JOHN NAPIER. I knew Rol and Bunyan HAND. I last saw Rol HAND yesterday (Monday) morning, while dead. He came to his death by a pistol shot. I heard two shots fired close together. I ran down to Mr. HAND’s house as soon as I heard the shooting. Before I got there, Bunyan HAND called me. I met him (Bunyan) near the gate. He told me he had shot the old man; had to shoot him -- his father was coming in the room on him with a Winchester rifle; that he (Bunyan) wanted me to stay there until he came to town and gave up to the Sheriff; had his pistol in his hand when I met him; said he was going to carry the pistol to the Sheriff. I told Bunyan to give me the pistol, that it was my duty to arrest him. He said, “all right.” Then Bunyan said to me to go in the house; he wanted me to see the condition of everything. I found Mr. R. F. HAND lying on the floor in the hall, with one shoe off. He. (R. F. HAND) asked me to pull his shoe off. I pulled the shoe off and left a negro [sic] woman with him, while I and Bunyan went after Mr. PRESCOTT. There was a Winchester rifle lying by [the] deceased. The rifle was cocked. I picked the rifle up and laid it on a chair on the other side of the hall. This was at the home of the deceased and the home of [the] defendant. TESTIMONY OF MR. C. M. [Monroe] PRESCOTT. I had been to town and had gone home and taken my pony out and my wife told me she heard some pistol shots towards Mr. HAND’s, and I told my wife that Mrs. ECHOLS was sick and I would go and see how she was, and I walked up in a little new ground above the road and saw two men coming down the road. Mr. John NAPIER called me and told me to come there quick, that there was a man shot. I asked him who and he said Mr. HAND. I asked Mr. NAPIER who did it. He said Bunyan HAND, and I said, “Bunyan, what in the world -- how come this?” He said, “Monroe, I had it to do to save my own life; he was coming at me with a Winchester rifle cocked.” Mr. NAPIER then said, “as a citizen, I must take Bunyan to jail, and I want you to go and stay with Mr. HAND.” I asked Mr. NAPIER to be as hasty as possible and send a Doctor and some one else there. I went then into Mr. HAND’s house. When I got there a colored woman named Vicie was there. She was standing at the veranda [sic] steps. I went into the house of the deceased; I spoke to him; he recognized me at once. He said “I am shot; I will die.” It was in this county, on the first day of May, 1898. Dr. J. C. SWANN testified as to the nature and fatal effect of the wound. Young Mr. HAND did not make any statement. He was represented by Messrs. PATE and OLIVER, while Col. Stell BLAKE appeared for the State. Judge WEATHERS fixed his bond at $500, which was arranged during the day and he was released from custody. MR. Rol HAND was well known in Randolph county, having been born and brought up in this vicinity. He was a kind hearted man, always liberal and generous, especially to his friends and those he liked. His besetting sin was drink and occasionally he yielded to it. On these occasions he was disagreeable and was reported to have had serious family disturbances at various times. He is reported to have been drinking on Sunday, and is said to have stated after he was shot that he intended to scare Bunyan with the gun, but did not intend to shoot him. He died Monday morning, May 2nd, about 1 o’clock, it being his 46th birthday. His remains were interred at the Masonic Cemetery [in Wedowee] late Monday afternoon, a large assemblage being present. Rev. W. T. STOKES, of the M. E. Church, conducted the burial service in a most appropriate and impressive manner. [From The Randolph Toiler (Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama), 6 May 1898, p.3] Raleigh L. HAND, 2 May 1852--2 May 1898, Columbia A. McCAIN HAND, 30 Dec 1847--16 Jul 1925, his wife, Both interred in unmarked graves in Masonic Cemetery, Wedowee.