Baldwin County GaArchives Obituaries.....Batson, W.  C. 1902
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William  J. Carroll williamcarrollj@bellsouth.net December 29, 2007, 10:35 am

The Macon Telegraph 3-12-1902
The Macon Telegraph 
3-12-1902

Richwood Merchant is Assassinated

Mr. W.C. Batson, while opening the gate to his
Residence, is given a death blow in the dark. The alleged slayer notified Mrs.
Batson, carried dead man's body to the wife, conveyed messages to neighbors and
fled, but was later arrested. Mr. Batson has relatives in Macon.

Mr. W.C. Batson, a prominent merchant of Richwood, Dooly County, and
brother-in-law of Capt C.W. Hubbard of the Macon fire department, and of Mr.
John W. Hubbard was waylaid and assassinated at the front gate of his residence
in Richwood Monday night and at 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon he died from the
wounds.

Alonzo Cross, a negro, was arrested yesterday afternoon, charged with the crime.
The negro was carried in Vienna and lodge in jail, as it is thought by the
authorities that he would be lynched if he remained in the jail at Richwood.

Mr. Batson is a member of the firm of Batson & Mitchell, who operate a large
merchandise store in Richwood. Mr. Batson resides about three blocks from his
place of business.

On Monday night several gentlemen, who are guards at the stockage at Richwood
were at the store until about 11 o'clock, conversing with Mr. Batson. Shortly
after 11 o'clock Mr. Batson closed his store. He took the firm's money and put
it in his coat pocket, together with a pistol. He then walked home. When he
arrived at the gate to his residence he opened it and stepped in.

When he turned to latch the gate the assassin struck hm a blow on the head with
some heavy instrument. Mr. Batson was knocked to the ground and his skull was
crushed.

A few minutes later Alonzo Cross, the alleged murderer, went to the house of an
old negro who resides near by and told him that he heard someone groaning in Mr.
Batson's yard and for him to come and go to the place with him. According to the
old negro's statement he followed Cross, who walked directly to where Mr. Batson
was lying. The two negroes picked up the body and carried it into his house,
laid it on the front porch and called Mrs. Batson.

When Mrs. Batson came to the door, Alonzo said:
"I found Mr. Baston sick at the gate".

Mrs. Batson looked at the body of her husband and saw a stream of blood pouring
from his head. She began to scream, and told Cross to to to the residences of
Mr. Will Dickerson and Alma Speer and tell them to come at once. Mr. Speer
resides about a mile away. The negro carried the message, but did not return.

Yesterday morning blood hounds were secured from the stockage, but they refused
to take the trail.

Mr. Batson leaves a wife and two children, one married daughter, Mrs. Hall, who
resides near Vienna, and a son 18 years old. The funeral will take place this
afternoon at 3 o'clock.  The interment will be in Mt. Pleasant cemetery.

Mr. John W and Capt Hubbard will leave for Richwood this morning to attend the
funeral.
Mr. Batson was well known in Macon having visited here several times.

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