Butts County GaArchives News.....Killed By Convict November  1888
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 November 25, 2003, 10:40 am

Middle Ga ARgus

Mr. Jason Gresham   -   KILLED BY A CONVICT

On  Thursday of last week Mr. Jason Gresham who was guarding some convicts for 
T. W. Manley & Son in Spalding county was killed by one of the same.  Mr. 
Gresham and four Negro convicts under his charge in a new ground cutting 
timber.  At the time he was killed he was sitting on a log with his gun between 
his knees and his pistol in his hands.  He ordered the Negroes to cut a tree 
which stood within a few feet of where he was and as they approached him, one 
of them, named Oscar Carmichael, who was convicted in the recent term of Henry 
County Superior court for attempt to murder saw that the guard’s eye was not on 
him struck him a terrible blow on the head which killed him instantly.  Not 
satisfied with this, he struck him again crushing the skull.  He then severed 
his head from his body, with the exception of a small piece of skin.  He asked 
his brother convicts to help him conceal the body, which they refused to do.  
He then took Mr. Greham’s gun, pistol, watch and pocketbook and forcing the 
other Negroes to go with him a short distance fled, while the others returned 
and gave the alarm..  In a short while the whole community was on the lookout 
for the black fiend but he made good his escape, and at last accounts was still 
at large.  We learn that a thousand dollar reward has been offered for his 
arrest, which no doubt will get him, and a hanging will be the sure and quick 
result.  Mr. Gresham was a noble young man.  Well known to many of our readers.

Middle Ga Argus – November 27,1888


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