Carroll County GaArchives News.....Newspaper abtracts for JULY & AUGUST 1877 1877 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: C Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 October 31, 2006, 10:43 pm The Carroll County Times 1877 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CARROLL COUNTY TIMES", Carrollton, Carroll County, Georgia for JULY 1877, AUGUST 1877 NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, JULY 6, 1877 The Atlanta Constitution is writing up short sketches of the members of the constitutional convention, soon to assemble in Atlanta. From it, we copy the following sketches of some of the delegates, from this election district: HON. WILLIAM O. TUGGLE Hon. William O. Tuggle of LaGrange was born in Henry county on the 25th of Sptember 1841 and is consequently nearly thirty-six years of age. His parents died while he was quite an infant. His father who died young, was both a lawyer and a farmer and was a member of the legislature from Henry. Mr. W.O. Tuggle was educated partly at McDonough, partly at LaGrange and partly at Rome, and graduated at Mercer University. His army record is unusually stirring. He enlisted in April 1861 in the Virginia Army and staid therewith until the summer campaign of 1862 when he was transferred to Gen. Morgan's cavalry with which he remained until the close of the war. He participated in the Kentucky raids made by the famous chieftain and also in the Ohio raid. He was twice captured and imprisoned, once at St. Louis and once at Indianopolis but made his escape both times. In politics, Mr. Tuggle has always been a democrat, of the Jeff. Davis first; and of the Seymour-Tilden stripe afterwards. He was a nominee for the Senate in 1868 but it was popular for Democrats to be defeated in those unfortunate days and Mr. Tuggle was always popular. His name was also placed on the Seymour and Blair ticket as alternate elector and later, on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket as elector. In both of these hotly contested campaigns he did good service. He also took an important part in the recent Congressional election in his District where the nominee was opposed by an independent and it is undoubtedly due to his efforts that the independent was beaten so badly. Mr. Tuggle has exceptional gifts as a speaker. He manages to always put himself thoroughly in rapport with his audience and then woe to the unfortunate politician who is opposed to him. His style is not methodical, perhaps, but is popular, and his resources of anecdote, illustration, wit and sarcasm are never failing. He is thoroughly familiar not only with the history of Constitution making in Georgia, but with the spirit of the instruments themselves and this, wholly apart from his character and standing as a lawyer and a citizen, will make him a conspicuous figure in the Convention. ----- Col. SAMPSON W. HARRIS Col. Sampson W. Harris was born in Wetumpka, Ala., about the year 1838 and in June 1866, was married to Miss Lucy Todd. His father was in Congress from Alabama and died while serving his State in that capacity. Col. Harris graduated at the State University at Athens, where, in spite of his love of fun, he distinguished himself as a thorough scholar, apt, accurate and prompt. He chose the law as his profession and is now in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. During the war he became Colonel of the Sixth Georgia Regiment, attached to Colquitt's Brigade and was conspicuous for his gallantry. He remained in the army until the close of the war. At present, Colonel Harris is the Solicitor General of the Coweta circuit, a position for which he is eminently fitted. As a lawyer, he adds humor to eloquence, a combination that rarely fails to win, and is immensely popular, both personally and professionally. Altogether he is a man of fine ability and socially, is very attractive. He is frank, genial and hospitable and his gifts as a raconteur are exceptional. - --- LEMUEL L. HARDY Lemuel L. Hardy was born in Troup county on the 5th of October 1828 and received a plian but practical education in the home schools. He was married to Miss Huguley of Monroe county. His father, a sturdy and successful farmer, was born in Virginia, married in South Carolina and moved to Georgia in 1827. Capt. Hardy seems never to have politically ambitious, having never held any other office than that of Notary Public. He served in the State Troops during the war as Captain. He was a Whig until the dissolution of the Southern wing of that party and has since been a Democrat. He is a gentleman of enlarged ideas and is keenly alive to the desires and necessities of his constituents in Troup county. - --- THOMAS M. AWBREY Thomas M. Awbrey was born in Georgia about 1820. His parents were among the first settlers of Heard county, moving there soon after the county was organized. There they died and are buried. Their son Thomas, received a good plain education in the country schools of Heard county. About 1840 he was married to Miss Gay. He has frequently been Justice of the Peace and has filled several offices in Heard county, and is now the Commissioner of its Roads and Revenues. He has always been a farmer and is now one of the most thrifty planters in his section. He did not enter the army in the late war as he was legally exempt. Before and since the war he has been a Democrat in politics and has been very earnest in his support of that party. he is a man of faultless private character and is highly esteemed in his county. He is a deacon in the Baptist church, and a zealous religious worker. His general reputation is one of the best character and he will be a good man in his State's counsels. ---- Hon. NATHAN G. SWANSON Hon. Nathan G. Swanson was born in Greene county in August 1821. His father was a well-to-do planter and the son has clung to the old plantation, being himself a most successful farmer. He seems to have had little or no political ambition for although personally very poopular, he has never held an office. His education is a very liberal one, being at LaGrange in this state and ending at Harvard. Although his ambition has never led him to strive for honors in the area of politics, he is a profound political student, deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the country and his section, and his record in the Convention will be a good one. He was a Whig before the war but has since been an active and enthusiastic Democrat. -------- MURDEROUS ASSAULT LaGrange, Ga. A negro man named Henry Ware employed by L.L. Hardy Sr., killed his wife Monday morning with a chop axe. They were working in a field together, apart from the other hands. The others heard the woman crying out and ran to see what was the matter. As they approached they saw the man running away and they found the woman lying on the ground weltering in her blood. She had been struck once on the neck and twice on the head by a chop axe which was still in one of the wounds. Nothing has been heard of the murderer since. He had been heard to say that he intended to do something very bad and then leave the country. The LaGrange Reporter ---- DROWNED Franklin, Ga. Gus Dunson and two other negroes went in bathing in the Chattahoochee river on Mr. Joseph T. Lane's plantation last Sunday. Gus could not swim and getting in water over his head, was drowned. He remained in the water from 1 to 4 o'clock p.m. before he was taken out. He was old enough to have a family. The Franklin News and Banner ---- LOCAL News Miss Fanie Ponder, some nine or ten years old, a niece of Hon. W.W. Merrell's and who is at present living with him, while on a visit to Dr. Cheney's last Saturday evening fell from a cherry tree from which she was getting some cherries, and by the fall, one of her legs was broken. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, JULY 20, 1877 LOCAL News Mr. Jim Spurlock who went to Texas last Spring with Mr. A.J. Garrison, has returned, and is satisfied with Texas for the present. --- Mrs. A.R. Blander, connected with Ward's Seminary in Nashville, Tenn., is on a visit to relatives in this place. Mrs. B. is a daughter of the Rev. A.C. Reese. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, JULY 27, 1877 BILLOW News Mr. LeRoy O'Neil was married to Miss Caroline Roberts by Rev. C. Garrett at the residence of the bride last Sunday morning at nine o'clock. --- Area News Mrs. Lizzie Williams wife of E.B. Williams living near Franklin, died on the 10th of July. --- The LaGrange Reporter gives the following account of a horrible death in that county: " Last Monday morning, Mr. Gosey, a young man about seventeen years of age,working on Mr. Roberts' farm in Roughedge district, left the house and started to the field, mounted sideways on his plow mule, which had the gear on. In a short time the mule returned to the house creating a suspicion that all was not right. Search was made for the missing rider. He was found by a rock pile, dead. It is evident that the mule had become frightened at something and had run away; and that Mr. Gosey had fallen off and his feet becoming entangled in the gearing, he was dragged till he was killed. His whole body was terribly bruised and his skull was crushed. He was buried on Tuesday. ---- Mr. L.H. Walthall, an old and prominent citizen of Polk county is dead. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, AUGUST 3, 1877 LOCAL News Mrs. Alford who was carried from this county to the Lunatic Asylum, we learn, died last week. --- Mrs. Judge Wright of Albany, Georgia is on a visit to her father Thos. Chandler, Esq. of this place. --- Our young friend Toombs Brown returned from Atlanta the latter part of last week. He has been spending several months in the Gate City attending Moore's Commercial College. --- Married, on the 22nd ultimo at the residence of the bride's father in Whitesburg, Mr. H.N. Timmons to Miss Nannie A. Crafford. The ceremony was performed by Rev. H.M. Newton. --- We hear that Uncle Billy Copeland of Bowdon is very low. It is not thought that he will recover. Since the above was in type, we learn that he is dead. Died last Tuesday morning. --- MURDER IN HARALSON We learn that last Sunday morning, a horrible and unprovoked murder occurred in Haralson county on the Goldin settlement, some five or six miles this side of Buchanan. The circumstances as we get them are these: It seems that a young man by the name of Goldin had been paying some attention to the daughter of a man by the name of Pierce. His suit was not encouraged by Pierce and they had some words about the same one day last week at which time it is stated that Pierce threatened to shoot Goldin. However the latter got away without difficulty at that time, but on last Sunday, he armed himself and went to Pierce's house where he shot Pierce down at his own gate, killing him immediately. Goldin made no effort to escape but we did not learn positively whether he had been arrested or not. Since the above was put in type, we have received communication from a gentleman in the upper part of this county giving the following additional facts in relation to this outrageous murder. Yesterday near Corinth church, 8 miles above here, a Mr. Wash Goldin shot and instantly killed Mr. Pierce, a much respected citizen of Haralson county. He shot him at Pierce's own gate. The murder has been arrested. There was no one at Pierces' but himself, the rest of the family having gone to church close by. Mr. Pierce leaves a son and two daughters to mourn his loss. From all accounts it was a most brutal murder. Mr. Pierce was shot through the heart and then again through the lungs. Either shot, in the opinion of the coroner's jury, would have instantly proved fatal. When found, Mr. Pierce had part of an apple in his hand, and a small piece in his mouth, proving that the shot was unexepected. ---- Mr. Reuben Vansant of Douglas county is dead. --- Two citizens of Coweta county, J.L. Strozier and W.J. Anderson were carried to Atlanta on the 20th ultimo, charged with violating the Enforcement Act. These charged were preferred by Catharine McGee and Milly Martin, colored. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, AUGUST 10, 1877 DEATHS The grim hand of Death has been busy in our community the past week. On last Saturday evening at 5 o'clock p.m. the Rev. Wm. Foster, living some five or six miles from this place, after a long and painful illness, expired. On Monday after a long and severe illness, Mrs. McElwreath, wife of Dr. ? P. McElwreath of this place, died. Mrs. M. had been sick for some time and her death was not unexpected. Still another is to be added to the victims of the grim monster. The deceased in this case, although not a citizen of this community or county at this time, yet was raised in Carrollton and is known to a great many of our citizens. John L. Merrell, son of Jos. Merrell living near Bowdon, died in Cleburne county, Alabama on the 5th inst. We failed to learn any of the particulars of his death. --- LOCAL News Dutch Bailey was arrested by revenue officers last week but he managed to give them leg bail. Dutch, they say, is a good runner. --- The lands belonging to the Martin estate which have been advertised the past month by the administrators, were sold at public outcry on last Tuesday. They were bid in by Dr. R.C. McDaniel, D.R. Martin and D.E. Martin, all of whom are legatees. --- BILLOW News Last Saturday evening about five o'clock, death came to the peaceable household of Rev. Wm. Foster and claimed him as his victim, making the first breach in the family of eleven persons. Mr. Foster had been in bad health for many years and had suffered much from a disease of the lungs, but for the past four or five months he has suffered untold agony. He had been confined to his bed for the last three months and had employed the best medical skill in the country, but all to no effect. He must pay the debt we all owe and as he was fully prepared for the settlement, why not now? He was buried at the old Camp Ground last Sunday evening and his funeral was preached by Uncle Davie Stripling at his own request, from the 12th and 13th verses of the 20th chapter of Revelation. Rev. Mr. Quillian of Carrollton concluded the services. While it is a sad thing to have to lose our friends, yet we are inclined to think it much better for Mr. F. to die than to live, since while he lived, he must suffer so much. Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to the bereaved family, hoping that they may soon overcome their sorrows and be reconciled to what they now regard as an awful calamity. --- Considerable excitement prevailed in Haralson during our visit there over the foul and unprovoked murder of Mr. Pierce by Washington Golden. ---- THE HARALSON TRAGEDY; Full Particulars of the Difficulty, the Killing of Pierce and Committal trial of Golden Editor of Times; Your last issue contained a short account of the difficulty between Mr. Pierce and Wash Golden of Haralson which resulted in the killing of the former by the latter. As I was in Buchanan during the preliminary trial of Golden on Thursday, I am prepared to give your readers the particulars of the difficulty as was developed in Golden's commitment trial. It appears that Golden had been visiting Pierce's daughter for some time when a young gentleman by the name of Robinson also began calling upon Miss Pierce, which appeared to meet more with the approbation of Mr. Pierce, than did the visits of Golden. This, it is supposed, cramped and offended Golden, and about two weeks ago on Sunday evening, they both (Robinson and Golden) met at the house of Mr. Pierce, each for the purpose of spending the evening with Miss Pierce. Robinson, it seems, rather got ahead of Golden and left him no alternative but to leave the premises. About dark, Golden went out, and as Pierce's folks supposed, went home. Robinson stayed all night. His horse was in the stable and the next morning, the horse's mane had been sheared off close to its neck and his tail bobbed off close to the tail bone, and the hair all along the tail bone was cut and scalloped in the shape of a screw pie. Mr. Pierce at once suspicioned and charged Golden wit h the shearing of the horse, which Golden heard of and denied. Mr. Pierce said that no honest man would do such a thing, and he believed that Golden was guilty, and if he knew it, he would be __ if he didn't kill him. Thus the matter went on until Tuesday, July 24th, when Mr. Pierce heard his dogs barking out in the field, a short distance from the house, and supposing that they were barking at a snake, he seized a hoe and ran down to where the dogs were to kill the snake, as he supposed were there. When he got out in the field he saw young Golden and another man by the name of Sanford with their guns on their shoulders as if hunting, coming towards him. He waited till they came up, when a pretty sharp conversation was entered into, by Pierce and Golden, about the shearing of Robinson's horse's tail. Mr. Pierce charged Golden with it. But the conversation was continued for some time when Pierce raised the hoe he had in his hand and told Golden, " G---D-- you, I intend to kill you." Whereupon Golden took to his heels and ran out of Pierce's reach, then stopped, turned around and told Pierce that if he would let him, he would come back and explain all about the tail shearing. Pierced answered and told him to lay down his guns and come back, which Golden did. In a few minutes, both parties were quarreling in good earnest and Piece turned about and ran into the house and got his gun and came out swearing he would kill Golden, who had also got his gun off the ground. Pierce's daughter came out with her father, holding to him and begging him not to have a difficulty about the matter. But Pierce pushed up, dragging his daughter with him, until they reached the place where Golden stood, when Miss Pierce told Golden to leave the place, that she did not want him and her father to fight. Golden then left, and Pierce returned with his daughter to the house. Thus ended Tuesday the difficulty. Golden went home and told his father's family that the matter between himself and Mr. PIerce was amicably and peacefully settled, which was sworn to by the Goldens in the trial, but the statement was afterwards contradicted in his own account of the killing. Golden says that on Sunday morning, the 29th of July, he had started to meeting at Corinth church and as he was passing Pierces' he was halted by the old man who came riding out on his horse out of the woods, and who told him to hold on, that he wanted to converse with him. Golden stopped and then walked back to the gate. Mr. P. rode on across the road to his stable and put up his horse and then returned to the gate where Mr. Golden was waiting. Mr. Pierce came up to Golden and said "Wash, I want to know what sort of tales those are, that you have been peddling about me?" Golden asked "What tales". "Oh , said Pierce, you known d ----d well what I mean" and then explained about the tales. Golden answered that he could satisfy him thoroughly about them. "Well" says Pierce, "you don't explain about the horse tail scrape and G--d ---m you I intend to kill you", wherepon he turned and walked into the house and got his gun and came out with the gun cocked and in shooting position walked about half way to the gate, when Golden shot at him, missing him the first shot, but the second and third taking effect in his heart and lungs, which brought him to the ground a dead man. None of Mr. Pierce's family were at home and no mortal eye saw the bloody deed, save Washington Golden. In about one hour, Golden went up to the church and told the people that he had killed old man Pierce, that he, Pierce had attempted to kill him, and was only prevented by his shooting him through the heart with a pistol ball. A warrant was sworn out for Golden and the Sheriff went immediately that evening to make the arrest, which was effected without much difficulty. He was carried to Buchanan and placed under guard, there being no jail sufficient to hold him at that place. The preliminary trial was begun on Tuesday morning and lasted till Thursday noon. It was developed in the evidence that this difficulty between Pierce and Golden on Tuesday did not amount to a settlement of the matter about the shearing of the horse's tail. It was proved by the man Sanford and Miss Pierce, that they separated in a row. A Mr. Underwood swore that he passed Mr. Pierce's on Sunday on his way to church and did not see any one at Pierce's until after he had passed the gate; there he saw Washington Golden come out of the woods just ahead of him and walk a few steps toward the church, then stopped and sat down on a pine stump by the side of the road, and pull off his boot. Mr. Underwood rode up and asked him if he was going to church and Golden answered that he didn't know, that his boot hurt his foot so bad he could not walk. Mr. U. rode on and left him. About this time Mr. Pierce rode out of the woods on his horse which had on a bell but no bridle and he saw Golden raise his hat as if saluting Mr. PIerce but heard not a word spoken. Mr. P. rode on across the road toward the stable. Just there Mr. U. came to a crook in the road which put him out of sight of the house, but when he had traveled some one hundred and fifty yards he again came in sight of the house and looking back, he saw Washington Golden standing at Pierce's gate, with his face turned away from the church. This was the last sight of him. The account of the killing is Golden's entirely and which I have already written. Circumstantial and Presumptive Evidence 1. When the report of the pistol was heard at the church, which was not far off, Golden's brothers, without a word, got up and went directly to the Pierce house and remained there until the coroner and his jury arrived. 2. Mr. Pierce, at the time he was killed, was evidently eating apples as there was a piece in his mouth and the greater part of another apple lying close by, with some bites off it. 3. He was lying on his face with his gun, an army gun, lying beside him, cocked, and while Mr. Pierce himself was very bloody, there was not a drop of blood to be found on the gun. 4. Mr. Pierce's clothes were powder burnt around every ball hole and a test made with the same pistol developed the fact that the cloth would not scorch from the heat of the burning power ignited in the pistol over the distance of one foot. This is the principal part of the evidence in the case with Golden's story and the court which was composed of the following justices, Farmer, Weatherby, Davis and McBreer, decided to commit him to jail in Cedartown to await trial before the Superior Court in September. Golden was represented in the preliminary trial by Hon. Walker Brock and Mr. McBride; the prosecutor by Squire George Gentry and Squire Galamour. Washington Golden is nineteen years old; Mr. Pierce, 50. Both have always been well respected. Mr. Pierce was given to drinking sometimes and was exceedingly profane, otherwise he was regarded as a quiet, inoffensive citizen. It is said that he was a man of fine sense and great muscle. There were but few men of his age that were his equal in strength. Golden was looked upon as a young man of great promise. Possessing plenty of sense, health and ability and it was expected that he would do much better than he did. Your, J.A.R. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, AUGUST 17, 1877 BILLOW News Reports say that the young Mr. Robinson that got his horse's tail sheared at Mr. Lee Pierce's in Haralson county about which Mr. P. was killed recently, has married Miss Pierce. ---- LOCAL News Married on the 2nd i.st., by the Rev. H.M. Newton, Mr. W.V. Crawford to Miss Fannie Summerlin, all of this county. --- We understand that Captain Skinner of Athens, Alabama who was out on a visit to Carrollton last Spring with Major P.G. Garrison, has traded out some of the property of the latter here and will move to this place this fall or winter. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, AUGUST 24, 1877 Mr. John M. Ridley of LaGrange is dead. --- Mr. Harrison Hambrick and Mr. John Stamps, two very old gentlemen and for many years citizens of this county, died the first of the week, the former on Monday night and the latter on Tuesday morning. --- DRAKETOWN News Mr. Wm. Biggers who is only sixteen years old, obtained a second grade license and is teaching a good school at Brown's Chapel, two miles west of here. He is a very promising young man and is bound to make his mark. --- VILLA RICA News Married at the residence of the bride's father Dr. T.H. Roberds in Villa Rica on the 13th inst., Miss Lanie Roberds to Mr. Martin A. Luther. Rev. William Dimmock officiated. --- SIMSVILLE News On Thursday, Mr. Thos. B. Harris, a young and highly respected citizen of Douglas county was tamping a blast in a well for Geo. Turner of Douglasville when it exploded and he was severely hurt. It is thought that one of his eyes will be lost. He is otherwise badly burnt and hurt. It is hoped he will recover. Jackson Evans who was striking the tamping bar, was also severely hurt. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Friday, AUGUST 31, 1877 LOCAL News The funeral of old Johnnie Stamps, recently deceased, will be preached at his house by the Rev. E. Phillips on Thursday the 6th of September. --- Mr. Pirkle returned a day or two ago from Arbacoochee, Alabama where he will soon commence the erection of a double story brick building for Mr. Pinson, lately burnt out. He says that considerable interest is being manifested in mining matters over there. Two companies will go to work at an early day near Arbacoochee. --- VILLA RICA News Gold digging and drying fruit seems to be the fashion up this way. Messrs. Cheeves, Bagwell and McCarly dig more gold than any others, as they have plenty water afforded them by a ditch about four miles long, the cost of which was about fifteen hundred dollars. All we need on the mines is plenty of water. The gold is there and if a man will work, he can make the money. --- Died, near Villa Rica, Friday the 24th inst., Mrs. Hildibrand, a very old lady and loved by everyone who knows her. She leaves a humber of children and grandchildren to mourn after her. We tender them our heartfelt sympathies and hope what will be their loss will be heaven's gain. --- Mr. John T. Chambers has discovered a very rich abestos mine on his plantation one mile from Villa Rica, on the road leading to Carrollton. We wish the old captain success and that he will reap a rich harvest. Prof. S.J. Williams from New York is superintending the work and is shipping the ore. I have not learned where to, yet. ---- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/carroll/newspapers/newspape2613nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 27.8 Kb