Dooly County GaArchives News.....Batson, W. C. Assassinated March 12, 1902
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
William J (Jim) Carroll williamcarrollj@bellsouth.net December 9, 2007, 1:34 pm

The Macon Telegraph March 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 the 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 Fired Department, and of Mr. John W. 
Hubbard, was waylaid and assissinated at the front gate of his residence in 
Richwood Monday night and at 8 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 to Vienna and lodged in jail, as it is thought by the 
authorities that he would belynched if he remained in the jail at Richwood.
   Mr. Batson is a member of the firm of Batson & Mitchell, who operate a large 
mercandise store in Richwood. Mr. Batson resides about three blocks from his 
place of business.
   On Monday night several gentlemen, who are guards at the stockade at 
Richwood, were at the store until about 11 o'cloc, 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 residenc he opened it and stepped in.
   When he turned to latch the gate the asassin struck him 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 some one groaning 
in Mr. Batson's yard and for him to come and go in 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. Batson 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 go 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 caried the message, but did not return.
   Yesterday morning Cross was arrested and carried to the gate, where his 
tracks were similar to those made by the assassin. The assassin's shoes were 
badly worn, as the impression made on the grounds, which had only recently been 
plowed, showed that the big toe on each foot protruded out of the shoe, making 
a distinct mark on the ground. When Cross was arrested he wore a similar shoe, 
with his toes sticking out of the leather.
   Yesterday morning blood hounds were secured from the stockade, 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 8? 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.

Additional Comments:
This is from the Macon Telegraph, 3-12-1902. The incident occurred on 3-12 and 
W. C. Batson died on 3-13-1902. 
There is also an clipping from the Union Recorder in Milledgeville, Georgia on 
3-25-1902.
........William J (Jim) Carroll

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