Habersham County GaArchives News.....Decapitated For Two Dollars 1886
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Jacqueline King fammaw51@yahoo.com July 18, 2005, 9:44 am

Newspaper 1886
Decapitated For Two Dollars
Toccoa, Ga., Feb. 11 (1886)-At an early hour this morning some early risers 
were horrified by finding a head upon the sidewalk in the northeast part of 
town.  The neck bore evidence of repeated stabs and fearful mangling.  After a 
half hour’s search the body was discovered about a square off, covered with 
wounds.  The head was identified as that of Alexander Mauldin, the 13 year old 
son of a respectable widow.  She had sent him the night before to the home of a 
relative with $2, and supposed that he was still there.  The money was gone, 
indicating that robbery must have been the motive.  Terrible excitement exists.

A Young Murderer
Toccoa, Ga., Feb. 13 (1886)-The Coroner’s jury investigating the murder of 
young Mauldin published its verdict to-day, stating that he “came to his death 
by wounds from a shotgun in the hands of Frederick Freeman, and was afterwards 
robbed by him.” No motive further than is disclosed in the verdict is known.  
Frederick is fifteen years of age.  His father was formerly Mayor of this town, 
and is now Postmaster, and is one of the most honored citizens of Habersham 
County.  Frederick has not yet been arrested.

The Mauldin Boy Murder
Facts Which Tend To Show The Innocence Of The Accused Lad
Toccoa, Ga., March 5 (1886)-Startling developments are promised in the Mauldin 
murder case.  Aleck Mauldin, a youth of 12, went out hunting with Fred Freeman, 
the 14-year-old son of ex-Senator Freeman, and the next day the decapitated 
body of Mauldin was found near an abandoned house frequented by negro 
gamblers.  The first impulse was that the boy had been murdered by some of the 
negroes.  On the Coroner’s investigation, however, the disappearance of Fred 
Freeman was made known, and so many were convinced by the incriminating 
evidence that a verdict was reached that Freeman was the slayer of Mauldin.  
Shocked as the people were at the brutal murder, they were still more shocked 
at this revelation, as the Freeman family was one of the most respectable in 
that section.  Rewards were offered by both local and State authorities for the 
arrest of the alleged fugitive and pictures of him have been spread and 
broadcast over the State.  At one time three boys were held in different parts 
of the State on suspicion of being the fugitive, but were all subsequently 
discharged.  The developments of the last day or two, however, have been of a 
character to make the case still more sensational.  The friends of Fred Freeman 
have discovered his whereabouts and tell a story of dramatic interest.  It is 
that the two boys went sauntering down toward the old house, where they 
disturbed two negroes playing cards.  Seeing themselves discovered, they caught 
the boys, shot Mauldin to death, and were about to treat Freeman likewise when 
he escaped in the bushed.  The negroes gave him pursuit until he was too far 
from home to return, and the first news he heard was the accusation that he was 
the murderer.  Not knowing what better to do than to hide out, he adopted that 
course, hoping that the truth would come out in time.  It has been learned that 
several notorious negroes did disappear about that time, and search is now 
being made for the two most strongly suspected.  Senator Freeman, it is now 
said, is satisfied of the correctness of this theory, and stands ready to 
produce his son when his presence becomes necessary.

Note-Alexander Mauldin appears as the son of John Mauldin, age 27, and his wife 
Rosa Mauldin, age 34, in the 1880 Federal Census in Pickens County, South 
Carolina.
Frederick Freeman appears in the 1880 Federal Census in Habersham County, 
Toccoa, as the son of J. M. Freeman, age 52, and his wife M. M. Freeman, age 
48.  Mr. Freeman is listed as a Merchant.  In the 1870 Census for Franklin 
County, Ga., the family is headed by John M. Freeman and his wife is Mary M. 
Freeman.





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