Hall-Fulton County GaArchives News....."AARON PRATER DEAD IN JAIL" March 6, 1885
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
William G. Prather BillPrather@sbcglobal.net March 16, 2006, 5:16 am

"THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 6, 1885, Page 7 March 6, 1885

                                  DEAD IN JAIL
                                  ------------
                      AARON PRATER DIES IN FULTON COUNTY JAIL
                          ------------------------------
   The Death of One of the Conspirators to the Plot to Murder the Revenue 
Officers Near Gainesville--Taken Off by the Measles--The Third Death From 
Measles, Etc.
        --------------------------------------------------------------
   Yesterday on a simple cot in Fulton county jail lay a young man who was 
slowly dying.  It was Aaron Prater, a regular dare-devil in courage and one of 
the conspirators to murder the revenue officers near Gainesville a few months 
ago.  Tall, slender, with a dark complexion, and a light mustache he was a 
typical moonshiner.  Upon his face was a beard of three week's growth.  As 
night drew on Prater sank nearer and nearer his end and as sundown came and 
the gathering twillight darkened his cell he passed peacefully into the other 
world.  
   By his bedside were only his cell-mate and his nurse.  As soon as Prater 
was dead, word was sent to the undertaking establishment of Patterson & 
Bowden, and at eight o'clock Mr. Bowden went over and removed the body to the 
undertaking rooms, were it was dressed and prepared for burial.
   The friends of Prater, at Gainesville, were telegraphed and were asked to 
say what disposition should be made of the body.  Up to a late hour last night 
no answer had been received.  If something is not heard to-day Prater will be 
buried in Atlanta.  He was a cousin of Alf Prater, the pedestrian, and was a 
brother of the Prater who was killed in the bunch with the revenue men.
   The man who died last night was one of the leading spirits in the racket.  
After the occurrence he went to Tennessee, and was arrested there about a 
month ago.  Four weeks ago he was lodged in Fulton county jail, and two weeks 
ago he was taken with measles, the disease which caused his death.
   Prater's death was the third in three weeks from measles in jail.  The 
disease is very dangerous to those whom it attacks in this prison.  It seems 
to settle in their lungs.  There are three or four prisoners now in jail who 
are very dangerously ill with measles.  Dr. Boring, the county physician, is 
attending them.

Additional Comments:
Aaron PRATER was the eldest son of Josiah and Mary Jane (SHOOPMAN) PRATER of 
Hall County, Georgia.  Aaron's brother, Josiah PRATER, and James Anderson 
GRANT were killed by revenue men near the Bark Camp area of Hall County on the 
16th of December 1884.  James Alfred (Alf) PRATER was a 2nd cousin to Aaron 
and Josiah PRATER.

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