MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA - NEWSPAPERS  Murder of R.E.L. Henderson by Wilkins Wynn  

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 Russell County, Alabama. Published in Seale, Alabama, 
when it was the county seat of Russell County


                The Russell Register, November 13, 1903 

 


                            A Sunday Tragedy
                Wilkins Wynn Kills R.E.L. Henderson near Hatchechubbee



R.E.L. Henderson, of Girard, is dead, and Wilkins
Wynn, who lives near Uchee, is confined in jail here
(Seale), having confessed that he is the slayer of
Henderson. The tragedy occurred Sunday morning
between 8 and 9 o'clock on the public road from
Uchee to Hatchechubbee, about two and one half miles
from the latter place. There were no witnesses. Mr.
Wynn, who surrendered to Constable Ragland soon
after the occurrence and was brought to Seale on the
11 o'clock train, stated, it is said at the time of
surrender, essentially the following:

That he and Henderson were coming to Hatchechubbee
in a buggy, a dispute arose between them about some
corn. After heated words, Henderson sprang from the
buggy, and, drawing a pistol, firat Wynn, who
returned the fire, striking Henderson in the head,
whom he supposed was fatally wounded, and that the
same was done in defense of his (Wynn's) life.

After shooting Henderson, Wynn went to a Negro cabin
about two hundred yards distant and told what had
been done and asked them to return with him. The
Negro refused and Wynn then went to Mr. McMakin's,
who lived near, and told him of the shooting.
Together they went to where Henderson was, and Mr.
McMakin sent at once to Hatchechubbee for
assistance. Wynn preceeded to Hatchechubbee and met
Mr. Ragland, to whom he surrendered.

The killing occurred on the Grace place, out of
sight of any house. When assistance arrived,
Henderson was found about twenty feet from the road,
lying on his face, still alive. His pistol was under
him; one cartridge had been fired. An examination
disclosed two wounds, one in his left side just over
the heart. The bullet had entered near the center of
the body and passed diagonally under the surface and
came out about six inches from the entrance. This
wound did not enter the cavity and was not serious.
The wound that caused death was above and behind the
left ear, from which wound the brain substance was
oozing slowly. Henderson was carried to the home of
Mr. C. E. Ingram at Hatchechubbee, where he died at
9:20 o'clock Sunday night, surrounded by sorrowing
friends and his grief-stricken family. He never
regained consciousness. There were no witnesses, but
negroes, living near, heard two pistol shots. One
cartridge of each man's 38 calibre revolver had been
fired. No previous disagreement between the two men
had occurred. Henderson had been at Wynn's house
several days closing Wynn's crop out for Mr. J.T.
Echols (HARD TO READ: I THINK THAT IS THE NAME) of
Columbus.

Mr. J. E. Henry has been employed to defend Wynn.

Mr. Henderson's body was carried to Girard Monday
morning for internment.

Mr. Henderson was deputy sheriff under Ex-Sheriffs,
Ferrell and Pitts.

Mr. Wynn farmed near Uchee.


A follow up article of which I only have a small
portion states that:


Mr. W.L. Wynn, who was convicted of murder in the
second degree and sentenced to seventeen years in….

    The date of this issue is Friday, November 11, 1904.
        The Russell Register