Newton-Jasper County GaArchives News.....DOUBLE KILLING January 5 1883
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Phyllis Thompson mandpthompson@bellsouth.net April 30, 2004, 10:08 am

The Georgia Enterprise
AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE MURDER
  The sad and unfortunate difficulty which occurred in our city on Saturday,
December 23, has been heralded abroad and is yet fresh in the memory of our
own people. The true cause and origin of the difficulty will perhaps remain 
somewhat a mystery until the case comes up for a final hearing. It appears that
Will Smith, of Jasper county, aged 19 years, son of Thomas Smith, dec'd, 
enrolling officer for this section during the war, came to town prepared for any
emergency that might arise. On the Saturday mentioned he and James Banks, son of
one of our popular County Commissioners, Judge P. E. Banks, met in the bar
and restaurant of C. S. Jarboe, where a heated conversation arose about the
skill of card playing. Angry words passed in which Smith applied profane
epithets and slapped Banks in the face. Whereupon Banks crowded Smith to
a window and parties endeavored without success to part them. While thus 
clinched Smith whipped out an army revolver and fired upon Banks, the ball
entering the breast and passing out behind the shoulder blade. Banks stepped out
of the door and entered A. J. Farrill's tin shop, a few steps from where he 
received the shot, fell upon the floor and soon lay cold in the arms of death.
Smith endeavored to make his escape, while several parties pursued him among 
them was a colored man by the name of Alex Hendrick. He ordered Alex to stop 
ant he order not being obeyed, Smith fired at him, the ball entering the breast 
and coming out near the back bone. In a few minutes Alex was dead. Sheriff
Newton Anderson, with a small possee, pursued and captured the murderer. The 
Sheriff was unarmed and alone when he ordered Smith to surrender, and took his
pistol from him without assistance, the whereabouts of Smith having been pointed
out by Henry Kelly, colored. The scene beggars description when the prisoner
was brought down the _____ and crowded street by Messrs McCord and Mack Neal,
and it was feared that linching was inevitable. Fortunately the jail was reached
and the prisoner placed safely therein. Tuesday of last week, Smith had a 
preliminary trial before Justice John P. Harris for the killing of James
Banks. Messrs. Clark & Pace, and Judge Floyd appeared for the defense, while
Messrs. Middlebrook & Edwards represented the prosecution for the State. In this
case the prisoner was committed for voluntary manslaughter and his bond fixed
at $2000. On Wednesday he was tried for the killing of Alex Hendrick and 
committed for murder.
  He was sent to Fulton County jail for safe keeping until the March term of our
Superior Court.
  It is not our province to review and pass judgement upon the bloody double
crime committed by this desperate young man in a city known far and wide for
its peace and quietude. Every good citizen deplores the unfortunate affair
and the strong arm of the law will mete out impartial justice to the 
perpetrator. We copied the evidence in one of the cases with the intention of 
giving it to our readers, but have been asked to withhold its pubication which
might cause great difficulty in procuring a jury when the case is called for 
trial. Our tenderest sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of poor
James Banks, who was kind, generous and inoffensive, and who was never regarded
as fussy or quarrelsome. To the relatives and friends of Alex Hendrick we
offer our condolences, negro tho' he was, he met his death like a man who 
believed he was performing his duty to the good name of his town.
  The place of the meeting between these young men suggests with emphasis
one cause which led to the difficulty that had such a tragic ending on that 
crisp December evening, and which has brought pain and sorrow to many hearts 
and homes and remorse and regret to many more. Let the mantle of silence be
tenderly drawn ove the sickening scene until the fateful time arrives for Will
Smith to cancel the infamous debt he owes an outraged people by his lawless
conduct and utter disregard for human life and human law.

Additional Comments:
Names mentioned in this article:
Will Smith
Thomas Smith
James Banks
Judge P. E. Banks
C. S. Jarboe
A. J. Farrill
Alex Hendrick
Sheriff Newton Anderson
Henry Kelly
Mr. McCord
Mack Neal
Justice John P. Harris
Mr. Clark
Mr. Pace
Judge Floyd
Mr. Middlebrook
Mr. Edwards

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