Pike County GaArchives News.....Ralph Banks Killed February 23 1900
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Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net September 27, 2003, 9:16 am

The Pike County Journal. Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia

Well Known Young Man of This Place Shot Down

Night Watchman Pierce With Whom He Had Been Conversing Shortly Before Saw Him 
Coming Out of Head’s Drug Store. Pierce Shot Him And The Justice Court Holds 
That The Shooting Was Justifiable.

Ralph Banks, a young white man, twenty six years of age, of respectable family, 
was killed here Sunday night at 1 o’clock by Quincy R. Pierce, the town marshal.

Pierce was given a preliminary hearing here Monday before Justices W.M. Hartley 
and A.B. Pope. Several witnesses were examined and the evidence brought out was 
as follows:

About 1 o’clock Pierce heard a noise and walked toward the drugstore of Dr. 
J.M. Head. When he reached the post office, he again heard the noise and 
decided that it was at the rear of the drugstore. He returned to Harper’s old 
store where he had been accustomed to keep a fire during cold nights,  pulled 
off his shoes and slipped around to the back of the store and saw someone 
fixing to go through the north window. Pierce says that he then got behind a 
box at the east end of the store and he heard the noise from within. He then 
stepped around to the chimney of the barber shop and concealed himself. Banks 
came out in a few minutes with several articles, put them down and then went 
back into the store and returned in about five minutes and got on a box and was 
adjusting the screen in the window. Pierce said:

"I saw this was my last chance to make an arrest and I rushed upon him and 
commanded him to throw up his hands. Ralph not only refused to throw up his 
hands but uttered an oath and threw his right hand back as if to draw a pistol. 
I had my pistol in my hand and fired. I did not know exactly how many times I 
shot, but from an examination of my pistol afterwards, I found that three shots 
were fired.

After shooting and hearing the body fall, I went in a trot to the home of my 
brother, Mr. Oscar L. Pierce, and told him that I had shot someone. I did not 
know who I had shot as the shadow from the house had prevented me from 
recognizing Banks although I was well acquainted with him.

My brother got up and we awoke Sheriff Milner, Dr. Mathews, Frank Wells, Jesse 
Slade and several other people and returned to the drugstore. We found Banks 
lying on the ground and with two bullet holes in his head and one in the back. 
He was picked up and carried to the home of his brother, Mr. J.H. Banks, where 
at 3 o’clock he died. Ralph stayed with me that night until after 10 o’clock 
and left saying he was going home."

The verdict of the jury was that Banks came to his death from shots from a 
pistol in the hands of Q.R. Pierce who was acting in the discharge of his 
duties as Marshall and that the killing was justifiable. 

Both Banks and Pierce belong to good families. Banks was the son of Mr. B. 
Banks who has lived here all of his life and who is an honorable upright 
citizen. He worked with his father at the carpenter’s trade until last year 
when he bought a team of horses and begun farming, He dressed well and always 
acted in a gentlemanly manner. He was clever and would do anything for his 
friends. It is believed by some that his mind has been unbalanced for some 
months.

Pierce is a young man 21 years of age and enlisted as a private in the Cuban 
War. When discharged he returned to Zebulon and was employed by the merchants 
to guard and protect their stores. He was born and reared in this county and 
has the respect of all who know him.

(Transcribed 09/25/03 Lynn Cunningham)

Additional Comments:
At Zebulon Methodist Church Cemetery, Pike County, Georgia:
Banks, R., b. 18 July 1873, d. 19 Feb. 1900
Banks, Burrell, b. 14 Aug 1845, d. 20 Nov 1920
Banks, Lorena Beckham, b. 22 Apr 1845, d. 14 Apr 1930

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