Pike-Spalding County GaArchives News.....Sullivan Shoots and Kills John Wilson October 24 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net December 23, 2002, 12:19 am The Griffin Daily News. Griffin, Georgia, Wednesday Morning, October 24, 1888 This is actually three different artlcles, but submitted as a whole so the entire story can be read. Sullivan Shoots And Kills John Wilson At The Second Shot A Tragedy Results From the Old Feud While Trying to Settle the Land Line at Erin T.J. Connell, of West Pike, arrived in the city yesterday afternoon bring an order for a coffin for John Wilson, who had been killed by J.W. Sullivan. Mr. Connell was on the ground at the time of the killing, although being engaged at the moment was not exactly an eye witness, and from him we get the following particulars: C.R. Wilson and his sons, John and Clark, and J.W. Sullivan and Clark Sullivan had been engaged since Sunday morning in endeavoring to settle the old land line between their properties, about which there had been for several years contention, litigation of different kinds and a great deal of hard feeling between the parties. On yesterday they came together again for the same purpose, a number of the leading citizens of the community being present. The spot was a quarter or a half a mile from Sullivan's Mill or Erin. Some words passed between the parties as to the exact location of the land line, rising to a bitter dispute, when four shots were fired almost instantly. John Wilson fell to the ground with a bullet wound in his forehead and a slight scalp wound, while J.W. Sullivan stood six or eight feet away with the smoking revolver in his hand. Wilson, as he fell, dropped a revolver from his left hand and expired in a minute or so. Clark Wilson started toward Sullivan, but was warded off with a hatchet. C.R. Wilson started for his buggy as John fell, but was stopped by Clark Sullivan, who pointed a pistol at him and told him if he moved a step, he would be killed. Connell came up and told Clark Sullivan not to shoot, and bystanders interfering, the tragedy was over for the time. H.G. Sullivan was at the mill at the time of the shooting, but came up soon afterwards, as did Ed Hammond and George Seymore, who were hunting in the neighborhood. Among those who were on the ground at the time were J.W. Dunbar, W.R. Edge, (?) Carreker, Dr. Owens and others, so that an inquest will probably develop pretty accurately the degree of the defense. J.W. Sullivan claims that John Wilson fired the first shot at him. The deceased was not of well balanced mind, having been to the asylum once or twice, from which he had just recently returned. It is feared by those who know the bitterness between the parties that further violence may ensue. Further information is to the effect that John Wilson was advancing upon Sullivan and snapping his pistol at him and that all the witnesses present make Sullivan clearly justifiable. Note: At Wilson Family Cemetery, Pike County, Georgia: J.C. Wilson, Son of C.R. and Nancy Wilson, b. 21 Feb 1854, d. 23 Oct 1888 John parents are Cyrus R. Wilson and Nancy Allen. Nancy was a daughter of Young Drewry Allen and Jane Moore. ----------------- The Griffin Daily News. Griffin, Georgia, Thursday Morning, October 25, 1888 The Erin Shooting The Victim is Buried and the Examination to Commence The inhabitants of West Pike are greatly stirred up over the shooting of John Wilson on Tuesday morning and several hundred people are said to have assembled at Hollonville yesterday discussing the affair. The deceased was buried at two o'clock in the family burying ground in the rear of C.R. Wilson's house, where twelve others of the family lie. There was no burial service, but as the coffin was lowered into the grave the father stood over it and swore that the death should be avenged. John Wilson's wife now lies at the point of death from typhoid pneumonia. The examination will commence at twelve o'clock today. ------------------------ The Griffin Daily News. Griffin, Georgia, Saturday Morning, October 27, 1888 Not Committed J.W. Sullivan Cleared in the Commitment Trial Testimony of the Brothers of Each of the Principals ---- A Clear Account The commitment trial of J.W. Sullivan for the killing of John Wilson last Tuesday commenced on Thursday morning before Justices John Banks and Jasper Coggins, at Hollonville, and the decision was not reached until a full examination, lasting until after dark. The most accurate and succinct account of the tragedy was given by Clark Sullivan, brother of the accused, and was a follows: "We were all down there running the line between Sullivan and Wilson when C.R. Wilson came up and said that whoever said that there were two hedge rows there told a d----d lie. I replied that there were two. He replied that I had sworn in Zebulon that I owned this land, and I replied that I had done no such thing. He replied that I had tried to leave that impression on the jury. I replied that I had done no such thing, but had stated that I had tended the land and had rented it from his son. At this juncture Clark Wilson stepped up to me and said, "Don't you dispute my father's word,." and I replied that I had said it and would not take it back. He replied, "I suppose you want to fight then," and commenced pulling off his coat. I replied, "No, Clark, I did not come here for a difficulty and don't want any; but if nothing but a fight will do you, you can get it." Just at this instant, I heard someone cry, "Put up that pistol," and looked and saw John C. Wilson pointing a pistol at Will Sullivan and heard him snap it twice. Will Sullivan had been sitting on a log with an axe between his legs ---- he was acting as an axeman for the Surveyor and Processioners in the survey ---- and when I saw J.C. Wilson presenting and snapping his pistol at him he (Sullivan) was in the act of rising from his seat and dodged twice as the pistol snapped in his half rising position. J.C. Wilson then placed the cylinder of the pistol in the left hand and held the handle in his right as if trying to cock it, still facing Will Sullivan. Just as he placed [the] pistol in this position Will Sullivan shot three times in very rapid succession (two seconds would cover the time) and Wilson fell, pistol in left hand cocked. Then C.R. Wilson rushed toward his buggy, saying, "G----d d----d ‘em, I'll fix ‘em!" I rushed in front of him and told him to stop, that he should not go any further towards the buggy; and Clark W. then rushed up with [a] knife in his hand and told his father to go on and said, "I will tend to Clark." C.R. Wilson turned back. Will Sullivan had been sitting on a log while Clark and I were quarreling and had not said one word or taken any part in the matter up to the time John Wilson started to him with the pistol. I reported the threat to Will Sullivan which Mr. Wm. R. Edge had told me John Wilson had made in his presence on Monday afternoon before the killing." This threat was proven in the trial by Mr. Edge and was this that Wilson told him that Will Sullivan had got a true bill against him and put him under a hundred dollar fine that he was a d----d liar and a thief and a d----d rascal and that he would kill him. G----d d----d him. The testimony of Clark Sullivan was sustained by the evidence of many other witnesses without any material variation except as to minor details, among whom were Wash Manley, Uncle James Carreker, Gus [?] Carreker, Jack Pryor, Z. Scott, Peden Blake and Surveyor McLean and by the statement of J.W. Sullivan. Clark Wilson's testimony differed from the above materially. In his testimony he claimed that while he and Clark Sullivan were disputing that Will Sullivan started at him with an axe, and that John Wilson cried out, "Put down that axe," as did C.R. Wilson and presented his pistol at Will Sullivan, and that he heard John Wilson say "put down the axe" he looked and saw him with the pistol for the first time. Some of the other witnesses heard the same cry of put down the axe. The court discharged the defendant and dismissed the warrant on the ground that the killing was in self defense. The large crowd present applauded as the decision was made. (Transcribed 12/22/02 Lynn Cunningham) File size: 8.6 Kb