Pike County Georgia - News - Ex Sheriff W. P. Bussey Assassinated 1892 ********************************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ********************************************************************************************** This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynn Cunningham 2002 The Pike County Journal Zebulon, Ga., Friday, February 8, 1892 Ex Sheriff Bussey Assassinated at Chattahoochee, Fla. Chattahoochee, Fla., Jan. 1. – W.P. Bussey an accout [sp] of whose murder last night was telegraphed to the news, came here about five years ago and acted as engineer at the wharf. He held that position several months, when he and Mr. Allen bought a saloon here, of which he soon became a proprietor. In the summer of 1891, he began business at River Junction, still running his saloon at this place. On account of the local option law in this county, his barroom was situated about twenty feet on the other side of the state line in Georgia, about half a mile from this place. It was his custom to walk from his place in Georgia to River Junction every morning and return at night, a distance of about half a mile, thus managing both of his places himself with assistance of clerks. Between here and his saloon is a valley, and at the bottom of the hill is a dense thicket on each side of the road, and his barroom is situated about fifty yards opposite this hill in easy calling distance. As usual he left River Junction last night about dusk with a .38 Winchester rifle on his shoulder. He passed here after dark, and with him was a man who wore a cap, but no one seems to know who he was. When they reached the foot of the hill, Mr. Bussey cried: "Don’t kill me, for God’s sake, I’ll give you all I have got." Then the report of a gun was heard twice. Mr. Bussey cried again: "My God, this is the way my friends treat me." Then all was quite. There were two negro men at the barroom and his cook heard him call. They immediately circled around the spot of the tragedy and came here and alarmed the neighborhood. A party went back with them and found Mr. Bussey’s body lying in a ditch fifty feet from the road. Evidently he had been carried from the road to this spot after he had been killed. His pockets were turned wrong side out. His pocket book was found about three feet from the body with a $20 bill in it. It was known that he had about $200 on his person. The object of the robber in leaving the $20 note in the pocket [book] cannot be understood. His watch and rifle were also gone. The coroner’s inquest was held this morning, and the verdict was that Mr. Bussey came to his death by gunshot wounds in the hands of unknown parties. Several detectives and Sheriff Mitchell are now working on the case. They have obtained clews [clues], but have not disclosed them. Mr. Bussey had made a great many friends since he came here and was considered to be in good circumstances. He leaves an aunt, son and daughter who are now in Barnesville, Ga. He will be buried with Masonic honors tomorrow afternoon. (Transcribed 10/13/02 Lynn Cunningham) Note: 1880 Census Place: Barnesville, Pike, Georgia Source: FHL Film 1254161 National Archives Film T9_0161 Page 114A William E. VARNER, Self, M, M, W, 47, GA, Occ: House Carpenter, Fa: VA, Mo: GA Emma VARNER, Wife, F, M, W, 30, GA, Occ: Dress Maker, Fa: GA, Mo: GA William P. BUSSEY, BroL, M, M, W, 34, GA, Occ: County Sheriff, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Charles H. BUSSEY, Nephew, M, S, W, 5, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Girtrude BUSSEY, Niece, F, S, W, 2, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA