Pike County Georgia Newspapers - William O Gwyn, Sheriff, Assassinated 1896 ********************************************************************************************** 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 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm The Pike County Journal. Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia, April 10, 1896 Terrible Tragedy! Sheriff Gwyn Assassinated by the Delk Gang at Concord Brave Officer A Martyr To Duty The County of Pike is in Mourning and Parties are Hunting the Outlaws - Large Rewards for Capture Since our last issue went to press the county of Pike has been bathed in tears and clothed in sadness. Its people mourn the death of that gallant and princely gentleman, William O. Gwyn, who was shot down like a dog while in discharge of his duty as sheriff, by the Delk gang of outlaws at Concord. The public has had several accounts of the assassination, correct in the main, but with discrepancies as to minor details. From the piles of evidence on the subject we gather the following, which will give the reader a correct idea of the tragedy and the circumstances surrounding it. On Thursday night with his jailer, Frank Wells, Jim Moore, Bob Hale, and Cade Jones, Mr. Gwyn went to Concord to arrest Taylor Delk, a notorious highwayman, on a warrant charging him with robbery. They proceeded to Delk's house which is located on one of the back streets. On arrival a few minutes after seven o'clock the sheriff stationed his four men around the house, and then as was his custom on such occasions, went to the front door and demanded an entrance. "Who is it?" came the inquiry from within. "Sheriff Gwyn, and I want to get in," was the reply. There was muttering on the inside and the sheriff was informed that "the first d - d man that tried to get in would be killed." [Unreadable] this time was recognized as Tom Delk, a son of Taylor Delk, and who is an escaped convict for whom there is a reward of $300. Sheriff Gwyn then made another demand for entrance, and was told that he could come in alone, but that nobody could come with him. The sheriff said that he wanted to carry one man inside. He was then asked how many men he had. "There are five of us," the sheriff replied. "Well, you are not coming in," replied a voice which was recognized as that of Tom Langford, perhaps the most desperate character of the three. "Furthermore, I'll give you just two minutes to leave. I think you are a gentleman and I hate to kill you, but if Cade Jones is in the crowd I want just one d - d shot at the rascal." At this juncture Frank Wells said: "Come away, Billie, we must make different arrangements." Bob Hale went off after other help and the sheriff turned to walk towards Wells. As he was walking away there was a report of a Winchester rifle from within the house and Sheriff Gwyn fell to the ground within a few feet of the front door steps. As he fell he exclaimed, "Boys, they have shot me." >From each end of the home Jones and Wells began firing through the windows. The sheriff's posse being armed only with pistols, some of them ran for guns and additional help. In the meantime, Messrs. Hale, Madden, and Gilmore had arrived and the sheriff appealed to them to move him away and send for a doctor. Whereupon Cade Jones and Hon. John F. Madden went to sheriff Gwyn to move him, but as they did so another report from a Winchester rang out and Mr. Madden fell beside the prostrate form of the sheriff. A 44 bullet had passed through both of his legs above the knees, breaking his right leg but missing the bone in the left. "Is this you, John?" said the sheriff as Mr. Madden fell across him. "Yes, it is I," he replied. "Then the good Lord have mercy on our souls!" said the brave sheriff. Sheriff Gwyn was removed on a mattress to the home of C.W. Strickland and Hon. J.F. Madden was removed to his own home. It is reasonably certain that while the wounded and dying were being removed the three fiends escaped. Before he died at 12:30 o'clock, Sheriff Gwyn gave this comforting message to Frank Wells for his dear wife: "Frank tell Dodie I lost my life in the discharge of my duty." Before his death Mrs. Gwyn, accompanied by Mrs. W.E. Howell and Judge Beck, arrived. But is was too late to speak to the husband who fell on the field of duty. It is not proper to refer to the anguish of this broken heart, further than to say, its sacred precints [sp] were beyond the reach of human understanding. In the presence of this awful calamity all stood dazed by the shock and expressed their sorrow in tears. Sheriff Gwyn was shrouded by loving hands and on Friday morning undertaker Howell brought his body to Zebulon and by request of Judge Beck he will lie in state in the lower hall of the new court house until about 4 o'clock p.m. During the day many hundreds of people passed through the building to view the remains of the courageous officer and gentleman for the last time. Sadness and demoralization reigned supreme. People of all conditions were bowed with grief. Judge Beck adjourned court until Monday morning, after the grand jury had indicted the three assassins. In passing, the writer cannot refrain from saying that Sheriff Gwyn was one of the best officers and one of the most popular men in the state. He was honest and open in his intercourse with men; he was brave and courageous to a fault in the performance of hazardous duties of his office; his heart was tender and sympathetic; he used his official position to protect and not oppress the unfortunate. He was indeed a well-rounded officer and an all-around gentleman. His death removed from this county a man who held his best interests near his heart - a man whose public and private life is an open book to be read and honored by all our people. On Friday at 2 o'clock p.m. a large concourse of people assembled in the main courtroom of the new court house where an interesting memorial service was held. The meeting was organized by electing Judge M.W. Beck chairman. He explained the object of the meeting and invited those who wished to speak to do so. Judge E.F. Dupree arose and paid a loving tribute to the memory of the deceased. He spoke of him as a friend and paid tribute to him as a faithful and efficient officer. Col. S.N. Woodward spoke feelingly and said, "Not many hours ago your honor and I saw him leave for Concord, and as he left he gaily waved us adieu. A higher encomium can not be paid to no man than to say he died in the discharge of his duty." Hon. John F. Redding, having known the deceased for more than thirty years, spoke of him in the highest terms as a man, a soldier, and an officer. Solicitor General Bloodworth said: "Death is a terrible thing. When it comes to a little child it tears the very heartstrings of father and mother; when it comes to those whose hair has been whitened by the frost of many winters it is sad, but when the assassin's bullet without a moment's warning sends into eternity one who was in the full vigor of manhood, mentally and physically, it is terrible indeed. I have not known our deceased friend long, but I loved him better every time I met him." Col. J.J. Rogers said he had "learned to love Billy Gwyn almost like a brother." He paid a glowing tribute to his memory. Tributes were touchingly paid by attorneys Dominick, Taylor, Hale Smith, Holmes and Bryan. Also by Judge John J. Hunt, Dr. J.B. Mathews, Judge Blasingame, and Col. John H. Baker. In concluding the exercises Judge Beck made a splendid talk, the sentiments of which were tender and true and endorsed by all within the sound of his voice. The service was appropriate in every sense and was a fitting tribute to the memory of a good man. The chairman appointed a committee on resolutions as follows: O.H.B. Bloodworth, J.S. Pope, E.F. Dupree, J.H. Baker, and J.B. Mathews. The remains were then carried home. The funeral sermon was preached at the courthouse at 11 o'clock a.m. by Rev. J.W. Beck. There was an immense audience and [a] great many were turned away unable to gain admission. The funeral sermon was an able one and made a profound impression on the many who listened to it. After the funeral all that was mortal of Pike's brave and noble sheriff was laid to rest in the Baptist church cemetery. The band of outlaws known as the Delk gang, is a painful reality. For several years John Delk, the eldest son of Taylor Delk, has been the gang's leader. [Note: The newspaper is torn here and I will type only what I can read] It was in the fall of 18 [torn away] notorious Delk gang was [torn away]. In September of that year [torn away] leaders of the gang were arrested and convicted in the superior court for burglary. They were sentenced to terms ranging from five to ten years. Tom Delk, the son of Taylor Delk was the leader of the gang. He was sentenced to a term of ten years in the penitentiary, going to the Dade coal mines. He escaped from the mine after serving a year or two, and has never been apprehended. A reward has been offered for him, but the officers have been unable to get hands on him again. The principal members of the Delk gang were Tom Delk, John Moore, Charley Johns, Charley Gentry and E.C. Johnson. It is said that Charley Chisolm, Will Ficken, Simpson and others belonged to the gang. The crowd was a notorious gang of thieves and burglars and the baffled the police department of Atlanta several years before the officers finally run them down and [unreadable] properly punished. Old man Delk lived in Atlanta at that time, but he always escaped serious trouble. He frequently got into disputes by his peculiar transactions, and more than once he was arrested but released on a compromise of some kind. He lived in several sections of that city and made a wide acquaintance there as the father of several reckless boys. His conduct was so bad that his wife separated from him and the old man was finally compelled to leave the city. It is said that he moved to Alabama and from that state came back to Georgia, settling in Pike county. Tom Delk was arrested on September 20th, 1892. He was 22 years old then. He was charged with the Rosser burglary, and when arraigned for trial shortly after his arrest, he was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. He went to the Dade mines, but it is said he escaped after a year's time. His term will expire in 1902. Tom Langford is a recent acquisition to the gang, but by his conduct for two years past he is regarded as not only one of the most daring, but one of the most reckless [of] the gang. He has figured with the Delks in several bold robberies in this section and several grave charges were against him at the time of the murder of Sheriff Gwyn. It was this gang that robbed an old one-legged soldier in this county of $3.75 a few months ago. Not satisfied with this they demanded to know if there was any more money on the place. The old man told that there was six cents in the clock but that it belonged to a little child, and one of the gang pocketed that. Afterwards the robbed two old gentlemen in Meriwether county. Searching parties have been after the outlaws continuously since the murder, and Taylor Delk has been seen in the vicinity of Concord since that time, but the state of feeling is riotous and sober judgment has hardly had a moment's play. The mobs that have been in search are, therefore, doing their work in a haphazard without leaders and without system. The Journal has been informed that the following rewards are out and will be promptly paid for the arrest of the assassins: State of Georgia, $500. Pike County, 250. Mrs. Gwyn, 250. J.F. Madden, 200. Barnesville parties, 150. Total, $1350. Some of the editorial expressions of the state press show the widespread interest in this terrible tragedy, and we copy the following with an endorsement of the sentiments they express. Atlanta Constitution Pike County's Brave Officer Perhaps the most pathetic tragedy which has recently occurred in this state is the one which cost Sheriff Gwyn his life a few days ago while trying to capture one of the members of the noted Delk gang in Pike county. The shocking details of this foul tragedy were given to the readers of the Constitution last Friday morning, and the circumstances of the murder, in all its varied and revolting aspects, are familiar to the public. Thought Georgia is perhaps as little troubled as any state in the union by lawless characters of this kind, occasional outbreaks will nevertheless disturb the tranquility of the state and cause law abiding citizens to feel in a measure apprehensive. As a rule these outbreaks are conspicuous less perhaps from the nature of the crimes committed than from the extreme rarity of their occurrence. The brutal murder of Sheriff Gwyn, however, derives its atrocious character from both of these causes. Perhaps never before in the history of Pike county have the residents of that section of the state have been disturbed by the perpetration of anything like a sensational crime. But is said to the credit of Pike county that her citizens have always been characterized by a supreme reverence for law and order, and that crimes are just about as scarce in that neighborhood as gold nuggets in the red clay of her hills. But the revolting aspects of this tragedy should not obscure the heroism of the brave officer who met the fire of the murderer's pistol without flinching and who sacrificed his life on the alter of public duty. Having taken upon himself a binding oath, he was true to the responsibility which he assumed. Even with his murderer's bullet in his flesh he continued to fight for the capture of his prisoner and finally, when overcome by the loss of strength, he yielded up the struggle only to fall exhausted in his own blood. If the death of Sheriff Gwyn is not that of a courageous martyr, then martyrdom has lost its original definition. This marked exhibition of bravery on the part of Sheriff Gwyn restores confidence in the officers who occupy similar positions of trust and responsibility and may serve as a noble incentive to other men in positions of like peril to remain steadfast at their post of duty and, if need be, to surrender life itself in protecting the lives and property of their fellow citizens. The citizens of Pike county should treasure the memory of this brave man. Atlanta Journal He Died For His Country Peace has her martyrs no less than war's honorable. When a brave and faithful officer of the law such as the late Sheriff Gwyn of Pike county lays down his life in the courageous discharge of duty he as truly dies for his country as if he had fallen leading Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, or had ridden to death and glory with the light brigade at Bataklava [?]. This man died for law and order, and because such men stand back of law all of us have security in our lives, our liberties and our property. He died for all of us and dying as a martyr is entitled to our gratitude and honor. If such fidelity goes unappreciated, heroism is denied its need of praise and law is robbed of its support. We do well to pension disabled soldiers who carry lifetime wounds for us. We do well to pay the widows of those who died for us an annual stipend. Did any of them serve us more truly than Sheriff Gwyn? He served the state even unto death. The wretches who spilled the blood of such a man deserve punishment extreme. But when this hero's death is avenged the public will not have done enough to testify appreciation of them. Rewards for his slayers are not enough. He deserves a monument to his memory, and the most generous consideration for his wife and children. His oldest son is a student in Emory college, and as we understand, among the first in his class, the junior. It was well that the son of such a father was given the amplest opportunity to make the most of himself. Such stock is none too plenty. Men of such measure are worth caring for. This hero has died for his country. What shall his country do for him? (Transcribed 11/23/02 Lynn Cunningham)