Polk County GaArchives Obituaries.....Hutchings, John 1901 ************************************************ 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: W. Stephens wend@bellsouth.net May 19, 2004, 10:56 am (Cedartown Standard, November 21, 1901) Polk County has never had a more shocking nor more greatly deplored accident than that which startled this community Sunday evening, and which robbed this county of one of its best officials and most popular citizens. This county has never had a better or more generally beloved Sheriff than John Hutchings, and it was with deepest grief that our people learned of his sudden and tragic death. Mr. Hutchings was laughing and joking with his family about 5 o’clock Sunday evening, when one of the prisoners called from the jail overhead asking for a fire. The Sheriff took the scuttle and went to the coal-house, and while shoveling coal his pistol fell from it scabbard, the hammer struck the edge of the scuttle. The gun was discharged, the bullet entering just beneath his chin, ranging upward through the brain, and striking the skull at the back of the head. Death was instantaneous. The Sheriff’s son, Mr. John R. Hutchings, and Mr. Thos. J. Beasley were standing on the front porch of the jail at the time, and the latter saw the flash of the pistol through a crack in the coal-house wall as the fatal shop was fired. They and other members of the family rushed at once to the scene of the accident but the bullet had done its work thoroughly, and he who had been but a moment before in the full vigor of manhood lay before them a helpless corpse. The news of the terrible occurrence spread rapidly, and large numbers of friends came flocking in to offer aid and sympathy to the stricken family. Coroner J. O. Crabb impaneled a jury and held an inquest Monday afternoon, the following gentlemen serving thereon. A. D. Hogg, foreman; E. B. Russell, clerk; J. L. Sosebee, J. T. Gibson, J. F. Carmichael, S. B. Roberts, J. B. Crabb, Russell Sewell, J. H. Philpot, T. F. Burbank, C. R. Pittman and B. F. Sims. Their verdict was as follows: "We the jury find that the deceased, John Hutchings came to his death by the accidental discharge of his own pistol caused by the same having fallen from a scabbard carried over his shoulder, while deceased in a stooping posture was shoveling coal into a scuttle. Funeral services were, held Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock at the Baptist church and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. K. Henderson. Mr. Hutchings was an ardent Mason and was a Past Master and the Senior Warden of Caledonia Lodge, and the brethren of the Mystic (tie ?) attended the funeral in a body ? of the service at the grave where a brief oration was delivered by Mr. J. T. Gibson. Mr. Hutchings was also a member of the Odd Fellows, and that organization was present in full regalia at the funeral and in the procession. The Masonic pall- bearers were Messrs. J. E. Good, J. T. Gibson, J. B. Crabb, E. B. Russell, J. A. Adams and D. J. Lowry, and the honorary pall-bearers were Messrs. J. E. Dempsey, W. L. Knight, J. F. Carmichael, A. D. Hogg, W. T. Crocker and W. R. Pitts. The funeral was very largely attended, showing the general esteem in which the deceased was held, and the services were most impressive. John Hutchings was born at Chatham, Va., Sept. 18, 1850, and his parents came to this county in his early infancy. His boyhood and manhood have been spent here among the people who knew him so well and regarded him so highly. He was a gentleman of education, being a graduate of the State University. After graduation he settled on a farm near Esom Hill, and was united in marriage with Miss Josephine, a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Newt Tumlin. Ten children have blessed their union, two of whom are dead. Mr. Hutchings was especially happy in his family relations, and his death is a heartbreaking affliction to his devoted wife and children. Mr. Hutchings had been a member of the Baptist church since his young manhood, and was clerk of the church at Esom Hill during his residence there. His church and the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities have lost in him an active and useful member. Mr. Hutchings served the people of Polk for several years as County Treasurer, and at the last election was elected as Sheriff, in which position he was proving himself a model officer. He was one of the most vigilant and efficient officers in the state. Out of the 102 true bills found by the last Grand Jury, the Sheriff’s posse had made over 70 arrests up to the time of his death. A curious coincidence in connection with this tragic death is the fact that only the day before, in the Ordinary’s office, Mr. Hutchings had called Judge Hogg’s attention to his pistol scabbard; and the latter had cautioned him that his heavy pistol might fall out some time when he was stooping over and would kill somebody. Had the warning been heeded, Polk would have been spared one of the most deplorable tragedies in her history. Polk County has lost one of her most upright citizens-a man with an enemy on earth. In his race for office he was always fair, and never resorted to low and tricky methods. He is stricken down-no one knows why-in the very zenith of his usefulness for himself, his family and the community. We mourn his loss and tender to his bereaved family our sincere sympathy in their great affliction, and in so doing we voice the sentiments of the people of Polk County in their sorrow for the tragic death of a good neighbor, friend and public servant. (Cedartown Standard, November 21, 1901) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb