Schley County GaArchives News.....S.J. Tondee Murder Case November 15 1885 ************************************************ 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: Harris Hill http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002514 November 17, 2003, 7:53 pm The Atlanta Constitution The Atlanta Constitution November 15, 1885 TO MOB BLACKMAN A Mob Visits Ellaville to Lynch the Murder of S.J. Tondee Ellaville, Ga., November 14--(Special)--A mob from Sumter and Macon counties visited this place Thursday night to meet a crowd from this county to go to Americus to mob Charles Blackman, the murderer of S.J. Tondee. On their arrival here there was no one to meet them, and they posted notices that they denounced some parties here as cowards, because they would take no part in mobbing Blackman. No one here knows who the parties were. There was about forty men in the crowd. They were very boisterous and shot off their guns and pistols while here. Our people are law abiding and will let the law take its course. The Atlanta Constitution September 23, 1886 TONDEE'S MURDERER To Be Again Placed On Trial In Ellaville Next Week. Ellaville, Ga., September 22--(Special)--Next Monday the superior court will convene, and the murder case of the State Vs. Charles Blackman will be called for trial on Tuesday. Every juror in the county has been summoned to attend, as the case has been once tried. It will be remembered that on the fifth of September, 1885, one of our most popular young men, Stonewall Tondee, was assinated by being shot through a store door in which he was clerking with a load of buckshot. The night was very dark, and at first it was thought by some that he was shot by mistake, but the inquest developed the fact that a young negro named Charles Blackman had deliberately murdered him. It was thought that he would undoubtedly be lynched, but he was taken to the jail in Americus for safe keeping. On the fourth Monday in September he was placed on trial, and the jury, after being out ten minutes, returned a verdict of guilty. Judge Fort thereupon sentenced the defendant to be hung, but the case was carried to the supreme court, and a new trial was granted, because the defendant had not had sufficient opportunity to prepare his defense. There is not a shadow of a doubt about his guilt, and the jury next week will certainly say so. Schley County GaArchives News.....WILL LIVE LONGER (Tondee Murder Case) November 24 1886 ************************************************ 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: Harris Hill http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002514 November 18, 2003, 5:19 am The Atlanta Constitution The Atlanta Constitution November 24, 1886 WILL LIVE LONGER Charles Blackman Gains A Year of Life The Tragic Murder of Stonewall Tondee--The Chase of the Murderer- -His Trial and Conviction--The Case Appealed to the State Supreme Court--Other Facts of the Case. Ellaville, Ga., November 23.-- (Special)--Charles Blackman, who was to have been hanged here on next Friday, for the murder of Stonewall Tondee, has gained a respite pending an appeal to supreme court. The trial of Blackman for the offense took place before Judge Fort, on the first of October last. The Story of the Murder. This was one of the most astrocious murders ever perpetuated. On the night of the 5th of September, 1885, Mr. Stonewall J. Tondee was clerking for Mr. Jesse Carter of this place. About ten o'clock at night some one killed him by shooting through an open door with buckshot. Investigation developed the fact that the party that fired the fatal shot was standing in the rear of the store about fifty feet from Mr. Tondee. The night was dark with occasional showers and as the lamps in the store were lit, the assassin had no trouble in taking deliberate aim at his victim. Mr. Tondee was standing at a desk in the rear of the store and immediately in front of the back door. As soon as the report of the gun was heard, Mr. Tondee threw up his hands and shouted, "I'm a dead man." Running out of the store he fell off the steps and died in three or four minutes. It is needless to say this quiet little village was startled. Excitement and consternation was depicted on everyone's countenance. Several negroes were in the store at the time and a search was made. The Escape and Arrest. The assassin run off in an eastern direction and slept in the ginhouse of Captain Burton. Several persons on seeing the track said it was Charles Blackman's as he has a peculiar foot, a peculiarity that fixed the crime upon him. He was arrested about eight miles from here and claimed that he slept in Sumter county the night of the murder. Several witnesses testified that Blackman was here on the night, and one witness testified that he heard Blackman say "that there was one man in Ellaville that he would have satisfaction out of this night." Another witness swore that he saw him with a gun on the fatal night. Blackman on the trial never introduced any testimony and never made any effort to account for his whereabouts on the night. There is no doubt about his being the guilty man. The Atlanta Constitution November 24, 1886 WILL LIVE LONGER Charles Blackman Gains A Year of Life The Tragic Murder of Stonewall Tondee--The Chase of the Murderer- -His Trial and Conviction--The Case Appealed to the State Supreme Court--Other Facts of the Case. Ellaville, Ga., November 23.-- (Special)--Charles Blackman, who was to have been hanged here on next Friday, for the murder of Stonewall Tondee, has gained a respite pending an appeal to supreme court. The trial of Blackman for the offense took place before Judge Fort, on the first of October last. The Story of the Murder. This was one of the most astrocious murders ever perpetuated. On the night of the 5th of September, 1885, Mr. Stonewall J. Tondee was clerking for Mr. Jesse Carter of this place. About ten o'clock at night some one killed him by shooting through an open door with buckshot. Investigation developed the fact that the party that fired the fatal shot was standing in the rear of the store about fifty feet from Mr. Tondee. The night was dark with occasional showers and as the lamps in the store were lit, the assassin had no trouble in taking deliberate aim at his victim. Mr. Tondee was standing at a desk in the rear of the store and immediately in front of the back door. As soon as the report of the gun was heard, Mr. Tondee threw up his hands and shouted, "I'm a dead man." Running out of the store he fell off the steps and died in three or four minutes. It is needless to say this quiet little village was startled. Excitement and consternation was depicted on everyone's countenance. Several negroes were in the store at the time and a search was made. The Escape and Arrest. The assassin run off in an eastern direction and slept in the ginhouse of Captain Burton. Several persons on seeing the track said it was Charles Blackman's as he has a peculiar foot, a peculiarity that fixed the crime upon him. He was arrested about eight miles from here and claimed that he slept in Sumter county the night of the murder. Several witnesses testified that Blackman was here on the night, and one witness testified that he heard Blackman say "that there was one man in Ellaville that he would have satisfaction out of this night." Another witness swore that he saw him with a gun on the fatal night. Blackman on the trial never introduced any testimony and never made any effort to account for his whereabouts on the night. There is no doubt about his being the guilty man. The Atlanta Constitution June 4, 1887 A Special Term Called Ellaville, Ga., June 3--(Special)--Judge Fort has called an adjourned term of Schley superior court, for the trial of crimanl cases, on second Monday in July. The most interesting case is the state vs Charles Blackman, charged with the murder of Stonewall Tondee, on 5th day of November, 1885. This case has been twice tried, the defendant twice convicted and twice sentenced to be hung and twice granted a new trial by the supreme court. The Atlanta Constitution July 17, 1887 THREE TIMES SENTENCED Blackman Again Convicted Of The Murder Of Stonewall Tondee Ellaville, Ga., July 16--(Special)--The superior court adjourned this morning. The noted case of the state vs Charles Blackman, the murderer of Stonewall Tondee, was again tried and he was again found guilty without recommending that he be imprisoned for life. This is a memorable case in this county. The coroner's jury, after a full investigation, found that Blackman was the murderer. The grand jury found an indictment, charging Blackman as the murderer. The defendant has had three trials by a jury, and each time he has been found guilty of murder and each time sentenced to be hung. His case will again be carried to the supreme court, if a new trial is refused, which is more than probable. Under the testimony the verdict would be the same if he was tried a hundred times. If Blackman is guilty, he isthe most guilty murderer that ever lived . Our people are prfectly contented to abide the decision of the court, believing that sooner or later this case will have an end. Blackman was sentenced to be hung publicly on the 19th day of August next. The Atlanta Constitution August 19, 1887 GEORGIA NEWS Tuesday a motion court was held in Judge Fort's office in Americus, and and sentence for the hanging of Charles Blackman for the murder of Stonewall P.(J) Tondee, on Friday, 19th inst., was suspended until further orders. The court has appointed Friday, 26th inst., for the hearing of the various reasons of the defendants counsel, E.F. Hinton, C.R. McCorkle and J.C. Mathews as to why a new trial should be granted. The Atlanta Constitution June 8, 1888 SCHLEY COUNTY INDIGNANT Ellaville, Ga., May 7--(Special)--Our sheriff has just received a telegram from Mr. Cobb, deputy sheriff of Sumter County, saying that Charles Blackman, the murderer of Stonewall Tondee, who has been confined in the jail at Americus for safe keeping, made his escape last night by means of false keys. This negro has been convisted three times of murder, and twice granted a new trial by the supreme court. News was received yesterday of the judgement of the superior court being affirmed by the supreme court. Our people are loud in their denunciation of the jailer of Sumter in allowing him to escape. Some even go so far as to say that it is impossible for such a thing to happen without the assistance of the jailer. Any way it seems as if we certainly selected the wrong jail and wrong jailer. A fear is upon our people that he will return and kill others here. A lion loose in our midst would not begin to create as much alarm as the reedom of this fiend incarnate. We can do nothing except to curse those who are responsible for his escape, and we are not slow in doing that. The Atlanta Constitution June 16, 1888 BOUND IN CHAINS And Brought Back To The Scene Of His Crime Charles Blackman, the Murderer of Stonewall Tondee, Captured--$500 Reward for His Capture. Americus, Ga., June 15--(Special)--Charles Blackman, the murderer of Stonewall Tondee, and who escaped from Sumter county jail last week, was captured yesterday morning at Bank's landing, on the Chattahoochee river, by Deputy Sheriff Holder, of Stewart county. Holder arrived here this morning with the desperado bound in chains. He was at once committed to the dungeon of the county jail, where heavy irons were afterward put upon him. Blackman is a desparate criminal, and fought like a tiger when Holder and his assistant, a trusty negro named Kendrick, caught him. He was just in the act of crossing the river when his pursuers arrived on the spot and handcuffed him. Blackman was trying to make his way to Missippii where he hoped his identity would never be discovered. He had a small map of the southern states concealed about his person, upon which his route was carefully located with a pencil. While confined for a night in Stewart county jail, until brought here, he broke a stout chain whith which he was fastened to the floor, but the timely arrival of the jailor prevented a second escape. Judge Fort will fix a day for the execution right away, as the excitement runs very high, both here and in Schley, where the crime was committed. Holder received $500 for capturing the murderer. AN EFFICIENT JAILER Is Quite As Important As A Secure Jail--A Grave Mistake. Ellaville, Ga., June 15--(Special)--Our people feel like a grave mistake was made when they entrusted Charles Blackman, the condemned murderer of Stonewall Tondee, to the jailer of Sumter county. If he is recaptured (which is extremely doubtful) our people will petition Judge Fort to order him to the jail in the city of Macon or Atlanta, and also request that no one be allowed to see him except in the presence of a guard. Sumter county has offered a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars, Schley county offers two hundred and fifty, and the governor has added one hundred and fifty dollars, which may be some incentive for his capture. Some here believe that Blackman was taken out of jail for the purpose of the reward which would be offered for him. So far as we can learn the jailer has not tried to explain how Blackman secured the keys, and how he got the key again after Blackman left. We hope the grand jury of Sumter county will thoroughly investigate the matter, and place the blame where it belongs, for we have spent near five thousand dollars to ascertain if Blackman was guilty, and for him to leave the jail (not escape) on the very night after the after the supreme court had refused to grant him a new trial, and that, too, without even drawing a nail or picking a lock, looks queer to us. There is certainly something rotten in Denmark. The jail may be secure enough, but it takes a good jailer as well as a good jail, (so we have found out to our sorrow) to keep a prisoner. We had not thought of this before, but we are now convinced of the truth of it. The Atlanta Constitution September 28, 1888 BLACKMAN TO HANG The Nineteenth Of October Set Aside As The Date. Americus, Ga., September 27--(Special)--Charles Blackman, the murderer of Stonewall Tondee, has been sentenced to be hanged on the 19th of October. Blackman was self-possessed and did not seem to appreciate the solemnity of the situation. Chas. Blackman, as the evidence goes, walked deliberately up to the back door of the store in which Mr. Tondee was clerking, and there, in the darkness of night, with malice, aforethought, deliberately murdered the said Tondee. The deed was committed In September (November), 1885, since which time, every effort has been made to save Blackman's neck without avial. Now for the last time, he is sentenced to be hanged. He has cost Schley county thousands of dollars, and when he is disposed of, the county will breathe a breath of relief. After the sentence was pronounced the sheriff and guards returned to the train, which immediately left for Americas. The Atlanta Constitution January 26, 1889 THE HANGING OF BLACKMAN The Wires Cut So That Governor Gordon Could Not Interfere. Ellaville, Ga., January 25--(Special)--The weather was threatening this morning. Heavy clouds hung over the village. It was remarked that it was just such weather when Stonewall Fondee was killed. A special train left Americus at 7 o'clock with Blackman and the guards, and arrived here at 8. Blackman was immediately carried to the jail, and there The Constitution reporter saw him and said: A Talk With The Prisoner "Charley, I represent The Constitution and if you have any statement to make, I will have it published." He said: "I have no statement to make except that I am an innocent man and know nothing about Mr. Tondee being killed. I know that I have got to die, but I am innocent. "How was it, Charlie, that suspicion rested on you, and where did you go the night Mr. Tondee was murdered?" "I left Americus about three-quarters of an hour by sun, and arrived home about nine o'clock at night. No one in Ellaville saw me on that night, except my mother, and soon next morning I left and went to my brother simons to go to chuch with a gal, and she left for church before I got there. I rode Simon's mule, and he walked, and we were traveling this way when I was arrested. I never told Tobe Powell if I hung some one else would hang. Morgan Askew did not have anything to do with the killing of Mr. Tondee that I know of. Eugene Burton did not see me, neither did Tiprgling A nor Pete Cockrell, nor any of the other witnesses that swore they saw me that night, because I did not go to the church or up in town all that night. It was Friday night they saw me at the church, and it was Thursday night that that Butler woman saw me. There was no truth in the story about Onry Block and myself. She run after me. but I am innocent of that. I remember having seen Mr. Tom Baisden the next morning after Mr. Tondee was killed. Here his breakfast was brought in, but he only drank a swallow of coffee. He said: "My heart is like wax before the flame" A Preacher Brought In When asked if he wanted a minister, he said: "Yes, I desire prayer." Rev. Mr. Flanders was then brought in, and he told Blackman that if he was guilty the first thing he should do is confess it, but Blackman said: "I am not guilty." The Rev. Mr. Flanders said, in substance: "Let us pray. Oh, Lord, we meet here in a strange place and under strange circumstances. Thou knowest our heats and our secure thoughts. Prepare us to come before Thee in an acceptable manner. We come this morning asking Thee to have mercy on this poor condemned man. We pray Thee if he is guilty he may have the courage to confess the same and seek forgiveness, and if not, then Oh God, sustain him in this his hour of trial and affliction." Rev. H. Scarborough and Rev. Charles Spivey, colored, also visited him at the jail. His brother Richard, also visited him, and told him the negroes had refused to let his body be buried at the church, but he would take the body and bury it in his own yard. The sheriff then came in and read the death warrant and also the order of Governor Gordon ordering the execution to take place. He was then lead down the steps and put on his coffin, which was in a dray, and carried to the gallows. As the crowds had been pouring in from early morning, fully five thousand people were present to witness the execution. Ropes were stretched aroung the gallows and none but guards, reporters and physicians were allowed inside. On The Scaffold Blackman was carried upon the scaffold, and he then asked that prayer be made. Rev. Chalie Spivey was called for and said: "All join in singing 'And Am I Born to Die?" After the singing he bid farewell to his relatives, and was told if he had anything to say he could do so. He stood up, and in a clear voice said: "Well, fellow-men, this is my last opportunity that you will ever hear my voice again in this lowland of sin and sorrow. I tell you all I die today an innocent man, I soon make my departure to a land where no sorrow can reach me. My lawyers have done all they could, and if it is according to the will of God, I am willing to go." His pulse was 120. Rev. Charles Spivey then offered a fervent prayer, and then the prisoner's were pinioned and the rope adjusted, also the black cap, and he was told if he wished to say anything to do so. He said: "Farewell to you all." The trigger was then sprung and Blackman was launched into eternity. He made several convulsive jerks anf then became still. Drs. Smith and Cheney pronounced him dead in ten minutes, and his body was cut down after hanging fifteen minutes. The Wires Cut. Up to the last moment the people were fearful that Governor Gordon would either comute the prisoner's punishment, or give him another respite. In order that he might not be successful, unknown parties cut the telegraph wires, and thus cut Ellaville off from communication with the world. Your correspondent, therefore, in order to fulfill his mission for THe Constitution, had to make the distance by horseback from Ellaville to Americus, where this message is committed to the wires. The Story of Blackman's Crime Charles Blackman was about six feet high, stoop shouldered, large, muscular, of ginger cake color and his eyes were never for one moment still. They danced incessantly, and his whole appearance was repulsive. On the night of September 5th, 1885, just as the stores were closing, a loud report of a gun was heard and Mr. Stonewall Tondee, who was clerking in Mr. Jesse Carter's store and was standing at a desk in the rear of the store , threw up both hands and cried out in a loud voice, saying, "I'm a dead man," and run out of the front door and fell off the steps and died before those in the store reached him. An examination of his person showed that two buck shot had entered just under the shoulder blade and passed through the heart; two other buck shot entered the left arm. The news of the murder spread like wild fire an soon fifty men were looking for the fiend. Immediately at the back of the store was a cotton patch, and the back door of the store was open, and in the cotton patch tracks were found and also gun wadding, and soon it was ascertained that the murderer was standing about thirty feet from Mr. Tondee when he was shot. Blackman Suspected Suspicion pointed to Charles Blackman, as he was known to be a jealous fool about the wife of another negro named John Black. The tracks were followed that night for one mile when they were lost in a piece of woods. Soon next morning the same tracks were found and traced to Captain Burton's gin house. The house was surrounded but the game had flown. He had slept all night in the gin house but left at day light. Blackman was followed fifteen miles and arrested the next day at 2 o'clock p.m. When the posse arrived in town with the prisoner the coroner's jury was in session over the body of Mr. Tondee. Blackman denied all knowledge of the crime and stated that he slept in Sumter county about tem miles from here. He never showed the least indication of guilt until he was carried to where Mr. Tondee was lying and when the cloth was removed from Mr. Tondee's face Blackman trembled like an aspen leaf but would not look at him. Persuasion and threats were alike unavailing. Guilty of Murder The jury found that Mr. Tondee was murdered by Charles Blackman. Blackman was carried to Sumter county jail for safe keeping. Our superior court convened on the 4th Monday in September. Judge Fort on mOnday appointed Colonels B.B. Hinton, J.C. Mathews, and B.H. Wilkinson to represent the defendant. The state was represented by Solicitor general C.B. Hudson, W.A. Hawkins, W.H. McCrary (McCrory?) and Edgar G. Simmons. On Thursday the defendant was placed on trial. His counsel moved for a continuance because they had not had time to prepare the defense and because of public opinion. Judge Fort overruled the motion and after a two days trial, the jury found him guilty of murder. The case was caried to the supreme court and the judgement was set aside and a new trial ordered. Blackman was again placed on trial in September 1886, and again found guilty. His case was again carried to the supreme court and the judgement was again set aside and an ew trial ordered. Blackman was agian placed on trial in march, 1888, and found guilty guilty of murder, and his case was agian carried to the supreme court. Blackman was all this time in the Americus jail for safe keeping. When last summer the sheriff received a telegram announcing Blackman's escape from jail, the indignation and excitement it caused was intense. Large rewards were offered by Schley and Sumter counties, and in about ten days Blackman was captured in Stewart county just as he was crossing the river to Alabama. He made his escape just after he learned the supreme court had affirmed the decision of the superior court. He had been sentenced at each conviction to hang and when he was again sentenced at the last September court to hang October 19th, people did not believe he would hang as he had escaped so often before. Governor Gordon was appealed to and granted a respite for sixty days and before the sixty days were out, granted another respite indefinitely, and people had concluded that justice was asleep. But the law, ever reliable, must and shall be vindicated, and Blackman paid the penalty for the most dastardly murder ever perpetuated on today. Blackman was not worth ten cents, but he has cost this county over five thousand dollars to ascertian if he was guilty of murder under the forms of law.