Schley County GaArchives News.....WILL LIVE LONGER (Tondee Murder Case) November 24 1886
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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.

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