TALIAFERRO COUNTY, GA - NEWSPAPER 1895 Young Derricott Shoots M. M. Mason Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: RhodaFone@aol.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/taliaferro.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm The new newspaper subscription at Ancestry.com has a large collection of images of "The Atlanta Constitution" which is a wonderful resource for anyone researching Georgia ancestors. There are many references in different issues to Taliaferro Co. people. The following was found on Ancestry by my cousin Margie (Note: although living in Atlanta in 1895, Frank Darracott of the article was born and raised in in Taliaferro Co., son of John W. & Susan Ann (Chapman) Darracott. He was brother of my grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth (Darracott) Taylor and Margie's gr. grandmother, Frances Roberta "Willie" (Darracott) Robbins.) From Ancestry.com The Atlanta Constitution Sunday, July 28, 1895 SHOT IN THE NECK Young Derricott Shoots M. M. Mason in a Drug Store Occurred at 7:30 Last Night Derricott Won't Talk, but It Seems That the Trouble Was Over an Old Dispute --- The Wound Not Serious. M. M. Mason, a soda fountain clerk, was shot in the neck about 7:30 o'clock last night by Frank Derracott. Mason's wound did not appear to be a serious one and he was taken to his home in a hack. The shooting occurred in the old Westmoreland drug store, on the corner of Decatur and Pryor streets, and created considerable excitement. Several hundred people gathered at the scene in a few minutes after the shooting and the officers had difficulty in clearing the crowd away. The exact trouble between the two men could not be learned last night, but it is said that it grew out of a dispute about a soda water check, which occurred some time ago. It is said that the two men have not been on speaking terms lately. It seems that the shooting last night came about suddenly and without warning to those in the store. Derracott has charge of a cigar stand in the old drug store and Mason is foreman of the soda fount on the opposite side of the room. Last night about 7:30 o'clock Mason was relieved from duty by one of the clerks and he put on his coat and started home. Derracott was standing about in the door and as Mason started out Derracott turned and walked inside. Just as the two men met Mason said something to Derracott and the shooting followed, the men clinching and falling to the floor. From what could be learned four shots were fired, that number of chambers of Derracott's pistol being empty when he was arrested with it in his hand. One of the shots took effect in Mason's neck, as stated, the others scattered. One of the shots struck a door facing and another entered the transom timber. Derracott was taken to the station house by Officers Martin and Wimbish and Mason was looked after by Detective Wootten and Officer Lampkin, Mason being placed in a hack and carried to his home on Mangum street by Officer Lampkin. Derracott declined to give an account of the affair when seen at the station house last night. He said that he had been advised not to talk about the affair until the proper time and that he had nothing to say. He was considerably excited when he got to the station house and to the officers said that he had been attacked by Mason with an umbrella and knocked down, when he drew his pistol and began firing to protect himself. He exhibited a wound on his right ear which he said had been caused by Mason hitting him with the umbrella. What an Eye-Witness Says. Mr. H. L. Shields, the soda fountain clerk who relieved Mr. Mason last night, was one of the witnesses of the affair. "I relieved Mr. Mason about half-past 7 o'clock," said Mr. Shields when seen last night, "and he put on his coat and started out of the door. Derracott was standing in the door and he turned and came inside. Just as the two men met Mason said, 'Frank,' and then, Derracott drew his pistol and began firing. I did not hear Mason say anything but call Frank by name when the shooting commenced. I was very close to the men and the shots were coming towards me. I fell down behind the counter and remained there until the shooting ceased. When I got around the counter the officers had Derracott and Mason was on the outside getting in the hack. I don't know anything about the trouble between the men." Officer Martin heard the pistol shot and quickly arrived at the scene and took charge of Derracott, he and Officer Wimbish carrying him to the station house, where Derracott was placed under guard of Officer Wildauer for the night. A charge of assault with intent to murder was entered against him. The shooting attracted a big Saturday night crowd and most of it followed the officers to the station house. Detective Wootten summoned all the witnesses of the shooting and the affair will be investigated tomorrow. ============================= The Atlanta Constitution Monday, July 29, 1895 A CHECK THE CAUSE This Brought About the Dispute Between Derracott and Mason HE WISHED CREDIT ON SODA WATER They Met After Two Weeks and Mason Came Near Passing in His Checks, Sure Enough --- What they Say. It was a red soda water check that came near causing the death of M. M. Mason Saturday night. This red check brought up a dispute. It caused the estrangement of friends. This ill feeling increased until they met in the doorway of the drug store, when after a volley of warm words between them Frank Derracott jerked out his pistol and began to pump lead in the direction of his former friend. Since the shooting Mason has been in a dangerous condition. The ball came from a 38-caliber pistol and penetrated between the carotid artery and the jugular vein. Had it deflected a hair's breadth Mason would have been immediately killed and Derracott would be held today a murderer. The ball passed entirely through the neck of the young man, making a clean hole on each side. Yesterday morning Mason was in a critical condition, but he rallied during the day and was much better last night. Unless an unexpected change comes it is thought by his physicians that he will entirely recover. During the day he told to several friends the details that led up to the shooting. These corroborate the account in yesterday's Constitution. Two weeks ago Mason sold to Derracott 25 cents' worth of soda checks. They were fast friends. Derracott had charge of the cigar stand in Westmoreland's old drug store, while Mason leased the soda fount on the opposite side of the store. Derracott came up one day with a friend. He had only one check and asked Mason to credit him with the other drink. There was a taunting remark from the soda water man at which Derracott took offense. After that all former familiarity was wiped away and they stopped speaking to each other. In the meantime it had reached Mason that Derracott had been making slanderous remarks about him whenever he had the opportunity. Saturday night, after Mason had been relieved by his clerk and started from the store was the first time that he had met the other man face to face. Mason spoke and asked if Derracott meant what he had said. The two men glared at each other, clenched and struggled, when suddenly Derracott pulled his pistol and began to fire. Only three shots were fired and but two of these took effect. The other buried itself in the door paneling. It is claimed by Mason that the shooting was without provocation. He says that he had heard that the cigar clerk had been threatening for several weeks to kill him if ever the opportunity came. Will Not Talk, It was rather a gloomy Sunday for Derracott. He spent the day at police station under guard of policemen. He was seated last night in the office of the chief of detectives, with a cigar in his mouth and his legs thrown up comfortably upon a table. The young man is not bad looking. He has a pleasant face conspicuous for a scanty mustache that twirls up in a perfect spiral. "I have nothing to say. I have been advised to keep my mouth shut. This is all that I care to state about this case," was his reply to any questions. "I'll say this, however," he added, "There was no woman in the case." This morning the young man will be given a preliminary hearing. Mason will recover, it is thought, unless something unforeseen turns up. ================================================= SOURCES: Darracott Family Bible - Deaths Tombstone Inscriptions, Taliaferro Co., GA Will of James B. Darracott, Taliaferro Co., GA (Taliaferro Co., GA Will Bk. A, pp. 210-212) Abstract of Will of Tabitha (Conner)Darracott (Taliaferro Co., GA Will Bk. B, p. 202. Taliaferro Co., GA Marriage Bk. A Taliaferro Co., GA Marriage Bk. B 1850 U.S. Census, Taliaferro Co., GA 1860 U.S. Census, Taliaferro Co., GA 1870 U.S. Census, Taliaferro Co., GA 1880 U.S. Census, Taliaferro Co., GA 1900 U.S. Census, Fulton Co. GA 1920 U.S. census, Fulton Co., GA