TAYLOR COUNTY, GA - NEWSPAPER  Byrd, Lewis Shot

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                              Copied from
                            THE BUTLER HERALD
Vol. XXVII        Butler, Georgia          Tuesday  June 23, 1903         No. 36
_______________________________________________________________________________
                               MR. LEWIS BYRD
                       Shot by a Brutal Negro Near
                                    Rochelle
Mr. H. L. Byrd, formerly of this county and familiarly
known as Lewis Byrd, was shot by Tom Carithers, a negro
employed on the farm of Mr. Byrd near Rochelle, in
Wilcox County about 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning the
16th inst., from the effects of which he lingered a few
hours and died in great pain.  Mr. Byrd had directed
the negro to do some work about the farm but refusing
to do the work as directed, he was ordered from the
farm.  Instead of obeying the order he armed himself
with a pistol and began firing at Mr. Byrd.  Mr. Byrd
being unarmed--not expeting any difficulty--was at the
mercy of his assassin.  One ball entered his right hip
ranging upward, en-tered the bowels.  He lingered but a
few hours as already stated, and died in great pain.
The negro made his escape threatening to kill others in
the neighborhood.  The remains of Mr. Byrd were brought
to Reynolds on Thursday morning and interred in the
cemetary at Crowell.  He leaves a devoted wife, four
little children besides a host of friends and relatives
in this county to mourn his loss

Mr. Byrd was about 40 years of age, was a successful
farmer of Panhandle district.  In the fall of 1900 he
moved to Wilcox county, near Rochelle, and was rapidly
becomng  one of the largest and most successful farmer
in that portion of the ... sudden and untimely death
was a great shock to his many friends and relatives in
the county.  Honest and upright and prior to his moving
to South Ga. acted as special bailiff for Taylor
Superior court.  He was a brave officer and it was in
an unexpected moment when the assassin saught his
opportunity.  A liberal reward has been offered for the
murderer and if captured should be speedily and justly
punished.

ADDITIONAL information:
Background:  Henry Lewis Byrd, s/o Robert and Mary Ann
(Bowers) Byrd. married:  Josephine Lorena Hamilton, d/o
William James and Eliza (Christie) Hamilton