Upson County  Georgia Obits  Mr. Ben Matthews

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Archives by: Lynn B. Cunningham" <lcunnin1@bellsouth.net> 


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Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


The Barnesville Gazette.
Barnesville, Georgia, July 24, 1890


Mr. Ben Matthews Shot


Last Thursday morning at Tobler, Mr. Ben Matthews,
well known in Barnesville, was shot twice by a [man]
named Guy Jenkins. There are several storied out, as
is always the case, about the origin of the
difficulty. One is that the two became mad and
clinched. In the scuffle a pistol dropped from Mr.
Matthews pocket. The [man] picked it up and shot Mr.
Matthews twice. Another is that Mr. Matthews was
trying to shoot Guy, and the pistol was taken away
from him, and he was shot twice. Still another is
given by a negro boy, who was near the scene of the
difficulty. It is about as follows:


“Guy and Boss Bennie were going along a road in the
field, and Guy picked up a rock and Boss Bennie told
him to put it down. Guy said, “I’ll die and go to
hell before I’ll put it down. I believe you’ve got a
pistol to shoot me.” Boss Bennie said, “No I
haven’t; you put down that rock.” Guy started
towards him with the rock raised to strike him. Boss
Bennie started backwards and told him to put down
the rock. Guy kept coming with the rock and Boss
Bennie hit him with a switch or small stick. Guy
then drew a pistol and said, “I’ve been taking your
foolishness all the year and I won’t take it any
longer,” and then he shot Boss Bennie in the right
side, and while Boss Bennie was on the ground he
shot him again in the left shoulder and started to
shoot again. But he saw the hands coming and he
walked off, carrying the pistol like a gun, and
afterwards went in a run.”


Guy has had a pistol for some time, and has at
different times shot at several of the hands. A
short time ago, he shot at one and ran away.


The [man] gave himself up to the sheriff of Upson
county and is now in jail.


>From the first it was feared that the wound was a
fatal one, and on last Saturday morning the sad news
of Mr. Matthews death was received. It was sad news
to everybody. Mr. Matthews was a promising young man
and had a host of friends in this section. Many of
our people attended the funeral about six miles in
the country on Sunday last. An unusually large crowd
was present to see him laid away. To all his
sorrowing relatives and friends, the Gazette offers
warmest sympathy.


(Transcribed 12/1/02 Lynn Cunningham)


Note:
At Salem Church Cemetery, Upson County, Georgia:
Benjamin Antonette Matthews, b. 16 July 1860, d. 19 July 1890, Son of
F.F. and A.A. Matthews
Fielding Friar Matthews, b. 8 Jan 1816, d. 19 Nov 1891
Anne Antionette Lindsey, b. 26 Feb 1823, d. 24 Jan 1905, Wife of
Fielding F. Matthews