June 1885 Execution of Perry & William Melton of Spearsville, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Shawn Martin Date of Submission: 12/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== June 1885 Execution of Perry & William Melton of Spearsville, Union Parish Louisiana ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Kansas City, Missouri "Star", issue of 19 June 1885 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Father and Son Hang Together. Farmersville, La., 19 — Perry and William Milton, father and son, were hanged in the jail inclosure here today, for the murder of John W. Cherry, an old farmer, at his home in the northern part of this (Union) parish, April 15, 1884. The two murderers were neighbors of their victim, but bad blood existed between the families, caused by Milton’s jealousy of Cherry’s superior social and financial position. The two families had frequent quarrels. On the morning of the murder the Miltons were passing Cherry’s farm and saw the old man working in the field. The Elder Milton called out to him that now was a good time to settle scores, and the two advanced on Cherry, who retreated and warned them off. Finally Cherry was compelled to use his revolver, wounding the elder Milton in the arm. His antagonists then closed in upon him and attacked him with hoes. Cherry turned and ran toward his house, calling to his wife to bring out a shot gun. Wm. Milton headed him off and got to the house first. Just as Mrs. Cherry came out of the door with the gun Milton felled her with a handspike he found in the yard and seized the gun. Meantime Perry Milton came up and held Cherry until Wm. Milton knocked him down by a dozen blows on the head. Cherry begged for his life, but William beat him with the handspike until the old man’s head was pounded to a jelly. Mrs. Cherry, who had regained her senses, took her dying husband’s head in her lap, but was brutally used. Cherry showed some signs of life and the elder Milton told Perry to finish him. He did so by crushing his skull. The Miltons hid in the neighborhood for several weeks, finally escaping to Texas, where they were captured. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Akron, Ohio "Summit County Beacon", issue of 24 June 1885 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Farmersville, La., June 19 – Perry and William Melton, father and son, were hanged in the jail enclosure here today for the murder of john William Cherry, an old farmer, at his home in the northern part of this (Union) Parish, April 15, 1881. The two murderers were neighbors of their victim but bad blood existed between the families by the Melton’s jealousy of Cherry’s superior social and financial position. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Aberdeen, South Dakota "Daily News", issue of 26 June 1885 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ITEMS FROM THE SOUTH. Perry and William Melton were hanged in Union Parish, La., for the murder of John W. Cheney. They were respited by the Governor some time ago, but the Board of pardons refused to recommend a commutation. ############################################################# File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/newspapers/articles/1885melton-execution3.txt