A Fiendish Brute Bites the Dust, Shot Down in Public Streets By Mr. Charles Stallworth

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Tuscaloosa Weekly Times

Publication Place

Tuscaloosa, AL

Publication Date

08/25/1899

Transcript

A Fiendish Brute Bites the Dust, Shot Down in Public Streets By Mr. Charles Stallworth, A Well To Do Influential Citizen of Sumter County With a Double Barrel Shot Gun. About three weeks ago, Mr. Charles Stallworth, who lives at Cuba, Ala, on the A.G.S.R.R, went to Eutaw to sell a lot of lumber. The night of his absence, one John Thomas, a negro mechanic employed at his place entered the window of Mr. Stallworth's room and attempted to assault her. He seized and choked her in a violent manner, but failed in his fiendish work, as her cries aroused her overseer, Mr. J. J. Andrews, who rushed into the room. The negro escaped through the window. On hearing of this attempted assault, Mr. Stallworth quit business and devoted his time to hunting down the brute with a double barrel shotgun, the whole country joining in the hunt. He traced the negro to Tuscaloosa by his bicycle. It seems that Thomas had punctured his wheel and sent here to Clifford Atkinson for repairs, leaving his saddle and handlebars with the depot agent, Lee Morrison at Cuba Station. Yesterday Mr. Morrison received a letter requesting him to send handlebars and saddle to "Cliff" Tuscaloosa. This letter was a forgery, Mr. Atkinson knowing nothing of it. The Cuba agent depot knowing notified Mr. Stallworth who boarded the train going into Meridian, and took the Northbound train there, reaching there at 4:10 o'clock this morning. While sitting in the Market with his brother, John R. Stallworth, this morning about six o'clock preparing to begin his search. Mr. Charles Stallworth espied John Thomas on the side walk nearMr. Culpepper's residence, going in the direction of the courthouse. He rushed out with a gun in his hand, and attempted to halt Thomas who began to run as soon as he recognized Stallworth, and seeing that he could not overtake, the negro, he opened fire, and the, first shot seeming to have no, effect in halting the fleeing black, devil, he fired the second barrel-, the gun being loaded with squirrel, shot hitting him between the, shoulders. Thomas turned at the, court house, running east, and, passing the drinking basin on, Cotton street. He still ran, passing the corner at Beatty Robertson's grocery store, started up, Monroe street. Some one threw, a metal vessel at him, leaving a, scar on his face, after which officer, Marcy Caraway tripped him up. The negro fell nearly opposite the, back door of Jake Forster's store, and expired in a few minutes. Thus another brute pays the penalty for the highest crime known, to humanity. No inquest seemed, necessary, and the body was taken, to the undertaking establishment, of James T. Gaudin, John Thomas was almost black, about middle height, stout and, about 25 to 30 years of age. He, was wanted in Arkansas for a, similar offense., A number of Mr. Stallworth's, friends and relatives, including, his wife, who is a most estimable, lady, will be up on the night train., Mr. Stallworth is connected with, the best families of Sumter county,, Representative Henry Seymour be, ing his first cousin. The preliminary investigation will be had to-, morrow. Mr. Stallworth is represented by Capt. A. B. McEachin, and Judge W. G. Cochrane., When an infuriated half-crazed, husband shoots down the man who, attempts to despoil the honor of, his home he rubs Judge Lynch of, a conspicuous victim. This is decided improvement on mob-violence, and however the law may, view it, much of public sentiment, will applaud such action.

Sources for

See all items with this value John Thomas