Avenged His Wrong, Mr. Charles Stallworth of Sumter Shoots Down A Negro Guilty of a Terrible Crime

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Tuskaloosa Gazette

Publication Place

Tuscaloosa, AL

Publication Date

08/31/1899

Transcript

Mr Charles W Stallworth of Sumter Shoots Down A Negro, Guilty of A Terrible, Crime. The stillness that reigns over the, city in the early hours was disturbed yesterday morning as two reports of shot gun were heard, Cotton St., The few merchants astir at, 6, clock rushed to their doors in time to see the negro running up the street and turning the corner, Monroe going towards Broadclosely pursued by a white gentleman., Never was the proverb "Be sure, your sin will find you out," more the, forcibly illustrated than in a, death of this darkey. It was, sequel to deed of crime attempted, near Cuba station just three weeks, ago yesterday., About that time the following, telegram was in the papers, this, special clipping coming from the, Chattanooga Times and was hand-, ed the Gazette by gentleman who, A had cut it out at the time it appeared., The correspondent says:, "C W Stallworth, who owns, and operates a large saw mill eight miles south of Cuba, came to this, place Tuesday evening on business,, leaving his wife and a young man, who works at the mill at home, During the night Mrs Stallworth, was awakened to find big black, negro on her bed with his hands, upon her throat. She screamed, and the young man came to her, rescue. The negro, who was recognized by Mrs Stallworth as being, John Thomas, one of the neg, laborers employed at the mill, es, caped through a window. A posse, of men set out Wednesday to hunt, Thomas, and that night they ran, upon him in the woods and shot at, him several times, but he escaped, in the dark after having been, wounded. The posse is still hot, after Thomas, and a lynching, will, be the result if he is caught., It seems the negro escaped the, posse and came on to Tuskaloosa, He was given job at the Electric, light house, where he was known, as Will Thomas. He wrote to Cuba about his bicycle bars he had, left there, using however an, assumed name. His handwriting, was recognized, however and on, esday word was gotten to Mr, Stallworth who was at Meridian, at the time. Mr Stallworth, who, is a brother of Mr John Stallworth,, the popular market man, came, right on to Tuskaloosa, arriving on, the 4:10A G S train yesterday, morning., He came by his brother's house, and got the latter's gun, No, 10, hammerless and came up town, lie took seat in bis brother' stall, at the window thinking the negro, " buld probably pass that way., Sure enough about six clock, Mr Stallworth saw his malcoming, up Greensboro on the east side,, with his dinner pail in his hand., Mr Stallworth allowed him, get nearly to the court house corner and coming up behind him,, called out John, is that you?, T he negro gave one glance over his, shoulder and with "No, boss, this, "in't him," started to run up Cotton St. Mr Stallworth ran few, yards and fired as the darkey was, close to the end of the court house., is few steps further on he fired, again, both times being about 35, yards behind his man. The negro, kept running but dropped his hat, and pail., hearing the cries of Mr Stallworth, Officer Marcie Caroway, who had just come off his beat,, jumped up and ran out from his, house which is across the street, from where the last shot was fired., He pursued the negro as he turned, into Monroe St and overtook him, about opposite Mr J Forster's back, door. He threw the negro down, but the latter was nearly exhausted, then and could not have run much, further. His back was literally, filled with shot and it was evident, his wounds were mortal. The gun, was loaded with No squirrel shot, but they did the work. In about, fifteen minutes after he was shot, he died, never having spoken, word., He was removed to Gaudin's, stable where he was kept until, Mrs Stallings could arrive and, identify him. Mr Stallworth immediately gave, himself up to Officer Key who, turned him over to Deputy Kyle., A warrant was sworn out before, Justice Carson and a preliminary, examination will be held this, ing. This will be probably only, formal., There was very little sensation, about the matter, and while it was, " general topic of conversation on, the streets it did not create the excitement a killing usually does. People seemed to feel that the negro had met only his just deserts., The Gazette has yet to hear the, first word of blame from either, white or black.

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