Butts County, Georgia Newspaper Clippings

Submitted by: Don Bankston

Oct. 2005

Negro Killed – Sam Fray

A row occurred between about twenty Negroes while they were return from prayer meeting at Fincherville on Sunday night in which pistols, clubs, rocks, etc., were used promiscuously. When the smoke cleared away, Sam Fraly was lying on the ground dead, shot through the left breast. Coroner T. F. Clark was notified and an inquest was held on yesterday, and Frank Thornton was arrested on a warrant issued by the coroner as the party who did the killing. He says he was knocked down and knows nothing of who shot Fraly. He is in jail.

Middle Ga. Argus – Week of April 29, 1890

Murder – Wade Yancy
A young colored man named Wade Yancy was Killed by Sam Grier at the colored Baptist church on what is called Pepperton about noon on Sunday.  The weapon used was a pistol, and the ball went directly through the heart, producing death instantly.

We learn that a trivial dispute arose between a sister of Grier and Yancy, when Grier walked up and shot Yancy down without a word.  An attempt was made to arrest the murdered by a posse of colored men and one of them, John Hardy, was shot in the shoulder.  Grier was overpowered, however , and brought to town and turned  over to Sheriff Beauchamp who placed him in jail

Middle Ga Argus – Week of May 6, 1890

Sam Greer - Will Not Hang Now

The Negro, Sam Greer, who was convicted of murder at the last session of Butts Superior court, and sentenced by Judge Boynton to hang on 21st. inst., will not stretch hemp at that time.  His attorneys made a motion for a new trial, but it was not granted and the case has been carried to the Supreme Court of the state.  Sam will rest in jail till the Supreme Court confirms the decision of the lower court, when he will be re-sentenced.  Then he will have to answer for taking the life of a fellow man.

Middle Ga Argus - October 7, 1890

The Gallows is Ready

Everything is now ready for the hanging of Sam Greer next Friday.  For several days Mr. Tom Bryan has been working on the gallows and it is now complete and ready to do the ghastly work.  The place of the execution has not yet been made public and will not be till Friday Morning.  Mr. Beauchamp will have a guard of one hundred men to assist him in keeping order if such a thing is found necessary.   There is no apprehension of any disturbance, however, but if needed they will be ready, armed with Winchester rifles.  Thousands of people will be here on that day to witness the hanging.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of October 13, 1891

Math Gunn - Burned to Death, Sad Death of an Eighty Year Old Darkey

On Tuesday night of last week a horrible death occurred on the plantation of Mrs. LeGuin in the northern part of this county.  Math Gunn, an old Negro man who has long lived on the place was alone in his little hut, when from some cause or other, the house caught fire, and the poor old darkey being very feeble and helpless parched(?) amid the raging flames.  His body was not discovered until the following morning when it was found that only a mass of bones and ashes marked the remains.  For eighty years "Uncle" Math has borne the reputation of being an honest Negro but alas he was forced to meet an awful fate.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of December 9, 1890

Frank Thornton - Convicted

Frank Thornton, col. Who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter last week was carried to the coal mines this morning.  He was sentenced for twelve years.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of August 26, 1890

Homicide in Butts

On Wednesday of last week a young man by the name of Duke, from Newton county, shot and killed a Negro named Broadus near the South river bridge in the northern part of this county.  It seems, for quite a while, parties from the three counties of Butts, Newton and Jasper would meet at this spot for the purpose of card playing.  On this occasion, a crowd of both white and colored had met and was engaged in a game, and during a dispute over the question of who had won.  Duke drew a pistol and shot Broadus in the breast, killing him instantly.  Coroner Clark held an inquest over the dead man, and the verdict was of the jury was murder.  Duke has fled.  He is a son of William Duke who killed his brother-in-law, Parker, in 1869, and was killed a few years ago by a brother of the one he killed.  He is about eighteen years of age.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of December 3, 1890

Carried to the Asylum

Zack Byars - Foster

Zack Byars, col. was adjudged a lunatic one day last week and was entered in the asylum by Sheriff Beauchamp today.  He also carried Foster, an old Negro man who lived near Flat Shoals and who was judged a lunatic several weeks ago.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of December 16, 1890

Two Men Killed - Lum Burford  - James Hawkins

On Saturday while the Milledgeville excursion train was crossing the Ocmulgee river at Macon, Lum Burford, col, who lived one mile north of Jackson, stepped from the car, with the view , as was appeared of going to the East Tennessee depot and wait for the train for Jackson.  But before he realized where he was he fell through the bridge, where the two roads cross, and was instantly killed.  His remains were brought to his home on Sunday and buried on Monday in the family cemetery.

He was an honored member of Jackson Lodge of colored Odd Fellows and was buried by the members of that body with the usual rites of member.

He was one of the most industrious Negroes of the county and owned a good farm which is worth about twenty five hundred dollars.

On Saturday night about o o'clock Mr. James Hawkins, a flagman fell from the top of a freight train at the depot in this place and one-half of his head was severed from his body by the heavy wheels of the cars.  His remains were carried on to Atlanta to await the directions of his relatives for interment.  Young Hawkins was about twenty-two years of age and had been working for the road two or three years.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of January 13, 1891

George Price

George Price, colored, who lives on Mr. J. L. Bareley's farm two miles west of town, is forty-six years old and his wife is forty-two.  They have had seventeen children born, the last being twin boys two weeks ago.  A few such prolific couples as these would populate the Congo Free State in a few years.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of February 17, 1891

John Berry - Captured Quickly

A Negro Escapes From McDonough Jail, But is Followed to Butts and Captured by Two Sheriffs.

John Berry, col., who is under sentence of death in McDonough jail made his escape on Monday of last week by breaking through a wall in the corridor, where he had been left by the sheriff for a few minutes to make a fire.

He made his way towards his old home in this county (Butts) but was closely followed by Mr. Newt Glass, the ever active sheriff of Henry County.  He came down on the night train and secured the aid of Mr. Beauchamp and through some shrewd and sharp work they succeeded in capturing the scapegoat at Elisha Slaughter's, () on Mr. Taylor Buttrill's farm four miles west of town about three o'clock next morning

The Negro had been cleanly shaved, had his hair cut close and had on a clean suit of clothes and was sitting by a warm fire enjoying a smoke when he was cornered on and carried back to his old cell.

A prisoner will have to be sharp to elude to such officers as Glass and Beauchamp.

Middle Ga. Argus -  Week of March 3, 1891

A Negro Shot

Two Negroes, Joe Watkins and Oliver Byars, indulged in the "fun" of shooting at each other on Saturday night at Indian Spring. Joe Watkins was shot and is not expected to live. We have not heard the particulars.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of March 24, 1891

The County Court

Cynthia Hall, the colored woman who runs a restaurant in the room once occupied by Miss Ellen Finley, was tried on yesterday and found guilty of selling whiskey.  She was sentenced to the chain gang for eight months or to pay a fine of seventy-five dollars.  She paid the fine.

Mr. Youngblood pleaded guilty of retaining at Indian Springs last year and was fined one hundred and fifty dollars, or eleven months in the chain gang.  He will pay the fine.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of March 31, 1891

Woman Died From Fright

On Wednesday afternoon, some colored people, who lived on Capt. McMichaels farm near Pittsman's Ferry, was returning from Jackson.  They were in a wagon and while going on the railroad about a mile east of town a train suddenly made its appearance and the Negroes hastily got out of the wagon for fear the team would become frightened and run.  The women alighted quickly and as she reached the ground fell over dead.  It was supposed she died from heart failure and that the attack was brought on by the scare.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of May 12, 1891