THE MURDER OF WILLIAM ROWLAND
Athens Post
Friday, March 7, 1856
FOUL MURDER-A man by the name of Wm. Rowland, who kept a small store at Double Springs, in this county, was murdered on Friday night past. He was found in his store room on Saturday morning, with his throat cut in such a manner as to lead to the belief that it had been done with a hatchet. With the exception of a small bruise between the eyes, no other marks of violence were found. We learn that two of his neighbors were with him until about 9 o'clock on Friday night, at which time they left him. When found he had his pantaloons and socks on, and it is supposed that the assassin called him from his bed under a pretense of wishing to purchase something. The key of the door was found in the murdered man's pocket. Robbery was the motive, as the deceased's trunk had been opened, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars (the amount he was known to have had) taken out.-We learn, a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, and underwent an examination before the magistrates on Monday, but no evidence was elicited to implicate him, and he was discharged from custody. We trust every possible effort will be made to ferret out the perpetrator of this diabolical act, and bring him to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 18, 1856
THE MURDER OF YOUNG ROWLAND-Our readers will recollect that some weeks ago we published a short account of the murder of a young man by the name of Rowland, who kept a store at Double Springs in this county; and that a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, tried by the magistrates, and discharged, there not being any evidence produced at the time to identify him with the outrage, or justify his commitment. The boy was subsequently taken by his owner to Columbus, Ga., and sold to a trader, who sold him to a gentleman in Alabama. After the boy had been taken off enough transpired to induce the public to believe that the was connected with the murder, and last week the County Court appropriated the means to purchase him, if he could not be obtained otherwise, and dispatched Col. Jos. McCulley and Col. W. S. Callaway to apprehend and bring him back. They left here last Friday evening, found the boy some forty miles below Auburn, Macon county, Ala., and returned with him on Tuesday night. On Wednesday a true bill was found, and the prisoner was placed on trial. We understand that he voluntarily confessed to participating in the murder, but says a white man was connected with him. The trial has not terminated, and we forbear any remark further than to express the hope that every proper means will be used to obtain such evidence as will bring the negro's accomplice, if he had one, to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 25, 1856
FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED-We stated last week that the negro boy, Jack, charged with the murder of Wm. Rowland, on the night of the 29th February last, was on trial when our paper went to press. On Friday morning the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment. Saturday morning the prisoner was brought to the bar, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 20th day of June next. He was apparently but little affected by the sentence or the impressive remarks of the Judge.
Up to the time sentence of death was pronounced upon him, the negro steadily declared that a white man by the name of Wm. Williams, who lived in the neighborhood of the scene of the murder, was concerned in killing Rowland, and some circumstances having transpired to corroborate a portion of his story, Williams was placed under arrest, and a true bill found against him. His case, however, was continued until the next term of the Court. But after sentence had been pronounced on the negro and Court had adjourned, he made another "confession," in which he says that the white man had nothing to do with the killing-that he knew nothing about it, and never suggested murdering Rowland or anybody else; but that Williams had held conversations with him and another negro about going to a Free State, and had told them if they would raise a certain amount of money he would take them there. Williams is a native of North Carolina, but has been living in East Tennessee for some time, and possesses but little sense or intelligence, as was evidenced by his examination on the trial of the negro. Jack states that he went to Rowland's store on the night of the murder, taking an axe with him-that he asked Rowland to credit him for fifty cents worth of sugar, and that he declined to do so-that he told Rowland he would go and get the money and return-that he left the store, started home, went a short distance, and concluded to return and kill him. That he called Rowland up, telling him he had borrowed the money. Rowland let him in, and while he was in the act of stooping to go under the counter, he struck him on the back of the head with the pole of the axe, "knocking him dead," and that he then cut his throat with the axe. He then robbed the store of what money he could find and left. In his previous statement, he said that Williams knocked Rowland down with a stick, and that he, Jack, cut his throat with a large knife, contending that the blow from the stick killed him, as he never moved after falling. And here may be found the negro's idea or motive for implicating the white man. The evidence of all who examined the wounds on the neck of the murdered man was conclusive that the cutting could not have been done with a knife, but that a hatchet or axe had been used. There can be but little doubt that the negro's last statement about the killing is true-that he conceived and carried it out himself, although he still alleges that he had the conversations with Williams about taking him to a Free State; but that Williams did not counsel him to kill Rowland or anybody else.
There has been a good deal of feeling against Williams from his supposed complicity with the murder, grounded principally on the negro's story, and there are persons who doubt the truth of the latter's last statement, when there can be no inducement for him to lie, although they gave ready credence to what he said prior to his condemnation, and when it was natural for him to think that if he could implicate the white man as having led him into it and dealt the blow which he said killed Rowland, public sympathy might be excited in his behalf. Opinions formed under excitement are always reluctantly yielded, but we have no doubt every thing in relation to the murder, if there is any thing yet undeveloped, will be brought to light and the ends of justice be served. It is a horrid thing to fasten even the instigation of such a crime on a man when there is a possibility of his innocence.
Athens Post Friday, June 27, 1856
EXECUTION-The negro boy Jack, convicted of the murder of Wm. Rowland, was executed on Friday last. A large crowd assembled to witness the execution, variously estimated at from four to seven thousand persons. The boy adhered to the last to the statement made immediately after sentence was pronounced upon him-that he conceived and committed the murder himself, and that the white man Williams, whom he had previously implicated, and who is now in jail at this place under the charge, is entirely innocent of any knowledge of or participation in the crime. He mounted the gallows without any evidence of trepidation, and during the preparations for his execution showed no signs of alarm or fear.
Jack Unknown (Slave) 157560728
Athens Post
Friday, March 7, 1856
FOUL MURDER-A man by the name of Wm. Rowland, who kept a small store at Double Springs, in this county, was murdered on Friday night past. He was found in his store room on Saturday morning, with his throat cut in such a manner as to lead to the belief that it had been done with a hatchet. With the exception of a small bruise between the eyes, no other marks of violence were found. We learn that two of his neighbors were with him until about 9 o'clock on Friday night, at which time they left him. When found he had his pantaloons and socks on, and it is supposed that the assassin called him from his bed under a pretense of wishing to purchase something. The key of the door was found in the murdered man's pocket. Robbery was the motive, as the deceased's trunk had been opened, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars (the amount he was known to have had) taken out.-We learn, a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, and underwent an examination before the magistrates on Monday, but no evidence was elicited to implicate him, and he was discharged from custody. We trust every possible effort will be made to ferret out the perpetrator of this diabolical act, and bring him to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 18, 1856
THE MURDER OF YOUNG ROWLAND-Our readers will recollect that some weeks ago we published a short account of the murder of a young man by the name of Rowland, who kept a store at Double Springs in this county; and that a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, tried by the magistrates, and discharged, there not being any evidence produced at the time to identify him with the outrage, or justify his commitment. The boy was subsequently taken by his owner to Columbus, Ga., and sold to a trader, who sold him to a gentleman in Alabama. After the boy had been taken off enough transpired to induce the public to believe that the was connected with the murder, and last week the County Court appropriated the means to purchase him, if he could not be obtained otherwise, and dispatched Col. Jos. McCulley and Col. W. S. Callaway to apprehend and bring him back. They left here last Friday evening, found the boy some forty miles below Auburn, Macon county, Ala., and returned with him on Tuesday night. On Wednesday a true bill was found, and the prisoner was placed on trial. We understand that he voluntarily confessed to participating in the murder, but says a white man was connected with him. The trial has not terminated, and we forbear any remark further than to express the hope that every proper means will be used to obtain such evidence as will bring the negro's accomplice, if he had one, to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 25, 1856
FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED-We stated last week that the negro boy, Jack, charged with the murder of Wm. Rowland, on the night of the 29th February last, was on trial when our paper went to press. On Friday morning the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment. Saturday morning the prisoner was brought to the bar, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 20th day of June next. He was apparently but little affected by the sentence or the impressive remarks of the Judge.
Up to the time sentence of death was pronounced upon him, the negro steadily declared that a white man by the name of Wm. Williams, who lived in the neighborhood of the scene of the murder, was concerned in killing Rowland, and some circumstances having transpired to corroborate a portion of his story, Williams was placed under arrest, and a true bill found against him. His case, however, was continued until the next term of the Court. But after sentence had been pronounced on the negro and Court had adjourned, he made another "confession," in which he says that the white man had nothing to do with the killing-that he knew nothing about it, and never suggested murdering Rowland or anybody else; but that Williams had held conversations with him and another negro about going to a Free State, and had told them if they would raise a certain amount of money he would take them there. Williams is a native of North Carolina, but has been living in East Tennessee for some time, and possesses but little sense or intelligence, as was evidenced by his examination on the trial of the negro. Jack states that he went to Rowland's store on the night of the murder, taking an axe with him-that he asked Rowland to credit him for fifty cents worth of sugar, and that he declined to do so-that he told Rowland he would go and get the money and return-that he left the store, started home, went a short distance, and concluded to return and kill him. That he called Rowland up, telling him he had borrowed the money. Rowland let him in, and while he was in the act of stooping to go under the counter, he struck him on the back of the head with the pole of the axe, "knocking him dead," and that he then cut his throat with the axe. He then robbed the store of what money he could find and left. In his previous statement, he said that Williams knocked Rowland down with a stick, and that he, Jack, cut his throat with a large knife, contending that the blow from the stick killed him, as he never moved after falling. And here may be found the negro's idea or motive for implicating the white man. The evidence of all who examined the wounds on the neck of the murdered man was conclusive that the cutting could not have been done with a knife, but that a hatchet or axe had been used. There can be but little doubt that the negro's last statement about the killing is true-that he conceived and carried it out himself, although he still alleges that he had the conversations with Williams about taking him to a Free State; but that Williams did not counsel him to kill Rowland or anybody else.
There has been a good deal of feeling against Williams from his supposed complicity with the murder, grounded principally on the negro's story, and there are persons who doubt the truth of the latter's last statement, when there can be no inducement for him to lie, although they gave ready credence to what he said prior to his condemnation, and when it was natural for him to think that if he could implicate the white man as having led him into it and dealt the blow which he said killed Rowland, public sympathy might be excited in his behalf. Opinions formed under excitement are always reluctantly yielded, but we have no doubt every thing in relation to the murder, if there is any thing yet undeveloped, will be brought to light and the ends of justice be served. It is a horrid thing to fasten even the instigation of such a crime on a man when there is a possibility of his innocence.
Athens Post Friday, June 27, 1856
EXECUTION-The negro boy Jack, convicted of the murder of Wm. Rowland, was executed on Friday last. A large crowd assembled to witness the execution, variously estimated at from four to seven thousand persons. The boy adhered to the last to the statement made immediately after sentence was pronounced upon him-that he conceived and committed the murder himself, and that the white man Williams, whom he had previously implicated, and who is now in jail at this place under the charge, is entirely innocent of any knowledge of or participation in the crime. He mounted the gallows without any evidence of trepidation, and during the preparations for his execution showed no signs of alarm or fear.
Jack Unknown (Slave) 157560728
THE MURDER OF WILLIAM ROWLAND
Athens Post
Friday, March 7, 1856
FOUL MURDER-A man by the name of Wm. Rowland, who kept a small store at Double Springs, in this county, was murdered on Friday night past. He was found in his store room on Saturday morning, with his throat cut in such a manner as to lead to the belief that it had been done with a hatchet. With the exception of a small bruise between the eyes, no other marks of violence were found. We learn that two of his neighbors were with him until about 9 o'clock on Friday night, at which time they left him. When found he had his pantaloons and socks on, and it is supposed that the assassin called him from his bed under a pretense of wishing to purchase something. The key of the door was found in the murdered man's pocket. Robbery was the motive, as the deceased's trunk had been opened, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars (the amount he was known to have had) taken out.-We learn, a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, and underwent an examination before the magistrates on Monday, but no evidence was elicited to implicate him, and he was discharged from custody. We trust every possible effort will be made to ferret out the perpetrator of this diabolical act, and bring him to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 18, 1856
THE MURDER OF YOUNG ROWLAND-Our readers will recollect that some weeks ago we published a short account of the murder of a young man by the name of Rowland, who kept a store at Double Springs in this county; and that a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, tried by the magistrates, and discharged, there not being any evidence produced at the time to identify him with the outrage, or justify his commitment. The boy was subsequently taken by his owner to Columbus, Ga., and sold to a trader, who sold him to a gentleman in Alabama. After the boy had been taken off enough transpired to induce the public to believe that the was connected with the murder, and last week the County Court appropriated the means to purchase him, if he could not be obtained otherwise, and dispatched Col. Jos. McCulley and Col. W. S. Callaway to apprehend and bring him back. They left here last Friday evening, found the boy some forty miles below Auburn, Macon county, Ala., and returned with him on Tuesday night. On Wednesday a true bill was found, and the prisoner was placed on trial. We understand that he voluntarily confessed to participating in the murder, but says a white man was connected with him. The trial has not terminated, and we forbear any remark further than to express the hope that every proper means will be used to obtain such evidence as will bring the negro's accomplice, if he had one, to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 25, 1856
FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED-We stated last week that the negro boy, Jack, charged with the murder of Wm. Rowland, on the night of the 29th February last, was on trial when our paper went to press. On Friday morning the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment. Saturday morning the prisoner was brought to the bar, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 20th day of June next. He was apparently but little affected by the sentence or the impressive remarks of the Judge.
Up to the time sentence of death was pronounced upon him, the negro steadily declared that a white man by the name of Wm. Williams, who lived in the neighborhood of the scene of the murder, was concerned in killing Rowland, and some circumstances having transpired to corroborate a portion of his story, Williams was placed under arrest, and a true bill found against him. His case, however, was continued until the next term of the Court. But after sentence had been pronounced on the negro and Court had adjourned, he made another "confession," in which he says that the white man had nothing to do with the killing-that he knew nothing about it, and never suggested murdering Rowland or anybody else; but that Williams had held conversations with him and another negro about going to a Free State, and had told them if they would raise a certain amount of money he would take them there. Williams is a native of North Carolina, but has been living in East Tennessee for some time, and possesses but little sense or intelligence, as was evidenced by his examination on the trial of the negro. Jack states that he went to Rowland's store on the night of the murder, taking an axe with him-that he asked Rowland to credit him for fifty cents worth of sugar, and that he declined to do so-that he told Rowland he would go and get the money and return-that he left the store, started home, went a short distance, and concluded to return and kill him. That he called Rowland up, telling him he had borrowed the money. Rowland let him in, and while he was in the act of stooping to go under the counter, he struck him on the back of the head with the pole of the axe, "knocking him dead," and that he then cut his throat with the axe. He then robbed the store of what money he could find and left. In his previous statement, he said that Williams knocked Rowland down with a stick, and that he, Jack, cut his throat with a large knife, contending that the blow from the stick killed him, as he never moved after falling. And here may be found the negro's idea or motive for implicating the white man. The evidence of all who examined the wounds on the neck of the murdered man was conclusive that the cutting could not have been done with a knife, but that a hatchet or axe had been used. There can be but little doubt that the negro's last statement about the killing is true-that he conceived and carried it out himself, although he still alleges that he had the conversations with Williams about taking him to a Free State; but that Williams did not counsel him to kill Rowland or anybody else.
There has been a good deal of feeling against Williams from his supposed complicity with the murder, grounded principally on the negro's story, and there are persons who doubt the truth of the latter's last statement, when there can be no inducement for him to lie, although they gave ready credence to what he said prior to his condemnation, and when it was natural for him to think that if he could implicate the white man as having led him into it and dealt the blow which he said killed Rowland, public sympathy might be excited in his behalf. Opinions formed under excitement are always reluctantly yielded, but we have no doubt every thing in relation to the murder, if there is any thing yet undeveloped, will be brought to light and the ends of justice be served. It is a horrid thing to fasten even the instigation of such a crime on a man when there is a possibility of his innocence.
Athens Post Friday, June 27, 1856
EXECUTION-The negro boy Jack, convicted of the murder of Wm. Rowland, was executed on Friday last. A large crowd assembled to witness the execution, variously estimated at from four to seven thousand persons. The boy adhered to the last to the statement made immediately after sentence was pronounced upon him-that he conceived and committed the murder himself, and that the white man Williams, whom he had previously implicated, and who is now in jail at this place under the charge, is entirely innocent of any knowledge of or participation in the crime. He mounted the gallows without any evidence of trepidation, and during the preparations for his execution showed no signs of alarm or fear.
Jack Unknown (Slave) 157560728
Athens Post
Friday, March 7, 1856
FOUL MURDER-A man by the name of Wm. Rowland, who kept a small store at Double Springs, in this county, was murdered on Friday night past. He was found in his store room on Saturday morning, with his throat cut in such a manner as to lead to the belief that it had been done with a hatchet. With the exception of a small bruise between the eyes, no other marks of violence were found. We learn that two of his neighbors were with him until about 9 o'clock on Friday night, at which time they left him. When found he had his pantaloons and socks on, and it is supposed that the assassin called him from his bed under a pretense of wishing to purchase something. The key of the door was found in the murdered man's pocket. Robbery was the motive, as the deceased's trunk had been opened, and one hundred and twenty-five dollars (the amount he was known to have had) taken out.-We learn, a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, and underwent an examination before the magistrates on Monday, but no evidence was elicited to implicate him, and he was discharged from custody. We trust every possible effort will be made to ferret out the perpetrator of this diabolical act, and bring him to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 18, 1856
THE MURDER OF YOUNG ROWLAND-Our readers will recollect that some weeks ago we published a short account of the murder of a young man by the name of Rowland, who kept a store at Double Springs in this county; and that a negro boy, the property of O. P. Hall, was arrested on suspicion, tried by the magistrates, and discharged, there not being any evidence produced at the time to identify him with the outrage, or justify his commitment. The boy was subsequently taken by his owner to Columbus, Ga., and sold to a trader, who sold him to a gentleman in Alabama. After the boy had been taken off enough transpired to induce the public to believe that the was connected with the murder, and last week the County Court appropriated the means to purchase him, if he could not be obtained otherwise, and dispatched Col. Jos. McCulley and Col. W. S. Callaway to apprehend and bring him back. They left here last Friday evening, found the boy some forty miles below Auburn, Macon county, Ala., and returned with him on Tuesday night. On Wednesday a true bill was found, and the prisoner was placed on trial. We understand that he voluntarily confessed to participating in the murder, but says a white man was connected with him. The trial has not terminated, and we forbear any remark further than to express the hope that every proper means will be used to obtain such evidence as will bring the negro's accomplice, if he had one, to punishment.
Athens Post
Friday, April 25, 1856
FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED-We stated last week that the negro boy, Jack, charged with the murder of Wm. Rowland, on the night of the 29th February last, was on trial when our paper went to press. On Friday morning the jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in the bill of indictment. Saturday morning the prisoner was brought to the bar, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 20th day of June next. He was apparently but little affected by the sentence or the impressive remarks of the Judge.
Up to the time sentence of death was pronounced upon him, the negro steadily declared that a white man by the name of Wm. Williams, who lived in the neighborhood of the scene of the murder, was concerned in killing Rowland, and some circumstances having transpired to corroborate a portion of his story, Williams was placed under arrest, and a true bill found against him. His case, however, was continued until the next term of the Court. But after sentence had been pronounced on the negro and Court had adjourned, he made another "confession," in which he says that the white man had nothing to do with the killing-that he knew nothing about it, and never suggested murdering Rowland or anybody else; but that Williams had held conversations with him and another negro about going to a Free State, and had told them if they would raise a certain amount of money he would take them there. Williams is a native of North Carolina, but has been living in East Tennessee for some time, and possesses but little sense or intelligence, as was evidenced by his examination on the trial of the negro. Jack states that he went to Rowland's store on the night of the murder, taking an axe with him-that he asked Rowland to credit him for fifty cents worth of sugar, and that he declined to do so-that he told Rowland he would go and get the money and return-that he left the store, started home, went a short distance, and concluded to return and kill him. That he called Rowland up, telling him he had borrowed the money. Rowland let him in, and while he was in the act of stooping to go under the counter, he struck him on the back of the head with the pole of the axe, "knocking him dead," and that he then cut his throat with the axe. He then robbed the store of what money he could find and left. In his previous statement, he said that Williams knocked Rowland down with a stick, and that he, Jack, cut his throat with a large knife, contending that the blow from the stick killed him, as he never moved after falling. And here may be found the negro's idea or motive for implicating the white man. The evidence of all who examined the wounds on the neck of the murdered man was conclusive that the cutting could not have been done with a knife, but that a hatchet or axe had been used. There can be but little doubt that the negro's last statement about the killing is true-that he conceived and carried it out himself, although he still alleges that he had the conversations with Williams about taking him to a Free State; but that Williams did not counsel him to kill Rowland or anybody else.
There has been a good deal of feeling against Williams from his supposed complicity with the murder, grounded principally on the negro's story, and there are persons who doubt the truth of the latter's last statement, when there can be no inducement for him to lie, although they gave ready credence to what he said prior to his condemnation, and when it was natural for him to think that if he could implicate the white man as having led him into it and dealt the blow which he said killed Rowland, public sympathy might be excited in his behalf. Opinions formed under excitement are always reluctantly yielded, but we have no doubt every thing in relation to the murder, if there is any thing yet undeveloped, will be brought to light and the ends of justice be served. It is a horrid thing to fasten even the instigation of such a crime on a man when there is a possibility of his innocence.
Athens Post Friday, June 27, 1856
EXECUTION-The negro boy Jack, convicted of the murder of Wm. Rowland, was executed on Friday last. A large crowd assembled to witness the execution, variously estimated at from four to seven thousand persons. The boy adhered to the last to the statement made immediately after sentence was pronounced upon him-that he conceived and committed the murder himself, and that the white man Williams, whom he had previously implicated, and who is now in jail at this place under the charge, is entirely innocent of any knowledge of or participation in the crime. He mounted the gallows without any evidence of trepidation, and during the preparations for his execution showed no signs of alarm or fear.
Jack Unknown (Slave) 157560728
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