Of Jewish descent, Samuel Tucker made his living as a peddler in the early 1890's. He was in Franklin County, North Carolina in July of 1892.
Samuel made plans to spend the night at the home of Lucy Brewer and Pinkie Williams. While there, Samuel encountered their boyfriends, 21-year-old Calvin Coley and his 26-year-old brother, Thomas A. Coley. After the three men ate supper, a disagreement occurred that resulted in the murder of Samuel Tucker.
The crime was not discovered until during the Christmas holidays of 1893 when hunters happened to come across human remains in a nearby woods. A Jewish group from Richmond, Virginia hired an attorney to assist the prosecution once Samuel's body was identified, suggesting that he may have had friends or family members living there.
Cal and Tom Coley became the prime suspects following an investigation. They were captured in Norfolk, Virginia and were returned to Franklin County, North Carolina where they were charged with first degree murder. They were ordered to stand trial together.
According to court records, Cal Coley claimed that Samuel Tucker had verbally insulted him, using a racial slur upon his arrival. That evening, Cal accused Samuel of using the slur earlier, which he denied. Heated words escalated into a physical confrontation, and, at that point, Cal's brother, Tom Coley, became involved in the fight. Cal Coley described in court how his brother held Samuel on his side while Cal delivered a single fatal blow with an ax.
Lucy Brewer, who at first was suspected of murder or complicity when Samuel's bones were discovered in the woods, confessed to what she had seen and testified against the Coleys. According to court records, she reported that because Tom refused to hit Samuel with the ax himself, he was then ordered by his brother to pin the victim down while Cal struck him with it. Lucy testified that Samuel had begged for them to spare his life during the attack.
At the trial, the brothers admitted that after killing Samuel in self-defense, they took his body into the woods, stole $159 in cash from him, and then burned his clothing and possessions. They testified that they covered the body in pine straw, and then travelled to Norfolk, Virginia by wagon, accompanied by Lucy Brewer.
On 30 January 1894, a jury found the Coley brothers guilty of murder in the first degree.
The case was appealed to a higher court on the grounds that the brother who held Samuel during the attack had refused to strike him with the ax. The appeal also referred to questions raised concerning the judge's instructions to the panel of jurors. The higher court ruled that there was no error in the options presented to the jury, and the convictions were upheld.
Governor Carr of North Carolina signed a warrant for the Coley brothers' executions and scheduled a date in mid-July. Newspaper accounts noted that they reacted with indifference. According to a front page article published in the 02 Jun 1894 edition of the Atlanta Constitution, as soon as the sheriff finished reading them the order, Tom Coley asked, "Has it rained very much?"
Less than 4 weeks later, the Coley brothers escaped from jail. On the morning of 25 Jun 1894, a preacher went there to hold religious services. As he entered with a jailor, the Coleys and another prisoner grabbed the guard and locked him inside a cell. They fought with the preacher, knocking him down and injuring him with an iron bar. The Coleys made their escape, but were soon recaptured.
A gallows was erected on the front lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse, not far from the jail where the brothers were being held. On 13 Jul 1894, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the public hanging of Calvin and Thomas Coley.
Samuel Tucker's remains were laid to rest in Sir Moses Monefiore Cemetery in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, more than a year-and-a-half after his violent death in July of 1892.
----------
Resources/Additional information:
A summary of court proceedings and testimony is available on-line for the 1894 North Carolina case entitled State v. Coley. [Link provided by courtesy of Find A Grave contributor Sarah Drye.]
Oh, the Tales the Old Franklin County Jail Could Tell!, published on-line by the Tar River Center for History and Culture at Louisburg College.
The Day the Black Rain Fell by William F. Shelton (1984).
Samuel made plans to spend the night at the home of Lucy Brewer and Pinkie Williams. While there, Samuel encountered their boyfriends, 21-year-old Calvin Coley and his 26-year-old brother, Thomas A. Coley. After the three men ate supper, a disagreement occurred that resulted in the murder of Samuel Tucker.
The crime was not discovered until during the Christmas holidays of 1893 when hunters happened to come across human remains in a nearby woods. A Jewish group from Richmond, Virginia hired an attorney to assist the prosecution once Samuel's body was identified, suggesting that he may have had friends or family members living there.
Cal and Tom Coley became the prime suspects following an investigation. They were captured in Norfolk, Virginia and were returned to Franklin County, North Carolina where they were charged with first degree murder. They were ordered to stand trial together.
According to court records, Cal Coley claimed that Samuel Tucker had verbally insulted him, using a racial slur upon his arrival. That evening, Cal accused Samuel of using the slur earlier, which he denied. Heated words escalated into a physical confrontation, and, at that point, Cal's brother, Tom Coley, became involved in the fight. Cal Coley described in court how his brother held Samuel on his side while Cal delivered a single fatal blow with an ax.
Lucy Brewer, who at first was suspected of murder or complicity when Samuel's bones were discovered in the woods, confessed to what she had seen and testified against the Coleys. According to court records, she reported that because Tom refused to hit Samuel with the ax himself, he was then ordered by his brother to pin the victim down while Cal struck him with it. Lucy testified that Samuel had begged for them to spare his life during the attack.
At the trial, the brothers admitted that after killing Samuel in self-defense, they took his body into the woods, stole $159 in cash from him, and then burned his clothing and possessions. They testified that they covered the body in pine straw, and then travelled to Norfolk, Virginia by wagon, accompanied by Lucy Brewer.
On 30 January 1894, a jury found the Coley brothers guilty of murder in the first degree.
The case was appealed to a higher court on the grounds that the brother who held Samuel during the attack had refused to strike him with the ax. The appeal also referred to questions raised concerning the judge's instructions to the panel of jurors. The higher court ruled that there was no error in the options presented to the jury, and the convictions were upheld.
Governor Carr of North Carolina signed a warrant for the Coley brothers' executions and scheduled a date in mid-July. Newspaper accounts noted that they reacted with indifference. According to a front page article published in the 02 Jun 1894 edition of the Atlanta Constitution, as soon as the sheriff finished reading them the order, Tom Coley asked, "Has it rained very much?"
Less than 4 weeks later, the Coley brothers escaped from jail. On the morning of 25 Jun 1894, a preacher went there to hold religious services. As he entered with a jailor, the Coleys and another prisoner grabbed the guard and locked him inside a cell. They fought with the preacher, knocking him down and injuring him with an iron bar. The Coleys made their escape, but were soon recaptured.
A gallows was erected on the front lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse, not far from the jail where the brothers were being held. On 13 Jul 1894, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the public hanging of Calvin and Thomas Coley.
Samuel Tucker's remains were laid to rest in Sir Moses Monefiore Cemetery in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, more than a year-and-a-half after his violent death in July of 1892.
----------
Resources/Additional information:
A summary of court proceedings and testimony is available on-line for the 1894 North Carolina case entitled State v. Coley. [Link provided by courtesy of Find A Grave contributor Sarah Drye.]
Oh, the Tales the Old Franklin County Jail Could Tell!, published on-line by the Tar River Center for History and Culture at Louisburg College.
The Day the Black Rain Fell by William F. Shelton (1984).
Of Jewish descent, Samuel Tucker made his living as a peddler in the early 1890's. He was in Franklin County, North Carolina in July of 1892.
Samuel made plans to spend the night at the home of Lucy Brewer and Pinkie Williams. While there, Samuel encountered their boyfriends, 21-year-old Calvin Coley and his 26-year-old brother, Thomas A. Coley. After the three men ate supper, a disagreement occurred that resulted in the murder of Samuel Tucker.
The crime was not discovered until during the Christmas holidays of 1893 when hunters happened to come across human remains in a nearby woods. A Jewish group from Richmond, Virginia hired an attorney to assist the prosecution once Samuel's body was identified, suggesting that he may have had friends or family members living there.
Cal and Tom Coley became the prime suspects following an investigation. They were captured in Norfolk, Virginia and were returned to Franklin County, North Carolina where they were charged with first degree murder. They were ordered to stand trial together.
According to court records, Cal Coley claimed that Samuel Tucker had verbally insulted him, using a racial slur upon his arrival. That evening, Cal accused Samuel of using the slur earlier, which he denied. Heated words escalated into a physical confrontation, and, at that point, Cal's brother, Tom Coley, became involved in the fight. Cal Coley described in court how his brother held Samuel on his side while Cal delivered a single fatal blow with an ax.
Lucy Brewer, who at first was suspected of murder or complicity when Samuel's bones were discovered in the woods, confessed to what she had seen and testified against the Coleys. According to court records, she reported that because Tom refused to hit Samuel with the ax himself, he was then ordered by his brother to pin the victim down while Cal struck him with it. Lucy testified that Samuel had begged for them to spare his life during the attack.
At the trial, the brothers admitted that after killing Samuel in self-defense, they took his body into the woods, stole $159 in cash from him, and then burned his clothing and possessions. They testified that they covered the body in pine straw, and then travelled to Norfolk, Virginia by wagon, accompanied by Lucy Brewer.
On 30 January 1894, a jury found the Coley brothers guilty of murder in the first degree.
The case was appealed to a higher court on the grounds that the brother who held Samuel during the attack had refused to strike him with the ax. The appeal also referred to questions raised concerning the judge's instructions to the panel of jurors. The higher court ruled that there was no error in the options presented to the jury, and the convictions were upheld.
Governor Carr of North Carolina signed a warrant for the Coley brothers' executions and scheduled a date in mid-July. Newspaper accounts noted that they reacted with indifference. According to a front page article published in the 02 Jun 1894 edition of the Atlanta Constitution, as soon as the sheriff finished reading them the order, Tom Coley asked, "Has it rained very much?"
Less than 4 weeks later, the Coley brothers escaped from jail. On the morning of 25 Jun 1894, a preacher went there to hold religious services. As he entered with a jailor, the Coleys and another prisoner grabbed the guard and locked him inside a cell. They fought with the preacher, knocking him down and injuring him with an iron bar. The Coleys made their escape, but were soon recaptured.
A gallows was erected on the front lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse, not far from the jail where the brothers were being held. On 13 Jul 1894, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the public hanging of Calvin and Thomas Coley.
Samuel Tucker's remains were laid to rest in Sir Moses Monefiore Cemetery in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, more than a year-and-a-half after his violent death in July of 1892.
----------
Resources/Additional information:
A summary of court proceedings and testimony is available on-line for the 1894 North Carolina case entitled State v. Coley. [Link provided by courtesy of Find A Grave contributor Sarah Drye.]
Oh, the Tales the Old Franklin County Jail Could Tell!, published on-line by the Tar River Center for History and Culture at Louisburg College.
The Day the Black Rain Fell by William F. Shelton (1984).
Samuel made plans to spend the night at the home of Lucy Brewer and Pinkie Williams. While there, Samuel encountered their boyfriends, 21-year-old Calvin Coley and his 26-year-old brother, Thomas A. Coley. After the three men ate supper, a disagreement occurred that resulted in the murder of Samuel Tucker.
The crime was not discovered until during the Christmas holidays of 1893 when hunters happened to come across human remains in a nearby woods. A Jewish group from Richmond, Virginia hired an attorney to assist the prosecution once Samuel's body was identified, suggesting that he may have had friends or family members living there.
Cal and Tom Coley became the prime suspects following an investigation. They were captured in Norfolk, Virginia and were returned to Franklin County, North Carolina where they were charged with first degree murder. They were ordered to stand trial together.
According to court records, Cal Coley claimed that Samuel Tucker had verbally insulted him, using a racial slur upon his arrival. That evening, Cal accused Samuel of using the slur earlier, which he denied. Heated words escalated into a physical confrontation, and, at that point, Cal's brother, Tom Coley, became involved in the fight. Cal Coley described in court how his brother held Samuel on his side while Cal delivered a single fatal blow with an ax.
Lucy Brewer, who at first was suspected of murder or complicity when Samuel's bones were discovered in the woods, confessed to what she had seen and testified against the Coleys. According to court records, she reported that because Tom refused to hit Samuel with the ax himself, he was then ordered by his brother to pin the victim down while Cal struck him with it. Lucy testified that Samuel had begged for them to spare his life during the attack.
At the trial, the brothers admitted that after killing Samuel in self-defense, they took his body into the woods, stole $159 in cash from him, and then burned his clothing and possessions. They testified that they covered the body in pine straw, and then travelled to Norfolk, Virginia by wagon, accompanied by Lucy Brewer.
On 30 January 1894, a jury found the Coley brothers guilty of murder in the first degree.
The case was appealed to a higher court on the grounds that the brother who held Samuel during the attack had refused to strike him with the ax. The appeal also referred to questions raised concerning the judge's instructions to the panel of jurors. The higher court ruled that there was no error in the options presented to the jury, and the convictions were upheld.
Governor Carr of North Carolina signed a warrant for the Coley brothers' executions and scheduled a date in mid-July. Newspaper accounts noted that they reacted with indifference. According to a front page article published in the 02 Jun 1894 edition of the Atlanta Constitution, as soon as the sheriff finished reading them the order, Tom Coley asked, "Has it rained very much?"
Less than 4 weeks later, the Coley brothers escaped from jail. On the morning of 25 Jun 1894, a preacher went there to hold religious services. As he entered with a jailor, the Coleys and another prisoner grabbed the guard and locked him inside a cell. They fought with the preacher, knocking him down and injuring him with an iron bar. The Coleys made their escape, but were soon recaptured.
A gallows was erected on the front lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse, not far from the jail where the brothers were being held. On 13 Jul 1894, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the public hanging of Calvin and Thomas Coley.
Samuel Tucker's remains were laid to rest in Sir Moses Monefiore Cemetery in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, more than a year-and-a-half after his violent death in July of 1892.
----------
Resources/Additional information:
A summary of court proceedings and testimony is available on-line for the 1894 North Carolina case entitled State v. Coley. [Link provided by courtesy of Find A Grave contributor Sarah Drye.]
Oh, the Tales the Old Franklin County Jail Could Tell!, published on-line by the Tar River Center for History and Culture at Louisburg College.
The Day the Black Rain Fell by William F. Shelton (1984).
Inscription
Hebrew section:
Top line: Abbreviation for po nikbar or po nitman, meaning "Here lies"
Bottom line of Hebrew: Abbreviation for a Bible verse, the first book of Samuel, 25:29, "May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life."
English section:
SAMUEL TUCKER
DIED JAN. 15, 1894
Rest In Peace
Gravesite Details
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