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Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Georgia
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication M798 Roll 32
Reports Relating to Murders and Outrages 1865 - 1868
List of Freedmen Murdered or Assaulted 1867
"Report of Cases of Outrage, made in compliance with instructions of Major General HOWARD forwarding letter from War Dept., Adjt. Generals Office of January 23d 1867 requiring report of violations of "Civil Rights Bill" and action of Bureau officers."
1st Case
On the 2d day of December 1866, AARON D. NUNNELLY, THOMAS HALL, LITTLETON J. BLOODWORTH, CHARLES WRIGHT, CHARLES S. STARK, and WILLIAM S. BROWN, citizens of Griffin, Ga., assaulted, and threatened the life of J. C. SWAYZE, an Agent of the Freedmens Bureau and formerly of the U. S. Army, ordered him to leave the place within 48 hours or they would hang him and then and there assaulted him. The Civil Authorities, though aware of these facts, took no action in the case. Mr. SWAYZE made affidavits before U. S. Commissioner A. W. STONE at Savannah (copy enclosed marked "A") upon which a warrant was issued for the arrest of the guilty parties. They were arrested by the U. S. Marshall, W. G. DICKSON, assisted by troops detailed for the purpose by Maj. Genl. TILLSON, Asst. Comm'r. and C. O. Snt. Dist. of Georgia. They were brought before U. S. Comm'r A. W. STONE at Savannah, waved examination, and gave their recognizance with Surieties to appear to answer to the charge against them at the March term U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of Georgia.
Case 2
Frequent complaints were made from Henry Co., and affidavits furnished, setting forth serious outrages upon colored people, and assault upon the Agent and his office at McDonough. The Civil Authorities, although cognizant of the facts, and urged to take steps for the punishment of the offenders, did not do so. An order was issued from this office Oct. 2d 1866, under S. O. 44, series 1866, H'd Qrs. Army, and the following men arrested. WM. BRYAN charged murder. EPHRAIM FERGUSON charged murder & assault, W. B. (alias RICH'S) HILDERBRAND charged murder and assault, W. J. CRABB charged assault, WM. TOMLINSON charged assault. They were held in confinement at Fort Pulaski until Oct. 22d when they were turned over to the Civil Authorities, who held them under bonds to appear at the next term of Court for trial.
Case 3
State of Georgia
vs
WM. FINCHER (col'd)
Indicted by Grand Jury of Pike Co. Court for Vagrancy case came on for trial, Defendant appeared in person and by his Atty. T. M. CARTER, and entered plea of Not Guilty. Trial proceded, & upon conclusion of the evidence, & the charge of the Judge, the Jury brought in a verdict of "Guilty."
Pike Superior Court
October Term 1866
Plaintiffs attorney brings this case before this Court on writ of Certrori & claims. 1st That the finding of the Jury was contrary to & against the evidence in the case. 2d. That the evidence & finding were wholly & totally contrary & against the weight of evidence in said case. 3d. That said verdict & finding were against the charge of the Court.
The Judge of Superior Court, Pike Co., Ga., upon hearing the Ceriorori ordered that the applicatoin be dismissed, & the defendant remanded into Custody of the Sheriff of the Co., & carried before the Judge of the County Court to be sentenced according to law.
The prisoner was therefore taken before the Judge & sentenced as follows: "WM. FINCHER is hereby sentenced to work on the public works or road for & during the fall term of 12 mos. & then be discharged, & that the defendant pay the costs of this prosecution."
A full and certified copy of all the proceedings in this case, together with all the evidence was forwarded to Maj. Genl. HOWARD, Jan'y. 15th 1867 in compliance with telegram recieved Jan'y 9th calling for the same. It is reported that the prisoner is serving out his sentence on the public works at Milledgeville, Ga., but no official information to that effect has ever been furnished this office.
Case 4
MATHEW MOSELY made affidavit before A.W. STONE, U.S. Commissioner, that WILLIAM MOSELY, JOHN MOSELY, JOHN MOSELY, & ANN ELIZA MOSELY in the counties of Montgomery and Emanuel, Georgia, were cruelly assaulted by MARION TODD, RILEY WILLIAMSON, SOLOMON WILLIAMSON & JORDON FINLY and at different times other outrages were committed by the said accused; and further that the parties aggrieved, cannot obtain redress in the Civil Courts of the County or State, and pray for redress under "Civil Rights Bill" (copy herewith enclosed marked exhibit "B"). Warrants were issued for the arrests of the parties and placed in the hands of the U.S. Marshall, who, assisted by a detail of Soldiers, arrested RILEY WILLIAMS and JOHN FINLY who were brought before the Commissioner and held in $1000 bonds to appear at the next term of the District Court. MARION TODD was arrested but escaped; the other, SOLOMON WILLIAMSON, avoided arrest. I am informed by the District Attorney that the Witnesses were summoned, but that he was determined not to bring the case before the Grand Jury, believing that if he received an indictment, he could not make it hold under the "Civil Rights Bill" so as to secure a conviction.
Case 5
JESSE MORRIS made affidavit (copy herewith enclosed marked Exhibit "C") charging WM. MORRIS, JOHN MCQUEEN, JAMES CALHOUN, ROBERT MCMILLEN, and PICKENS CLARK of Montgomery Co. with assault &c&c and further, that he cannot obtain justice in the Civil Courts &c. And praying for justice under the "Civil Rights Bill."
Warrants were issued but no arrests made. Witnesses were summoned to go before the Grand Jury, but the Dist. Atty. decided not to proceed with the case, for reasons similar to those influencing him in the preceding cases (none of the above mentioned exhibits are included.).
"1867 Report of Names of Freed People who have been assaulted
with intent to kill, in the sub Dist. of Rome, GA in 1867."
Name of Person Assaulted: SYLVANUS LUMPKIN. When: 3d. August. Attacker: RACHEL LUMPKIN (col'd). Where: Floyd County; Cause: Jealousy. Injuries Received: Struck with an axe inflicting wound above left eye causing wound four inches in length and penetrating the frontal brow causing death. Disposition: Referred to civil authorities, who had already arrested her. Tried and convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. Sentenced July 2d. 12 mos Penitentiary.
Name of Victim: ALBERT MONTGOMERY When: October 14th Name of Attacker: CHARLES DENT (white). Where: Cave Spring Cause: Cruelty to a Mule. Injuries Received: Stabbed with a pen knife in the abdomen below the sternum the knife penetrated half way through the abdominal wall. Disposition: Referred to Civil Authorities. Warrant issued at request of S. A. Com.* two days after when they went to serve it he had escaped. (*Sub Assistant Commissioner).
Name of Victim: ALONZO REESE When: May 6th. Name of Attacker: THOMAS BLACK (white). Where: Calhoun. Cause: none whatever. Injuries Received: Fired two shots and missed him. Threw his pistol at him cutting him severely. The freedman escaped further injury by running. Disposition: none.
Name of Victim: LAMUEL DONALDSON When: August 19. Name of Attacker: CHARLES SMITH (white). Where: Euhalie, Cass, Co. Cause: went to SMITH's house to see his child which was living with SMITH at the time. Injuries Received: Shot him in the thigh with a shot gun, wounding him very severely. Has since recovered. Disposition: Had SMITH arrested turned over to the Civil Authorities, the parties compromised the affair. SMITH paying Doctors bill 75cts per dollar for lost time and $25.00 for additional cost &c.
Name of Victim: JAMES PRINTON When: 23d. Name of Attacker: MAT. & WM. THOMPSON (white). Where: Calhoun Cause: none whatever. Injuries Received: went into his house at Midnight, pulled him out of bed. He fled from the house, was followed, several shots fired at him, escaped unharmed under cover of darkness. Disposition: Had them arrested, was bound over to court in the sum of $150.00 each and that was the last of it.
Name of victim: SAMUEL YANCY. When: 24 May. Where: Adairsville, Cass Co. Name of Attacker: JAMES SUMTER (col'd). Cause: Supposed to be jealousy. Injuries: shot him with musket, died two hours after being shot. Disposition: arrested, tried, convicted and hung on the 1st day of Nov 1867 at Cartersville, GA.
Name of victim: MAJOR SMITH. When: Dec 1st. Where: Kingston, Cass Co. Attackers: H. H. KINNABRUE (white). Cause: none known. Injuries Received: cut his throat with pocket knife. Severe wound, has nearly recovered. Disposition: At large, supposed to be lying out in vicinity of Cassville, Cass Co., a warrant out for his arrest.
Name of victim: HUDSON BEEK (BECK?) When: Nov 25th. Where: Dalton. Attackers: CHARLES CHESTER and others (white). Cause: none whatever. Injuries Received: was assaulted and his life was only saved by interference of THOS. JOLLEY & Agent FINNEY. Disposition: Agent requested Civil Authorities to arrest him but no action until the freedman who was again assaulted and in self defense killed one of their number "JOHN J. HUFF" whom at request of Civil Authorities case was reported to the Asst. Com. and investigated by a military officer. The parties were bound in the sum of one thousand dollars.
Name of victim: PINCKNEY SUTTLE (TUTTLE?). When: July 21st. Where: Lafayette, GA. Attackers: JOHN BURGESS (white). Cause: Alleged cruelty to a horse. Injuries Received: Severely cut in the head with a pitchfork. Disposition: Not arrested by Civil Authorities. Not known where he now is.
Name of victim: HENDERSON KETCHUM. When: Nov. 1st. Where: Lafayette. Attackers: M.E. OWENS. Cause: For demanding wages due him. Injuries Received: Attempted to shoot him. Disposition: Not arrested. Supposed to be at or near Dalton.
Name of victim: CAREY GLEN. When: ? Where: Lafayette. Attackers: JEREMIAH ROBERTS (col'd). Cause: Jealousy. Injuries Received: Gun shot wound not fatal. Disposition: Not arrested.
Name of victim: JEREMIAH ROBERTS. When: Dec. 18. Where: Lafayette. Attackers: COLLINS GLEN, RICHARD GLEN, CALVIN GLEN & OLIVER HALL (col'd). Cause: Revenge. Injuries Received: Mortally wounded. Disposition: Not arrested. Whereabouts unknown.
"1865-1866 Report of Persons Murdered in District of Atlanta, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: TOBIAS HARVEY (colored). Place: Fulton County. Name of Murderer: JOSEPH CALLAWAY (colored). Date of Killing: 20 May 1866. Remarks: In prison at Atlanta, GA.
Name of Person Murdered: WM. BRIDWELL (white). Place: Fulton County. Name of Murderer: JAS. TAYLOR WRIGHT, FRANCIS C. CROFFORD, ELIZABETH J. CURRY (all white) and JOHN JOHNSON (colored). Date of Killing: 6 July 1866. Remarks: In prison at Atlanta, GA.
Name of Person Murdered: BUD HAMMOND (white). Place: Fulton County. Name of Murderer: CARTER HEARD (colored). Date of Killing: 21 July 1866. Remarks: At large.
Name of Person Murdered: LEVI CARTER (colored). Place: Fulton County. Name of Murderer: JOHN VANN (white). Date of Killing: August 1866. Remarks: At large.
Name of Person Murdered: MAHELAY (colored). Place: Heard Co. Name of Murderer: Unknown (white). Date of Killing: 11 August 1866. Remarks: Murderer at large, the case is now being investigated.
Name of Person Murdered: NANCY (colored). Place: Heard County. Name of Murderer: Not Known (white). Date of Killing: 11 August 1866. Remarks: Murderer at large, the case is now being investigated.
Name of Person Murdered: LEWIS BROWN (colored). Place: Heard County. Name of Murderer: WILLIAM ARCHER, ANDREW COUCH, and others not known (all white). Date of Killing: 25 August 1866. Remarks: At large.
Name of Person Murdered: JIM DANIELS (colored). Place: Heard Co. Name of Murderer: Same as before (see LEWIS BROWN killing). Date of Killing: 25 August 1866. Remarks: At large.
Name of Person Murdered: LEE (colored). Place: Paulding County. Name of Murderer: ANDREW SMITH, HAMES SIMONTON AND A.C. ASQUA (all white). Date of Killing: 1 September 1866. Remarks: Warrant issued for arrest, at large.
Name of Person Murdered: BURRELL MAYPHS (colored). Place: Cobb County. Name of Murderer: Same as before. Date of Killing: 3 September 1866. Remarks: Warrant issued for arrest, at large.
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: Newton County. Name of Murderer: THOMAS TURNER (white). Date of Killing: 7 September 1866. Remarks: under bond to appear for trial October 5, 1866.
Name of Person Murdered: CARMICHAEL (white). Place: 4 Miles from Augusta. Name of Murderer: Unknown. Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: none.
Name of Person Murdered: GALLAHER (white). Place: Augusta. Name of Murderer: Unknown (colored). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: This was accidental.
Name of Person Murdered: MASON (colored). Place: Augusta. Name of Murderer: GEO. KELLY (white). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: Unintentional as he shot at another.
Name of Person Murdered: BRENAN (white). Place: Augusta. Name of Murderer: J.E. TANT (white). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: Has been tried and acquitted.
Name of Person Murdered: MCANLY (MCAULY?) (white). Place: Augusta. Name of Murderer: JOHN G. HARTLY (white). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: Is now in jail.
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: 3 Miles from Augusta. Name of Murderer: MILLER (white). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: MILLER was arrested and afterwards acquitted as the man was shot while in the act of stealing.
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: Augusta. Name of Murderer: WM. HOUSLEY (white). Date of Killing: 1866. Remarks: HOUSLEY was an officer, acquitted.
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