Jefferson County, Alabama - Newspaper Articles
DR. FRANK
WALTON.
Special to the Advertiser.
Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 20--The funeral of Dr. Frank Walton, who was shot to death Monday night at Mulga, a mining camp in the western part of the county, by Gid Weaver, a young electrician, took place this afternoon from the residence of the deceased's brother, Lewis Walton. The cortege that followed the remains to the last resting place in the Oak Hill cemetery, was a large one, the deceased having many friends. Relatives of the deceased suggest murder and there will be prosecution of the slayer. Weaver has no statement yet to make anent the crime, however, intimating that he will be ready for the preliminary hearing Saturday before the justice of the peace Saturday at Mulga. The unwritten law will most likely be the plea of the slayer. Dr. Walton was unarmed when he was shot. The Montgomery Advertiser, August 21, 1913.
SLAYER OF INVADER ACQUITTED BY JURY
Special to The Advertiser
Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 18--After being out all night, the jury in the case of Gid Weaver, charged with murder in the second degree, this morning brought in a verdict acquitting the accused. Weaver, who was an electrician in the employ of the Woodward Iron Company at Mulga, in the western part of Jefferson County, on last August shot and killed Dr. Frank Walton, a well known physician. The shooting occurred at the home of Weaver, when the latter returned home unexpectedly from his work. Dr. Walton was shot three times and died in a few hours. The unwritten law and self-defense was claimed by Gid Weaver, who showed good character witneses in the court. Up to this killing Dr. Frank Walton had an undisputed good reputation. The Montgomery Advertiser, February 19, 1914.
TROUBLE AT PINSON.
Negroes Armed Themselves on Account of the Murder of One of Their Race.
Special to The Age-Herald.
Pinson, Oct. 14,--Bill Gambrill, about 22 years old, was killed yesterday morning on the Goodwin place about two miles east of here. It seems that the negro and a man named McWeems were farm hands on the Goodwin place and has some trouble about cutting wood.
Later, the negroe went to the field to work and Weems went to water a mule. Weems found the negor on the road with a stick, and he says the negro made a vicious attack on him with the stick and having a pistol, Weems shot and Gambrill fell dead.
Weems has disappeared.
Last night a rumor spread to the effect that negroes were gathering and arming themselves, and bent on trouble. A large number of armed white men went to the Goodwin place but did not encounter the negroes. All seems to be quiet this morning.
The Age-Herald, October 15, 1897.
WEEMS GAVE HIMSELF UP.
He Killed a Negro Named Bill Gambell.
Mark Weems, a young white man, yesterday surrendered to Sheriff O'Brien on a charge of murder, and is now in the county jail.
Weems killed Will Gambel, a negro, near Mt. Pinson, last Tuesday morning by shooting him with a pistol.
He claims that on account of the feeling among the negroes he got out of the way, and as soon as things quieted down came to town and gave himself up.
He says that the negro threatened him and was advancing when he shot. He will be given a preliminary trial this morning before Justice of the Peace, Wm. Killough. Weems has secured an attorney.
When seen in the county jail yesterday afternoon he made the following statement:
"I killed the negro, but did it because he was advancing toward me with a heavy stick and had previously threatened me.
"We were both employed on the farm of my uncle, Wm. Goodwin. On Tuesday morning I arose before day and was looking after feeding the stock, and urged the negro, who was chopping wood, to hurry. He cursed me, and I told him not to do so again; but he paid no attention to me, and said that he would get me yet.
"After breakfast I started to the field riding a mule and leading another. When I got to the creek, about half way, the negro was there waiting for me, having gone ahead with two buckets of food for the hands.
"He had a large stick in one hand, and when I came up he again cursed me, and I told him to take his buckets and go on. Instead, he reached down and got a rock in his left hand and started toward me.
"I jumped off the mule and told him not to advance further, but he came on and I shot him. I did not deny the shooting, but thought best to lay low while the negroes were excited. When everything got quiet I decided to surrender myself, and came in this morning with my uncle, Mr. Goodwin, and did so.
"Gambel was known to be a bad negro. He attacked a white man name McClendon a few months ago and beat him badly."
Weems is a good-looking young fellow, bears a good reputation and is confident of an acquittal. The Age-Herald, October 19, 1897.
PINSON POINTERS.
Quiet Restored Among the Negroes and Whites.
Special to The Age-Herald.
Pinson, Oct. 22--Pinson has quieted down after a week's excitement over the killing of the negro, Bill Gamble, by Mr. Weems. The negroes marched and the white men marched a night and a day, but no conflict occurred. The negroes are angry because Weems was turned loose. The Age-Herald, October 23, 1897.
A. J. Black Killed.
A. J. Black, who was shot by Mrs. Lizzie Larch at Avondale Friday died Sunday afternoon
Labor Advocate, July 16, 1898.
DISCOVERED DEAD.
Mysterious Murder Case Comes to Light Near Helena.
Was Found By Negroes
Body Badly Decomposed But Victim Was Evidently an Aged White Person
Helena, September 7.--(Special)--A mysterious murder of an unknown man was discovered one mile form Helena today by negroes, while fishing. The body was badly decomposed, only the bones being left with fragments of clothers, and a few articles consisting of a razor, comb, belt and pocketbook.
There was no paper to identify him. He was evidently an aged white man, and a bullet hole entirely through his head shown he was murdered by and unknown assasin.
There is no one missing from here. Ther coroner's inquest will be held tomorrow and may develop more details.
A negro man, named Dave Cable was found ded in bed this morning at the home of his brother-in-law. No inquest held.
All newspaper articles transcribed from referenced sources by C. Anthony unless otherwise noted.
Special to the Advertiser.
Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 20--The funeral of Dr. Frank Walton, who was shot to death Monday night at Mulga, a mining camp in the western part of the county, by Gid Weaver, a young electrician, took place this afternoon from the residence of the deceased's brother, Lewis Walton. The cortege that followed the remains to the last resting place in the Oak Hill cemetery, was a large one, the deceased having many friends. Relatives of the deceased suggest murder and there will be prosecution of the slayer. Weaver has no statement yet to make anent the crime, however, intimating that he will be ready for the preliminary hearing Saturday before the justice of the peace Saturday at Mulga. The unwritten law will most likely be the plea of the slayer. Dr. Walton was unarmed when he was shot. The Montgomery Advertiser, August 21, 1913.
SLAYER OF INVADER ACQUITTED BY JURY
Special to The Advertiser
Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 18--After being out all night, the jury in the case of Gid Weaver, charged with murder in the second degree, this morning brought in a verdict acquitting the accused. Weaver, who was an electrician in the employ of the Woodward Iron Company at Mulga, in the western part of Jefferson County, on last August shot and killed Dr. Frank Walton, a well known physician. The shooting occurred at the home of Weaver, when the latter returned home unexpectedly from his work. Dr. Walton was shot three times and died in a few hours. The unwritten law and self-defense was claimed by Gid Weaver, who showed good character witneses in the court. Up to this killing Dr. Frank Walton had an undisputed good reputation. The Montgomery Advertiser, February 19, 1914.
TROUBLE AT PINSON.
Negroes Armed Themselves on Account of the Murder of One of Their Race.
Special to The Age-Herald.
Pinson, Oct. 14,--Bill Gambrill, about 22 years old, was killed yesterday morning on the Goodwin place about two miles east of here. It seems that the negro and a man named McWeems were farm hands on the Goodwin place and has some trouble about cutting wood.
Later, the negroe went to the field to work and Weems went to water a mule. Weems found the negor on the road with a stick, and he says the negro made a vicious attack on him with the stick and having a pistol, Weems shot and Gambrill fell dead.
Weems has disappeared.
Last night a rumor spread to the effect that negroes were gathering and arming themselves, and bent on trouble. A large number of armed white men went to the Goodwin place but did not encounter the negroes. All seems to be quiet this morning.
The Age-Herald, October 15, 1897.
WEEMS GAVE HIMSELF UP.
He Killed a Negro Named Bill Gambell.
Mark Weems, a young white man, yesterday surrendered to Sheriff O'Brien on a charge of murder, and is now in the county jail.
Weems killed Will Gambel, a negro, near Mt. Pinson, last Tuesday morning by shooting him with a pistol.
He claims that on account of the feeling among the negroes he got out of the way, and as soon as things quieted down came to town and gave himself up.
He says that the negro threatened him and was advancing when he shot. He will be given a preliminary trial this morning before Justice of the Peace, Wm. Killough. Weems has secured an attorney.
When seen in the county jail yesterday afternoon he made the following statement:
"I killed the negro, but did it because he was advancing toward me with a heavy stick and had previously threatened me.
"We were both employed on the farm of my uncle, Wm. Goodwin. On Tuesday morning I arose before day and was looking after feeding the stock, and urged the negro, who was chopping wood, to hurry. He cursed me, and I told him not to do so again; but he paid no attention to me, and said that he would get me yet.
"After breakfast I started to the field riding a mule and leading another. When I got to the creek, about half way, the negro was there waiting for me, having gone ahead with two buckets of food for the hands.
"He had a large stick in one hand, and when I came up he again cursed me, and I told him to take his buckets and go on. Instead, he reached down and got a rock in his left hand and started toward me.
"I jumped off the mule and told him not to advance further, but he came on and I shot him. I did not deny the shooting, but thought best to lay low while the negroes were excited. When everything got quiet I decided to surrender myself, and came in this morning with my uncle, Mr. Goodwin, and did so.
"Gambel was known to be a bad negro. He attacked a white man name McClendon a few months ago and beat him badly."
Weems is a good-looking young fellow, bears a good reputation and is confident of an acquittal. The Age-Herald, October 19, 1897.
PINSON POINTERS.
Quiet Restored Among the Negroes and Whites.
Special to The Age-Herald.
Pinson, Oct. 22--Pinson has quieted down after a week's excitement over the killing of the negro, Bill Gamble, by Mr. Weems. The negroes marched and the white men marched a night and a day, but no conflict occurred. The negroes are angry because Weems was turned loose. The Age-Herald, October 23, 1897.
A. J. Black Killed.
A. J. Black, who was shot by Mrs. Lizzie Larch at Avondale Friday died Sunday afternoon
Labor Advocate, July 16, 1898.
DISCOVERED DEAD.
Mysterious Murder Case Comes to Light Near Helena.
Was Found By Negroes
Body Badly Decomposed But Victim Was Evidently an Aged White Person
Helena, September 7.--(Special)--A mysterious murder of an unknown man was discovered one mile form Helena today by negroes, while fishing. The body was badly decomposed, only the bones being left with fragments of clothers, and a few articles consisting of a razor, comb, belt and pocketbook.
There was no paper to identify him. He was evidently an aged white man, and a bullet hole entirely through his head shown he was murdered by and unknown assasin.
There is no one missing from here. Ther coroner's inquest will be held tomorrow and may develop more details.
A negro man, named Dave Cable was found ded in bed this morning at the home of his brother-in-law. No inquest held.
All newspaper articles transcribed from referenced sources by C. Anthony unless otherwise noted.
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