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On the 9th September came on, at Tuscaloosa (Alabama) the trial of Thomas Jones, alias
Thomas Davis, for counterfeiting bank notes. He was the head of the gang, whose seizure in a cave of the wilderness,
whilst busy at their trade, was noticed some time ago. This man was convicted and suffered death by hanging on
the 11th instant. John Reed, “a fellow of the same Institution,” was also convicted, and would have been hung but
that he escaped his fate by dying a natural death before the appointed day. Another one was tried and acquitted,
but was apprehended and delivered over to take his trial for passing counterfeit money. One of the most diabolical crimes
ever committed in our community came to light yesterday afternoon. Sony
Gary, a colored boy about fifteen years old, was hunting in the woods
about half a mile below the depot. His dogs jumped a rabbit and ran it a
short distance, when they suddenly stopped. Sony came up to where they
were, and when he got within fifteen or twenty steps saw a child lying on
the ground and his dogs walking around her. He called and receiving no
answer, became frightened and went to a field near by and informed some
colored women that a dead child was in the woods. Together they went back
and found what he had said was too true.
Word was brought to the city when the
sheriff put a Justice of the Peace and summoned a jury and went to the
scene of the crime. The evidence developed the fact the dead child was the
eight year old daughter of JESSE COALER; CARRIE by name. She attended
school at the Baptist Church, near Mr. PERRY'S store. She had been to
school Monday morning, was first missed that evening. She had the money to
pay her tuition when she started back to school in the
afternoon.
When found she was lying on her face,
with a strong handkerchief bound tightly over her mouth to prevent her
from screaming. Her hands were tied behind her with a string. The string
off of her satchel, that she carried her books to school in, had been
broken off and was tied tightly around her neck, which caused her death.
She was then outraged in a horrible manner.
The deed is too horrible to describe
in full in the columns of a newspaper. The colored population is wrought
up to the highest pitch, and should the fiend who committed the crime be
brought to light, he would be summarily dealt with. The white population
would willingly assist in launching such a fiend into eternity. A crime so
black, deep-laid and horrible executed deserves swift justice, and we hope
no stone will be left unturned to bring the guilty scoundrel to justice.
Hanging would be too good for him. He ought to be burned at the stake. -
[Tuskaloosa Gazette] - (Marion Herald
- Marion County, AL - Dec 1, 1887 - Transcribed and submited by
Veneta McKinney)
J. G. Lallande was shot and killed by
A. Stoneking at Tuskaloosa Friday. The cause of the shooting seems to have
been over a very trivial matter, the two men having had a quarrel over
treating a crowd to cigars.There was nothing thought of the matter until
shortly afterwards, when they met again in a saloon and Stoneking offered
to treat to drinks.Lallande refused, saying he would not drink with one
who was not a gentleman. Stoneking then left the bar and went to a
hardware store, where he purchased a 38-caliber Colt’s pistol.Returning in
a short time and entering the front door of the saloon, he saw Lallande
standing at the cigar case. Stoneking began cursing and abusing Lallande,
and as Lallande turned to face him Stoneking drew his pistol and fired
once, the ball striking Lallande in the abdomen, who immediately sank to
the floor in a dying condition. Stoneking was immediately arrested and
taken to jail. Lallande was junior member of the contracting firm of Dunn
& Lallande of Birmingham, who are grading the mobile and Ohio
Railroad. Stoneking was also a contractor. Source:
Marion County News, (Hamilton, Marion county, AL) October 7, 1897 -
submitted by Veneta McKinney
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