Leon County, FL

News Items

On Saturday inst. Jones Lee, who was employed by W. J. Patterson of Tallassee as mail carrier between that place and Cowles station, brought some oysters from Mr. Howard. Mr. Howard complained that the oysters were short and said that he had been informed that Lee had eaten some of them on the road.  Lee said it was false and demanded the informant’s name.  Hearing that it was Grant Berney, a negro, he asked Mr. Patterson to go with him to Burney’s.  They went and on arriving there Lee told Burney he must go to Mr. Howard and retract what he had told him. Burney said it was true and he would not retract.  Lee repeated his demand and Burney reiterated his refusal.  Whereupon Lee fired four shots, one entering the bowels and severing a large artery, killing him almost instantly.  Lee then fled and has not been captured yet.  The citizens have offered $100 reward for his capture.  It has developed since that Lee did eat the oysters and that there were several witnesses to the fact, both white and colored.

[Hamilton News Press - Marion County AL - April 4, 1895 - transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney]

Visit our National Site

Leon County Home Page

Back to Florida Home Page

Back to Genealogy Trails