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Forsyth County, Georgia
News

Murder at a Camp Meeting
Cumming, Ga., Yet. 4 – A shocking affair happened at Concord camp grounds. A young man named Hudie was under an arbor, drunk and disturbing the congregation during services. Leander Moore and George Wallis went to him and asked him to leave the arbor, but he declined to do so. They then undertook to carry him away when he drew his knife and cut them both badly, thus freeing himself from them. He rushed through the congregation with a knife in hand, slashing at everybody within reach. Just before quitting, he ran past a Miss Dooly and stabbed her, making a wound from which she since died. He was finally knocked down and captured, and turned over to the officers.  (Kansas Sunflower, October 10, 1890, page 3)
Contributed by Peggy Thompson

Forsyth County Is Under Martial Law Governor Brown Places Major Catron With Four Companies
of Militia in charge Until Negros Have Been Tried for Murders at Cumming
Atlanta, Ga. Oct 1 - Gov. Joseph M. Brown Issued a proclamation today declaring: martial law la Forsyth County upon the arrival in Cumming, Ga. tomorrow of four companion of militia accompanying six Negroes to be tried here for assault and murder of two white women.
Four companies of militia under Major Catron will escort the Negroes from the Fulton County jail here to Cumming, leaving at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Major Catron will assume charge of the situation in Cumming, where one negro recently was lynched and a race riot narrowly averted an a result of the two crimes
In the governor's proclamation the executive orders all saloons, and all pool rooms closed. Citizens also are forbidden from assembling in numbers on the streets of the town. The proclamation prohibits the publication in any form of comments on the work or actions of the military authorities.
Five of the Negroes to be tried were rushed to Atlanta with a military escort after an assault on a white woman near Cumming which precipitated race trouble; The sixth is said to have confessed to an assault on a 11-year-old white girl after the previous trouble. The girl died from the attack.
Date: 1912-10-02; Paper: Augusta Chronicle


Forsyth County Moonshiner
Atlanta, August 28, Daniel Strickland, alias Burt, was brought down from Forsyth County today by Deputy Marshal Buise, on the charge of working in an illicit distillery. he had an examination before United States Commissioner Haight, who bound him over in the sum of $200 for his appearance at the next term of the United States Court. He gave the bond
Date: 1886-08-29;  Paper: Macon Telegraph



Men, Booze And Ford Captured By Police Two Forsyth County Men Taken With Two Quarts of Contraband on Board "Flivver"
Going: against all tradition since July 1st, that no one shall have intoxicating liquors, two Forsyth county men blew into town Tuesday night and at once proceeded to imbibe themselves with the "joy" of the good old days,
The police were notified that two men were creating a disorder near the Southern Express office. The police went immediately to the scene and found Tom Henderson and John Densmore going full speed ahead in a real riotous manner.
The two men were placed under arrest and a search of their Ford revealed two full quarts of joy-juice and this, also, was placed under arrest as evidence.
The two men were arraigned before Mayor Brumby Tuesday night on a charge of being drunk and disorderly in the city. Tom Henderson, who is said to have had more on board than was nice for one man to have, was fined $10.00 in police court and bound over under a $100.00 bond to the Superior court. The other man, John Densmore, was fined $6.00 in the city court and was likewise committed to the Superior court under a like bond.
They both immediately got in touch with friends in  Forsyth county who came down and made the necessary bonds for them. The Ford is still under arrest and will in all probability be sold under the law that gives to an arresting officer the right to sell any vehicle that is used to transport whiskey.
The city police are right after the whiskey traffickers and the "fatherly" advise to the moonshiners of the mountain districts is to steer clear of Marietta and Cobb county.
Date: 1919-08-08;  Paper: Marietta Journal
 
Forsyth County; Judge Gober's Circuit; Supreme Court
The grand jury of Forsyth county, in Judge Gober's circuit, yesterday endorsed the Judge for a sent on the Supreme court bench. This is the first county in the state that has endorsed anybody for the position.
Date: 1894-09-06; Paper: Marietta Journal
 

Forsyth County Desires Walker. Large Crowd Turns out for Him at County Seat
Cumming, Sept 3.—The courthouse here was well filled this afternoon to hear Clifford Walker, candidate for Governor, tell the citizens of Forsyth county the principles on which he is basing his campaign.
The Cumming Cornet Band played before the speaking and. Incidentally, this organization would do credit to a much larger town. If everything in Forsyth is as good as the Cumming Band, Its the banner county of Georgia,
Sir, Walker was introduced by Judge H.L. Patterson, Judge Patterson declared that In this present crisis it was essential that the people select a loyal Democrat to office, who had the fewest entanglements In Ms association!*, and
who would serve, not the big interests the and corporations, but the plain people.
He urged Forsyth county voters to unite on one loyal candidate to defeat Hardwick, and presented Mr, Walker as a man well fitted for the task,
Mr. Walker ruthlessly flayed Hardwick for his official record.   He devoted the major portion of his speech to this and made no mention of other loyal candidates, either Holder or Brown,
Mr. Walker came here from Alpharetta, where he spoke this morning.   He was introduction to a representative crowd by J. A,  Webb, prominent Milton county farmer.
It was said that Walker was far in lead of any other candidate in Milton county and he felt it was time the Democrats were uniting on one man whom they could trust to put In the Governor's chair.
There is a strong belief in both Milton and Forsyth counties that Mr. Walker will win the race. Tho voters will combine on him to beat Hardwick. it is believed, and If this is done, there is no chance for Hardwick.
Date: 1920-09-04; Paper: Macon Telegraph


Murder In Forsyth County , A correspondent of the Atlanta American gives the following account of an affray and murder, at Cumming Forysth county on the 1st inst.
At the Constables election here, on Saturday last, the 1st inst, a row occurred at a filthy doggery in this place, brought on, m a matter of course, by the too free use of mean, strychnine whiskey.
A fight came off between a Mr. Kerr and a Mr. Majors. A brother of the latter—Mr. R. P. Majors ran into the crowd for the purpose of separating the combatants when Robert Karr, a brother of the first named, struck R. P. Majors, and a fight, In which little harm was done, came off between them. After the main difficulty was over, and quiet restored, Majors (R. P) took a position by the side of a tree in front of the doggery, and was peaceably was talking with his friends, apprehending no further danger. At this juncture, Robert Karr armed himself with a large, flint rook, weighing some three pounds; slipped up, unobserved, and threw it with great force at B P. Majors. The rock struck Majors on the back of the head, breaking his skull, and dreadfully lacerating and mangling he parties. Majors fell as if shot through the heart. He was conveyed to the office of Dr. Brown, who dressed his wounds. He was then carried to the house of his brother-in law in this place, where he lingered in great agony until 4 o'clock yesterday (Tuesday) evening, when death relieved him from his sufferings.
Robert Karr is but a youth, some 17 years of age. He is now safely lodged in jail to await his trial at the February Term of our Superior Court.
Majors was a sober, religious, and industrious map, and was acting as peace maker in what he did. He leaves a wife and several young children in a destitute condition.
Date: 1859-01-11;  Paper: Augusta Chronicle
 
Athans Banner: Hugh Whittaker is in jail in Cumming, (Forsyth county) on the charge of beating his wife. Just before being incarcerated he managed to obtain some morphine, with which he intended to end his life, but before he could carry his design into execution the drug was discovered and taken from him.
Date: 1881-02-18;  Paper: Macon Weekly Telegraph


Twenty-Year Term. Charles Ward of Forsyth County Assaulted a Young Lady
Atlanta Dec. 24.—Judge George F. Gober, of the Blue Ridge Circuit, passed through Atlanta on his way to Marietta, his home, from Cumming. where he has been to hold court at a special term of the Superior Court Of Forsyth county called for the purpose of trying Charity Ward, a white man of 26 years of age. charged with the offense of an attempt to outrage the person of Miss Mattie Wash bum, 15 years of age.
The evidence was strongly against the accused, showing that while the parents of the young lady were away from home Ward assaulted her in a most brutal manner. The girl fought her assailant stubbornly, leaving the imprints of her finger nails upon Ward's face.
Ward was found guilty, and Judge Gober gave him the limit allowed by law, twenty years. The offense was committed December 18. A speedy trial was had to prevent a case of lynching, which had been planned to take place Christmas day.
Judge Gober says that the feeling In the county was intense against the prisoner, and that a quick trial of the case was deemed to be the best way to prevent a lynching of the accused.
Date: 1897-12-25; Paper: Macon Telegraph