Forrest County Crime News

Mr. Pinkston, section master on the V & M Railroad, was shot and killed at Forest last night.
[December 26, 1872 - the Weekly Clarion]

Particulars of the Killing of Mrs. J. M. Williamson

    A correspondent of the Meridian News sends that paper the following from Hattiesburg regarding the killing of Mrs. J. M. Williamson:

    Her husband was away from home, in Atlanta, Ga.  There was a Miss McLeod sleeping with her.  She touched the girl, Susie, and told her some one was in the room, and before Susie could get up Mrs. Williamson got up and went to the baby, who was sleeping in the crib at the foot of the bed, so like a mother to fly to her baby at the first alarm.

    The man had turned down the lamp and searched the drawer and started back to the window and had passed as she was by the crib.  The murderer put the pistol to her left side, fired and broke the collar bone, severed the jugular vein, and rushed past, got out of the window and fed.

    The girl called assistance.

    Mrs. Williamson died in less than an hour; was conscious to the last, and said she did not know the man.  Mrs. Williamson has been married about two years.  She was a Jackson girl, a Miss Dolly Pitts.  She was good wife, good neighbor and true woman.  All liked her.
[November 5, 1891 - The Clarion Ledger, Jackson, MS - Submitted by Debora Reese]

    Hattiesburg, Nov. 3 - The mystery involving the killing of Mrs. Williamson at this place early Friday morning is still unsolved.  All day long the affair has been discussed by groups of men, large and small, and the interest seems to deepen.  Clew (sic) after clew (sic) has been taken up and followed till it has ended in nothing, and a feeling of pent-up rage seems to pervade the whole community, which bodes no good to the criminal if found.  The authorities are using every effort to get on the track of the murderer, who it is evident, had a deeper motive than burgalry (sic) in entering the room.

    Mayor Williamson arrived at 7 o'clock on a delayed train from meridian and was met by a large concourse of sympathizing friends. [November 5, 1891 - The Clarion Ledger, Jackson, MS - Submitted by Debora Reese]