John O'Keeffe Killed in Front of Washington Hall Hotel in 1852

Ireland native John O'Keeffe, born about 1808, had been a resident of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia "for many years" when he was killed on 11 December 1852. His wife Ellen placed a gravestone for him in the Oak Ridge Section of Rose Hill Cemetery.

In Memory of
JOHN O'KEEFFE
A native of Westmeath, Ireland.
For many years a resident of Macon.
His acquirements as a scholar and
deportment as a citizen obtained for
him to his last moment the respect and
consideration of all who knew him...
Requiescant in Pace.

Death notice from Wednesday, 15 December 1852 Georgia Journal and Messenger (Macon, GA):

Death of John O'Keefe.

On Saturday night, about twelve o'clock, John O'Keefe was killed in front of the Washington Hall, by John T. Boyd, a journeyman saddler in the employ of Wm. T. Mix & Co., of this city. Mr. O'Keefe was a native of Ireland; but had resided in this place for many years, quietly and unobtrusively pursuing his occupation as a school teacher.

On Monday morning Boyd was committed to await his trial for murder, at the next term of the Superior Court of this County.

"Mulberry Street at Second Street Macon, Georgia"
© 2011 Ken Lund (CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Washington Hall was located at the NW corner of
Second and Mulberry streets.

The killing seemed to result from a strange encounter between O'Keeffe and Boyd after a night out at the bar. Testimony published in the 17 May 1853 Georgia Telegraph (Macon, GA):

Bibb Superior Court.

The State vs. John T. Boyd } Murder.

EVIDENCE.

JOHN SPRINGER SWORN -- I do not recollect the day of the month, when the circumstances took place. But it was on the night of the day of the election of the Mayor and Aldermen, the election was in December, 1852; the circumstances took place in the county of Bibb, in Georgia, near the Washington Hall.

I was in company with John O'Keeffe, coming diagonally across from Macarthy's Bar Room towards the Washington Hall, O'Keeffe had my left arm. Just as we were striking the sidewalk, we discovered a gentleman, who since proved to be Mr. Boyd, on the inside of the sidewalk, walking in the same direction that we were going. Mr. O'Keeffe hailed twice or thrice, saying, Who is that? or something to that purport. No answer being made, O'Keeffe let go my arm and advanced into the inside of the walk, where Boyd was; a scuffle or fray immediately ensued, they fell, Mr. O'Keeffe falling on top. I ran up, caught hold of O'Keeffe, exclaiming John, quit, attempted to pull them up; and in the attempt fell myself, and they fell again also. I recovered from the fall, caught hold of O'Keeffe again, and raised him up, he was not difficult to raise. He seemed to be in a staggering condition, and said that he was a dead man, that, that man had killed him.

I eased him down as gently as I could, on the pavement, and said to Mr. Boyd, you have killed O'Keeffe, and must not leave. Whereupon, Boyd said, good God! is he dead! I went then to the Washington Hall with Mr. Boyd, gave the alarm, and gave notice of what had occurred. I know nothing more of the case at this time, unless it was the fact, that when we reached the Washington Hall, Mr. Boyd showed two knives, and designated the one which he had killed O'Keeffe.

I do not think O'Keeffe had a knife. When O'Keeffe haild Boyd, it was in a usual tone of voice. Can not identify the prisoner at the bar with Boyd. Mr. O'Keefe died immediately, I think from the effect of the wounds.

SPRINGER CROSS-EXAMINED -- John O'Keeffe and myself were coming from Macarthy's Bar Room; said Bar Room is this side of the Lanier House, on the right side of the street as you go up. We were crossing so as to strike this side of the Washington Hall, Boyd was going up towards the Washington Hall from Strohecker's corner, on the inside of the sidewalk.

Boyd was near the Barber Shop when we first noticed him, about half way, he did not stop when O'Keeffe hailed him.

When O'Keeffe started towards Boyd we were about square with Boyd. Boyd kept walking on. I said to O'Keeffe, let him alone John, he has as much right to the sidewalk as we have. O'Keeffe did not stop till he reached Boyd. I do not suppose it was more than a second, after they caught hold of each other, before they fell. I did not fall on O'Keeffe and Boyd, but fell over them on the pavement.

After raising O'Keeffe, he made no attempt to run at Boyd again. O'Keeffe said nothing about being hurt, until he was raised completely up, and said he was a dead man, nor do I think he made any further complaints.

I saw no cutting or knives when they were engaged together. I cannot swear that O'Keeffe did not have a knife, nor did I see any knife until afterwards at the Washington Hall. It was in the inside of the Washington Hall, that Boyd designated the knife with which he had killed O'Keeffe.

The night was dark, and there was no moon that I know of. From the confusion that I was in, after falling and getting up, many things might have happened without my knowing it. After getting into the Washington Hall, some conversation occurred between Mr. Dense, Mr. Boyd and myself, in relation to the occurrence. I do not recollect what I said, but suppose what I said was true, as the facts were then fresh in my mind.

If I made any statement to Mr. Dense in regard to O'Keeffe's jumping on Boyd, it was under excitement, and not as the thing occurred.

There was an unusual interest taken in the City Election, I suppose.

There was no light on the sidewalk when the difficulty occurred.

WILLIAM T. MIX SWORN -- I saw Mr. Boyd on the night when the killing took place, at about a quarter of six o'clock, it was on the 11th December, the day when the City Elections took place.

THOMAS WILLIAMS SWORN -- I was present at the examination before the Mafistrates, on the Monday after the difficulty took place. I identify the prisoner at the bar as the John T. Boyd who was up before the Magistrates that day.

DR. A. PYE SWORN -- I examined Mr. O'Keeffe when I was called to see him, found one mortal wound on his left breast, which seemed to have caused his death, there were other cuts, but none that I deemed serious. It was Sunday morning, after breakfast, when I called to see him, 'twas after the Coroner's inquest. I do not recollect more than four distinct wounds -- the wounds seemed to have been made with a knife. The mortal wound was right above the fourth rib...the wound ranged up, seeming to have entered between the 4th and 5th rib, and ranged upwards.

PYE CROSS EXAMINED -- I think that if they were lying down, the wound might have ranged upwards, if they were standing front to front, the knife would probably have entered straighter, everything depends on the way the knife was held. There were two wounds in the back, both ranging upwards, both of which might have been made either while they were standing up or lying down.

I did not examine the wound under the left arm, and am unable to say whether it ranged up or down.

The same paper also published the following on the same day:

Bibb Superior Court.

The Spring Term of this Court commenced a week ago yesterday, his honor Judge Powers, presiding. We give, in another column, the testimony in the case of John T. Boyd, charged with the murder of John O'Keefe...After a consultation of several hours, the Jury returned a verdict of "Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter."

I don't know what punishment (if any) came to Mr. Boyd.

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J. W. Cabaniss: Convicted of Bank Fraud, then Pardoned

Joseph Warren Cabaniss was born about 1841 in Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia. He was one of at least ten children born to Judge Elbridge G. Cabaniss and wife Sarah Ann (Chipman), daughter of a Baptist clergyman from Massachusetts. I note Joseph as the 5th child, and 3rd son, born to this couple.

J. W. was attending Mercer University at Penfield when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate Army immediately, and served until the bitter end. After the war, J. W. settled in Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia. This is where, on 12 November 1868, he married Emily L. "Emie" Winship. She was a daughter of Isaac Winship (1802-1885) and wife Martha Pearson (Cook), daughter of a distinguished soldier of the War of 1812 -- Major Philip Cook (1775-1841).

J. W. and Emmie moved to Macon soon after their marriage, and went on to have six children reach adulthood. They were Isaac Winship (1871-1944), Lila Peeples (1875-1969), Joseph W. Jr. (1878-1903), Emily Winship (1880-1962), Elbridge Gerry (1883-1963), and Emory Winship (1890-1949).

George G. Smith of Macon wrote, in 1904, about Joseph's rise in the banking business:

He was made teller of the Exchange Bank in 1871. In 1878 he was elected cashier, and was Cashier for 18 years. The President of the bank, now grown to be one of the largest and most important in the State, died, and Captain Cabaniss who had managed all of its affairs was elected President, a position he holds at the present time (1903). No man in Macon is more trusted and esteemed than Captain Cabaniss.

Less than five years later, the "largest and most important" Exchange Bank was defunct. And President Cabaniss was charged with embezzlement and fraud. In order to appease some of the bank receivers trying to bring other lawsuits against J. W., he "liquidated his indebtedness to the bank by turning over to the receivers $53,000 worth of securities and real estate property, including his home and some 40 smaller pieces of property" in early May 1908. This was just a few months after the death of his wife Emmie. About this same time, J. W. left Bibb County, and removed to Bolingbroke in Monroe County.

After some delay, a trial focusing on the charge of fraud was finally held. The verdict came on a Saturday night in late May of 1909. Following from the Columbus Daily Enquirer (Georgia):

ONE YEAR SENTENCE FOR J. W. CABANISS

And a Fine of $500 in Addition -- Verdict Last Night.

Macon, May 29. -- J. W. Cabaniss, president of the defunct Exchange bank, of Macon, who has been on trial here all this week for declaring dividends not earned while president of the bank, was tonight found guilty of a felony, and sentenced to the state farm for one year and to pay a fine of $500.

One of the most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in the Bibb county superior court room occurred this morning when Mr. Cabiniss [sic] made this statement to the jury.

Tears streamed down the eyes of jurors, attorneys and spectators as the aged man, broke in health as a result of the worries and troubles that he has undergone for the past year, faced the jury and began his recital for the first time of his side of the causes which led to the failure of the bank over which he presided for so many years, and with which he had been connected since 1871. [End of article; no further detail given.]

An appeal was made, and another year passed before a higher court "sustained" the ruling. More weeping was the result:

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Thursday, 16 June 1910 - pg. 9 [via GenealogyBank]

SYMPATHY EXPRESSED FOR J. W. CABANISS

Men, Women and Children Wept When They Learned Fate Venerable Banker.

BOLINGBROKE, Ga., June 15. -- When it was known through this morning's Telegraph that the court of appeals had sustained the previous sentence of J. W. Cabaniss sorrow fell like a pall upon this entire hamlet.

Men, women and children wept in sympathy for the venerable man, who has already suffered enough even if he were guilty of the charge.

The financial losers in the Exchange Bank failure are most deeply incensed that the affair should end in the tragic robbery of honor from this beloved Christian gentleman.

Yet another year would pass before the saga reached its conclusion. Interestingly, I found no specific mention of J. W. ever serving any part of his prison sentence.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Sunday, 11 September 1911 - pg. 1 [via GenealogyBank]

CABANISS FREED BY THE GOVERNOR YESTERDAY NOON

The Executive Order Goes Fully Into a Lucid Explanation of the Case, and Gives the Reasons -- Roland Ellis Brings Pardon.

APPEAL COURT OPINION AND AGE OF DEFENDANT

Are Among the Principal Reasons Given By the Governor for His Action in Rescuing Aged Banker from Sentence On Prison Farm at Milledgeville.

ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 10. -- Governor Brown today at noon issued a full pardon for J. W. Cabaniss, of Macon, the president of the late defunct Exchange bank of that city, charged with the offense of paying an unearned dividend, contrary to law...

..."Whereas, it appears that the said J. W. Cabaniss is more than 70 years old, and has for more than forty years, in the same community, borne an upright and blameless life, a life that was an example to all who lived and came within the sphere of his influence, and the only offense with which he is charged being only a technical one from which he individually derived practically no benefit; and

"Whereas, numerously signed petitions from the best citizens of this state and the counties of Bibb, Monroe, Jones, Richmond, Laurens, Twiggs, Decatur, Taliaferro, Houston, Sumter, Macon, Jasper, Crisp, Lowndes and other counties, have been presented praying that said sentence should not be executed, and that said J. W. Cabaniss receive at the hands of the executive a full pardon, the said petition including not only men who are stockholders, but depositors of the said Exchange Bank of Macon, and men of every class and walk in the communities from which said petitions came, and also petitions signed by every member of the senate of Georgia and by nearly all of the members of the house of representatives, praying executive clemency...

Some time after 1910 (and likely after the pardon), J. W. returned to Macon. He died there in 1916.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Saturday, 11 May 1916 - pg. 1 [via GenealogyBank]

J. W. CABANISS CLAIMED BY DEATH YESTERDAY

Was Once of Macon's Most Prominent Citizens.

Joseph Warren Cabaniss died yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, at his home on Orange street. He was in his seventy-fourth year and has been in ill health for several months. At his bedside were all of his children, Winship, Elbridge G., Emory Winship and Lila P. Cabaniss and Mrs. Emmie Cabaniss Cunningham.

He was the son of Judge E. G. Cabaniss, of Forsyth, and the brother to E. G. Cabaniss, of Savannah, and H. H. Cabaniss, of Atlanta. He was a student of Mercer university at Penfield at the outbreak of the war between the states. He immediately enlisted and served with honor under Lee in Virginia until the surrender. He went to Griffin immediately after the war to live and on November 12, 1868, was married to Emily L. Winship, daughter of Isaac and Martha Cook Winship. They came to Macon in 1869 and since that date had lived in this city.

He was one of Macon's most prominent citizens and a Christian gentleman and had thousands of friends all over the state who will mourn his loss.

Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery (Central Avenue Division, block 10, lot 4).

Abel Brothers Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter

(Part of the Descendants of Henry Abel series.)

Jesse Frederick and William Crisp were sons of William Wolff Abel (1885-1948) and his wife Martha Mae Williams (1889-1947).  They were great-grandsons of the German immigrant patriarch, Henry Abel.

Jesse was born 12 July 1910 in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.  As a young man, he worked at his father's ice factory.  About 1934, Jesse received a degree from the National College of Drugless Physicians and opened up shop as a drugless doctor and chiropractor in Bibb County.  The career was short lived, however, since by 1940 he was dabbling in watches and jewelry.

Jesse married twice, and had at least one daughter.

William Crisp "Chris" Abel was born 13 January 1916 in Georgia.  Similar to Jesse, William was for a time a jeweler, did marry, and had at least one son.

In late February of 1937, the brothers Abel got into some trouble while having a night out near Lovejoy in Henry County.  Apparently, there was a bit of a ruckus at a roadhouse – or filling station, depending on which newspaper article you read – which culminated in the shooting death of J. M. Wallace. The brothers were held for a few days in the Henry County jail, and after such time were charged with involuntary manslaughter and released on bond.

Chris Abel, who allegedly fired the bullet which proved fatal to Wallace, was quoted as saying that it was necessary for him to shoot to protect the lives of his brother and himself, and the attorneys said they have been informed the Abels were dragged from an automobile by an armed group of 15 to 20 men. [Source: GenealogyBank]

Unfortunately, I do not know the specific outcome of the case.  I do know the brothers were free men at least by April 1940, when they were both enumerated for the U.S. Federal census.  Jesse died 17 May 1954, and William Crisp died 8 July 1968.

William Wolff, Martha Mae Williams, Jesse Frederick, and William Crisp Abel all rest in the Eglantine Square section (block 1, lot 55) of Rose Hill Cemetery.

Burial Place of Oscar Abel, d. 1909

(Descendants of Henry Abel series.)

Oscar S. Abel, born 1871-2 in Georgia, was the son of William and Susan Reid Abel.  Henry Abel was his grandfather.  Oscar's mother died 24 May 1872 and was laid to rest in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery, in a lot purchased by her husband a week before her death (block 4, lot 12).  In all likelihood, this took place before Oscar turned one year old.

William and Oscar would not be alone for long, however.  William soon married Martha Jane Jones (1851-1933), daughter of William and Julia F. Bailey Jones.  This couple would give Oscar at least seven half-siblings, one being James Benjamin Abel.

When Oscar was about sixteen years old, he had an accident on the job.  Following from the 28 September 1887 edition of the Macon Telegraph (via GenealogyBank).

A Finger Cut Off.
Mr. Oscar Abel, son of Mr. Wm. Abel, had a finger cut off by a lathe at Reynold's foundry yesterday morning.

Oscar married Dora Bullock at Bibb County, Georgia 2 November 1892. The couple moved to Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama within a few years of their union, where Oscar continued his work as an iron moulder.  Though I have no proof of any children being born to Oscar and Dora, I wonder if little Earnest Abel (1900-1902) resting at Decatur City Cemetery was theirs.

Oscar and Dora returned to Macon in Bibb County, Georgia about 1905.  A city directory entry showed Oscar was a molder at Mallary & Taylor Iron Wks.  A short time after, certainly by 1908, Oscar joined the police force.  Then something horrible happened.  Following from the 18 June 1909 edition of Alabama's Montgomery Advertiser (also via GenealogyBank).

POLICEMAN KILLS WOMAN AND HIMSELF

Macon, Ga., June 18. -- About 1 o'clock this morning Officer Oscar Abel of the Macon police force, shot and killed Emma Raymond, in the red light district here, and then committed suicide.  Whether a quarrel occurred before the crime or not cannot be ascertained.  The whole affair is shrouded in mystery.  The officer was dressed in his uniform at the time, and was wearing his badge.

The woman was shot three times in the breast.  Abel lived only a short time after shooting himself twice in the head.

I found nothing in the local newspaper regarding Oscar's funeral or final resting place, but I did come across a scan of a page titled "Interments for Rose Hill and Oak Ridge Cemeteries." There was an entry for Oscar --

Unfortunately, I have yet to determine the source of this scan.  It makes sense, though.  It also makes sense Oscar rests near his mother in Eglantine Square block 4, lot 12.  Neither have a tombstone.  Oscar's father was also placed there upon his death in March 1920.

A sad side note is that William had to attend the funeral of his brother Fred just three months after burying Oscar.

Oscar's wife Dora did not marry again, and eventually left Georgia to land in Columbus, Ohio.  She died and was buried at Union Cemetery there in 1938.

Unexpected Finds While Searching for Gertie Wooldridge's Parents

In Rose Hill Cemetery (Holly Ridge section?) stands a substantial stone placed for two year old Gertie Wooldridge.  She budded on earth 1 June 1882, and went to bloom in Heaven 8 January 1885.  A one-sentence funeral notice appeared on page five of the 9 January 1885 Macon Telegraph (Georgia):

FUNERAL NOTICE.
The friends and acquaintances of Mr. Wiley Jones and family, and B. K. Wooldridge and family, are invited to attend the burial of little Gertie Wooldridge from the National Hotel this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

A short obituary was found on the same page, proclaiming Gertie's relationship of niece to Wiley Jones.  It also stated her death actually occurred at the hotel.

I went looking for B. K. Wooldridge in census records with no luck, so I switched tactics just a bit.  I next searched Ancestry's Georgia Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 for a Wooldridge who married a Jones.  I did not find B. K., but I did find Rufus K. Wooldridge married Annie Jones 23 November 1880 in Bibb County.  Even though I thought I found Gertie's parents, I went to GenealogyBank with the hope of finding a marriage notice in the local paper.

Unfortunately, I did not find a marriage notice for Rufus and Annie, but I did find a somewhat buried blurb in the 28 July 1882 Macon Telegraph that connected Rufus Wooldridge to Wiley Jones:

PERSONAL POINTS.
Mr. and Mrs. R. K. Wooldridge, child and servant, of Macon, Ga., are stopping at the Balch House.  They will pay our village a six weeks' visit, then continue their journey further north.  Mr. W. thinks Kalamazoo compares favorably with the enterprising city of Macon. -- Kalamazoo Gazette.  Mr. Wooldridge is a son-in-law and partner of Mr. Wiley Jones, of the Southern Hotel.

Then I stumbled upon my first unexpected find:  Rufus was a traveling gambler / game runner.  (You don't see that every day.) And he was shot in Wichita, Kansas only months before the death of little Gertie.  Following from 29 August 1884 Macon Weekly Telegraph:

SHOOTING OF WOOLDRIDGE

How He Received His Fatal Wound in Wichita.
We mentioned a few days ago the shooting of Mr. Rufus K. Wooldridge, at Wichita, Kansas.  As he was well known in Macon, and was the son-in-law of Mr. Wiley Jones, proprietor of the National and Southern hotels, the particulars of the affair have been anxiously looked for.  Mr. Wiley Jones sends a copy of the Wichita Eagle, from which we clip the following:

"He is about thirty-five years of age, has been with the Anglo-American show since July, and has a wife and young child in Macon, Ga., and a father and brother in Pines Plaines, N.Y.  He is represented as a rather quiet and peaceable man and is known among his associates as 'handsome Charlie.' He was not directly connected with the show, but was permitted to follow as a professional gambler, operating what is styled a spindle or kind of chuck-luck game.  He ran his wheel near the show tent Tuesday and had numerous patrons, and though his friends say that his winnings had been very light, others say that one man who bucked the game lost $60.  He says that he hasn't the least idea who shot him.  He had just closed his game when the man that did the shooting rode up and turning to him demanded:  "Has the shooting yet commenced in the tent?" Wooldridge answered:  "What shooting do you mean?" The stranger replied:  "Well, it will soon begin," and in an instant drew his revolver, firing, and then rode off.  Wooldridge ran up to some friends and said, "I am shot!" They at once hurried him into the dressing tent, where a doctor was call[ed] for from the ring, and Drs. McCoy and McAdows being present responded to the call.  Soon after he was removed to the Occidental Hotel, where the ball was extracted.  It was from a 44-calibre pistol, had passed through his right wrist, entered his stomach and passed around to the left side.  At first the doctors thought the wound not necessarily fatal, but at 2 o'clock that night he began spitting blood and also large particles of his stomach.  Yesterday morning, after seeing him, Dr. McCoy said that it would be impossible for him to recover, though he is yet alive and may linger for a day or so.  Wooldridge has his life insured in the Travellers' Accident company, of Hartford, Conn., for $1,000.

Did Rufus, in fact, die from his wounds soon after this article was published? I don't know. I did become a bit curious as to how Annie lived out her days if she was widowed so young.  I'm having a difficult time finding her in census records, but I did find an unexpected marriage record at FamilySearch.

Annie J. Jones Woolridge, widow, married Jacob P. Wooldridge, single, 21 July 1921 in Manhattan, New York.  The groom was 59 years old, with a birthplace of Rine [Pine] Plains, New York.  The bride was listed as 57 years old, born in Georgia.  Her father was noted as "Wilty" Jones.

Census records suggest Jacob P. was the brother of Rufus K., both sons of Philo [Philomen?] and Gertrude Wooldridge.  Maybe Rufus' mother was Gertie's namesake.

A second marriage for Annie was not unexpected.  (Quite the opposite, actually.) Nor do I consider the groom being a brother to Rufus odd.  The timing was the unexpected part for me.  The marriage was one month shy of 37 years after the shooting of Rufus.

If Annie's listed age in the 1921 marriage record is correct, then she was only sixteen years old when she married Rufus.  And not far over the age of twenty after losing her husband and only months later, her daughter Gertie.

The One Where I Hope Not to Burst Your Bubble

Over the past several days, I've been bringing you the story of Dr. George W. Marvin: he was president of the First National bank of Cordele, Georgia, died in 1892, and was kept in the parlor of his widow for many months. Dr. Marvin was eventually laid to rest in Macon's Rose Hill cemetery. (Here's part 1.)

The story unfolded with a lot of sensational details, some of them which might (here's the bursting bubble part) not be true. *Gasp!* I know, we have been hearing for some time about how old newspapers are a great resource for family historians. And that is absolutely correct. However, we must remember they are not perfect sources. The information provided must be followed up on, and more evidence must be gathered to prove or disprove whatever genealogical problem we are trying to solve.

It is in this vein that I have provided the following. If you are serious about researching the life of Dr. George W. Marvin (or Mrs. Theodora Trammell Marvin Bivins, or Mr. Joseph E. Bivins), here is some additional information and articles that I have culled in my hours (meaning, actually very little time in the scheme of things) of research. Some newspaper articles were transcribed and posted on my Southern Graves site.

- According to the U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 database, there was a George W. Marvin, physician and surgeon in Omaha, Nebraska in 1870.

- 1880 U.S. Census for Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Enumeration District #95, Pg 5, Dwelling 35, Family 45
#360 Whitehall Street
Marvin, George W. (head) age 45; Physician; b. England
Marvin, Georgia (wife) age 35; Keeping House; b. Georgia
Rogers, Synthia (mother-in-law) age 80; b. North Carolina

- According to the Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia database, buried there is a Mrs. George Marvin, d. 13 June 1888, aged 47. This might be the widow Pitts.

- The Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia)
13 June 1888

DEATHS.
Last night about 12:30 Mrs. Marvin wife of Dr. George Marvin, died at her home, 365 Whitehall street.

Fits widow Pitts theory.

- The Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia)
13 March 1889

Last evening, at his residence, 365 Whitehall, Dr. George W. Marvin married Miss Theodora Trammell, a most charming lady, the ceremony occurring at 8 o'clock...Dr. Marvin is a prominent physician, well known in this city; his bride is a lady of many accomplishments...

Less than a year after the death of the widow Pitts. Late evening wedding, but not "after midnight."

- The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)
21 April 1895, pg. 26

SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA
Proceedings Yesterday.
- Theodora Bivins et al. v. F. G. Marvin.
Argument concluded.

Fits theory that Theodora Trammell was the wife that went with Dr. Marvin to Cordele, as well as name of alleged son (Francis G. Marvin).

- Two Husbands article dated 12 October 1896: describes Theodora Trammell Marvin Bivins as an "old maid in Atlanta," and implies Dr. Marvin (of Omaha, Nebraska) made $1,000,000 with "some real estate speculations." Reiterates that Dr. Marvin was eventually buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. Article published not long after the death of Mrs. Bivins.

- Casket In The Parlor article dated 28 November 1896: States Mrs. Bivins died "a week or so ago," and that she had married Dr. Marvin in Atlanta "about ten years before." Reiterates the notion of Dr. Marvin having a gold cane and diamonds on his shirt front. States the widow Marvin married Joseph E. Bivins approximately 13 months after the death of Dr. Marvin. (It also provides this wonderful image at right.)

- Bivins Writes Of Marvin article dated 22 July 1897: Joseph E. Bivins "says the history of the doctor's life has been exaggerated." He states Marvin never served time in the penitentiary. He also disagrees with the characterization of the judgement / compromise that gave Francis G. Marvin, the "alleged son of Dr. Marvin," a piece of his estate. Last line of Bivins' letter: "The treatment accorded his [Dr. Marvin's] memory by his alleged son and certain others, does not meet my ideas of propriety."

- According to his tombstone photo at FindAGrave, Joseph E. Bivins was born 18 January 1866, and died 27 December 1898. Theodora is there, too, and her tombstone bears a marriage date for her and Joseph Bivins, as well as a death date. I cannot read either altogether. The death year does appear to be 1896. Both are buried in Sunnyside Cemetery at Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia. Joseph's brother J. W. (James William?), b. 1869, d. 1939 is also there.

- Joseph E. Bivins Obituary dated 29 December 1898: Though the exact timing is ambiguous, (died "yesterday," but brother left him "doing well this morning") we do have death information. It also establishes siblings, specifically two brothers - F. J. and J. W. Bivins, who will later take control of the bank (that Joseph took control of after the death of Dr. Marvin).

- A Georgia Romance article dated 2 February 1899: States Mr. Pitts was presumed dead after not returning from the Civil War, not that he died while running around in Florida after his wife and Dr. Marvin. Also states Dr. Marvin (with initials of J. B., of St. Louis, who died in 1891) arrived in Atlanta in 1869 with a wife and young son. Describes Joseph Bivins as a "young man about 30 years of age" around the time of Dr. Marvin's death. Reiterates that the body of Dr. Marvin was "turned...over to an undertaker for burial" in Macon, Georgia. Gave the long lost son of Dr. Marvin the first name of Harry. Describes Joseph Bivins as the third husband of the widow Marvin. Published just a couple of months after his death.

- Receiver For Bank Of Cordele article dated 12 March 1899: Explains that the brothers (F. J. and J. W.) of Joseph Bivins are then running the First National bank of Cordele. States Dr. Marvin married Miss Trammell "after midnight." Also states Dr. Marvin died August 1892, his body was quietly buried in Macon, and Joseph Bivins died December 1898.

The Past Becomes Present (Paging Dr. Marvin Finale)

(Part 1 is here.)

The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)
19 July 1897, Page 5 [continued]

Wife No. 4 on the Scene.
Upon the death of Mrs. Pitts, Marvin located in Cordele. Before going there he married a young lady in Atlanta. In Cordele Marvin abandoned his profession, which he claimed to be medicine, and he organized a bank, using the estate of his last wife, Mrs. Pitts, as a nucleus.

The bank prospered. So did Marvin. Joseph Bivins was engaged as private secretary and the bank made money for its president and stockholders.

Marvin's past life had been an exciting one. He had lived at a fast and furious pace and his constitution, once strong and sturdy, failed. Gradually the strain began to tell and his death will be easily remembered. It occurred in Cordele not many months ago. His body was embalmed and placed in the parlor, where it was visited by his widow.

Mrs. Marvin found a balm for her grief and she became the happy bride of Secretary Bivins, whom she had known in her husband's bank and who had often called at the Marvin home, both socially and upon business connected with the institution of which Marvin was president. Courtship followed and ripened into wedlock.

The Past Becomes Present.
The wedding tour ended, Mr. and Mrs. Bivins returned home. The family was a happy one and the little home was furnished luxuriously with the fortune which had been inherited from Marvin and which he secured from Mrs. Pitts.

Mrs. Bivins died. Death came from a fatal malady and Bivins was left alone, but with his wife's estate.

Out of the west came a dashing young man one day, who called at Cordele. He asked many questions, then left. This youth was Francis G. Marvin, who called at the law offices of Judge Hopkins & Sons, in Atlanta, and claimed a one-half interest in the estate which had been left to Bivins.

Young Marvin claimed he was a legitimate hear [sic], being the son of Dr. Marvin as a result of his marriage with Miss Annie Blakely, in Springfield, Ill. The claim was filed in Dooly superior court and the tedious litigation began. There were all kinds of allegations filed and cross bills entered, but the case was gradually winning in favor of the boy.

A few days ago a compromise was made between Bivins and the plaintiff. Bivins gave him a deed to a large amount of Atlanta real estate, keeping for himself the remainder. The property is located on Whitehall and Smith streets and is worth a good fortune.

Marvin, the younger, has secured his title and last week returned to his home in Kansas. The legal contest was one of the most sensational which has ever been conducted in Dooly court and will be handed down to history as one of those peculiar cases without a parallel in the courts.

Indeed!

This story unfolded with a lot of sensational details, some of them which might not be true. *Gasp!* I know, we have been hearing for some time about how old newspapers are a great resource for family historians. And that is absolutely correct. However, we must remember they are not perfect sources. The information provided must be followed up on, and more evidence must be gathered to prove or disprove whatever genealogical problem we are trying to solve...so here's one more for the series >>> The One Where I Hope Not to Burst Your Bubble

The Doctor Becomes a Criminal (Paging Dr. Marvin, Pt 4)

(Part 1 is here.)

The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)
19 July 1897, Page 5 [continued]

The Doctor Becomes a Criminal.
From Springfield, Dr. Marvin was lost to his friends for a long time.

In the trial of the case which has recalled the story, it is said Marvin was engaged to perform a criminal operation in a town in Nebraska. The operation resulted in death and Marvin and the betrayer of his victim were convicted and sent to the penitentiary. It is not known what became of his companion in crime, but it seems that Marvin was pardoned after one year by the governor of Nebraska.

The victim of the criminal knife is reputed to have been a belle of an important little commercial town of that state. She was very popular and at one time it is said she was engaged to have been married to a candidate to the gubernatorial chair, who was defeated by the same man who won the race and afterwards pardoned Marvin. This is not in the records of the interesting case, but has developed in the trial.

From the convict camp Marvin is said to have extended his western trip and to have crossed the mountains and visited the Pacific coast. He is charged with having been an enthusiastic and successful gambler of the slope, and no doubt will be remembered by many of his old associates in California.

Marvin Comes to Atlanta.
It was Dr. Marvin when he reached Atlanta. He advertised as a specialist and is said to have been announced through the press and in glaring posters as a successful and highly reputed practitioner. He was regarded here as a quack, and but little legitimate practice is said to have ever reached his office.

Marvin was a dashing gallant and he was a favorite with women who were easily impressed. He was a great ladies' man, and gradually he secured patients whom he persuaded he could cure.

Among those who called at his office was a Mrs. Pitts, a member of a wealthy Atlanta family, and a handsome brunette. Whether Marvin was possessed of medical learning or whether his treatment was bused [sic] upon scientific lines, it is not known, but he and Mrs. Pitts became greatly infatuated and the two eloped. Their departure from Atlanta was at night and was in haste.

Mrs. Pitts's husband followed in hot pursuit. At Memphis he located the guilty pair and as he went up the front steps of the hotel with his loaded shotgun his wife and Marvin are said to have retreated, fleeing from the hotel by the rear steps and in much haste and considerable dishabille. Here the trail was lost, and after searching through the west, Pitts returned heartbroken.

Years passed by. Pitts had given up the chase as hopeless, until he was informed one day that Marvin and his wife were in Florida. Pitts took his pistol and shotgun from the shelf, rubbed off the dust and started again on the warpath.

Through Florida he searched. In every town and village he looked for the objects of his search. One day he became very ill. He went to a hotel and went to bed, dying shortly after with fever, which he contracted from the climate. In the death of Pitts the last barrier was removed and Marvin is said to have married Mrs. Pitts and then came into the possession of her fortune, which he secured in fee simple upon her death...

And the finale, Wife No. 4 on the Scene and The Past Becomes Present.

It Is a Thrilling Story of Both Romance and Tragedy (Paging Dr. Marvin, Pt 3)

(Part 1 is here.)

The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)
19 July 1897, Page 5

MARVIN'S LOST SON GETS A SHARE

Unexpected Heir To Dead Doctor's Estate Appears on the Scene.

HE CAME OUT OF THE WEST

Set Up His Right to a Part in Dr. Marvin's Estate.

WENT TO LAW AND GOT JUDGEMENT

Compromise Has Been Reached and the Matter Will Go Out of the Courts. It Is a Thrilling Story of Both Romance and Tragedy.

Many years ago a handsome young man, with flashing black eyes and chestnut hair, worked industriously in a harness shop in a small, unfrequented street in a bustling city of Illinois. A few months ago he died in Cordele, Ga., the president of a bank.

This man, who stepped from poverty and labor to wealth and ease, was George W. Marvin, well known in Atlanta on account of his reckless daring and his brilliant schemes. Marvin was not an ordinary man. He was shrewd, scheming, daring, reckless and invincible. He had a multiplicity of wives, he served in the penitentiary, yet he moved in good society. He committed and was convicted of crime, yet he outlived his shame for many seasons and finally died, holding an important position in the commercial world, which it is said, he secured without earning one dollar from honest toil after he left the humble harness shop where he worked as a youth.

Even death did not wholly annihilate Marvin, for his young wife had his body embalmed, and for many weeks the body, cold in the rigor of death, remained in the casket, which stood on end in the parlor of his magnificent home. Daily the casket was visited by the young widow and the body was caressed and embraced at frequent intervals.

But the casket and the body have been removed from the parlor. In fact, the remains were brought through Atlanta, it is said, on the same train upon which the widow and her newly found husband passed through on their wedding trip. Mrs. Marvin, who was wife number four, married Joseph E. Bivins, of Cordele, who was the private secretary of the bank to which her late husband had been president. Mrs. Bivins soon died, and her estate, which had been inherited from Marvin, was left to Bivins.

Not many weeks ago a young man came from Kansas to Cordele, and he filed claim to one-half of the vast estate. He said he was the son of Marvin and was entitled to his portion of the property. The claim was stubbornly fought in the courts and a few days ago a compromise was effected between the young heir and Joseph Bivins, the aged widower.

It is the story of this suit and the compromise which has resurrected the history of Marvin and brought to light his checkered career.

Marvin's Early History.
Dating back more than thirty years ago Marvin was found at work in his harness shop.

When yet a young man, he married Miss Lucinda Tyler, a lady of excellent family, but without any means. Marvin ceased his labors at the harness bench and he blossomed forth as a specialist, but it is claimed he had never studied medicine, and began business without any knowledge of the diseases which he claimed he could cure.

The quack physician did not prosper, and he was compelled to do other things than were in the line of his profession. He is said to have been interested in a variety show and that later on his young wife secured a divorce upon the grounds that he wished her to sign a contract for an immoral purpose.

Marvin then drifted through the west after the separation. He traveled about under assumed names, it is said, without any special object in view, doing but little toward earning a livelihood, becoming shiftless and indolent, finally drifting into Springfield, Ill., where he became infatuated with a beautiful woman of that town. This woman was Miss Annie M. Blakely, and a marriage followed.

In less than a year Marvin deserted his bride, going into the west. She afterwards procured a divorce and it is said to be now living with her parents at her former home...

Next up: The Doctor Becomes a Criminal and Marvin Comes to Atlanta.

He Came Out of the West (Paging Dr. Marvin, Pt 2)

Some new (to me) information has come to light about the late Dr. George W. Marvin, who passed away in the summer of 1892. To get a somewhat quick overview of the beginnings of this strange story, you may wish to read the post that started it all. Anyway, it seems Dr. Marvin's "unrest" lived on even after he was finally buried. Take a gander at these headlines from an article in the 26 April 1894 edition of Atlanta, Georgia's Constitution. This was only a few months after his early morning burial in Rose Hill cemetery, mind you.

NOT HER SON.

Mrs. Bivens Repudiates a Man Who Would Call Her Mamma.

SHE SAYS HE IS A RANK FRAUD.

He Claims That Dr. Marvin Was His Father and Wants a Share of His Large and Valuable Estate.
The first paragraph lays it all out:

A rare sensation was sprung on Cordele this morning. Mrs. James Bivens, who was the celebrated widow of Dr. George W. Marvin until recently, when she was wedded to Mr. Bivens, has been sued by Francis G. Marvin for a child's part of the estate of Dr. Marvin. Mr. Marvin, the plaintiff in the suit, alleges that he is the son of Dr. Marvin by a former wife. He sets out that Dr. Marvin was divorced from his mother in 1872, and that she had been legally married to him some years before that event. He says that he is a farmer in Nebraska, and is twenty-seven years old. He heard of Dr. Marvin's death sometime ago but has not had the money until recently with which to make the trip to Georgia...

Response from the Bivens camp: "There is no living child of Dr. Marvin. This is only a continuation of the efforts which have heretofore been made to get a part of the estate...Other parties threatened to produce a will, but the threat was never executed. It will do no one any good to make the attempts as we will fight them every time..."

It took a few years, but a judgement would be reached. Along with it came a resurrection of Dr. Marvin's history and his "checkered career." Stay tuned for the whole sordid saga.

>>> It Is a Thrilling Story of Both Romance and Tragedy (Paging Dr. Marvin, Pt 3)

Paging Dr. Marvin

Truth be told, I don't know where to start on this one. I first stumbled upon this odd story many years ago, and just recently found some more information that made it even more tantalizing.

Dr. George W. Marvin, who according to census records was born about 1835 in England, was a well known individual in the communities in which he lived. For this post, we are speaking of the Georgia cities of Atlanta and Cordele. The good doctor had money, and apparently loved to let his neighbors know it. A newspaper article (from Atlanta, Georgia's The Constitution, 2 October 1892, transcription published in its entirety here) described him this way:

...On the streets he was a well-known character, and when once seen never forgotten...

...He was a gentleman of scrupulous neatness and apparently gave much time to his toilet. His clothing was always of the latest style and more than ordinary taste was displayed in his selections. He was not above the average size, but the immense side whiskers and heavy, drooping mustache he wore gave him something of a distinguished look. He seemed to pride himself on his personal appearance and would shun a speck of flying dust as quickly as he would dodge a mud-bedaubed buggy wheel casting off its load.

Dr. Marvin was not only partial to neat clothing, but he was especially fond of handsome jewelry. He wore a magnificent cluster of diamonds on his short front while an extra inlet was made in the linen to accommodate the fourth large diamond stud. His fingers were bedecked with the same shining stones and it was the boast of the doctor that he wore a limited fortune around with him -- a fortune any pawnbroker would gladly gather.

Dr. Marvin died in Cordele, Dooly County (present day Crisp county), Georgia the summer of 1892. But! He was not buried until January 1894. So where was he for those 16 or so months? Read on for the short version.

10 January 1894
The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)

DR. MARVIN TO BE BURIED
His Widow Will Have the Embalmed Body Interred at Macon
Macon, Ga., January 9 -- (Special) -- The remains of the late Dr. George Marvin will be brought to Macon from Cordele on Friday and buried in Rose Hill cemetery. It will be remembered that Dr. Marvin moved to Cordele from Atlanta a few years ago. He was quite wealthy and was president of the Cordele bank. He died about a year ago and left a beautiful widow and a large fortune. For a time the widow was unconsolable with grief. She had the remains of her husband embalmed twice, once by Undertaker Keating, of Macon, and then by a New Orleans undertaker. The body was placed in a glass casket. It was first buried but Mrs. Marvin afterwards had the remains disinterred and placed in a room in her house, where the body has remained for several months and until the present day. Recently Mrs. Marvin married Cashier Bivins, of her dead husband's former bank. He has been her financial adviser since the death of Dr. Marvin. Mr. and Mrs. Bivins are now in Florida on a bridal tour. A brother of Cashier Bivins came to Macon a few days ago and purchased a lot in the cemetery in which to bury the body of Dr. Marvin.

Yes, you read that right. Dr. Marvin -- whose corpse spent several months in his widow's home -- was to be buried in Macon's Rose Hill Cemetery. And supposedly the plan was followed through to completion:

13 January 1894
The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia)

Newsy Notes.
The remains of Dr. George Marvin arrived this morning from Cordele and were interred at 7:30 o'clock in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Unfortunately, I have no clue where within the cemetery he was buried. To my knowledge, there is no official record, nor is there any grave marker. I wonder, where exactly is Dr. Marvin?

If you're into lurid tales, stay tuned. I have more to tell about the late doctor. >>> He Came Out of the West (Paging Dr. Marvin, Pt 2)

Oops! Frank Cameriero Did it Again. (Tombstone Tuesday)

Macon Telegraph, Georgia, 13 July 1909

Frank Cameriero was a barber. It's what he did. And apparently, he was very good at it. Local newspapers called him a "tonsorial artist,"¹ and said he operated "the very best tonsorial institution in Macon."²

City directories further illustrate this. Macon, Georgia directories from 1904, 1906 - 1909, 1914, and 1917 - 1918 accessed via Ancestry.com show Frank as either a proprietor of a barber shop or at least an employee in one.³ What in the world then, was F. Cameriero doing on a September 1911 list of people alleged to have violated the prohibition statute?⁴

It seems that sometime around 1910, if not before, Frank Cameriero got into the "soft drinks" business. This is bore out by the 1910 U.S. Federal Census⁵ and 1911 Macon, Georgia City Directory,⁶ both listing such as Frank's occupation.

The next newspaper article I came across stated Frank Cameriero plead guilty on pending charges of violating the prohibition law:

PLEAS OF GUILTY MADE IN PROHIBITION CASES
Cameriero...Signs Affidavit That He Will Never Sell Whisky Again
Frank Cameriero now has a clean slat with the city court, a number of cases charging violation of the prohibition law which had been pending against him being disposed of yesterday, a plea of guilty being entered in three cases, while two others were not prossed.[sic]

Cameriero presented an ex culpe affidavit to Judge Hodges, in which he promised never to engage in business of that character again. [Macon Telegraph, Georgia, 31 August 1913]

But (oops!) Frank did it again.

POLICE FIND WHISKY WHILE MAKING RAIDS
Frank Cameriero Has Three Drums in His Place
...Yesterday morning the police swooped down on a bar run by Frank Cameriero at 225 Fifth street. They were armed with search warrants and succeeded in unearthing two and a half drums of whisky which they found in the place. Cameriero had only been in the near beer business at this location a few days. He was released under a bond of $200.

The police also claim to have evidence of a sale of whisky made at Cameriero's place... [Macon Telegraph, Georgia, 26 October 1914]

Frank again plead guilty:

Local News Bits
Cameriero Gets Off Light
Because his place of business had been open only three days when raided by the police and charges of violating the state prohibition law placed against him, Judge Hodges was unusually lenient on Frank Cameriero in the city court of Macon yesterday, when the defendant entered a plea of guilty. Judge Hodges only required him to pay the court costs... [Macon Telegraph, Georgia, 15 January 1916]

Photo © 2012 S. Lincecum

Frank Cameriero (1874-1935) and his wife Angelina (1885-1929) were both born in Italy. They rest in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery section of Rose Hill. A kind reader and descendant of Frank Cameriero told me Angelina was the daughter of Nicholas Cameriero's second wife. Nicholas and Frank were brothers.⁷


Footnotes:

1. "A Popular Barber Makes A Change," The Macon (Georgia) Telegraph, 21 June 1906; digital image, GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 11 June 2012), Historical Newspapers Archive.
2. "Frank Cameriero Moves Shop Into New Quarters," The Macon (Georgia) Telegraph, 13 July 1909; digital image, GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 11 June 2012), Historical Newspapers Archive.
3. "U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta)," database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 June 2012), entries for Frank Cameriero.
4. "40 Prohibition Cases," The Macon (Georgia) Telegraph, 9 September 1911; digital image, GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 11 June 2012), Historical Newspapers Archive.
5. 1910 U.S. census, Bibb County, Georgia, p. 7A, line 19, Frank Caneriero; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 June 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication T624.
6. "U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta)," database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 June 2012), entry for Frank Cameriero.
7. Nina Fort (e-address for private use), to Stephanie Lincecum, e-mail, 7 June 2012, "Re: Rose Hill Cemetery; Macon, Georgia," Rose Hill Cemetery Project & Family Tree Maker Files; privately held by Lincecum, e-address & street address for private use, Georgia.

John McBrearty Convicted of Violating the "Blind Tiger" Law

"Blind Tiger" (a term popular in the southern states) is a lower class version of a speakeasy, a place that illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition. Prohibition in Georgia, by the way, was from 1908 until 1935. This started well before and went on after the national prohibition of 1920 to 1933. In a mid-September 1914 week in Macon, seventy prohibition cases were on the docket for the city court. John McBrearty was one such case.

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
10 February 1914, pg. 8

SECOND RAID MADE ON JOHN M'BREARTY'S STORE

Police Secure a Barrel of Whisky and Claim to Have Evidence of a Sale. McBrearty Denies Ownership.

For the second time since the first of the year, the police have raided John McBrearty's grocery store on Monroe street and gotten sufficient whisky to warrant charges of violation of the city blind tiger ordinance and the state prohibition law. The last raid was made last night by Chief Riley and Plain Clothes Officers Morris and Dave Riley.

Not only was a barrel of whisky taken from McBrearty's place, but a sale is also alleged to have been gotten on him, which the officers are confident will "stick" when the case comes to trial. McBrearty declared the whisky did not belong to him and that he knew nothing about it.

I conducted some research in an effort to make sure this article pertained to the John McBrearty (1882-1961) resting beside his wife Margaret Thomas (1882-1957) in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery section of Rose Hill. The 9 April 1930 Federal census for Macon, Bibb County, Georgia lists John with his wife Margaret and son John F. (1913-2005, also buried in same plot as parents). John and Margaret were both born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. They were married about 1911.

In the 1920 census (same family, same locale), John is listed as a retail grocery store owner. And in the 1918 Macon City Directory, John is listed (with Margaret) as being a grocer at 336 Monroe.

In late June 1915, after John exhausted his appeals, the final ruling came down:

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
23 June 1915, pg. 11

"TIGER" CASE AFFIRMED

John McBrearty Must Pay Fine of $150 Imposed by the Recorder

Clerk R. A. Nisbet, of the superior court, yesterday received notice that the court of appeals had affirmed the judgement of the superior court in the case of John McBrearty, convicted at the February term, 1915, of violating the "blind tiger" law...McBrearty was sentenced to pay a fine of $150 or work sixty days on the county roads.

Another interesting find was John McBrearty in the 1910 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia Federal census. He was working for grocery merchant John Moss (born Ireland) as a Near-Beer clerk. Seems John McBrearty really was in the "thick of things" during Prohibition!

Shocking Affair: The Fatal Stabbing of Robert Martin

The following transcriptions of 3 newspaper articles regarding the murder of Robert Martin were provided by Jeanie Smith Zadach.

Macon Daily Telegraph (Georgia)
Saturday, January 16, 1864, Page 2
"SHOCKING AFFAIR - About 6 o'clock last evening, ROBERT MARTIN of this city was fatally stabbed, on 3rd street in front of Mrs. Sullivan's by JAMES BURNS of Twiggs county. The parties had been in each others' company the greater part of the day, in the course of which some trifling dispute arose, but which, after a few words appeared to be settled. Subsequently the affair was renewed when Burn cut Martin, inflicting a desperate gash below the right arm, the knife ranging in between the lungs and liver. Another blow severed the main artery in the left arm, near the shoulder, and in fact, nearly cut the limb entirely off. This last cut was the immediate cause of his death, although the first would, in all probability, have killed him. Martin as soon as cut, staggered forward exclaiming: "He has killed me," until he reached Mr. Jaughsteter's, a few doors distant, where he turned in and expired in a short time.

We were unable to learn what resistance, if any, Martin made. At all events Burn [sic] made his escape and had not been arrested up to a late hour last night."

Macon Telegraph
Monday Morning, January 18, 1864, Page 2
"James C. Burns who killed Martin on Friday night about dusk, was arrested by the Sheriff about eight o'clock the same evening. He was examined and committed yesterday, and will be tried at the adjourned session of the Superior Court, which commences on Monday the 25th."

Georgia Journal & Messenger
Wednesday, January 20, 1864, Page 2, Column 4
"HOMICIDE
A shocking affair occurred in this city, on Third street, about six o'clock on Friday evening last, between ROBERT MARTIN of this city and JAMES BURNS of Twiggs county, in which Martin was killed. It appears that a short time previous, there had been some difficulty between them of a trivial character, at which time Martin drew a pistol on Burns, who, it would appear, was then unarmed, and the affair seemed to be quieted. They soon after met again on the the side walk, on Third street, when Martin received five or six very severe cuts and stabs, of which he died in a few minutes. Of what occurred at this second meeting it would be improper to speak of particularly, as it will probably be duly investigated before the Superior Court of this county, which convenes again on the 25th. A brother of Burns was present, and the facts were noticed only by one or two other persons although it occurred in a public place. Burns immediately fled, but was soon captured. The case was examined into before Justices Grannias, Wyche and Hughes on Saturday, by whom he was committed for trial on the charge of murder.

Burns is a man of respectable standing at home, and came here as a member of a company of State Troops on their way to Savannah; but now has a more fearful ordeal to pass through than that of facing any enemy in the field he would have been likely to have met about Savannah."

Ms. Zadach also provided this entry from Record of Interments for Rose Hill Cemetery of Bibb County, Georgia 1840 to 1871: "ROBERT MARTIN - Date of Interment: Jan 15, 1864; Age: 32; Male; Residence: Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, CSA; Cause of Death: Stabbed; Lot: 5; Block: 1; Page Number 63 in Interment Book."

Robert Martin was a son of John and Eliza Martin. According to the Historic Rose Hill Cemetery website, Robert is buried in the same lot as his parents and sister, Elizabeth Leora Griffin Martin (d. 1842). This was 3/4 of lot 5 in block 1 of the Central Avenue District, purchased by John Martin in 1841. John was the first burial in April 1842, followed by Elizabeth Leora a month later. When I visited the Martin family plot, I was unable to find a marker for Robert. I did find his parents and sister, however. I also noticed an unmarked brick slab beside Elizabeth Leora. Could this be Robert?

Photos © 2012 S. Lincecum
(You may need to click to enlarge.)

A Remarkable Funeral: Burial of the Victims of the Woolfolk Tragedy

On this lot are the graves of nine victims of a kinsman who slew with an axe almost his entire family. This was Thomas Woolfolk, and the extraordinary crime was committed one night in August, 1887. He paid the penalty of his deed on the gallows.
I will not go into a lot of detail here about the Woolfolk murders. The subject has been written about and debated ever since its occurrence. Did Thomas Woolfolk really commit the crime for which he was hung? Countless articles have been written, as well as at least two books. The best article I have found is Bloody Woolfolk by UGA Professor Donald E. Wilkes, Jr. For something online, check out Bloody Woolfolk at Murder by Gaslight. The two books are The Woolfolk Tragedy: The Murders, the Trials, the Hanging & Now Finally, the Truth!* and Shadow Chasers: The Woolfolk Tragedy Revisited*, both by Carolyn DeLoach.

Following is a short video of the stones located in the Woolfolk family plot at Rose Hill. The plot is off of a narrow road on a grassy terrace not far from the Ocmulgee River. On the day of the funeral, thousands surrounded this little family plot. Following the video is a newspaper account of the funeral.

Macon Telegraph, Georgia
8 August 1887

A REMARKABLE FUNERAL

BURIAL OF THE VICTIMS OF THE WOOLFOLK TRAGEDY.

The Woolfolk tragedy, as might be supposed, was the absorbing question yesterday. The TELEGRAPH, containing the full story of the crime in its most minute details, exhausted its unprecedented extra supply of papers by half past nine o'clock, and it became necessary to print more. The streets were unusually full of people for a Sunday morning, long before breakfast time, and they could be seen in groups discussing the affair. There was little else talked about during the day by the men, and there seemed to be universal regret that young Woolfolk was allowed to leave the vicinity in which the horrible crime was committed. Those who were at the scene of the tragedy after he was carried off, are certain that had he been there when the shirt and drawers were drawn from the well, short work would have been made of him, as up to that time their was some little doubt resting on the minds of the people. This discovery was the turning point and decided his fate if they could have laid hands upon him.

...Undertaker Clay reached the house with the caskets about 12 o'clock and began at once to prepare the bodies for the grave.

THE PROCESSION
At six o'clock yesterday morning the remarkable procession began its long and slow journey to Macon. There were five hearses in line. The first contained the bodies of Pearl and Rosebud, the second Capt. Woolfolk and Mattie the baby, the third Mrs. Woolfolk, the fourth Richard and the fifth Mrs. West. The body of Charlie was placed in the undertaker's wagon and that of Annie in a carriage. Close behind these followed in carriages Mr. Ben Howard, father of Mrs. Woolfolk, his sons, Charles W. and John, and their families. Then came a long line of vehicles containing the immediate friends of the family, and to these were added many others as the procession winded its way toward the city. Almost at every turn of the road there were crowds of people who had gathered to see the cortege pass, and as it neard town there were many who followed on foot. Between twenty and thirty carriages were following the hearses as the procession passed through the city.

AT ROSE HILL
At the cemetery nearly two thousand people had gathered, hundreds having remained on the grounds since early morning. These people represented all classes.

The work of digging and repairing the graves was begun on Saturday evening. The lot is the new Woolfolk lot, to the right of Central avenue and about two hundred yards from the river bank. The grave-diggers were obstructed in their work by large rocks which they found as they went down into the earth. Although a large force of hands were at work the graves could not be gotten ready in time, and when the cortege arrived it was necessary to place the coffins on a vacant lot adjoining the Woolfolk lot. The nine caskets were placed by the side of each other; the five grown persons in black cloth-covered caskets and the children in white caskets. Around those the great crowd stood. The hill under which the lot was situated, was covered with people looking down upon the scene.

THE FUNERAL SERVICES
Shortly after 10 o'clock, Rev. I. R. Branham took his position between the coffins, and pausing for a moment for the noise of the crowd to be stilled, said he scarcely knew what words to utter that would be appropriate to the occasion...

He then offered up a prayer for the surviving members of the family, and for the one in prison, for "whatever may be his destiny, O Lord, prepare him for it."

Continuing his discourse, Dr. Branham said he knew of no words more fitting as a starting point than those which occur in the parable of the ten virgins, which will be found in the 25th chapter of Matthew: "For you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." This comes today with tremendous force this morning. Spread out before us are nine persons, from the infant to the grandmother, all of them stricken down without notice; aroused from slumber's charms without warning...

He spoke of the uncertainty of life and said the whole of figure and metaphor would be exhausted to give a description of the shortness of life...The missiles of death fly thick and fast around us.

He said a solemn duty must be performed by the law makers...In the administration of the law lies our safety and our hope...All over this land murder dips its hand in blood, the bullet and the knife are conspicuous, and blood flows. We must improve the terrible calamity of today.

The great concern for us all is to be ready. Christians, are all the hinderances that prevent your readiness gathered up and put out of the way? If the Master should come and call today are you ready to "rise and open to him immediately," would there be no trepidation, no hurrying to and fro, no confession and dismay consequent upon a complete surprise? Is there no duty due to God or your fellow man unperformed? ...No friend, no neighbor, exposed to eternal death unwarned? ...Is the doom of the soul forever sealed when the body dies? Oh! then let us rise from our apathy and plead with our fellow men, or with those who stand upon the brink of a fathomless abyss, with one foot uplifted, ready to take the step. Let us see to it that our daily accounts with God and our fellow men are balanced, and that we are ready at a moment's notice to make the settlement and go in peace.

...Turn the ear of your soul, and listen to the silent warning that comes from these coffins, and may the Holy Spirit indelibly impress the mute message upon your hearts and consciences! The speaker knew most of these who have been sent suddenly to their final account. Not long since it was his happy privilege to hear the beautiful story of repentance and faith in Christ from the lips of the oldest daughter. It is doubtless true that, though unwarned, they were ready....

A SAD SCENE
At this point of the services Mrs. Edwards, who was in Athens at the time of the tragedy, and who arrived yesterday morning on the 10:10 train from Atlanta, arrived at the cemetery. She went at once to the lot, and, threading her way through the crowd, uttered a cry as she beheld the coffins. Tears started to the eyes of the people as they saw her great grief and heard her lamentations over the still forms of all her father's family. Many turned away that they might not look upon a scene so sacred and so sad.

The close of the services were announced, and the great crowd filed by that all might see the caskets. For some time the family remained near them. Among these were the Howards, Mr. John Woolfolk, of Houston county, Messrs. James and Thomas Woolfolk, of Jones county, and Mr. Lowell Woolfolk, of East Macon, and their families. After this departure, the caskets were lowered into the graves as they were completed.

The nine graves were divided into two rows. In the front row rest Capt. Woolfolk, Mrs. Woolfolk, Richard, Pearl and Mrs. West; on the lower row, Charlie, Annie, Rosebud and Mattie, in the order named. The graves were walled up and cemented over nearly on a level with the ground.

During the day two heavy showers fell, but the rain did not keep the crowd away, and it was not until 5 o'clock, when the graves were finished, that the people ceased to visit the cemetery.

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