Columbus Daily Enquirer, Georgia
22 June 1909
(Viewed online at GenealogyBank.)
TALBOT CITIZEN WAS MURDERED
William Marshall Leonard Shot to Death at a Negro House.
DOUBLE-BARREL SHOT GUN WEAPON USED
Supposed Murderer Has Fled, But Posses Are Looking for Him.
Crowd of Citizens Went to Negro's House Looking for a Meddlesome Preacher.
Talbotton, Ga., June 21 -- (Special.) -- The town of Talbotton and the whole county of Talbot are deeply stirred over the assassination of William Marshall Leonard, a prominent young farmer of this county.
Mr. Leonard was found yesterday morning at 10 o'clock at the home of a negro named William Careker, twelve miles from Talbotton. He with others went to Careker's house Saturday night to stop a disturbance raised by a negro preacher, and it seems Mr. Leonard became separated from his companions there and was not missed until afterward. His companions took off the negro preacher, it is understood, and it was then that the tragedy occurred, someone, presumably Careker, shooting Mr. Leonard with a double-barrel shot gun. The load of shot entered his head and it is supposed caused instant death.
Mr. Leonard's family was greatly alarmed Saturday night when his horse returned home without him. It was not until 10 o'clock the next morning that his body was found, however.
Both Careker and the negro preacher, who was the cause of all the trouble, have disappeared. Parties are now scouring the country for them, the search being directed especially towards Careker, but up to last reports neither one had been located.
It seems that the negro preacher was a disorganizer and did very mischievous work among the negro farm hands, stirring up strife between the farmers and their employees. A posse of citizens went to Careker's house with the supposed purpose of dealing with him in such vigorous manner that he would not meddle in such matters in the future, although it is not supposed that any unnecessarily harsh measures were contemplated -- just a line of argument that would impress the negro with the necessity of ceasing such harmful and foolish tactics.
Mr. Leonard, who met death in such a tragic manner, was a son of Mr. John Leonard and one of the most prominent young men in the county. He married Miss Annie Holmes. He was a young man who stood high in the community, and his death is very greatly deplored.
Mr. Leonard's funeral took place this morning, and he was buried at Hollingsworth church.
2 comments:
I believe that William Marshall Leonard was buried at Collingsworth (not Hollingsworth) Methodist Church Cemetery in Talbot Co., GA.
William Leonard was the son of John Porter Leonard and Sarah Dixon (nee Owen) Leonard.
According to Frances Benson Chandler, "Daniel Grant Owen, His Ancestors, Descendants and Their Kin," privately published, Albany, GA, 1968, William Marshall Leonard and his wife had no children.
Thanks for the confirmation! I thought it was Collinsworth, as well, based on the cemetery names I could find in Talbot county. I believe Mr. Leonard has a memorial there, and it's listed on FindAGrave. I double checked the article, and "Hollingsworth" was clearly typed, so I didn't change it.
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