In 1865 44-year-old Thomas A. Byne was a slave owner, physician, and noteworthy landowner. He lived in upper Burke County, Georgia. At this time 6 or 7 of his newly freed slaves began to plot against him. They believed that they would get his land split among them.
On July 18, 1865, one of the former slaves, Essex Walker, shot Thomas to death with a shotgun. It was unclear if Essex was the ringleader or just the trigger man. He was arrested and convicted of the crime. Essex was hanged on March 23, 1866, in Augusta, Georgia.
SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Georgia page 6
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