UNIDENTIFIED: February 1922 Cranston, Rhode Island Jane Doe

In February 1922 a woman drowned on Edgewood shore near Norwood Ave. in Cranston, Rhode Island. She was never identified. 

SOURCES: 

Find a Grave

Murder of John Gresham

On February 27, 1871, 43-year-old John Gresham, his 15-year-old son, and 18-year-old Bartholomew Barnes were in Clarksville, Missouri and the three crossed the Mississippi River to get to Illinois. John and his son stayed in a wagon on the boat. When the boat landed John, who was fairly drunk, and his son were asked by Bartholomew if they'd let him ride with them with the promise of being quiet and peaceable.

John accepted, but his son rejected. It was known that the John and Bartholomew did not get along.Earlier that month Bartholomew became very angry with John, reason not stated why, in Plesant Hill, Illinois. He had threatened to whip him, but the constable warned him not to do it and would be arrested if he did not stay quiet. He was fuming and said he would tear John's heart out. Bartholomew claimed that he was threatened by John in 1869, but they were never followed through.

On the wagon Batholomew sat next to John while John's son sat up front driving. It wasn't long before the two in the wagon began arguing. Bartholomew would yell "You damned old son of a bitch." as he jumped up. This caused the board that John was sitting on to tip having him fall out of the wagon on the otherside He would land on his back near a wagon and a fence. Bartholomew would jump out and run back to the wagon to where John was laying and would lean back onto the fence to steady himself. Bartholomew would then began to stomp on John's head and chest with the heel of his boot 8 to 12 times.

This would kill John whose nose, cheekbone and jaw was broken, his head was kicked in more than an inch. His face was left unrecognizable. Two people witnessed the murder, John's teenage son and a Mr. Oyler. Mr. Oyler started running towards the murderer who jumped the fence and ran. Mr. Oyler was able to catch him in a few minutes. When caught he claimed he had nothing to do with it and did not see him even though blood whiskers and hair covered the heel of his boot.

Bartholomew would go to trial in Pike County even though it had happened in Calhoun County after a change of venue was granted. The trial would start on November 27, 1871. His only defense was the threat from 1869 who his brother testified in court. There was no other witnesses to help the defendant. He would be found guilty and set to hang.

Bartholomes's execution was the first and last one to take place in Pike County. On December 29, 1871. His would say"I pray thee to forgive my sins, to save any soul and take me to heaven, repeating the petitions, as we thought, twice or more." At 2:25 the bag and noose were slipped over his head he said "O'Lord save my soul." When he dropped his neck was instantly broken and after 20 minutes he was pronounced dead..

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri Pg 4

99 Nooses pg 119

Geneology Trails (Calhoun County, Illinois)

Geneology News (Pike County Illinois)

Nashville Journal April 27, 1871

Chicago Tribune December 12, 1871

Alton Telegraph December 15, 1871

Chicago Tribune December 30, 1871

Murder of John Ledbetter

 In 1879 African American brothers Jordan and Wylie Sheats were contract workers on the farm of Joseph Williams in Maddison County, Georgia. They wanted to leave the farm, but Joseph Williams would remind them of their contract for the whole year. 

On the night of February 24th Joseph saw a wagon in front of where the brothers occupied. He went to investigate and ask why the wagon was there. Wylie responded, "It's a wagon from Harmon Grove.". Jordan who came out of the house said "Wylie there's no use in telling a lie about it. It's Tom Smith's wagon to move me and my things."

Joseph asked them to stay till the next day so they can settle things. He then remineded Jordan that he owed him $27 and must pay it. While the conversation was going on Joseph's son, J.Y. and a white tenant 31-year-old John Ledbetter the two on Joseph's side.

The two brothers still prepared to leave as the conversation continued. The conversation would turn into an argument. Jordan would go and retrieve a shotgun and told them,"We'll leave if we want to." In response the J.Y. and John went to the house to retrieve revolvers. When they returned the brothers were cursing and arguing with Joseph. 

John would look at Jordan and yell "Don't curse so." In response he pointed the shotgun at him and asked "Is it any your business?" John respoded angrily and the gun was lifted almost touching Johns chest and went off. John sank to the ground and died several minutes.

Almost as soon as the gun had gone off the brothers fled on foot into the darkness. They were shot at about 6 times by Joseph, but it was too dark for accurate aim. The next dary Maddison County Sheriff gathered a posse to hunt them down.

The brothers would be found in Athens. They were ordered to surrender, but instead refused. They began firing at the posse and the posse fired back. Wylie would end up dying, and Jordan fled again. It seemed as if he had disappeared and search for him sizzled out. Nobody had known where he'd gone for months. 

In August in West Virginia claimed to have been outraged. The desription of the man matched Jordan, who was working on a farm. A lynch mob would go to his house and drag him out. He swore that he was innocent. They would begin to hang him as they did not believe, but when he put his fingers to his mouth as if to speak they loosened it up. He told them he did not know of a rape, but he was wanted for a murder in Georgia.

He asked the leader of the group to write to Georgia to see if he was telling the truth or not. If it was a lie he would let them hang him. The mob believed him and did not believe he did the assault. 

He would be brought back to Georgia for his trial. He not once denied the murder, but claimed it was self defense. He was found guilty and set to be executed on November 14, 1879.There was a large crowd at the execution, but no excitement. Jordan accepted his fate and said he was ready to die. At 1:30 p.m. he was dropped and his death was long and painful. He struggled violently for 12 minutes before being pronounced dead.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Georgia pg 28

The Marietta Journal September 18, 1879

The New York Times October 26, 1879

St. Louis Globe-Democrat November 15, 1879

Perrysburg Journal November 21, 1879

The Abbeville Press and Banner December 3, 1879

INFANTICIDE: February 1922 Mason County, Kentucky Baby Doe

 In February 1922 the body of a newborn (a day old) baby was found in Cabin Creek in Mason County, Kentucky. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

The Kinakinelly Man

In 1952 the body of a man, now known as Kinakinelly Man, was found in a bog in County Galway, Ireland. His remains were found with the bones of a red deer. He was dated to have lived and died between 200–100 BCE.

There is little information on this. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Irish Central

UNIDENTIFIED: 1864 Larimer County, Colorado Unidentified Mexican Friend

 

In 1864 a man was buried at Modena Cemetery in Larimer County, Colorado. His Tombstone reads Unidentified Mexican Friend. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: February 9, 1957 Woodhouse Acres, Ontario, Canada Baby Boy Doe

 An Infant had died on February 9, 1957, in Woodhouse Acres, Ontario, Canada. He had been dead 3 days before being found and his cause of death is unstated or unknown. It is also unstated if they believed he was a newborn or not. There is little information in this case.

SOURCES:
Unidentified Wiki
Find a Grave

MONSTERS: Nasnas

 

This folio from Walters manuscript W.659 

In Arab folklore, a Nasnas is a monstrous creature believed to have been born between a jinn called a Shiqq and a human. These creatures is basically and literally half a human being. They have half a head, half a body, one arm, and one leg. It hops with much agility. 

SOURCES:

Myths and Folklore

Wikipedia

UNIDENTIFIED: February 3, 1945 Florham Park New, Jersey Baby Doe

 On February 3, 1945, kids were playing on Brooklake Rd. In Florham Park New, Jersey. The kids would find a shopping bag and the body of a newborn baby boy inside. The infant was born alive and died about 2 days before and was wrapped with newspaper and a woman's slip. 

SOURCES:

Morris County New Jersey

The Maddison Eagle Feb. 8, 1945