Friday, April 17, 2026

Murder of Frank J. Lee

 On April 18, 1878, 33-year-old Frank J. Lee, a farmer, was driving his wagon home from the market in Chatham County, Georgia. A black youth, 18-year-old Frank Perry, would rob Frank Lee and in the process would shoot him. He would live a little bit after but passed away. 

Frank Perry would flee to North Carolina where he was caught. He would go on trial and would be found guilty and set to hang. He would be hanged in Savannah on June 26, 1878.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Georgia pg 26

Georgia Weekley Telegraph, Journal, and Messenger April 23, 1878

Georgia Weekley Telegraph, Journal, and Messenger May 7, 1878

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Death of Philip McClean

Photo by David Clode

On April 6, 1926, 16-year-old Phillip McClean and his brother Granville were looking for their horses on their property in Mossman, Queensland, Australia. Their dog would start to fight with a large cassowary. Granville rushed to save their dog who was losing the fight. The bird would kick him in the leg knocking him down. Philip trying to protect his brother hit the cassowary with a horse briddle.

This would allow the younger brother to get up and run. Unfortunately, Philip would trip to the ground and the cassowary would kick him slicing open his neck and severing his jugular vein. Philip would get up and run only 200 yards before bleeding to death.