Murder of Berry Adams

On March 30, 1874, Primus Edwards (black) would kill 25-year-old Berry Adams (black) at the plantation of Captain John A. Cobb in Sumter County, Georgia. He would claim that the murder happened because Berry was ogling Primus's woman. There is little information about the murder that I could find. One source said that Berry died because Primus was defending himself.

On November 13th Primus would be the first man hung in Sumter. He was quiet and claimed to be a child of God. Between 250 to 300 people came to witness the execution. Before his execution, a large portion of the people who came to witness his execution was able to come and visit him at his cell to say goodbye.

He would have a 6-minute speech before the hanging. He stated that he was being wrongfully hung and that the colored witnesses were the cause of this. His photo was then taken on the scaffold. At about 11:20 a.m. Primus would be hanged in the jail yard and pronounced dead 17 minutes later.

SOURCES:
Legal Executions in Georgia page 18
Sumter County History
The Sun and ColumbusWeekly Enquirer April 7, 1874
Georgia Weekly Telegraph, Journal, and Messanger November 17, 1874

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

Murder of Ruth Feig

By May 3, 1920, 25-year-old Ruth Feig and her husband 28-year-old William Feig were separated for 6 weeks. She had already moved on and was living with another man on 5023 Warren Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On May 3rd she would ask William to come over.

It's unclear what had happened. They were either taking a walk or William was attacking Ruth by either chasing or dragging her on Thompson street. Ruth would then shoot at William and he would be struck twice. They would end up in a shop where Ruth would die inside as William shot her 4 times with his own revolver.

At trial William would claim self-defense. The problem with that was that two of the bullets were in the back of her head. He would be found guilty of 2nd-degree murder and was set to serve 11 to 12 years for the crime.

SOURCES:
Criminal Justice Research Center
Criminal Justice Research Center (PDF page 31)
The Philidelphia Inquirer July 25, 1920
The Philidelphia Inquirer December 11, 1920

UNIDENTIFIED: May 1, 1921St. Johns County, Florida John Doe

 On May 1, 1921, a man was shot by an Ernest Reid(possibly Rild) in self-defense in Hastings, Florida. He was a black male around 35-years-old. There is little information in this case and is unstated why John Doe was shot in self-defense. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki