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
