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- Description is exactly "A series of articles and documents chronicling the Saturday, March, 16, 1907 murder of 17-18 year-old African American Lossie Woods by 23 year-old white Jesse Williams.
Woods, an employee of the fertilizer factory in Florence with a reputation for being "a peaceable boy," having just been paid his weekly wages, was on his way home with four friends when, upon meeting Williams, "whose record is not an enviable one," Woods attempted to exchange pleasantries with Williams, who interpreted Woods' action as impertinence, drew a concealed pistol and shot Woods once, the ball penetrating his right eye.
Young Woods was quickly taken to the home of a relative where died several hours later that night.
Williams and a friend fled but were captured by officers in East Florence and Williams was arrested and arraigned on Monday, March 29, before Justices of the Peace Lemay and Weeden. The friend was released.
Williams was indicted on capital murder charges and at his September, 1907 trial was defended by attorney AA Williams and wound up being sentenced to two years in prison. The Florence Herald opined that "The murder was wholly unprovoked and Williams should have been given a life sentence," however the jury explained its verdict by saying it believed that "the defendant was drunk and shot carelessly."
Lossie Woods (ca. 1889-1907) was one of several children of Felix Woods (ca. 1852-aft. 1940) and Mahala Lovelace (ca. 1854-1924), farmers of near Rawhide (now Cloverdale) in Lauderdale County.
Nothing further is known of Jesse Williams at this time, save this was not his last brush with the law, as, upon his release from prison he was indicted several more times on charges such as carrying a concealed pistol and assault with intent to murder."
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