Circuit Court.
A Report of the Cases from Lauderdale County Tried in Colbert County due to a Change of Venue
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=A+March%2C+1875+report+of+the+Cases+from+Lauderdale+County+tried+in+Colbert+County+due+to+a+change+of+venue.++All+of+the+five+cases+involved+African-Americans%2C++and+of+the+five%2C+John+Powell%27s%2C+indicted+for+murder+in+the+2nd+degree%2C+resulted+in+a+hung+jury+hence+a+mistrial+while+George+Boddie%27s%2C+who+was+indicted+for+raping+a+white+woman%2C+resulted+in+the+death+penalty%2C+execution+by+hanging+at+the+Colbert+County+courthouse+in+Tuscumbia.+">A March, 1875 report of the Cases from Lauderdale County tried in Colbert County due to a change of venue. All of the five cases involved African-Americans, and of the five, John Powell's, indicted for murder in the 2nd degree, resulted in a hung jury hence a mistrial while George Boddie's, who was indicted for raping a white woman, resulted in the death penalty, execution by hanging at the Colbert County courthouse in Tuscumbia. </a>
*Florence (AL) Gazette,* Wednesday, March 31, 1875, p. 3.
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Lee Freeman
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Circuit Court to Have Three Weeks of Criminal Cases
Circuit Court Cases of Lauderdale County for October of 1956.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=An+October%2C+1956+report+on+the+various+criminal+cases+before+the+Lauderdale+Country+Circuit+Court.">An October, 1956 report on the various criminal cases before the Lauderdale Country Circuit Court.</a>
*Florence Herald,* Thursday, October 18, 1956, pp 1, 4.
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Negro is Being Held
Report of Leeman Armstead's arrest on larceny charges.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=July%2C+1938+report+of+African-American+Leeman+%5Bsic%5D+Armstead+being+held+in+the+Lauderdale+County+jail+on+the+charge+of+grand+larceny.">July, 1938 report of African-American Leeman [sic] Armstead being held in the Lauderdale County jail on the charge of grand larceny.</a>
*Florence Herald,* Friday, July 22, 1938, p. 5.
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Lee Freeman
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Negro Fined for Carrying Concealed Razor.
Report on the arrest of Louis Armistead.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Local+black+Louis+Armistead+is+arrested+in+August+of+1908+on+a+warrant+sworn+out+by+local+black+Ben+Armistead+for+carrying+a+concealed+razor.+Armistead+is+fined+%2450+and+costs+by+Florence+Mayor+AE+Walker.+">Local black Louis Armistead is arrested in August of 1908 on a warrant sworn out by local black Ben Armistead for carrying a concealed razor. Armistead is fined $50 and costs by Florence Mayor AE Walker. </a>
*Florence Herald,* Wednesday, August 26, 1908, p. 1.
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Lee Freeman
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Negro is Given Life Sentence Wednesday.
Report of the outcomes of three murder cases in Lauderdale County, including that of Fred Newsom, indicted on a charge of murder, and Tommie Armstead, also charged with murder, from March of 1935.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=In+March+of+1935+African-American+Fred+Newsom+is+convicted+and+receives+a+life+sentence+for+the+murder+of+an+aged+black+man+near+Oakland+and+the+beating+of+the+man%27s+wife%2C+while+the+trials+of+local+blacks+Tommie+Armstead+for+the+murder+of+Earl+Pride+and+Mose+Davis+for+rape+were+to+be+tried+before+the+end+of+court+that+day.">In March of 1935 African-American Fred Newsom is convicted and receives a life sentence for the murder of an aged black man near Oakland and the beating of the man's wife, while the trials of local blacks Tommie Armstead for the murder of Earl Pride and Mose Davis for rape were to be tried before the end of court that day.</a>
*Florence Herald,* Friday, March 29, 1935, p. 5.
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Lee Freeman
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Negroes Arrested.
Report of the arrest of two black teenagers for robbery.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Black+teenagers+Sam+Robinson+and+Monroe+Rowell+are+arrested+in+August+of+1930+in+connection+with+the+recent+robbery+of+the+Southern+Tire+Co.">Black teenagers Sam Robinson and Monroe Rowell are arrested in August of 1930 in connection with the recent robbery of the Southern Tire Co.</a>
*Florence Herald,* Friday, August 15, 1930, p. 5.
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Lee Freeman
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Negro Killed in Shooting Affray.
Report of the fatal shooting of Willie Sam Malone by Edward James Martin.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Report+of+the+December%2C+1939+fatal+shooting+at+close+range+of+African-American+Willie+Sam+Malone+with+a+12+gauge+shotgun+by+African-American+Edward+James+Martin+at+a+North+Florence+residence.++Martin%2C+aged+19%2C+surrendered+to+Lauderdale+County+Sheriff+Edgar+Fulmer+and+is+being+held+in+jail+on+a+charge+of+murder.%0D%0AIn+1951%2C+Martin+was+pardoned+by+the+Alabama+Pardon-Parole+Board.+">Report of the December, 1939 fatal shooting at close range of African-American Willie Sam Malone with a 12 gauge shotgun by African-American Edward James Martin at a North Florence residence. Martin, aged 19, surrendered to Lauderdale County Sheriff Edgar Fulmer and is being held in jail on a charge of murder.
In 1951, Martin was pardoned by the Alabama Pardon-Parole Board. </a>
*Florence Herald,* Friday, December 22, 1939, p. 1.
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Lee Freeman
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Walter and Dave Cragton [sic] arrested.
Arrest report of Walter and Dave Cragton.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=October%2C+1911+report+of+the+arrest+of+Walter+and+Dave+Cragton+%5Bsic%5D+by+Lauderdale+County+Deputy+Sheriff+Ed+Broadfoot+on+an+indictment+by+the+grand+jury+on+the+charges+of+assault+with+a+revolver+and+carrying+a+concealed+pistol.+Both+men+were+released+on+bond.">October, 1911 report of the arrest of Walter and Dave Cragton [sic] by Lauderdale County Deputy Sheriff Ed Broadfoot on an indictment by the grand jury on the charges of assault with a revolver and carrying a concealed pistol. Both men were released on bond.</a>
*Florence Herald,* Thursday, October 26, 1911, p. 1.
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Lee Freeman
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Col. William A. Johnson kills African-American John Caruthers [sic] of Tuscumbia, in Colbert Co., AL.
The killing of John Caruthers by Col. William A. Johnson.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=A+report+of+the+June%2C+1871+killing+of+African-American+John+Caruthers+of+Tuscumbia+by+Col.+William+A.+Johnson%2C+a+Tuscumbia+businessman%2C+allegedly+in+self-defense.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne+of+five+children+of+Richard+and+Katherine+Johnson+born+in+Lauderdale+County%2C+Tuscumbian+Col.+William+A.+Johnson+%281827-1891%29+was+a+member+of+Roddey%27s+4th+AL+Cav%2C+CSA+during+the+Civil+War%2C+and+was+wounded+in+the+leg+and+knee%2C+walking+with+a+limp+for+the+rest+of+his+life.+Recommended+for+promotion+to+brigadier-general%2C+the+war+ended+before+the+promotion+was+made+official.+A+steamboat+captain+and+slaveowner+before+the+war%2C+Johnson+was+married+to+Kate+Barton+of+Tuscumbia+and+the+couple+had+several+children.+In+1870+Col.+Johnson+was+one+of+the+trustees+and+stockholders+who+incorporated+the+Deschler+Female+Academy+in+Tuscumbia.+Sons+of+Confederate+Veterans+%28SCV%29+Col.+William+A.+Johnson+Camp+898+of+Tuscumbia+is+named+after+him.+His+descendants+still+live+in+Tuscumbia.%0D%0A%0D%0ANo+further+information+on+this+case+has+been+located.+Apparently+Johnson+was+acquitted+or+found+innocent.+Nothing+further+is+known+of+the+victim%2C+John+Caruthers.">A report of the June, 1871 killing of African-American John Caruthers of Tuscumbia by Col. William A. Johnson, a Tuscumbia businessman, allegedly in self-defense.
One of five children of Richard and Katherine Johnson born in Lauderdale County, Tuscumbian Col. William A. Johnson (1827-1891) was a member of Roddey's 4th AL Cav, CSA during the Civil War, and was wounded in the leg and knee, walking with a limp for the rest of his life. Recommended for promotion to brigadier-general, the war ended before the promotion was made official. A steamboat captain and slaveowner before the war, Johnson was married to Kate Barton of Tuscumbia and the couple had several children. In 1870 Col. Johnson was one of the trustees and stockholders who incorporated the Deschler Female Academy in Tuscumbia. Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Col. William A. Johnson Camp 898 of Tuscumbia is named after him. His descendants still live in Tuscumbia.
No further information on this case has been located. Apparently Johnson was acquitted or found innocent. Nothing further is known of the victim, John Caruthers.</a>
*Lauderdale Times* (Florence, AL), Tuesday, June 27, 1871, p. 2.
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Lee Freeman
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Mayors Court
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=41&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=A+July%2C+1871+report+of+a+fairly+quiet+period+in+the+mayor%27s+court%2C+the+only+case+being+that+of+an+African-American+woman+whose+children+were+whipped+by+another+unnamed+woman%2C+in+the+process+allegedly+knocking+out+two+jaw+teeth+of+one+of+the+children.++Mayor+Neander+H.+Rice+sent+the+constable+in+search+of+the+offending+woman.">A July, 1871 report of a fairly quiet period in the mayor's court, the only case being that of an African-American woman whose children were whipped by another unnamed woman, in the process allegedly knocking out two jaw teeth of one of the children. Mayor Neander H. Rice sent the constable in search of the offending woman.</a>
*Lauderdale Times*, Tuesday, July 4, 1871, p. 2.
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Lee Freeman
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