The Shooting of John Rowell at Colbert's Reserve in September of 1896

Subject

The Law, Crime and Punishment

Description

Two September, 1896 Florence Herald and Florence Times articles reporting on the fatal shooting of African-American resident John Rowell of Colbert's Reserve, at WL Sherrod's house on the Boddie Place near the "bend of the river," in west Lauderdale County.

The two accounts differ. In the Florence Times' Saturday, September 19 account, Rowell was shot Wednesday the 16th by a member of an unnamed party during an altercation between white resident Hoge Sherrod and Rowell's daughter, whom Sherrod had allegedly struck with a bucket after getting into an argument with her.

Sherrod was visiting his convalescing brother, WL Sherrod, who had been struck on the head with a rock on Tuesday the 15th by African-American Charles Patton as a result of an argument over .50 owed Sherrod by Patton the previous week. Seeing the Rowell girl outside drawing water from the well Sherrod had words with her, became angry and hit her over the head with a bucket. Feeling intimidated by a group of blacks who were also present he then left, only to return at 6 pm with a group of unnamed friends and shoot an armed John Rowell, who died later that night.

The Herald originally published a story in a supplement the week of the shooting reporting this story which no longer exists.

According to the Florence Herald's Thursday, September 24th version of events, which, it stated, "is believed to be in the main correct," on Wednesday morning, September 16, Hoge Sherrod struck an unnamed Negro woman with a bucket at the ill WL Sherrod's place and her brothers "took up the quarrel" that afternoon, returning to the Sherrod residence armed and demanding of the doctor attending WL Sherrod that he turn Hoge Sherrod, who was away at the time, over to them. The doctor was attempting to get the men to disperse when Hoge Sherrod returned and dared the men to take him, which resulted in shots being fired but no one hurt. Around sundown that evening a group of white men came upon the Rowell party which resulted in more heated words and more shots fired, one of which struck John Rowell, the father of the injured girl, who died of his wounds.

Neither paper reported the aftermath of these incidents or whether anyone was arrested and tried for the killing of Rowell. On September 24, the Herald reported that "The excitement over the affair has long ago subsided and it is thought there will be no further trouble."

Source

Florence Times
Florence Herald

Publisher

Newspapers.com
Bell Howell Microfilm Labs.

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Files

Shot to Death FT Sat Sept 19 1896 p 3.jpg
The Reserve Tragedy FH Thu Sep 24 1896 p 1.jpg

Citation

“The Shooting of John Rowell at Colbert's Reserve in September of 1896,” Shoals Black History, accessed March 28, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1088.