Murder and Attempted Murder by Sallie Allen of Green Hill

Subject

The Law, Crime and Punishment

Description

A series of newspaper articles and court documents chronicling the Saturday, May 20, 1898 murder of African-American resident of Green Hill, in Lauderdale County, William R. Allen and the attempted murder of her brother Wiley Chisholm on Thursday, July 10, 1902 by Sallie Allen, William Allen's wife.

On the morning of May 21, 1898 WR Allen was found dead in his bed with his head horribly battered by a hammer, which was found lying by the side of the bed.

Allen's wife Sallie was the chief suspect, and at her May 23 and 24, 1898 trial testified that she got up early to prepare breakfast then went outside to investigate an unusual noise in the yard, and when she got back to the house to call Mr. Allen to breakfast she discovered him dead in bed with his head bashed in.

After a two-day trial attended by 150 people Mrs. Allen was acquitted, however feeling in the community was that she was guilty. These feelings were borne out on July 10, 1902 when Mrs. Allen attempted to kill her brother Wylie Chisholm with an axe, nearly succeeding. She was again arrested, indicted for assault with intent to murder, and at her September, 1902 trial her attorney entered a plea of insanity, resulting in her being sent to the Jemison Center insane asylum for Negroes at Tuscaloosa.

Nothing more is known of Sallie Allen at this time, if she was released from the asylum or when.

Sallie Chisholm (ca. 1874-) was a daughter of George and Esther Chisholm of Green Hill. She married William R. Allen on September 18, 1892 and the couple had three children.

Source

1. Florence Herald
2. Florence Times
3. Florence Times
4. Florence Herald
5. Lauderdale County Circuit Court Grand Jury Docket 2, 1900-1904
6. Florence Herald
7. US Census, 1900, Lauderdale County, Alabama

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

1-4; 5;7. Jpegs
6. Tiff

Language

English

Type

Still Images

Files

News of the County FH Thu May 26 1898 p 8.jpg
Murdered in Bed FT Fri June 24 1898 p 2 (2).jpg
Attempted Murder FT Fri July 18 1902 p 1 (2).jpg
Murdered Her Brother FH Fri Jul 18 1902 p 1.jpg
scan_2022_04-22_10_37-11 (2).tif
Sent to Insane Asylum FH Fri Sep 26 1902 p 1.jpg
Sallie Allen's 1900 Laud Co AL Census Enum p 232 B.jpg

Citation

“Murder and Attempted Murder by Sallie Allen of Green Hill,” Shoals Black History, accessed May 5, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1258.