The Southern herald., 1884-09-20
An Old Question AnsKered.
THE DAUGHTER OF THE NAN WHO
STRUCK BILLY PATERSON SPEAKS

Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 25.-The question
which has become so famous the world
over-"Who struck Billy RattersoAp -
stands in fair way of being answered.
The original Mr.. Patterson, who was the
father Of the famous Betsy Patterson,
wife of Jerome Bonaparte, was we'll
to-do merchant in Baltimore. He sold
goods on time, securing himself by tax
ing mortgages on real estate. The panic
of 1887 drove most of the traders to the
wall, and they found in Mr. Patterson a
hard master. In order to collect the
money owning to him by the merchants
he foreclosed his mortgages, visited per-
sonally the counties of franklin, Hart
and Elbert, in this State, and bought in
most of the lands himself. His conduct
made for him many bitter enemies, and
his movements were closely watched.
While in a crowd in Gainesville, Frank
lin county, an impromptu riot was
raised, in which one of the mountaineers
gave Patterson murderous blow on the
side of the head. The memory Of this
event embittered the rest of Patterson's
life. He offered a large reward for the
apprehension Of the man who struck
him, thus giving currency to the ques-|
ton, "Who struck Billy PattersOn2'
Falling to secure the guilty man in life,
he left a provision in his will for the
payment of $1,000 to the person who
shonld answer the question. That win
is Of record in the Office Of the clerk Of
court in the counties of Franklin and
Ebert.
Now comes letter from Mrs. Jennie
G. Corey, of Athol, Warren county, NY,
asking for a copy Of the will in order
that she may claim the promised reward.
Her letter is addressed to the ordinary
of Franklin county, and tells its own
story, as follows; "My father struck
Billy Patterson. 1t was a great many
years ago-at least / suppose it was, as
was very small child when he told
me about it. Heis dead now. AS near
as / can find out, he was wild and mis-
chievous when young, and ran away
from his home in Vermont, where he
was born and raised by tender parents.
He was of rowing disposition, and
among other places which he visited
was franklin county, Ga. AS he was
fond Of sport, he attended most Of the
public fairs. He attended the one in
Georgia. say the one, because he left
Georgia as soon as possible and never
returned to see how Billy Patterson stood
the effects of the blow. He said when
the row began and Mr.! Peacemaker, as
he called Billy Patterson, interfered to
break up the sport, he just leveled him
and "dug out" as soon as possible, and
left Georgia forever. He went to Cleve-
land, o., and as he grew older and wiser
he began to grow stricter, and became as
good an engineer as was ever on any
railroad. My fathers name was George
w. Tilleston, He never knew there
was.a will made, and ] am not sure that
he would have cared to have told the
story, as he had money enough, but as
l am an invalid, I might as well have
the money if tits still offered.
The ordinary Of Franklin county has
had transcript of the will taken and
has forwarded it to Mrs. Corey at AthoI,
N. Y. The next step will probably be
a demand upon the representatives Of
the late Mr.. Patterson for the money.
At the reunion of Fifth Georgia regi.
ment at Macon representatives of nine
companies from different portions of the
State we're in attendance. The regiment
served throughout the war, engaging in
battles from Virginia to South Carolina.
The address Of welcome was delivered
by congressman Thomas Hardeman. A
feature ofthemeeting was the restoration
of the battle-hag captured at the battle
Of Coosahatchie in 1854 by the Fifty
Sixth New York regiment. It was pre-
sented by L. G. Young, Of that regiment,
followed by a touching scene. Veterans
stood when the flag was received, and
many shed tears. Capt. Kiddo, who
was to receive the flag, was so overcome
by emotion that he could only reply in
few words.
If you deal with vulgar mind, life is
reduced to beggary.