The Dawson journal., 1885-11-12
DEATH OF PROF. G. W. CHEvES.
The Last Chapter of Il Sad affair.
Atlanta Constitution 9th inst.

! w S1CNSS, oHCC lI1S
brilliant editor of the DAWSON
JOURNAL, one of the most success
ful N'eeE lies in Southwest Geor-
gia, died yesterday at noon in the
Fulton county Jail.
His death was due to softening
of the brain, produced by his long
confinement, and great mental
trouble.
On the 2jth day of October,
1884, Editor Cheves shot and kill
ell Colonel T. II. Pickett, of Daw-
son. Both men were
PROMINENT IN POLITICS
in Southwest Georgia, and both
had fame throughout the State,
the one as a successful aud care
ful attorney, the other as a bril-
liant and reliable editor. The
killing created the widest excite
ment in Southwest Georgia, and
was currently discussed through
out the State. The two gentle
men had been warm, personal
friends, and the deA{ls of the
tragedy were ca gerly sought.
When Cheves was landed in the
Fulton county jail be Was per-
feet picture of health both ment-
ally and physically. He was a
man of exceeding brightness, and
for the first month or two took his
confinement philosophically. He
walked about the prison and talk
ed to the other inmates. He gave
his time to reading the newspa-
per5, writing letters for himself
and othexs, and was always bright
and friendly. He seemed to take
a hopeful view of the situation,
but unlike nearly every other pris-
oner, he declined to talk about his
! trouble. In December after he
reached Atlanta he was taken
back to Dawson for trial, but his
case was continued, and after an
absence Of few days from Allan
ia he was brought back. When
Cheves re-entered the Fulton
county jail after that trip he man
ifested quite a change. His
AGREEABLE SMILE WAS GONE,
and in the place Of the accommo-
dating, pleasant companion he had
always been, the other prisoners
found him cross,surly and morose.
At first he would avoid them and
finally he declined to converse
with anyone. OF course there is
gossip in jail as we'll as out OF jail =,
and in a short while the prison
ers began to say:
"Cheyes is playing a part. He
has a scheme Of some kind on
hand, bat he can't play the crazy
dodge here
Cheves heard these remarks,
and, flying into a passion, wanted
to clean out the founder cf the
statement. As the days went by
he grew more and mora reserved
until he had quit talking almost
entirely. Dir. Boring, the county
physician,
WHO HAD BEEN WITH CHEVEs
once each day from the beginning
Of his confinement, noticed this
change in the mans conduct. In
fact Cheyes treated Dr. Boring as
he treated ybody else whom
he came in contact. Once, early
in his confinement, Cheves mani
sested quite a friendship for DR.
Boring and would talk to him
when he could, but now he declin-
ell to speak. DR.. Boring heard
what the other prisoners said about
Cheves, and at first entertained
the same idea, bat as time went
BY and no change for the better
occurred, Or. Boring began to
/ study the prisoners case. Cnnves
quickly di3cerend what DR.. Boring
Was doing and became quite an
CRY. lie refused to take the med
icine which DR., Boring gave him,
and when the doctor called
WOULD RETIRE TO HIS CELL
and stay there until the doctor
left. About the last Of January
CIe,e3 appeared to pick up lit
tie anl in February he was taken
back to Dawson again. Again his
trial was postponed and again he
was brought back to Atlanta.
Within very short period after
I lha7e8' return he began to grow
more surly than he had ever beer.
Doctor Boring saw the change and
one day became satisfied that the
prisoner was suffering both ment-
ally and physically. The long
confinement had already told upon
Cheyes. His once ruddy complex
ion had given away to n pale
| CHASTITY color His strong frame
was not near 80 heavy as it had
been, and occasionally
THE MAN WOULD TOTTER
as he walked across. the Jail floor.
All this DR.. Boring noticed, and
then with view to, strengthening
Chayes the doctor began giving
him medicine. Cheves, however,
did not know what he was doing,
for he refused to take the medi-
cine, alleging that DR.. Boring
wanted to poison him. Before
spring was fairly here, Cheves
was crazy. DR. Boring was
satisfied of this, bot when he made
the statement pnbIic nnople traa+-