Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04
BILLY PArrERsoN's AssAILANr.
The Identity Of the Man Who STRUCK ma,
at Last Revealed


special dispatch to the GIol.- D.-mor~af
from Gainesville, Ga, says; The public mstd
has been in doubt as TO who struck Billy ~ .
terson ever since that wonderful docume.t.
his will. was made aud put upon record. In
which he offered 81 900 for the man who ecu,
mitted the assault
The facts in brief, are as follows: Many yers
ago, when this country was fresh and the 70
WAS less law and order than nov. there va q
large crowd Of people in town. and q row ~ss
raised in which a number Of parties tool Q
hind. and a number Of fights followed in whsh
blood flowed freely. After the fuss was souae-
what settled, Billy Patterson. the rich Bs;si-
more millerman, was in the edge Of the Ia. 70
crowd, and was at peace with all mankind sud
had no i!l-wil toward any one. Very un'x-
pectedly 10 him and every else. some one
dealt him fearful blow, from which he vas
felled to the ground, aud Law for some time IN
stupor from the blow. He rallied and got ap,
and his first inquiry was for the man who rtrtsck
him, but no one answered the inquiry. lie
then offered Sl00 for the man who would oisn
TO striking him. or any one who would give
him the name Of the party who struck the blow !,
The reward was untaken, aud Il remained col
until after his death.
Mr.. Patterson returned 10 his home In Hajti-
more. but Was never satisfied about the .su-
called-for assault upon him. and ever sfesr-
ward. when visiting this section, made evsry
effort in his power TO tind out who struck him.
number OF years afterward he died in Basti-
more. and after his death his will was probautd
in which the item Offering S1 900 for the NAN
who struck Billy Patterson" il found. The
will is a remarkable document and contains
much sound advice. There has been, perhaps.
one hundred claims for the money made hare
TO the ordinary and clerk of the superior cosr.
but none Of the claims have been accomparf "a
with the necessary proof 10 obtain the rewsr L.
and n IL still waiting the proper showing 10
get il.
The parties have been found il is cafe TO cav,
who can give the name Of the assailsnt and ses
the booty. The parties who saw the ass1 liz
and knew who struck the blow were tht.e
small school boys, who always on hand. a
school boys are, when there is any hght.stg
going on. The reason assigned for no enc
ever telling who the party before IL that
he was a very large and stout man. and WAS os
undoubted courage, and u would have be
death TO the informant TO have told h,sn,
and. ~ Mr.. Patterson war his equal. and, par
hsps. his superior in point OF manhood ard
courage. he never admitted hitting the H. L,
and IL has remained a secret until a short vi lie
ago when IL was noised around that one OF che
oldest citizens Of the town was one of the klis
who was present at the time and saw the BIZ ~
struck. and that prominent citizen of Tocssa
was with him and that they could give sosae
light on this muchiy -talked-of mystery. ,
Prof. A. ]. Morris Of Bowman, who xas
fhlecu ueTc- anu Nof Nicibht fttht*ts mere bs>t
week, and your correspondent sifted the ma,ter
to the bottom, and found that Prof. Morgan VI.
Looney, now Of this place, and. perhaps, Moi.
John II. Freeman Of Toccoa and b. 3. KisS,
deceased, then Of this place, were the school
boys who were present and saw the rsk
struck .nd Mr.. Patterson fall. IL wss sst-
missed then that jas. NJ stovan struck fsss
blow, and from the best information ws can
gather he was the party. Mr.. stovsl d,-d
several years ago near this place. and vss
known TO many Of our older citizens. He vas
brother Of Mr.. Al Stoyall Of Dores Cre~s,
Ga. aud Mr.. Job stovsll Of Elberton. Tstis
will, perhaps, give 10 two OF our prominent
and worthy citizens $500 each. a. il looks - u
the matter is clear and the proof ample - -
''who struck Billy Patterson"