The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-17
An Account of the Murder of MT John Wilson and MT. Haney
 Wilson of Elorence Ala

At the dawn of<day a loud knocking at the door of Hon. R. M. Patton's home aroused him from sleep. On opening the door he found a nefghbor with horror and grief expressed in his face as he told of the fearful tragedy that had been en- acted at the hoTne-pf MT. John Wilson, a friend and neighbor. within three miles,
 Four men, either Yankee soldiers or to- ries, had entered MT. Wilson's house about bedtime the evening before. finding the old gentleman in his room and with him his nephew, MT. Haney Wilson and his grandson, T, Sanders Foster. The soldiers told MT. Wilson they knew he had jars of money hidden on his place. and demanded them. He told them he had no money hidden. They threatened his life if he refused to give it up to them. They took the old man down very steep hill to or near to a small stream and said they were told his money was buried near a spring close by. They searched for 1t diligently and tried in many ways to force him to tell, but without success. Returning to the house, they tore the front porch steps away in their search, but finding nothing they resolved on severer treatment Stripping MT. Wilson of clothing to his waist and stretching him, face downward on a table. they 
 mans Bible) and burned him to death Then demanding of the nephew. MT. Ha- ney Wilson, if he knew where this money was. and being told he did not, they shot him. causing instant death. Turning to the terrified youth, Turner Eos ter. one of them deliberately fired, the ball piercing his arm, and entering his body, near his heart. He fell over and behind a large chest. After perpetrating this fearful tragedy. they examined the ubodies to see if life was etxinct. As they stopped over Turner. he had the presence of mind to hold his breath, They left him. thinking him dead. The overseer. hearing the firing, came hurriedly to the house. accompanied by his wife, to find out what the trouble was. The miscres ants met them, and fearing detection. one of them drew his pistol to shoot the over seer; the wife. frantic with fright, seized his hand and begged for the life of her husband, when another man fired, killing him instantly. Mir. Patton went at on ,e to the scene of this frightful drama and superintended the interment of the three bodies. He had Turner Foster taken into Florence to relatives. The same band of men hearing of his escape. went into Florence the next night to the residence of Mir. John McAllister, where Turner hdu oceh 'aheH' They ueiHdHueu thdl ne should be given up and being refused they fired repeated shots into the win dows. which aroused the city police, who came in a body and dispersed them Sus- pecting MT. Joe Miner. a druggist of having money hidden. they vent to him. Going to his home they burned his bare back in the same manner as they did MT. Wilson's. Being man of greater vitality and of more robust health, the burns die not prove fatal. thou yh his saf- ferings were intense. Two of these men we-e natives of Florence. They were cap tured. tried ty courtmartiaI and sent enceG to death. The execution took place in the suburbs of the town shortly after wards. Tho other men may have escaped the retributIon of man, but there is a retribution of a Higher Power. which no murderer can escape.