Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1906-09-29
John A. Cotton Killed.
Shot From His Horse Monday Mig ht
By John Hayes, "A Negro Frem
Memphis.

Nt4 w iiuclI anu NuhluP uuult lAtt IN
the eveningshad turned off the Macon
and SummeryIle road, and went to the
house Of Wash Walker, which is on Mr..
Ike Guys mill road.
Mr., Cotton's body was found ABOUT
half way between the Macon and Sum
meryile road and Wash Walker 2
house, 1t was not knowl until the
coroner arrived on the scene that he
had been shot, but an investigation
showed that rifle or pistol shot had
entered his body about three inches
above the left nipple and came cut al
most on direct line on the opposite
side. Wash Walker testified that Mr..
Cotton came to his house little after
dark Monday night to get his wife and
children to pick cotton for him He
remained about on hour, as it was rain
ing. In minute or so otter Mr. Cot
toe left he heard a shot and then
second. The next morning he went
down the road to field where his
horse was staked, and saw MrICotfou's
body lying in the road. He imme late
ly sent his wifeIto give the alarm. Sew
eral other negroes in the neighborhood
were questioned but nothing could be
learned that would throw any light on
the crime, As it had commenced to
rain the jury adjourned to meet in Ma
con the next day, and the deputy sheriff
was to summon eyery'man in the neigh
bcrhood. ,Messrs, Tom5towers ambition
Pagan were present and noticed that
tracksindicated that asmall mule and a
horse, hitched to a wagon, had been
along the road the night before, and it
came to Mr. Pagan's mind that he had
seen wagon containing boy and a
man and two women pass along the
road evidently coming to Macon and
that the man of the party carried
rliie. Several negroes had also noticed
the party whom they said we're the sons
and daughters Of Frank Hayes a negro
farmer living about four miles from the
scene of the murder on the Shuqualak
and Mashulaville road Deputy Sheriff
Clark and several others immediately
went to Hayes house and when they
approached several negroes were seen
On the porch and all appeared to be |
armed with shot guns. As none of the |
'herlt's party were armed, not even the
inputY sheriff, they called out that they
hey wanted to come in ont of the
ain A boy present was asked if
heir wagon went to town the
lay before and he SAID that il had not
When Frank Hayes the father Of boy
anne to the house from his sorghum
nil The was asked the same question.
showed signs Of distress.
nut admitted that his two sons and
aughter and his son g wife had been TO
lacon, the latter being on her way to
er home which is No. 50 Iowa street.
lemphis, Tenn The boy first denied
aYlng rife aloug but afterwards Fad
lltfed it. Other contradictory state
lents showed plainly that they hal the
ght parties, so the posse stated to
)wn with the boy, named Ben HAYES.
bout l6 years old The other brother
Ohm Hayes, whom the posse was satis-
ed was the right man was sitting on
le porch when the posse came up. b1t
ent through the house TO the woods :
trough a cane patch The posse was
I'd that he had gone squirrel hunting,
q the way to town the boy was Dues
oned and at first denied having a gun
that any one was shot from the wagon
1t party of armed men were met on
G road. and thinking bis life was IN
niger he confessed and told the whole
icumstances of the killing. Said that +
hen trey met Mr. Cotton in the woods
was very dark and they ran into one :,
other. Afew words passed and hi.
othe' fired his rifle, (as his brother :
M to scare aim. Not reing able to =,
are him the second shot was evidently Il
ed to XIII. The team. so the bov said.
gan to run, and it being dark and in !,
e woods, all his attention was directed q,
wards stopping them and he did not ,
ow that a man hal been killed. y
John Hayes the murderer, has be N -
ing in Memphis. Tenn Sparta and .
st st Louis, H., for five or six vear4
came to his fathers place abont
Zee months ago, on account, it is said -
his fathers i'll health, but he never y
$ any where without This rife. and il =,
'elleVed That he is either an escaped
wet or has committed some crime
posse went buck to Hayes house
er daylight Wednesday morning. ~
~ met Hayes and his two danght rs -,
nut half mile fir m his house coming :,
own to answer summon of the cor a.
r. He said that the murderer was a.
ne mouse, or at lea't in hog pasture w
e to the house, but that he would -
surrender. Hayes was taken baci, h..
ms house and went to where Tohn 81,
and talked to him again about sur. j,
1erlng but he refused, but said he a.
I'D ia k to Mr. Showers If he would az
lie to him unarmed and without his =
u Mr. Showers pulled of his coat
went to where the regro had been ."
ing but the negro's courage had 49,
Iently failed him, as he had dsa, ~.
red. The party had been IN all
1t and they went home to feed THAR :
yes and get breakfast and about noon
rin Dahtzei, with posse of fifty or ~,
= men, arrived at Hayes houses. -
T litter persuasion the murderers
hers. one of whomyis half-witted w
andldumb negro, were made to tell gra
aes John had gone They were ste,
ne left a few minutes before the mo