The Washington times., 1906-10-28
RAWLINGS THUGS
RETRIAL TOMORROW
Quartet of FeudiStS and
Hired Assassin Before
the Supreme Court
TRIED TO MURDER FAMILY
Sentenced to Die for the Murder
OF William Carter's
Children.

Argument will be heard by the SUI
irene Court of the United States tomor-
'ow. from Attorney John r. Cooper. of
uacOn, Ga. who is lighting for the lives
II five men now under senstence OF
leath in Georgia. Attorney General
John c. Hart. representing the state of
Georgia, has no reason for believing the
mpreme tribunal of the country Will do
otherwise than sustain the judge who
sentenced the quintet to the gallows,
md will submit the case In a brief,
He'd with the clerk some weeks ago.
Just Escaped Lynching.
Attorney Cooper represents John G.
Rawlings, his two sons, Milton and
Jesse Rawlings. ALT Moore, and Frank
Turner. the last two being coIored men.
They were convicted of having planned
10 exterminate the family of William
Carter in VaIdosta, Ca, and of having
killed two children on the night of
August Is, 1895. Feeling ran high against
the Rawlings and the two colored men
and 10 avert a possible lynching a spe-
cial session of the court was held Two
weeks after the crime the five men
were sentenced TO die on the scanold.
The case was taken TO the highest
courts in Georgia. and viii come before
the Supreme Court tomorrow afternoon
on a writ of certiorari. The Rawlings
contend that their case was not proper
" conducted. and that their coustitu-
uonal rights We're denied them.
Principals Once Ministers.
The killing of Carriers two children
In front Of their home was the out
growth Of a bitter feud.
William l. Carter and John q. Raw
iings had been ministers of the Gospel
Ia Georgia for number of years They
lived on plantations IN the Hahira dis
trict and the trouble which caused bad
blood between them occurred so long
ago that both families have almost for
gotten what il was about For mem
bers OF the families TO meet one another
meant a bloody fight. which usually
terminated in one or several persons
being wounded or MANNED
In August of 1895, Rawlings became so
enraged that he plotted to wipe the
Carter family out of existence.
A few weeks before the double trag-
edy. Milton Rawlings. nineteen years
old. was tried on charge Of attempting
TO drown little Willie Carter in a river,
near their home. He was acquitted after
after the jury rendered the verdict. John
Rawlings, father of the accused. and
William Carter. father OF the lad said
10 have been attacked, engaged in a des-
perate encounter in the court house at
NaldoSta. Rawlings brought the night
70 an end hy stabbing Carter repeatedly
in tbs breast and arms, but did not
succeed in killing him
Plot 10 Exterminate Carriers
Shortly after the acquittaI of mis- son.
Rawlings plotted to extermlnate The
Carriers. He offered Frank Turner. it is
said, 800 as payment for the killing OF
Carter. Mrs. Carter. the daughters Lo-
la. Leila. Carrie. and baby girl. as
well as the son Willie Turner referred
Rawlings 10 AIf Moore. a desperate col
ored man who. it was said would do
anything for a dollar. Rawlings went
10 work 10 prepare an allbi for himeslf
He went TO the town of Valdosta and
showed himself. making il a point 10 be
seen with prominent men. The execu-
ton Of his plans was left to his three
sons. Milton nineteen years old. Jessie
seventeen, and Leonard, sixteen, and
Az Moore William Carter. on the
evening of August l3. was surrounded
by his wife and children at the dinner
table when the four murderers reached
spot about nifty yards from the house.
As Moore neared the house the dogs be-
gan 10 bark. While. Carrie. and their
baby sister ran 10 the door. Moore pull
ed bO-h triggers of the gun and sent
them TO the ground bleeding and an
conscious.
Rescues His Children.
T-he father rushed IN fine dom. esf,a5
his wounded son and carried him into
the house. The baby was more fright
ened than hurt, the shot having taken
effect in her arms, and she scrambled
into the house unsssisted.
Leila recognized the face of a flee
ing man as that of Milton Rawlings
Investigation showed that the man had
bundle or dry brush and wood IN his
arms. and intended setting fire to the
house. John Rawlings original plan
the State showed. was TO kin the entire
family. and then cTemate them by burn
ing the house 10 the ground.
The following morning Willie Carter
died. Carrie with her head battered TO
pulp and her brains spattered on the
ground was found lifeless in a corn
field
Negro Turned States Evidence.
Statements by John Rawlings daugh-
ters lead 10 the arrest OF Moore. who
turned States evidence. The arrest Of
John Rawlings, his sons and Frank
Turner soon followed.
The six prisoners were convicted Be
cause Of Leonard $ youth sixteen years
he was sentenced 10 serve the rest of
his life i'm penitentiary. The death
penalty was imposed on the others.