Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-18
FUNDS GROWING
FOR DEPUTY'S
FAMILY
AtIantans Eager to Relieve Need
of Those Who Survive Negro
OesperadO's Victim.
Continued From Page I.

the law step forward to aid one of
their own kind who met fate which
they themselves are ever in danger OF
meeting.
Eugene Watson, the negro who slew
tie brave deputy and devastated his
home, died at the Grady Hospital
Monday night. Death despoiled the
law Of It's duty.
In a small. bare cottage on the
Jonesboro road, where, until yester-
day, a family had struggled hard for
an existence and good fortune had
never smiled, to-day the utter hope
lessness Of the poverty Is emphasized.
Through the night a widow, broken
in health and spirit, and six chill
dren, none Of them able to work.
knelt by the form Of the murdered
Dave Yancey, court deputy. weeping
for the life that was sacrificed to
duty and for the dark days ahead
when there will be no one TO pro-
vide.
The fate that had never been kind
to Yancey was more than cruel 10
him yesterday when IL called him TO
pursue Eugene Watson, negro des-
perado.
The hand that the arresting officer
depended upon to accurately ana
steadily hold his revolver shook and
trembled in the throes of a nervous
disease with which he had been al
filcted since he was a boy.
He knew as he ran after the negro
the merest accident il his aim were
true Three times he fired at the
negro approaching him with the
knife. one shot was at close range,
but his hand veered widely to the
right and the revolver was snatched
from him before he could fire again.
Bad Luck Pursued Him.
Once or twice in his life Yancey
had pIospered Shortly after he came
10 Atlanta he was a bailiff for Jus
ti,e of the Peace He earned money
then 10 take care OF his wife and chill
dren. He held the position a short
while, when the justice died. For sew
eral months he was unable to hnd
employment
About four years ago he secured a
position as a court bailiff under Sher-
in ManRum. His salary depended on
the number Of days he worked, which
was never over two weeks each
month. on other days he would sub
stitute as a deputy and serve subpe-
mas. During the summer months,
when court was not In session, his
income was practically nothing.
con the day he was stabbed to death
he had virtually secured the position
as a regular bailiff in the court Of
Judge Calhoun. It would have paid
him 500 monthly. This news was TO
be a surprise to his wife and children
when he returned home.
Lived Life of Farmer.
Although he lived in the shadow Of
a great city the life Of Yancey and
his family was that Of the farmer
About a year ago he secured the
place on the Jonesboro Road. on which
he. had made two payments. Nine
hundred dollars are still to be paid
He called II a truck farm, but the
few acres were almost barren, and II
was with the greatest difficulty that
enough vegetables were raised to sup
ply the needs of the family.
About six months ago his Oldest
daughter, Lois. was taken seriously i'll
and had TO be taken to the hospital
II cost Yancey more than S400, and
during the time his family was often
without food.
He had lived at the house on the
Jonesboro Road for about year, but
he lived in that section of the county
the fifteen years since he came here
from Grayson, in Gwinnett County.
He was raised on a farm, and when
he secured enough money to make
the first payment on his little home
with the few acres of untitled soil he
had hopes of making it a productive
truck farm and later acquiring more
land.
Family Worked the Farm.
His wife and children titled the soil.
They had no horse to draw a pillow
and the work was difficult. From
early morning until late in the even
ing Mrs. YanCey worked in the field
and directed the work of the children.
Yancey usually came home at about
o'clock every evening. As he trudged
up the long hill from the end of the
car line his wife and children left the
field and came to the house to pre-
pare the scant supper. By s o'clock
in the evening the house was in dark
ness and the family asleep
Only when little Lois was in the
hospital did any of them venture into
the city Usually they walked the
entire way They saw little OF their
neighbors except an occasional con-
versation as one would pass the house
in the early morning, or after work in
the evening.
Where they have lived and strug-
gled for an existence together Mrs.
Yancey and her children want to con-
tinue to live. They declined to con-
slider returning to Gwinnett County,
where Yanceys relatives live.
Outlook Is Gloomy.
There is some hope of the little
farm being made successful, enough
so TO pay the monthly installments on
the home. and there is some posi-
bility Of Mrs Yancey's idea OF small
poultry farm becoming a reality. but
these are things that are almost out
OF the question this year.
The farm is an absolute failure this
season. II is impossible TO start a
poultry farm without money, and I'M
less money can be secured the home
win have to be given up, and the
family. more destitute than ever, re-
turn to worse conditions in Gwinnett
County.
Mpo pbi1ip uiob bop,,