This story was written by Sanford Monroe White, son of

my 2nd great grandfather, William Clark White. It tells the story from a son

who knew so we do not have to speculate any more about how William Clark

White died on Christmas Eve, 1864 at his farm.   Ginny Keefer

Subject: Newspaper article about Clark White.

FRANK HERRON

Relative of Murdered Man Tells the Story

Pulaski Citizen, November 6, 1902 edition

The Citizen never intentionally misrepresents anybody. Two weeks ago we gave

the story of Frank Herron's pardon as we heard it. This week we give the

story of the killing by a relative of the man who was killed.-------Ed.

To the Editor of the Citizen:

I see in your paper of Oct. 23, an article stating that Frank Herron has

just received a pardon from a life sentence for killing a man by the name of

White during the civil war. Your article is incorrect in a good many

instances and I hope you will allow me, as a nephew of the murdered man, and

one who knows the facts, to state them through your paper.

Mr. White did not live in Lawrence county, but lived on Little Shoal creek

in Giles county, Tenn. Herron was not a Confederate soldier, but belonged to

a band of Bushwhackers that infested the Southern part of Giles county, and

the northern part of Limestone county, Ala., in 1864, murdering and

terrifying the citizens. And on Dec. 24, 1864, Frank Herron and his band

went to Clark White's, first going to the barn where a faithful old negro

was at work. They abused and cuffed him around to make tell where the horses

were, which he could not do, as he didn't know where they were. They then,

rode to the house, Frank Herron with his pistol in hand. And as Mr. White

and his wife stepped out at the door he raised his pistol and fired, killing

him dead by the side of his wife. There were no words passed between Mr.

White and Herron, nor any of his squad, neither did any officer at the time

order him to shoot. White's wife was at the time in a very delicate

condition, and gave birth to a child next morning, and that child is now a

man living on Shoal creek, near the place where his father was killed.

Neither was Frank Herron a 17 year old boy as claimed, but a man between 20

and 25 years of age at the time. After Herron had shot White he said: "D-n

him he had good horses and we couldn't get them."

The band that Herron belonged to killed other men in this section which

wilful murders. They killed Silas Wray, Frank Calbert, ---Penington and Sam

Sledge, who was a poor half witted creature.

Two of the band were tried in Pulaski by a court martial charged with

murder, arson and robbery, found guilty and sentenced to be shot. And they

were shot in August 1865, in front of where John Judkins' dwelling house now

stands. The remainder of the band or squad like Herron, had to leave the

country and go into exile. Not one of them ever returned to this country

again.

Frank Herron was ably defended during his trial. The proof was conclusive

against him. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang.

S.M. White,

Prospect, Tenn.