King county Texas GenWeb Project--George W. Douglas
King
County, TXGenWeb Project
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GEORGE W. DOUGLAS
contributed by Ladye Jane Hunter
George W. Douglas, July 7, 1879 - Mar.
20, 1917
Son of Joseph Prate and Sarah Ann (Scott) Douglas
Ladye Jane writes: "This pix of him is made by a local, but famous
photographer, W.S. Lively who
had a school of photography here in
Warren County [Tennessee]. Has lots of stuff in the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington,
D.C."
"This photograph was in some family pictures given to me by my cousin,
Annie"--Jennie Hamrick Farless
On the back of the photo is written:
"This is George Douglas, my precious martyred Brother. Whom was
so brave and true as steel.
"'Greater Love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for a
friend.'
"Mar. 20, 1917
"Josie Collier"
Summarized written account in Douglas
family file in Magness Memorial Library with no author or date:
"George W. Douglas went out to Texas to avenge the shooting of his
sister, Ellen by her husband, J. J. Mitchell.
He killed Mitchell. While on trial, Bill Mitchell, J. J.'s
brother killed Douglas, a deputy, and injured Ellen.
Next, Ellen's sister Gertie Douglas went to Bill Mitchell's trial and
shot him, but he didn't die."
DOUBLE
TRAGEDY AT KNOX CITY:
FORMER SHERIFF OF KING COUNTY AND DEPUTY SHERIFF KILLED ON STREET
Special to the News, Knox City, Texas, Dec. 26 [1916] --
J. J. Mitchell, former Sheriff of King County, and Deputy Sheriff Joe
Reed of this county were shot and killed on the street here Sunday
night by a man who drove up in a small automobile and escaped in the
same machine after the shooting. Mitchell was shot first.
Deputy Sheriff Reed was shot while trying to arrest the man who shot
Mitchell. Mitchell killed Sylvester Morton here last January. "
DETAILS
OF KILLING
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
DEC. 26 [1916]
News has just been received here of the killing of J. J. Mitchell of
King County and Joe Reed of Knox City. Both were shot to death on
the streets of Knox City Sunday night about 9 o'clock by unknown
persons. Mitchell formerly was Sheriff of Knox County and Reed
was a Deputy Sheriff of Knox City. According to the details
reaching here, Mitchell was standing in front of a drug store when a
small automobile with the side curtains up drove and stopped in front
of him. A man leaped from the car and with a Winchester, shot
Mitchell from the back. He followed this up by emptying the
contents of a six-shooter into the ex-Sheriff. Reed and another
officer rushed to the scene. The man shot Reed three times,
killing him almost instantly, leaped into the machine and sped
away. Search for him has been fruitless.--Dallas Morning News
(Dallas, TX) 27 Dec 1916
KILLING
IN COURTHOUSE
GEORGE DOUGLASS, CHARGED WITH TWO KILLINGS,
VICTIM OF SHOOTING AT BENJAMIN
Special to the News, Knox City, Texas, March 20 [1917]
George Douglass was shot by Bill Mitchell in the court-house at
Benjamin, Knox County, today and died of his wounds almost
immediately. J. F. Cunningham, attorney, and Mr. Debbs, a
witness, were wounded. Cunningham's injuries are slight, while
those of Debbs are considered serious. Douglas was to have gone
to trial here today on a charge of having killed J. J. Mitchell in Knox
City Dec. 24, 1916. The case had just been continued to the next
term of court when the shooting took place. J. J. Mitchell was a
brother of Bill Mitchell. J. J. Mitchell and Joel Reed were
killed at the same time and Douglas was charged with both
killings. Bill Mitchell surrendered to the Sheriff of Knox
County--Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX), 21 March 1917
TRIAL
OF WILL MITCHELL IS BEGUN AT SEYMOUR
Special to the News, Seymour, TX, July 30 [1917]
The case of the State of Texas vs. Will Mitchell charged with the
murder of George Douglas on March 20 in the District Court room at
Benjamin in Knox County was begun here today. George Douglas, the
deceased, was on trial for the murder of ex-Sheriff J. J. Mitchell of
King County at the time that he was killed. Will Mitchell is a
brother of J. J. Mitchell. District Attorney S. Ross Bell and
County Attorney Elmer Graham are being assisted in the prosecution by
Judge J. F. Cunningham of Abilene and W. H. Morris of Albany. The
defendant is represented by Arrington & Bell of Paducah and Bert
King of this place. All spectators are searched for arms before
being admitted to the courtroom. -- Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) 31
July 1917
NOTE: Despite the fact that all spectators were searched
for arms before being admitted, Gertrude Douglas, a sister of George
Douglas, successfully secreted a fire arm on her person and made an
attempt to kill Will Mitchell, but was unsuccessful. George and
Gertrude's sister, Ellen, was married to J. J. Mitchell. All
three Douglases are buried at Shiloh Cemetery, Mud Creek, Warren Co.,
TN.
SPECIAL
NOTE FROM WEBMASTERS:
Apparently there is a discrepancy between the 1910 Census at
Ancestry.com and the one to which we are subscribed at
Genealogy.com. We hope that this information, contributed by
Ladye Jane Hunter, will explain the differences.
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