body was found with two bullet holes, subsequently proven to have
been fired by two separate weapons, and both Wilkes and Meeks sought —
to flee, Wilkes managed to escape but Meeks was arrested and charged
with the mrder, His defense was that McCormack had drawn a knife
and that he had been shot while resisting arrest, but the prosecution,
aided by special attorneys who had been hired: by McCormack's employers
secured a convictionand Meeks was sentenced to die, His case was
appealed to and affirmed by the Georgia Supreme Court. Afew days be-
fore his execution, he received a three weeks respite when the Gover-
nor received a letter, purportedly from Wilkes, in which he claimed
that he had fired both of the shots that had killed McCormack, but
when authorities were unable to locate Wilkes, the Governor declined
to intervene further and Meeks was hanged at Cedartown on May lh, 1877.
Ke was so weak and nervous that it was necessary for him to be carried
to the gallews and the procession had to step several times for him
to vomit, On the seaffold, he was given morphine to quietem his ner-
ves and, as he was too weak to stand, he had was hanged from a sitting
postign, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled to
death over a 15 minute Bours of time. The hat was passed among the
erowd gathered for the benefft of his children andxX#B¥ $35 was raised.
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Atlanta, Ga, May 5, 1877. 57 GEORGIA 329
body was found with two bullet holes, subsequently proven to have
~been fired by two separate weapons, and both Wilkes and Meeks sought
to flee, Wilkes managed to escape but Meeks was arrested and charged
with the mrder, His defense was that McCormack had drawn a knife
and that he had been shot while resisting arrest, but the prosecution,
aided by special attorneys who had been hired: by McCormack's employers
secured a convictionand Meeks was sentenced to die. His case was
appealed to and affirmed by the Georgia Supreme Court. Afew days be-
fore his execution, he received a three weeks respite when the Gover-
nor received a letter, purportedly from Wilkes, in which he claimed
that he had fired both of the shots that had killed McCormack, but
when authorities were-unable to locate Wilkes, the Governor declined
to intervene further and Meeks was hanged at Cedartown on May l, 1877.
te was so weak and nervous that it was necessary for him to be carried
to the gallows and the procession had to stop several times for him
to vomit, On the scaffold, he was given morphine to quieten his ner-
ves and, as he was too weak to stand, he had was hanged from a sitting
postian, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled to
death over a 15 minute period of time. The hat was passed among the
erowd gathered for the Benefit of his children and $35 was raised.
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Atlanta, Ga, May 5, 1877. 57 GHORGIA 329
body was found with two bullet holes, subsequently proven to have
been fired by two separate weapons, and both Wilkes and Meeks sought
to flee, Wilkes managed to escape but Mecks was arrested and charged
with the mrder, His defense was that McCormack had drawn a knife
and that he had been shot while resisting arrest, but the prosecution,
aided by special attorneys who had been hired. by McCormack's employers]
secured a convictionand Meeks was sentenced to die, His case was
appealed to and affirmed by the Georgia Supreme Court, Afew days be-
fore his execution, he received a three weeks respite when the Gover-
nor received a letter, purportedly from Wilkes, in which he claimed
that he had fired both of the shots that had killed McCormack, but
when authorities were-unable te locate Wilkes, the Governor declined
to intervene further and Meeks was hanged at Cedartown on May 4, 1877.
Fe #as so weak and nervous that it was necessary for him to be carried
to the gallows and the procession had to stop several times for him
to vomit, On the scaffold, he was given morphine to quieten his ner-
ves and, as he was too weak to stand, he had was hanged from a sitting
postin, His neck was not broken by the fall and he strangled to
of time, The hat was passed among the
death oxgh ded tor the benefit of his" children andigBX $55 was Falsed,
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Atlante, Ga,, May 5, 1877, 57 GEORGIA 329
oo
MEIKS, William
Meeks, a white veberan of military service, lived in Cedartown, Polk
Co.y Gaeg where he was considered to be aomething of a ladies! man.
In 1875, John McCormack, an empleyee of a large iron works, and his
| wife separated because of her unfaithfulness and she went to live
with her mother,.and sister, taking their child with her, McGormack
was convinced that Meeks was his wife's lover and made numerous
threats against both of thane On September 6, 1875, he had been
drinking heavily and he told aome friends that he intended "settling?
with his wife and would then take care of Meeks, He went to the house
,where she was living and after abusing all three of the women, left
with the baby, saying that he wanted it te have a good upbringing.
The women sought out Meeks and with his assistance had a warrant
issued for McCormaek's arrest. When he was taken into custody, he
asked the constable to hold the baby for a moment and when the officer
had the child in his arms, McCormack escaped, The City Marbhall,
Wilkes, then as ked Meeks to assist him in arresting McCormack. Me-
_€ormack submitted to arrest but then ran into a house nearby, Both
Whlkes and Meeks followed with their revolvers drawn and an a few
seconds three shots were heard from inside the house. McCormack's
MEIKS, William
Meeks, a white veberan of military service, lived in Cedartown, Polk
Cows Gaey where he was considered to be aomething of a ladies! man.
In 1875, John McCormack, an employee of a large iron works, and his
| wife separated because of her unfaithfulnmess and she went to Live
with her mother,and sister, taking their child with her. McGormack
was convinced that Meeks was his wife's lover and made numerous
threats against both of them. On September 6, 1875, he had been
drinking heavily and he told some friends that he intended "settling?
with his wife and would then take care of Meeks. He went to the house
,where she was living and after abusing all three of the women, left
with the baby, saying that he wanted it to have a good upbringing.
The women sought out Meeks and with his assistance had a warrant
issued for MeCormaek's arrest. When he was taken into custedy, he
asked the constable to hold the baby for a moment, and when the officer
had the child in his arms, McCormack escaped, The City Marbhall,
Wilkes, then as ked Meeks to assist him in arresting McCormack. Me-
_€ormack submitted to arrest but then ran into a house nearby, Both
Whlkes and Meeks followed with their revolvers drawn and an a few
seconds three shots were heard from inside the house. McCormack's
MEKKS, William
Meeks, a white veberan of military service, lived in Cedartown, Polk
Co, Gaey where he was considered to be aomething of a ladies' man.
In 1875, John McCormack, an employee of a large iron works, and his
wife separated because of her unfaithfulness and she went to live
with her mother, and sister, taking their child with her. McGormack
was convinced that Meeks was his wife's lever and made numerous
threats against both of theme On Septenber 6, 1875, he had been
drinking heavily and he told some friends that he intended "settling?
with his wife and would then take care of Mecks, He went to the house|
where she was living and after abusing all three of the women, left
with the baby, saying that he wanted it to have a good upbringing.
The women sought out Meeks and with his assistance had a warrant
issued for McCormaek's arrest. When he was taken into custody, he
asked the constable to hold the baby for a moment and when the officer
had the child in his arms, McCormack eseaped, The City Marbhall,
Wilkes, then as ked Meeks to assist him in arresting McCormack.
Gormack submitted to arrest but then ran into a house nearby.
Wilkes and Meeks followed with their revolvers drawn and an a few
seconds three shots were heard from inside the houses McCormack's
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