PRiSSWOOD, John, Jr,
Presswood, an 18-year-old white resident of DeKalb Co,, Tenn., went
to the home of Jim Billings who was away from home floating a raft
down river early in 1872 and made sexual advances to his 39-year~
old wife, Rachel Fowler Certain Billings, Mrs, Billings resisted
and he killed her by striking her in the head with an axe, He also
hit her 12-year-old daughter by a previous marriage in the head
with the axe, but the girl survived and notified neighbors of the
murder of her mother. when arrested, Presswoodreonfessed and the
young girl testified against him at his trial where he was convicted
and sentenced to die. He was hanged from a gallows constructed on
the square at Smithwille on May 2), 1872, before a large cwowd of
Spectators Consisting of men, women and children including many
babies being held by their parents,
Letter dated January 20, 1977, from Thomas G. Webb, DeKalb County
Historian, Houte One, Box Five, Smithville, Tennessee 37166
PRiSSWOOD, John, Jr.
Presswood, an 18-year-old white resident of DeKalb Coe, Tenn., went
to the home of Jim Billings who was away from home floating a raft
down river early in 1872 and made Sexual advances to his 39-year~
old wife, Rachel Fowler Certain Billings. Mrs, Billings resisted
and he killed her by striking her in the head with an axe, He also
hit her 12-year-old daughter by a previous marriage in the head
with the axe, but the girl survived and notified neighbors of the
murder of her mother, when arrested, Presswood vconfessed and the
young girl testified against him at his trial where he was convicted
and sentenced to die. He was hanged from a gallows constructed on
the square at Smithwille on May 2h, 1872, before a large cvowd of
Spectators Consisting of men, women and children including many
babies being held by their parents,
letter dated January 20, 1977, from Thomas G. Webb, DeKalb County
Historian, Route One, Box Five, Smithville, Tennessee 37166
PRUSSWOOD, John, Jr,
Othe hve ie Uesraold white resident of Deal Cos, Tenn., wont
0 the hone of Jim away from home floating a raft
72 and made sexual advances to his 39-year-
Fowler Certain Billings, Mrs. Billings resisted
Pi
te
erriage in the head
tified neighbors of the
Presswood confessed and the
S trial where he was convicted
hanged from a gallows constructed on
Rone George Mayas 1872) ibetaeala Taeal sacar
Spectators consisting of men, women and children including many
babies being held by their parents,
letter dated January 20, 1977, fran Thomas G. Webb, DeKalb County
Historian, Koute One, Box Five, Smithville, Tennessee 37166
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