THEY PASSED THIS WAY, A Personal Narrative of Harnett County History
by Malcolm Fowler. Copyright 1955, Published by Harnett County
Centennial, Inc. Pages 131-132
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THEY PASSED THIS WAY, A Personal Narrative of Harnett County History
by Malcolm Fowler. Copyright 1955, Published by Harnett County
Centennial, Inc, Pages 131-132
Lae Aye VES EE ae
rrative of
Publ:
ntennial,
ohare es ats MLEAEY
a My Herald 18-1892
PURVIS, Ed
Purvis, a black man, was riding a freight train of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad between Fayetteville and Dunn, N. C., on August 1h,
1897. M. J. Blackman, a white flag man for the railroad spotted him
riding in a gondola car and traveled muxx from the caboese over the
tops of the cars to the gondola to boot him from the train, The two
men struggled and, as the train was passing over a trestle, Purvis
managed to overcome Blackman and threw him off, killing him, This
was near the county line between Harnett and Cumberland Counties
and there was some dispute as to which county had jurisdiction but
finally it was decided that the crime had occurred in Harnett County
and Purvis was tried, convicted and sentenced to die in Lillington,
There was no appeal and on November 17, 1897, he was hanged from a
scaffold erecteg on a hillside behind the jail before a large crowd
of witnesses. he took the drink that was offered to him and then
made a speech in which he urged the crowd not to drink Liquor and to
stay away from bad companions, When he was hanged, a bough from the
limb of a tree which was overcrowded with spectators seeking a better
view crashed to the ground but fortunately nnone was hurt,
PURVIS, Ed
Purvis, a black man, was riding a freight train of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad between Fayetteville and Dunn, N. C,, on August 1h,
1897, M. J. Blackman, a white flag man for the railroad spotted him
riding in a gondola car and traveled mmx from the caboese over the
tops of the cars to the gondola to boot him from the train, The two
men struggled and, as the train was passing over a trestle, Purvis
managed to overcome Blackman and threw him off, killing him, This
was near the county line between Harnett and Cumberland Counties
and there was some dispute as to which county had jurisdiction but
finally it was decided that the crime had occurred in Harnett County
and Purvis was tried, convicted and sentenced to die in Lillington,
There was no appeal and on November 17, 1897, he was hanged from a
scaffold erecteg on a hillside behind the jail before a large crowd
of witnesses, he took the drink that was offered to him and then
made a speech in which he urged the crowd not to drink liquor and to
stay away from bad companions, When he was hanged, a bough from the
Limb of a tree which was overcrowded with spectators seeking a better
view crashed to the ground but fortunately nnone was hurt,
PURVIS, Ed
Purvis, a black man, was riding a freight train of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad between Fayetteville and Dunn, N. G, on August Ly,
1897. M, J. Blackman, a white flag man for the railroad spotted him
‘iding in a gondola car and traveled mum from the caboese over the
tops of the cars to the gondola to boot him from the train, The tuo
nen struggled and, as the train was passing over a trestle, Purvis
4 illing him, This
Ee Cay ees eas Cumberland Counties
and there was some dispute as to which county had jurisdiction but
finally it was decided that the crime had occurred in Harnett County
and Purvis was tried, convicted and sentenced to die in Lillington,
There was no appeal and on November 17, 1897, he was hanged from a
scaffold erecteg on a hillside behind the jail before a large crowd
of witnesses. he took the drink that was offered to his and then
made a speech in which he urged the crowd not to drink liquor and to
stay away from bad oe, then he was eae a bough from the
imb of a tree which was overcrowded with spectators secking a better
view crashed to the ground but forvunately Bnone was mrt
pe ae alls ee tae de eae ie —
