Mrs. Roney and Isabella grabbed him, one by each arm, and held him
while Hudsen crept up from behind and shot him-in the back with a———
double barreled shot. gun,. As he lay on the ground mortally wounded,
the two women beat him with the sticks and then turned on Mrs, Milli-
rons again, She was saved only by the appearanee of some passers by
who had heard the gunshot, Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all
arres ted and charged with the murder, Hudson was tried first and his
defense was that he had been out hunting when he saw his sister and
mother struggling with what appeared to be a black man and that he
had fired in their protection, After he had been convicted and sen-
tenced to die, Mrs, Honey and Isabbbla were convicted and sentenced
to life imprisonment. The night of her conviction, Mrs. Roney died
in jail and Isabella managed to escape a few days later. She was ,
however, soon recaptured and both Hudson's conviction and her own were
affirmed on appeal by the Georgia Supreme Court, A number of persons
felt that he was insane and at their assistance the Governor granted
a respite and had-him examined by physicians who ruled that he was
sane, He was hanged from a gallows constructed byhind the old ceme-
tery in Fort Gaines in a valley before three to five thousand witnesse
on August 7,5 1886, He made a speech from the gallows which he closed
with the words: "You see me standing on:this trap which in a few
minutes will usher me into eternity, and you are, perhaps sorry for
Mrs. Roney and Isabella grabbed him, one by each arm, and held him if
while Hudson crept up from behind and shot him-in- the back with a-
double barreled shot. gun,. As he lay on the ground mortally wounded, -
the two women beat him with the sticks and then turned on Mrs, Milli-
rons again. She was saved only by the appearanee of some passers by
who had heard the gunshot. Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all
arres ted and charged with the murder, Hudson was tried first and hig
defense was that he had been out hunting when he saw his sister and
mother struggling with what appeared to be a black man and that he
had fired in their protection, After he had been convicted and sen-
tenced to die, Mrs, Roney and Isabbbla were convicted and sentenced
to life imprisonment. The night of her conviction, Mrs, Roney died
in jail and Isabella managed to escape a few days later. She was ,
however, soon recaptured and beth Hudson's conviction and her own were
affirmed on appeal by the Georgia Supreme Court, .A number of persons
felt that he was insane and at their assistance the Governor granted
a respite and had-him examined by physicians who ruled that he was
sane, He was hanged from a gallows constructed byhind the old ceme~
gery in Fort Gaines in a valley before three to five thousand witnessq
on August 7; 1886, He made a speech from the gallows which he closed
with the words: "You see me standing on:this trap which in a few
minutes will usher me into eternity, and you are, perhaps sorry for
Mrs, Roney and Isabella grabbed him, one by each arm, and held him ,,
while Hudson erept up from behind and shot him in the back with a
double barreled shot gun... As he lay on the ground mortally wounded, ..
the two women beat him with the sticks and then turned on Mrs, Milli>
rons again, She was saved only by the appearance of some passers by
who had heard the gunshot, Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all
arres ted and charged with the murder, Hudson was tried first and hid
defense was that he had been out hunting when he saw his sister and
mother struggling with what appeared to be a black man and that he
had fired in their protection, After he had been convicted and sen-
tenced to die, Mrs, Honey and Isabbbla were convicted and sentenced
to life imprisonment, The night of her conviction, Mrs. Roney died
in jail and Isabella managed to escape a few days later. She was ,
however, soon recaptured and beth Hudson's conviction and her own were}
affirmed on appeal by the Georgia Suprene Court, A number of persons
felt that he was insane and at their assistance the Governor granted
‘a respite and had -him examined by physicians who ruled that he was
sane, He was hanged from a gallows constructed byhind the old ceme~
tery in Fort Gaines in a valley before three to five thousand witness
fon August 7; 1886, He made a speech from the gallows which he closed
with the words: "You see me standing on‘this trap which in a few
mimutes will usher me into eternity, and you are, perhaps sorry for
, HUDSON, Willis.
«, Hudson, a white man, was born in Henry Co., Alas, in 185, His fa-
‘ ther died when he was 5-years-old and his mother, Sarah Ann, subse-
quently was married to a man named Roney and they became the parents
of a girl named Isabella, Hudson was known to be wild and reckless
and in 188), over the stopng protests of her parents, hewwas married
to Jennie Harp, the daughter of some respectable neighbors, The girl
only lived with him for one week when, because of his brutality, she
returned to the home of her parents. Hudson then left Alabama and
moved to Georgia, living for a time in Randolph, Decatur and Miller
Counties before finally settling in Fort Gaines, Clay,Co,, where he
obtained employment and sent for his mother and sister to join hims
Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all of quarrelsome dispositions
and frequently were in dispute with their neighbors including Mr, and
Mrs, Mario Millirons, On the morning of August 1, 1885, Isabella
and Mrs, Millirons got into an argument while Mrs, Millirons was
washing clothes near Hancock's Mill and Isabella told her that she
was going home to get "her crowd" and that they would return and beat
here ay Mili inons arrived during the meantime and Mexy when his
wife told him of the threat, he s tayed in case she should receive
his assistance. Isabella and Mrs, Roney arrived and began beating
Mrs. Millirons with sticks and when her husband went to her rescue,
5
‘
re
fe
HUDSON, Willis
Hudson, a white man, was born in Henry Co., Ala., in 185), His fa~
ther died when he was 5-years-old and his mother, Sarah Ann, subse-
quently was married to a man named Honey and they became the parents
of a girl named Isabella. Hudson was known to be wild and reckless
and in 188), over the stopng protests of her parents, hewwas married
to Jennie Harp, the daughter of some respectable neighbors, The girl
only lived with him for one week when, because of his brutality, she
returned to the home of her parents. Hudson then left Alabama and
moved to Georgia, living for a time in Randolph, Decatur and Miller
Counties before finally settling in Fort Gaines, Clay,Co., where he
obtained employment and sent for his mother and sister to join him.
Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all of quarrelsome dispositions
and frequently were in dispute with their neighbors including Mr, and
Mrs. Marioit Millirons. On the morning of August 1, 1885, Isabella
and Mrs, Millirons got into an argument while Mrs, Millirons was
washing clothes near Hancock's Mill and Isabella told her that she
was going home to get "her crowd" and that they would return and beat)
he illirons arrived during the meantime and Mixxx when his
wité ofa bia of the threat, he s tayed in case she should receive
his assistance, Isabella and Mrs, Roney arrived and began beating
Mrs. Millirons with sticks and when her husband went to her rescue.
. HUDSON, Willis
.. Hudson, a white man, was born in Henry Co,, Alas, in 185), His fa-
* ther died when he was 5-years-old and his mother, Sarah Ann, subse-
quently was married to a man named Roney and they became the parents
of a girl named Isabella, Hudson was known to be wild and reckless
and in 1881, over the stoong protests of her parents, hewwas marr:
to Jennie Harp, the daughter of some respectable neighbors.
only lived with him for one week when, because of his brutality, she
returned to the home of her parents, Hudson then left Alabama and
moved to Georgia, living for a time in Randolph, Decatur and Miller
Counties before finally settling in Fort Gaines, Clay,Co,, where he
obtained employment and sent for his mother and sister to join him.
Hudson, Mrs, Roney and Isabella were all of quarrelsome dispositions
and frequently were in dispute with their neighbors including Mr, and
Mrs. Mariot Millirons, On the morning of August 1, 1885, Isabella
and Mrs, Millirons got into an argument while Mrs, Millirons was
washing clothes near Hancock's Mill and Isabella told her that she
going home to get "her crowd" and that they would return and beat]
eta Hiblizens arrived during the meantime and Yims when his
Fe +0! ‘of the threat, he s tayed in case she should receive
his assistance, Isabella and Mrs, Roney arrived and began beating
Mrs, Millirons with sticks and when her husband went to her rescue.
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