men; women and children down to habes in arms. In fact, ©
at every political gathering down into the 1960!s, the z
crowds were always spoken of as being ‘the largest in
Cmithville since the Presswood hanging.'! A series of
- about four articles were done on this hanging in THE
SMITHVILLE REVIEW in the spring af 196 I believe, I had
these articles at one time, but loaned them to someones
and they were destroyed by mistake, At any rate, they
are on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library."
Letter dated 1-20-1977 fram Thomas G, Webb, DeKalb Co,
Historain, Route One, Box Five, Smithville, Tenn. |
37166
men, women and children down to babes in arms, In facty
at every political gathering down into the 1960's, the z
crowds were always spoken of as being 'the largest in
<mithville since the Presswood hanging.' A series of
about four articles were done on this hanging in TM
SMITHVILLE REVIEW in the spring af 198 I believe, I had
these articles at one time, but loaned them to someone
and they were destroyed by mistake, At any rate, they
are on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library."
Letter dated 1-20-1977 fram Thomas G, Webb, DeKalb Co,
Historain, Route One, Box Five, Smithville, Tenn.
37166
d children down to habes in arms.
cso down into the 3960's, the &
of as being 'the largest in
men; women al
at every polit cel
crowds were always spoken
fmithville since the Presswood hanging.!
about four articles were done on this hanging in 7
NITHVILLE REVIEW in the spring af 1940 I petleve
these articles at one time, but loaned them to scneons
and they Were destroyed by mistake. At any rate, they
are on microfilm at the Tennessee State Library."
titer dated 1-20-1977 fron Thomas G, Webb, DeKelb Co,
Se, Route One, Box Five, Smithville, Tenn.
3716
"Our other legal Cece took place in Bis aids was of
Perr ances
"LARGE GARD
John Presswood, a young man in his early twenties, He
confessed the killing of Rachel Fowler Certain Dillings,
She was born ih 1833 and had a daughter about 12-years-~
old by her first husband who diad in the Civil War. She
also had two younger children by her second husband, Jim
Billings, who was away from home running a raft down the
river. Young Presswood came to the house and made sexual
advances to her, When she refused him, he kkocked her in
the head with an ax and also knocked the daughter in the
head, « The woman was killed, but the daaghter was only
Stunned and lived to tell the tale, resulting in Press-
wood's confession and hanging. This hanging took place
in 1872 on the square at Smithville (DeKalb Co.). I have
4 picture of the hanging and it shows a vast crowd of
+
aay ii LaRGe GARD
PRESSWOOR, John Me Bed S VME 7e- — Epeasg oh
"Our other legal ‘hanfing took place in 1 te. t was of
John Presswood, a young man in his early twenties, He
confessed the killing of Rachel Fowler Certain Billings,
She was born ih 1833 and had a daughter about 12-years~
old by her first husband who died in the Civil War, She
also had two younger children by her second husband, Jim
Billings, who was away from home running a raft down the
river. » Young Presswood came to the house and made sexual
advances to her, When she refused him, he kkocked her in|
the head with an ax and also knocked the daughter in the
head, : The woman was kil led, but the daaghter was only
stunned and lived to tell the tale resulting in Press-
wood's confession and hanging. This hanging took place
in 1872 on the square at Smithville (DeKalb Co,). I have
4 picture of the hanging and it shows a vast crowd of
%
PRESSWOOD, John He ged S=2.¢-(6:
"our other legal KAfinE took lacs 4 in ne tet was of
John Presswood, a ome
d had a dang!
old by her first husband wh
her second se tees dim,
running a raft down the
daughter in the
was only
west ine in Pi
ecdic (coniresa loner hanging. nging took p.
in 1872 on the square at Smithville | (ie Co).
a ae of the hanging and it shows a vast crowd o:
fear et ae EATS On f
