Henry Wilson, 1902 April 4

to Tampa and was not captured until March 27th when Sheriff Lane lo-
|cated him there and placed him under arrest, Because of the intensity
of the feeling in Sumter County, he was held in the Tampajail until
April lst when he was returned to Sumterville and tried at a special
term of court, convicted and sentenced to die, During the trial which
lasted for one-half day, Wilson took the stand in his own defense and
claimed that Goodwin and not he had fired the shot that killed Graham,
Immediately after the trial, a man took the transcript of the record
to Tallahassee to ask Governor Jennings to sign a death warrant as
quickly as possible, The Governor was in St. Augustine and the man
went there and presented thepapers. The Governor promptly signed the
warrant and the man returned to Sumterville where at 1:30 on the after-
noon of April lh, 1902, Wilson was hanged behind an enclusure around
the jail yard. Before leaving his cell, he made a full confession in
which he admitted that he had shot Graham but stated that Goodwin had
planned the break and was responsible for his actions,

Letter dtd. May 17¢ 1977, from Browazd Miller, Frese, Sumter Co, Histor
ical Society, Bushnell, Fla. FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, Jacksonville, Flaey

2-17-1902; l-1-19023 h-l-19025; L=5-19026

to Tampa and was not captured until March 27th when Sheriff Lane lo-
cated him there and placed him under arrest. Because of the intensity
of the feeling in Sumter County, he was held in the Tampajail until
April lst when he was returned to Sumterville and tried at a special
term of court, convicted and sentenced to die. During the trial which
lasted for one-half day, Wilson took the stand in his own defense and
claimed that Goodwin and not he had fired the shot that killed Graham,
Immediately after the trial, a man took the transcript of the record
to Tallahassee to ask Governor Jennings to sign a death warrant as
quickly as possible, The Governor was in St, Augustine and the man
went there and presented thepaperse The Governor promptly signed the
warrant and the man returned to Sumterville where at 1:30 on the after-
noon of April h, 1902, Wilson was hanged behind an enclusure around
the jail yard. Before leaving his cell, he made a full confession in
which he admitted that he had shot Graham but stated that Goodwin had
planned the break and was responsible for his actions. ;

Letter dtd, May 17¢ 1977, from Broward Miller, Pres., Sumter Co, Histor
ical Society, Bushnell, Fla, FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, Jacksonville, Flae,
2=17-19023 lj-1-19023 l=-19023 h-5-19026

to Tampa and was not captured until March 27th when Sheriff Lane lo-
cated him there and placed him under arrest, Because of the intensity
of the feeling in Sumter County, he was held in the Tampajail untal
April lst when he was returned to Sumberville and tried at a special
term of court, convicted and sentenced to die, During the trial which|
lasted for one-half day, Wilson took the stand in his own defense and
claimed that Goodwin and not he had fired the shot that killed Graham,
Imediately after the trial, a man took the transcript of the record
to Tallahassee to ask Governor Jennings to sign a death warrant as
ouickly as possible, The Governor was in St, Augustine and the man
went there and presented thepapers. The Governor promptly signed the
warrant and the man returned to Sumterville where at 1:30 on the after-
noon of April , 1902, Wilson was hanged behind an enclusure around
the jail yard, Before leaving his cell, he made a full confession in
which he admitted that he had shot Graham but stated that Goodwin had
planned the break and was responsible for his actions.

Letter dtd. May 17y 1977, from Broward Milier, Pres., Sumter Co, Histor
jeal Society, Bushnell, Fla, FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, Jacksonville, Flas,
2917-19025 li-1-19023 l-l-19025 i-5-19026

aur nis or elomriy Fs |
ony nds ssi

WILSON, Henry

Wilson, alias John Henry, was a black man who was convicted in Sumter
Co., Flao, of carrying a pistol and sentenced to the county chain gang,
Around 3:30 on the afternoon of Feb, 12, 1902, one day after he had be-
gan serving his sentence, he and three other black prisoners were being
returned to their cell in the county jail by deputy sheriff Charlie
Lane when Wilson attacked Lane from behind and he and another prisoner,
Julius Goodwin, disarmed the deputy. They wanted to shoot Lane, but
were dissauded from doing so by the other prisoners who did not partici,
pate in the escape and they fled from the jail and out through the
stockade, locking the gate behind than. They ran into the home of
Sheriff J, H, Lane which adjoined the jail and Wilson took a xixmhkxum
RK rifle from Mrs, Lane's hands, Two young menkrushed into the house
on hearing her screams, and Wilson struck one of them over the head
with the rifle and slashed him on the face with a knife while Goodwin
forced the other to retire at the point of a pistol. Goodwin then

fled from the house, firing at a pursupr, and made his escape. Wilson
remained in the house which was surrounded by ‘a number of citizens of

Sumterville and when a 2l-year-old merchant, Lee Graham, attempted to
enter the house, Wilson shot him, inflicting a wound from which Graham

died a few hours later, Wilson finally managed to leave the house and
was not injured by the shots that were fired at him, He mde his way

WILSON, Henry

Wilson, alias John Henry, was a black man who was convicted in Sumter
Co., Fla., of carrying a pistol and sentenced to the county chain gang,
Around 3:30 on the afternoon of Febe 12, 1902, one day after he had be-|
gan serving his sentence, he and three other black prisoners were being
returned to their cell in the county jail by deputy sheriff @harlie
Lane when Wilson attacked Lane from behind and he and another prisoner,
Julius Goodwin, disarmed the deputy. They wanted to shoot Lane, but
were dissauded from doing so by the other prisoners who did not partici
pate in the escape and they fled fromthe jail and out through the
stockade, locking the gate behind than, They ran into the home of
Sheriff J, H, Lane which adjoined the jail and Wilson took a xhokxun
RK rifle from Mrs, Lane's hands, Two young menkrushed into the house
on hearing her screams, and Wilson struck one of them over the head
with the rifle and slashed him on the face with a knife while Goodwin
forced the other to retire at the point of a pistol. Goodwin then

fled from the house, firing at a pursupr, and made his escape. Wilson
remained in the house which was surrounded by ‘a number of citizens of
Sumterville and when a 21-year-old merchant, Lee Graham, attempted to
enter the house, Wilson shot him, inflicting a wound from which Graham
died a few hours later, Wilson finally managed to leave the house and
was not injured by the shots that were fired at him, He made his way

WILSON, Henry

Wilson, alias John Henry, was a black man who was convicted in Sumter
Co,, Flas, of carrying a pistol and sentenced to the county chain gang,
Around 3:30 on the afternoon of Feb. 12, 1902, one day after he had be-|
gan serving his sentence, he and three other black prisoners were being|
returned to their cell in the county jail by deputy sheriff Charlie
Lane when Wilson attacked Lane from behind and he and another prisoner,
Julius Goodwin, disarmed the deputy. They wanted to shoot Lane, but
were dissauded from doing so by the other prisoners, who did not partici
pate in the escape and they fled from the jail and out through the
stockade, locking the gate behind then, They ran into the home of

Sheriff J. H, Lane which adjoined the jail and Wilson took a xiataun
4X rifle from Mrs, Lane's hands, Two young mentrushed into the house
on hearing her screams, and Wilson struck one of them over the head

with the rifle and slashed him on the face with a knife while Goodwin
forced the other to retire at the point of a pistol. Goodwin then

fled from the house, firing at a pursuer, and made his escape. Wilson
remained in the house which was surrounded by a number of citizens of

Sumterville and vhen a 2l-yeareold merchant, Lee Graham, attempted to
enter the house, Wilson ahs hin, inflicting a wound frém which Graiam
died a few hours later, Wilson finally managed to leave the house and
was not injured by the shots that were fired at him, He made his way

Be hh ees glee:
ot of fey iy 10% ce ca

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