The Simpson Brothers Shooting: A Murder Mystery in 1920s Gwinnett
from "The Heritage" a quarterly publication of the Gwinnett Historical Society
Reports of the Shooting by Deputy Sheriff Dowis,
of Joseph and Orion Simpson in 1922
In 1922, Joe and Orien Simpson were stopped by a
deputy sheriff in Duluth, GA, who wanted to search
their car for illegal whisky (during prohibition). Apparently, an
argument began over the lack of the deputy's search warrant and the deputy's
authority in that county. Deputy Dowis first shot Orion. Joseph was
shot in the back as he turned to run. It was reported that no whisky was found
in the car.
According to most reports, after the shootings,
the deputy had the sheriff (who was reported to be running moonshine, himself)
backdate official credentials by three days. That was supposed to cover
him from jurisdictional issues in that county at the time of the shootings.
About nine months after Dowis was released from
jail, his wife had a baby. The next week, he was plowing in a field and
was killed by a shotgun blast.
A black man was arrested for his murder, but he
was later released. Most of the information came from old newspapers and
the transcript of the trial.
Dowis Update April 16, 2002
Thank you so much for posting the information
regarding the saga of the Dowis murders. I among others have done extensive research
on the Dowis family and I can offer the following information:
Deputy "Vic" John Victor Dowis was the
second child of 19 of William Calvin Dowis and Hannah Jane Burdette. Both are
buried at a "Baptist cemetery at Duluth, Ga.
I interviewed Vic's baby sister, Hannah Lola
Dowis Teague two years ago at her home in Milledgeville and have a tape
recording of that interview. Wherein she stated she heard the shots when
Vic was killed. She was a little girl of about 7 when this happened.
Vic was a Deputy and his cousin was the Sheriff.
She did not name the Simpson's but she said that they were known bootleggers as
that was a way of life back then. She remembers Vic's older brother, Solomon
and his next younger brother Ferdinand bringing Vic's body back to the house.
She did not say anything about Vic shooting the Simpson boys, just that he
arrested two bootleggers but had to turn them loose cause he found no whiskey.
Reportedly, Vic was fishing down by the river
alone and he was ambushed and shot by two men who were never caught. How it is
known that there were two, we'll never know. You know how legends grow. But Vic
was in fact, killed. His also is buried at Duluth.
Thanks much
Bob Dowis
rdowis@mindspring.com
Important Update from Ralph Simpson
December 12, 2002
I just read the articles in your web site
regarding the Simpson brothers' murder in 1922. I was flabbergasted to see this
story in print because it was almost exactly the story I heard from my father
many years ago but did not know how much was legend vs. reality. I
may even be able to solve the 80 year old mystery of Sheriff Dowis' murder a
year later. So, here is my story....
My name is Ralph Henry Simpson, and my father
was Alexander Hamilton Simpson, Jr. Alexander Hamilton Simpson Sr. is the young
boy in the upper left corner of your picture. Both my father and grandfather have
passed away. My father was the youngest of 8 children and was born on Dec. 15, 1925. He tells me he was
never told anything about this story until he was a grown man and his oldest
brother passed along this family secret. My father never confronted his father
about this, so the story line is a bit hazy, but I will pass along what I was
told about 20 years ago.
I was told my grandfather's brothers were murdered by a
"part-time deputy sheriff, part-time farmer", one of them shot in the
back as he tried to escape. They were drunk and disorderly and may have
gotten into an argument with the sheriff, but did not deserve to be shot.
The sheriff was arrested but got away with the crime since he was a sheriff and
this was 1922. (so far the story closely matches the story in your web
site, so I am encouraged that the rest of the story may also be true).
The only differences I can see from your web site is that I was told the
Simpson boys were in a horse and buggy (not a car) and that they were stopped for
being drunk, not for bootlegging. My father did admit that his father was
a bootlegger.
After the Sheriff got away with the murders, my
grandfather plotted his revenge. He waited until there was a time of year that
there were several hired hands working in his fields. He then went to the
Sheriff's farm and waited in the woods as the Sheriff plowed his field. My
grandfather positioned himself in the woods aligned with the row the Sheriff
was plowing and as he came to the end of the row, shot him. He then fled
to his farm and told his hired hands to tell the police that he was at his farm
all day working in the fields.
The police did come and the hired hands gave my
father the alibi he asked for. (This story matches Lynn's account of the
Sheriff being shot in his field, but does not match Bob's account of the
Sheriff fishing alone. There was also no mention of anyone assisting my
grandfather in this crime, so I am not sure about the story of two men
murdering the Sheriff). My grandfather was questioned by the police several
times but was never charged with the crime.
I was also told that my grandfather was then
blackmailed for many years and died penniless. My father was given his first
gun (a shotgun) when he was 10 and was told by his father that the gun was
"special" and to be sure to take care of it. My father says he still
remembered that talk and it seemed strange to him and went beyond the normal
"be careful" speech from a father to his son. At 10 years of age in a
family of many older brothers, he had shot a gun many times but just never had
one to call his own. After my father heard this family secret, he said the
conversation with his father made sense if the shotgun he was given was the one
used to kill the Sheriff.
Neither story on your web site mentions what
kind of gun was used to kill the sheriff, but if it was a shotgun, my father's
suspicion may be correct. My father was in the Army at this point and lost the
shotgun in one of his many moves.
From Bob Dowis to Ralph Simpson
December 12, 2002
Boy, the world keeps getting smaller and
smaller. Obviously this saga is very popular in both families. I have done
extensive research on the Dowis family history and here is a portion of what I
found regarding the incidents.
First let me introduce you to your cousin that
lives in Tucker, Ga. Just north of Atlanta. He is the grandson of
Thomas Simpson. Standing next to Alexander. His name is Claude Morton. claude.morton@gasoc.com.
I have been to the courthouse at Lithonia, Ga. the county seat
of Gwinnette County and read the entire
transcript of the trial of Vic Dowis. Lynn's posting of the first 34 pages is accurate
word for word. The Simpson boys were in fact, in a car. I believe it was a
Ford. It had pull down shades. There is no mention of the Simpson boys being
drunk or even disorderly until Vic insisted on searching the car. He had to
wait until a warrant was sent for and received. It is believed that Orin was
shot first and I think Joe tried to run and Vic shot him about 30 minutes
later.
As you know Vic was arrested and tried for
murder but acquitted. The story I uncovered from an interview with Lola, Vic's
baby sister was that Vic was in fact down on the river plowing when he was
shot. She did not mention any other people. She said she heard the shots and
saw Vic's older brothers bring his body back to the house. She was 7 at the
time. Vic is buried at the Baptist Church cemetery at Duluth, Ga. I have been there
several times.
I want to express my sincerest appreciation for
clearing up the killing of Vic. That's the first clue I have heard. An 80 year
old tale cleared.
Thanks again Bob (Atlanta, Ga. 404-255-7515)
Further Update from Ralph Simpson
December 13, 2002
After sending you the emails yesterday and
sending a copy to my mother and siblings, I got a call from my brother giving
me additional tidbits about the Sheriff Dowis murder.
So now I believe the chronology is that my
father told me this entire story based on information from his brother Paul, as
I said in my previous emails. I recall my father telling me this around
the time of my grandfather's death and now believe it was slightly before he
died. The reason is that I have now learned that my grandfather gave a
deathbed confession which slightly alters my original story. This was
relayed to me by my brother today. He confirmed that the Simpson brothers
were driving a car, not a horse and buggy. Other details emerged that my
father did not tell me, since he probably only had his brother's story before
his father's confession.
Alexander Hamilton Simpson Sr. gave his deathbed
confession to his sons Paul, Weyman, and Alexander Jr. There were also 2
other women present, but my brother couldn't remember if they were Alex Sr.'s
daughters or daughters-in-law. Alex Sr. gave a similar story as I relayed
yesterday but with additional details. There may have been some hired
hands at the Simpson house on the day of the Dowis murder, but there was also a
family gathering that day. Alex Sr. received a telephone call and he
immediately left the house with a double-barreled shotgun. He did not say
who the call was from but since there was a family gathering, the implication
was this call came from a friend, not family.
He went to the Dowis farm and hid behind a fence
at the end of a field that Vic Dowis was plowing. The fence was covered
in some vegetation and Alexander knew that Vic would be plowing straight toward
him. He had to wait for 10-15 minutes for Vic to get around the field to
reach him. Vic was plowing with a mule and as he approached the fence, my
grandfather shot him with both barrels almost simultaneously. He was a
very short distance away, as in a few feet. He said his intent was to
blow his head off, but he did not say if he was successful. He then went
back to the family gathering at his house. The entire episode was
completed in 30-45 minutes.
Before today, my brother never told anyone this
story and it very closely matches my original. I did not know of the
confession and my father never said anything to me about it. So the
essential elements are the same, my brother added some details I did not know,
and I believe I know why the discrepancies happened. The story I heard
was from my father via Paul, the story my brother heard was from my father via
the deathbed confession of my grandfather.
Please keep me updated if you have any other
information on this case.
Ralph Simpson's conversation with Weyman Penn Simpson
9/10/2003
Weyman was only 2 years old when his father
murdered Vic Dowis, and was told the story at the time of his mother's death in
1958. His father told this story to Paul, Weyman, Alex Jr., and
Herbert. Some new and interesting information came from this
discussion. The Simpson farm was on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.
Some of the land was given to the Church and cemetery which stands there
today. Weyman remembers plowing that land.
The story of the phone call to Alex Sr.
just before he left the house is wrong because they did not have a phone in
1923 and, in fact, did not have a phone when they left that house to move to
south Georgia in 1936. He remembers the Dowis farm as being about 6-7
miles away. Weyman also says that Dr. O. O. Simpson (Alex Sr.'s uncle)
was very upset with the innocent verdict for sheriff Dowis and on the
courthouse steps offered $10,000 to anyone who would kill Vic Dowis (this was a
fortune in 1922).
Apparently, Alex Sr. did collect this
money after killing Vic. Dr. O. O. Simpson was considered wealthy and
owned a car which he had a problem driving. One day to stop the car he
tried to pull up on the wheel as if driving a horse and buggy, and the car
didn't stop. Instead it went into a field and that was the last he drove
his car, which sat in a shed and was never driven again. The chickens
roosted on this car and he called it the most expensive chicken coop in Georgia.
Vic Dowis moved to Kentucky shortly
after the verdict to escape the threats to his life, but returned about 6
months later. He had a wife and 3 children in Duluth and did not want to
live a life on the run. The day of his death, he went to plow the fields
near the Chattahoochee River. He told his mother it would be a good time
to plant some pumpkin there, but he doubted if he would be around to eat any
pumpkin pie. There were several attempts on his life and he was usually
protected by his father or some brothers. This time he went to plow the
field alone.
Alex. Sr. killed Vic with 2 shotgun
blasts at short range to the head. Alex claimed that neither shot
missed. When the sheriff arrived to investigate the murder, he followed
some footprints to the river. The footprints went into the river and he
stated that there was no way to follow them from there.
Tape recorded interview between Bob Dowis and Lola Dowis (sister of Vic Dowis)
An "ear witness" to this murder was the
sister of Vic, Lola Dowis, who was the last of 19 children of William Calvin
Dowis. She was seven years old at the time and recounted the murder in
2001 to a relative, Bob Dowis. She passed away later that year. I
have a copy of the tape recording of that conversation. She verified that
there were several previous attempts on Vic's life and that he was being
protected by the family.
Lola says that she heard 2 gunshots go
off in the field where Vic was plowing and that two of her brothers went into
the car to check into the situation. Her mother, fearing the worst, told
her to go upstairs to her back bedroom and remain there until she was called
for.
Lola instead went upstairs and stood on
the front balcony and saw her brothers carry in her very bloodied and lifeless
brother. Her voice was shaking at this re-telling of the story almost 80
years later. She says that after that experience, she followed her
mother's instructions exactly for many years.
Dowis Family 1919
Pictures courtesy of Bob Dowis
Solomon Franklin, Ferdinand Fenton
John Victor, William Herbert
Solomon, Frances Freeman (1st wife), John Victor, Burdette, Ferdinand, Susie, William Herbert
Carrie Belle, Olice, William Calvin, Hanna Lola, Hanna Jane, Mary Mae
William C. "W. C." DOWIS was born on 13 Jan 1861 in Fulton County,
Georgia. He died on 8 Jun 1933 in Fulton County, Georgia. He was buried in Baptist Cemetery,
Duluth, Georgia. He was married to Hannah Jane BURDETT on 17 Jul 1890. Hannah Jane BURDETT
was born on 26 Feb 1875. She died on 9 May 1927. She was buried in Baptist Cemetery, Duluth, Georgia.
William C. "W. C." DOWIS and Hannah Jane BURDETT had the following children:
i. Solomon Franklin DOWIS was born on 19 May 1891. He died on 4 Nov 1967. He was buried in Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
ii. John Victor DOWIS was born on 8 Aug 1892. He died on 5 May 1923. He was buried in Duluth, GA
iii. Ferdinand Fenton DOWIS was born on 22 Aug 1893. He died on 19 Mar 1958. He was buried in Gwinnett County, GA
iv. Susie Beatrice DOWIS was born on 21 Oct 1894. She died on 8 Nov 1894. She was buried in Mount Paran Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
v. William Herbert "Hub" DOWIS
vi. Carrie Belle DOWIS was born on 13 Apr 1897. She died on 27 Jun 1984. She was buried in Duluth, GA
vii. Seaborn Everett DOWIS was born on 23 May 1898. He died on 2 Sep 1898. He was buried in Mount Paran Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
viii. Ezra B. DOWIS was born on 18 Jan 1900. She died on 9 Jun 1900. She was buried in Mount Paran Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
ix. Alice Vivian DOWIS was born on 15 Oct 1901. She died on 11 Feb 1967. She was buried in Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Savannah, GA
x. Olice Bonnie DOWIS was born on 16 Jan 1903. She died on 14 Aug 1968. She was buried in Columbus, GA
xi. Ruth Pauline DOWIS was born on 8 Feb 1905. She died on 5 Apr 1953. She was buried in Cairo, GA
xii. Jettie Lee DOWIS (Private).
xiii. Curtis Edward DOWIS was born on 7 Dec 1908. He died on 17 Jan 1978. He was buried in Duluth, GA
xiv. Bertha DOWIS was born on 31 Aug 1910. She died on 17 Nov 1910. She was buried in Duluth, GA
xv. Burdette DOWIS was born on 31 Aug 1910. She died on 17 Nov 1910. She was buried in Duluth, GA
xvi. Mary Mae DOWIS was born on 23 Sep 1912. She died on 25 Jan 1991.
xvii. James Calvin DOWIS was born on 13 Sep 1914. He died on 21 Dec 1914. He was buried in Duluth, GA
xviii. Hannah Lola DOWIS
Newspaper
Articles contributed by Delicia Reynolds
Gwinnett Journal
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Saturday, February 22, 1922
Page 1
SIMPSON BROTHERS KILLED BY DEPUTY
Deputy Sheriff Claims Joe and Orin Simpson Attacked Him and He Shot in Self Defense.
Duluth, Ga. February 20. - Joe Simpson and
Orin Simpson, brothers, prominent farmers of this county, were shot and killed
this afternoon by Deputy Sheriff Victor Dowis, when they refused to allow the
officer to search their automobile for whiskey. Dowis surrendered to the
sheriff in Lawrenceville tonight. After the shooting, the automobile was
searched and no liquor was found. Orin Simpson was killed instantly, while his
brother died two hours later. Just before he died, he is said to have made a
statement denying that any whiskey was in the car and accusing Dowis of murder.
Dowis received information this
afternoon, it was stated, that someone was loading whiskey into an automobile
just outside the corporate limits of Duluth, and was requested to make a
search. Proceeding to the place, he found the automobile of the Simpson
brothers and attempted to search it.
Object to Search.
The two brothers are said to have
refused permission to make the search unless a proper warrant was produced,
witnesses stated, and Dowis sent to Duluth for a warrant. When he presented his
warrant, the Simpson brothers asserted that it was not the proper paper
authorizing a search of the automobile.
Dowis then attempted to proceed with
his search, eye-witnesses stated, and the two farmers objected, forcing the
officer from the automobile. Dowis drew his pistol and started shooting, it was
asserted, killing Orin Simpson instantly and fatally wounding Joe Simpson.
Meets Sheriff.
There was no one in Duluth to arrest
the deputy sheriff and the sheriff was summoned from Lawrenceville. In the
meanwhile, Dowis left Duluth and met the sheriff en route to the town, and
surrendered. The two dead men were prominently connected throughout this
immediate section of the state and were considered wealthy. They were related
to Dr. O. O. Simpson, of Norcross, who has represented Gwinnett county in the
state legislature several terms.
Both were married. Joe Simpson is
survived by his widow and three children, while his brother leaves a widow.
Both reside near this city. Relatives of the men tonight declared that
they would charge Dowis with murder and prosecute the case to the finish.
Dowis Says He Shot in Self Defense.
After a conference with Deputy Sheriff
Victor Dowis, who is held in jail here following the killing of Joe Simpson and
Orin Simpson near Duluth yesterday, Senator O. A. Nix, attorney for the
officer, issued a statement tonight to the effect that Dowis had shot in self
defense, and that both of his alleged assailants were partially intoxicated at
the time of shooting.
"Mr. Dowis, who is marshal at Duluth,
as well as deputy sheriff, was requested to search the Simpson automobile by a
citizen of the county," said Senator Nix. "When he approached the car, he was
denied permission. He then sent back to town for a warrant, and when it arrived
started to make the search for the liquor. "Both of the men had been
drinking - one was half drunk - and attacked Mr. Dowis, according to his statement
and those of eye witnesses with whom I have talked. One of the Simpson brothers
struck him over the head with an automobile wrench and he then pulled his
pistol and shot in self protection.
"No formal warrant charging Mr. Dowis
with murder has yet been issued, so far as we know. After the shooting the
officer called the sheriff over long distance and told him of the affair and
that he was coming to Lawrenceville to surrender. He was met while en route by
the sheriff. I will ask for bail for the officer within the next day or so," he
said.
The deputy sheriff is a brother of
Rev. Solomon Dowis, pastor of the Baptist church at Duluth; F. F. Dowis,
cashier of the Bank of Suwanee; and W. H. Dowis, a member of the G. M. C.
faculty. He is married and has three children.
[This article also appeared verbatim on
front page of the Atlanta Constitution Tuesday February 21, 1922.
Atlanta Constitution
February 24, 1922
Page 14
DEPUTY SHERIFF DOWIS IS BROUGHT TO FULTON TOWER
Deputy Sheriff Victor Dowis, lodged
since last Monday in the Gwinnett county jail at Lawrenceville, charged with
having shot and killed Joe and Orin Simpson, brothers, of that county, Monday
afternoon, was brought by officers to the Fulton county Tower for safekeeping
just before midnight Thursday. It is alleged that the deputy opened fire
on the brothers in their automobile when they resisted his attempt to search
the car for whisky. The killing occurred near Duluth, Ga. Deputies who
accompanied the prisoner to the Tower would make no statement and Dowis would
not talk.
Gwinnett Journal
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Saturday, February 25, 1922
Page 1
JOE AND ORIN SIMPSON BURIED WEDNESDAY
Funeral services over the remains of Joe and Orin Simpson, who were shot by Deputy Victor Dowis
during a search of their aumobile for whisky Monday afternoon at 4:30 on the Duluth
road, were held Wednesday at 4:30 at Mr. Carmel.
The young men were sons of Mr. Joesph
H. and Mrs. Naomi Moon Simpson, deceased, and were farmers residing near
Cruce's Store. Joseph H. Simpson was 32 years of age and is said to have borne
an excellent reputation. He married Miss Ella Corley and is the father of three
small children. Oliver O. Simpson married Miss Pearl Paden, was 25 years of age
and served in the world war.
A large ? of people assembled to pay
the last and tribute of respect to the young men. It is estimated that there
were between two and three thousand people at the funeral.
Services were conducted by Rev. Walker Davis.
Ode to Joe and Orien Simpson
Email from Wanda Snyder (7/13/03)
Find attached a transcription of a song
written about the murder of Joseph Harrison Simpson (Joe) and Oliver Orien
Simpson (Orien). I had been looking for a copy for years. A cousin
(Reba Mays Paden) found a typed copy in an old scrapbook that a relative had
borrowed from someone else. I have no idea what the tune was, but another
cousin remembers it being sung by her aunt.
A neighbor and friend of the Simpson's,
John A Casey, wrote the song (date unknown). A niece of Mr. Casey
said that he wasn't a teacher, but had a lovely voice and taught singing during
the summer to the pupils at Pleasant Hill School. This school was located
near the current intersection of I-85 and Pleasant Hill Road, Gwinnett Co.,
GA. Mr. Casey served in the Army during WW1 (as did Orien), and later
moved to Fulton Co., GA.
Ode to Joe and Orien Simpson
Joe and Olan Simpson
the boys are dead and gone.
The slayer was Vick Douse,
he was free from harm.
It was on a Monday evening,
the boys had started home.
When the car ran out of gasoline,
and the preacher came along.
He had started with the children
to a tennis game of ball.
He stopped and called his brother, Vick,
and that was what caused it all.
He drove up beside them,
smoking his cheap cigar.
He said, "Stand around you Simpson boys,
I am bound to search your car".
He pulled out his pistol
and shot both boys dead.
And turned to Bill McGee,
"Are you my friend?" he said.
There was a very slender guy,
Greshum was his name.
For a living he ran a shoe shop
but bankrupt was his game.
The judge passed the jury,
you bet he ever failed.
But how his heart will quiver
when he meets Vick Douse in Hell.
John A. Casey
The Simpson Brothers Shooting:
A Murder Mystery in 1920s Gwinnett
Written by Gene Ramsey
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
Reprinted from The Heritage, the Gwinnett Historical Society
Notes
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
32. ALEXANDER HAMILTON8 SIMPSON,
SR. (WILLIAM PENN7, WILLIAM RANDOLPH6, JOHN5, GEORGE4,
GEORGE3, RICHARD2, JOHN1)266 was born 11 Nov 1882 in Milton (now Fulton) Co., GA, and died 13 Feb 1974 in Colquitt Co., GA. He married EMMA JANE YOUNGBLOOD266 02 Sep 1905 in Etowah Co., AL266,
daughter of ROBERT YOUNGBLOOD and MARY HAYNIE. She was born 04 Oct 1886 in Gwinnett Co., GA, and died 22 Oct 1958 in Bay Co., FL.
Notes for ALEXANDER HAMILTON SIMPSON, SR.:
1920 Census -
Martin's District. A.H. Simpson,
Emma (wife), Paul (son), Herbert (son), Lila (dau)
More About ALEXANDER HAMILTON SIMPSON, SR.:
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Moultrie, GA
Census 1: 1920, Martin's District, Gwinnett Co., Georgia267
Census 2: 1910, Pinkneyville Dist. #406
p.89 Gwinnett Co. Tax Digests - Gwinnett Historial Society
More About EMMA JANE YOUNGBLOOD:
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Moultrie, GA
Children of ALEXANDER SIMPSON and EMMA YOUNGBLOOD are:
i.
BLANCHE9 SIMPSON268,
b. 02 May 1906, Etowah County, Alabama; d. 20 Feb 1917, Gwinnett Co., Georgia.
More About BLANCHE SIMPSON:
Burial: Unknown, Mt Carmel Meth, Gwinnett Co., GA
ii.
PAUL JOHN SIMPSON, b. 02 Dec 1908, Gwinnett Co., GA; d. 18 Mar 1996, Troup Co., GA.
iii.
HERBERT POWELL SIMPSON268,
b. 14 Nov 1912, Gwinnett Co., GA; d. 24 Nov 1963, Colquitt Co., GA.
iv.
LILA LAURA SIMPSON268,
b. 26 Dec 1917, Gwinnett Co., Georgia; d. Jul 1937, Texas.
v.
WEYMAN PENN SIMPSON, b. Private.
vi.
NONA ALICE SIMPSON, b. Private.
vii.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON SIMPSON, JR.268,
b. 15 Dec 1925, Gwinnett Co., Georgia; d. 5 Oct 1992, Muscogee County,
Georgia (burial 10/5/1992)
viii.
CORA JANICE SIMPSON, b. Private.
The following 219 pages are the exact trial transcripts...
Courtesy of Delicia Reynolds
The Old Gwinnett County Courthouse, built 1885
JURY TRANSCRIPT IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF VIC DOWIS
FOR THE MURDERS OF JOSEPH AND ORION SIMPSON
The State of Georgia Vs. VICK DOWIS
Indictment for Murder.
Gwinnett Superior Court.
September Term 1922.
Verdict of not Guilty.
Before his Honor, Judge Blanton Fortson, and a Jury:
Appearances:
For the State:
W. O. Dean, Solicitor General W.C.;
Mess. W. A. Charters, D. K. Johnson, M. D. Irwin and R. N. Holt.
For the Defendant:
Judge I. L. Oakes, Hon. O.A. Nix and Mess. Kelley & Kelley.
| JURY |
1. F. M. Moore,
2. J. F. Despain,
3. H. T. Bailey,
4. M. W. Corbin,
5. S. N. Edmonds,
6. W. R. Wages, |
7. W. H. Malbie,
8. C. M. Bailey,
9. P. L. Keown,
10. E. L. Gresham,
11. W. H. Bowman,
12. W. O. Weathers.
|
Click here to see the 219 pages of trial transcripts
WWI Draft Registration Card
Contributed by Wanda Snyder
Ancestry.com. World War I Selective
Service System Draft Registration Cards,
1917-18 [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2002.
National Archives and Records
Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards,
1917-1918. M1509, 20,243 rolls. Washington,
D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
