 |
| Col. P.D. Bowles |
From the June 11, 1902 edition of The Evergreen Courant:
31 YEARS A FUGITIVE
Albert Brown Killed a Man Here in 1871
NOW SAFELY IN COUNTY JAIL
Arrested in Baldwin County – Admits Committing the Crime,
But Says Was Done in Self-Defense
On last Saturday afternoon Sheriff W.W. Pridgen returned
from Stockton, Baldwin County, having in custody a negro, Albert Brown, who
committed a murder here nearly 31 years ago.
On the night of Aug. 10, 1871, there was a negro frolic in
town in a house near where the Delmonico hotel now stands. Brown, it seems, had
had some sharp words with a young negro named Levin Brown, who left the place
and went across the street. When he was returning in company with a negro
woman, and when crossing the railroad track, Albert Brown, it is said jumped
from behind a box car and stabbed Levi in the chest, inflicting a mortal wound,
from the effects of which he died three days later.
Albert left under cover of darkness and so far as known was
never heard of any more until some time last year when Sheriff Pridgen received
an inquiry from Pensacola asking if a negro was wanted here for a murder
committed 30 years ago. Mr. Pridgen went to work to investigate the matter and
soon learned the facts of the case. The indictment and all the papers in the
case were destroyed when the courthouse was burned in 1882, but at the fall
term of circuit court last year a new indictment was found and a requisition at
once secured.
Albert in some way got wind of the fact that officers were
after him and soon changed his place of residence, going to Stockton. Sheriff
Pridgen was diligent and finally located him there about two weeks ago and on
Saturday, as stated above, succeeded in effecting his arrest at a saw mill at
Stockton.
The circumstances that led to the capture of Brown are quite
unique. Some time last year he had a difficulty with another negro at
Pensacola, and during the altercation he told the negro that he killed a
“nigger” at Evergreen 30 years ago, but that the papers were burned up and that
if he fooled with him he would “fix him.” This conversation was heard by a
white citizen who notified Sheriff Pridgen and an investigation was at once
begun with the results as above stated.
Many of the older citizens of Evergreen recall the
circumstances of the killing, and strange to say, most, if not all the
important witnesses in the case are now living. Dr. A.A. McKittrick, who was
called in to attend the wounded man, has his day book showing where he charged
up several visits to Guy Brown, father of the boy who was killed. It also shows
where he charged Conecuh County with holding a post mortem examination on the
12th of August, the date on which Levi died. This is considered rather
remarkable that a physician should preserve such records for so long a time.
Col. P.D. Bowles, who was solicitor at that time, recalls
taking the dying testimony of the negro Levi. But this document, along with
other papers, was destroyed by fire when the courthouse was burned.
Brown talks very freely about the matter and admits that he
cut the negro, but says he did it in self-defense. He says that he has lived in
constant dread of being some time arrested ever since he left here. He says he
passed through Evergreen a number of times on excursions.
Brown is now an old and gray-headed man, being 64 years old,
and says if he is convicted he will not be cheated out of much, as he is
nearing the end of life’s journey. He also states that he married after leaving
here and has a number of grown children now living in Pensacola.
Brown’s trial will come up before the circuit court this
fall and will prove one of the most interesting cases ever tried before this
court.
Sheriff Pridgen has been the recipient of many compliments
on his vigilance and success in capturing a fugitive from justice more than 30
years, a record never before made by any sheriff in this state.
No comments:
Post a Comment