Murder

September 18,1889
Macon Telegraph

Among the excursionists on the East Tennessee road yesterday was Mr. John W. Walton, an old Macon boy, who took advantage of the cheap rate to run up and see his old friends. Mr. Walton is coroner of Appling County, and reported while here the killing on September 6 of Wesley Brooks by a man named Dixon. The killing occurred 21 miles from Baxley.

Mr. Walton went to the scene and empaneled a jury, who, after investigation, returned a verdict that Brooks came to his death from a rifle shot at the hands of Dixon The killing was the result of an old feud, and it seems that Dixon surprised his enemy while at work in a ditch. Brooks was a hard working man, well thought of in the community, and his death is much regretted. As before stated, Brooks was at work in a ditch when the shot was fired. He was shot with a 44 caliber Winchester rifle, the ball striking just above the left nipple, causing almost instant death. Dixon was arrested.