SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Murder of W. J. Brewer, Thomas J. Langston Charged-1889

Banks County, Georgia

 

Tom Langston In Jail

Charged With The Assassination Of Brewer In Banks County.

Toccoa, Ga.,-November 29 [1889]-Special-

Tom Langston, a one-eyed white man, living near the scene of the Brewer tragedy, was arrested yesterday, charged with the murder.  Evidence was very strong against him.  It is reported that an effort was made to lynch him, but foiled by the sheriff.  He is resting safely behind the bars of Homer jail.

The Atlanta Constitution, issue date Nov. 30, 1889

 

Langston’s Guilt

The Murderer Of W. J. Brewer In Banks Jail.

The Past Life Of A Desperado-The Midnight Assassination-Admissions Which Plainly Establish His Guilt.

Homer, Ga., December 18 [1889]-Special-

Tom Langston, the murder [sic] of W. J. Brewer, remains safely behind the bars of Banks county jail, though many strong and repeated threats of lynching the prisoner have been made.   Several cold blooded murders have been committed in the county during the last few years, and still murderers go unpunished.  Much dissatisfaction is expressed on this account. 

            Langston’s past life, although he is still a young man, has been on of idleness and crime.  Several years ago he forged an order on his grandfather, and the old gentleman, a man of high character, considering his youthfulness, consented to pay off the order and hush the matter up.  He has been suspected of several other petty crimes, but for want of positive proof he escaped the meshes of the law.

            The murder of Brewer was one of the most atrocious crimes ever committed in Georgia, and every circumstance connected with it unmistakable [sic] points to his guilt.  If fact, he has almost entirely confessed the deed.  He says that he was at the grocery where Brewer slept, before daylight; that he had the musket or old army gun, that Brewer paid him $3 and gave him a drink; that he went to Mr. Caudell’s about a half mile distant and took breakfast; that his dog was with him; that he loaded the gun with rocks, having shot away his load at a rabbit.  He has made several conflicting statements, however, about the amount of money he had.  He told one man Brewer owed him nothing; another that Brewer had settled with like a gentleman.  But, after his arrest, he said Brewer owed him for a yearling.  He also caught himself in regard to the amount he spent on the morning of the murder.

            Blood was found on his clothing and on the gun, and his dog was seen a short distance from the grocery in twenty minutes after the loud report of the musket was heard by the neighbors at 4 a. m. in a skirt of woods.  The gentleman who saw the dog knew him well, and says the dog barked furiously at him and tried to bite him.  Langston, when arrested, showed plain evidence of guilt and when accused of the murder trembled violently from head to foot.  His head hung down, and he stood before the court looking down and never raised his eyes.  Guilt marked his features as plainly as a criminal already condemned.  Although no one saw him fire the gun or rob the poor victim’s pockets, a more complete network of circumstantial proof never surrounded a man, and it is fair to presume he will have to pay the extreme penalty of his crime.

The Atlanta Constitution, issue date Dec. 19, 1889

 

The Charge Not Proven

Homer, Ga., March 24 [1890]-Special-

Thomas J. Langston, accused of murdering Will Bennett [sic] last Nov., is a free man.  The proof against him was all circumstantial and was not sufficient to convict, though many people firmly believe that he is the guilty one.

The Atlanta Constitution, issue date March 25, 1890

 

Transcribed 2005 by Jacqueline King