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GEORGE W. DOUGLAS
contributed by Ladye Jane Hunter

George W. Douglas (1879 - 1917)

George W. Douglas, July 7, 1879 - Mar. 20, 1917
Son of Joseph Prate and Sarah Ann (Scott) Douglas

Ladye Jane writes: "This pix of him is made by a local, but famous photographer, W.S. Lively who
had a school of photography here in Warren County [Tennessee]. Has lots of stuff in the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C."
"This photograph was in some family pictures given to me by my cousin, Annie"--Jennie Hamrick Farless

On the back of the photo is written:
"This is George Douglas, my precious martyred Brother. Whom was so brave and true as steel.
"'Greater Love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for a friend.'
"Mar. 20, 1917
"Josie Collier"

Summarized written account in Douglas family file in Magness Memorial Library with no author or date:
"George W. Douglas went out to Texas to avenge the shooting of his sister, Ellen by her husband, J. J. Mitchell.
He killed Mitchell. While on trial, Bill Mitchell, J. J.'s brother killed Douglas, a deputy, and injured Ellen.
Next, Ellen's sister Gertie Douglas went to Bill Mitchell's trial and shot him, but he didn't die."

DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT KNOX CITY:
FORMER SHERIFF OF King County AND DEPUTY SHERIFF KILLED ON STREET

Special to the News, Knox City, Texas, Dec. 26 [1916] --
J. J. Mitchell, former Sheriff of King County, and Deputy Sheriff Joe Reed of this county were shot and killed on the street here Sunday night by a man who drove up in a small automobile and escaped in the same machine after the shooting. Mitchell was shot first. Deputy Sheriff Reed was shot while trying to arrest the man who shot Mitchell. Mitchell killed Sylvester Morton here last January. "

DETAILS OF KILLING
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
DEC. 26 [1916]

News has just been received here of the killing of J. J. Mitchell of King County and Joe Reed of Knox City. Both were shot to death on the streets of Knox City Sunday night about 9 o'clock by unknown persons. Mitchell formerly was Sheriff of Knox County and Reed was a Deputy Sheriff of Knox City. According to the details reaching here, Mitchell was standing in front of a drug store when a small automobile with the side curtains up drove and stopped in front of him. A man leaped from the car and with a Winchester, shot Mitchell from the back. He followed this up by emptying the contents of a six-shooter into the ex-Sheriff. Reed and another officer rushed to the scene. The man shot Reed three times, killing him almost instantly, leaped into the machine and sped away. Search for him has been fruitless.--Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) 27 Dec 1916

KILLING IN COURTHOUSE
GEORGE DOUGLASS, CHARGED WITH TWO KILLINGS,
VICTIM OF SHOOTING AT BENJAMIN

Special to the News, Knox City, Texas, March 20 [1917]
George Douglass was shot by Bill Mitchell in the court-house at Benjamin, Knox County, today and died of his wounds almost immediately. J. F. Cunningham, attorney, and Mr. Debbs, a witness, were wounded. Cunningham's injuries are slight, while those of Debbs are considered serious. Douglas was to have gone to trial here today on a charge of having killed J. J. Mitchell in Knox City Dec. 24, 1916. The case had just been continued to the next term of court when the shooting took place. J. J. Mitchell was a brother of Bill Mitchell. J. J. Mitchell and Joel Reed were killed at the same time and Douglas was charged with both killings. Bill Mitchell surrendered to the Sheriff of Knox County--Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX), 21 March 1917

TRIAL OF WILL MITCHELL IS BEGUN AT SEYMOUR

Special to the News, Seymour, TX, July 30 [1917]
The case of the State of Texas vs. Will Mitchell charged with the murder of George Douglas on March 20 in the District Court room at Benjamin in Knox County was begun here today. George Douglas, the deceased, was on trial for the murder of ex-Sheriff J. J. Mitchell of King County at the time that he was killed. Will Mitchell is a brother of J. J. Mitchell. District Attorney S. Ross Bell and County Attorney Elmer Graham are being assisted in the prosecution by Judge J. F. Cunningham of Abilene and W. H. Morris of Albany. The defendant is represented by Arrington & Bell of Paducah and Bert King of this place. All spectators are searched for arms before being admitted to the courtroom. -- Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) 31 July 1917

NOTE: Despite the fact that all spectators were searched for arms before being admitted, Gertrude Douglas, a sister of George Douglas, successfully secreted a fire arm on her person and made an attempt to kill Will Mitchell, but was unsuccessful. George and Gertrude's sister, Ellen, was married to J. J. Mitchell. All three Douglases are buried at Shiloh Cemetery, Mud Creek, Warren Co., TN.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM WEBMASTERS:

Apparently there is a discrepancy between the 1910 Census at Ancestry.com and the one to which we are subscribed at Genealogy.com. We hope that this information, contributed by Ladye Jane Hunter, will explain the differences.


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