The Pike County Journal Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: August 19, 1892 Thos. J. Slade, Our Faithful Sheriff, Seriously Wounded. Sorrow Prevails Over Pike County The Shooting Purely Accidental – Caused by Some Degree of Carelessness of the Posse Zebulon and all Pike county was thrown into wild excitement and gloom Monday morning over the accidental shooting of Sheriff T.J. Slade by J.S. Sullivan, our town marshall. The said accident occurred on Dr. Crawley’s place near Orchard Hill in this county Monday morning at three o’clock, where the sheriff had gone in company with Jack Sullivan, John Ferguson and a Mr. Taylor to capture Walt Graham, who is wanted here for the murder of his brother. They went to a swamp on Dr. Crawley’s place where it was understood the man was hiding and separated to look for him, Slade and Ferguson entering the swamp and Sullivan and Taylor remaining on the opposite side to watch. Slade and Ferguson walked around over the swamp awhile and lay down under some bushes listening. They scarcely had concealed themselves before Sullivan and Taylor, in wandering around came in contact with them, each mistaking the other for the man whom they were hunting. Taylor seeing Slade’s and Ferguson’s pistols, snapped a Winchester rifle at them, but, fortunately it failed to fire. Slade and Ferguson were in the act of shooting when the other two men turned running for fear of being killed. As they turned to run, Sullivan threw his pistol awkwardly back and fired two shots in quick succession, one of the balls taking effect in Slade’s head an inch or two from his left ear and taking a downward course. Several minutes had passed after the shooting before the developments of this horrible affair come to the knowledge of the posse. Mr. Slade was placed in a buggy and brought to Zebulon where he remained unconscious for nearly two days, though resting some easier. Drs. Head and Clark were called to his bedside and did all in their power to save his life. Dr. Westmoland [sp] of Atlanta was telegraphed for and came down on the 6 o’clock train Monday afternoon. He pronounced the wound as serious as possible not to have resulted in immediate death. About one-third of the ball was extracted which had fractured the skull bone in a frightful manner. Sheriff Slade has made an excellent officer and a more popular man can’t be found in the county. We hope to mention his recovery in some future issue. The Pike County Journal Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: August 26, 1892 Sheriff Slade No Better It is indeed with regret that we inform our readers that Sheriff Slade’s condition at this time is extremely serious. For several days he improved very perceptibly, but on Wednesday night he had a serious sinking spell, from which he has only partially rallied. Friends have watched and prayed by his bedside both day and night, but grave fears are apprehended that he cannot survive a few more sinking spells, such as the one on Wednesday night. The Pike County Journal Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: September 2, 1892 Hope Has Fled, And the Friends of Sheriff Slade Give Him Up With Sad Hearts. Last week we stated that Sheriff Slade was weaker than ever and that his condition was growing worse. A small hope was still left, however, and to this his dear ones clung. All that medical attention and careful nursing could do was done, but last night the little spark of life went out about 3:30 o’clock. Tom Slade was a true man in every relation of life and his death was a great loss to our county as well as to his family. (Transcribed 10/24/02 Lynn Cunningham)

Lynn, as you can see I have been away from the computer for several days. Thank you very much for this information. I have forwarded to many of my Slade cousins. While we were in Pike County this past week-end for a Crawford reunion I met with the current Sheriff and he informed me there were three Slade Sheriff's...T.J. - J.C. - and W.S.. He is trying to obtain photo's of all of the past Sheriff's ...if anyone has a picture of any one of these men it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Barbara Slade Dayhuff > -----Original Message----- > From: Lynn B. Cunningham [mailto:lcunnin1@bellsouth.net] > Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 9:56 PM > To: GAPIKE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [GAPIKE] 1892 Sheriff Slade Accidentally Shot > > > The Pike County Journal > Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: August 19, 1892 > > Thos. J. Slade, > Our Faithful Sheriff, > Seriously Wounded. > Sorrow Prevails Over Pike County > The Shooting Purely Accidental – Caused by Some Degree of Carelessness > of the Posse > > Zebulon and all Pike county was thrown into wild excitement and gloom > Monday morning over the accidental shooting of Sheriff T.J. Slade by > J.S. Sullivan, our town marshall. > > The said accident occurred on Dr. Crawley’s place near Orchard Hill in > this county Monday morning at three o’clock, where the sheriff had gone > in company with Jack Sullivan, John Ferguson and a Mr. Taylor to capture > Walt Graham, who is wanted here for the murder of his brother. They went > to a swamp on Dr. Crawley’s place where it was understood the man was > hiding and separated to look for him, Slade and Ferguson entering the > swamp and Sullivan and Taylor remaining on the opposite side to watch. > Slade and Ferguson walked around over the swamp awhile and lay down > under some bushes listening. They scarcely had concealed themselves > before Sullivan and Taylor, in wandering around came in contact with > them, each mistaking the other for the man whom they were hunting. > Taylor seeing Slade’s and Ferguson’s pistols, snapped a Winchester rifle > at them, but, fortunately it failed to fire. Slade and Ferguson were in > the act of shooting when the other two men turned running for fear of > being killed. As they turned to run, Sullivan threw his pistol awkwardly > back and fired two shots in quick succession, one of the balls taking > effect in Slade’s head an inch or two from his left ear and taking a > downward course. Several minutes had passed after the shooting before > the developments of this horrible affair come to the knowledge of the > posse. > > Mr. Slade was placed in a buggy and brought to Zebulon where he remained > unconscious for nearly two days, though resting some easier. Drs. Head > and Clark were called to his bedside and did all in their power to save > his life. Dr. Westmoland [sp] of Atlanta was telegraphed for and came > down on the 6 o’clock train Monday afternoon. He pronounced the wound as > serious as possible not to have resulted in immediate death. About > one-third of the ball was extracted which had fractured the skull bone > in a frightful manner. > > Sheriff Slade has made an excellent officer and a more popular man can’t > be found in the county. We hope to mention his recovery in some future > issue. > > > The Pike County Journal > Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: August 26, 1892 > > Sheriff Slade No Better > > It is indeed with regret that we inform our readers that Sheriff Slade’s > condition at this time is extremely serious. For several days he > improved very perceptibly, but on Wednesday night he had a serious > sinking spell, from which he has only partially rallied. Friends have > watched and prayed by his bedside both day and night, but grave fears > are apprehended that he cannot survive a few more sinking spells, such > as the one on Wednesday night. > > The Pike County Journal > Zebulon, Pike County, Georgia: September 2, 1892 > > Hope Has Fled, > And the Friends of Sheriff Slade Give Him Up With Sad Hearts. > > Last week we stated that Sheriff Slade was weaker than ever and that his > condition was growing worse. A small hope was still left, however, and > to this his dear ones clung. All that medical attention and careful > nursing could do was done, but last night the little spark of life went > out about 3:30 o’clock. Tom Slade was a true man in every relation of > life and his death was a great loss to our county as well as to his > family. > > (Transcribed 10/24/02 Lynn Cunningham) > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >