In a message dated 3/30/00 10:14:44 AM Central Standard Time, radman@rtpro.net writes: << I am doing some research on the murders of Harvey Radcliff (1858) and Thomas Pickens (1861) both of which occured in Fayette Co. >> Is the following what you've seen? Do you have any other informations? Coroner Inquest files from the murder of Harvey Radcliff, Fayette County, Illinois: Harvey Radcliff died February 2, 1858, by discharge of gun held by Leroy Beach, was declared murder. Radcliff had been conversing with Rachel Beach and upon the oath of Sarah Radcliff, wife of the deceased, told that Beach had ever told Radcliff he was a friend to him. Five minutes after Beach left, after shaking hands with Radcliff, returned and called to Radcliff. Mrs. Radcliff recognized the voice. Radcliff went to the door and Mrs. Radcliff heard a shot and saw a flash. She was holding onto her husband's arm at the time of the shooting. [Ref: Fayette Facts, Vol. 17, No. 2 and Vol. 21, No. 2, Page 36]. Coroner report on the shooting of Thomas Pickens, Fayette County, Illinois, July 2, 1861: [Thomas Pickens] was found in an orchard with two bullet wounds. From family stories, we found that several men concealed themselves in the woods surrounding the orchard. Upon a signal, they all fired at once so that it would not be known who fired the bullet which caused his death. [Ref: Fayette Facts, Vol. 17, No. 2 and Vol. 21, No. 2, Page 36]. Jerry Blaylock

Jerry, Yes, that is the information that I have from Fayette Facts. I know this information wasn't just made up from thin air by someone. The coroners records still probably exist somewher but no one seems to know. Jeff Jerryblay@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 3/30/00 10:14:44 AM Central Standard Time, > radman@rtpro.net writes: > > << I am doing some research on the murders of Harvey Radcliff (1858) and > Thomas Pickens (1861) both of which occured in Fayette Co. >> > > Is the following what you've seen? Do you have any other informations? > > Coroner Inquest files from the murder of Harvey Radcliff, Fayette County, > Illinois: > > Harvey Radcliff died February 2, 1858, by discharge of gun held by Leroy > Beach, was declared murder. Radcliff had been conversing with Rachel Beach > and upon the oath of Sarah Radcliff, wife of the deceased, told that Beach > had ever told Radcliff he was a friend to him. Five minutes after Beach > left, after shaking hands with Radcliff, returned and called to Radcliff. > Mrs. Radcliff recognized the voice. Radcliff went to the door and Mrs. > Radcliff heard a shot and saw a flash. She was holding onto her husband's > arm at the time of the shooting. [Ref: Fayette Facts, Vol. 17, No. 2 and > Vol. 21, No. 2, Page 36]. > > Coroner report on the shooting of Thomas Pickens, Fayette County, Illinois, > July 2, 1861: > > [Thomas Pickens] was found in an orchard with two bullet wounds. From family > stories, we found that several men concealed themselves in the woods > surrounding the orchard. Upon a signal, they all fired at once so that it > would not be known who fired the bullet which caused his death. [Ref: > Fayette Facts, Vol. 17, No. 2 and Vol. 21, No. 2, Page 36]. > > Jerry Blaylock