| The Murder of Bill Chisholm Page Two |
Letter written by Elisha Lewis, brother of Bill Chisholm's mother, Isabel Lewis
Chisholm, to his sister-in-law, Zora Patterson Lewis, May 23, 1900.
May 23, 1900
Franklin County Mississippi
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines. We are all well at this riting and
hope that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. Brother Jack and
Arthur and sister, Isabel and family, is well. Isabel's son, William, was as asasnated
Saturday December on the night of the 13th by Pearl and Horace Wallace. Pearl
went to the pen for sixty-nine years and Horace for 20 years. I think they should have
bin hanged, as they went to his home at the hour of midnight and cauld him out of his
bed and out to his gate and shot him. He lived about one hour. This was a triing
thing to have to stand. I would like to hear from you, all your family. George and
Cornealus and Colonia and Sallie is maried. George maried James Coward's
daughter; Cornealus maried Aaron Lofton's daughter, they have no children; Colonia
maried John Nettles, they have five children; Sallie maried Tom Rushing. I live on
the head of Horse Creek six miles due north of where I lived when you left the state. I
have a find place in this part of the world---am running gin and grist and team saw
mill. Lumber is the biggest thing in this part of the world. You would be surprised to
see this country today, nearly all the timber is sawed up, that is the pine timber, from
hear to Brookhaven. I live sixteen miles due west, two railroads run near me---one of
them runs threw your old place on Big Creek and the other run's threw Tom King's
old place on Hunt's Creek. Timber has sold as high as five dollars per acre. I would
be glad to see you once more in this world, though we are a long ways apart. I forgot
to say that Sallie was the mother of three girls, also that Colonia was all girls. We
have four boys and two girls since the William James and E. C. Lewis and John Irvin
and Clarence Will Lewis who is the youngest who is going seventeen and two girls
that is single who is going on twenty-two and fourteen. Mary A. Lewis and Clara E.
Lewis who is the youngest.
Brother Jack has three boys and three girls. Brother Authur has seven boys living
and two dead and one girl and she is maried. He also has one boy maried and has
four children. Brother Jack also has one girl maried and has four children. I would
like to visit your country if I could. Jack and Arthur is both preachers. There has ben
many changes in this part of the world sence you left the state. All the people that I
first new in this country has passed over the river to the land from whence no traveler
has ever returned. There is but few that is older than I am, I am going on sixty-two as
you know. So I will close for this time hopeing that if we never meet in this world that
we may in heaven where the weary shall find rest. So farewell sister in the flesh and I
hope in the Lord. Sarah sas tell you howdy for her.
Elisha W. Lewis
Mr. P. M. Laird Dear Neffew Please read this letter---forward the same to your
grandmother and will oblige.
Yours truly
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
December 21, 1899
A Brutal and Cowardly Murder
Human life is becoming cheap in the good old county of Franklin. Another bloody
tragedy was enacted within her borders on Wednesday night of last week which
ended the life of a useful citizen, Mr. Bill Chisholm. Near the hour of midnight of that
night he was called from his slumber to his front gate and shot down most cruelly in
cold blood. In his dying statement, he implicated the three Wallace brothers, saying
that Pearl Wallace did the shooting---all his near neighbors. In fact, two of the
brothers left for parts unknown immediately after the killing, but were subsequently
captured at Brookhaven and are now held in jail there to await their preliminary
hearing before Justice Sullivan. Eugene Wallace was arrested in this county and is in
jail here. Thus is added to the already bankrupt county another expensive murder
trial, to bear still more heavily upon her overburdened and tax ridden people. It is
time to call a halt on transactions of these kind which reflects upon the good name of
our county. The following is special to the Times Democrat from Brookhaven, dated
December 18:
"Horace and Pearly Wallace, young men charged with the assassination of farmer,
William Chisholm, in Franklin County last Wednesday night, are now in jail here,
having voluntarily surrendered to Sheriff Applewhite after learning that they could not
return to Franklin County during the present state of public feeling without danger of
being lynched. The Wallace brothers, whom the man killed charged with his death in
anto mortem statement, spent the night after the murder in this city. One of them had
a double barreled shotgun, and explained that they had come here to consult
counsel in behalf of a cousin who was in trouble in Franklin. Starting on their return
home, they learned of a the statement made by Chisholm incriminating them and the
intense feeling it had aroused, and turned back, voluntarily surrendering to the sheriff
of this county. Citizens of Franklin who were here today say the young men's original
story is untrue, and that if the neighbors of Chisholm could get hold of them, Judge
Lynch would make short work of their case. They are considered safe here."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
January 4, 1900
Last of the Chisholm Murderers Behind Bars
Constable W. H. Cupit succeeded Monday last in arresting Albert Newell, who is
charged with being accessory to the murder of Bill Chisholm. Newell was brought in
at code by the constable and confined in the county jail and insures the last one of
the trio charged with the brutal assassination of Bill Chisholm to be placed behind the
bars. Newell has long had rather an unsavory reputation in this community and his
implication in the murder of Chisholm makes the atmosphere hereabouts especially
warm for him just now.
Pearl and Horace Wallace, the other two accomplices, who are confined in the
Brookhaven jail, have formerly waived their right to a preliminary trial and by order of
court have been remanded to jail without bail to await the action of the grand jury of
this county. The order of the court further directs that the prisoners be confined in
the Lincoln County jail until further notice. This we learn from a letter directed to
Justice M. L. Sullivan by Messrs. Cassidy, attorneys for the defendants.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 5, 1900
Circuit Court
One week from next Monday, the circuit court will convene here and will probably be
in session the full term of two weeks. We learn from the officers that there are large
dockets in both civil and criminal cases to be disposed of. The Wallace brothers,
charged with the murder of Bill Chisholm, which created considerable excitement in
the northern portion of the county at the time of the commission of the crime last fall,
will be for trial at this term of the court.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 12, 1900
Newell is Out
The case of the State vs Albert Newell, indicted with Pearl and Horace Wallace for the
murder of Bill Chisholm, was called for trial Wednesday morning, and after an
investigation, the district attorney suggested an order, caveat processum, which was
accordingly taken and the prisoner set at liberty.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 12, 1900
Ninety-Nine Years
Life Sentence in the State Penitentiary Given to Pearl Wallace
The case of the State against the Wallace brothers and Albert Newell, indicted by
the grand jury on the first day of the present term of court for the murder of Bill
Chisholm, has been a cause of great interest and the court room has been crowded
from the time the trial of Pearl Wallace commenced.
A severance was commanded and a venire of fifty men was summoned in each
case. A jury was secured and on Friday evening last, the trial of Pearl Wallace was
begun. The court and the crowd present then for twelve hours, listened to an
unbroken line of the most damaging testimony by witnesses for state and defense
that was ever rehearsed in the courts of the county.
The process of taking testimony was closed on Saturday evening and Hon. W. M.
Whittington for the prosecution, opened the argument by an eloquent and convincing
speech, followed by H. Cassidy, Jr. for the defense. Court then adjourned until
Monday morning, when the argument of A. C. McNair for the defense and district
attorney Ratcliffe for the prosecution, was heard and the jury having been instructed
by the court, was directed to retire and consider their verdict.
At three o'clock p.m., the jury returned into the court the following verdict: "We the
jury, find the defendant guilty as charged, and recommend that the penalty be
imprisonment in the state penitentiary for life."
Thus closed the trial of the arch conspirator of one of the most revolting
assassinations ever committed in South Mississippi. It is not our purpose here to
criticize the verdict of the jury, but it is our privilege to say that the people who had
been quietly and anxiously listening throughout the course of the trial, were surprised
and disappointed that the jury should interpose to prevent the execution of the
sentence of the law.
Again the people of Franklin, who we can with pride say, are as a body, as good
and lawabiding as any on earth, are left to wrestle with the problem: whether or not
the law of the land will protect them from the red-headed assassin.
Chisholm, to his sister-in-law, Zora Patterson Lewis, May 23, 1900.
May 23, 1900
Franklin County Mississippi
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines. We are all well at this riting and
hope that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. Brother Jack and
Arthur and sister, Isabel and family, is well. Isabel's son, William, was as asasnated
Saturday December on the night of the 13th by Pearl and Horace Wallace. Pearl
went to the pen for sixty-nine years and Horace for 20 years. I think they should have
bin hanged, as they went to his home at the hour of midnight and cauld him out of his
bed and out to his gate and shot him. He lived about one hour. This was a triing
thing to have to stand. I would like to hear from you, all your family. George and
Cornealus and Colonia and Sallie is maried. George maried James Coward's
daughter; Cornealus maried Aaron Lofton's daughter, they have no children; Colonia
maried John Nettles, they have five children; Sallie maried Tom Rushing. I live on
the head of Horse Creek six miles due north of where I lived when you left the state. I
have a find place in this part of the world---am running gin and grist and team saw
mill. Lumber is the biggest thing in this part of the world. You would be surprised to
see this country today, nearly all the timber is sawed up, that is the pine timber, from
hear to Brookhaven. I live sixteen miles due west, two railroads run near me---one of
them runs threw your old place on Big Creek and the other run's threw Tom King's
old place on Hunt's Creek. Timber has sold as high as five dollars per acre. I would
be glad to see you once more in this world, though we are a long ways apart. I forgot
to say that Sallie was the mother of three girls, also that Colonia was all girls. We
have four boys and two girls since the William James and E. C. Lewis and John Irvin
and Clarence Will Lewis who is the youngest who is going seventeen and two girls
that is single who is going on twenty-two and fourteen. Mary A. Lewis and Clara E.
Lewis who is the youngest.
Brother Jack has three boys and three girls. Brother Authur has seven boys living
and two dead and one girl and she is maried. He also has one boy maried and has
four children. Brother Jack also has one girl maried and has four children. I would
like to visit your country if I could. Jack and Arthur is both preachers. There has ben
many changes in this part of the world sence you left the state. All the people that I
first new in this country has passed over the river to the land from whence no traveler
has ever returned. There is but few that is older than I am, I am going on sixty-two as
you know. So I will close for this time hopeing that if we never meet in this world that
we may in heaven where the weary shall find rest. So farewell sister in the flesh and I
hope in the Lord. Sarah sas tell you howdy for her.
Elisha W. Lewis
Mr. P. M. Laird Dear Neffew Please read this letter---forward the same to your
grandmother and will oblige.
Yours truly
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
December 21, 1899
A Brutal and Cowardly Murder
Human life is becoming cheap in the good old county of Franklin. Another bloody
tragedy was enacted within her borders on Wednesday night of last week which
ended the life of a useful citizen, Mr. Bill Chisholm. Near the hour of midnight of that
night he was called from his slumber to his front gate and shot down most cruelly in
cold blood. In his dying statement, he implicated the three Wallace brothers, saying
that Pearl Wallace did the shooting---all his near neighbors. In fact, two of the
brothers left for parts unknown immediately after the killing, but were subsequently
captured at Brookhaven and are now held in jail there to await their preliminary
hearing before Justice Sullivan. Eugene Wallace was arrested in this county and is in
jail here. Thus is added to the already bankrupt county another expensive murder
trial, to bear still more heavily upon her overburdened and tax ridden people. It is
time to call a halt on transactions of these kind which reflects upon the good name of
our county. The following is special to the Times Democrat from Brookhaven, dated
December 18:
"Horace and Pearly Wallace, young men charged with the assassination of farmer,
William Chisholm, in Franklin County last Wednesday night, are now in jail here,
having voluntarily surrendered to Sheriff Applewhite after learning that they could not
return to Franklin County during the present state of public feeling without danger of
being lynched. The Wallace brothers, whom the man killed charged with his death in
anto mortem statement, spent the night after the murder in this city. One of them had
a double barreled shotgun, and explained that they had come here to consult
counsel in behalf of a cousin who was in trouble in Franklin. Starting on their return
home, they learned of a the statement made by Chisholm incriminating them and the
intense feeling it had aroused, and turned back, voluntarily surrendering to the sheriff
of this county. Citizens of Franklin who were here today say the young men's original
story is untrue, and that if the neighbors of Chisholm could get hold of them, Judge
Lynch would make short work of their case. They are considered safe here."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
January 4, 1900
Last of the Chisholm Murderers Behind Bars
Constable W. H. Cupit succeeded Monday last in arresting Albert Newell, who is
charged with being accessory to the murder of Bill Chisholm. Newell was brought in
at code by the constable and confined in the county jail and insures the last one of
the trio charged with the brutal assassination of Bill Chisholm to be placed behind the
bars. Newell has long had rather an unsavory reputation in this community and his
implication in the murder of Chisholm makes the atmosphere hereabouts especially
warm for him just now.
Pearl and Horace Wallace, the other two accomplices, who are confined in the
Brookhaven jail, have formerly waived their right to a preliminary trial and by order of
court have been remanded to jail without bail to await the action of the grand jury of
this county. The order of the court further directs that the prisoners be confined in
the Lincoln County jail until further notice. This we learn from a letter directed to
Justice M. L. Sullivan by Messrs. Cassidy, attorneys for the defendants.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 5, 1900
Circuit Court
One week from next Monday, the circuit court will convene here and will probably be
in session the full term of two weeks. We learn from the officers that there are large
dockets in both civil and criminal cases to be disposed of. The Wallace brothers,
charged with the murder of Bill Chisholm, which created considerable excitement in
the northern portion of the county at the time of the commission of the crime last fall,
will be for trial at this term of the court.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 12, 1900
Newell is Out
The case of the State vs Albert Newell, indicted with Pearl and Horace Wallace for the
murder of Bill Chisholm, was called for trial Wednesday morning, and after an
investigation, the district attorney suggested an order, caveat processum, which was
accordingly taken and the prisoner set at liberty.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Franklin Advocate
April 12, 1900
Ninety-Nine Years
Life Sentence in the State Penitentiary Given to Pearl Wallace
The case of the State against the Wallace brothers and Albert Newell, indicted by
the grand jury on the first day of the present term of court for the murder of Bill
Chisholm, has been a cause of great interest and the court room has been crowded
from the time the trial of Pearl Wallace commenced.
A severance was commanded and a venire of fifty men was summoned in each
case. A jury was secured and on Friday evening last, the trial of Pearl Wallace was
begun. The court and the crowd present then for twelve hours, listened to an
unbroken line of the most damaging testimony by witnesses for state and defense
that was ever rehearsed in the courts of the county.
The process of taking testimony was closed on Saturday evening and Hon. W. M.
Whittington for the prosecution, opened the argument by an eloquent and convincing
speech, followed by H. Cassidy, Jr. for the defense. Court then adjourned until
Monday morning, when the argument of A. C. McNair for the defense and district
attorney Ratcliffe for the prosecution, was heard and the jury having been instructed
by the court, was directed to retire and consider their verdict.
At three o'clock p.m., the jury returned into the court the following verdict: "We the
jury, find the defendant guilty as charged, and recommend that the penalty be
imprisonment in the state penitentiary for life."
Thus closed the trial of the arch conspirator of one of the most revolting
assassinations ever committed in South Mississippi. It is not our purpose here to
criticize the verdict of the jury, but it is our privilege to say that the people who had
been quietly and anxiously listening throughout the course of the trial, were surprised
and disappointed that the jury should interpose to prevent the execution of the
sentence of the law.
Again the people of Franklin, who we can with pride say, are as a body, as good
and lawabiding as any on earth, are left to wrestle with the problem: whether or not
the law of the land will protect them from the red-headed assassin.
| On January 29, 2005, a ceremony was held at the grave of Bill Chisholm and this marker for baby, Dewey Chisholm, was placed. With thanks to Joni-Tucker Nisbeth, who shared this photo of the marker. |
