Nathaniel R. Freeman
Store Keeper in Madison
Notes:
• "Madison County, especially the village was electrified when Old Mr. Freeman was found murdered in his store. He was a respected and beloved citizen and the whole community was ready to hang the criminal who had stabbed him in the back while he was leaning over the sugar barrel - and was left bleeding behind the counter. No one ever knew how much money he got. For days the officers were on his trail. 'Finally, word came that the guilty party had been found. It was a Negro in Tennessee and he had confessed. They were bringing him to Madison to take him on the 5:00 o'clock train to Huntsville to Jail. The community ran wild - Father and the boys immediately advised all the Negroes we knew to pass the word to all the other Negroes to stay out of sight until things quieted. They sent trusty Negroes out on the pike and other roads to turn back any coming to Madison, knowing the turn events might take and wishing to protect the innocent.
As the time for the train drew near and the crowd increased, about twenty-five seemed to form themselves into a mob which was turbulent and determined to hang the culprit. They were armed with pistols, guns and knives. They were not all rabble, some were well-known citizens. They grew bolder and more threatening as they gathered around the railroad track. Father said it was a tense and anxious moment. The minister, surrounded by a group of pleading men and boys, was trying to persuade the mob to obey the law - to disband and let the officers do their duty. The mumbling and threats continued. Syd climbed up on a freight car which had been switched on the side track. He began by saying, 'Boys, I got up here where you could see me and hear me. I know practically every one of you. We are friends. We all knew and loved Mr. Freeman. I helped bury him. There is no man who deplores his death more than I do. I want the criminal hanged, but we are citizens of a law-abiding state and a peaceful community. We do not want blood upon our hands or to be known as law breakers. Mr. Freeman would want the law to be observed.' This last statement seemed to find a responsive chord. Syd continued appealing to the better sense as he could see he had gotten their attention. Finally, he concluded, 'The train will be here in a few minutes. I am coming down to Join you and we will all stay on this side of the tracks and let the officers have room to put that man on the train and take him to jail. The law will hang him. Lets all try to be as calm as possible.'
He came down and joined the crowd. When the train pulled in they all stayed on their side of the track. By due process of law the culprit was hung. Madison was a peaceful community again." - Frazier
• August 29, 1885: "Charles Townsend (colored) was hanged for the December 10, 1884 murder of Nathan Freeman, a store keeper in Madison." - Eden
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Eden
• Rankin
| Died: | December 9, 1884, Madison Station, Alabama |
Notes:
• "Madison County, especially the village was electrified when Old Mr. Freeman was found murdered in his store. He was a respected and beloved citizen and the whole community was ready to hang the criminal who had stabbed him in the back while he was leaning over the sugar barrel - and was left bleeding behind the counter. No one ever knew how much money he got. For days the officers were on his trail. 'Finally, word came that the guilty party had been found. It was a Negro in Tennessee and he had confessed. They were bringing him to Madison to take him on the 5:00 o'clock train to Huntsville to Jail. The community ran wild - Father and the boys immediately advised all the Negroes we knew to pass the word to all the other Negroes to stay out of sight until things quieted. They sent trusty Negroes out on the pike and other roads to turn back any coming to Madison, knowing the turn events might take and wishing to protect the innocent.
As the time for the train drew near and the crowd increased, about twenty-five seemed to form themselves into a mob which was turbulent and determined to hang the culprit. They were armed with pistols, guns and knives. They were not all rabble, some were well-known citizens. They grew bolder and more threatening as they gathered around the railroad track. Father said it was a tense and anxious moment. The minister, surrounded by a group of pleading men and boys, was trying to persuade the mob to obey the law - to disband and let the officers do their duty. The mumbling and threats continued. Syd climbed up on a freight car which had been switched on the side track. He began by saying, 'Boys, I got up here where you could see me and hear me. I know practically every one of you. We are friends. We all knew and loved Mr. Freeman. I helped bury him. There is no man who deplores his death more than I do. I want the criminal hanged, but we are citizens of a law-abiding state and a peaceful community. We do not want blood upon our hands or to be known as law breakers. Mr. Freeman would want the law to be observed.' This last statement seemed to find a responsive chord. Syd continued appealing to the better sense as he could see he had gotten their attention. Finally, he concluded, 'The train will be here in a few minutes. I am coming down to Join you and we will all stay on this side of the tracks and let the officers have room to put that man on the train and take him to jail. The law will hang him. Lets all try to be as calm as possible.'
He came down and joined the crowd. When the train pulled in they all stayed on their side of the track. By due process of law the culprit was hung. Madison was a peaceful community again." - Frazier
• August 29, 1885: "Charles Townsend (colored) was hanged for the December 10, 1884 murder of Nathan Freeman, a store keeper in Madison." - Eden
Related Links:
• Eden - Eden of the South: A Chronology of Huntsville, Alabama, 1805-2005, by Raneé G. Pruitt, Editor, 2005, page 78
• Frazier - Dr. Richard Matthew Fletcher, 1830-1906 - A Sketch of His Life and Works, by Octavia Fletcher Frazier, 1964, page 33.
• Rankin - Murder in Madison - 1884: Grocer Nathaniel R. Freeman, A Vintage Vignette by John P. Rankin
• Rankin File - John P. Rankin has, over the years, collected information about families living in Madison County, AL. He has made these files available here at Huntsville History Collection. The files include Rankin's notes, photos, digital copies of documents, and clippings from newspapers and periodicals. He has a file for Nathaniel R. Freeman.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Eden
• Rankin