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- Ancestry.com: The Long / Wileman Killings of 1862 and 1870
Franklin County TN Archives Biographies.....Long, William 1817 - 1862************************************************
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:Donald Hill hilldonl@bellsouth.net February 9, 2007, 12:38 pm
Author: Donald Hill
THE LONG/WILEMAN KILLINGS OF 1862 AND 1870
IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, TENNESSEE
INTRODUCTION
I obtained copies of several handwritten documents related to the following
incidents from Project Preservation, Franklin County. I transcribed them, word
for word, to the best of my ability. Where forms were used, I transcribed the
printed words in italics. Where words were not understandable, I have
indicated that in the text by inserting “(unclear).” Some of the recorded
testimony is written without punctuation and in the vernacular of that time.
Spelling was not always accurate.
The present document is divided into three parts. Part I deals with the
killing of William H. Long, and Part II concerns the killing of William
Wileman. Part III contains my comments on and interpretations of the
information in the documents. These are derived from my own experiences and
from my genealogical research over many years. I make no claim that all of the
information is correct. No doubt, there are errors. I have tried not to be
judgmental. Since I intend to update this document from time to time, I would
appreciate any comments and corrections that are sent to me.
Donald L. Hill
February, 2007
PART I: DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE KILLING OF WILLIAM H. LONG
State of Tennessee To the Shereff or any constable
Franklin County for said County
Whereas D. S. Long having given information to me on oath that he has just
cause to believe that William Wileman on the thirteenth day of March 1862 in
the County before said unlawfully feloniously and with his malice of fore
thought did kill and murder one Wm. H. Long then and there being under the
peace of the state by violence before his repose (?) his body with a large
pocket knife. I therefore commission you in the name of the state to take the
body of the said William Wileman and bring him forth with before me or some
other justice of said county to answer the said charge and be dealt with as
the law directs. Given under my hands (unclear) this the fifteenth day of
March 1862.
Lewis Anderson (Seal)
Justice of the Peace
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State of Tennessee This by personal appearance (?)
Franklin County before me Lewis Anderson an acting Justice for said
county D. S. Long and made oath in due form of case that the facts set forth
in the above warrant are just and true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn to and (unclear) D.S. Long
Before me this March the fifteenth
1862
Lewis Anderson (seal)
Justice of the Peace
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State of Tennessee
vs
William Wileman
March 15th, 1862
Executed by arresting the body of the (unclear) named William Wileman and set
for trial before Lewis Anderson J.P. the 16th day of March, 1862
Wm. Rose (unclear)
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The defendant pleads not guilty
State of Tennessee
After hearing the evidence it is considered by me that the defendant is guilty of murder
of the second degree and that he enter into recognizance the sum of one thousand dollars and (unclear, symbol for “no cents”?) security in five hundred each or be commuted to jail given under my and seal this 16th day of March 1862.
William Wileman
Lewis Anderson (seal) J.P.
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(Unclear) vs William Wileman
The bond in this case (?) is one thousand dollars for defendant and (unclear, symbol for “no cents”?) sufficient security five hundred dollars each
This 16th day of March 1862
Lewis Anderson (seal)
Justice of the Peace
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We Emly Whitaker, G W Perryman, Garland Woods, Martha Ann Warren, and Mary Jane Warren, witnesses against William Wileman charged murder in the second degree do each bind our selves in the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars each to appear on the next term of the circuit court of Franklin County on the second day of the term to give evidence against him and in case of failure to pay the state of Tennessee two hundred and fifty dollars each the 16th day of March 1862.
Emily (her mark) Whitaker
G W Perryman
Garland M Woods
Martha Ann (her mark) Warren
Mary Jane (her mark) Warren
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State of Tennessee To the Sherriff or jailer Franklin County of said countyWilliam Wileman having been tried before me on a charge of murder and I bring of opinion from the evidence that he is guilty of murder in the second degree and he failing to enter into recognizance according to law for his appearance at court I therefore command you to receive the said William Wileman into your custody in said jail and him safely keep until he be (unclear) by due course of law this the 16 day of March 1862
Lewis Anderson (seal)
Justice of the Peace
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Evidence of Emly Whitaker For the state aged 53 years
When I went up Mr Long was in the big house then they all got into the yard Bill Wileman and his wife raised a row and could not tell what it was about then Bill Wileman knocked his wife down and then Bill Long stept up and Bill Wileman nocked Long down then Wileman Said he intended to whip him and went and cut a swich a bit larger than my thumb and when he come back he struck him one or two licks I seen and I don’t know how many more Mr Long took the swich out of Wilemans hand and struck him one or two licks and Long and Jane Wileman between them nocked Wilemans hat off when I saw that I went into the smoke house and shut my self up and saw no more of it then when they was through what they done they came to the smoak house where I was and I told Wileman I wanted him to set me across the creek I wanted to leave our little son come and touched me and said Mr Long was dead says I where is he I went to him and spoke to him and he maid no answer I turned him over and saw he was dead when I left I said now Bill I want you to set me across the creek I am going he said well and we started when we was geting on the way I says Bill in the name of God did you kill Bill Long he said I don’t know Mrs Whitaker I cut my best that is all I know a bout it.
Emly (her mark) Whitaker
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Martha Ann Warren witness for the state aged15 years She states I don’t know who did kill him Mr Long caught mother by the elbow they was in the house after that they all went out of the house together I went out with them and Mr Wileman commenced qualing with Jane I saw him have his knife in his hand in the house and said he was agowing to cut two or three throats that was before he commenced quiling I saw Mr Long after he was down he spoke to Jane she asked him if he would see her imposed on and he answered no that was the last I heard him say I left and was gone about two hours and a half and when I came back Mr Long was dead there was no persons there only Long and Mrs Whitaker was not in the house at the time the fuss commenced that is all I know
Martha Ann (her mark) Warren
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Evidence of Mary Jane Warren for the state aged 12 years She states I saw Wileman strike his wife and one lick with a swich one lick the but as large as my thumb I then run round the house and saw no more of it before he struck him I saw him have his knife in his hand and it open and said he would cut some of their throats and after Long was lying in the yard and Wileman said they was bled well Jane was cut just below the right breast that is all I know about it
Mary Jane (her mark) Warren
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Evidence of G W Perryman for the state aged 48 years I went to Bill Wilemans on the evening Long was killed I met Wilemans family a bout a quarter of a mile from the house a leaving I ast his wife what was the matter she said there had been hell to pay they had been fighting I asked her who had been fighting she said Bill had been trying to kill them all and showed me the cut in her clothes and I saw blood on her dress where the cut was in her dress I did not see the cut in her flesh Bill Wileman came on after them and Martha begged me to take him back that he had cut Bill Long and he was lying there as white as cotton and she believed he was dead Bill came to the object side of the branch and wanted me to take him over I told I would not and he said why I told him Bill Long was lying at the house and he must to and help me to do something with he said he would do it and started back with me I said to him Bill Martha says you cut him he said I did not do it for they had borrowed all the knives before the fuss begun in talking on I said to him Bill you or some body else must have cut him and he said he did not and pulled out his knife opened it and stroped the blade through his fingers and asked me to look at it I saw it but paid little attention to it we went on to Wilemans house with him and found lying in the yard dead he wanted me to turn him over I told him I would not for him to stay there till I went after Dave Long when me and Long came back Bill Long had been turned over on his back and two pillows under his head Wileman said he done it before we got back from the creek he said he had no knife and that Jane and among them had done it while he was gone to take Mrs Whitaker across the branch that is all I know
G W Perryman
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State vs Wm Wileman Filed March 24 1862 N. Frizzell Clk Evidence of Garling Woods witness for the state age 26 years When I got to Wilemans on Thursday last I saw William Long lying on the bed dead I examined him and found a wound It looked to me that he had been cut with a tolerable sized pocket knife on the left side against the bowels about or near an inch long that is all I saw about him.
G M Woods
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State of Tennessee, Franklin County, March term 1862 of the Circuit Court The Grand Jurors for the state, elected, empanelled, sworn and charged to enquire for the body of the County of Franklin and State aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid present, that William Wileman of said County, yeoman, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil on the 13th day of March 1862, with force and arms in the County aforesaid, in and upon one William H. Long in the peace of God and the State then and there being unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, and of his malice aforethought, did make an assault, and that the said William Wileman, a certain knife of the value of fifty cents which he the said William Wileman in his right hand then and there had and held the said William H. Long, in and upon the left side of the belly of him the said William H. Long, then and there unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and of his malice a forethought did strike and thrust, giving to the said William H. Long, then and there with the knife aforesaid in and upon the said left side of the belly of him the said William H. Long one mortal wound of the breadth of one inch and of the depth of six inches, of which said mortal wound the said William H. Long on the said 13th day of March 1862, in the County aforesaid, died – so the Grand Jurors, aforesaid, so from their oaths aforesaid, do say, that the said William Wileman, the said William H. Long in manner and form aforesaid, unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and of his malice aforethought, did kill and murder, contrary to the (unclear) of the statute in (missing)
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State vs Murder
William Wileman
David S. Long Prosecutor
Emily Whitaker, Martha Ann Warren, Mary Jane Warren, G. W. Perryman, Garland M. Woods (marked through) Witnesses for the State sworn in open court and sent before the Grand Jury March 25.1862.
N. Frizzell clk.
A true bill C. C. Garner Foreman of the Grand Jury Summon as witnesses for the State in this case
David S. Long
Emily Whitaker
G. W. Perryman
Garland M. Woods
Martha Ann Warren
Mary Jane Warren
John Oliver
John Wilder
Rowland Morris
John Frizzell
Atty. Gen’l.
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PART II: DOCUMENTS RELATED TOTHE KILLING OF WILLIAM WILEMAN
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Franklin County to John Nugent JP (unclear) Sept 26th 1870
To summoning a jury and holding Jury of Inquest over the dead Body of William
Wileman in district No 9, Franklin County Tenn $5.00
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State of Tennessee Circuit Court Franklin County November Term, 1870
The Grand Jurors for the State, duly elected, empanneled, sworn and charged to inquire for the body of the country aforesaid, upon their oaths present. That Dallis Wiley, Arthur Long, and David Perryman did willfully, deliberately, maliciously, premeditatedly, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought Kill and murder one William Wileman (under the peace of the state) by shooting with guns loaded with powder and leaden bullets On the 25 day of September 1870 in Franklin County and state of aforesaid then and there being against the peace and dignity of the State. And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, further present, That the said Dallis Wiley, Arthur Long and David Perryman did, on the day and year aforesaid in the county and State aforesaid did willfully, deliberately, maliciously, premeditatedly feloniously, and of their malice aforethought kill and murder one William Wileman under the peace of the state, by shooting with Pistols loaded with leaden bullets shot at and against the said Wileman, by the said Wiley, Long, and David Perryman against the peace and dignity of the State.
JS Johnson Atty Genl
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State of Tennessee vs Murder
Dallis Wiley, Arthur Long, David Perryman
J. M. Smith, prosecutor
Martha A. Gipson
G. W. Wileman
Domita R. Wileman
Sworn in open court and sent before Grand Jury, Nov. 30. 1870
T. J. Jackson, Clk
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Witnesses for the State
Martha A. Gipson, G. W. Wileman, Domita R. Wileman
J S Johnson Atty Genl
Not a true Bill
(not clear)
Geo. W. Hunt
Foreman of the Grand Jury
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PART III: COMMENTS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EVENTS
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Setting:
Bill Wileman lived in the 9th Civil District of Franklin County on the west
bank of Yellow Branch, about 1/4 mile south-south east of the site of the
present Wilder’s Chapel Church. (The GPS coordinates are UTM 16 594529E
3905520N.) This is the creek (branch) referred to in the above documents. At
that time of year (spring), the branch was probably swollen to the extent that
one could not easily jump or wade across, as could be done in dry weather,
even by a woman and her “little son. My home was about 500 yards northeast of
this site, and we could look across the fields and see it. Many times, I
fished in Yellow Branch at a hole about 50 yards away from the site where
the cabin stood.
Sequence of events:
The first incident occurred in the evening (afternoon) of Thursday, March 13,
1862. David S. Long, apparently a constable, came to the site on that date. He
reported the killing to Lewis Anderson, Justice of the Peace, on Friday, March
15. Anderson prepared two documents, one stating that D. S. Long had reported
to him and the other authorizing the arrest of William Wileman. Apparently,
the arrest was accomplished quickly, and a trial (hearing) before Anderson was
set for the next day, Sunday, March 16.
On March 16, the hearing was held and the defendant pled “not guilty. Still,
Anderson, in strong language, wrote that he considered the defendant guilty of
murder in the second degree and placed Wileman under a bond of $1000. The
purpose of a second document, with the same date, also mentioning the bond, is
not clear.
There is little question about Wileman’s inability to come up with this
amount, even in Confederate money. He was apparently kept in jail for some
time.
Also on March 16, the witnesses, Emily Whitaker, G W Perryman, Garland M
Woods, Martha Ann Warren, and Mary Jane Warren, placed themselves under a bond
of $250 to appear in court as witnesses for the state.
On Monday, March 24, testimony before a grand jury was given.
The testimony of Emily Whitaker, 53 years old, was potentially strong when she
said that Wileman told her that “ cut my best.
The 15-year-old Martha Ann Warren stated that Wileman said that he was going
to cut two or three throats. Martha Ann’s 12-year-old sister also stated
that Wileman said was going to cut some throats. This could be interpreted
to mean that Wileman intended to harm Long and Wileman’s wife. He may have
suspected that Long was romantically involved with his wife.
G. W. Perryman, 48 years old, testified that Wileman’s wife Jane had been cut
under the left breast. Perryman said that Wileman stroped the knife through
his fingers, apparently to show that there was no blood on it. It is not clear
what Perryman was referring to when he said that Jane and among them
had done it while he was taking Mrs. Whitaker across the branch. He was
likely referring to the fact that Long’s body had been turned over. It is
possible, however, that he was accusing his wife of killing Long.
Garland Woods, apparently a physician, gave brief testimony describing his
examination of the dead William H. Long.
In relation to the second incident, which occurred on September 25, 1870, John
Nugent was asked to set up a Jury of Inquest. At that time, Martha Ann Warren
was married. She may have been at Wileman’s home when he was killed. A grand
jury examined the case, but did not indict the three men.
Participants:
1. William Wileman (1829-1870) was the accused in Part I and the victim
in Part II. He was the son of Levi Wileman (1796-?) and Annie (1807-?). He may
be buried in the Wileman Cemetery in Coffee County.
2. Jane Taylor (1825-?) was the wife of William Wileman. She had been
married to George Warren (1817-?) on 3/7/1846 by John Nugent. In the 1880
census, she was living in the same area with her daughter Martha and her
grandchildren, Calvin, Samuel, and Emma.
3. William H. Long (1817-1862), the victim in Part I, was married to
Sarah T. Farris (1833-?) on 4/12/1848. His parents are not known. No further
record of her has been found.
4. David S. Long (1814-1896) was apparently the constable for this area
in 1862. He was the son of Alexander M. Long (1791-1865) and Lucinda (1800-?).
5. Lewis Anderson (1814-1882) was Justice of the Peace in the 8th Civil
District. He moved to the area from Virginia.
6. William Rose – (unidentified. He was probably a clerk at the
courthouse.)
7. (Mrs.) Emily Whitaker (1828-?) was daughter of Edward Whitaker (1810-
?).
8. Mrs. Whitaker’s little son The only known child of Emily Whitaker is
Jasper N. Whitaker (1851-1895), who would have been 11 years old in 1862.
Jasper became the first of two husbands of Martha Ann (Sis) Partin (1856-1937).
9. G. W. Perryman (1820-?) lived in Jackson County, AL, (south of
Franklin Co., TN) in 1860.
10. Garland (Miller) Woods (1835-1910), the son of Thomas Harris Woods
(1810-1880) and Appoline Shelton Miller (1812-1856), was apparently a
physician.
11. Martha Ann Warren (Martha A. Gipson) (1845-?) was the daughter of
George Warren (1817-?) and Jane Taylor, William Wileman’s wife. In 1868,
Martha Ann married Benjamin D. Gipson (ca1820-?), who was the father of her
daughter, Emma Jane. 12. Mary Jane Warren (1848-?) was also a daughter of George Warren and
Jane Taylor. In 1866, she married James Monroe Wilcox (1845-1909).
13. Nathan (S.) Frizzell (1809-1871) lived in Winchester. He was a clerk
in the courthouse.
14. C. C. Garner (foreman of the grand jury). This is possibly Calvin
Commodore Garner (1830-1903), who lived in Lost Cove.
15. John Oliver (1793-1868) was a prominent citizen of Hawkersville (Alto).
16. John Wilder (1830-1906), my great grandfather, was a prominent citizen
of the area to be named Wilder’s Chapel.
17. Rowland Morris (1812-1899) was a prominent citizen who lived in the
area.
18. John Frizzell, attorney general (no other information). Apparently, he
was not related to Nathan Frizzell.
19. Dallis Wiley - W. D. Wiley, age 26, was living with William Wileman
and Jane in 1860 (no other information).
20. Arthur Long (1851-?) son of the slain William H. Long, lived in the
9th Civil District of Franklin County (no other information)
21. David Perryman (1841-?), the son of George W. Perryman, lived in the
9th Civil District of Franklin County and in Jackson Co., AL. (no other
information)
22. J. S. Johnson (attorney general, no other information)
23. John Nugent (1795-?), apparently serving as a Justice of the Peace at
the time of the second killing, came to Franklin County from South Carolina.
24. J. M. Smith, prosecutor (no information)
25. G. W. Wileman (1857-?) was the son of William Wileman and Jane Taylor.
He married Minerva Ann Baker (ca1859-?).
26. Domita R. Wileman (1859-?) was the daughter of William Wileman and
Jane Taylor. In the 1860 census, she was listed as “unnamed female.” (no other
information)
27. George W. Hunt, foreman of the second grand jury (1813-1899), was a
wealthy farmer living in Civil District # 1 (Winchester).
Conclusions:
It appears likely that Bill Wileman and his wife were engaged in a “domestic
dispute” and that Bill Long tried to intervene. It is not known if Wileman was
convicted of this killing. Since it occurred during the unsettled times of the
Civil War, he may not have been sent to the penitentiary or even subjected to
a trial. In any case, he was at home in 1870, when riders arrived and shot
him. The accused men, however, were not brought to trial.
Remaining questions:
1. Why was Mrs. Whitaker and her son present when Long was killed?
2. How much time did Wileman spend in jail?
3. Was Jane Taylor Wileman at home when Wileman was shot? If so, why was
she not called to testify? Apparently the two children that they had together
were at home, for they were called. In 1880, Jane (55) was living in the 9th
district with her daughter Martha (29) and Martha’s children Calvin (15),
Samuel (13), and Emma (10).
4. Why were Wileman and Jane not listed in the 1870 census of Franklin
County? The census for the 9th district was taken in June of that year. Arthur
Long, Dallas Wiley, and David Perryman are also not listed in the records of
1870 or 1880.
5. Why were the three men not indicted? Perhaps the testimony, which is
not recorded, was limited to the two children, who may not have been able to
clearly identify the men. Martha Ann Warren Gipson may have been present, but
she also may not have been able to see the men in the darkness.
Legend:
The story, told many times around campfires of possum hunters is that the
three men rode up to Wileman’s house and called him out to his front porch.
After he was shot, he fell and his blood stained one of the two rocks holding
up the porch. With the passing of a few years, his cabin and smokehouse
disappeared, leaving only the two stones. It is said that, when it snowed,
Wileman’s blood could be seen through the snow that fell on the stained rock.
Follow-up:
My cousin James Otis (Jimmy) Hill, who now lives on the site where I lived,
about ¼ of a mile northeast of the site of the Wileman cabin, retrieved the
rock about 1980 and placed it in his yard. It remains there today.
Additional Comments:I hope I am submitting this under the proper category. If not, please place it
in a category that is more appropriate. Also, please edit the document as you
see fit.
File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/tn/franklin/bios/long19gbs.txt
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/
File size: 26.1 Kb
RickeyHill31
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1829 - 1870 (41 years)
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