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The Murder of Mr. Slaughter & The Hanging of Mr. Castellow - The first Murder & Hanging in Jasper Co., GA
from the Dr. J.P. Welch Family Journal
My father soon moved to Monticello Jasper County Ga. and here he resided some two years, where his sisters
visited him often, and his brother George W. Welch, once or twice. My father was well and comfortable situated
in Monticello, having a desirable residence, a good piece of land adjoining town & several likely servants.
It was towards the latter part of his residence here that I witnessed the awful sight of seeing a man hung for
the first time in my life. Oh! Awful indeed it was! And its impression is as fresh upon my memory as if it had
taken place only yesterday.
There had been a long grudge and prejudice existing between two personal friends of father, by the name of
Castellow and Slaughter; both in good circumstances and highly respectable citizens. They both had to pass out
by father's residence in going home. They had both visited town on the same day, on a public occasion, became
intoxicated, & left town together, quarreling as they pass'd by, And as they went on, some two miles from town,
Castellow (both being on horse back) reached over with his drawn knife, and at one swipe, cut Slaughter's throat,
who soon bled to death! The corpse of Mr. Slaughter was found on the side of the road during the night, with his
hand clenched on the place cut, his horse having gone home bloody, from which circumstance, his friends & relatives
took the alarm, & immediately commenced the hunt and soon found the body.
The circumstance under which he and Castellow left town, at once settled the murder upon the latter. After a long
trial Castellow was condemned to be hung; for the first man in many years in that place; I think it was said that
sentence of death was never passed upon a person in that county before. The dreadful day finally arrived, and an
immense crowd of people from many miles in every direction, assembled to witness the sad consequence of deliberate
murder. Castellow was brought out of jail dressed perfectly white, even to his hat. A very strong guard was placed
around him. He walked behind his coffin which was drawn on an oxcart pulled by a yoke of steers. It was, in-deed,
a most solemn procession to the gallows a mile distant, situated in a con-cavity of many acres.
After searching the place, surrounded as it was by many thousands of human beings even filling the adjacent trees,
to get a good view; then a brief pause for prayer. Poor Castellow got on the cart, and mounted upright upon his
coffin, centrally under the gwllows, when the Sheriff fixed the fatal rope around his neck, and Castellow having
bid a last farewell to his dear wife, children & friends; the word was given, and the steers slowly moved off with
the cart, and left Castellow swinging to and fro, who was soon launched into eternity!! And altho' this has been
about 40 (hung in A.D. 1814) years ago, its impression is as vivid as if it had only taken place last year.
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