Albert
Sydney James Allen in the news
NEGRO
PREACHER KILLED NEAR ALACHUA
J. L.
SHAW ARRESTED FOR MURDER
Shaw
Not Guilty Said Grand Jury
Albert Sydney James Allen
He was called many things. News
Media of 1904 cannot seem to make up its mind.
...a
colored minister and teacher well known in this city
...well
known in Gainesville, and was considered a rather inoffensive Negro
...a
Negro preacher and politician
...pastor
.. He
was an educated Negro and for several years was employed as a school teacher in
this county.
...regarded
as a troublesome Negro and had few friends even among his own race.
...he
seemed to gain prominence by his affable tongue.
...He
had the independent endorsement of many prominent Republicans
...a
Negro minister
Gainesville Star, April 22, 1904
[Transcription]
A
Killing at Old Alachua
Joe Shaw, White, Killed A.S.J. Allen, Colored.
BOTH PARTIES KNOWN HERE
Could Not Get Full Particulars
--Man Slain Was Minister and
Teacher.
Information reached the city
yesterday afternoon of the killing of A. S. J. Allen, a colored minister and
teacher well known in this city, by Joseph Shaw, a white man at Alachua.
We tried to get Particulars about
the killing but reports were very conflicting. From what could be learned it seems that
the slain and the slayer had an altercation which led to the killing, but what
caused the altercation could not be definitely learned; reports being very
conflicting.
Allen was well known in Gainesville, and was considered
a rather inoffensive negro. Shaw was also well known here, having
been reared at Alachua where his father, Mr. Jesse M. Shaw has long been a
well-to-do and highly respected farmer, and good citizen.
OCALA EVENING STAR,
April 23, 1904
[Transcription]
Negro Preacher Killed
Near Alachua, Thursday, A.S.J. Allen,
a negro preacher and politician, was shot by L.J. Shaw, a prominent
farmer, Allen and some of his friends were threatening Shaw.
---
The Florida Times Union,
Jacksonville
April 23, 1904
NEGRO
PREACHER KILLED NEAR ALACHUA
The Gainesville Sun,
Gainesville
April 26, 1904
The Daily Sun (Gainesville), October 10, 1904
[Transcription]
J. L. SHAW ARRESTED FOR MURDER
Killed Rev.
A.S.J. Allen At Alachua Last February.
CORONER’S JURY INVESTIGATED
And After Hearing Evidence Shaw
Was Exonerated. Verdict
??? Justifiable Homicide – Arrest of Mr. Shaw Friday Created
Surprise.
J. L. Shaw of Alachua, one of the
most widely known citizens of that area, was arrested in this city. Upon a charge of murder of Rev.
A.S. J. Allen, a negro minister, which occurred the place of Mr. Shaw, near
Alachua, in February of the previous year, and the details of which are yet
familiar many readers of the
Sun.
Mr. Shaw was arrested by Sherriff
Fennell whileconversing with a friend on the
street. He submitted cooly to his arrest
and accompanied the sheriff to prison willingly,
probably feeling that there would nothing serious result from the arrest.
At the time of the killing a
coroner’s jury was impaneled and held an inquest, the jury
entirely exonerating Shaw of the charge.
Walter M. Davis of Jacksonville
and W. E. Baker of this city will be employed to assist the State in the ?representationfelder of Shaw.
Mr. Shaw experienced no trouble in
making bond, which was fixed at $2200.
Judge I Griffin of Jonesville and J.L Mathews of Alachua are sueties. Evans Haile will represent the defendant in this
matter.
The Daily Sun
(Gainesville), October 13, 1904.
Shaw Not Guilty Said Grand
Jury
Man Arraigned for Murder of
Rev. Allen Was not Indicted.
Negroes Pushed the Case
??? Employed Able Attorneys, But After Weighing Evidence Carefully Grand Jury Sustained
Verdict of Coroner’s Jury Last February.
The grand jury in the case of the State vs. J.L. Shaw of Alachua, charged with
murder, without hesi???
Monday afternoon returned a no bill meaning that the defended was not indicted.
No difficulty was experienced in the return of this verdict.
It will be remembered that in February of the present year Mr. Shaw shot and
killed Rev. A.S.J. Allen, a negro preacher who owned a
farm adjoining his own near Alachua. The trouble between the two men emanated
over a dispute between certain property lines, and it is said that when Shaw
constructed a fence along a certain line. Allen became very angry, claiming
that he was being encroached upon. It is stated that Allen made several threats
to kill Shaw with a hoe,
after which he started to the house for
his gun. In the meantime Shaw, by a ???rthy-cut?]
went to his own home, procured a shot gun and when he met Allen, and negro again
advanced upon him, Shaw shot him, he claimed, in self defense.
Mr. Shaw immediately
surrendered to the officers. A coroners jury was impaneled, and after due and
proper investigation exonerated Shaw in the matter declaring that the act was
one of justifiable homicide.
It was thought this matter
was ended until a few days ago, when it is said a number of prominent colored
Odd Fellows and Masons, together with the aid of churches agitated the matter
of prosecution. They took the matter up with Attorney Walter M. Davis of
Jacksonville, who associated with him Attorney Baker of this city. The
attorneys succeeded in having the matter brought before the grand jury at this
session of the court,
but that body could not find
sufficient evidence to reverse the verdict of the coroners jury, since they
reported no bill.
Mr. Shaw’s
friends have felt confident that there would be no further trouble in the
matter.
---
