Ed Petty Shot & Killed Jim Huffman - 1920

It is always interesting to read about a relative who made the newspapers.  Sometimes it gives you certain bragging rights or claim to fame  and sometimes not.

This news article is about Ed Petty of Murray County, Georgia.  I am almost certain that my siblings and our first cousin Pettys are related to all the Pettys of Murray County, around 1920s.  According to my genealogy index file there were only two Ed Pettys in 1920.  Edmund Petty lived in Texas, which of course we can scratch him and the other one is Edward Harland Petty, born 1910 in Murray County, his grandfather was brother to our great grandfather Daniel Webster (1843-1913).  However,  that would put Edward Harland Petty age 10, killing a man and stealing whiskey.  I don’t think so.

So who are parents of Ed Petty?  I don’t know yet.  I am not sure if any one wants to claim him.

From the Chatsworth Times, Thursday, August 25, 1920

PETTY KILLS HUFFMAN IN ROW OVER WHISKY

Tragedy Occurs at Still Near Ball Ground Church  Petty Sill at Large.

Ed Petty shot and killed Jim Huffman at a still one mile north of the Ball Ground  church and a quarter from the homes of the two parties Wednesday morning between 10 and 11 o’clock.

There were three or four eye witnesses to the tragedy, and as far as can be learned at this time the shooting was a result of a quarrel between the men over accusation by Huffman that Petty  had stolen a quantity of liquor from Huffman.  It is said that Huffman, armed with a mash stick, was threatening to beat Petty’s brains out when the latter pulled his pistol and shot Huffman.  He died thirty minutes later.

Sheriff B.H. Wilbanks went to the scene of the killing Wednesday afternoon.  At the time of going to press had not yet apprehended.