1855 – Sworn testimony from a county officer with regard to a burglar’s shooting of a police officer during the course of his crime

Georgia: 1855. Unbound. Very good. This two-page sworn statement records the testimony of Henry A. Byrd, a detective or officer, regarding the wounding of another officer by a criminal, Calvin Lewis, who fired upon them while attempting to steal a “box” that had been brought to the Richmond County Georgia city hall from a local railroad depot. The statement is dated January 24, 1855. In nice shape.

Byrd’s statement reads in part:

“I was sent for by Mr Harbin yesterday evening. In company with Mr King & Mr Jones. We concealed ourselves in the city hall passage to watch a box said to be brought from the Georgia Railroad Depo our instruction was if any person come to take the box away, arrest him. . .. When Lewis got to the box he lit a match. . .. Lewis then took hold of the box and moved it. . .. As we rose we made some noise Lewis then fired a pistol . .. I then drew my pistol and busted a cap. Lewis then fired at us a second time. Jones then fired a pistol at him. . .. Lewis then made the way out of the front door of city hall . . . and made his way down Green Street . . . then turned into Center Street [with] Jones, King, and myself pursuing him. Lewis shot King through the arm . . . and he was arrested in Delaigh’s woods. . ..”

Docketing reads, “Testimony of Henry A. Byrd.”

. Lewis was apparently convicted of the crime as a follow-on message in 19 February 1856 issue of the Milledgeville Federal Union newspaper reports that had escaped from “the Penitentiary in Milledgeville, Ga.” and a $50 reward would be paid for “his arrest and confinement in any safe jail. . ..”

Apparently, there is no information about this crime other than the Federal Union article.

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