Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

She was at her home on 18 Jul 1891 with her son-in-law William Sanford Sexton, his brother John D. Sexton, and Robert L. Hudson (who were spending the night there) when William Sexton heard someone enter the front gate. He took his gun and walked into the yard where men with pistols surrounded him and took his gun. The rest were held at gunpoint as well while the robbers took valuables from the home. They only saw two men, but more voices were heard nearby. The men were masked below the eyes, wearing black clothes. A man named Hudson, Ed Owens, and Martin Gibson were charged with the robbery, and at the preliminary hearing (which included about 40 subpoenaed witnesses) Martin Gibson became a witness for the state. He said that he, Hudson, and Ed Owens had committed the crime. Hudson and Owens were sent to jail in Montgomery until their trial. The grand jury indicted them in September of 1891, but they both, with a man named Williams, escaped from jail. Ed Owens was eventually captured on a ranch near Waco, Texas on 12 Mar 1893, and returned to Alabama. He was tried in March 1894, and sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary.

In the 1880 census, CEMcD notes, p 77, E. J. (Elisha James) states that his mother was born in FLA. Best check for James Harrison in FL in 1820; and also her other children in the 1880. Another account says GA NC NC for WJ's parents. The Dry Cemetery notes, p 86 & 87, are two other children: a teenage daughter of Emillie & W. J. older than Ophelia Jane ...; and Zelma D., Jun 29, 1882 - May 26, 1884 (these dates do not jibe with the other children of Emillie & W.J.).