Everson, Weller - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Details of the tragic death of SW Everson, formerly a resident of Crawfordsville who was murdered by negroes near Shelbyville, Tenn several days ago have been received by relatives in this city. Mr. Everson was a special officer on the Nashville, Chatanooga & St. Louis railway. On Saturday Feb 10, he was running on a train between Nashville and St. Louis which had two “Jim Crow” cars filled with colored people. Some of these were creating  a disturbance and drinking. Everson it is said attempted to quiet the negroes and took a bottle of liquor from one of them. He proceeded to the rear of the train and the enraged negroes followed him. They attacked the officer, stabbed and threw him from the train. When found Mr. Everson was dead, his neck having been broken in the fall from the train. The murder created a deep sensation among the white population of Shelbyville and when three of the negroes were brought up before a magistrate for a preliminary hearing, a mob formed and when the colored men were brought from the court room they were attacked and at least one killed. It is believed that one or both of the other two died later from wounds inflicted by the mob. Weller Everson as he was known in this city, was born in Butler County, Ohio about 57 years ago and resided in Crawfordsville from 1875-1878. He returned to Ohio and was married there in 1878 after which he went to Nashville. He was a carpenter by trade but had been with the NC&St. Louis RR company for some time as the special officer. He is survived by a widow and two brothers, William A. Everson of Crawfordsville and Val Everson of Nashville, Tenn.  Perry Everson, Deputy County Treasurer is a nephew of the decedent. A large number of other relatives live in Montgomery County and vicinity.