Dolly Williamson



Dolly Pitts Williamson (or Dollie Pitts Williamson?) was the first murder of Hattiesburg. Wife of J.M. Williamson, mayor of Hattiesburg at the time, who she married in late 1889 (about 22 at the time). Born March 16, 1867; died October 29, 1891 (this disagrees with Facts About Hattiesburg which says October 31... who do we believe?) (only 24 years old, died young... that makes for a good story).

Her grave is #1008 at Oaklawn Cemetary.

(source: Forrest County Mississippi Tombstone Inscriptions, p 322)

What does that say underneath? "Beloved thou wert admired wherever known" maybe?

UPDATE (24/11/2005) -- Hurricane Katrina must have blown over the tombstone, causing it to break in half! The tombstone has BROKEN IN HALF!

Here is a news paper article about it: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/braddabug/images/doc/williamson.jpg
 * HATTIESBURG, Miss., Oct. 31. -- [Special.] -- Shortly after midnight a burglar entered the residence of Mayor J. M. Williamson, editor of the Democrat, through an open window, and upon being discovered by Mrs. Williamson in her bedroom, shot her, fracturing her left collar bone, severing the larger artery underneath. Dr. S. J. Stevens was immediately summoned, but death had resulted from internal hemorrhage before his arrival. Unfortunately the assassin made good his escape. Mayor Williamson, who was attending the southern road congress in Atlanta, Ga., as a delegate from this state, was at once wired. A coroner's jury is making a thorough investigation. The entire population is aroused, and efforts are being made to capture the murderer, who, if caught, will meet with summary punishment.

(Source: Daily Picayune, New Orleans, November 1st issue)

Here's another news article about it (doesn't add much though): http://mywebpages.comcast.net/braddabug/images/doc/williamson2.jpg
 * Brutal Murder
 * Shortly after midnight Friday night, a burglar entered the residence of Mayor J. M. Williamson, of Hattiesburg, editor of the Democrat, through an open window, and upon being discovered by Mrs. Williamson in her bed-room, shot her, fracturing her left collar bone, severing the larger artery underneath. Dr. S. J. Stevens was immediately summoned, but death had resulted from internal hemorrhage before his arrival. Unfortunately the assassin made good his escape. Mayor Williamson, who was attending the Southern road congress in Atlanta, Ga., as a delegate from this state, was at once wired. Mrs. Williamson was formerly Miss Dolly Pitts of this city, and was as pretty a bride as loving groom ever led to the altar. Her relatives are in grief over her sad fate, and the heartfelt sympathy of Mr. Williamson's many friends in this city go out to him in this sad hour of his deep bereavement.

(source: The Mississippi, Jackson, November 4, 1891)

The plot thickens. Here's an article that was published a couple days later: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/braddabug/images/doc/williamson3.jpg
 * HATTIESBURG, Miss., Nov. 2 -- [Special.] -- The funeral of Mrs. J. M. Williamson, wife of the mayor of our town and editor of the Democrat, who was foully murdered on Friday at midnight, took place this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Business was entirely suspended and almost the entire community manifested their deepest regret at the death of the very estimable and loveable woman. The services at the Methodist church were conducted by Rev. J. S. Parker, pastor, assited by Rev. J. M. Smith, pastor of the Presbyterian church, in the presence of an overflowing congregation.
 * The coroner's jury is still in session.
 * Susie McLeod, the young woman who was stopping with Mrs. Williamson on the night of the murder, and her lover are confined in jail here, the suspicion being strong against the latter, and that the girl knows more than she has thus far told.

(source: Daily Picayune, New Orleans, November 3, 1891)

A couple days later on November 6 this tiny little article appeared:


 * HATTIESBURG, Miss., Nov. 5. -- [Special.] -- The Williamson murder is shrouded in mystery, all the suspects have been released and the authorities are still at sea.

(source: Daily Picayune, New Orleans, November 6, 1891)

This appears to be the end of the story. I kept looking through the next couple weeks and saw nothing more about the murder. -- Brad

Susie McLeod and her lover. Interesting. I wonder if that's the same McLeod as the big rich McLeod's in town? Apparently they were never convicted if Facts About Hattiesburg is right. I didn't have time to continue looking so I don't know if the story continues or not. I doubt many records from that time exist due to that flood back whenever it was that destroyed all sorts of stuff at the courthouse.


 * Ah, McCain has all the old city records (http://www.lib.usm.edu/~archives/m208.htm?m208text.htm~mainFrame) (the flood was in 1983). The problem is they're only from the mid 1890's at the earliest, just not quite old enough to be useful. I can't find anything about old Perry county records.

-- Brad

Shortly after midnight on Friday night would have been barely the 31'st. Friday was the 30th. So why does her tombstone say 29th??? -- Brad

So it must have happened in the mayor's house (I didn't realize J.M. was mayor at the time; that'd explain the large tombstone she has), wherever that was in 1891. We still don't really know exactly when she died. Also, it seems like they had a lot more newspapers than what was listed in Anna. The small local newspapers (the Biloxi paper was one I remember checking) didn't really have anything. The New Orleans paper seemed to be the only paper I looked through that was more than a tabloid. -- Brad

Its possible she was murdered on the 29 and found on the 31 (although thats not as cool). I would have to see the book again to be sure. I should have made a copy of that page.-TWDS

Also according to Facts About Hattiesburg the two papers in town at its publication were "The Prog" and "The Citizen." I wonder if USM would have them on microfilm. -TWDS


 * it looks like the only newspapers they have that old is the Jackson paper (Daily Clarion). maybe a murder would be newsworthy enough to be included in a state paper? -- Brad