| Summary: | A Series of Florence Herald and Florence Times articles detailing the killing on "Saturday morning last" of nine year-old African-American Frank Houston, son of John Houston, by twelve year-old Annie Powers, a white girl, at Stewart's Spring, as a result of Powers throwing a rock at Houston.
According to the Times Mr. Houston stated that his son was "a youth of weak mind," and was struck by young Miss Powers "without provocation." however eyewitnesses stated that the two children had been engaged in a rock battle.
An autopsy at ZP Morrison & Son's undertakers was performed by Dr. WJ Calloway. which revealed a bloody wound on the brain on the back of the head.
The Herald stated that "the girl's mother is not as she should be, and some steps should be taken to get the child away from her and her evil influence at the first possible moment."
The week of March 15, a Lauderdale County grand jury returned an indictment of murder in the 2nd degree against Powers, who was being held in "the custody of the officers" rather than in jail," however the court opted to abate the charges and Powers was released.
Frank Houston was one of approximately 8 children of John Houston (ca. 1863=aft. 1930) and his first wife Melissa (ca. 1867-aft. 1900), who in 1900 lived at Gravelly Springs and by 1907 lived on Waterloo Road at Stewart Springs, now Wildwood Park in West Florence.
No other records have been located on Annie Powers.
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