Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.

Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.

A series of newspaper articles on the early Saturday morning, May 15, 1897 shooting of African-American Dan Ran/Rand by Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and one November, 1895 report of Rand's involvement in a fight at a dance at the Colored Odd Fellows Lodge. Friday night, May 14, Rand an...

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Bibliographic Details
Format: Electronic
Published: Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
Subjects:
Photographs, documents, and clippings
Online Access:https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1259
format Electronic
collection The Law, Crime and Punishment Collection
building Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
publisher Project Say Something: The Shoals Black History Collection
topic Photographs, documents, and clippings
spellingShingle Photographs, documents, and clippings
Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.
fulltopic Photographs, documents, and clippings
The Law, Crime and Punishment
description A series of newspaper articles on the early Saturday morning, May 15, 1897 shooting of African-American Dan Ran/Rand by Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and one November, 1895 report of Rand's involvement in a fight at a dance at the Colored Odd Fellows Lodge. Friday night, May 14, Rand and several other African-American men got involved in a fight after the commencement exercises at Florence's Negro School on South Court Street. A "row of large dimensions was produced" when Rand, Ed Winston and Frank Seawright (according to the Florence Herald also Jim Mitchell and Lewis McClure) "set upon Aleck Copeland, another colored man, and did him great violence." One of the men was knocked out and the others fled. Florence Police night officer JH Benham deputized African-American residents Ab Hardy and Pride Johnson to assist him in capturing Ran and the other men. After a search of a couple of hours, at approximately 2:30 am, Rand was spotted at the Commercial Hotel but managed to break free after Benham's two deputies apprehended him. Benham then arrived and ordered Rand to surrender but instead Rand drew a knife (said by the Florence Standard-Journal to be a case knife ground to a sharp point) and advanced on Benham; ignoring Benham's two orders to halt, the officer shot Rand, striking him in the head and killing him instantly. Behnam then surrendered himself to Sheriff Carson. According to the Florence Standard-Journal Rand's brother John Rand swore out a warrant charging Benham Hardy and Johnson with murder however in an examination later Saturday morning by Judge Smith and Esq. Jackson Benham and his two deputies were exonerated of any wrongdoing. The Florence Herald reported that Ed Winston, Lewis McClure, Jim Mitchell and Frank Seawright, who had assaulted Aleck Copeland with Rand, were arrested; all except Mitchell waved examination. Lewis McClure gave bond, Mitchell was released and Winston and Seawright sent to jail. Nothing further is known of either Dan or John Ran/Rand at this time.
title Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.
titleStr Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.
id PSSlaw1259
url https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1259
_version_ 1799683126879846400
spelling Dan Rand Killed in a Fight with Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and Two Deputized Citizens.The Law, Crime and PunishmentA series of newspaper articles on the early Saturday morning, May 15, 1897 shooting of African-American Dan Ran/Rand by Florence Night Policeman JH Benham and one November, 1895 report of Rand's involvement in a fight at a dance at the Colored Odd Fellows Lodge. Friday night, May 14, Rand and several other African-American men got involved in a fight after the commencement exercises at Florence's Negro School on South Court Street. A "row of large dimensions was produced" when Rand, Ed Winston and Frank Seawright (according to the Florence Herald also Jim Mitchell and Lewis McClure) "set upon Aleck Copeland, another colored man, and did him great violence." One of the men was knocked out and the others fled. Florence Police night officer JH Benham deputized African-American residents Ab Hardy and Pride Johnson to assist him in capturing Ran and the other men. After a search of a couple of hours, at approximately 2:30 am, Rand was spotted at the Commercial Hotel but managed to break free after Benham's two deputies apprehended him. Benham then arrived and ordered Rand to surrender but instead Rand drew a knife (said by the Florence Standard-Journal to be a case knife ground to a sharp point) and advanced on Benham; ignoring Benham's two orders to halt, the officer shot Rand, striking him in the head and killing him instantly. Behnam then surrendered himself to Sheriff Carson. According to the Florence Standard-Journal Rand's brother John Rand swore out a warrant charging Benham Hardy and Johnson with murder however in an examination later Saturday morning by Judge Smith and Esq. Jackson Benham and his two deputies were exonerated of any wrongdoing. The Florence Herald reported that Ed Winston, Lewis McClure, Jim Mitchell and Frank Seawright, who had assaulted Aleck Copeland with Rand, were arrested; all except Mitchell waved examination. Lewis McClure gave bond, Mitchell was released and Winston and Seawright sent to jail. Nothing further is known of either Dan or John Ran/Rand at this time.1. Newspapers.com2. Newspapers.com3. Newspapers.com4. Newspapers.com5. Bell & Howell Micro Photo6. Bell & Howell Micro Photo7. Newspapers.com8. Newspapers.com9. Newspapers.comLee Freeman1. 1897-05-162. 1897-05-193. 1897-05-204. 1897-05-205. 1897-05-216. 1897-05-217. 1897-05-218. 1897-05-251897-11-28Still ImageJpeghttps://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1259https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/9af0b891e9f18eb0c04f5d7b2e99e29c.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=fFbXNoLcJ9b7GNOEIghi9681o5TdxtQeaGDub750ArTl%7Et6exO7rURpGdHICEguk%7E6byZuPPnAihpS2022kpo2CviyII0nL5nDA1bs1XjIaRHxohMPGVlE2fTzfSZErXsnGWTm93Xv71M7yhmZD6utlORCWNqi5jgoKVr0B8nK3yl4N6JE9d6l1%7E0GcYj70DoKoVxvZGglTAY-w967FDWMBst0EncYn0mGsbj4CASYL7nrY3RF5Q2NhVqAVTJQx99EIAExFyKWlRwLxseABhRvHYAP2qEWvTj9cGJK2D3c8hcIuyD8%7EJC5OHeoFZrFx3fru4wc-8oWlAGMD6GRKXHg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/99e67ab92661cf50f8810cbe897ff381.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=D8dkaEsCFHoPISrAJVXmKK5a16tMdDkxfmmVzyrtDkCM3fh-vb8UCA9wwtAKT74Ne1tQwOwZxr9ufZ%7EaJVlO%7EzpZaKd4i7f8i4JP%7ERDZlpKNZ9TeVoGZKy6I8Eih3oG1dPmIjV61NltcZNcuknWycH1tVmE538OA6h61yilh8VRl4kH85eOwQkBqN3TdQxo1u9yPReLovXdwDvB8edgI3feb6SFS0k7o1TeSAT3M-0XHU6f28H6U0Solmh5dFt9yjW2Sl41vqDSkGPoEcrOzscoxx4ZD3r51cbTATChgoP5OrYQ8fPYJy8dKjjgRz-4KVZlMAVyL1Tw%7EfvmqlpPtSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/e79f6a40676bb167880b352ae2d4fe4c.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=apYaIBE3bqt3Uyl-eKy69TZQJsndbDfMrRyUyDQW-b3suui7o7ziBbeaDI1byFlgcIExFCOFOAVVLN9SNd531z4R4TRUECETebJulj9UrVUHGlCDvfubCLRyp4MF4BIcWYORIO7Tq2gBpEfK5O-oOJb0ybVXlJBZRvCKfvJQ%7E7TVSVbl3GJgAzsqT8q%7EB2mSx6uVpYg2fDmWTGRL66dhlQgYk7d%7ElPRMGw3ZsISmYeYfulBHyf2AggE2ENhhK4Ti3oEnAtrp1-CgT16YvrILsDv0%7EORbVL6HPhUcrOUcXDlv%7E6EK-NZyn58oM91ot4he8FKojqbXWahdIKi-bJZo0A__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/0bb1887cda9c87e0270732bc3e08396f.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=RnBi0AW%7E-D%7EIsgqlHV4Qik4%7EenseAAYLeZeFE0iNLB9spOEeIBFSZFVFQoo3wtcef9SvkVBc-ylxMR3raHlerVrByGDYtAA1-BEa02vAwakpcPgsiV9kTFe5jmqLRRAdIfKDYZRIKIDa0KQqpU3BmbveffBI4JLBt-PBg-KKb1y4duhsKfOQSLVxTGk9tXI239FUjDXdWpNG67DUGgba-u59Uzizo8u2qC9tXYp8Wd4Qgb85ihQfvmdB4cAJsM9eHg6t9zAOUWqgbSyXRwaYhocDqv9y3BHjwFomnyFWvGKzEav0dsbxUKvfWqWcHrVOVfmRjNmQQ%7EDkgtaE9x%7Eypw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/bddf88323674f677f3651ef8c9a976ee.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=quVX8LTH38HuwKTZXJnNpwwuw1VaZxoODIQt6AMHXvnk-zDNkm1RsiPTDm-0N50ol0TfRy9wzCzFM3tWfIlShwF7FfckKAXouteA%7EsZ%7EPes-iyaVkJQg%7EOWQnBHqarihMTg%7EgnAJhQZR0r02d7FUt2cOkIJ8yQEeLy4jvV-MuQMkZE47dS94q64XHUVS37kbfdKaxesqEthn4fiFuyNtLzZ-viZBsbHWTe3CwZDhJYII2lLD82o1fucri4izSDByA7FZZTf9hFe02U-2qRsSkROeXTFmELCM2rkGZgWa9EHbw96l8ULDB7Bx2iEYJhHxoP5yOV%7EXDrsbIQqp2ZvNcw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/7bcfba60232c25333c81dbcb2c755c1d.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=GncbzUmYgFdpOZzT67gigK9gr7O5Vrz4NjCRY6GeChpgJDyL%7EOq9kkVL6PirySSFxEa10l6wuP47zaQR87isPl35vop-rdLAudAyuODoECDECRM51rw-534ckD-Pvr-vMjdL6Brt7DydgjTwPtr8XsjlU5XD9pwmSzO0QTCmXloERe060YIprYvAIvl37hlqL5GUmpvn-KkVvo%7EZnPXgKaSrtcUQMwcOzAEBUDQmJMyaNbCFnBRQ8d7nIxxtD8jJNdU%7Eca28YmCeh0oHPgNfvx0FGG%7E4TPDCMCJrOEDKDweT7HDEuBLA-7b1tjLLXEClQ9URytfgziRkA-rUcjAidg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/89aad1bd874885124486c9b6fbe53b49.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=pMyyglocWhM%7E7pW4aBE2kCjtZzEjMU%7EQQbrjLdOuyqmdxmoNV-GnjVS4Lwkl6YPBvBK42nWa1%7EV-vwsGcpTqKnqaSd4PkvKKLjoubI21m2%7EzhHQc-Z%7EBqHKVP7qAgPB8vj-9OOKRklAuGh-FfUBBXyDv-E8ip5GHHYd81pAPmv-bxqhquLsGlfhnsFivDj1rLtj971eNvO6ITqeF47EqI7JwKvp4MvCKP4S8Nb-r35djCUoiHdPrevVvvxEgbSQXXvVZeBICyJ0s6fhzsE%7E6zD9GNWsSXBAC%7Exz93EEn1R1ECj0CMiY1JeirjtudGnrR3v4neJYr2VRsQij9PXprJg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/c8acaa661a84191365ee084114674241.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=NR13-bexJTu6KSdysz3ng7DhH8hdftTPkeYKhXlDFpPOFiL87zF667ysrXfSbSReP5SMJiBuF9XM-WaSCK2RKXKtmI%7EzZ%7EHWHZpBXdLQIXMwUuF8JPBmNYeN0JpH25AtJNadresHwseEeJJPr0wqRn%7EeOuHgc5BlwZuUwLAXQAc4aabmlXnmW39Ly1LAAVwpm4P3wWWX%7EuKorcu71lcCTijjO54p3prlUz%7E6qhos7e45NkhZiUmAKmRqVQHr7EJ6T554Slfh8fVyIFCErsiyZDzJ8tpK4CRK5bPnTvplLf%7E8OJU7Y-2djfnZ0oylS2-YPN-Q7XLlSrDa60HfbuNTGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZMhttps://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/36745/archive/files/09d0f6c8a36264c3f45124eff52e0311.jpg?Expires=1717027200&Signature=eOyJi01wWcb3YIJQD2pSzsMbKZIJBImFw36eGwjfZDbtn3g7VcuW1f5NnCkZwr1si-sfBy8M9BFQuClZqcILuqT5zxdQj1BiHduh-zylsweGIHwHEh-Sb21m13LUKPN1VypeRFO%7Ewn0SE-Z0TyKm1bTQpBi7MauUna%7E5LF4nKNhLxIylpHSUjvfOAOUbe8EJefamTioarWpdbfp39QgauF-8agou4UAoQiuxfE3ah1AaJ-8Hd92TvjL0YU6fc-NArC%7EJDV6NNAhUCWmpurlNK8inCx1qGrUTZZru88uZ8x7o%7EO7-5vO4kcFhF0R0J5nyPOl-8aWcE1R1li%7EvBCk5FA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM1. Montgomery (AL) Advertiser2. Our Mountain Home (Talladega, AL)3. Florence (AL) Herald 4. Shelby Sentinel (Calera, AL)5. Florence (AL) Standard-Journal6. Florence (AL) Times7. Montgomery (AL) Weekly Advertiser8. Stevenson (AL) Chronicle9. Florence (AL) GazetteEnglishImages are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

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