Dr. Alexander White

Died in what was Union County, South Carolina (now a part of Cherokee Co, SC).

The original article published stated that he was shot while sitting on his porch eating supper, although a later article said he was shot "while rocking his motherless child to sleep," and the shot was fired through the door of his country home.

In 1890, a newspaper article stated that Dr. White was to have testified against Samuel Jeffries, on trial for murder. Jeffries was afterwards acquitted. Circumstances led to the suspicion that Jeffries was the murderer of Dr. White and one Medlin made a deathbed confession years later declaring that Jeffries was the murderer. In 1890, White's son had been working up the case against Jeffries "now one of the richest men in Gaffney City" and Jeffries was arrested. Source: The Wilmington Messenger, 18 Apr 1890.

Columbus Roberts was also charged for the murder, but the grand jury returned "no bill" against him. Source: The Atlanta Constitution, July 11, 1890.

There is a very lengthy and informative article in: The Evening World, (New York, New York), 18 Apr 1890, Friday, First Edition.

The arrest of Jeffries made national news and newspapers all over the country picked up this story.