Criminal Topics – Access Genealogy

Shaw, Mellie Phillippe – Obituary

Prosecutor Donald L. Brunner announced plans to present the case against Charles M. Bennett to the Shelby County grand jury for reckless homicide concerning the traffic death of 78-year-old Mrs. Mellie Shaw. Mrs. Shaw succumbed to injuries from a car-truck collision on July 17. Bennett, who was charged with drunken driving, faces pending charges from a previous incident. Mrs. Shaw was a long-time resident of Noble Township, with family members surviving her. Funeral services will be held at the Pleasant Grove Separate Baptist Church.

Fort Smith Criminal Records

Fort Smith Criminal Records: This series consists of criminal court cases, and contains such material as indictments, bills of information, arrest warrants, writs, subpoenas, appearance bonds, transcripts of proceedings before U.S. commissioners, orders, verdicts, judgments, sentencing orders, and appeal papers. In these records can be found the criminal cases of such famous outlaws as Belle, Sam, Tom, and Henry Starr (jacket 170); Wyatt Earp (jacket 59); Gad and Emmet Dalton (jacket 55); Rufus Buck (jacket 500); Edgar Watson (jacket 197); Blue Duck (jacket 26); and “Cherokee Bill” Goldsby (jacket 500).

1787 Convicts Sent to New South Wales

In 1787, a total of 784 convicts were transported to New South Wales, each facing sentences ranging from five years to life. The detailed list includes names, the locations of their convictions, dates, and the duration of their punishments. Notable entries reflect a diverse group from London, Exeter, and other English towns, highlighting the grim realities of 18th-century justice and transportation. This migration marks a significant chapter in the early colonial history of Australia, shaping its societal fabric.

Trial Record and Legal Papers – Jasper Newton Bee

In October 1882, Jasper Newton Bee was arrested in Arkansas for allegedly assaulting Goodson McD. Moore with an ax, an act purportedly charged as attempted murder. After various hearings and witness testimonies, Bee was found guilty on November 10, 1882, and sentenced to two years of hard labor at a correctional facility in Detroit. His conviction stemmed from a violent confrontation that left Moore severely injured. Bee was escorted to the prison by U.S. Marshal Thomas Boles, arriving in December 1882.