The Talbotton New Era

Thursday, April 18, 1907 Page 2

Ben Riley April 1907

Negro Murdered at Ypsilanti – Had Been Dead For Ten Days When Body Was Found. His Wife And Two Negro Men In Jail Charged With Murder
Tuesday afternoon the body of Bed Riley, a Negro living near Ypsilanti, was found in a ditch a short distance from his dwelling, his head being badly crushed by severe blows from some heavy instrument.

It seems that Ben disappeared from his home about two weeks ago. His wife told parties who made inquiry that he left home saying he was going to Texas, never to return. For some reason people in the neighborhood were suspicious, and made an investigation, but without any success until the body was found Tuesday.

Ben had been killed and dragged to the ditch by means of a well rope tied about his body. Those in jail charged with his murder are, Ann Riley, who is his wife, Bob Parker and Sherman Drane. The coroner’s jury after an investigation on Tuesday afternoon found that these parties were responsible for his death. Warrants were immediately issued and they were placed in jail.

The date for the commitment trial has not been set.

Thursday, April 25, 1907
Page 1

Ann Riley and Sherman Drane Bound Over The commitment trial of Ann Riley and Sherman Drane, for the murder of the former’s husband, was held in Talbotton at 10 o’clock on Friday before Justice Raines and Mizell.

The body of Ben Riley was found near his home at Ypsilanti last Tuesday. He had been missing for nearly two weeks, his wife telling that he had left home with the intention of going to the Indian Territory. Mr. Will Corley, on his way to some fish traps, discovered the body of Ben Riley, partly buried in a ditch. An examination of the body showed that he had been murdered, the work being done by licks on the head with a heavy instrument. A number of Negroes were arrested, among them his wife and Sherman Drane.

At the commitment trial, Ann Riley said that she had killed her husband and Sherman Drane assisted her. She said that Drane came to her house about nine o’clock at night, entered the house, shot her husband, and then forced her to strike him in the head with an axe. She stated previously, that some one called her husband out of the house, and that an unknown party killed him. She told Sheriff McDaniel that her husband had been killed by Berry Bucker and Tobe Chapman, and that they had threatened to kill her if she told on them. She had also made the statement that she was going to clear her father, Bob Parker, who had also been arrested, even if she had to take the entire on herself. She told a number of other tales equally as confusing and conflicting. She said that Sherman Drane shot her husband. An examination of the body showed that Riley had not been shot.

Sherman Drane denied that he had anything to do with the killing. His sister and brother-in-law swore that he lived with them that he was at home the night of the killing at 10 o’clock in a bed in the same room with them and sleeping. They swore, also, that he was at home at day the following morning, as they woke him up and had him to make a fire. They did not know whether he had left home between 10 o’clock at night and the following morning or not, as they did not wake up during that time.

Justices Raines and Mizell, after hearing the evidence, bound both the woman and Drane over to the Superior Court to await the action of the Grand Jury.

A warrant was sworn out for Bob Parker, Jr., Friday afternoon, he being a brother of Ann Riley. There was no evidence sufficient to bind him over and he was discharged by Justice Raines.

Thursday, September 26, 1907
Page 1

Court News The case of the State vs. Sherman Drane, charged with murder, was tried this week. It will be remembered that Drane was charged with killing a Negro named Ben Riley in the lower part of the county, early in the year. The only witness against Drane was Riley’s wife. She claimed that Drane came to her home one night, came in the house and killed her husband. She alone claimed that he forced her to help him and that she struck him with an ax. After the murder was discovered, she claimed that two other Negroes killed her husband. It was not until several weeks after the crime was committed that she implicated Drane. After being out for several hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation and Drane was sentenced to the penitentiary of life. The woman, who admitted that she had been a part of the crime, but claimed that she acted under duress, was released under five hundred dollars bond. Unless new evidence is brought to light, she will not be convicted but will be given her freedom as there is no evidence but her statement, the terms of which, if true, relieve her. After Drane was convicted, he was told that there was no chance for him, that the woman had sent him to the penitentiary for life, and he was urged to tell the truth about the part she had in the murder and was told that the woman who swore his liberty away would go free if he did not tell. He stated that he was not present, had nothing to do with the commission of the crime, and protested his innocence. His attorneys have made a motion for a new trial.

Thursday, November 21, 1907
Page 2

The motion for a new trial in the case of Sherman Drane, the Negro who was tried for murder and sentenced to serve a life sentence in the penitentiary at the last term of Talbot Superior Court, will be heard before Judge Martin in Columbus on the 30th day of this month.

Transcribed by Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com

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