He served time in prison for the murder. Several years later after his daughter accused him of assaulting her, he decided to kill his daughter's husband, but they got word he was coming and seeing him approach, his son-in-law Thomas Goodwin shot and killed him instead. Thomas Goodwin was married to his daughter.
Thomas was arrested for the shooting but was acquitted of all charges in 1898 claiming self defense. A grandson of Robert Green Letson said his grandfather "Killed three or four white men and a bunch of (black men)".
News report of killing
Nov 18, 1898- Courtland, Ala, Nov 16. Robt. LETSON was shot and instantly killed by his son in law. Thos. GOODWIN at the latter's home last Saturday afternoon. Letson was charged with the terrible and unnatural crime of criminally assulting his own daughter. On the Sunday previous he went to the Goodwin house while he (Goodwin) was absent and choked and assulted the woman. He then left and sent Goodwin word that he was going to kill him. He accordingly went there on Saturday afternoon and dared the young man to come out. Goodwin finally came to the door with a shot gun and fired, resultiong as above stated. Goodwin gave himself up and had his trial Monday, for which he was acquited. Letson was a bad man, he having killed a man once, for which he served ten years in the Alabama penitentiary. He was almost 50 years old, while his slayer was only 19 years of age. (The Leighton News)
He served time in prison for the murder. Several years later after his daughter accused him of assaulting her, he decided to kill his daughter's husband, but they got word he was coming and seeing him approach, his son-in-law Thomas Goodwin shot and killed him instead. Thomas Goodwin was married to his daughter.
Thomas was arrested for the shooting but was acquitted of all charges in 1898 claiming self defense. A grandson of Robert Green Letson said his grandfather "Killed three or four white men and a bunch of (black men)".
News report of killing
Nov 18, 1898- Courtland, Ala, Nov 16. Robt. LETSON was shot and instantly killed by his son in law. Thos. GOODWIN at the latter's home last Saturday afternoon. Letson was charged with the terrible and unnatural crime of criminally assulting his own daughter. On the Sunday previous he went to the Goodwin house while he (Goodwin) was absent and choked and assulted the woman. He then left and sent Goodwin word that he was going to kill him. He accordingly went there on Saturday afternoon and dared the young man to come out. Goodwin finally came to the door with a shot gun and fired, resultiong as above stated. Goodwin gave himself up and had his trial Monday, for which he was acquited. Letson was a bad man, he having killed a man once, for which he served ten years in the Alabama penitentiary. He was almost 50 years old, while his slayer was only 19 years of age. (The Leighton News)
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CO H 8 Cavalry CSA
Family Members
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William Henry Letson
1847–1937
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Baron McDonald "Mack" Letson Sr
1850–1934
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Sarah Letson Coffey
1854–1936
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James Putnam Letson
1856–1924
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John Calvin Letson
1856–1935
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George Henderson Hence Letson
1858–1940
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Susan Nancy Margaret Letson Miller
1858–1886
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Orpha Jane Letson Coffey
1866–1917
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Martha Jane "Matt" Letson Christian
1866–1917
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