Son of Bumpass Brinkley and Martha Ann Hill Williams Brinkley. Husband of Julia Scroggins Brinkley. Father of William, Martha, Bumpass, Maryetta, John S., Joseph B., Peggy Dove, Alexandria, Alexander and Kerry. Tombstone reads:Innocently Hanged.

I found variations of this article in 5 vintage newspapers dated in 1905.

CONFESSED MURDER ON DEATHBED

Memphis, Tenn., April 12-A Commercial Appeal special from Springfield, Ark., says it is reported there that Marquis Meadam had made a deathbed confession to the murder several years ago of Dr. C. C. Chamness at Centre Ridge, for which Alexander Brinkley was hanged at Morrilton.

They Hung an Innocent Man

In mid-April of 1905, Marcus Meadam, lie on his death bed. As his breath grew shallow, he summoned his family members over and told them he had some things to get off his chest before died.

Marcus once had a brother-in-law, Dr. Gilbert C.T. Chamness, who lived in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Dr. Chamness, was accustomed to beating his wife, Marcus's sister, Mary. He once gave her a terrible beating and was approached by Marcus who warned him if he ever did it again, he would kill him.

Dr. Chamness, didn't listen and repeated the act on more occasions.

On the night of June 16, 1897, Marcus knew that Dr. Chamness, would be sleeping in a cot on his front porch, to keep cool from the hot summer air. Sneaking up to the porch, he saw Dr. Chamness's pistol laying beside him and he appeared to be in a deep sleep. Taking the pistol, he stuck it to his head and "blew his brains out."

Once word came of Dr. Chamness's death, the finger soon pointed to a man named Alexander Brinkley, who lived nearby. Although he swore, he was innocent of the murder, Brinkley was found guilty and sentenced to hang.

The death sentence was carried out in 1898, in nearby Morrilton, AR. Alexander Brinkley, swung by the neck from a rope, for the crime committed by Marcus Meadam, and Marcus let him.

Once his conscience was cleared, Marcus Meadam, passed away peacefully.

The grave of Dr. Chamness is weathered and faded, it appeared to be a costly one of its day and sits at the very front of the cemetery as you enter the gates. Alexander Brinkley's headstone is one of a poor man. It is homemade and sits under a tree, next to his wife's stone. It is also weathered and cracked and through the moss and dirt, if you read carefully, you can make out the words "Innocently Hanged."