Rudolph F. Fitzpatrick is the son of Thomas James Fitzpatrick (ca. 1823-ca. 1871) and Parthenia Blaine Bowyer Fitzpatrick (ca. 1830-1893).
1884
Cause of death: hanging.
Rude and Champ Fitzpatrick were brothers and known as the Fitch Brothers. Neither of them had any formal schooling. They could not read nor write, and were known to be dangerous and ruthless trouble makers.
Rude, the older of the brothers was married and had three children. Champ was only 23 and single.
It all began on election day, August 6, 1883. The brothers continued a quarrel, right at the voting place in Neatsville, with Miller Brewster who had just traveled with his small son to vote. The quarrel had started a few days before over a plow.
The younger brother, Champ, accused Brewster of telling lies on him, and cursed like a wild man. Brewster denied the charge, and leading his small son, continuted toward the building. Enraged, Champ knocked off Brewster's hat. As Brewster leaned down to pick it up, Champ pulled him up and started cutting him with a knife.
Bystanders tried to pull Champ off Brewster, but he drew a pistol.
The older brother stepped in at that point firing a shot at Brewster's side. Not content on having wounded an unarmed man, they fired one more shot, fatally wounding Brewster in the head.
Addressing the stunned voters, the pair stated that there were not enough men in Neatsville to take them. But a possee from the Neatsville neighborhood, Sheriff Wolford and his deputies caught and arrested them the following Wednesday. They were tried and convicted of murder. The sentence was hanging by the neck on Dec 7, 1883. Their case was appealed to Governor Knott who changed the date for hanging to March 21, 1884.
The scaffold was erected at the public square in Columbia, only 75 yards from the jail.
Many preachers visited with Rude and Champ that last day of their life. Every effort was made by the spiritual men to let the brothers make peace with God. Both professed faith in their savior right there in jail. They seemed very nervous as time for the execution drew near. It is not known exactly what time they died, but it is believed it was late afternoon.
After they prepared for the gallows, Champ got on his knees praying for his brother Rudolph, who was going to die for defending his (Champ's) life. While he was praying, Rude knelt in front of him sobbing pitifully, groaning and saying he had nothing against the man they killed, and begged for mercy.
After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf. Rev. D.S. Campbell delivered a touching prayer just before they left the jail for the short walk to the gallows. Just before they arrived at the gallows, Rudolph was handed a bottle containing 6 ounces of brandy, which he drink to the disgust of his spiritual advisor.
Both brothers, though very unlearned and ignorant, made speeches from the gallows. They seemed pleased that such a large crowd had gathered on their behalf. It was estimated that at least 7,000 people were present, and a thousand of them were women.
At the time of the crime, both brothers made their home with their widowed mother and at least one younger brother. Their home was about 1 and a half miles off what is now hwy 206 at Ella, 12 miles from Columbia. The Neatsville mentioned in article used to be a village on the north side of Green River, located between the river and hwy 206. There used to be a hotel, several stores, one or two doctor's offices and many homes. A large flood between 1900 and 1910 damaged or destroyed most of the buildings at Neatsville.
Rude and Champ were buried in the Tabernacle Cemetery about 100 feet from the old church building. The graves were marked with homemade stones originally.
Taken from an old newspaper article.
1884
Cause of death: hanging.
Rude and Champ Fitzpatrick were brothers and known as the Fitch Brothers. Neither of them had any formal schooling. They could not read nor write, and were known to be dangerous and ruthless trouble makers.
Rude, the older of the brothers was married and had three children. Champ was only 23 and single.
It all began on election day, August 6, 1883. The brothers continued a quarrel, right at the voting place in Neatsville, with Miller Brewster who had just traveled with his small son to vote. The quarrel had started a few days before over a plow.
The younger brother, Champ, accused Brewster of telling lies on him, and cursed like a wild man. Brewster denied the charge, and leading his small son, continuted toward the building. Enraged, Champ knocked off Brewster's hat. As Brewster leaned down to pick it up, Champ pulled him up and started cutting him with a knife.
Bystanders tried to pull Champ off Brewster, but he drew a pistol.
The older brother stepped in at that point firing a shot at Brewster's side. Not content on having wounded an unarmed man, they fired one more shot, fatally wounding Brewster in the head.
Addressing the stunned voters, the pair stated that there were not enough men in Neatsville to take them. But a possee from the Neatsville neighborhood, Sheriff Wolford and his deputies caught and arrested them the following Wednesday. They were tried and convicted of murder. The sentence was hanging by the neck on Dec 7, 1883. Their case was appealed to Governor Knott who changed the date for hanging to March 21, 1884.
The scaffold was erected at the public square in Columbia, only 75 yards from the jail.
Many preachers visited with Rude and Champ that last day of their life. Every effort was made by the spiritual men to let the brothers make peace with God. Both professed faith in their savior right there in jail. They seemed very nervous as time for the execution drew near. It is not known exactly what time they died, but it is believed it was late afternoon.
After they prepared for the gallows, Champ got on his knees praying for his brother Rudolph, who was going to die for defending his (Champ's) life. While he was praying, Rude knelt in front of him sobbing pitifully, groaning and saying he had nothing against the man they killed, and begged for mercy.
After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf. Rev. D.S. Campbell delivered a touching prayer just before they left the jail for the short walk to the gallows. Just before they arrived at the gallows, Rudolph was handed a bottle containing 6 ounces of brandy, which he drink to the disgust of his spiritual advisor.
Both brothers, though very unlearned and ignorant, made speeches from the gallows. They seemed pleased that such a large crowd had gathered on their behalf. It was estimated that at least 7,000 people were present, and a thousand of them were women.
At the time of the crime, both brothers made their home with their widowed mother and at least one younger brother. Their home was about 1 and a half miles off what is now hwy 206 at Ella, 12 miles from Columbia. The Neatsville mentioned in article used to be a village on the north side of Green River, located between the river and hwy 206. There used to be a hotel, several stores, one or two doctor's offices and many homes. A large flood between 1900 and 1910 damaged or destroyed most of the buildings at Neatsville.
Rude and Champ were buried in the Tabernacle Cemetery about 100 feet from the old church building. The graves were marked with homemade stones originally.
Taken from an old newspaper article.
Rudolph F. Fitzpatrick is the son of Thomas James Fitzpatrick (ca. 1823-ca. 1871) and Parthenia Blaine Bowyer Fitzpatrick (ca. 1830-1893).
1884
Cause of death: hanging.
Rude and Champ Fitzpatrick were brothers and known as the Fitch Brothers. Neither of them had any formal schooling. They could not read nor write, and were known to be dangerous and ruthless trouble makers.
Rude, the older of the brothers was married and had three children. Champ was only 23 and single.
It all began on election day, August 6, 1883. The brothers continued a quarrel, right at the voting place in Neatsville, with Miller Brewster who had just traveled with his small son to vote. The quarrel had started a few days before over a plow.
The younger brother, Champ, accused Brewster of telling lies on him, and cursed like a wild man. Brewster denied the charge, and leading his small son, continuted toward the building. Enraged, Champ knocked off Brewster's hat. As Brewster leaned down to pick it up, Champ pulled him up and started cutting him with a knife.
Bystanders tried to pull Champ off Brewster, but he drew a pistol.
The older brother stepped in at that point firing a shot at Brewster's side. Not content on having wounded an unarmed man, they fired one more shot, fatally wounding Brewster in the head.
Addressing the stunned voters, the pair stated that there were not enough men in Neatsville to take them. But a possee from the Neatsville neighborhood, Sheriff Wolford and his deputies caught and arrested them the following Wednesday. They were tried and convicted of murder. The sentence was hanging by the neck on Dec 7, 1883. Their case was appealed to Governor Knott who changed the date for hanging to March 21, 1884.
The scaffold was erected at the public square in Columbia, only 75 yards from the jail.
Many preachers visited with Rude and Champ that last day of their life. Every effort was made by the spiritual men to let the brothers make peace with God. Both professed faith in their savior right there in jail. They seemed very nervous as time for the execution drew near. It is not known exactly what time they died, but it is believed it was late afternoon.
After they prepared for the gallows, Champ got on his knees praying for his brother Rudolph, who was going to die for defending his (Champ's) life. While he was praying, Rude knelt in front of him sobbing pitifully, groaning and saying he had nothing against the man they killed, and begged for mercy.
After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf. Rev. D.S. Campbell delivered a touching prayer just before they left the jail for the short walk to the gallows. Just before they arrived at the gallows, Rudolph was handed a bottle containing 6 ounces of brandy, which he drink to the disgust of his spiritual advisor.
Both brothers, though very unlearned and ignorant, made speeches from the gallows. They seemed pleased that such a large crowd had gathered on their behalf. It was estimated that at least 7,000 people were present, and a thousand of them were women.
At the time of the crime, both brothers made their home with their widowed mother and at least one younger brother. Their home was about 1 and a half miles off what is now hwy 206 at Ella, 12 miles from Columbia. The Neatsville mentioned in article used to be a village on the north side of Green River, located between the river and hwy 206. There used to be a hotel, several stores, one or two doctor's offices and many homes. A large flood between 1900 and 1910 damaged or destroyed most of the buildings at Neatsville.
Rude and Champ were buried in the Tabernacle Cemetery about 100 feet from the old church building. The graves were marked with homemade stones originally.
Taken from an old newspaper article.
1884
Cause of death: hanging.
Rude and Champ Fitzpatrick were brothers and known as the Fitch Brothers. Neither of them had any formal schooling. They could not read nor write, and were known to be dangerous and ruthless trouble makers.
Rude, the older of the brothers was married and had three children. Champ was only 23 and single.
It all began on election day, August 6, 1883. The brothers continued a quarrel, right at the voting place in Neatsville, with Miller Brewster who had just traveled with his small son to vote. The quarrel had started a few days before over a plow.
The younger brother, Champ, accused Brewster of telling lies on him, and cursed like a wild man. Brewster denied the charge, and leading his small son, continuted toward the building. Enraged, Champ knocked off Brewster's hat. As Brewster leaned down to pick it up, Champ pulled him up and started cutting him with a knife.
Bystanders tried to pull Champ off Brewster, but he drew a pistol.
The older brother stepped in at that point firing a shot at Brewster's side. Not content on having wounded an unarmed man, they fired one more shot, fatally wounding Brewster in the head.
Addressing the stunned voters, the pair stated that there were not enough men in Neatsville to take them. But a possee from the Neatsville neighborhood, Sheriff Wolford and his deputies caught and arrested them the following Wednesday. They were tried and convicted of murder. The sentence was hanging by the neck on Dec 7, 1883. Their case was appealed to Governor Knott who changed the date for hanging to March 21, 1884.
The scaffold was erected at the public square in Columbia, only 75 yards from the jail.
Many preachers visited with Rude and Champ that last day of their life. Every effort was made by the spiritual men to let the brothers make peace with God. Both professed faith in their savior right there in jail. They seemed very nervous as time for the execution drew near. It is not known exactly what time they died, but it is believed it was late afternoon.
After they prepared for the gallows, Champ got on his knees praying for his brother Rudolph, who was going to die for defending his (Champ's) life. While he was praying, Rude knelt in front of him sobbing pitifully, groaning and saying he had nothing against the man they killed, and begged for mercy.
After this scene, many prayers were offered on their behalf. Rev. D.S. Campbell delivered a touching prayer just before they left the jail for the short walk to the gallows. Just before they arrived at the gallows, Rudolph was handed a bottle containing 6 ounces of brandy, which he drink to the disgust of his spiritual advisor.
Both brothers, though very unlearned and ignorant, made speeches from the gallows. They seemed pleased that such a large crowd had gathered on their behalf. It was estimated that at least 7,000 people were present, and a thousand of them were women.
At the time of the crime, both brothers made their home with their widowed mother and at least one younger brother. Their home was about 1 and a half miles off what is now hwy 206 at Ella, 12 miles from Columbia. The Neatsville mentioned in article used to be a village on the north side of Green River, located between the river and hwy 206. There used to be a hotel, several stores, one or two doctor's offices and many homes. A large flood between 1900 and 1910 damaged or destroyed most of the buildings at Neatsville.
Rude and Champ were buried in the Tabernacle Cemetery about 100 feet from the old church building. The graves were marked with homemade stones originally.
Taken from an old newspaper article.
Gravesite Details
Son of Thomas and Parthena Boyer Fitzpatrick.
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