Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1883 — William Patterson’s Will. [ARTICLE]

William Patterson’s Will.

CarneeviUe Register. . William Patterson whs a very wealthy tradesman of Baltimore. In the early days of Franklin county, Ga., he bought up a great many tracts of laud in the bountx, in l speut a good portion of his ti no in locking after his interests there. He was said to be as strong as a bear »ud as b ave as a lion; but, like all brave men, T e w*>s a lover of peace, arid, indeed, a -i- d :::ous rnnp. Nevertheless his

pitch. ** * fighting On one occasion he attended a public gathering in the lower part of Franklin County, at some District Court ground. Daring the day two opposing bullies and* their friends raised a row, and a general fight was the eaneequenofc At the beginning ofthe affray, and before the fighting began, Billy Patterson ran in the crowd to penaade them not to fight, but to make peaoe and be friends. But his efforts for peaoe were unavailable and while making them, some of the crowd in the general melee struck Billy Patterson a severe blow from behind. Billy at once beoame fighting mad and cried out at the top of his voioe, “Who struck Billy Patterson?*’ Nooneoooldor wonld tell him who was the guilty party. He then proposed to give any man SIOO who would tell him “who struck Billy Patterson.'* From SIOO he roee to SI,OOO but not SI,OOO wonld induoe any man to tell him “who struck Billy Patterson.” Yean afterward, in his will he related the above facts and bequeathed SI,OOO to be paid by his executors, to the man who would tell “who struck Billy Patterson.” His will is recorded in the Ordinary’s offioe at Carnesville, Franklin county, Go., and any one curious about the matter can there find it and verify the preceding statements.