Showdown at the Courthouse
A
number of years before I was born, my grandfather Mr. Lum
Greer was engaged in a confrontation with Mr. Walt Brown at
the Shakerag Courthouse on election day.
Mr. Brown always carried a rock about the size of your hand
in the front pocket of his overalls. It was smooth having
been carried there so long. He never left home without it.
When I was about sixteen, I was measuring crop land for the
government and I stopped by Mr. Brown’s house to make a
required report on compliance with his cotton planting
allotment. He had just gotten home and I met him in the
back yard at the well shelter. He drew a bucket of cool
water, offered me a drink, and proceeded to gulp down a
dipper full himself. To my surprise he seemed to be a
pleasant kind of man. He asked me what my business was. As
I began explaining, he removed the rock from his pocket and
placed it on the well curb. I choked on my words as I
focused on the infamous smooth rock that was so
instrumental in the confrontation at the courthouse.
The Shakerag Courthouse was a small building located at the
top of Shakerag Hill near where today Robinson Road
intersects Highway 54 in Peachtree City. This was an
election day and the men folk had gathered to vote,
socialize, and discuss the political issues of the
candidates. Emotions ran high and during an argument
between Mr. Walt and Papa Greer, Mr. Walt hit Papa Greer in
the head with this rock that he carried as a weapon in the
front pocket of his overalls.
Papa Greer, hurt and angry, went home and got his pistol.
He only lived a short distance from the courthouse over on
what today is called Greer’s Mountain. The pistol was an
old “owl head” pistol. It was called that because the
hammer on the gun resembled the head of an owl. It wasn’t
very powerful but still quite dangerous. He came back to
the courthouse with his pistol and shot Mr. Walt.
Mr. Walt fell to the ground and was taken up and carried to
a doctor. Papa Greer thinking that he might have mortally
wounded Mr. Walt and realizing the seriousness of his deed
went back home, bandaged up his head, and got into the bed.
Meanwhile at the doctor’s office they proceeded to undress
Mr. Walt. As they removed his overalls the bullet fell out
on the floor. It had only penetrated his clothing. Shortly
afterward Mr. Walt was convinced that he had not been
injured and he was up and around.
Papa Greer was still at home in the bed with his head
bandaged. My great granddaddy came by to see how his son
was doing.
“ How you doing, son?” inquired his daddy.
“Bad, real bad. My head hurts something awful!” moaned Papa
Greer.
“How’s Walt?” Papa Greer asked.
“Ah, he’s all right. The bullet only went through his
overalls and broke the skin a little. He’s already back
home.” answered his daddy.
With that Papa Greer got out of bed and took the bandage
off his head completely healed!