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1838, Robert McDonald
MURDER MOST FOUL
From a letter received by his friends here, we regret to learn that Mr.
ROBERT M'DONALD, formerly of this place, was murdered in Jackson, Miss.
in January last. It appears that Mr. M'Donald, who has been for some years
engaged in business in the south, had contracted to build the State house
at Jackson; and on last Christmas, some of his workmen having got into a
frolic, he discharge them. A short time afterwards, one of them attacked
him in the street, with a rifle in his hands, and after some slight altercation
shot him in the side, which caused his death in about an hour.
The culprit, at the date of the letter, was in jail, awaiting his trial.
Mr. M'Donald was a young man, in the prime of life, and his untimely death
will be sincerely lamented by a numerous circle of relatives and friends,
to whom he had endeared himself by his manly virtues and exemplary course
of life.
=============================================
Received May, 1998 from the Mississippi Dept. of Archives and HIstory
Archives and Library Division
PO Box 571
Jackson, MS 39205-0571
DOCUMENTS SEARCHED:
Biographical Index - "Robt. Mcdonald found but not the dates this
man should be".
Subject files: "No file for this Robert McDonald"
Card Catalog: "Examined the newspaper abstract volumes (3) and the
index to Hinds County cemeteries - no mention
found."
Official Records Guide: "Examined case index fo High Court of Error
& Appeals - no entry for Robt. McDonald (or any McDonald during this
time period). Examined Journal of the Bulding Commission - see below.
SOURCE: Journal of Building Commissioners (record group 43 - mf 10
researcher's note: "pages where McDonald seen - no index so just 'read
through' film"
Proceeding of the Board of Commissioners of Public Buildings of the State of Mississippi, 1836-41
[page 127]
Tuesday, December 5, 1837
The Board met
present Geo. Finncane R.R.T., Perrt Cohea
S.P. Baly (ck)
On motion Ordered
That the sum of One Thousand dollars be and the same is hereby allowed to
Robert McDonald on his contract for the Brick work of the State Capitol.
Ordered Further
Thursday, Dec 7th 1837
The Board met
present George Finncane RRT, Perry Cohea
S. P. Baly (ck)
On Motion Ordered
That the sum of two thousand dollars be and the same is hereby allowed to
Robert McDonald; on his contract for the Brick layers work on the State
Capitol.
[page 134]
Wednesday 27th Dec 1837
The Board met
present Geo Finncane, Perry Cohea
S. P. Baly (ck)
Whereas the death of Robt McDonald, contractor for the Bricklayers work of the State Capitol has cast a damp[?] on the appearance of the progress of the building. And whereas the commission desiring[?] it advisable that the work should not be retarded, and having become responsible to the several hands employed by the Said McDonald, for their wages, and Mrs. McDonald wife of the said McDonald having expressed her wish that the same should be settled by the Board
Resolved therefore
That the Board will allow and Settle with the hands employed by Robt McDoanld
the balance due them by said McDoanld for work done by them on the State
Capitol, and that to further the progress of the bulding they will keep
said hands employed at teh responsibility of the State adn make the allowance
according to the contract of said McDonald, until the first day of January
next, or longer if kept in teh employment of the State said allowance to
be made to said hands, whenever a satisfactory showing shall be made to
the board tha will authorize the paymen of the same.
Resolved further
That the clerk be authorized to inform the workmen of said proceedings.
[page 135]
Resolved That a committee be appointed to acertain the quantity of brick
now on the Capitol Square, delivered prior to the death of Robt McDonald
and report the same to the board as early as possible. Which committee made
the following report to wit
That on examing the brick now remaining ont eh Capitol Square and delivered
prior to the death of Robt McDonald, they find that there remains now on
the Square forty eight thousand five hundred and fifty bricks.
[pape - 140]|
Saturday Dec 30 1837
The Board Met
Present Geo. Funncane, Perry Cohea, W. H. Young
S. P. Baly (ck)
On motion
... Ordered further
That the sum of four hundred dollars be and the same is hereby allowed to
S. P. Baly for money advanced by him to teh several workmen employed by
Robt McDonald, according to the several bills tendered and that the said
amount be deducted from the said McDonalds [page 141] contract and considered
as an allowance to him, On Motion the Board then adjourned.
Tuesday, January 9th, 1838
The Board Met
Present Geo. Funncane, Perry Cohea, William H. Young
S. P. Baly (ck)
Whereas the commission having been apprised that teh Brick layers work of the State Capitol under Robert McDonalds late contract cannot progress under the deranged state of affairs since said McDoanlds death. And whereas the Commissioners are of opinion that render the 7th Sec. of an Act "Entitled an Act to appoint Commissioners of Public Buldings in this state and for other purposes" approved Feby 27th 1836 that said contract should be declared at an end. Mrs McDonald having informed the Board through her brother (Mr. McMahan) that it was impossible for her to have the contract continued. And Whereas Messrs. I. & W. Gibbons have porposed to enter into the aforesaid contract on the same terms to teh finishing the building & Whereas said Board deeming it inadvisable that said building should stop in its progress and [page 142] confidence[?] in the same.
Friday, January 12th 1838
The Board met .... etc.
Whereas there are a great quantity of brick batts remaining on the Capitol
Square that the Board are of opinion should have been worked in the building
by Robt McDonald dec'd late contractor on teh State Capitol for the bricklayer
work And Whereas the Contract has been given to Other contractos and whereas
it is necessary to a Settlement with teh Estate of the Said McDoanld that
the quantity of batts should be ascertained as near as possible
So ordered therefore that the Board constitutes a committee and examine
and ascertain the quantity of brick batts as near as possible that should
have been worked into the walls of the State House by the said Robert McDoanld
under his contract and report to the same as early as possible... [reimbursement
to S.P. Baly]
[pages 146, 147]
[contract given to John & William Gibbons, spelling out conditions of
same]