Edwin C. Thomas -- Mystery Murder in the Civil War Era

 

Edwin C. Thomas was born on April 14, 1830 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the first child of James Thomas, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James Jr. was the sixth child of James Thomas and Mary Standley Thomas.  Edwin had five siblings, Carroll Thomas, born in 1831; an unnamed infant; James Clark “Muck” Thomas, born in 1835; Pollie S. Thomas, born in 1837 who died as a child and Amanda Jane Thomas, born in 1838. Edwin’s family was a farm family who lived on Donaldson Creek.

Edwin married Amanda C. Brandon on March 29, 1849 in Stewart County, Tennessee.  Amanda was a native of Stewart County and was born on June 4, 1830, the daughter of William and Abigail Skinner Brandon.  Census records indicate that Edwin and Amanda lived in Trigg County in 1850, the year after their marriage but in 1860, they were living in Smithland, Kentucky on the Ohio River where Edwin had become a riverboat pilot.

Little is known about the life of Edwin Thomas except his death in 1864.  His death is recorded in the July 21, 1864 issue of the Louisville Courier Journal in a news column simply titled “Murder” which went on to say that “about twelve o’clock yesterday, a murder occurred in the bar of Graham’s Hotel on Fourth street between Main and Water.”   Witnesses to the event say that Ed Thomas, a river pilot, was observed standing at the bar conversing in a low tone with Joseph Graham.  Mr. Graham was the proprietor of the hotel.  The bystanders said they were unable to hear the full conversation between the two gentlemen, but presumed from the gestures that it was of an unpleasant nature.

Ed was overhead as saying to Mr. Graham, “Joe, you have been following me around all day, and have insulted me several times.  You shall do so no more.”  Mr. Graham replied, “I did not insult you,” and drew a pistol from his pocket and taking deliberate aim at Thomas, fired.  According to the news article, “The ball took effect, it entered the left breast of Thomas and inflicted a mortal wound.  After being shot, the wounded man turned, walked through the dining-hall, and on reaching the alley to the rear of the building he fell on his face, and expired in less than ten minutes.”  Mr. Graham turned himself in to the police authorities and was confined in jail.  An article in the July 23, 1864 issue of the Courier Journal states that Mr. Graham was arraigned for the murder, but because of the illness of the presiding judge, the case was postponed.  No further information could be found about the murder of Edwin C. Thomas.

According to the 1870 census, Edwin’s wife, Amanda, was still living in Smithland, with their three living children, James William Thomas, born in 1850; Margaret Alice Thomas, born in 1852; and Dewitt Stanley Thomas, born in 1854.  A fourth child, Laura Dean Thomas, was born in 1857 and died that same year.

Amanda died on July 1, 1876.  The location of Edwin and Amanda’s burial sites could not be found.

LINEAGE:  (Edwin C. Thomas was the first child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James, Jr. was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)