"Lively Politics and Pistols: A Republican Rumpus in Caswell County" 1892

 "Lively Politics and Pistols: A Republican Rumpus in Caswell County -- Adams Painfully Wounded"

Danville, Va., October 24 [1892]. -- "There was a lively political row at Miner's store, in Caswell county, on Saturday last. The particulars, as far as can be learned, are as follows: S. P. Womack [actually T. P. Womack] announced himself as Republican candidate for sheriff, and in the course of his remarks said that there was a Republican traitor in the camp who was trying to injure him. Reference was had to A. B. Adams [actually S. B. Adams; see photograph], a well-known Republican and clerk of the Superior Court for that county. After Womack had left the stand Adams denounced him, and Womack struck Adams in the face. B. Y. Womack, brother of the other Womack, then came up and Adams drew a pistol and shot at him. B. Y. Womack then drew his pistol and shot Adams in the arm inflicting a painful but not fatal wound."

Source: The Richmond Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), 25 October 1892.

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The S. P. Womack [T. P. Womack] of the above article is believed to be Thomas Pancoast Womack (1861-1916), who already was Caswell County sheriff at the time, and apparently was announcing his intention to run for the office again. He was successful and served as sheriff 1891 to 1894. His pistol-brandishing brother is Bartlett Yancey Womack (1856-1897).

The brothers are sons of Thomas Jefferson Womack and Ann Elizabeth Yancey Womack, thus being grandsons of Bartlett Yancey, Jr. (1785-1828).

The A. B. Adams referred to in the article is S. B. Adams (Spencer B. Adams), who served as Caswell County Clerk of Court 1882-1896.

The location of Miner's Store is unknown.

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Raleigh, N.C., Jan. 22 -- "The formal election of a United States senator for the term beginning March 4 [1907] was the central feature of this, the eleventh day's session of the general assembly, the result of the election being that Fernifold M. Simmons will succeed himself in the national Congress.

[Simmons defeated (along with J. J. Britt) Spencer Bell Adams, a portion of whose nominating speech is set forth below.]

"Our candidate was born in Dobson, Surry  County, North Carolina, October 15, 1860. Raised on a farm, read law at Dick & Dillard's law school, Greensboro, N. C., became licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of North Carolina February 7, 1882. He at once located at Yanceyville, Caswell County, N. C. Afterwards he was elected clerk of the Superior Court of that county; elected judge of the Superior Court of North Carolina, in the fall of 1896, qualified as judge on January 1, 1897; resigned as judge of the Superior Court in the fall of 1898, and ran for Congress in the Fifth Congressional district. 

"Soon thereafter he located at Greensboro, N. C., for the practice of law; served for two years as secretary and treasurer of the North Carolina Railroad Company; ran for governor in 1900; appointed by President Roosevelt and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 1, 1902, as chief justice of the special United States Court in the Indian territory, occupying this position until January 1, 1905, when the business of the court had been completed, and at once returned to Greensboro and resumed the practice of law. Elected chairman of the Republican state executive committee in May, 1906, by the state committee, and reelected by the state convention July 10, 1906; now engaged in the practice of law in Greensboro, N. C."

Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, North Carolina), 23 January 1907.