The Killing of George O. Curry, 1901

(Transcribed from the Adair County News.)

Wednesday, March 13, 1901

Peter Bryant Held Over for Killing George Curry

Last Friday morning [March 8th] the news reached this town that Geo. Curry had been killed the evening before at the widow Cat Bryant's about eight miles east of Columbia near the Somerset road. Officers immediately left for the above named place and the widow Bryant and her 11 year‑old son, Peter, were arrested and placed in jail. The widow stated that her son killed Curry and the boy plead guilty.

Last Monday [March 11th] the examining trial was held by judge Butler and fifteen or twenty witnesses were examined. The story of the killing as told by Mrs. Bryant was corroborated by her son. She alleged that Curry was threatening to kill her and the boy hearing the threats fired. The boy made similar statements and further said that he believed that Curry meant to carry out his threats and he shot him to save his mama.

Other witnesses made statements that resulted in holding the boy under $100.00 which was given. It is indeed a sad affair. Peter Bryant is the youngest person ever arraigned before a court in this county for such a crime.

Mr. Curry had made arrangements to leave for Illinois in a few days but it availed nothing. He was a son‑in‑law of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Sanders and his wife and one child survive.

Wednesday, May 29, 1901

P. Bryant, the twelve year old boy of this county, who killed George Curry, several months ago, will go to the house of reform, Lexington.

Wednesday, June 5, 1901

Last week we reported that Peter Bryant, the twelve year old boy who shot and killed George Curry, last August, would be sent to the house of reform, Lexington. The grand jury after recommending the court make that disposition of the boy, was given some damaging testimony, and both Peter and his mother were indicted for murder. Opinion is divided as to the guilt of the boy. Some think that he did not fire the shot that killed Curry, while others are of the opinion that if he did the shooting was at the instance of older heads.

September 25, 1901

Dick Bryant, who shot and killed George Curry some months ago, was given a trial last week and acquitted. His mother was also implicated in the indictment and the charge against her were dismissed. Dick Bryant is only a little boy, eleven years of age, and at the time he fired the shot Curry was abusing his mother. The verdict of the jury was not a surprise to those who heard the testimony.

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In the 1900 census, White Oak District, household # 407 was occupied by Zachariah T. Sanders, his wife Elizabeth, and two daughters. Next door (# 408) was occupied by George O. Curry, 28, his wife Myrtie, and their four-month-old daughter Cecil_. The census record noted that George & Myrtie had been married for one year.

Also in the White Oak district, household # 393 was occupied by Martha C. Bryant (widowed, head of household), whose age was given as 25 (born Nov., 1874), daughters Dona E. (14) & Nancy K. (12), and a son, Peter, nine (born Sept., 1889.)

Almost certainly, Martha C., referred to "Cat," in one of the above articles, is the Martha Bryant buried in the Franklin Bryant Cemetery, Adair Co. Her grave marker (Cemeteries of Adair County, Kentucky, Vol 3 page 2) notes that her birth date was November, 1854 rather than 1874, while the Kentucky death records index suggests a birth year of 1851. The latter date is also suggested by the marriage record found in the Adair County Vital Statistics (marriages): Peter J. Bryant, 23, first marriage, he & parents born Adair Co., to Martha C. Conover, 23, first marriage, she & parents born Adair Co., on March 23, 1875, in Adair Co.  The 1880 Adair census (White Oak district, page 50B) has entries for the household of Peter J. Bryant, 27 (head of household), Martha C. Bryant, 26 (wife), and their two-year-old daughter, Mirtie H. 

The 1880 Adair Census (District 1, page 11A), also lists A.J. Curry, 47 (head of household), Martha A., 44 (wife), Sarah, 14 (dau.), George O., 9 (son), and Melvin, 4 (son.)