It sounds like something out of a movie - a burning home, the shots of Winchesters, the eventual mob violence that resulted in lynchings - but this is the story of one of Alabama's most notorious outlaws, Bloody Bob Sims, and his connection to Eastabuchie.
Born Robert Bruce Sims in Choctaw County, Alabama, Bob was a veteran of the 22nd Alabama Infantry in the Civil War. He had been injured and captured by Union troops and held at Camp Morton in Indiana. Returning hoome to Womack Hill community, he began to grow away from church teachings of the time. Ultimately he started his own "church", a sect that some called the Simsites. [1] Sim drew a sizeable crowd of followers, numbering more than one hundred by some estimates. He distributed his doctrine through a pamphlet titled The Veil is Rent. [2]
Among Sims' beliefs was that only God's laws mattered, so laws against, say, alcohol didn't apply. He began a moonshine business, which strained his ties in the community even more. Ultimately Sims promoted the destruction of civilian authority, Robert Sims, photo from AL.com
and the resulting pattern of violence came to be called the Sims War [2, 3].
Several altercations are reported over the years. One of Sims' followers wanted to date a daughter of a local preacher, Reverend Richard Bryant Carroll. Carroll sent the suitor away from his home, only to be found shot to death on his front porch later. Several other skirmishes occured before building up to a conflict with John McMillan, a local merchant. [1] Sims had stolen goods from McMillan and then sent word that he was coming to McMillan's home to kill him. McMillan promptly requested a guard for the night at his home, but having no problems, he left his home mostly unguarded the next night. Around 11 pm, seven of Sims' gang set the house on fire and proceeded to shoot the occupants as they ran from the burning home. Reports suggested the following:
- Charley Utzey - unhurt
- Fleuellen Utzey - shot but only injured
- John Kennedy - killed
- John McMillan - died of injuries
- 12 year old niece of McMillan - killed
- 10 year old nephew - killed
- Bella McKenzie (a school teacher boarding at the McMillan's) - killed [3]
After the murderous rampage, the Sims gang looted the store and continued making threats.
Shortly after the Sims were back in their home, the Sheriff and a posse surrounded the Sims home and demanded Bob turn himself in. As a motivator, the sheriff had apparently sent for the old Civil War cannon to be brought in; as it took too long to arrive, someone reportedly bluffed with a tree trunk painted black. The threat of a cannon got Bob's attention. He agreed to turn himself over to authorities if his wife and daughters could be kept safe. The sheriff agreed to do what he could and even allowed a band of fifty men to be chosen to escort the prisoners to the jail. It wasn't difficult to see that this band had little chance. According to an early report, There is an impression that some outsiders who have made no promises to keep their hands off the outlaws will overpower the posse en routhe and lynch the prisoners. The road is hilly and the underbrush thick, so that if a few armed men should decide to take Sims, they can do it. [5]
Even to the end Sims and his followers remained committed to his cause. As they rode to what was certain death, '[Sims] refused to be blindfolded. He held out his hand and asked them to feel his pulse to see if he was frightened, and said he was going to heaven. Young savage said: "If you think enough of me to bury me, put me by the side of Sims. We are fighting for the same cause."' [4]
Elizabeth Campbell Sims (seen to the left, photo from ancestry.com) , wife of Bloody Bob, took her children to a new home, staying in Wayne County and Clarke County, MS. One story says that while the Sims lived in Clarke County, many of the children went to work at a cotton mill. When the boss told the family that if the youngest child, Solie, didn't quit school to work for him he would fire the whole family. Instead, they packed up and moved to Eastabuchie. There, the Sims became fixtures in the community, with Iggy and Solie, the two youngest sons, known for their unique hats and musical talent and their mother known as a kind and gentle woman. Her death
was a sad occasion as described in writings by Elizabeth Waldorf (and found on ancestry.com):
In November 1929, sadly this gentle lady died of a stroke. She collapsed on the steps between the house and the kitchen. Laura, who was there visiting, found her mother and urgently called, "Come help me. Momma has fallen." Elizabeth responded, "I did not fall." Those were her last words. They were apt for a strong woman who withstood much adversity. At Jack Conner's store in Seminary, Victor bought a varnished coffin for $125. Lonnie Aultman delivered it. After the wake, the casket was carried to the cemetery on Iggies new 1929 Ford A model one ton truck. The Eastabuchie cemetery is located west off old Highway 11 north. Rev. Hardy Norsworthy, former sheriff of Forrest County and a friend of the family from Wayne County, conducted the service... Later, Iggie, Solie, and Ruby would rest beside their mother in this cemetery. [5]
[1] 5 Notorious Outlaws from Alabama's Wild West Days, AL.com.
[2] Alabama Scoundrels: Outlaws, Pirates, Bandits ... by K. Kazek, W. Elrick
[3] A Southern Terror: Arrest of the Bloody Bob Sims and His Bad Gang. The Pittsburgh Press. 27 Ded 1891.
[4] Fate of the Notorious Alabama Outlaws. The San Francisco Call, Vol 71, #27, 27 Dec 1891.
[5] Elizabeth Campbell Sims, attributed to Elizabeth Waldorf and available via ancestry.com.