Civil War Veteran George Washington Race (1849 - 1921) “Killed by two Military Deserters”

Question

George Race was born on March 04, 1849 in Burke, Franklin, New York, USA. His parents were Levi Race and Elizabeth Cashman. He married Cordelia Chaffee on March 17, 1875. He died on May 07, 1921 in Rockingham, Windham, Vermont. 

We need collaboration in his genealogy as to what happened to the two men who killed him a William Gibson and William Lescord? It appears Lescord was sentenced to the electric chair but was eventually changed to life in prison? 

Also it appears George was a civil war veteran but need help with which regiment he served?

Thank you

Answer 1

There is an unsourced statement in a www.ancestry.com profile that says, "He served 19 years in Concord Reformatory was released then married Claire Marie Sault."

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/65384817/person/44139521926/facts

According to The Bethel Courier, William Lescord and William Gibson were released on Thanksgiving Day, 1938. Lescord was stated to be a native of Ashburnham, Massachusetts and Gibson of Tennessee.

The Bethel Courier (Bethel, Vermont), December 15, 1938, p. 3.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/656581076/?terms=William%20Lescord&match=1

Here is a link to the Social Security Administration Death Index for him (with his death in 1967, in Ashburnham):

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JP37-PY7

Comments

This is very helpful. Now we know at least what happened to the two men who were convicted of killing George Race. It does say also in sources he was a member of the G.A.R. so it likely he was a veteran of the civil war. A very interesting case of these two men from 1921. 

Thank you for the help 

Answer 2

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27313150/george-race-vindicated/

https://books.google.ca/books?id=yk4wAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA9&lpg=RA4-PA9&dq=william+gibson+william+lescord&source=bl&ots=4ZsUF91hiW&sig=ACfU3U1xl1qZr_GMp603SCOUBghQV1Z-zg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMkMnX9_zzAhWdJTQIHQGmBXgQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=william%20gibson%20william%20lescord&f=false

https://cite.case.law/vt/96/85/

Comments

Thank you. I’m curious if the two men have a gravestone memorial? Interesting story and great sources. 

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Is it possible they were paroled or maybe they served the entire life sentence and died in prison?

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They probably do have headstones or records somewhere.

 You might be able to find out when they were released if you search under inmates, new york.  The difficulty will be that I do not know the birthdates of these men and there are people of the same name in the same area.  New York did have a parole board at that time or shortly thereafter.  It looks like the murder was an aside to what they were trying to do, so they could have grounds for non premeditated.  

Good luck.

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Thank you  this is helpful with some good sources too!