THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunell, Florida
Thursday, August 25, 1927
Son Durrance, deputy sheriff of this county, died shortly before reaching a hospital in St. Augustine early this morning after a shooting affray between the deputy and a Negro, Tom Payne.
Durrance was lying in wait at a water tank at Greenland, a Negro settlement, near Bayard, for Jim Smith, murderer of sheriff Perry Hall. Payne came up before the officer, and Durrance thinking him the fugitive Negro, ordered him to hold up his hands. The Negro believing Durrance to be a robber, drew his shotgun, sending a load of gun shot into the deputy's right side. Durrance fired at the same time and wounded Payne. According to officers investigating the case, the true cause of the tragedy which cost Durrance his life and which will probably result in the death of the Negro, was due to errors on the part of both.
According to reports, Payne was a post office watchman at Greenland, and had left the settlement about midnight to direct an automobile to his uncle's home who operates a truck farm near Greenland. When he left the machine and only a few feet up the road he was told by Durrance to throw up his hands. The Negro believing that the command was that of a robber fired and fatally wounded Durrance. Payne was, hired by his uncle to guard the post office, which had been robbed several times recently.
Durrance was stationed at Greenland, while C. C. Jordan and Malcom Barber were stationed not far from that place, and immediately rushed to the scene after the shots were fired and rushed Durrance to the hospital in St. Augustine. They had received information that Smith was going to make an attempt to flee from that section during the night. While Durrance was at his post was when he saw a Negro, alight from a car and Durrance believed him to be Smith, the murderer of Perry Hall, and it was during Durrance's attempt to arrest the Negro that resulted in his death and the wounding of the Negro.
Payne, after the shooting, fled to his uncle's house, who is postmaster at the settlement, and who brought the wounded Negro to the county hospital in Jacksonville. It is reported that the Negro's condition is very critical. The Negro's identity was confirmed in Jacksonville this morning at the county hospital, when at that time it was reported that he was the Negro that killed Perry Hall. When questioned by Jacksonville authorities, the Negro related his encounter with deputy Sheriff Durrance. The same story told by the Negro at the hospital was again related by him at noon today when he was questioned by Duval county officials, and later verified by the sheriff's office here.
Surviving relatives are his father, George W. Durrance, Sr., of West Palm Beach; four brothers and three sisters. They are Arthur W., John E. and T. O. Durrance, of Bunnell, and H. W. Durrance of Daytona Beach; Mrs. Harvey Wickle, St. Augustine; Mrs. Dora L. Ash1ey, Daytona Beach, and Mrs. J. L. Allen, Interlachen.
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THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, September 1, 1927
With several hundred Klansmen lending dignity and mystery, the body of George W. Durrance, who was killed by a Negro at Greenland the night of August 24, while Durrance was searching for the murderer of Perry Hall, late sheriff of this county, was consigned to its last resting place. The funeral for Durrance was held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Baptist church here and burial was in the Espanola Cemetery.
Several hundred Klansmen met the funeral cortege, which, it was said, was one of the longest ever seen in this territory. Forming on either side of the road, it was between an avenue of white-clad figures that the hearse and relatives of the dead man wended their way.
Inside the burying ground the Klansmen formed in ranks about the grave. Everything was still, the members of the Klan observing perfect silence, except when they sang. Afterwards the leader read the Klan ritual for the dead, which was most impressive.
When the service was over, the galaxy of white-clad Klansmen dispersed as quietly as they had assembled, and within a few minutes none were to be seen.
Church service at Bunnell was held at 2 o'clock with Elder Serge J. Laupier of the Church of the Latter Day Saints of' Los Angeles, whose mission headquarters are in Atlanta officiated. He was assisted in the service by Rev. C. C. Long, pastor of the local Baptist Church.
Thronging the church and grounds surrounding the building was one of the largest assemblies ever seen in Bunnell and when those who wished to pay their respect to the dead, it required approximately 45 minutes for them to pass the casket.
Pallbearers were Lyman Gage, L. C. Maries, A. W. DuBose, C. O. Magee, Phil Johnson and H. A. Eisenbach.
