Killed By a Desperado

B. F. Addison
Killed By a Desperado
Nov 13, 1906
Aged 56 Years
Gone But Not Forgotten

Mr. Ben Addison, a black merchant, was laid to rest in the designated "colored" section of Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.

On the cold winter night of 13 November 1906, a crazed drunken man named Will Harris went on a shooting rampage that left five men dead. One unfortunate victim was Ben Addison. Mr. Addison owned a store at 53 Eagle street in downtown Asheville. He was shot when he opened his door to see what the commotion was about.

[Source: text from "Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour," which uses a script from a video entitled "Journey Beyond the Gates," produced by the students of Charles D. Owen High School -- the 1997 Advanced Placement U. S. History Class]

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