📰 Framing the Tragedy: Yellow Journalism in 1903
Manly's death "caused much excitement" in cities and towns across the state. The sensationalized reports are perfect examples of the journalistic style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often called "yellow journalism," this style prioritized sensationalism, drama, and circulation over strict factual accuracy, leading to the kind of contradictions and unverified claims you will see in these articles.
Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Sunday, 8 November 1903 - pg. 1
"DUEL TO DEATH IN DODGE COUNTY
MANLY PEACOCK INSTANTLY KILLED BY H. G. EVERETT, AFTER THE LATTER WAS PERHAPS FATALLY SHOT -- TROUBLE GREW OUT OF A SUIT IN WHICH EVERETT CHARGED THAT PEACOCK HAD ALIENATED HIS WIFE'S AFFECTIONS -- SUIT WAS TO HAVE BEEN TRIED THIS WEEK -- ALL THE PARTIES AMONG THE MOST PROMINENT IN THAT SECTION OF THE STATE.
RHINE, Ga., Nov. 7. -- The killing of Manly Peacock was the culmination of domestic troubles of the slayer which have lasted for some time. The Telegraph told last spring of Mr. Everett's finding his wife and Peacock together at a hotel in Birmingham and the sensational arrest of the pair at the time.
Mr. Everett separated from his wife then and a tragedy between Peacock and Everett has been barely averted by friends since then. Everett entered a damage suit against Peacock in Dodge superior court for $10,000, based upon this and other charges of intimacy with his wife, and the case was in order for trial at Eastman next week.
EASTMAN, Ga., Nov. 7. -- Everett entered suit against Peacock in the last court for $20,000 damages for intimacy with his wife and alienating her affections. The suit was carried over and was to be tried here next week. Peacock went to Rhine, it is said to try to settle the case with Everett.
A witness says they were sitting on the steps of a store at Rhine in conversation when Everett told Peacock he had written letters to his wife of late and Peacock raised and said "you lie." Peacock drew his revolver quickly and fired, the ball entering Everett's abdomen. He will die.
While Everett was falling he fired, the ball entering Peacock's head just above the ear. Peacock died in an hour.
This trouble has been brewing a year or more and the outcome is not a surprise here.
Everett is well connected by marriage. His wife was Miss Laura Bowen of this county. Peacock was a handsome, wealthy young man and belonged to one of the best and wealthiest families in this section and his death is deplored by his many friends here.
He will be buried at Cochran, his home, tomorrow. Everett is hourly expected to die.
Everett was a woods rider for Peacock's brother, who ran a naval store business. Peacock was a book-keeper.
Last spring Peacock ran away with Everett's wife and went to Mobile and Everett followed them and had them arrested but released them and brought his wife back home. Peacock came back and has been around there almost ever since. He has several times insisted on seeing the woman, but has had difficulty in doing so on account of her folks and husband. Later he ran away again with her and went to Florida and returned again.
COCHRAN, Ga., Nov. 7. -- Manly Peacock, who was killed at Rhine yesterday, was well known here, where he was reared, and where his family still reside.
He was the son of Mr. Albert Peacock, who was quite a prominent and wealthy citizen of this place. Manly Peacock was about 27 years old, and few young men who have ever lived here were more highly esteemed and gave brighter promise of a successful and useful life. He stood high in social and business circles, and was known as a quiet, moral and honorable young man.
After attending the N. G. M. & A. College at Dahlonega and the University at Athens, Mr. Peacock took a business course at Pougkeepsie [sic], N.Y., and entered the naval stores business at Rhine with his brother under the style of A. & M. W. Peacock, where he was still successfully engaged at the time of his most unfortunate tragedy.
Besides his mother, Mrs. A. Peacock of this place, Mr. Peacock is survived by his sisters, Mrs. Arthur W. Jackson of Cochran and Mrs. Duncan McRae of Macon, and his brothers, Z. V. Peacock of this place, Albert Peacock of Barnesville, Herbert Peacock of Rhine, and Ralph Peacock, a student at Dahlonega.
The remains will reach here this afternoon and will probably be interred at the cemetery here tomorrow."
Defend His Honor, Even To Death
The Savannah Morning News (Georgia) initially reported this story under the headline, "They Shot It Out: Peacock and Averett in a Deadly Duel." And the next day, they followed up with an article titled, "Sinking To His Knees He Fired Fatal Shot: Brother of H. G. Averett Tells of Saturday's Tragedy at Rhine." This resulted in pushback from Manly's brother, Zebulon Vance Peacock. His letter to the editor was published on 12 November 1903.
"The Peacock - Averett Tragedy.
"The Peacock - Averett Tragedy.
Cochran, Ga., Nov. 10. -- Editor Morning News: The report in your Sunday paper of the tragedy at Rhine, Ga., in which my brother, Manly W. Peacock, was killed and H. G. Averett severely wounded, contains so many inaccuracies and misstatements, I ask that, in justice to the boy who died fighting bravely in defense of his honor and that of his family, you will allow me, through your columns, to say to the public generally, and to our friends, especially, that the report is incorrect in nearly its entirety.
For the sake of the woman involved in the case, I will not give to the public a full statement of the affair until I have her permission. But I wish to assure Manly's friends and those of the other members of our family that he has acted in a manner which will not lessen him in their estimation.
When the truth is known it will be seen that he is not the villain that went abroad wrecking the homes of his friends, but that he yielded to strong temptation -- such temptation that few young men could resist.
The account of the shooting is wholly untrue in every statement. Peacock and Averett had met to settle a damage suit; a compromise had been agreed upon, and Peacock had arisen presumably to take the train home, when Averett used the language which caused the tragedy. The language was such that no honorable man could take, and was promptly resented by Manly. What happened after this is not known. There was only one witness, and he was interested. True it is, that Manly was struck on the pistol arm and shot from the side, and not by Averett from the front, as the two men were standing facing, and so found after the shooting. Three shots were fired; there was only one empty chamber in Manly's pistol. Who fired the other two shots has not yet been determined.
The reporters sending in these accounts, in their zeal to write something very sensational, have done injustice to a man who is not here to present his side of the case. All accounts are friends of Averett, giving his version of the affair. I will say to all who seek to injure Manly or revile his name that in addition to my humble self there are others who will defend his honor even to death.
Z. V. Peacock"
Nonetheless, he was quoted in an article published by the Atlanta Constitution (Georgia) on 10 November 1903.
"'GLAD HE'S DEAD' AVOWS AVERETT
Manly Peacock's Slayer Shows No Remorse.
Sorry for Dead Man's Mother but Has No Grief for Peacock, Who Wrecked His Home. Averett May Recover.
Eastman, Ga., November 9. -- (Special.) -- The latest reports from Averett's bedside indicate that he will live. When told that his aim had proved true and that Peacock was dead he replied:
'I am sorry for his mother, but glad that he is dead.'
Up to the time that Averett became suspicious of Peacock and his wife he was working for Peacock as woodsman, Peacock being interested with his brother in the naval stores business. Averett, with his wife and two little children, occupied Peacock's house and Peacock boarded with them.
The petition filed by Averett against Peacock in this county alleges that Peacock and Averett's wife began visiting the same points about the same time and that on one occasion Averett followed to Birmingham, Ala., and found his wife and Peacock registered at the hotel as man and wife.
Averett's wife is a strikingly handsome woman, about 25 years of age, and calculated to entice the affection of a young man as susceptible as Peacock was.
The damage suit filed by Averett against Peacock was called in court today and withdrawn by Averett's attorney."
💔 The Cultural Blame: A Woman's Temptation
After reviewing the conflicting accounts of the shooting itself, an uncomfortable pattern does emerge -- a clear tendency to blame the woman involved in this triangle. Notice how parties to the conflict and reporting journalists frame the event:
- Z. V. Peacock: While trying to defend his brother, he shifts blame by stating Manly "yielded to strong temptation -- such temptation that few men could resist."
- Atlanta Constitution Reporter: The journalist echoes this sentiment, describing Mrs. Averett as "a strikingly handsome woman...and calculated to entice the affection of a young man as susceptible as Peacock was."
The common societal practice of framing women as the source of "temptation" and moral failure attempts to excuse the actions of the men involved. This makes Mrs. Averett a silent party in this tragedy, whose character is debated and judged in the press without ever being quoted or given a voice of her own.
So, the real historical record of Manly Peacock's shooting death is not a clear account of the duel, but a revealing relic of a time when dramatic circulation and the defense of male "honor" far outweighed the pursuit of accuracy or fairness to every party involved.
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