In May of 1877, the earlier courthouse on the square provided the forum for Anthony Goble’s murder trial. The previous November, Goble was drinking whiskey next to Matt Barnes government-licensed distillery, part of the small crowd of drinkers on hand that day. Wofford Brown of Gordon County approached Goble to confront him about an incident that occurred during the Civil War. Brown accused Goble’s father of stealing meat from Brown’s father and further charged that Goble had eaten some of the stolen meat himself. Goble answered the charges saying that he was just a boy during the war and didn’t know anything about what Brown was talking about.

Goble was a powerfully built man, who didn’t take insults lightly, but witnesses noticed no animosity between the two after the accusation. In fact, Goble seemed to befriend Brown, who later asked that Goble show him the way to the Watkin’s house. Goble obliged and accompanied by Brown’s travelling partner, William Gentry, left in good spirits to show his new acquaintance the way. Gentry left the two men a short distance later about 1:30 p.m.

At eight that evening, Goble showed up at the home of a Mrs. Tuck. He told her and several others in her house that he had been fighting and killed a man, showing them his blood-soaked hands. They assumed he was joking, using the blood of a slaughtered animal for his ruse. But when he saw their disbelief, he pulled a handful of ragged whiskers from his pocket as further evidence of his crime. "If you give me a dollar apiece for them, I will go and stick them back," he said to the horror of those in Tuck’s home.

Goble lead them to Brown’s body. He was horribly injured, the Dahlonega Signal and Advertiser reported it from the trial as, "the worst mangled body that was ever heard of." But, to the relief of the group, Brown was still alive and seemed to be trying to crawl away from his attacker. Goble then attacked Brown a second time, kicking and beating until he was pulled away by the men at what was now a murder scene as Brown was dead.

Goble was sent to the jail in Cobb County to prevent his family from breaking him out. He returned to the courthouse in Ellijay on May 14 of 1877 and pleaded "not guilty." Numerous witnesses testified against Goble, who offered no words in his own defense, nor would anyone testify on his behalf. He was pronounced guilty and sentenced to hang, with the execution slated for June 22.

No legal hanging had ever taken place in Gilmer County, as law was dispensed on a more personal level, retribution, in most cases. Several officials were uneasy at how Goble’s family and friends might react toward whoever pulled the trap on the execution. The sheriff, to whom this duty would usually fall, resigned his job over the matter. Several others refused to trigger the gallows. Dr. James Johnson, county coroner and a friend of Goble’s from their early days finally agreed to do the deed.

The execution took place in a natural amphitheater up the hill behind the town and cemetery. It became known as Hang Hollow. Today it is on private property off Corbin Hill Road. On the morning of the execution, Goble made a profession of faith and was baptized into the Methodist Church. He rode in a wagon, seated on his own coffin up the steep winding path to the gallows, where a large crowd was on hand for the spectacle. Goble read a confession, blaming his crime on bad influences and hard liquor. He then personally greeted several hundred friends and family who filed by the wagon to say their last good-bye.

A thunderstorm moved in over the town as the time of the execution neared. When everything was in order and Goble said he was ready, Dr. Johnson tried, without success, to pull the trigger on the trap door. Several hard pulls on the trigger rope were with no effect. The coroner then dug his feet in, wrapped the rope around his wrists and pulled with all his might. The trap released and Tone Goble was hanged at last.

Dr. Johnson whose house then stood on the courthouse square at the site of today’s courthouse, soon moved out of town.

A note to the reader who has this story reproduced here without the benefit of the remainder of the tour in the book. This story is relates to the courthouse square in Ellijay.

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