The murder of Samuel Fleming by Col. W. W. Avery

But at the heart of each of these projects will be one crucial event– the murder of Samuel Fleming by Col. W. W. Avery. Both men served in the NC State legislature and were prominent members of the community. After an embarrassment in a local court case, Fleming attacked Avery with a rock and cowhide, injuring and humiliating him. Sometime later Avery walked into the Morganton courthouse and shot Fleming. Avery was tried for murder and acquitted. What does this case tell us about honor in the Antebellum South? What more can you learn about this case and its aftermath? What other important questions could/should we be asking? Your final project can follow one of several paths. Traditional Paper: Write up a paper with a thesis (central argument) that tells us something about broader antebellum culture using the killing as its centerpiece.