William was a son of Judge Washington T. May, a prominent citizen of Marshall County, Alabama. William's nickname was "Buck", and he was a popular young man growing up in Guntersville.
Two of Buck's brothers, Washington W. and John, died in the service of the Confederacy. Buck also fought for the Confederacy (as a minor) and, according to the Guntersville "Advertiser-Gleam", "played an important role at Nickle's Inn, along with Capt. Henry F. Smith and Pvt. George Ward Allen." According to his tombstone, he was Captain in Company C of the Lewis Battalion, Alabama Calvary.
After the war, Buck became a physician in Marshall County, and claimed many of the most prominent local families among his friends.
In 1880 Dr. Buck May lodged with the family of Col J.L. Sheffield, a local Civil War hero that he had known since his youth. While staying with the Sheffields Buck became intimately involved with the Colonel's 30 year old troubled daughter, Andrew M. "Andie" Sheffield. Andie had an addiction to chloral hydrate, an opiate sleep aid, and Dr. May provided her unlimited access to the drug in return for sexual favors. Andie was known in town for her unladylike, eccentric, and often belligerent behavior and was an embarrassment to her prominent family. She initially felt love toward Dr. May but the two soon parted ways, and their illicit relationship was not widely known outside the Sheffield family.
Dr. May enjoyed a good reputation during the mid 1880's as a local physician and had a wide circle of friends. He managed a dry goods store in Warrenton called "May Brothers" that stocked dry goods, clothing, and general merchandise. He and Andie had completely discontinued their relationship during this time, with Andie achieving some level of sobriety and moving into a house of her own in Warrenton.
However, in 1888 Andie had a health incident of some kind and Dr. May came back into her life, along with her renewed dependency on chloral hydrate. Andie later recalled she both feared and hated Dr. May during this time frame, but continued her association with him for access to the drug. Dr. May was frequently witnessed by neighbors calling at his "patient" Andie's house, during all hours of the day and night, often intoxicated himself.
The situation came to a head in the summer of 1890. In June Andie was arrested in the act of trying to burn down the home of one of Dr. Buck May's neighbors. From her jail cell she implicated Dr. May, claiming he put her up to the crime as he was in a feud with the neighbor. Buck denied the charge, but the town was electric with gossip about their relationship and complete destruction of her reputation.
The situation served as a breaking point for Col. J.L. Sheffield. He confronted Buck in Warrenton and shot him in the heart, killing him instantly before surrendering quietly to the sheriff.
Col J.L. Sheffield was acquitted five months later at trial.
In July of 1890 the Sheffield family succeeded in getting Andrew committed to a mental asylum against her will. She was facing likely conviction on the charge of arson, and her prominent family considered the mental institution a less dishonorable fate than federal prison. She remained in the asylum until her death in 1920, and wrote a series of letters that was later published as "The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman" by the University of South Carolina Press, John S. Hughes, editor. Much of the data in this biographical sketch comes from that source, as well as newspaper articles published in the Guntersville Democrat.
Dr. William "Buck" May was buried at Guntersville City Cemetery. He has two tombstones, one a veteran's tombstone with an incorrect date of death (January 20th vice June 20th), and a family tombstone with his correct dates of birth and death.
From the June 26, 1890 "Guntersville Democrat":
"Killed at Warrenton, Dr. William May shot by Col. J.L. Sheffield. On Friday morning the people of Warrenton were excited by the news that Col J.L. Sheffield had shot and killed Dr. William "Buck" May at the residence of Mrs. Taylor, Col. Sheffield's daughter. As we go to press today, a preliminary investigation is going on. Col. Sheffield, having voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff the day after the shooting."
Contributor: Rob Bennett (47739657)
Two of Buck's brothers, Washington W. and John, died in the service of the Confederacy. Buck also fought for the Confederacy (as a minor) and, according to the Guntersville "Advertiser-Gleam", "played an important role at Nickle's Inn, along with Capt. Henry F. Smith and Pvt. George Ward Allen." According to his tombstone, he was Captain in Company C of the Lewis Battalion, Alabama Calvary.
After the war, Buck became a physician in Marshall County, and claimed many of the most prominent local families among his friends.
In 1880 Dr. Buck May lodged with the family of Col J.L. Sheffield, a local Civil War hero that he had known since his youth. While staying with the Sheffields Buck became intimately involved with the Colonel's 30 year old troubled daughter, Andrew M. "Andie" Sheffield. Andie had an addiction to chloral hydrate, an opiate sleep aid, and Dr. May provided her unlimited access to the drug in return for sexual favors. Andie was known in town for her unladylike, eccentric, and often belligerent behavior and was an embarrassment to her prominent family. She initially felt love toward Dr. May but the two soon parted ways, and their illicit relationship was not widely known outside the Sheffield family.
Dr. May enjoyed a good reputation during the mid 1880's as a local physician and had a wide circle of friends. He managed a dry goods store in Warrenton called "May Brothers" that stocked dry goods, clothing, and general merchandise. He and Andie had completely discontinued their relationship during this time, with Andie achieving some level of sobriety and moving into a house of her own in Warrenton.
However, in 1888 Andie had a health incident of some kind and Dr. May came back into her life, along with her renewed dependency on chloral hydrate. Andie later recalled she both feared and hated Dr. May during this time frame, but continued her association with him for access to the drug. Dr. May was frequently witnessed by neighbors calling at his "patient" Andie's house, during all hours of the day and night, often intoxicated himself.
The situation came to a head in the summer of 1890. In June Andie was arrested in the act of trying to burn down the home of one of Dr. Buck May's neighbors. From her jail cell she implicated Dr. May, claiming he put her up to the crime as he was in a feud with the neighbor. Buck denied the charge, but the town was electric with gossip about their relationship and complete destruction of her reputation.
The situation served as a breaking point for Col. J.L. Sheffield. He confronted Buck in Warrenton and shot him in the heart, killing him instantly before surrendering quietly to the sheriff.
Col J.L. Sheffield was acquitted five months later at trial.
In July of 1890 the Sheffield family succeeded in getting Andrew committed to a mental asylum against her will. She was facing likely conviction on the charge of arson, and her prominent family considered the mental institution a less dishonorable fate than federal prison. She remained in the asylum until her death in 1920, and wrote a series of letters that was later published as "The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman" by the University of South Carolina Press, John S. Hughes, editor. Much of the data in this biographical sketch comes from that source, as well as newspaper articles published in the Guntersville Democrat.
Dr. William "Buck" May was buried at Guntersville City Cemetery. He has two tombstones, one a veteran's tombstone with an incorrect date of death (January 20th vice June 20th), and a family tombstone with his correct dates of birth and death.
From the June 26, 1890 "Guntersville Democrat":
"Killed at Warrenton, Dr. William May shot by Col. J.L. Sheffield. On Friday morning the people of Warrenton were excited by the news that Col J.L. Sheffield had shot and killed Dr. William "Buck" May at the residence of Mrs. Taylor, Col. Sheffield's daughter. As we go to press today, a preliminary investigation is going on. Col. Sheffield, having voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff the day after the shooting."
Contributor: Rob Bennett (47739657)
William was a son of Judge Washington T. May, a prominent citizen of Marshall County, Alabama. William's nickname was "Buck", and he was a popular young man growing up in Guntersville.
Two of Buck's brothers, Washington W. and John, died in the service of the Confederacy. Buck also fought for the Confederacy (as a minor) and, according to the Guntersville "Advertiser-Gleam", "played an important role at Nickle's Inn, along with Capt. Henry F. Smith and Pvt. George Ward Allen." According to his tombstone, he was Captain in Company C of the Lewis Battalion, Alabama Calvary.
After the war, Buck became a physician in Marshall County, and claimed many of the most prominent local families among his friends.
In 1880 Dr. Buck May lodged with the family of Col J.L. Sheffield, a local Civil War hero that he had known since his youth. While staying with the Sheffields Buck became intimately involved with the Colonel's 30 year old troubled daughter, Andrew M. "Andie" Sheffield. Andie had an addiction to chloral hydrate, an opiate sleep aid, and Dr. May provided her unlimited access to the drug in return for sexual favors. Andie was known in town for her unladylike, eccentric, and often belligerent behavior and was an embarrassment to her prominent family. She initially felt love toward Dr. May but the two soon parted ways, and their illicit relationship was not widely known outside the Sheffield family.
Dr. May enjoyed a good reputation during the mid 1880's as a local physician and had a wide circle of friends. He managed a dry goods store in Warrenton called "May Brothers" that stocked dry goods, clothing, and general merchandise. He and Andie had completely discontinued their relationship during this time, with Andie achieving some level of sobriety and moving into a house of her own in Warrenton.
However, in 1888 Andie had a health incident of some kind and Dr. May came back into her life, along with her renewed dependency on chloral hydrate. Andie later recalled she both feared and hated Dr. May during this time frame, but continued her association with him for access to the drug. Dr. May was frequently witnessed by neighbors calling at his "patient" Andie's house, during all hours of the day and night, often intoxicated himself.
The situation came to a head in the summer of 1890. In June Andie was arrested in the act of trying to burn down the home of one of Dr. Buck May's neighbors. From her jail cell she implicated Dr. May, claiming he put her up to the crime as he was in a feud with the neighbor. Buck denied the charge, but the town was electric with gossip about their relationship and complete destruction of her reputation.
The situation served as a breaking point for Col. J.L. Sheffield. He confronted Buck in Warrenton and shot him in the heart, killing him instantly before surrendering quietly to the sheriff.
Col J.L. Sheffield was acquitted five months later at trial.
In July of 1890 the Sheffield family succeeded in getting Andrew committed to a mental asylum against her will. She was facing likely conviction on the charge of arson, and her prominent family considered the mental institution a less dishonorable fate than federal prison. She remained in the asylum until her death in 1920, and wrote a series of letters that was later published as "The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman" by the University of South Carolina Press, John S. Hughes, editor. Much of the data in this biographical sketch comes from that source, as well as newspaper articles published in the Guntersville Democrat.
Dr. William "Buck" May was buried at Guntersville City Cemetery. He has two tombstones, one a veteran's tombstone with an incorrect date of death (January 20th vice June 20th), and a family tombstone with his correct dates of birth and death.
From the June 26, 1890 "Guntersville Democrat":
"Killed at Warrenton, Dr. William May shot by Col. J.L. Sheffield. On Friday morning the people of Warrenton were excited by the news that Col J.L. Sheffield had shot and killed Dr. William "Buck" May at the residence of Mrs. Taylor, Col. Sheffield's daughter. As we go to press today, a preliminary investigation is going on. Col. Sheffield, having voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff the day after the shooting."
Contributor: Rob Bennett (47739657)
Two of Buck's brothers, Washington W. and John, died in the service of the Confederacy. Buck also fought for the Confederacy (as a minor) and, according to the Guntersville "Advertiser-Gleam", "played an important role at Nickle's Inn, along with Capt. Henry F. Smith and Pvt. George Ward Allen." According to his tombstone, he was Captain in Company C of the Lewis Battalion, Alabama Calvary.
After the war, Buck became a physician in Marshall County, and claimed many of the most prominent local families among his friends.
In 1880 Dr. Buck May lodged with the family of Col J.L. Sheffield, a local Civil War hero that he had known since his youth. While staying with the Sheffields Buck became intimately involved with the Colonel's 30 year old troubled daughter, Andrew M. "Andie" Sheffield. Andie had an addiction to chloral hydrate, an opiate sleep aid, and Dr. May provided her unlimited access to the drug in return for sexual favors. Andie was known in town for her unladylike, eccentric, and often belligerent behavior and was an embarrassment to her prominent family. She initially felt love toward Dr. May but the two soon parted ways, and their illicit relationship was not widely known outside the Sheffield family.
Dr. May enjoyed a good reputation during the mid 1880's as a local physician and had a wide circle of friends. He managed a dry goods store in Warrenton called "May Brothers" that stocked dry goods, clothing, and general merchandise. He and Andie had completely discontinued their relationship during this time, with Andie achieving some level of sobriety and moving into a house of her own in Warrenton.
However, in 1888 Andie had a health incident of some kind and Dr. May came back into her life, along with her renewed dependency on chloral hydrate. Andie later recalled she both feared and hated Dr. May during this time frame, but continued her association with him for access to the drug. Dr. May was frequently witnessed by neighbors calling at his "patient" Andie's house, during all hours of the day and night, often intoxicated himself.
The situation came to a head in the summer of 1890. In June Andie was arrested in the act of trying to burn down the home of one of Dr. Buck May's neighbors. From her jail cell she implicated Dr. May, claiming he put her up to the crime as he was in a feud with the neighbor. Buck denied the charge, but the town was electric with gossip about their relationship and complete destruction of her reputation.
The situation served as a breaking point for Col. J.L. Sheffield. He confronted Buck in Warrenton and shot him in the heart, killing him instantly before surrendering quietly to the sheriff.
Col J.L. Sheffield was acquitted five months later at trial.
In July of 1890 the Sheffield family succeeded in getting Andrew committed to a mental asylum against her will. She was facing likely conviction on the charge of arson, and her prominent family considered the mental institution a less dishonorable fate than federal prison. She remained in the asylum until her death in 1920, and wrote a series of letters that was later published as "The Letters of a Victorian Madwoman" by the University of South Carolina Press, John S. Hughes, editor. Much of the data in this biographical sketch comes from that source, as well as newspaper articles published in the Guntersville Democrat.
Dr. William "Buck" May was buried at Guntersville City Cemetery. He has two tombstones, one a veteran's tombstone with an incorrect date of death (January 20th vice June 20th), and a family tombstone with his correct dates of birth and death.
From the June 26, 1890 "Guntersville Democrat":
"Killed at Warrenton, Dr. William May shot by Col. J.L. Sheffield. On Friday morning the people of Warrenton were excited by the news that Col J.L. Sheffield had shot and killed Dr. William "Buck" May at the residence of Mrs. Taylor, Col. Sheffield's daughter. As we go to press today, a preliminary investigation is going on. Col. Sheffield, having voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff the day after the shooting."
Contributor: Rob Bennett (47739657)
Inscription
1st stone: CO C
LEWIS BN
ALA CAV
CSA
2nd stone:Dr. William May
Son of
W.T. & M.W. MAY
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Parents
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