The Heartbreaking Death of Delia Green
The century-old murder of a black teenaged girl that served as morbid inspiration for song lyrics
The details surrounding the life of Delia Green are fuzzy, at best and no image remains of her likeness. Details of her death in Savannah, Georgia, at age 14are quite well known — she was shot by a boy because she hurt his feelings.
A Death in Savannah
Late on Christmas Eve, 1900, young lovers Delia Green age 14, and Moses “Cooney” Houston, age 16, attended a party at the home of Willie and Emma West in Savannah, Georgia. The sweethearts had an argument that went like this:
“My little wife is mad with me tonight. She does not hear me. She is not saying anything to me.” Moses announced before he turned to Delia, “You don’t know how I love you.”
Delia, unhappy with being labeled a wife, had some choice words for her beau, “You son of a bitch. You have been going with me for four months. You know I am a lady!”
Moses pulled out the oldest trick in the book; he slut-shamed his girlfriend, “That is a damn lie. You know I have had you as many times as I have fingers and toes.”
Delia retorted that little Mose was a liar. Enraged, he pulled a pistol from Willie…
