The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-12
He KILLED HIS
FATHER-IN-LAW
Then Came to Raleigh and
Gave Himself Up.
PLEADS SELF-DEFENSE
THE END OF A FAMILY FEUD
NEAR EARPSBORO.
W. G. BROWNING SHOT B. C. STRICKLAND
Strickland Attacked Browning With Knife
and Browning Shot Him With Gun
Loaded for Turkeys--Browning
l. Now Hera in Ial,
IS Now Here in Jail.

is Now Here in Jail.
Early yesterday morning w. ).
Browning, Wake county farmer, shot
and killed his father-in-law, Bud Cade
Strickland.
Soon after the shooting Browning
came to Raleigh and surrendered HIM
self to the officers, and he is now in
jail awaiting his preliminary trial next
Thursday before Justice OF the Peace
Roberts.
Browning lives in Little River town
ship. near the Johnston county line. His
father-in-law, Strickland, lived half a
mile away, just over the line in john
ston county. Browning is about 40
years old and the man he killed was 40.
The murder occurred about Z o'clock.
Two hours later Browning left home
for Raleigh, reaching here about 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon. He first
went to Mr.. w. II. Hood, whom he
knew we'll and told him what he had
done, and asked him to go with him to
the sheriff's office that he might surren-
der himself to the authorities.
At the sheriff's office they were told
they would have to go to a magistrate
that the proper papers might be made
out Then they went to Justice Roberts
office, the papers were made out ana
Constable Upchurch arrested Browning.
After employing Mr.. j. G. l.. Harris
as his attorney Browning related the
story of the killing to him. The facts
as given by Browning are about as fol-
lows:
Some years after Browning married
Strickland's daughter he secured a part-
ton of the land and secured the part
belonging to his wife. This made Strick
land very mad and he never forgave his
son-in-law, but often swore he would
kill him for it.
With the years the feud grew in BIT
terness. Strickland never met Browning
without carrying an open knife or some
other weapon in his hand. He openly
and repeatedly made his threats.
Yesterday morning Browning started.
with a double-barrel. breech-loading gun
on his shoulder, to his turkey-blind. His
father-in-law. at the same time. was on
his way to his blowing in a field some
800 years from Browning's house. The
two men met in the road. Browning
turned out to the right, but Strickland
instead of doing likewise. set Tpon him
with an open knife. cutting him on the
neck and then upon the shoulder through
his clothes.
As Strickland attacked Browning the
gun was knocked from Browning's
shoulder. As his father-in-law closed
in upon him Browning sprang back
placed the muzzle of the gun in Strick
lands face and fired. Strickland drop
ped in his tracks. the top of his head
oce 49, = 4
centre of his forehead. Not word had
been spoken.
Browning now went home and sent
his little girl for neighbor, A. B. Par
rish whom he took to the scene of the
murder They found Strickland just as
he had fallen upon the ground. still
grasping the knife in his hand. Next
Browning went to Earpsboro and Magis-
trate Dave Brown gave him a note to
Mr.. W. III. Hood, of this city, who used
TO live in that section and was a we'll
known magistrate there.
What happened on Browning's arriv-
al here has already been related above.
After consulting with his attorney for
sometime Browning. was taken to the
Jail to await trial next Thursday. Sev
eral witnesses have been summoned for
the defence.
Nobody saw the killing. but it will be
proved that Strickland often threatened
Browning's life and that he is a des-
perate man. 1T is said that he'has dur
ing his life killed two men--a white
man and negro. The killing Of the lat
ter was most brutal murder, but by
some technicality in the courts the STAY
er escaped.
Browning, on the other hand, is
Woodworking, honest man. Quite and
peaceable, he has been greatly worried
by his father-in-law's bitter enmity. The
worry of this and the continued nagging
of the old man had about driven Brown
ing crazy and his friends think he was
hardly responsible for his acts yester-
day.
Though a Woodworking, honest far
mer. Browning has no property beyond
the little tract of land. probably worth
$500 about which his father-in-law tried
TO kill him. All of Browning's neigh
bors speak well of him. He has only
one good hand, the fingers Of the other
having been cut off some years ago IN
a cotton gin.
1t is believed that he will be released
next week at the preliminary trial
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