The leader., 1902-01-22
A DEPLORABLE TRAGEDY.
VIM. Ne herIand, n Peace Maker, Killed
at Wood Brothers show.

at Wood Brothers Show.
Woods Brothers show is here, but it
brought with it a tragedy. VIM. Meth
erland, a quiet, peaceable and respected
citizen of Southeast Lincoln, is dead,
and George Wood, a Snowman, is in
Jail at Brookhaven charged with his
murder.
The facts, about as well as we could
ascertain, are as follows: Wood Broth
ers' Show was to exhibit at Robt. Girls
cos store about eleven miles southwest
of this place last Tuesday afternoon.
The show arrived there on time, the
tents we're pitched and pretty soon a
good sized crowd. About the time the
side-show was to begin, some boys, who
we're said to be drinking, began dis
turbance of some kind with George
Wood outside The outcome of it was
that Wood slapped down one of the
Wood with a picket or piece of plank.
he had pistol in his hand, but the
the matter drop, and so Wood went
back to the tent. In the meantime, Mr.
Netherland, who was in the tent, hear
lnS but uOlSt, WCUJ OuU W ACT Ill LIE
capacity of peace maker, but finding
everything all right, was returning to
the tent again when the shot was fired
by Wood from the inside which hit
Netherland, mortally wounding him.
Wood then stepped outside, and Mr..
b. M. w. Mason,a citizen living in that
community, ordered him to surren-
der. Quite a scuffle ensued be-
tween Wood and the crowd, in which
Wood and his brother (who was assist
ing Mr.. Mason in trying to maintain
order were handled pretty roughly.
Finally, they succeeded in getting
Wood off to the residence of Mr.. Lem
Lee, about three-quarters of a mile
distant. In the meantime, MIR. Meth
erland was carried to Mr.. Criscoe's
house, and medical aid was promptly
summoned, but all efforts proved fu-
tile, and after lingering through the
night he died yesterday morning about
daylight He was about 80 years of
age and leaves wife and seven chill
dren
The Sheriff of Lincoln county was
communicated with by telephone from
Fair River, and during the night Dep
uties Lambright and McCalip, of
Brookhaven, arrived and took charge
of the prisoner. AS soon as Neither
land died, they, accompanied by MIR.
Mason, started off with Wood ostensi-
bly, to carry him to Brookhaven, but
after getting off piece they changed
their course and brought him on to
Monticello, where he was lodged in
Jail. This was done in order to avert
mob violence, which was feared. After
staying here about two hours, Deputy
Sheriff Lee, in the absence of Sheriff
Fox, summoned special posse of good
men to accompany the Lincoln county
officers, and the prisoner was started
toward Brookhaven by circuitous
route. We presume they reached that
point safely.
Mr. Wood says he did not intend
shooting any one, but merely shot to
scare the boys and unfortunately fired
too low Whether Netherland was out
side or inside when the shot was fired
is question that is not settled, but at
any rate, the occurrence is deplorable
and greatly regretted by all parties. 1t
is safe to say that the defendant will
have fair and impartial trial. when all
the facts in the case will be brought
out.-Ldwrence County Press, Jan. 10.
Deputies Lambright and McCalip
reached Brookhaven safely with their
prisoner on Wednesday afternoon, and
lodged him in the county Jail.