The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-12-24
MACY HUNLEY RUNS
AMUCK At BUXTON
KILLS VERNE WATkiN AN o
WOUNDS TWO OTHERS.
MURDER HAD NO pRovocATIoN
Daring Chances Taken BY Roy r.
McRae Prevents Further Blood.
shed-Maniac Hurried to
Jail At Abba

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A colored miner named Macy Hun.
ley ran amuck at Buxton Friday after
noon and before restrained had killed
a young colored man, named vernie
Watkins, had shot at and wounded
Emanuel Lobbins in the legs, and had
ATTEMPTED TO kill colored woman. He
also assaulted the constable when ar.
rest was attempted, knocking him
down with blow with his fist, and he
was restrained with greatest difficulty.
He was finally handcuffed and was tax.
en- to Abba and placed in Jail. The
man was evidently demented and did
not seem to realize what he had been
doing. ..
The killing of Watkins occurred in
the Monroe Mercantile Company's
store about four o'clock in the after.
noon, at time when the store was
crowded with holiday shoppers and
regular afternoon customers. The
victim of the shooting received a
charge of bird shot in the back of
his neck and shoulders, which almost
blew his head off. He was standing
with his back toward the murderer
and dropped instantly. He was picked
up and carried to a physicians Office
but died in few minutes.
Following the shooting of Watkins
the scene in the company store was
marked by widest confusion. Women
screamed and strong men almost
fought each other in the effort to
either get out of the place or get be.
hind the counters or to some other
point of safety.
The reckless daring and bravery of
Roy r. McRae, the manager of the
store, probably averted further killing.
Hunley was on the point of shooting
again when McRae, at the risk of his
own life, ran at the colored man, seiz.
ed the gun and grappled with the ma.
iniac. Hunley might possibly have
been more than match for the man.
ager after he had wrested the gun
from the murderer's hands, but others
in the room came to his assistance.
AS McRae grabbed the shotgun from
Hunley, the colored man, still intent
upon blood, took a revolver from his
pocket and tried to use that upon those
who were now crowding upon and
overpowering him. Numbers were too
many for him and this gun was also
taken from him. A constable arrived
on the scene in the meantime and at.
tempted to lake charge of Hunley, who
had been somewhat quieted. When
he started to put handouts on him,
Hunley objected and turning suddenly
struck the constable a terrific blow
with his fist, knocking him to the floor.
The constable was not hurt, however,
and was soon at the man again. This
time he went at him for business and,
assisted by others in the room, applied
force and soon had the man restrained
and in a condition where he could do
no more harm.
Murder Without Provocation.
Hunley is married man about for.
ty years old. 1t is said that he has
been insanely jealous of his wife. The
cause of his insane fury of yesterday
afternoon has not been determined. but
the matter Is being investigated. He
started from his home in a towering
rage carrying the gun and going In the
direction of the company store. The
first person he met in his way was
Emanuel Lobbins. He raised the shot
gun and fired directly at Lobbins, who
was several rods distant. The charge
of shot took effect in the mans legs,
one leg being hard hit. Hunley paid
no attention to the effect OF his shot
or the yelling of Lobbins, but went
straight thead. He next saw a colored
woman at distance. He ran for her.
aiming the gun and fired the second
barrel The shot went wild and the
woman escaped injury.
Hunley continued running in the di.
rection of the store, which he entered
in boisterous and excited manner.
He went up to clerk who was wait.
ing upon customer and in a loud and
excited tone demanded some shells for
the gun. The clerk told the man to
keep quiet moment until he had fin.
ished waiting upon the customer, and
he would get him what he wanted.
Hunley stood near and became quieter,
but when the clerk was ready to wait
upon him he seemed in a hurry again
and excited. He took a couple of the
shells offered him and before anyone
knew what he was doing slipped them
in the gun and started to walk across
the room. Young Watkins, the victim,
was standing near candy case where
he had been talking about some pur-
chases. He did not see Hunley nor
did the clerks pay any attention to
him. He came up close to Watkins
and without hesitation or warning hur-
riedly raised his gun and fired, killing
almost instantly. Watkins,
It is said, was total stranger to Hun
ley. The men lived in different parts |
Of the town and worked at different |
places.
Great excitement followed the esca.
pade of the mad man through the |
streets of the camp and the killing at |
The store. After he had been con-
luered a great crowd gathered about |