The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-24
Son Of the Victim Puts War
rant In Hands Of Deputy
KennybrOOk
ALLEGED THAT SUSPECT
HAD MADE BAD THREATS
Another Horrible Crime In Western
jefferson Brought to Light in
Murder of Well Known
Mill Owner.

From the extreme western portion of
Jefferson county. admittedly the most
lawless section of the county, there comes
the story of another assassination of
horrible features. ]. Il. Myrick we'll
TODD farmer and sawmin owner, was
shot from ambush and instantly killed
yesterday morning at o'clock while rid
Ing from his home to his mill near Sayre.
Clews to what at first appeared to be
case completely shrouded in mystery
have been secured the suspect has been
spotted and plans were laid last night
Deputy Sheriffs j. P. Brents. Robert
Collier and Dave Kennybrook were sent
out from Birmingham to assist Deputy
James Prince of Brookwcod with the
case and vital evidence was secured by
the four men yesterday.
Myrlck Found Murdered.
From all that could be learned of the
assassination it appears that Myrick left
his home on horseback early yesterday
morning to ride to his mill a few hundred
yards distant Shortly after he left his
family the report of a shotgun was heard
and upon an investigation Myrick was
found lying in the road, dead from an
ugly wound in his side. The horse which
the dead man had ridden had been
frightened by the shot and had run down
the road a short distance, showing con-
clusively that Myrick had been shot from
his horse. 1t is believed that the mans
death was instantaneous.
Officers from Sayre received an early
report of the ma tier and were soon on
the scene. The woods near the scene of
officers but no clew to the murderer
could be found.
Murphy the Suspect.
During the day, however. several won-
en- residing near the bridge over the War
rior river at sayre, testified that short
ly after the shooting they saw a white
man, Doc Murphy. run across the
bridge with sh)tgun In his hands With
this clew the deputies ran down con-
siderable amount of circumstantial evil
dence against Murphy. Deputy Sheriff
last night said:
'Myrick and Murphy are known to
have been at outs for some time, griev
ances having arisen over the arrest OF
Murphy, for which Myrick was respon-
sible. 1t seems that Myrick swore out
a warrant a short time ago charging
Murphy with grand larceny. alleging that
he had stolen yearling.
This act on Myrick's part caused much
bitterness between the two men and Muir
ply is said by several persons to have
remarked that Myrick would never live
to testify against him in the trial of the
case in which he Murphy was the de-
PENDANT on charge of stealing the yearl-
ing.
Several white women have stated to-
day that they saw Murphy running
across the bridge over the Warrior river
with shotgun in his hand shortly after
the assassination of Myrick occurred
Warrant for Murphy.
Murphy was located at his home last
night and Ed Myrick, son of the deceased
man, swore out a warrant charging him
with the murder. The warrant was placed
in the hands Of Deputies Dave Kenny
brook and Robert Collier and last night
they planned to serve 1t at daybreak this
morning.
J. T. Myrick, the deceased, was a quite
well-known and prominent man in the
community where he lived. He is sur
vived by widow and 10 children. The
body of the deceased is held at Sayre.
pending an Investigation of the case by
Coroner B. L. Brasher.
Marrlaoe Icensee teeuod