The log cabin Democrat., 1911-07-17
.LANEY HARROD
Stays COUSIN
KILLS ALBERT M'DANIEL
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING
TRAGEDY NEAR BERYL SAT
URDAY AFTERNOON.

Inc ilfst matter brought to the at
tentlon of the grand jury this morn
ing was the killing of Albert McDan-
iei by his cousin, Laney Harrod,
which occurred four miles north of
Beryl Saturday afternoon at a o'clock
Harrod, who admits the killing and
claims self-defense, was placed in iail
early Sunday morning by Sheriff ]. S.
Johnson, who was summoned to the
scene of the tragedy SATURDAY. night
Although neither the man charged
with the killing nor the only eye-wit
ness was present at the hearing, Cor
oner }. H. Pence held an inquest Sun
day afternoon, and the jury returned
verdict that Mcdaniel met death at
the hands of Harrod. Seven or eight
witnesses were examined by the coro-
ner, but their testimony was practic-
ally all based on reports they had
heard of the killing.
The killing occurred near the farm
Of Laney Harrod's widowed mother
on which he lived, and was witnessed
only by Grover Harrod, who is a
cousin to both Laney Harrod and Nc
Daniel. According to the story of
Grover Harrod, he and Mcdaniel were
riding through the woods and came
upon Laney Harrod, who was carry
ing shotgun and had been out hunt
ing. The two stopped and talked
a while, after which it was suggested
that they shoot at a target on tree.
Mcdaniel who is said to have been
drinking at the time, quarreled with
Laney Harrod over the result of the
alshot and the lie was passed between
them.
Mcdaniel, according to Grover
Harrod, then said to Laney Harrod:
Cant you dance?" and Laney an
swered, NO." when Mcdaniel said,
"1ll make you," and reached toward
ihs hip-pocket. Laney, who was stand
ing only seven or eight feet away,
then fired both barrels of his gun
point-blank at Mcdaniel, who fell and
died instantly. The two Harrods left
and informed neighbors of the killing.
Will Roberts was the first to reach
McDaniePs body after the Harrods
left it. He stated at the coroners in
quest that the dead man was lying on
the ground with two large holes in his
body, one in the breast and one under
the right arm, the entire charge from
the gun, including even the gun-wad-
ding, having entered the body. Mr..
Roberts said there were several empty
shot gun and pistol shells on the
ground near the body, but there was
no pistol on McDaniel's person. A
bottle of diluted alcohol, he stated,
was also laying on the ground.
H. J. Mcdaniel, father of the dead
man, also testified at the coroper's in
quest. He stated that Grover Harrod
had come to his home and asked for
Albert Saturday afternoon. He saw
pistol in Harrod's pocket, he states
and smelled liquor on him and urged
Albert not to go with him. The lat
ter declared, however, that they were
friends, and the two men left to-
gether.
Albert Mcdaniel was about 26
years of age and has lived in the
county practically all of his life. He
was one of five brothers who have
been connected with several difficult
ties and was himself under indict-
ment at the time of his death for car
rying pistol. He lived on J. b,
Graddy's place at Beryl.
Laney Tarrod is the youngest son
of the late Chris Harrod, and is about
Is years of age. He declines to make
any statement concerning the tragedy
further than to say that he was fore
ed to kill Mcdaniel in self-defense.