The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-02-26
FATAL ACCIDENT.
Conductor Walter L. McNeill
Killed by Friend.

| Conductor Walter L. McNeill
Killed by Friend.
RESULT OF PLAYFUL BOUT
A Fatal Termination of a Tussel
Leads 10 the Arrest of the Sur.
viyor, Baggagemaster on the Train.
Swansea the Scene Of the Killing.
The State.
AS the result of a bullet penetrating
the brain, Conductor Walter L. Nc
Neill, who runs local passenger train
! from Columbia to Savannah, died at a
local infrmary at 1920 Friday night.
By the evidence aud statements by
those connected with tt tragedy, it
seems that Mr., McNeill was accident
ally killed. He was shot in the right
temple by A. V. Lee, baggagemaster
on the train, with % calibre revol-
YER belonging to the express messen-
ger, O. E. Hutto. The shooting oc-
| Cured about Sis in the baggage car
of McNeill's train, which was then at
Swansea. Lee was Immediately ar
rested by E. M. Martin, constable for
Magistrate Jeffcoat, of Swansea, on
the request of Sheriff 8. J. Miller Of
Lexington county, who was immedi-
ately notified of the killing. The
Sheriff brought Lee to Columbia and
h. was placed in the city jail. Last
night D. r. Haltiwanger, deputy clerk
Of the court of Lexington county,
took Lee to the Lexington county jail.
Lee explains the killing as follows;
Capt. ucNeill was always of play
ful nature, and seemed to delight in
plavinc with the members Of his crew.
He was one Of the best friends l had;
and I would not have hurt him if it
had not been accidental. When we
were coming up on our trip yesterday,
in a scuff1e, 1 threw Capt. Mcneil.
When we were going down this eve
ming be came in the baggage car where
was checking baggage, and said, II
am going to dirty your back" L re-
piled, ''Mac leave me alone; I have to
make manifest Of my baggage
There was revolver belonging to
G E. Hutto, the express messenger,
living on trunk beside me, and 1
picked it up. P.ayfully Mac and 1
grapple d, I having the revolver in my
left hand and it was pointing over his
shoulder. During the scuff1e the pis-
tol went off, doing no damage. The
other conditions of the scuff1e are some
what hazy to me. But from my best
recollection think that Mcneil then
grabbed the revolver. I do not know
that called to Hutto to come and get
the pistol.
While the playful scuffle continued
the revolver again was fired, and Nc
Nei1l relaxed his grip on me. At that
time did not think he was bit. When
he fell to the floor saw his face was
covered with blood. I immediately
took several handkerchiefs from my
pocket and endeavored to wipe the
blood from his face. McNeill himself
took his own handkerchief and tried
to remove the flowing blood from his
face.
When I assertained that Mcneil
was really hurt, Immediately called
to Hutto to get doctor. Up to that
time really did not think he was in
iured, but from the blood flowing from
his face knew I was mistaken. All
baggage cars have stretchers in them,
so dragged the one in my car oyer and
placed the bead of it on the trunk to
Law McNeill on it. At this time Nc
Neill was crawling on his hands and
knees to get out of the coach, and l
had to prevent him from throwing him
self from the train.
Lee further stated that Conductor
McNeill was brought to Columbia on
train No. 81 on the Seaboa1d and
placed in local hospital.
Lee was brought to Columbia under
arrest on later train, and was taken
to Lexington to be held until the de-
cision of the coroner's jury. He has
been for some time baggagemaster
on the Seaboard Airline Railway. He
is a resident of Savannah and native
of Rock Hill. His father is resident
of Rock Hill and is an engineer on
the Charleston division Of the South
ern Railway. He arrived in Colum-
bia lust in time to hear of his sons