The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26
NELL SHOOTS WIFE. ID DEATH AND TURNS.
 WEAPON ON HIMSELF.
Double Tragedy Occurs in Atlanta = Wife Was a Former Resident of
 Birmingham

 ing over the loss of his little girl, Mar jorie. and angered over the refusal of his divorced wife, Fife vermilion, to return to him, w. J. Neill, an employe of the Southern railroad, this afternoon shot her down in her apartments in the carrollton and then turned his pistol upon himself. She died an hour later and TO minutes later he followed her
 The tragedy was the outcome of a bitter court fight over the possession of the child after the courts had given the wife a divorce. Neill kidnapped the baby from the mother in Atlanta and after trying search in which she visited Birmingham, her home before her marriage. and Columbia, the home of his parents, she found him and the child In the Carolina city. once more the courts sided with the mother and then, fearing the vengeance of her husband, the wife returned to Atlanta and made an effort to hide from him here.
 Sees Her on Street
 Unfortunately however, Neill saw his wife on the streets in Atlanta and then sent a telegram addressed to her in this city asking the return of all his old love letters. The telegraph com pany found her and by tracing the de- livery of the message Neill also To- cated his wife. For several days he pleaded with her to return to him, threatening her with death if she should call upon the police for as- sistance.
 This morning he visited the apartments and for three hours threatened to kill his wife's roommate when she refused to tell him where his wife was. All the time she was hiding under a couch. Later in the day he returned found both women to- gether, drove the friend out and then killed wife and self.
 A letter was found in the dying mans pocket which threw more light on the motive of the double tragedy. It read as follows:
 Atlanta, Ga. July 22, 1914-C. B. Neill, Bremen, Ga: Dear Brother: l am here to get Marjorie and I don't know what will be the result. You know Fife quit me in October. I let her have her child and now I want her myself for a while, and 1 want her to go back and live with me.
 Sin killed me, brother, and tell all my people this. Tell them and dear old daddy not to worry about me, for l will be out of trouble and vii try to avoid this if can. Otherwise, I will end it all. Give my love to all and tell them all to be-
  cause of all Love. w. J. NJ
 Neill was 35 years of age. He met his divorced wife in Birmingham five years ago and married her when she was but a girl IA years old Mrs. NeilPs parents were dead but she is survived by three sisters. Mrs. s. N. Sutton of Birmingham whose husband is head of a big cracked factory there, and Misses Corrine, age 16, and Hortenz, age 14, who both live with their married sister.
 Recalls Kidnapping Here
 The double killing in Atlanta yes- terday afternoon recalls the kidnap- ing,' on the streets of Birmingham on March 14 of Marorie Neill the Swear old daughter of the dead couple by her father At the time Neill and his wife were separated and the child was In charge of Mrs. A. Vermillion Sutton sister of Mrs. Neill. who resides at 1908 St. Charles street. The local po- lice were urged to recover the child but were unable to do anything as Neill had escaped to South Carolina.
 Later the child was recovered, taken to Atlanta where Mrs. Nell took up her residence with Mrs. Louis May another sister at the Carlton apart ments. It was there that the. fatal shooting occurred.
 According to Mrs Sutton last night her sister was preparing to leave AL lanta for Birmingham when she was killed as she had seen her former hus- band on the street and feared he would commit a violent act. The child, Mar jorie, was sent to Birmingham on Fri day to escape her father and Is now at the home of her aunt. Mrs Sutton.
 The remains of Mrs. Neill will ar rive In Birmingham this morning and funeral arrangements will be an- nounced later. The deceased was 1S years of age and was born and reared in Birmingham. She Is survived by three sisters, Mrs. A. Vermillion Sut- ton of 1908 St Charles street, Mrs. Louise May of Atlanta, and Mrs. Erbe Conner of Adamsville, and daughter, Marjorie.