The log cabin Democrat., 1915-04-27
SAM BELL KILLS
 WEES RELATIVES SHOOTS FOUR TO DEATH FAMILY TROUBLE CAUSES A QUADRUPLE TRAGEDY AT
 SOLGOHACHIE.
Special to the Log Cabin Democrat.


 after he had slain four members of his former wife's family at Solgo- hachie, 10 miles north of here, Sam Bell, 23, cattle buyer, surrendered to Deputy Sheriff James Earl at l 80 o'clock this morning and was taken on the 5 o'clock train to the peni tentiary at Little Rock for safe-keep- ing.
 Dick Fryer, Bells father-in-law: Amos Fryer, his brother-in law; Mrs. i Eard Bearden, his sister-in-law, and Eard Bearden, her husband, were shot, and killed in rapid succession by Bell at their home at 8 o'clock last night. Roy Fryer, another brother in-law, was fired upon by Bell, but the shot missed him.
 After searching for other members of the family who had fled when they heard the shots, Bell walked to Nor rilton to give himself up. Sheriff James Gordon and all of his deputies except Jim Earl had already gone to the scene of the tragedy and were looking for Bell. Bell went to the home of Robert Greer and at first refused to surrender to Deputy Earl, but was finally persuaded by Mir. Greer to do so.
 Bell stated that he wanted trial as soon as possible and wanted to pay the penalty for his deed The cor oner's inquest will be held at Solgo- hachie tomorrow. Coroner Fred Bearden is a brother of Eard Beard en, one of the slain men. He will probably not officiate at the inquest over the bodies of his brother and sister-in-law.
 | The quadruple tragedy was the re- suit of previous trouble between Bell and his wife and members of the Fryer family about year ago. Bell and his wife, who is a daughter of Dick Fryer, were divorced short time afterward. Bell is said to have threatened on several occasions to kill the entire Bearden family.
 Bearden and his wife were eating their supper, it is said, when Bell 1 came to the window and, without a word, shot Bearden with a shotgun. Mrs. Bearden ran from the dining i room and was intercepted at the front of the house by Bell Bell then shot her, but the shot was not instantly fatal and her screams attracted the attention of her father, who was at his home, about 15O yards distant.
 MT. Fryer, seizIng a gun, ran to- ward his daughters house. He was met by Bell, who with another shot, killed Mir. Fryer almost instantly and then turned the gun on the son, Amos, who had accompanied his fath- CT, fatally woundng him.
 Mrs. Fryer and her children, among them Bells wife fled from their home when they heard the shots and accom- panying screams and hid in the fields. Their flight is believed to have been the only thing that saved them from the fate of their relatives. It is al legged that Bell searched for them af- ter assuring himself that those shot were dead.
 It is said that shortly after Bell and his wife became estranged, Bell one day walked up behind Bearden, whom he blamed for his domestic troubles, and slashed at his throat with a knife. Bearden tucked his head in time to receive knife wound on his chin and one side of his face several inches long. After securing her divorce, Mrs. Bell lived with her father and Bell has lived at Spring field and Plumerville.
 Mr. Fryer, 54, was one of the most respected citizens of Conway county His son, Amos, was IT, Bearden was about 26 and his wife a few years his junior. Bell is about 23 years old.
 Rev. R. E. L. Bearden of Conway, presiding elder of the Conway dis trict, left this morning for Solgo- hachie, where he will conduct funeral services for the four who lost their lives in last nights tragedy While they have the same name, Rev Beard en is not related to Eard Bearden, who was one of those killed by Sam Bell.
 Sam Bell formerly lived at Martin vile, Faulkner county, and is related to several citizens of this county.