Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-07-02
rxANx GaRAL AssAsNIA~


Frank AcNesi, well-tO-ds far,.er
living in the Singleton neishborhsod
Winston county, was shot and killed
from ambush at a slough bridge lust
East of the Allgood Mill bridge over
NoXubee river, on the Brooksville and
Louisville road, last Saturday after
noon about four o'clock.
Mr.. McNeal was in wagon with
two negroes; one setting by his side
and the other an sack of oats in the
rear. The assassin was concealed un-
bridge and fired after the wagon had
passed over, and when the back of the
occupants were turned McNeal re-
ceiyed 81 buck shot in the back of his
head and neck and death was almost
instant. The negro by his side, who
had just gotten to Brooksvile from
Birmingham and was on his way home
to visit his folks Mr.. McNeal kindly
giving him a lift, got several shot in
his neck and one in his side. 1t is
said he did not stop running until he
got to Dewitt Archer's store, about
four miles distant. He will recover.
The other negro was just era ed by
one Of the bullets
A mill man, Nh. Scroggns and
daughter, a Mr.. Blcdsoe and Mr.. En-
meet Cadc were in a car less than one
hundred yards away, and approaching
the wagon, when the shooting took
place they first thought their car
had blown tire, but before they
could stop two other shots were fired
and the mules becoming frightened,
ran towards them. Mr.. Scroggins and
his friends got out and stopped the
mules and found MIR. McNeal dead.
Sheriff Farrar was notified and went
to the scene Immediately. He stopped
in Prooksville long enough to send .
telegram to Mr.. CAN'T at Crystal
Springs to come on the first Grain
with his dogs. An examination of the
scene of the murder developed the fact
that the assassin had spent some
time under the bridge waiting Ser his
quarry. After the shooting the mi r
derer went up the slough or branch a
short distance where a'buggy and
horse or mule had been hitched.
Several years ago FRANC McNeal
shot and killed man named Williams
at his home in Winston 1t is said to
have been drunken row, and Nc
Neal claimed that Williams had in
suited bis wits and when orderedswsy
refused to go. At the trial that fol-
lowed McNeal was convicted, but it
was appealed to the supreme court
and the decision of that court virtu-
ally acquitted McNeal, and in the Sc
cond trial he had little trouble in Sc
curing his release.
On account of this occurrence Sher-
| if Farrar, accompanied by Deputies
Madison, Morgan and Elkin, went i'm
mediately to the home of John and
Plumer Williams in Winston and
placed the under arrest. Jack Will
liams was eating supper at the time
and when asked for his brother, Plu-
mcr, stated that he had gone " visit
several miles distant. A short time
after Plumer came up and was arrest
ed, He protested his innocence and
! stated that he could have killed Nc
Neal a dozen times in the pas, wear
The brothers were brought to Macor
and placed in Jail.
Mr.. CAN'T arrived in Blooksville OF
No Sunday morning, a wreck OF
the A. & V. preventing his coming OF
a night tram. The dogs picked W
the trail Immediately but codid no
follow it after il reached he buggy il
winch he ASSASSIN escaped
The Williams were released NJ auda!
morning, there beng no evidence OF
which to hold 5aam. They were re
arl ested day %. tW later and are noy
r'o jail The Tn VIII he held bcfor
Justice Parks II Brooksvllle sGmetlm
at week.
he affair, n many respects Is sim
lar to the Joans2h-W Wicker whic
.b,,Ne out in III same nr,%mlolho
u, fifteen yeas ago, and IN Whle
eight or ten nj were killCG. 1t !
% hoped that nothing of the kin
occur his u
Mr.. McNeal3 f,m.ly have lived i
lc3Jks, HE .Wo .-..s. his "hilagCu at
;gutlng rhl s3a - there lie teccutl
.ough ia HON there with the cxpcl
alton Of going to BrDoksgilic to hv'
D.. !. Il