Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-12-07
ANDY BURCH
KILLSBR0THER
and NEPHEW
Vast Throng Pay Last Trib-
ute to Father and Son,
Who Were Murdered
Near Monticello.


farmers with their wives and chill
dren gathered yesterday afternoon
around a large double grave in the
Lone Sassafrass cemetery, 10 miles
southeast of this city, to pay last
tribute to Monroe Burch and his
son, Louis, who were killed Satur-
day by Ancy Burch. brother and
uncle Of the two.
No funeral in Drew county in
many years attracted such large
crowd. The Lone Sassafrass GENE
terry derives it's name from single
sassafrass tree that stood on the
grounds over 35 years ago when the
property was purchased. The ceme-
terry is on an elevation Of short
strip of prairie. Large bonfires had
been started to keep the crowd
warm while the people awaited the
arrival of the bodies. The collins
containing the bodies of father and
son were taken to the cemetery in
two wagons drawn by mules, while
close behind came the widow and
her children.
Mrs. Burch rode on the seat and
the children, six in all, were piled
| in the wagon. The eldest is Irene,
aged II. The others are Edward, 9,
Leila, z; Georgia Belle, 5; Ira, 81;
and Herman, 10 months.
Mrs. Burch's grief caused many a
tear to be she'd in sympathy for
her. The Rev. H. A. Johnson of the
Missionary Baptist church conduct
ed the services.
Tragedy Is Recounted.
Edward Burch, who was in the
wagon when his uncle Ancy killed
his father and brother, recounted de-
tails of the tragedy yesterday. The
little chap did not seem to grasp the
seriousness of it all, but those who
heard him relate the facts of the
killing and who heard him tell the
story to others say the boy had
given identically the same account.
The elder Burch, accompanied by
Louis and Edward, his sons, had
gone to neighbours to purchase
two pigs. The deal was closed and
with the pigs and his two boys in
the wagon, Burch was on his way
home, about two miles south of Val
ley Junction, early Saturday morn
ing.
iJ
Ancy, had an alteration. 1t is said
that Ancy is school director in his
district, and that Monroe objected
to having his children vaccinated.
that Ancy accused his brother of
spreading untrue reports about him.
When Ancy Burch met his brother,
Monroe on the road, the former was
ton. He disposed of the logs and
returned to his home about four
miles away, got his automatic shot
gun and returned to meet his broth
or. Ancy B,urch met Monroe Burch
and his two sons on the road.
Pop was standing in the back of
the wagon" said nine-year-o Ed
ward, when Uncle Ancy came up.
He told pop to take back the lies
he had been telling about him, and
pop said he hadn't been telling any,
and then Uncle Ancy shot pop.
Brother Louis was standing in the
front part of the wagon holding
the reins. Uncle Ancy then shot
Louis. He fell out of the wagon.
The mules started to run away, but
Ancy stopped them. I got out and
asked Ancy to help me get my
brother back in the wagon, and he
said he wouldn't touch him. Then
he told me to be good. l unhitched
the mules myself and drove them
home and told what happened"
Both Killed Instantly.
Monroe Burch was shot in the
chest. The shot made hole clear
through his body. Louis Burch was
struck on the right shoulder, the
shot passing through his lung and