Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-06-01
SENSATIONAL
MURDER CASE
in CRAICHEAD
J. P. Stonebraker, Well
Known Citizen OF Bay,
Shot By Unknown Assas-
sin While Out Fishing.

From Mondays Jonesboro Tribune
}. l.. Stonebraker, well known
farmer and timber man, who re
/ sides near Bay, was foully assaS-
|sinated yesterday morning about 10
o'clock, while fishing on the Little
! Bay I)redse ditch. between Bay and
Apt, III Maumelle township II is
not known who the murderer was,
but VIII Yarbrough has been placed
under arrest and is in the county
jail held on the charge.
) Stonebraker, j. r Downs, Downs
little daughter and j. O. Carter.
were fishing on the Little Bay
4 ditch when the assassin's bullet was
$ fired from the close range OF about
4 fifteen feet The man who did the
! lsh0oting was hid behind some bush
es. The dead man had just caught
a fish, and as he pulled it from the
water he threw it over his head and
said, You have been getting my
bait all morning but ! got you this
time. The Downs girl became
frightened at the fish and this at
tracted the attention of Stonebrak-
Ell and Downs who turned around
to look. Just as Stonebraker turn
ed he faced the man who fired the
! fatal shot. His gun was loaded
| Npit 4
IStonebraker in the left eye Two
under the eye, one in the right eve,
one on the forehead and one cut
ting part of his hat off. One shot
whiZ2ed by Downs, but did not hit
him. Stonebraker fell dead in his
tracks. After the man fired the
= fatal shot. he put another shell in
his gun, and then made hasty
retreat through the woods Downs
got good look at the man as he
ran off, and is very certain that he
will be able to identify him
ii. T. Gltley and Il number of
Others we're fishing on the ditch
and heard the report Of the gun.
These men went at once to the
assistance of Downs and Garter and
removed The body to the home,
which was but short distance
IOff.
| ttley notified the officers, Sher-
LII Johnson and Coroner Powell,
who with Undertaken Gregg, Depu-
ties Tom Carter and Sidney Stephens,
Homer Howell, Chief of Police w.
&. Craig, Ernest Craig, MaXey Blan-
kenShip and Jailor Jim Cureton.
Z went at once TO the Sccene of the
, killing.
: On arriving Coroner Powell en-
Dannelled jury who proceeded TO
hold an inquest. but did not com
plete the work, is being decided 10
adjourn to meet AT the Gregg un-
dertaking parlors in this city on
Wednesday, June lst to complete
the work.
The evidence of Mrs Stoncbrakel
given before the coronera jury was
that on the 18th day OF December
. last, a note written in back hand
with pencil, evidently disguised
writing. was left at their home, the
writing being practically as follows.
You had better pay up your honest
debts and leave the country, and il
you don't. you will never know how
you left" Signed Might Riders. ;
Some think that the party VIII,
wrote the note, might he the on,
who foully murdered the man. bu
Others are OF the opinion that thil
: had nothing TO do with it, Abou
two weeks ago. Stonebraker, while
out in the woods, came up on mai
> who was making wild cat whiskey
and il is known that the party VIII
was making the moonshine said tt
y Stonebraker that if he ever tolt
that he was making whiskey, h,
ei (Stonebraker) would be killed. ant
4 many are of the opinion that thi,
Is the man who fired the fata
: shot.
e Mrs. Stonebraker also testified
that after the note was left at thei,
house, a jug of whiskey was left a
their home, and from the taste O
l it they believed it contained poison
Il but ii was never tested for th,
a poison
G Mr.. Downs, il is said, stated posi-
: lively that he believes he will b,
e able to recognize the man. but tn,
4 other man, Carter, who was will
q them, did not get to see the mur
el derer who ran off after firing tn,
II shot, and will not be able to recog
a Inize him. Downs did not see Var
! brough after being arrested, but h
n will be given a chance to look hin
d over in an attempt to identify him
Yafbrough was seen al the coun