Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-08-10
KILLED FATHER IN
FUSS over CROPS
Young Clark County Farmer Is
In Jail At Winchester On
Patricide Charge
Confesses Fathers Murder
tBy Associated Press)

Winchester, KY. Aug. TO-
John Shumaker, Jr., in the coun
ty Jail here today, confessed t,
Deputy Sheriff Dan Insko an,
Policeman Wallace Strobe tha
he shot and killed his father
John Shurnaker, Sr., on Monda
morning. The body was founC
Tuesday on the farm of Holt |
erman, of which the elder Shu
maker was tenant.
He was shot inside and his face
torn away. Hobart and Herbert
l9 year old twin sons of the deaf
man. substantiated the story ot
the killing. They said it grew
out of division of property and
that John, Jr., told his father he
would kill him if he did not set
tie. The elder Shumaker re-
fused and they said John, Jr,
shot him with shotgun.
Winchester, Ky. Aug. 10
John Shumaker. Fl, farmer liv-
ing near kidville. this county,
was placed in the Clark county
Jail here Tuesday night charged
with the murder of his father
John Shumaker, ST.. whose body
was found at the Shumaker
home.
Placing of a formal charge of
murder against the Younger Shu-
maker followed a visit Of county
officials to the scene of the trage-
dv, after which John and his two
19-year-old twin brothers. Her
bert and Hobart. were brought to
Winchester for examination.
Shortly after the arrival OF the
party at police headquarters. ac-
cording to Sheriff II. Clay Hodg-
kin and Deputy Sheriffs James
Allcn and Dan Insko. the two
boys confessed that their broth
er killed their father after quar-
rel over crops. Both admitted
that they witnessed the shooting.
Previous to about two weeks
ago. according to the story told
bN the Younger brothers at police
headquarters. John and his wife
had lived with their father. Trout
bic arose over some crops. OF
which John claimed an interest.
following which the Younger
John and his wife. moved to her
mothers home in Estill county.
leaving the father by himself
The brothers returned every day
TO look after the chickens and
crops. it was stated.
The final dispute arose between
John and his father when the
father. who owed money to Z.
neighbor farner, made arrange
mcnts for the neighbor to take
the crop OF corn in part payment
OF the debt.
On Monday morning the three
boys came over as usual and mel
their father i'll the watermelon
patch. Nothing was said about
the crop until their approached
the house. The father went into
his room and John. Jr., secured
a shotgun from another part q.
the house and went into, his faith
cr's room from the front en-
trance. followed by the two
Younger brothers. The father
refused to give his son anything
for the crop. saying that they haG
no agreement to that effect. Johr
Ir.. then fired twice at his father.
killing him instantly.
Following the shooting the
BOYS left the house, leaving the
body where it had fallen, and
went back to their home in Estil
county. This morning they re-
turned with the wife of the elder
brother. She Immediately mott
fed Sheriff II. Clay Hodgkin.
At the inquest held Tuesday af-
ternoon, by George Ruperd. mag
istrate of that district, all three
of the boys were present. They
denied that they had been near
the house on Monday, but upon
being told by neighbors that they
were seen there Monday morning
officers placed them under arrest.
Shumaker's body was foun
Tuesday morning. indications
were that the shooting had taken
place Monday. A gun was found
lying across the bed in the room
where the old man had been shot.
Officers stated that this was not
the gun with which he was l;:lled
and that the gun had not been
found.