Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-05-12
TKWEAIT KILLS
ELMER SANDERS
Killing Occurred Monday Night Nine
Miles South of Oxford-Prelimin-
airy Hearing at Tula Today.

A most deplorable killing occurred
out nine miles south Of OXfor about
9 o'clock Monday night, when w. F.
Thweatt shot and killed his cousin,
Elmer Sanders.
The difficulty was provoked, it is
said, by Sanders, who, without his
(Thweatt's) permission, rode off one
of his ponies. According to Mr..
Thweatt, who was interviewed by a
representative of the Eagle, Elmer
Sanders was staying at Thweatt'S
home, they being cousins. Sanders
Went to the lot, caught one of
Thweatt's ponies and started off with
it. Thweatt saddled up another horse
and proceeded to head off Sanders.
" hen ThWeatt had overtaken Sanders
about one mile from mis- home, he
asked Sanders for an explanation
why he (Sanders) would ride one of
his horses off without permission. Mr..
Thweatt says that Sanders replied to
him by reaching for a pistol and say
ing: Il will explain" At this juno
ture, Thweatt reached back and pulled
his pistol, first, and fired at Sanders.
The ball, q 38 caliber, passed through
the fleshy part of the arm and through
the heart, killing Sanders instantly.
Only one shot was fired and that was
at close range, said Mr. Thweatt.
The sheriff W&s notified soon after
the killing and two officers, Sheriff
Hartsfield and B. K Collins, deputy,
went to the scene of the killing.
Thweatt had gone to Oxford to sur
render himself to the officers, and
Sheriff Hartsfield came in to town
Tuesday morning, found Thweatt at
his home
There was only one eye witness to
the killing, said Mr.. Thweatt, and that
was Duffee Thweatt.
Elmer Sanders, it will be renem-
bered by many, was discharged from
the navy on March 21, this year, after
having served in the service four
years. His first appearance in Ok
ford attracted considerable attention,
in as much as he was a professional
rider of wild horses and mules. On
one afternoon he succeeded in getting
several hundred pople together on
South street where he rode g bad
mule for the first time it had ever
been ridden, the animal belonging to
Mr.. John Brown 1t was said the
mule was several years old and no
man could ride it. A collection was
taken up for Sanders and he rode the
mule
! Sanders mother, who lives in Steele,
Mo-, was notified of the death of her
unfortunate son. The officers notify
! ing her were instructed to bury the
body here. The body received nice
burial, the coffin being furnished by
Mr.. Oscar Douglas, who was himself
in Uncle Sans service during the re-
cent world war. Mr.. Douglas ex-
pressed regert that the body of this
faithful ex-soldier did not receive a
more elaborate burial, but stated that
he furnished the unfortunate boy a
decent burial outfit.
/ Sanders was about 20 years of age
and enlisted in the navy when he was
but 16 years oldAMr. Thweatt is about
40 years of age and is highly re-
spected in the community where he
lives.
A preliminary hearing will be given
Thweatt today Thursday before a
justice of the peace at Tula. Hon, Jno.
Falkner will represent Thweatt in the
trial.
The Eagle will have representa-
tive at the trial, and detailed ac-
count will be given next week.