The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-12

Brf Pus,islls,,es,t u for
Bribery and Not
Murder.
BY JAMs Il RECORD.
Consolidated press Corresponds,

AuoUUlfu8tSu IICSD OV1I CSYUuQCuI1
Copyright, 1872. by The Argus.)
: Abilene. Texas, Oct. 12.-John
Beal Sneed, millionaire cowman,
gun fighter and chief figure in the
noted Boyce-Sneed feud, In which
every time Sneed shot a Boyce
fell, today 10 wondering why fate
should prove ironical.
Acquitted Of the various killings
in which he has been the man on
the business end Of the gun he to-
day faces . two-year prison sen
tence. And for what?>For Z trans
action that heretofore has been
more or less approved in various
parts Of the Cow country"
State juries have looked lightly
on his part in the killings.
But in the federal district court
here he has been sentenced to .
two-year term in Leavenworth fol-
lowing conviction Of an attempt to
bribe juror. His attorneys an
nounced today they will appeal and
he has been released on bond pend
ing the action Of the higher courts.
How Feud Started.
The Sheds and Boyces we're the
leading citizens Of the Pan Handle
country some 10 years ago. Sneed
was the owner OF many rich
ranches while AL Boyce, senior, was
the manager of the properties of
the noted Chicago syndicate which
built the capitol Of Texas and re-
ceived as payment therefor thou
sands upon thousands OF acres Of
pasture lands In the state.
On Nov. s. 1911, Mrs. Sneed
eloped from the Arlington Heights
sanita.ium at Fort Worth with AL
Boyce: Jr. On Dec. 26 the couple
were arrested in Winnipeg. Can
ada. After the return Of Mrs.
Sneed a reconciliation was effected
between herself and Sneed. But the
bad blood between the Sneeds and
Boyces remained evident and
threats we're made on both sides.
Kills Elder Boyce.
On Jan. Is. 1912. Sneed shot and
killed the elder Boyce in the Met
ropolitan hotel in Fort Worth.
Sneed was tried for murder. The
first jury failed to agree, A second
trial at Vernon resulted in an &C
quittal on the ground of self-de-
tense.
/ Before the second trial began
however. Sneed shot and killed Al
Boyce, Jr., near the Methodist
church in Amarillo. This was or
Sept. IA, 1912. He was out on bali
at the time and after the acquittal
in the Boyce senior case he was
tried for staying the man who
eloped with his wife but naturally
was acquitted.
The two families originally lived
in Amarillo where John Sneed, Al
Boyce and Lena Snyder, who later
became Mrs. John Sneed, were
schoolmates and close companions
After the Boyce family moved away
Sneed was married.
Wife AmaIes Sneed.
According to the evidence at the
trials Mrs. Sneed amazed her hus-
band one day by announcing she
did not love him but that she did
love young Boyce and that she and
he were going to South America
together. Sneed believing his wife
had suddenly gone insane, took hel
from their two children and placed
her in the sanitarium in Fort Worth
Less than a month later the elope.
ment took place.
The complaint in the suit il
which Sneed has just been sen,
fenced following the trial of the
suit Of Nicholas V. Bilby against
Sneed to recover $4,000 acres o.
> ranch land In Dickens and Ken
counties. Bilby won the suit ant
5000. After the trial one of the
jurors was sentenced to 80 days il
! Jail for contempt Of court, it being
). alleged that he had mingled with
the witnesses. Sneed was indicted
J for bribery and jury tampering
Since the acquittal Of Sneed in The
latest murder trial, he and Mrs
Sneed have become reconciled ans
they have been living on one o
his ranches In Cottle county.