Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-12-14
Oxford Lafayette County, Miss Thursday December ID 1922
MISSISSIPPI MAN IS
SHOT DEAD BY NEGRO
Lee, Davis Victim, Wealthy and In
fluential Cleveland Citizen. Blood
hounds Sent From Memphis
to Aid in Chase.

Memphis, Tenn, Dec. 11.-All roads
out Of Cleveland, Miss, were closely
guarded late last night and squads
of determined citizens were search
ing for negro, Lon Lilies, who form
erly lived on plantation owned by
Lee Davis, big plantation owner re-
siding in Cleveland, who was shot
through the heart and instantly killed
by the negro.
Mr.. Davis was accosted by negro
and shot to death between his home
and the Davis Filling station, owned
by him, shortly BEFORE 9 o'clock to-
night.
A Mrs. Matthews, who lives nearby,
was the only witness who saw the pis-
tol shot, She screamed and Mr.. and
Mrs. j. w. Smith, also neighbors, ran
out of their house. They saw the ne
gro running eastward and cried out to
passersby to stop him. The negro
ducked down an alley and has not as
yet been apprehended.
have joined in the pursuit.
The negro, Lon Lilies. was order off
Mr. Davis plantation last week after
he had sold his crop and was unable
to settle his obligations to the plan
ter. 1t is the theory of the officers
that robbery and desire for revenge
prompted the attempted holdup and
the killing when the robbery failed.
Application was made to the Mem
phis police department for blood
hounds and dogs were sent from there
late tonight in charge of A. M. Brown
and frankie White, leaving Memphis
at 1870, to arrive here about
at 1870.
The negro was described as about
5 feet 8 inches tall. He is said to
have worn an army overcoat and
cap and corduroy pants.
Cleveland, Miss, Dec. 10.-Lee
Davis, wealthy and influential citizen
of Cleveland, was shot and killed in
stantly on main street here tonight
about 8 o'clock by an unidentified
negro, who escaped. The motive is
believed to have been robbery, though
the slayer did not obtain the days
sales by Mr.. Davis, he probably be-
ing frightened away.
Mr.. Davis, one of the most promi-
nent men of this section was q large
land owner and very wealthy. He had
just closed up the business for the
night and stepped on the street when
the negro called to him. Mr.. Davis
turned and the man fired, one bull
let entering the mans heart.
There was one eye witness on the
Staying, woman across the street,
witnessing the flash from the pistol,
the man fall and the black flee. The
aess-> Z. u. 5-:s 49,. .-: ,>,c=: seve-ai
young men returning from church,
and fired the gun into the air to
brighten them He then retreated in
a southwesterly direction and blood
hounds were secured from Leland,
Miss, to take up the chase.
So far as. is known, Mr.. Davis had
not had any previous encounters with
negroes here, and officers handling
the case believe the killing was clear
~ for the purpose of robbery, as the
filling station had recently been en-
tered and Mr.. Davis was in the habit
of carrying the days sales home with
him at night.
Citizens here are greatly stirred up
over the killing and posses were hur-
riedly organized to scour the section
for the murderer.
Mr.. Davis is survived by wife and
two children.