Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-12-14
JURY C0NvENES
DECEMBER 18TH
IN GIRLS CASE
Bond $4,000 For
Girl Who Killed
Her Step-Fafher

Barbara Ann Neville. the L.
year-old girl who shot and killed
her step-father early Sunday
morning. has been charged with
second degree murder. she
awaits grand jury action at the
Madison County Jail
The regular grand jury Of
the September term of court
has been recalled to convene
on Wednesday, Dec. 10, es-
peciaIly to consider the case
of the State Of Ohio VS. Bar
hara Ann Neville. Recall or
the grand jury followed the
conference of Prosecutor 3.
{. Sidener, Jr., and Common
Pleas Judge James r. Bell.
Prosecutor Sidner said that
the jury will be called upon
to consider only this one case.
Sheriff Harold z. Bidwell took
Miss Neville to Justice Gerald
Bayne's court Monday night where
she was bound over to the grand
jury under $1,000 bond.
Funeral services ior her step
father Russell Baird, 26, were at
Beefs Chapel w. Va. Tuesday
afternoon. Baird, who lived with
his wife, Dorothy. and his STEP
children on the Neil Rd.. near
London, died almost instantly
when shot through the chest about
1:30 a. m. Sunday with a IS
caliber revolver.
Barbara Ann, the oldest of the
step-children, said she shot him
while he was choking her mother
during a violent quarrel. Sheriff
Harold Bidwell said she readily
admitted the shooting and that
she notified police herself by
using the telephone at the home
of a neighbor. Baird was dead
when authorities and a doctor
arrived at the home.
Questioning of the girl. and
others in the household. brought
out that the girls mother and
step-father. had made the rounds
of several taverns in London and
that Baird was .ailegedly quarrel
ing and threatening Mrs. Baird
and the family.
Members of the family hid
guns at the house, fearing for
their safety Barbara Ann re-
ported that she pocketed the re-
Volver. Spanish make, frontier
styled gun.
When Baird choked her mother,
according TO the girls account of
the shooting, she drew the gun
from her pocket and cooked ID.
Baird. apparently hearing action
Of the gun. according to the
sheriff, stepped back from Mrs.
Baird and was shot by Barbara
Ann.
Barbara Ann arrived in Madi-
son County Nov. Is in response
TO a letter from her mother ask
ing her to come here to help
care for other younger children
In the family She had been living
with an aunt in Point Pleasant.
Mr.. Baird, farm laborer, and
Mrs. Baird were also comparativ-
ely new residents of Madison
County. coming here from Ander-
son, w Va.
Sheriff Bidwell. whose wife as
Matron of the jail is attending
the needs Of the youthful pris-
oner, today referred to Barbara
Ann as model inmate of that
institution.
She is very quiet and talks
only when she is spoken to-" said
the sheriff in reporting that the
girls father, Phillip Neville of
Point Pleasant, w Va, had tele-
phoned him Tuesday night say
ing he was coming to London 10
visit his daughter and apparently
to aid her IN what ever way he
could.
Meanwhile. according to the
sheriff. a prominent London at
tornev has also indicated his
interest In Barbara AIMS case
and has talked with her at the
Jail. However no appointment OF
defense counsel can be made b.
the court until after the case has
received grand jury action.
4 number Of weil-wishers, an
parently considering the youth
Of the prisoner and her present
pliRfi. have sent her numerous
gifts IT clothing. toilet articles. !
Continued on page Two