June 12, 2014

Bystander Killed in Gunfight Between Cousins, 1909

Previously:

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[September 28, 1909] -


John McKee killed trying to stop quarrel at Williams' Siding near Danville. [1]




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[September 29, 1909] -

A shooting affray at Williams Siding, a few miles south of here, resulted in the death of John McKee and the serious wounding of George Roberts.

Reports concerning the facts of the case are conflicting.  From the most reliable information it seems that George Roberts and Oscar Roberts got into a difficulty when George Roberts drew a pistol and fired at Oscar Roberts.  The ball cut through the ear and grazed the neck of Oscar Roberts and then struck John McKee in the neck severing the jugular vein and breaking his neck.  McKee fell to the ground and died instantly. 

Then Oscar Roberts fired his pistol at George Roberts, striking him in the breast.  The bullet entered his body just over the heart inflicting a serious and probably fatal wound.

John McKee, the man who was killed outright, did not have any part in the fight.  He was a married man and leaves a wife and five children.

George Roberts is a married man having a wife and three children.  He is at the Somerset Sanitarium.  He is in a critical condition.  Oscar Roberts is unmarried.  The cause of the disturbance has not been learned.  No arrests have been made. [2]







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[September 30, 1909] -

TRAGEDY

In Pulaski County Causes Death of John McKee.--Others Wounded.

Danville, Ky., Sept. 28.-- George and Thomas Roberts and Oscar Roberts, a cousin, became engaged in a difficulty at Williams Siding, in Pulaski county, when John McKee, a neighbor, attempted to stop the difficulty and was shot through the neck and instantly killed.

The bullet after passing through McKee's neck struck George Roberts, landing near his heart.  He is in a dangerous condition. [3]







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[October 6, 1909] -


One Man Killed.

A shooting affray at Williams Sidney, in this county last Saturday, resulted in the death of John McKee, and the serious wounding of George Roberts.

The information learned of particulars are meagre.  It seems that George Roberts and Oscar Roberts, were into a difficulty and that George Roberts, drawing his pistol, fired at Oscar Roberts the ball cutting through an ear and scalping the neck.  Then going on, it struck John McKee in the neck severing the jugular vein and breaking the neck.  McKee dropped and died instantly.

Then, it is said, that Oscar Roberts turned and fired at George Roberts striking him in the right breast and inflicting a wound that may prove fatal.

McKee, the man who was killed, it is said, was not concerned in the fight but was merely a bystander, and was hit accidentally.  He was a married man, having a wife and 5 children.  He was buried at Pine Knot cemetery Monday.

George Roberts is a married man, having a wife and three children.  He was brought to the Somerset Sanitarium Sunday were he received medical attention.  He is seriously injured and is in a dangerous condition, though he may rally and recover.

Oscar Roberts is a single man.  No arrests have yet been made.

--Somerset Journal. [5]


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[October 5, 1909] -


Oscar Roberts, who accidentally killed John McKee in Pulaski, committed suicide. [6]




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[October 7, 1909] -

KILLED BY REMORSE: -- Alvin Roberts committed suicide at Williams Landing by shooting his brains out with a revolver.  A few days ago he engaged in a shooting affray with George Roberts, wounding him and killing John McKee, a bystander.  He left a note saying he had brooded over the trouble until he had decided to end his own life.  Geo. Roberts is at the Somerset Sanitarium. [7]





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[1] Excerpt from "Kentucky Kernels." The Paducah Evening Sun, Paducah, KY. September 28, 1909. Page 4. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052114/1909-09-28/ed-1/seq-4/

[2] Excerpt from "Local Option Fight Starts at Somerset." Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY. September 29, 1909. Page 2. Genealogybank.com.

[3] "Tragedy." Hopkinsville Kentuckian, Hopkinsville, KY. September 30, 1909. Page 5. LOC.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069395/1909-09-30/ed-1/seq-5/

Same text as [3] also reported in: 
[4] Excerpt "In Neighboring Counties." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 1, 1909. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052021/1909-10-01/ed-1/seq-1/

[5] "One Man Killed." The Adair County News, Columbia, KY. October 6, 1909. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069496/1909-10-06/ed-1/seq-2/

[6] Excerpt from "In Neighboring Counties." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 5, 1909. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052021/1909-10-05/ed-1/seq-1/

[7] "Killed By Remorse." The Citizen, Berea, KY. October 7, 1909. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052076/1909-10-07/ed-1/seq-1/

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