Dr. William Payne Russell Killed in Duel, Montgomery, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/newspapers/wprussell.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: David Franklin ================================================================================ July 2003 Montgomery Advertiser, April, 5, 1911 DR. W.P RUSSELL KILLED IN DUEL -------------------- W.E. McGeHee Fires Shots and is Badly Cut. -------------------- NOT EXPECTED TO DIE -------------------- No Reason For Quarrel Can Be Assigned By Members Of Family. -------------------- TRAGEDY OCCURS ON TRAIN -------------------- Mrs. Russell Saw Part of Fighting, and Young McGehee Tried to Separate Combatants--- Both Prominent Business Men in Hayneville And Lowndes County. -------------------------------------- W. E. McGeHee at one time cashier of the Hayneville bank, shot and killed Dr. W.P. Russell president of the bank and a prominent physician of Lowndes County, in a smoking car of the Hayneville and Montgomery railroad Tuesday morning shortly before the train left Hayneville. McGeHee was severely cut about the face and it is said that he is in a dangerous condition at his home in Hayneville. The cause of the shooting is not known. Both Dr. Russell and Mr. McGehee were to come to Montgomery Tuesday morning on business. Dr. Russell was accompanied by his wife, who was in the car behind the smoker, and who saw part of the duel. Mr. McGehee was accompanied by his son Fred McGehee, and when the two men were separated young McGeHee is said to have been holding Dr. Russell's hand in which there was an open knife. Alone in Car Dr. Russell was alone in the smoking car when McGehee entered, and no one knows what conversation took place before the shooting. Mrs. Russell was the first to hear the shots and call for aid. Bystanders entered the smoking car, and say they saw McGehee with a smoking revolver in his hand, and young Fred McGehee holding Dr. Russell's hand in which there was an open pocket knife. It was seen that Dr. Russell was badly hurt, and the train was rushed to Montgomery. Surgeons met the train at the Union Station and Dr. Russell taken to St. Margaret's hospital where preparations had been made for an immediate operation. Dr. Russell died, however, before the operation was begun. It is reported by those at the hospital that Dr. Russell murmured, "There were two of them" just before his collapse on the train. Was Hit Twice It was found that Dr. Russell had been hit twice, one bullet entering the chest and ranging somewhat downward. The second entered the stomach, lodging near the right hip. The surgeons stated that it was this second bullet which caused death. It was found also that Dr. Russell's skull was fractured supposedly from a blow from the butt of McGehee's revolver. Several minor bruises were found about the head and face. McGehee is said to have been severly cut by Dr. Russell during the duel his face is badly lacerated and it is stated that his throat was severed during the fight. Both men were prominent in Hayneville. A personnel friend of Dr. Russell, Mr. Mc Pherson, of Tyson, said that as far as he knew there had never been any bad blood between the two men, and that the two families and the community were totally at a loss for a reason for the duel except that McGehee might have had a grudge for his removal from the Hayneville bank. Wife Survives Dr. Russell is survived by his wife who was present in Montgomery when the end came and who accompanied the body back to Hayneville last night. He is also survived by five children the oldest of whom is 17 years old. The sheriff of Hayneville has placed McGehee under arrest and has a close guard about the house. It is said that no steps have been taken against young McGehee as bystanders stated that he was endeavoring to separate the two men. -------------------- SELMA HEARS NEWS Selma, Ala, April 4. The news of the deplorable difficulty (2 words unable to read) at Hayneville between Dr. Payne Russell, President of the Hayneville National Bank and Mr. Ed. McGehee President of the Hayneville and Montgomery Railroad and of the Hayneville Mercantile Company was learned here with sincere regret this morning by many friends of the two men. The news of the difficulty between the two men which terminated in the death of Dr. Russell and the fatally injuring of Mr. McGehee was learned here early this morning. Many efforts to learn of the cause which led up to the difficulty was made during the day here. The most intimate of the friends of the two men in Hayneville were unable to throw any light upon the matter which (one word unable to read) to be shrouded in mystery. Dr. Russell and Mr. McGehee were well known in Selma. They have often visited this city and the Selma attorneys who often visit Hayneville on business spoke only in the highest terms of the two men. The business men here who had dealings with the two men also spoke in the highest terms of them and express sorrow over the difficulty between them.