Grady County GaArchives Obituaries.....Mashburn, David November 1912
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Janet Sumner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002510 May 25, 2004, 8:46 am

The Cairo Messenger, Friday, November 29, 1912
R. N. Burns Kills His Father-In-Law
Last Saturday night about 8 o'clock R. L. Burns hit Mr. David Mashburn, his 
father-in-law, which resulted in the death of Mr. Mashburn Sunday morning at 11 
o'clock.

Our information is, that the trouble leading up to the difficulty originated in 
the ill treatment of Mr. Burns towards his wife, Mr. Mashburn's daughter.

Deputy Sheriff Hudson went to the home of Mr. Burns, who lives about 3 miles 
south of Cairo, last Sunday evening, arrested Burns and placed him in jail.

Mr. Burns was interviewed in jail Monday by a Messenger reporter and made the 
following statement: "I came home Saturday afternoon and the old man and myself 
went out to the smoke house and each of us took a drink of whickey out of a 
pint bottle.  After supper my wife and myself were sitting before the fire when 
she got after me for drinking so much.  Something was said about the old man, 
(Mr. Mashburn).  I saying that I had done more for him the last four years or 
more, than all the rest of the boys together.  He (Mr. Mashburn) was either out 
on the porch or in his room, I can't say which, hearing us, came in where we 
were.  I was leaning back in a rocking chair with one hand laying on a straight 
back chair near me.  The old man (Mashburn) said, "I'm a d--- good mind to kill 
you," and I told him that he wouldn't do anything of the sort.  He started 
hitting me on the left side of the face with his fist and a knife he had in his 
hand.  I think the knife was closed but can't say positive.  You can see 
(putting his hand to his face) where he hit me, here.  I tried to shove him 
away and when I did get him away, I picked up a straight back chair which was 
near me and hit him with it as he was coming on me again.  Lord knows I didn't 
mean to hurt the old man, but only wanted to stop him."

The above amounts practically to all of the statement.  He was asked if he was 
intoxicated or had a few drinks.  In reply he said that he was not drunk, but 
had taken several drinks, one of which he had taken with Mr. Mashburn.

The deceased was well known throughout Grady county and was looked upon as a 
quiet, law-abiding citizen, and never known to get drunk.  Mr. Mashburn was 65 
years of age last April 29th, and is survived by three children, two sons and 
one daughter, Mrs. R. L. Burns.

Mr. Burns is well known in this county and especially in Cairo as he was 
employed for several months by the Dyson Manufacturing Company.  It is said 
that Mr. Burns attempted suicide by taking a quantity of morphine, which, 
however made him vomit, thus saving his life.

Mr. Mashburn had made his home for the past several years with Mr. Burns.

The whole affair is much regretted by the numerous relatives, friends and 
acquaintances of both parties.  

The Coroner's Jury was empaneled Sunday evening and the following is the 
verdict:
"We the jury sworn and impanneled by the coronor, find the deceased, David 
Mashburn, came to his death by a chair in the hands of R. L. Burns.
J. W. Miller, Foreman
Jack Brinson
S. W. Gainous
J. W. Merritt
S. A. Barber
J. W. Nicholson       

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