Heard County GaArchives Obituaries.....Shelnutt / Shellnut, James W. "Woodie" January 16, 1924
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Candace (Teal) Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 May 4, 2006, 12:06 am

"The Roanoke Leader' -- Roanoke, Randolph Co., Alabama

NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, January 23, 1924

TRAGEDY LAST WEDNESDAY IN FRANKLIN, GEORGIA

Franklin's pristine peacefulness was banished on Wednesday afternoon about 2 
o'clock at the McWaters sale, at which both had attended and assisted, when 
Mr. J.D. Daniel shot and killed Mr. Woodie Shelnutt. It was so sudden and so 
unexpected that the whole assembly was thrown into a panic, and nobody seems 
to know how it happened.  For years it was known that acute differences had 
existed between the two men but it was understood that it had all been 
settled, and nobody was prepared for such a tragedy as a climax to the orderly 
sale of household goods almost beneath the shadow of both the Methodist and 
Baptist churches.

The best information that can be secured is that about the time the last of 
the goods had been auctioned, Shelnutt called Daniel aside and almost 
instantly two shots startled the crowd, Shelnutt falling dead with  pistol in 
hand and a ball in his head and another passing through the body.

The dead man was carried to his home near town and was buried yesterday at 
Centralhatchee.  Mr. Daniel accompanied Mrs. Daniel home but had left when the 
sheriff followed with a warrant which had been sworn out, and he has not been 
located.  He has sent word to the sheriff, however, as well as to The News and 
Banner, that he will be promptly on hand for trial as soon as the date is set 
for it and it us understood that friends and relatives are trying to get the 
trial set not later than Monday or Tuesday next.

The affair is one of the most tragic and regrettable that ever occurred in the 
county. In his message to The News and Banner, Mr. Daniel says that no one 
regrets it more than he, but that it was a question of shooting to kill or be 
killed.

Mr. Shelnutt leaves a widow, a little daughter, a mother, two brothers and 
five sisters, all held in high esteem, and the public heart goes out to them 
in this tragic and sad bereavement.  The Franklin, Georgia News and Banner.
- - -

NEWSPAPER issue of Wedneday, January 30, 1924

At the preliminary trial in Franklin, Georgia, set for last Saturday in the 
case of J.D. Daniel for the killing of Woodie Shelnutt, by agreement the bond 
was set at $5000. and the hearing was waived, the case going to the grand 
jury. Bond was promptly made.

Additional Comments:
Georgia Deaths, 1919-98 
Name: James W. Shellnut 
Death Date: 16 Jan 1924  
County of Death: Heard  
Certificate: 12153-F  

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/heard/obits/s/shelnutt4133gob.txt

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