TAYLOR COUNTY, GA - NEWSPAPERS  Murder of M.C. McDaniel 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com

Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


The Butler Herald
August 10, 1909
Page Three


Fatal Difficulty Between Farmers


M.C. McDaniel Slain by Jack Peacock


Business Transaction Cause Of Trouble


Peacock Surrenders To Sheriff and Is Now in Jail at
Butler


Tuesday last about noon Messrs. M.C. McDaniel and
A.J. Peacock, better known as Jack Peacock, two
prominent Taylor County farmers engaged in a
difficulty in which the former gentleman lost his
life.  The news of the deplorable affair was a
distinct shock to the friends of both men throughout
the county.


At the time of the trouble these gentlemen were
assisting Mr. J.T. Peacock, father of Jack Peacock
in building a wire fence, when some unpleasant words
it is claimed, arose between the senior Peacock and
Mr. McDaniel.  A.J. Peacock interceded for his
father.  Blows were passed between young Peacock and
McDaniel, the former using a posthole digger while
the latter held in his hand a claw hammer.  Mr.
McDaniel was struck only one blow over the left eye
with the weapon used by Mr. Peacock.  This blow was
a fatal one, however, which knocked Mr. McDaniel to
the ground in an unconscious condition.  The Butler
physicians were summoned but before aid reached him
Mr. McDaniel was dead.


Mrs. McDaniel, wife of the man slain, was present,
as was also their son, Robert, and Mr. J.T. Peacock
and another of his sons, all of whom were witnesses
to the sad tragedy.


Coroner Childree was summoned who empanelled a jury
and held an inquest over the body of Mr. McDaniel
Tuesday night.  The testimony of the witnesses
differed widely as to the cause of the killing and
the manner in which Mr. McDaniel was slain.  In the
opinion of the jury Mr. Peacock was not justified in
killing Mr. McDaniel.


After the finding of the coroner's jury Mr. Peacock
surrendered to Sheriff Beeland who was present at
the inquest and was brought to Butler and placed in
the jail Tuesday night.  No preliminary trial was
held but the matter was left over the action of the
grand jury, which is in session this week.


Messrs. J.T. Peacock and M.C. McDaniel were brother-
in-laws and the families had been neighbors and the
best of friends for many years.


Mr. McDaniel was about 60 years of age and leaves a
large family, while Mr. Peacock is a young man about
25 years of age and has a wife and one child. The
friends of both families throughout the county
sympathize with them in their distress.