Obituaries: Lucy Lovell Neal, Warren B. Kraft, Joseph Douglas Neal, 1951, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ October 18, 1951 Winn Parish Enterprise Couple Are Found Dead, Neal Child Is Missing Mrs. Lucy Lovell Neal of Winnfield, and Werener B. Kraft of Mayville, Wisconsin, missing from here since Saturday, were found dead Thursday morning about 10 o'clock in an automobile about four miles north of Campti in Natchitoches Parish, on an old abandoned road, it was reported by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's department. Douglas, five year old son of Mrs. Neal, believed to have been with her, is still missing. The bodies of Kraft and Mrs. Neal were found by Cleatis Smith of Campti, who called the Natchitoches Parish sheriff. According to reports from relatives of Mrs. Neal the bodies had evidently been there for several days, possible since Sunday. The Natchitoches sheriff's office reported that a .22 caliber pistol was found in the car, and appeared to have been fired twice. Several cartridges of he same caliber and type in the gun were found in Kraft's pocket. The body of Mrs. Neal is at the local Southern Funeral Home and Kraft's body is at a Natchitoches funeral home. Mrs. Neal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Lovell of Atlanta Road, was an employee of Generalgas Corporation in Winnfield. She and the child were missed when she failed to report for work Monday. Reports stated that they took no extra clothes, evidently having left hurriedly. Mrs. Neal's husband, Huey Neal, is with the U. S. Army in Korea. They were separated. No motives for murder were quoted by relatives nor the Natchitoches sheriff's department. Sheriff C. M. Robinson of Winn Parish went to Natchitoches Thursday morning, and is assisting the Natchitoches department in the investigation. The car in which the two bodies were found, was rented from Modern Cabs, an Alexandria auto rental agency. October 19, 1951 Winnfield News-American Local Woman, Man Found Dead In Auto Near Campti Thursday Morning Five Year Old Son Of Mrs. Lucy Neal Object Of Search The badly decomposed bodies of Mrs. Lucy Neal, 24, of Winnfield, and Warren B. Kraft, whose home is believed to be at Mayfield, Wisc., were found in an automobile on a lonely road several miles from Campti at 10 a.m. Thursday and authorities were still seeking the five year old son of the woman as this was written Thursday night. The child, Joseph Douglas Neal, was described as blonde and blue eyed. Radio stations were being utilized Thursday in the search. Gun Found In Car While authorities did not elaborate Thursday on the possible circumstances surrounding the deaths, it was reported that a .22 caliber gun was found in the car and that cartridges were discovered in the pocket of Kraft. The car was said to have been closed tightly. It was reported that blood had been found on the bumper of the automobile and that the bumper was sent to investigators for examination, and a Natchitoches newspaper editor told the News-American Thursday night "the case seems to be one of murder and suicide." This theory was not substantiated for the News-American by authorities. The bodies were discovered after a passerby, becoming suspicious on seeing the automobile parked in the same location several times, telephoned Sheriff Earl Morris of Natchitoches. Last Seen Here Sunday Mrs. Neal, whose husband, Huey Neal, is stationed in Korea, and whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lovell, reside in Atlanta, was reportedly last seen here Sunday at 10:30 a.m. when she and her son left their apartment on North Laurel Street in the company of a man identified by neighbors of the slain woman as Kraft. It was reported that Kraft, who authorities said had been "in and around Winnfield for the past three years," formerly was employed by the International Paper Company and that possibly for the past three weeks he had been staying at Alexandria. It was also reported that he had been renting an automobile in Alexandria and that this fact was substantiated by a concern in Alexandria. According to a local funeral home, a coroner's inquest into the deaths was held in a Natchitoches funeral home. A search for the missing trio was begun throughout Louisiana early this week and was broadened into several states about the middle of the week, it was stated. Funeral Plans Incomplete Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Neal had not been completed when this was written Thursday night. The local woman, who had been employed for several years by the Generalgas Company here, was born in Grant Parish and is survived by her husband, her parents, two brothers, Andy Lovell of Columbus, Ga., and Archie Lovell of Atlanta; a sister, Ms. Ted Womack of Yakima, Wash.; three half brothers, Robert and Ellis Lovell of Columbus, Ga., and Oscar Lovell of Winnfield; and a half sister, Mrs. Henry Bryant of Hargis, La. October 25, 1951 Winn Parish Enterprise Double Murder Possibility Probed In Neal-Kraft Case Result of Autopsy May Give New Leads in Killing Possibility of a double murder in the killing of Mrs. Lucy Neal and Warren B. Kraft is being probed this week, with autopsy reports on the bodies being awaited. Sgt. Huey Neal, estranged husband of Mrs. Neal, arrived in Atlanta today to assist in the search for his five year old son, Joseph Douglas, who is still missing. An Enterprise reporter talked to a brother of Sgt. Neal who reported that he had just arrived and did not feel like making a statement. Sgt. Neal said in a transcribed radio interview at noon today, "As far as I am concerned there will be no questions asked as to why he was not returned.: Sgt. Neal voiced the opinion that someone may be keeping the child, being afraid to report to authorities. Sheriff C. M. Robinson reported at 5:15 today that Clarence Bates, deputy sheriff who is in South Louisiana investigating the whereabouts of the missing Neal child, has notified him of a new lead in the Lake Charles area. Deputy Bates is on his way to Lake Charles to investigate this as the Enterprise goes to press. No details were reported. Autopsies Performed An autopsy was ordered on Mrs. Neal's body by District Attorney Sam Wells this week. The autopsy was performed by doctors at the Baptist Hospital in Alexandria. No reports have been received from this, according to Wells and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Earl Morris. "This was investigative work and it will likely be several days before the complete report is available," Wells said. It was reported that a brother of Mrs. Neal this week talked by telephone to relatives of Kraft in Mayville, Wisconsin, his home, and that an autopsy was made on Kraft. The report stated that a .22 caliber bullet was found in his head. The shell was split, but from the shallow wound it was determined to be of .22 caliber, it was stated. Natchitoches Parish Coroner W. H. Pierson issued a preliminary verdict of suicide and murder last Thursday the day the bodies were found ______ on an abandoned road near Campti. A .22 caliber automatic pistol, found in the car _____ was sent to Baton Rouge for fingerprinting, but a report has not been received at the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's office. Natchitoches Sheriff Earl Morris stated that the gun was traced to Kraft, who bought it in 1949. The double murder possibility hinges largely on the motive for the killings. Mrs. Neal had filed for divorce in November 1948, after she and Sgt. Neal separated the previous July, but was unable to obtain the divorce. A letter from Sgt. Neal (which was reportedly seen by her attorney, C. D. Moss, Jr. of Winnfield) stated he would grant a divorce if an agreement could be reached on the custody of the child. The letter reported the "frustrated suitor" motive for suicide and murder. Also pointing to the double murder theory is the fact that no empty cartridges were found in the car by law officers. The gun in the car was an automatic weapon which would have ejected the spent cartridge from it. Sheriff Robinson said, "There was a lot of scrambling around there and it is possible that any cartridges could have been misplaced." No basis could be traced of a rumor stating Kraft had been threatened the week before the killings. An Enterprise reporter asked friends of Mrs. Neal, and Sheriff Earl Morris of Natchitoches. None reported any knowledge of the source of the rumor. In an interview this morning Sheriff Robinson said, "If the killings were done by a professional killer (a third party) he could have __________ the child." The Sheriff would not imply in any way that another person did the killings ___, he was speculating possibilities. Asked, "Was there enough blood in the car to indicate the couple died in the car?" Sheriff Robinson replied , "Yes, I believe so." Bullets Found In Mrs. Neal's Apartment Part of a box of .22 caliber bullets of the ___ type found in Kraft's pocket by law officers were found in Mrs. Neal's apartment on Friday after the bodies were discovered, according to reports. Child Missing, No Traces Joseph Douglas Neal, son of Sgt. And the late Mrs. Neal, is still missing, with no traces as to his whereabouts, stated Sheriff Robinson. A reward of $___________ was offered last week by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Neal, grandparents of the child, for his return, dead or alive. The possibility that he might be with relatives in Yakima, Washington, was checked soon after the was missed, he stated. Every lead has been checked and the child's whereabouts is still the greatest mystery in the case. Both Sheriff Robinson and Sheriff Morris of Natchitoches voiced opinion that the solution to the killings would be found when the child is found, "whether he is dead or alive," Sheriff Robinson said. Detectives from the State Police Department, private detective forces from both the Winn and Natchitoches Sheriff's departments are working in the search. The child was last seen in Winnfield with Kraft and Mrs. Neal about 10 a.m. Sunday. The trio was reported seen again in Campti at 12:30 Sunday. At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Kraft and Mrs. Neal were reported seen without the child. The bodies were found a week ago today at about 10 a.m. Sgt. Neal, father of the child, reported seeing the child last about six weeks ago, when he was home on leave before reporting for duty in Korea. Sheriff Robinson said today, "We are right now almost where we were the day they were reported missing. I and my force have not given up on this until we know what happened. I and one to three of my deputies have been on it day and night since it started. Although the crime occurred in Natchitoches Parish the child and lady were from here and we intend to find out about it. "I believe the solution to the whole thing will be found when we find the child, either dead or alive. Of course it will be easier if the child is alive." In regards to much outside "detective" work which citizens are doing on the case, Sheriff Robinson said, "They generally do more harm than good." Practically all information turned in to him by such investigators has been reports that the officers had already checked, and sometimes their taking his time resulted in his being detained from checking actual leads on possible solutions. The Sheriff stated that Kraft's relatives are not in Winnfield contrary to reports which have been circulated. Kraft was a timber estimator formerly employed with International Paper Company in the area. He had been here for the past three years. August 26, 1951 Winnfield News-American Autopsies Performed On Bodies Of Slain Pair, New Lead Being Followed Child Still Missing, Father Returns From Korea Thursday Officers Thursday were awaiting a report of an autopsy performed on the body of Mrs. Lucy Lovell Neal in Alexandria Wednesday and deputies of the Winn Parish Sheriff's office were pursuing new leads as the suicide and murder case of Mrs. Neal and Warren Kraft promised possible new developments. Joseph Douglas, five year old son of he woman, was still missing as this was written. Neal Arrives Home Sgt. Huey Neal, husband of the slain woman, arrived at his home in Atlanta Thursday after an emergency trip by air from Korea via Tacoma, Wash., and Barksdale Field, and voiced a belief that his son is being held by some unknown person and is not dead. In the meantime, activity by the sheriff's office has been stepped up with reports by Sheriff C. M. Robinson that one of his deputies in South Louisiana on a new lead _________ is busy nearer Winnfield on another. District Attorney Sam L. Wells told a News-American reporter from his home in Colfax Thursday night that the body of Mrs. Neal was disinterred from Mars Hill Cemetery Tuesday afternoon for an autopsy by Dr. E. C. Uhlrich, Alexandria pathologist, later in the day and was subsequently reburied later on the same afternoon. He stated that the doctor's report had not been received yet and said the autopsy was part of a "routine investigation." But the autopsy, coupled with redoubled activity by officers and with yet unanswered questions from the scene of discovery of the bodies on a lonely road near Campti, led to speculation that the case may "break" with the next few days and that a new answer may replace the verdict of murder and suicide. One question not yet answered is that the whereabouts of empty cartridges in or in the vicinity of the automobile in which the bodies were discovered. The principal mystery, of course, is that of the whereabouts of the missing child. Thousands of interested citizens in this section have been anxiously waiting for word of the lad, with hope that he will appear safe and sound, in the near future. Sheriff Robinson told the News-American Thursday night that an autopsy also had been performed on Kraft's body in Wisconsin and that he was endeavoring to learn the official results of this action by telephone but he had received no word at the time this was written. November 2, 1951 Winnfield News-American Search Continues For Douglas Neal, 500 Soldiers Aid Black Lake Shore Line Combed To No Avail This Week The disappearance of Joseph Douglas Neal, five year old son of Mrs. Lucy Lovell Neal, who was slain approximately two weeks ago near Campti, remained a mystery yesterday as searchers scouring the shorelines of Black Lake reported no success in efforts to locate the child's body. The water search started Thursday morning after more than 500 soldiers from Camp Polk Tuesday searched the area round the spot where Mrs. Neal and Warren B. Kraft were found shot to death Oct. 18. The boy was reported seen in Winnfield, his home town, on Oct. 14, the day his mother and Kraft are believed to have been killed. A verdict of murder- suicide has been given in the double killing. Sheriff Earl Morris of Natchitoches organized the boat search for yesterday after all other attempts to find the boy failed, and searchers yesterday began cris-crossing the lake in an effort to find the body. Both Morris and Sgt. Huey Neal, the boy's father, who was flown back from Korea to aid in the search, considered the boat search a shot in the dark but that every possibility should be exhausted. A couple with a boy of about five years of age were seen in Alexandria several days and it was felt that they had the child but they later were identified as a Camp Polk couple. An attendant at a Mississippi River bridge at Natchez is reported to have seen the child alive on Oct. 14, but this story has not been substantiated. December 21, 1951 Winnfield News-American No Progress Reported In New Neal Case Development Local officers said Thursday night that no report of progress has been made as a result of the latest development in the case of the missing, five year old Joseph Douglas Neal. Two investigators from the Louisiana state police department Thursday were checking into the following report: A woman from Atlanta, Texas, has identified the little blonde haired boy as one of vie people who stopped at her filling station on October 15, three days before the child's mother, Mrs. Lucy Lovell Neal, and Werner B. Kraft, Winnfield timber estimator, were found shot to death in a car near Campti. The child has been missing since October 14, the day his mother and Kraft, are believed to have been killed. Sure Of Identity Mrs. Madge Lovelady, who operates a filling station and grocery store on highway 59 between Atlanta, Texas and Texarkana, Wednesday told Sgt. Huey Neal, the boy's father who was returned from Korea to aid in the search, that she was sure the little boy who stopped at the station with a man and woman and two other children is the missing boy. She first disclosed here belief in a letter to Sgt. Neal sent in ___ Sheriff Earl Morris of Natchitoches Parish, who has been investigating the case. Didn't Fit In Family Circle In her letter, Mrs. Lovelady said the little boy didn't seem to fit into the family group of the couple and the other two children and "on his face was a mixture of worry, anxiety, and wonder." The other two children identified they boy as their cousin, she said. Sergeant Neal called her letter the best lead he had had since the search began and said "her identification was might positive." After Mrs. Neal's and Kraft's bodies were found on a lonely road north of Campti, Natchitoches Parish Coroner W. H. Pierson returned a verdict of murder and suicide. November 20, 1952 Winn Parish Enterprise Remains Believed To Be Those Of Neal Child, But Case Still Is Deep Mystery The remains believed to be those of five year old Joseph Douglas Neal, missing from here for 13 months, are in the FBI laboratories in Washington, D. C., undergoing extensive investigation to establish whether they are those of the missing child. Two Winn Parish farmers, George Porter and Bud Melton, discovered a skull and several pieces of clothing near Packton last Friday morning, November 11, and these were identified by several persons as belonging to the child. Huey Neal, his father; Cleo, a colored maid employed by the child's slain mother, Mrs. Lucy Lovell Neal; and Mrs. Betty Walters, who occupied the opposite side of a duplex apartment with Mrs. Neal, were among those identifying the bits of clothing. Found were a skull, several bones, a decayed shirt and pair of pants, a pair of sandals, and a pair of green and white socks. The skull bore what appeared to be a small caliber bullet hole, probably .22, indicating the child was murdered. The area where the remains were found lies a few hundred yards inside Grant Parish, just off an abandoned logging road, about 200 yards west of U. S. Highway 167. It is approximately 40 air miles from the spot where Mrs. Lucy Neal and Werner B. Kraft, of Mayville, Wisc., were found shot to death on October 18, 1951. The child was not with them when found, and became the object of a nationwide search. A theory given at the scene of the finding Friday was that Kraft killed the child, and possibly Mrs. Neal, there, and took Mrs. Neal to the spot where they were found, and killed himself. All three were apparently killed by .22 bullets. Mrs. Neal and Kraft were buried following an investigation. Mrs. Neal, who was a member of the Laurel Heights Baptist Church, was buried at Mars Hill Cemetery, and Kraft at his home in Wisconsin. Law officers from Winn, Grant, and Natchitoches Parishes along with state police, investigated the remains found last week before sending them for FBI tests. The finding of the remains climaxes many months of fruitless searching. Many leads were checked, all to no avail. No check had been made in the area where the child's body was found. It was revealed however that last year, a Mr. Duffey of near Colfax, reported seeing a man answering Kraft's description, in a car, with a woman slumped in the front seat. This was reported then to the Grant Parish sheriff, and later by letter to Huey Neal, according to a statement from Neal. The Colfax man saw the man and woman before the bodies of Kraft and Mrs. Neal were found, and reported it when the story broke. It was theorized that Kraft killed the child and Mrs. Neal in frustration after she would not marry him. Neal's Theory Neal holds this theory, stating that Mrs. Neal visited him during Mothers' Day Week, while he was stationed in Camp Hood, Texas, before going overseas. She reportedly said then that she would not marry Kraft since she was afraid of him. She and Neal had talked of divorce previous to this, but had not agreed. After Neal went to Korea, he agreed to a divorce, under certain conditions, in a letter to Lucy. He stated she answered his letter on October 8, 1951, and accepted the terms to divorce, but still did not plan to marry Kraft. Neal believes that Kraft made up his mind to kill her them. Neal was flown from Korea when the bodies of his wife and Kraft were found and led the hunt for his son. He was later discharged and had been in the State of Washington until a week before the remains of his son were found. January 8, 1953 Winn Parish Enterprise Funeral For Neal Child Is Slated For Wednesday Funeral services for the remains of Joseph Douglas Neal are scheduled Wednesday afternoon in the Atlanta Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. Joseph Douglas, son of Huey K. Neal and the late Lucy Lovell Neal, was missing for 13 months before his skeleton was found in woods in Grant Parish last November. A coroner's jury in Colfax declared Saturday that the bullet pierced skull and other remains were those of the missing five year old, whose mother and a companion, Werner B. Kraft, were found shot to death near Campti October 17, 1951. An FBI investigation on the remains failed to reveal any additional information on the death of the child. Date of his death was placed as October 14, 1951, according to reports from Southern Funeral Home here, which will be in charge of funeral arrangements. The child's survivors are his father, Huey K. Neal; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe M. Neal, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lovell, all of Atlanta. In charge of the funeral will be Rev. J. C. Rousseaux and Rev. A. N. Baum. Burial will be in Atlanta Cemetery.