Beckham County, OK - Deaths: John Neal (Neil), 1906
Tuesday, 09 Sep 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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NEAL or NEIL, JOHN
(15 Nov 1906, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
ONE NEGRO KILLED ANOTHER
Cotton Pickers in Trouble Near Poarch.
John Neal, a negro was shot and instantly killed near Poarch Sunday by Sam
Lewis, another negro about 19 years old.  The two, with another, were from
Marshall, Texas, and had been picking cotton on the farm of a man named
Montgomery.  Saturday night Montgomery and one of the negroes went to
Hobart, leaving Neal and Lewis on the farm.  They had been sleeping in the
barn, and the two older negroes had been bullying the boy.
Lewis' story is that as they went toward the barn Neal said, "Well, I'm
going to kill you," and started to draw a gun.  The boy was ready for him,
however, and shot him through the head before he could use his gun.  Lewis
then went to bed, where he was arrested the next morning.  The dead negro
had a new revolver, a bowie knife, and he had about $35 on his person, and
several dice.
Lewis was taken to Cheyenne and put in jail, but it is thought that he
will be able to establish a case of self defense.
(15 Nov 1906, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): Northland
Community News:
Ye scribe was visiting relatives at Poarch, Sunday and learned that three
Texas negroes were picking cotton for Mr. Tom Montgomery.  Saturday night
after they ate their supper, they went to the barn and a shot was fired,
the white man ran to the barn where they stumbled over one of the negroes
who was shot threw (sic) the head, one negro calmly went to bed and the
other ran away.
The men got the negro out of bed and guarded him all night, the officer
came and took him in charge Sunday morning.
The statement the negro gave (before they started to jail with him) was
that he over heard the other two negroes plotting to rob him and claims he
shot him in self defence (sic).  When the dead negro was found, his hand
was on his gun, and he had $35.  He was buried on the school section near
Retrop, Sunday evening.
(15 Nov 1906, Thursday, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
One Negro Kills Another, Near Elk.
Sam Lewis (colored) shot John Neil (colored) through the head, last
Saturday night, killing him instantly.  They were picking (cotton) near
here and Saturday night the two negroes became angry at each other which
caused Lewis to shoot Neil.
Lewis was locked in the calaboose here over Sunday and taken to Cheyenne
Monday, where he will await trial.

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