From: BARBARA CLAYTON
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 9:58 PM

Article Found in
The Daily Breeze
July 17, 1922

W.T. Thomas in Critical Condition, Result of Gunshot Duel With Lewis McConnell Sunday

Wm T. Thomas 1427 East Main Street, is in critical condition at St. Vincent's Hospital as a result of gunshot wounds, inflicted by a shotgun fired by Lewis McConnell, in a duel in front of the Thomas home, Sunday evening at 6:50 o'clock.

The trouble started when McConnell walking along a fence near where Thomas was a ?, accussed Thomas of refusing to speak to him Sunday, when McConnell passed the Thomas home. The argument heated and Thomas ordered McConnell away from his place, but McConnell refused to leave, and Thomas crawled through the fence and told McConnell that if he did not clear out, that he would give him a beating. McConnell struck Thomas in the face and then threw a brick at him. Thomas then picked up a club and struck McConnell down. When McConnell ? he said to Thomas that he was going home and get his gun and come back and kill him. He left for home on the run, returning in a short while carrying a shot gun and returned to the yard.

As McConnell approached the Thomas home with the shotgun, a buggy passed along the street, between the two combatants, obscuring the view of Thomas, and as he waited, McConnell fired, the charge striking Thomas and inflicting wounds from his knees to his chest. Some of the shot passed completely through his body.

Willis Thomas, a brother who witnessed the quarreling and shooting, stated that his brother fired at McConnell as he fell, but most of the shot was buried in a picket fence which crossed the yard between the two men.

McConnell was arrested by Sheriff Dunbar on a warrant sworn out by Willis Thomas and given a preliminary hearing before Judge Forrester. He waived trial and was held under $2000 bond, which he is unable to give and was locked in the county jail to await action by the grand jury.

McConnell was under the influence of liquor and it required two men, to escort him up the stairs to Judge Forresters office.

Hospital attendants said this morning, that Thomas was resting nicely and that his chance for recovery was good.