Bit the Dust

Title

Bit the Dust

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Birmingham News

Publication Place

Birmingham, AL

Publication Date

08/13/1895

Transcript

BIT THE DUST Will McKay, Colored Was a Bad Man. HE CARRIED A PISTOL Deputy Sheriff Joe Nelson Ended His Days Last Night. He Was Too Quick For William. IT HAPPENED AT BROOK WOOD MINES. Will McKay, a colored youth, appears from all accounts to have been a pretty lied fellow. He carried a gun and was quick to use it. Will came to grief last night, however. Deputy Sheriff Joe Nelson went to effect his arrest for a felony and Will made a murderous pass at Mr. Nelson, which necessitated the use of Mr. Nelson's shotgun and brought Will's death. The story is told by a gentleman fresh from Brookwood, which is a mining town on the Brookwood branch of the Birmingham Mineral railroad, in Tuskaloosa county. The tale runs as follows:McKay, who was a miner, worked to Brookwood mines and lived in Brookwood. His mother also lived there. His mother in reported to have kept company with a negro, who was objectionable to McKay and who McKay thought was too thick with his mother. McKay swore he would break up their relations and put in his protest, but in vain. Sunday Will thought he would try sterner measures. He therefore loaded his pistol and went to his mother's house. There he found the objectionable negro on the front steps. Will made some talk, which was not heeded and then draw his pistol and emptied it, putting a circle of bullets about the negro's head. Strange to say no bullet had any effect. McKay then took out toward Coaling. He told the "folks" he was going to get some more cartridges and come back to Brookwood and at Brookwood he was going to stay until his mother's friend made off for parts unknown. Last night McKay returned to Brookwood. Meanwhile a warrant was out for WilI, and Deputy Sheriff Joe Nelson went to execute it. He found Will in his cabin and ordered to surrender. Instead of doing so forth-with, WiII stooped toward the floor as if to get his revolver from his boot. Before he could succeed in his purpose, Mr. Nelson had fired a barrel of slugs at him at close range and Will fell to the ground with his breast perforated with lead. This morning he died. It is stated that he was a bad negro and had few friends, even among his own people.

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