JOHNSON CHAPEL CEMETERY, Natchez Trace Parkway, MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE

HAY, Odie, 1911 - 1935. (Son J. C. Hay.; Husb. Irene Kelley Hay.)

From The Daily Herald (Columbia, TN) Feb. 21, 2010 and Feb 22. 2010: Herald of Yesteryear

Feb. 21, 1935

JOE HARRIS IN JAIL, ODIE HAY IS BURIED TODAY

HARRIS GIVES OFFICERS GUN, SAYS HAY ADVANCING ON HIM

Officers Find Fly's Store Tenant Farmer Calmly Aiding Wife With Hanging Of
Quilting Frame.

Feb. 20, 1935 - Joe Harris, First district tenant farmer, in jail on a charge of murder in the first degree growing out of the death at 5 o'clock yesterday of Odie Hay, 23, a neighbor, was scheduled to be arraigned before Squire M.S. King today to be bound over to the grand jury, which is now in session.

Tom Humphreys, owner of the land on which Harris lives, has indicated he would go on his bond.

Harris, found at his home near Fly's Store yesterday afternoon several hours after the shooting which occurred on his land about 10:39 o'clock yesterday morning, was calmly helping his wife in mounting a quilting frame.

He handed the officers the pistol used in the shooting, a .32 Smith & Wesson revolver, which had been shot three times, and which he told officers was just as it was when the shooting ended. Constables Austin Harlan and Gerald Holcomb were the arresting officers.

Harris did not deny the shooting, but was reticent except to indicate that he was not the aggressor and that Hay was advancing toward him at the time, meanwhile upbraiding him. As far as officers know, Hay was unarmed.

This article from the "Daily Herald of Yesteryear" was posted by Rick Gray on Tnmaury Co. web site tnmaury@rootsweb.com and was a part of his efforts to add tid bits of previous history. 23 Feb 2010. Sent in by Mary Bob McClain Richardson 24 Feb 2010.