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Family Feud Turns Deadly: Man Admits to Killing Brother in Argument

Family Feud Turns Deadly: Man Admits to Killing Brother in Argument
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Family Feud Turns Deadly: Man Admits to Killing Brother in Argument

“A Hygean Run man was held Saturday night in connection with the slaying of his brother whom he admitted he clubbed to death with a rifle during an argument.”

William Franklin (Babe) Boyd, 24, also of Hygean Run, was killed about 9 PM Saturday in a scuffle on Route 112 about six miles north of Lucasville, Sheriff Earl C. Brandel reported.”

“His brother Charles, 28, admitted to the sheriff that he struck the youth with the barrel of a rifle. Dr. AE Singleton, who examined Franklin at his office in Nauvoo, reported he believed a fractured neck or skull caused his death.”

Coroner JD Rose was summoned to investigate. Sheriff Brandel was holding Charles pending a verdict by the coroner and advice from the prosecutor. He indicated a charge of manslaughter may be filed later.”

“With Buro Shepherd, Raymond Goodman and Milt Hobbs, the two brothers left a West Side garage at 3:30 PM Saturday for a drive to Jasper, the sheriff’s investigation revealed. They returned to a camp two miles south of Jasper, where they had some ‘drinks’, the sheriff said.”

“‘On the way back,’ Charles Boyd told Mr. Brandel, ‘Franklin wanted me to drive faster. I didn’t want to, and we got into an argument. We got out of the car and had a fight on the road.'”

“Franklin had Charles ‘down’, the sheriff learned, and then let him up, and Charles grabbed a rifle out of the car and threatened to shoot his brother.”

“‘You haven’t got the guts to shoot me!’ Franklin taunted, the sheriff said, and Charles swung the rifle at his brother.”

“Deputy Sheriff James Morgan assisted in the investigation.”

“A Windel-Howland ambulance was summoned to bring the body back to Portsmouth.”

“Franklin is survived by his wife1 and a 4 year-old son, James. He is a son of James William and Mary Frances Boyd of Hygean Run. Charles, married, is the father of four children.”2

  1. Stella Boggs Boyd
  2. Admits he slew brother in row. (1940, April 21). Portsmouth Times, p. 1.
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