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Brothers Kill Each Other in Pistol Duel Nephew Only Witness to Fatal Battle in Bedroom Harlan, Ky- March 29, 1931 Jim Bailey, 43 years old, well-to-do timber contractor, and his brother, John Bailey, 45, shot each other to death early this morning at the home of the father, Bill Bailey, at Wallins, Ky., ten miles from here. A nephew, Denver Bailey, 12, who was in an adjoining room, was said to be the only witness. The shooting resulted when John, who had been taken in an intoxicated condition from a party and put to bed in the home of Chief of Police Albert Simpson of Walins, slipped out and went to his father's home. Entering Jim's room, John is said to have grabbed two pistols on a mantel and, after a few words, started firing, Jim took another weapon from under his pillow and fired twice. Both died instantly. Amicable relation always existed between the brothers until John started drinking, when he invariably would begin to threaten Jim, according to their friends. Jim is said to have foreseen a quarrel when John began drinking at the party and planned to spend the night away from home until he learned John had been put to bed in the Chief's home. According to Denver, both brothers rushed for the pistols on the mantel as John entered the room, but John reached them first. Jim retraced his steps and sat down on the edge of his bed, the youthful witness reported, and after a passage of a few words, John started firing. Jim shot John twice in the chest and the latter fired five times. Jim, who has been successful in timber operations, was acquitted last November on a self- defense plea in the killing of Floyd Osborn. John is said to have been in ill health for some time and had not worked recently. They were the only surviving sons of Bill Bailey, two other sons having been shot to death. The only close survivors are their parents and the nephew. |
Monday, March 30, 1931 Two Brothers Kill Each Other Sunday Jim, John Bailey Shoot Each Other To Death At Wallins In Home Of Parents; Will Be Buried Side By Side At Resthaven Cemetery Tomorrow NEPHEW, 12, WITNESSES TRAGEDY Two brothers will be buried side by side tomorrow at Resthaven Cemetery, each the victim of bullets from a pistol in the hands of the other. Jim Bailey, 43, and John Bailey 45, brothers, shot each other to death yesterday morning about three o’clock at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Bailey, of Wallins, with a nephew, Denver Bailey, 12, the only eye-witness to the tragic shooting. Lying side by side, the brothers will have their funeral services preached, and side by side they will be taken to the cemetery for burial, the last sons in the family. John was alleged to have been drinking Saturday night and to have threatened Jim earlier in the night, with no apparent reason. Jim was quoted as saying, ‘If I knew John was coming home tonight, I would drive around town until morning.’ Albert Simpson, chief of police at Wallins, is said to have taken John to his home Saturday night, but in the early morning John slipped out and went to his father’s home, where Jim was. Two of Jim’s pistols were lying on the mantle, and John started for the guns, getting them before Jim could reach them. Jim is said to have walked back to his bed as John opened fired. Jim then grabbed a small pistol from under his pillow and shot his brother twice. Jim was shot four times in the body, the fifth shot tearing off the end of his little finger. John was shot twice in the chest, and a glancing shot on one side. Both died without regaining consciousness. Denver Bailey, who witnessed the shooting, is said to have called, “Grandmother, come here and don’t let Uncle Jim die.” Mr. and Mrs. Bailey found the boys dead in the bedroom, Jim lying on the bed and John slumped over a chair. No reason could be learned for John Bailey’s intent to harm his brother. Several times John is said to have threatened the life of Jim. John had been in ill health for some time, being supported by Jim, who was a timber contractor, and said to have a large income. John Bailey had served a prison term in connection with a fatal shooting several years ago. Jim Bailey was acquitted last Fall of the murder of Floyd Osborne on a plea of self-defense. Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock at the Wallins Baptist Church, with burial afterward at Resthaven Cemetery. |
BAILEY BROTHERS KILL EACH OTHER AT WALLINS CREEK Wallins, Ky- March 30, 1931 Two brothers, Jim Bailey, 43, and John Bailey, 45, disagreed at a party here Saturday night and settled their controversy with guns Sunday morning. Both were killed. Jim, a wealthy timber contractor, and his brother had quarreled while attending the party and Chief of Police Albert Simpson took John to his (Simpson’s) home late Saturday night to sleep off the effect of liquor, Simpson said. Jim went to the home of their father, Bill Bailey, and retired. About eight o’clock John slipped from the Simpson home and went to settle matters with his brother. Seizing two pistols in Jim’s room, John awakened Jim and an argument followed. John shot five times and the latter fired twice before he fell dead. John died instantly. Denver Bailey, 12, nephew of the slain men, was the only witness to the slayings. Neither man was married and both resided with their father. The cause of the quarrel was not known. The Baileys were of the Knox family of that name and were in the White-Bailey feud in which many persons were killed in Clay and Knox counties. |
