The following articles pertain to William Skipper, the father of his wife, Martha SKIPPER.
*****
Jackson Daily News; 08 Jul 1919, Tue; Page 5; Jackson, Mississippi
TRIPLE SHOOTING RESULT OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL
Aged Family Killed By Relative and Slayer Also Seriously Wounded
PHILADELPHIA, July 8 - (Special.)
Clint Stewart, Confederate veteran, aged 70, his wife, aged 70, and a sister, aged 50, were shot to death and William Skipper, son-in-law, aged 65, the alleged slayer, was in turn seriously wounded by an unknown person at North Bend, ten mile northeast of here Monday morning, as the aftermath of a domestic quarrel over religious beliefs.
Trouble is said to have been fermenting among the aged family for a number of years owing to the different religious preferences. The Stewarts are said to have been of the Catholic denomination. Sheriff Harbour of Neshoba county, has gone to the scene of the crime.
*****
Natchez Democrat; 09 Jul 1919, Wed; Page 1; Natchez, Mississippi
ADMITS KILLING; SAYS SELF-DEFENSE
Tells How He Killed Wife's Father, Mother and Sister
SAYS FAMILIES QUARRELED MUCH FOR OVER TWO YEARS
Denies That He Made Attempt To Kill His Wife
PHIIADELPHIA. Miss., July 8. - William Skipper, suffering from numerous birdshot wounds inflicted by neighbors near North Bend yesterday after he had killed Clint Stewart, 75, his father-in-law; Mrs. Stewart, 70, and Miss Fannie Stewart, 50, late today admitted the shooting, claiming self defense, according to officials, but denied reports received by authorties here that he had attempted to kill his wife.
He was leaving a neighbor's house, where he had talked with his wife, following the killing, he said, when a party of young men told him to consider himself under arrest.
"I raised my gun to take my own life." he declared, "but before I could do so they shot me down. They shot me three times."
The trouble started, he said, when Stewart shot at him from his house while Skipper and his son were attempting to drive a pig his father-in-law had been keeping for him, but had turned out. He returned the fire, he related, and went into the house where he shot Stewart again.
"Fannie was in the hall," he continued. "She had the gun which Stewart had used on me. We scuffled but she got the gun. Then I shot her in the head."
Shot Wife's Mother In Head.
He then went into the front room, he said, looking for his wife when Mrs. Stewart "jabbed me with something - I think it was a fork."
"Then I shot her in the head," he added.
He searched the house for his wife, he continued, and not finding her went to the neighbor's were he talked with her.
"Our families have quarreled much for over two years," Skipper asserted, adding that he went to the delta near Ruleville, last year,, and made a crop to get away from their differences. His wife left his home several weeks ago, he said, and has been stay with the Stewarts and friends.
"Before God Almighty," he declared. "I am justified in a part of this killing, and in a part I am not."
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their daughter will be buried tomorrow at Holycross Church, near Philadelphia.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 10 Jul 1919, Thu; Page 3; Philadelphia, Mississippi
One of the most horrible crimes ever committed in this county was committed in the North Bend community about 8 o'clock Monday morning when Will Skipper killed Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stewart and daughter, Miss Fannie Stewart.
Skipper was a son in law of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and family affairs is said to be the cause of the horrible crime. Skipper and his wife had fallen out and had been seperated several weeks and she had returned to the home of her parents who lived only a short distance away. While there had been much feeling in the family, the immediate starting of the killing was about a hog said to have belonged to Mrs. Skipper and which Mr. Stewart had gone to the Skipper home to get. After Mr. Stewart had returned to his home, Skipper came down there where the killing occurred. Skipper claims Mr. Stewart shot at him first then he shot him, his daughter and then Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was killed in one room, his wife in another and his daughter in the hall of the house. Skipper’s wife was in the house at the beginning of the shooting and she slipped out and went to a near neighbor’s house and reported what her husband was doing.
After Skipper had killed the three he went on the lookout for his wife supposedly to kill her. He went to the home of Mr. Art Green nearby and Mr. Green and Mr. Copeland in making his arrest were forced to shoot him several times but the shot were small and he was not seriously hurt. When ordered to thow up his hands his movements were more like he intended to do further killing rather than surrender.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were about 85 years old and their daughter who was killed was about 40.
Skipper says he did not intend to kill his wife but wanted to see her and then he intended to kill himself. The committing of such a bloody crime, snuffiug out the lives of these old and respected people was a shock to the whole county and looked more like the work of a maniac than a criminal.
Skipper was brought to jail by sheriff Harbour Monday afternoon where he was placed in a cell and given medical attention. He says he is 74 years of age, born in Dayton, Ohio and was with Sherman here during the civil war. Skipper was carried to Meridian Tuesday.
*****
East Mississippi Times; 11 Jul 1919, Fri; Page 5; Starkville, Mississippi
Philadelphia - Domestic trouble, based largely on religious disagreements, is given as the cause for a triple tragedy in Neshoba county. William Skipper, aged 66, killed Clint Stewart, his father-in-law, a Confederate veteran, aged 70, his mother-in-law, aged 70, and Miss Stewart his sister-in-law aged 60. Skipper was shortly afterward shot in the chest and stomach by an unknown party.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 25 Sep 1919, Thu; Page 2; Philadelphia, Mississippi
The case of Bill Skipper against whom three indictments for murder have been returned was called up Monday. The state elected to try first the case wherein Skipper was charged with murdering Mrs. Clint Stewart. The defense filed a motion for change of venue which was overruled, A second motion for continuance on account of absent witnesses was filed and the case went over until Wednesday morning. The two witnesses subpoened were Drs. Gully and Mitchel of Meridian indicating a plea of insanity may be set up by the defense in this case.
*****
The Newton Record; 02 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 1; Newton, Mississippi
SAY RELIGION CAUSE OF TRIPLE MURDER
CHARNEL HOUSE DESCRIBED BY MANY WITNESSES.
Wm. Skipper on Trial at Philadelphia for Murdering Father, Mother and Sister of Wife.
READERS of The Record will call to mind the tragedy which took place over in Neshoba county, some time since, when an old man and his wife and sister-in-law were shot down by a man named Skipper. This case was on trial in circuit court at Philadelphia this week, and Attorneys Byrd & Byrd, of this place, assisted the district attorney in the prosecution. A special to the Commercial Appeal of the 29th has the following to say of the case.
"Contending that the Catholic views his wife and her relatives stirred him to such a frenzy as to unbalance his reason, William Skipper's trial on a charge of murdering his father-in-law, Mr. Clint Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590656), mother-in-law, Mrs. Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590729) and sister-in-law, Miss Fannie Stewart (Memorial ID # 100592810), went forward in Neshoba County circuit criminal court to-day.
Witness following witness testified to the gruesome scene that met their eyes when they went to the Skipper home. Rooms were blood bespattered, the grounds about having the appearance of a slaughterhouse. They told of the bodies of the aged couple lying prone in death, their heads having been torn from their bodies. The daughter, too, they testified, suffered the same fate.
"The plea of the defense is insanity. The Stewarts were all Catholics, for 14 years, it developed, religious differences between the two families were a constant source friction. This had become aggravated as Skipper's children became older, the gulf caused by unalterable religious views widened until finally Mrs. Skipper came to the home of her parents.
"Witnessing the awful triple tragedy was Skipper's little 10-year-old son. Tuesday he will take the stand and describe the crime as he saw it.
While the court was at recess Dolf Green, one of the state's witnesses, and Wallace W. Cox, for the defense, came to blows while in the witness room over a statement made by Green. Cox it is said, struck the first blow. Judge A. J. McLaurin fined the latter $100 for contempt, in spite of the fact that the altercation occurred during the noon hour. The jurors who are hearing the testimony and will decide Skinner's fate are J. O. Shepard, W. A. Strum, Geo. Abel, J. W. Gilbert, W. T. May, Newton Tucker. L. L. Fuller, H. B. Reeves, C. A. Martin, J. T. Tally, Wesley Dearing and L. D. Driscol. Hon. M. W. Reily has been retained by the defense, in addition to G. E. Wilson and Paul Dees. Four attorneys are co-operating in the prosecution. They are J. K. Gillis, county attorney; M. C. Eastland, district attorney, and Judge J. R. Byrd and his son of Newton.
"Will Marble, who was convicted for shooting at Sam Newell with intent to kill, has been given a six-year sentence. He immediately made an appeal bond for $2.000 and was allowed his liberty pending the action of the supreme court.
Skipper Convicted.
Since the above was put in type, a report from Philadelphia says.
"Bill Skipper, tried on a charge of murdering Mrs. Agnes Stewart, his mother-in-law, has been convicted. It is understood that attorneys for the defense previous to the trial made overtures to the attorneys for the state that the defendant would plead guilty if his penalty in each of the three charges of murder against him would be a life sentence. The state would agree to nothing but a trial.
"Caradine Skipper, aged 11, and his younger brother, Hartwell Skipper, aged 10, both sons of the defendant, testified for the state. Their testimony coincided. Both stated that Clint Stewart, their grandfather, and the defendant, their father, had had some trouble over a hog early on the day upon which the triple killing occurred and that the defendant at the time snapped a gun six times in Clint Stewart's face, and that the defendant then went to Copeland's, about one-half mile from Stewart's home, and borrowed a single-barreled shot-gun. They stated that Skipper then went home and fired the gun in the air one time, then told his boys to follow him, and they went together to Stewart's home; that Clint Stewart was in the south room of his home, near a window, when they came up. The defendant then fired one shot at Stewart, breaking Stewart's left arm. Stewart fired a return shot, which went astray. Thereupon defendant leaped on the gallery and shot Stewart, killing him, then stepped back into the yard and shot Miss Fannie Stewart, who was seated in a chair in the hall. Skipper then came on the gallery near where Miss Fannie Stewart was seated and shot her again, blowing a part of her head off. He then took a chair and struck her body three blows with it .
Killed Both Women.
"Mrs. Agnes Stewart, aged 82, was standing in the door holding to the door casing. Skipper fired twice at Mrs. Stewart, completely blowing the right side of her head away, the boys said. Skipper, who, at the time of his arrest, confessed to the crime which he had committed and described it all in detail, took the stand late yesterday afternoon.
"Attorneys for the state and defense agreed to submit the case to the jury without argument. The jury has just reported and returned a verdict of guilty, but disagreed as to the punishment. The jury voted 7 to 5 in favor of hanging."
*****
Okolona Messenger; 09 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 6; Okolona, Mississippi
Philadelphia. - Bill Skipper, who has just been tried and convicted on a charge of murdering his aged mother-in-law, has been sentenced to imprisonment for life.
*****
Jackson Daily News; 08 Jul 1919, Tue; Page 5; Jackson, Mississippi
TRIPLE SHOOTING RESULT OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL
Aged Family Killed By Relative and Slayer Also Seriously Wounded
PHILADELPHIA, July 8 - (Special.)
Clint Stewart, Confederate veteran, aged 70, his wife, aged 70, and a sister, aged 50, were shot to death and William Skipper, son-in-law, aged 65, the alleged slayer, was in turn seriously wounded by an unknown person at North Bend, ten mile northeast of here Monday morning, as the aftermath of a domestic quarrel over religious beliefs.
Trouble is said to have been fermenting among the aged family for a number of years owing to the different religious preferences. The Stewarts are said to have been of the Catholic denomination. Sheriff Harbour of Neshoba county, has gone to the scene of the crime.
*****
Natchez Democrat; 09 Jul 1919, Wed; Page 1; Natchez, Mississippi
ADMITS KILLING; SAYS SELF-DEFENSE
Tells How He Killed Wife's Father, Mother and Sister
SAYS FAMILIES QUARRELED MUCH FOR OVER TWO YEARS
Denies That He Made Attempt To Kill His Wife
PHIIADELPHIA. Miss., July 8. - William Skipper, suffering from numerous birdshot wounds inflicted by neighbors near North Bend yesterday after he had killed Clint Stewart, 75, his father-in-law; Mrs. Stewart, 70, and Miss Fannie Stewart, 50, late today admitted the shooting, claiming self defense, according to officials, but denied reports received by authorties here that he had attempted to kill his wife.
He was leaving a neighbor's house, where he had talked with his wife, following the killing, he said, when a party of young men told him to consider himself under arrest.
"I raised my gun to take my own life." he declared, "but before I could do so they shot me down. They shot me three times."
The trouble started, he said, when Stewart shot at him from his house while Skipper and his son were attempting to drive a pig his father-in-law had been keeping for him, but had turned out. He returned the fire, he related, and went into the house where he shot Stewart again.
"Fannie was in the hall," he continued. "She had the gun which Stewart had used on me. We scuffled but she got the gun. Then I shot her in the head."
Shot Wife's Mother In Head.
He then went into the front room, he said, looking for his wife when Mrs. Stewart "jabbed me with something - I think it was a fork."
"Then I shot her in the head," he added.
He searched the house for his wife, he continued, and not finding her went to the neighbor's were he talked with her.
"Our families have quarreled much for over two years," Skipper asserted, adding that he went to the delta near Ruleville, last year,, and made a crop to get away from their differences. His wife left his home several weeks ago, he said, and has been stay with the Stewarts and friends.
"Before God Almighty," he declared. "I am justified in a part of this killing, and in a part I am not."
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their daughter will be buried tomorrow at Holycross Church, near Philadelphia.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 10 Jul 1919, Thu; Page 3; Philadelphia, Mississippi
One of the most horrible crimes ever committed in this county was committed in the North Bend community about 8 o'clock Monday morning when Will Skipper killed Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stewart and daughter, Miss Fannie Stewart.
Skipper was a son in law of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and family affairs is said to be the cause of the horrible crime. Skipper and his wife had fallen out and had been seperated several weeks and she had returned to the home of her parents who lived only a short distance away. While there had been much feeling in the family, the immediate starting of the killing was about a hog said to have belonged to Mrs. Skipper and which Mr. Stewart had gone to the Skipper home to get. After Mr. Stewart had returned to his home, Skipper came down there where the killing occurred. Skipper claims Mr. Stewart shot at him first then he shot him, his daughter and then Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was killed in one room, his wife in another and his daughter in the hall of the house. Skipper’s wife was in the house at the beginning of the shooting and she slipped out and went to a near neighbor’s house and reported what her husband was doing.
After Skipper had killed the three he went on the lookout for his wife supposedly to kill her. He went to the home of Mr. Art Green nearby and Mr. Green and Mr. Copeland in making his arrest were forced to shoot him several times but the shot were small and he was not seriously hurt. When ordered to thow up his hands his movements were more like he intended to do further killing rather than surrender.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were about 85 years old and their daughter who was killed was about 40.
Skipper says he did not intend to kill his wife but wanted to see her and then he intended to kill himself. The committing of such a bloody crime, snuffiug out the lives of these old and respected people was a shock to the whole county and looked more like the work of a maniac than a criminal.
Skipper was brought to jail by sheriff Harbour Monday afternoon where he was placed in a cell and given medical attention. He says he is 74 years of age, born in Dayton, Ohio and was with Sherman here during the civil war. Skipper was carried to Meridian Tuesday.
*****
East Mississippi Times; 11 Jul 1919, Fri; Page 5; Starkville, Mississippi
Philadelphia - Domestic trouble, based largely on religious disagreements, is given as the cause for a triple tragedy in Neshoba county. William Skipper, aged 66, killed Clint Stewart, his father-in-law, a Confederate veteran, aged 70, his mother-in-law, aged 70, and Miss Stewart his sister-in-law aged 60. Skipper was shortly afterward shot in the chest and stomach by an unknown party.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 25 Sep 1919, Thu; Page 2; Philadelphia, Mississippi
The case of Bill Skipper against whom three indictments for murder have been returned was called up Monday. The state elected to try first the case wherein Skipper was charged with murdering Mrs. Clint Stewart. The defense filed a motion for change of venue which was overruled, A second motion for continuance on account of absent witnesses was filed and the case went over until Wednesday morning. The two witnesses subpoened were Drs. Gully and Mitchel of Meridian indicating a plea of insanity may be set up by the defense in this case.
*****
The Newton Record; 02 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 1; Newton, Mississippi
SAY RELIGION CAUSE OF TRIPLE MURDER
CHARNEL HOUSE DESCRIBED BY MANY WITNESSES.
Wm. Skipper on Trial at Philadelphia for Murdering Father, Mother and Sister of Wife.
READERS of The Record will call to mind the tragedy which took place over in Neshoba county, some time since, when an old man and his wife and sister-in-law were shot down by a man named Skipper. This case was on trial in circuit court at Philadelphia this week, and Attorneys Byrd & Byrd, of this place, assisted the district attorney in the prosecution. A special to the Commercial Appeal of the 29th has the following to say of the case.
"Contending that the Catholic views his wife and her relatives stirred him to such a frenzy as to unbalance his reason, William Skipper's trial on a charge of murdering his father-in-law, Mr. Clint Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590656), mother-in-law, Mrs. Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590729) and sister-in-law, Miss Fannie Stewart (Memorial ID # 100592810), went forward in Neshoba County circuit criminal court to-day.
Witness following witness testified to the gruesome scene that met their eyes when they went to the Skipper home. Rooms were blood bespattered, the grounds about having the appearance of a slaughterhouse. They told of the bodies of the aged couple lying prone in death, their heads having been torn from their bodies. The daughter, too, they testified, suffered the same fate.
"The plea of the defense is insanity. The Stewarts were all Catholics, for 14 years, it developed, religious differences between the two families were a constant source friction. This had become aggravated as Skipper's children became older, the gulf caused by unalterable religious views widened until finally Mrs. Skipper came to the home of her parents.
"Witnessing the awful triple tragedy was Skipper's little 10-year-old son. Tuesday he will take the stand and describe the crime as he saw it.
While the court was at recess Dolf Green, one of the state's witnesses, and Wallace W. Cox, for the defense, came to blows while in the witness room over a statement made by Green. Cox it is said, struck the first blow. Judge A. J. McLaurin fined the latter $100 for contempt, in spite of the fact that the altercation occurred during the noon hour. The jurors who are hearing the testimony and will decide Skinner's fate are J. O. Shepard, W. A. Strum, Geo. Abel, J. W. Gilbert, W. T. May, Newton Tucker. L. L. Fuller, H. B. Reeves, C. A. Martin, J. T. Tally, Wesley Dearing and L. D. Driscol. Hon. M. W. Reily has been retained by the defense, in addition to G. E. Wilson and Paul Dees. Four attorneys are co-operating in the prosecution. They are J. K. Gillis, county attorney; M. C. Eastland, district attorney, and Judge J. R. Byrd and his son of Newton.
"Will Marble, who was convicted for shooting at Sam Newell with intent to kill, has been given a six-year sentence. He immediately made an appeal bond for $2.000 and was allowed his liberty pending the action of the supreme court.
Skipper Convicted.
Since the above was put in type, a report from Philadelphia says.
"Bill Skipper, tried on a charge of murdering Mrs. Agnes Stewart, his mother-in-law, has been convicted. It is understood that attorneys for the defense previous to the trial made overtures to the attorneys for the state that the defendant would plead guilty if his penalty in each of the three charges of murder against him would be a life sentence. The state would agree to nothing but a trial.
"Caradine Skipper, aged 11, and his younger brother, Hartwell Skipper, aged 10, both sons of the defendant, testified for the state. Their testimony coincided. Both stated that Clint Stewart, their grandfather, and the defendant, their father, had had some trouble over a hog early on the day upon which the triple killing occurred and that the defendant at the time snapped a gun six times in Clint Stewart's face, and that the defendant then went to Copeland's, about one-half mile from Stewart's home, and borrowed a single-barreled shot-gun. They stated that Skipper then went home and fired the gun in the air one time, then told his boys to follow him, and they went together to Stewart's home; that Clint Stewart was in the south room of his home, near a window, when they came up. The defendant then fired one shot at Stewart, breaking Stewart's left arm. Stewart fired a return shot, which went astray. Thereupon defendant leaped on the gallery and shot Stewart, killing him, then stepped back into the yard and shot Miss Fannie Stewart, who was seated in a chair in the hall. Skipper then came on the gallery near where Miss Fannie Stewart was seated and shot her again, blowing a part of her head off. He then took a chair and struck her body three blows with it .
Killed Both Women.
"Mrs. Agnes Stewart, aged 82, was standing in the door holding to the door casing. Skipper fired twice at Mrs. Stewart, completely blowing the right side of her head away, the boys said. Skipper, who, at the time of his arrest, confessed to the crime which he had committed and described it all in detail, took the stand late yesterday afternoon.
"Attorneys for the state and defense agreed to submit the case to the jury without argument. The jury has just reported and returned a verdict of guilty, but disagreed as to the punishment. The jury voted 7 to 5 in favor of hanging."
*****
Okolona Messenger; 09 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 6; Okolona, Mississippi
Philadelphia. - Bill Skipper, who has just been tried and convicted on a charge of murdering his aged mother-in-law, has been sentenced to imprisonment for life.
The following articles pertain to William Skipper, the father of his wife, Martha SKIPPER.
*****
Jackson Daily News; 08 Jul 1919, Tue; Page 5; Jackson, Mississippi
TRIPLE SHOOTING RESULT OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL
Aged Family Killed By Relative and Slayer Also Seriously Wounded
PHILADELPHIA, July 8 - (Special.)
Clint Stewart, Confederate veteran, aged 70, his wife, aged 70, and a sister, aged 50, were shot to death and William Skipper, son-in-law, aged 65, the alleged slayer, was in turn seriously wounded by an unknown person at North Bend, ten mile northeast of here Monday morning, as the aftermath of a domestic quarrel over religious beliefs.
Trouble is said to have been fermenting among the aged family for a number of years owing to the different religious preferences. The Stewarts are said to have been of the Catholic denomination. Sheriff Harbour of Neshoba county, has gone to the scene of the crime.
*****
Natchez Democrat; 09 Jul 1919, Wed; Page 1; Natchez, Mississippi
ADMITS KILLING; SAYS SELF-DEFENSE
Tells How He Killed Wife's Father, Mother and Sister
SAYS FAMILIES QUARRELED MUCH FOR OVER TWO YEARS
Denies That He Made Attempt To Kill His Wife
PHIIADELPHIA. Miss., July 8. - William Skipper, suffering from numerous birdshot wounds inflicted by neighbors near North Bend yesterday after he had killed Clint Stewart, 75, his father-in-law; Mrs. Stewart, 70, and Miss Fannie Stewart, 50, late today admitted the shooting, claiming self defense, according to officials, but denied reports received by authorties here that he had attempted to kill his wife.
He was leaving a neighbor's house, where he had talked with his wife, following the killing, he said, when a party of young men told him to consider himself under arrest.
"I raised my gun to take my own life." he declared, "but before I could do so they shot me down. They shot me three times."
The trouble started, he said, when Stewart shot at him from his house while Skipper and his son were attempting to drive a pig his father-in-law had been keeping for him, but had turned out. He returned the fire, he related, and went into the house where he shot Stewart again.
"Fannie was in the hall," he continued. "She had the gun which Stewart had used on me. We scuffled but she got the gun. Then I shot her in the head."
Shot Wife's Mother In Head.
He then went into the front room, he said, looking for his wife when Mrs. Stewart "jabbed me with something - I think it was a fork."
"Then I shot her in the head," he added.
He searched the house for his wife, he continued, and not finding her went to the neighbor's were he talked with her.
"Our families have quarreled much for over two years," Skipper asserted, adding that he went to the delta near Ruleville, last year,, and made a crop to get away from their differences. His wife left his home several weeks ago, he said, and has been stay with the Stewarts and friends.
"Before God Almighty," he declared. "I am justified in a part of this killing, and in a part I am not."
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their daughter will be buried tomorrow at Holycross Church, near Philadelphia.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 10 Jul 1919, Thu; Page 3; Philadelphia, Mississippi
One of the most horrible crimes ever committed in this county was committed in the North Bend community about 8 o'clock Monday morning when Will Skipper killed Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stewart and daughter, Miss Fannie Stewart.
Skipper was a son in law of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and family affairs is said to be the cause of the horrible crime. Skipper and his wife had fallen out and had been seperated several weeks and she had returned to the home of her parents who lived only a short distance away. While there had been much feeling in the family, the immediate starting of the killing was about a hog said to have belonged to Mrs. Skipper and which Mr. Stewart had gone to the Skipper home to get. After Mr. Stewart had returned to his home, Skipper came down there where the killing occurred. Skipper claims Mr. Stewart shot at him first then he shot him, his daughter and then Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was killed in one room, his wife in another and his daughter in the hall of the house. Skipper’s wife was in the house at the beginning of the shooting and she slipped out and went to a near neighbor’s house and reported what her husband was doing.
After Skipper had killed the three he went on the lookout for his wife supposedly to kill her. He went to the home of Mr. Art Green nearby and Mr. Green and Mr. Copeland in making his arrest were forced to shoot him several times but the shot were small and he was not seriously hurt. When ordered to thow up his hands his movements were more like he intended to do further killing rather than surrender.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were about 85 years old and their daughter who was killed was about 40.
Skipper says he did not intend to kill his wife but wanted to see her and then he intended to kill himself. The committing of such a bloody crime, snuffiug out the lives of these old and respected people was a shock to the whole county and looked more like the work of a maniac than a criminal.
Skipper was brought to jail by sheriff Harbour Monday afternoon where he was placed in a cell and given medical attention. He says he is 74 years of age, born in Dayton, Ohio and was with Sherman here during the civil war. Skipper was carried to Meridian Tuesday.
*****
East Mississippi Times; 11 Jul 1919, Fri; Page 5; Starkville, Mississippi
Philadelphia - Domestic trouble, based largely on religious disagreements, is given as the cause for a triple tragedy in Neshoba county. William Skipper, aged 66, killed Clint Stewart, his father-in-law, a Confederate veteran, aged 70, his mother-in-law, aged 70, and Miss Stewart his sister-in-law aged 60. Skipper was shortly afterward shot in the chest and stomach by an unknown party.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 25 Sep 1919, Thu; Page 2; Philadelphia, Mississippi
The case of Bill Skipper against whom three indictments for murder have been returned was called up Monday. The state elected to try first the case wherein Skipper was charged with murdering Mrs. Clint Stewart. The defense filed a motion for change of venue which was overruled, A second motion for continuance on account of absent witnesses was filed and the case went over until Wednesday morning. The two witnesses subpoened were Drs. Gully and Mitchel of Meridian indicating a plea of insanity may be set up by the defense in this case.
*****
The Newton Record; 02 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 1; Newton, Mississippi
SAY RELIGION CAUSE OF TRIPLE MURDER
CHARNEL HOUSE DESCRIBED BY MANY WITNESSES.
Wm. Skipper on Trial at Philadelphia for Murdering Father, Mother and Sister of Wife.
READERS of The Record will call to mind the tragedy which took place over in Neshoba county, some time since, when an old man and his wife and sister-in-law were shot down by a man named Skipper. This case was on trial in circuit court at Philadelphia this week, and Attorneys Byrd & Byrd, of this place, assisted the district attorney in the prosecution. A special to the Commercial Appeal of the 29th has the following to say of the case.
"Contending that the Catholic views his wife and her relatives stirred him to such a frenzy as to unbalance his reason, William Skipper's trial on a charge of murdering his father-in-law, Mr. Clint Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590656), mother-in-law, Mrs. Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590729) and sister-in-law, Miss Fannie Stewart (Memorial ID # 100592810), went forward in Neshoba County circuit criminal court to-day.
Witness following witness testified to the gruesome scene that met their eyes when they went to the Skipper home. Rooms were blood bespattered, the grounds about having the appearance of a slaughterhouse. They told of the bodies of the aged couple lying prone in death, their heads having been torn from their bodies. The daughter, too, they testified, suffered the same fate.
"The plea of the defense is insanity. The Stewarts were all Catholics, for 14 years, it developed, religious differences between the two families were a constant source friction. This had become aggravated as Skipper's children became older, the gulf caused by unalterable religious views widened until finally Mrs. Skipper came to the home of her parents.
"Witnessing the awful triple tragedy was Skipper's little 10-year-old son. Tuesday he will take the stand and describe the crime as he saw it.
While the court was at recess Dolf Green, one of the state's witnesses, and Wallace W. Cox, for the defense, came to blows while in the witness room over a statement made by Green. Cox it is said, struck the first blow. Judge A. J. McLaurin fined the latter $100 for contempt, in spite of the fact that the altercation occurred during the noon hour. The jurors who are hearing the testimony and will decide Skinner's fate are J. O. Shepard, W. A. Strum, Geo. Abel, J. W. Gilbert, W. T. May, Newton Tucker. L. L. Fuller, H. B. Reeves, C. A. Martin, J. T. Tally, Wesley Dearing and L. D. Driscol. Hon. M. W. Reily has been retained by the defense, in addition to G. E. Wilson and Paul Dees. Four attorneys are co-operating in the prosecution. They are J. K. Gillis, county attorney; M. C. Eastland, district attorney, and Judge J. R. Byrd and his son of Newton.
"Will Marble, who was convicted for shooting at Sam Newell with intent to kill, has been given a six-year sentence. He immediately made an appeal bond for $2.000 and was allowed his liberty pending the action of the supreme court.
Skipper Convicted.
Since the above was put in type, a report from Philadelphia says.
"Bill Skipper, tried on a charge of murdering Mrs. Agnes Stewart, his mother-in-law, has been convicted. It is understood that attorneys for the defense previous to the trial made overtures to the attorneys for the state that the defendant would plead guilty if his penalty in each of the three charges of murder against him would be a life sentence. The state would agree to nothing but a trial.
"Caradine Skipper, aged 11, and his younger brother, Hartwell Skipper, aged 10, both sons of the defendant, testified for the state. Their testimony coincided. Both stated that Clint Stewart, their grandfather, and the defendant, their father, had had some trouble over a hog early on the day upon which the triple killing occurred and that the defendant at the time snapped a gun six times in Clint Stewart's face, and that the defendant then went to Copeland's, about one-half mile from Stewart's home, and borrowed a single-barreled shot-gun. They stated that Skipper then went home and fired the gun in the air one time, then told his boys to follow him, and they went together to Stewart's home; that Clint Stewart was in the south room of his home, near a window, when they came up. The defendant then fired one shot at Stewart, breaking Stewart's left arm. Stewart fired a return shot, which went astray. Thereupon defendant leaped on the gallery and shot Stewart, killing him, then stepped back into the yard and shot Miss Fannie Stewart, who was seated in a chair in the hall. Skipper then came on the gallery near where Miss Fannie Stewart was seated and shot her again, blowing a part of her head off. He then took a chair and struck her body three blows with it .
Killed Both Women.
"Mrs. Agnes Stewart, aged 82, was standing in the door holding to the door casing. Skipper fired twice at Mrs. Stewart, completely blowing the right side of her head away, the boys said. Skipper, who, at the time of his arrest, confessed to the crime which he had committed and described it all in detail, took the stand late yesterday afternoon.
"Attorneys for the state and defense agreed to submit the case to the jury without argument. The jury has just reported and returned a verdict of guilty, but disagreed as to the punishment. The jury voted 7 to 5 in favor of hanging."
*****
Okolona Messenger; 09 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 6; Okolona, Mississippi
Philadelphia. - Bill Skipper, who has just been tried and convicted on a charge of murdering his aged mother-in-law, has been sentenced to imprisonment for life.
*****
Jackson Daily News; 08 Jul 1919, Tue; Page 5; Jackson, Mississippi
TRIPLE SHOOTING RESULT OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL
Aged Family Killed By Relative and Slayer Also Seriously Wounded
PHILADELPHIA, July 8 - (Special.)
Clint Stewart, Confederate veteran, aged 70, his wife, aged 70, and a sister, aged 50, were shot to death and William Skipper, son-in-law, aged 65, the alleged slayer, was in turn seriously wounded by an unknown person at North Bend, ten mile northeast of here Monday morning, as the aftermath of a domestic quarrel over religious beliefs.
Trouble is said to have been fermenting among the aged family for a number of years owing to the different religious preferences. The Stewarts are said to have been of the Catholic denomination. Sheriff Harbour of Neshoba county, has gone to the scene of the crime.
*****
Natchez Democrat; 09 Jul 1919, Wed; Page 1; Natchez, Mississippi
ADMITS KILLING; SAYS SELF-DEFENSE
Tells How He Killed Wife's Father, Mother and Sister
SAYS FAMILIES QUARRELED MUCH FOR OVER TWO YEARS
Denies That He Made Attempt To Kill His Wife
PHIIADELPHIA. Miss., July 8. - William Skipper, suffering from numerous birdshot wounds inflicted by neighbors near North Bend yesterday after he had killed Clint Stewart, 75, his father-in-law; Mrs. Stewart, 70, and Miss Fannie Stewart, 50, late today admitted the shooting, claiming self defense, according to officials, but denied reports received by authorties here that he had attempted to kill his wife.
He was leaving a neighbor's house, where he had talked with his wife, following the killing, he said, when a party of young men told him to consider himself under arrest.
"I raised my gun to take my own life." he declared, "but before I could do so they shot me down. They shot me three times."
The trouble started, he said, when Stewart shot at him from his house while Skipper and his son were attempting to drive a pig his father-in-law had been keeping for him, but had turned out. He returned the fire, he related, and went into the house where he shot Stewart again.
"Fannie was in the hall," he continued. "She had the gun which Stewart had used on me. We scuffled but she got the gun. Then I shot her in the head."
Shot Wife's Mother In Head.
He then went into the front room, he said, looking for his wife when Mrs. Stewart "jabbed me with something - I think it was a fork."
"Then I shot her in the head," he added.
He searched the house for his wife, he continued, and not finding her went to the neighbor's were he talked with her.
"Our families have quarreled much for over two years," Skipper asserted, adding that he went to the delta near Ruleville, last year,, and made a crop to get away from their differences. His wife left his home several weeks ago, he said, and has been stay with the Stewarts and friends.
"Before God Almighty," he declared. "I am justified in a part of this killing, and in a part I am not."
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their daughter will be buried tomorrow at Holycross Church, near Philadelphia.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 10 Jul 1919, Thu; Page 3; Philadelphia, Mississippi
One of the most horrible crimes ever committed in this county was committed in the North Bend community about 8 o'clock Monday morning when Will Skipper killed Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stewart and daughter, Miss Fannie Stewart.
Skipper was a son in law of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and family affairs is said to be the cause of the horrible crime. Skipper and his wife had fallen out and had been seperated several weeks and she had returned to the home of her parents who lived only a short distance away. While there had been much feeling in the family, the immediate starting of the killing was about a hog said to have belonged to Mrs. Skipper and which Mr. Stewart had gone to the Skipper home to get. After Mr. Stewart had returned to his home, Skipper came down there where the killing occurred. Skipper claims Mr. Stewart shot at him first then he shot him, his daughter and then Mrs. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was killed in one room, his wife in another and his daughter in the hall of the house. Skipper’s wife was in the house at the beginning of the shooting and she slipped out and went to a near neighbor’s house and reported what her husband was doing.
After Skipper had killed the three he went on the lookout for his wife supposedly to kill her. He went to the home of Mr. Art Green nearby and Mr. Green and Mr. Copeland in making his arrest were forced to shoot him several times but the shot were small and he was not seriously hurt. When ordered to thow up his hands his movements were more like he intended to do further killing rather than surrender.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were about 85 years old and their daughter who was killed was about 40.
Skipper says he did not intend to kill his wife but wanted to see her and then he intended to kill himself. The committing of such a bloody crime, snuffiug out the lives of these old and respected people was a shock to the whole county and looked more like the work of a maniac than a criminal.
Skipper was brought to jail by sheriff Harbour Monday afternoon where he was placed in a cell and given medical attention. He says he is 74 years of age, born in Dayton, Ohio and was with Sherman here during the civil war. Skipper was carried to Meridian Tuesday.
*****
East Mississippi Times; 11 Jul 1919, Fri; Page 5; Starkville, Mississippi
Philadelphia - Domestic trouble, based largely on religious disagreements, is given as the cause for a triple tragedy in Neshoba county. William Skipper, aged 66, killed Clint Stewart, his father-in-law, a Confederate veteran, aged 70, his mother-in-law, aged 70, and Miss Stewart his sister-in-law aged 60. Skipper was shortly afterward shot in the chest and stomach by an unknown party.
*****
The Neshoba Democrat; 25 Sep 1919, Thu; Page 2; Philadelphia, Mississippi
The case of Bill Skipper against whom three indictments for murder have been returned was called up Monday. The state elected to try first the case wherein Skipper was charged with murdering Mrs. Clint Stewart. The defense filed a motion for change of venue which was overruled, A second motion for continuance on account of absent witnesses was filed and the case went over until Wednesday morning. The two witnesses subpoened were Drs. Gully and Mitchel of Meridian indicating a plea of insanity may be set up by the defense in this case.
*****
The Newton Record; 02 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 1; Newton, Mississippi
SAY RELIGION CAUSE OF TRIPLE MURDER
CHARNEL HOUSE DESCRIBED BY MANY WITNESSES.
Wm. Skipper on Trial at Philadelphia for Murdering Father, Mother and Sister of Wife.
READERS of The Record will call to mind the tragedy which took place over in Neshoba county, some time since, when an old man and his wife and sister-in-law were shot down by a man named Skipper. This case was on trial in circuit court at Philadelphia this week, and Attorneys Byrd & Byrd, of this place, assisted the district attorney in the prosecution. A special to the Commercial Appeal of the 29th has the following to say of the case.
"Contending that the Catholic views his wife and her relatives stirred him to such a frenzy as to unbalance his reason, William Skipper's trial on a charge of murdering his father-in-law, Mr. Clint Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590656), mother-in-law, Mrs. Stewart (Memorial ID # 100590729) and sister-in-law, Miss Fannie Stewart (Memorial ID # 100592810), went forward in Neshoba County circuit criminal court to-day.
Witness following witness testified to the gruesome scene that met their eyes when they went to the Skipper home. Rooms were blood bespattered, the grounds about having the appearance of a slaughterhouse. They told of the bodies of the aged couple lying prone in death, their heads having been torn from their bodies. The daughter, too, they testified, suffered the same fate.
"The plea of the defense is insanity. The Stewarts were all Catholics, for 14 years, it developed, religious differences between the two families were a constant source friction. This had become aggravated as Skipper's children became older, the gulf caused by unalterable religious views widened until finally Mrs. Skipper came to the home of her parents.
"Witnessing the awful triple tragedy was Skipper's little 10-year-old son. Tuesday he will take the stand and describe the crime as he saw it.
While the court was at recess Dolf Green, one of the state's witnesses, and Wallace W. Cox, for the defense, came to blows while in the witness room over a statement made by Green. Cox it is said, struck the first blow. Judge A. J. McLaurin fined the latter $100 for contempt, in spite of the fact that the altercation occurred during the noon hour. The jurors who are hearing the testimony and will decide Skinner's fate are J. O. Shepard, W. A. Strum, Geo. Abel, J. W. Gilbert, W. T. May, Newton Tucker. L. L. Fuller, H. B. Reeves, C. A. Martin, J. T. Tally, Wesley Dearing and L. D. Driscol. Hon. M. W. Reily has been retained by the defense, in addition to G. E. Wilson and Paul Dees. Four attorneys are co-operating in the prosecution. They are J. K. Gillis, county attorney; M. C. Eastland, district attorney, and Judge J. R. Byrd and his son of Newton.
"Will Marble, who was convicted for shooting at Sam Newell with intent to kill, has been given a six-year sentence. He immediately made an appeal bond for $2.000 and was allowed his liberty pending the action of the supreme court.
Skipper Convicted.
Since the above was put in type, a report from Philadelphia says.
"Bill Skipper, tried on a charge of murdering Mrs. Agnes Stewart, his mother-in-law, has been convicted. It is understood that attorneys for the defense previous to the trial made overtures to the attorneys for the state that the defendant would plead guilty if his penalty in each of the three charges of murder against him would be a life sentence. The state would agree to nothing but a trial.
"Caradine Skipper, aged 11, and his younger brother, Hartwell Skipper, aged 10, both sons of the defendant, testified for the state. Their testimony coincided. Both stated that Clint Stewart, their grandfather, and the defendant, their father, had had some trouble over a hog early on the day upon which the triple killing occurred and that the defendant at the time snapped a gun six times in Clint Stewart's face, and that the defendant then went to Copeland's, about one-half mile from Stewart's home, and borrowed a single-barreled shot-gun. They stated that Skipper then went home and fired the gun in the air one time, then told his boys to follow him, and they went together to Stewart's home; that Clint Stewart was in the south room of his home, near a window, when they came up. The defendant then fired one shot at Stewart, breaking Stewart's left arm. Stewart fired a return shot, which went astray. Thereupon defendant leaped on the gallery and shot Stewart, killing him, then stepped back into the yard and shot Miss Fannie Stewart, who was seated in a chair in the hall. Skipper then came on the gallery near where Miss Fannie Stewart was seated and shot her again, blowing a part of her head off. He then took a chair and struck her body three blows with it .
Killed Both Women.
"Mrs. Agnes Stewart, aged 82, was standing in the door holding to the door casing. Skipper fired twice at Mrs. Stewart, completely blowing the right side of her head away, the boys said. Skipper, who, at the time of his arrest, confessed to the crime which he had committed and described it all in detail, took the stand late yesterday afternoon.
"Attorneys for the state and defense agreed to submit the case to the jury without argument. The jury has just reported and returned a verdict of guilty, but disagreed as to the punishment. The jury voted 7 to 5 in favor of hanging."
*****
Okolona Messenger; 09 Oct 1919, Thu; Page 6; Okolona, Mississippi
Philadelphia. - Bill Skipper, who has just been tried and convicted on a charge of murdering his aged mother-in-law, has been sentenced to imprisonment for life.
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