Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Mount Airy News Thursday, 14 July 1910 A Brutal Murder in Ashville On College street, Ashville, Tuesday afternoon, J. B. ALLISON, formerly a night janitor in the employ of the city, shot and almost instantly killed FLOYD McGHEE, driver of the patrol wagon for the city. After shooting McGHEE down as he attempted to get away, ALLISON picked up a two pound hammer and struck the dying man several blows over the head. The trouble is said to have been about a woman. According to MR. BOWDEN, a shoemaker, with a shop adjoining the blacksmith shop of MR. COFFEY, on College street, he and FLOYD McGHEE were talk- ing together in the shop. McGHEE had been seated on a stool in the shop and had just risen when an arm was stuck through the door and a pistol shot rang out. MR. BOWDEN said that he saw the hand and arm to the elbow and a pistol; that immediately he started to the rear of the shop and that McGHEE was behind him. The shots, he said, continued to ring out and after going into the blacksmith shop he looked back and saw that McGHEE had fallen. Another witness, a man who was at work at the forge, said that after McGHEE fell ALLISON picked up a hammer (it weighs nearly two pounds and is covered with blood) and struck the fallen man several blows over the head. McGHEE died in a few minutes after being shot and struck in the head with the hammer. After doing his deadly work ALLISON started to leave the place. The news of the tragedy had spread like wildfire and as ALLISON went out some one in the crowd that had gathered cried "Lynch him." ALLISON surrendered to an officer and was taken to jail. ALLISON, says an Ashville special to the Charlotte Observer, from which this news is obtained, has a bad record. Some years ago he killed a negro and escaped punishment. A few years ago he killed a young white man named ROBERTS and escaped on the plea of self-defence. Later he shot and seriously wounded a negro. This victim was expected to die but finally recovered. It was alleged that the negro was attempting to steal from the dray company by which ALLISON was employed. The Ashville Citizen says ALLISON fired five shots in McGHEE, anyone of which would have caused death; that he then placed his pistol to McGHEE'S head and snapped it. Finding that it wouldn't fire, he picked up the hammer and struck his victim four or five blows on the head, crushing the right side of his head. The Citizen further says that ALLISON has a record of having killed five men. This is his third known victim in Ashville, while he has nearly killed two others. Both men had wives but ALLISON'S wife is separated from him. CLARA WHEELER was the woman in the case. She testified that ALLISON had often threatened McGHEE'S life since the latter had become attentive to her and that two weeks ago he told her he was going to kill her, McGHEE and another man. ===========================================================================