“T.C. Laney Meets
Mysterious Death,” from the Cherokee Scout, Murphy, N.C., Friday, May 21, 1915
Thadeus Clingman
Laney, a well-to-do and prominent farmers of the Brasstown section of Cherokee
County, met death in a manner that up to the present time is wholly unexplained
and has altogether the air of mystery
about it, while on his way home from Murphy where he had been last Thursday morning,
13th, doing some trading.
Mr. Laney’s mule,
which he was riding, arrived home without its owner, and a search was made for
the missing man, who was found at 3 o’clock in the afternoon near the Haigler
branch in an unconscious and dying condition. He was taken to his home where
every thing was done to revive him, but without result. He lived only a short
time and was never able to tell what had befallen him after leaving Murphy.
He left here for
home at about 10 o’clock Thursday and had probably been gone an hour when
misfortune in the person of the Angel of Death overtook him.
Three severe gashes
were found on his head. On the forehead, top and back of the head. The wounds
appear to have been made by a stick. Others are of the opinion that he was
thrown by his mule on a rock and then kicked. The mule is said to be of a very
vicious temper.
Coroner Dockery,
Sheriff Gentry and others went to the scene of the tragedy and examined the
remains Friday morning, and as there seemed to be no grounds upon which to
proceed, the matter was left open to await developments. But we are told that a
regular inquest will be held this week.
Mr. Laney was not
known to have had a real enemy any where, and the true facts concerning the
manner of his death may never be known.
The remains were
laid away in Brasstown Cemetery. The deceased leaves a wife, five sons, two
daughters, three brothers and three sisters.
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