In "Drinking Frolic," Man Beats Wife, Decides to Kill His Kids, Is Stopped by His 13-Year-Old Son, Dec. 23, 1919

From The Hickory Daily Record, Dec. 23, 1919

South Mountain Lad Shoots His Father

As a result of a drinking frolic in the South Mountains of Burke county, Edward Lail is in the jail at Morganton on the charge of killing his father and his mother is reported in a serious condition from injuries sustained at the hands of her husband. The boy is only 13 years old. It is aid that he went to the rescue of his mother and brothers and sisters and prevented his father, reported as drunk, from killing them. The boy used a shot gun.

The Record called Deputy Sheriff W.L. Eckard of Burke county over the phone this morning, but he was absent from home. It was said that the officers had heard nothing of the affair when he left home early today.