Was it Murder and Attempted Suicide or an Attack by Man Named Jimmy? July 8, 1926

Youth Known Only as “Jimmy” Being Sought as Slayer. . . Police do Not Know Full Name of Youth Who Is Alleged to Have Killed Miss Jean Braswell. . . Her Companion Can Talk Some. . . Is Not Able to Give Man’s Name as He Knew Him as “Jimmy” . . . Said Slayer Shot After Quarrel

Tryon, N.C., July 8 (AP)—A youth named “Jimmy” was being sought by officers today for the alleged murder of Miss Jean Braswell, 17, of Tryon, and the serious injury of Q.C. Sonner, 21-year-old son of a Saluda merchant.

Sonner, said by physicians to be in a serious condition at a Tryon hospital, today attempted to give authorities a more positive clue to the identity of the man who he said fired a bullet into Miss Braswell’s head and turned the gun upon him after a quarrel.

Sonner said he and Miss Braswell were riding late yesterday when they picked up a young man whom he knew only as “Jimmy.” Reaching a point where they had a good view of Greene River Cove, Sonner said he stopped the machine. While viewing the valley a quarrel arose, he said, and “Jimmy” suddenly seized Sonner’s revolver from the seat beside him and shot Miss Braswell. As Sonner sprang from his seat and started for the other, he was met by two bullets in quick succession, he asserted, and when he regained consciousness the assailant had disappeared.

Neighbors, attracted to the scene by the sound of the shots, brought the couple to Tryon. Sonner’s revolver was found a short distance from the scene of the shooing early today.

Sonner described “Jimmy” as being above average height with dark complexion and black hair.

Miss Braswell was the daughter of Mrs. Flo Braswell, a widow who moved to Tryon from Charlotte about a year ago. In addition to her mother, the dead girl is survived by a sister, Miss Nancy Braswell, who is now at Greystone Camp at Lake Summitt, and by a brother, Dan, about 18 years old. Miss Braswell was the granddaughter of C.W. Johnston, prominent textile manufacturer, who is president of 15 cotton mills in and near Charlotte.

Sheriff McFarland, however, today threw another angle on the case when he advanced the opinion that the shooting was the result of a lovers’ quarrel between Sonner and the girl. The sheriff said he was convinced that Sonner shot and killed his sweetheart and then attempted suicide.

An inquest into the death of Miss Braswell was to be conducted here this afternoon.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, July 8, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-07-08/ed-1/seq-1/