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| Paintsville Herald, 11/1933 |
78 years ago Sam Lyon died from gunshot wounds. He was shot on November 7, 1933 (election day) in Magoffin County near Salyersville KY, and
died soon after in nearby Paintsville. Sam was my second cousin once removed. I was in
Salyersville a few years ago and another more recent cousin told me about it. He
said that Sam had been involved in an ongoing feud with another man. Sam meant to shoot him
on that ill-fated day. A well-meaning friend of Sam’s wanted to keep him out of
trouble so he took the bullets out of Sam’s gun. When Sam met this other person
they were both on horseback. Neither one of them knew Sam had no bullets in his
gun. Sam drew an empty revolver on the other and the other shot him. Sam later
died in hospital at Paintsville KY.
The newspaper states that it was part of a community feud
that at the time of Sam’s death had “taken a toll of six lives”. It also said
that Sol (Solomon) Howard and his son Dock were charged with the shooting. I have yet
find out the outcome of the case (can anyone fill me in?). I did find a picture of Dealy “Doc”
Howard born in Magoffin county KY (
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=25168900&PIpi=9649792). If you look closely in the window you’ll see
a hand holding a gun. Was this the gun that shot Sam?
We were back to Salyersville a couple of years ago and met cousins
who told us a little more of the story. One told how Sam had a dollar-bill in
his shirt pocket when he was shot. It was hit by the bullet, but unfortunately
did not stop the bullet. She remembered how as a young girl her grandmother
still had the bill. After much begging, her grandmother would show them the
bill—complete with bloodstains and hole. Unfortunately the whereabouts of the bill is unknown.
When I asked cousins about the shooting I was told in hushed
tones that it was probably related to moonshining. As it turns out the
election in Kentucky that year was the election that repealed prohibition.
Transcription of the Paintsville Herald article:
SAM LYON KILLED AT BLOOMINGTON
Paintsville Herald, November 1933
Sam Lyon, of Bloomington was fatally shot Tuesday evening near his home while returning from Grape Creek precinct, where he had worked in the election. Saul Howard and his son, Dock Howard, are charged with the slaying.
According to available information Lyon was on his way home, riding behind his uncle Ham Lyon when the two Howards met the Lyons in the road. The Howards opened fire with pistols, firing one shot before Lyon reached the ground and two after he had dismounted all of which took affect, one in the chest and two in the abdomen. Lyon was rushed to a Paintsville hospital where he died at nine o’clock Thursday night.
The alleged slayers made good their escape and have not yet been apprehended.
This is the latest flare-up of a community feud which has taken a toll of six lives in the Bloomington section in the past few years. Most of the other deaths were ambush slayings.
