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Lonnie Beard, 57 year old farmer in the Conoley community, accepted 3 years in Texas Prison for the murder of his son-in-law, Noel D. Collins in July of this year.The sentence was agreed upon between counsel W. C. Wofford of Taylor, for Beard and W. A. Morrison for the county.Melvin Collins, a cousin of the slain nlan, testified briefly that he and abrother I/uis Collins were at the Beard home at the time of the shoot-Ting. -It was understood that a venire of 75 men had been selected for the case but that last week it was agreed between attorneys that Beard would enter a plea of guilty and leave his chances up to the mercy of the court on recommendation of the county attorney.No jury was impaneled and only one witness was heard, Collins who married Tessie Beard since the slaying of hrs cousin, tesitfied that he witnessed the shooting and that Noel I). Collins died there on the farm and before he crossed the county line in an ambulance on the way to Taylor Hospital.Sheriff Carl C. Black placed Beard under arrest shortly after the shooting. He also brought the Collins boys to Cameron and facts were docketed for the state’s case.The state was credited with a strong case against Beard.On the night of the murder Collins and wife, a daughter of Lonnie Beard, left for their home in Round Rock. A short way out from the Beard farm home, Collins turned backand was slain with a shotgun in the yard of the Beard home. Melvin and Louis Collins were at the home at the time.Evidence in the case disclosed that trouble between Beard and Noel I). Collins had arisen some years before the killing and grew out of a quarrel between Collins and Beard’sed 1day1preftimitrial, since there was no trial.On the day of the shooting whichwas July 13, 11*48 Beard and Collins went to Thorndale to sell some grapes. They quarreled, it was alleged, and when they got to town began drinking and on the way back they quarreled more. It was in the early evening. When they reached the Beard home Collins summoned his wife and they left in their car foi Round Rock. A few minutes later they returned to the Beard home where Collins was slain.Noel I). Collins, the slain man, married Beard's daughter and Melvin Collins, a cousin, recently married Tessie Beard.titmabo'Tout?edTpre? the in fLwitOctnegmu52fc.Prabefor 11lt;2st a theWecorstablalt;heamoine«hisbutrivt1OVeinSmOfmoson. This was not brought out in the | anthus is t Belelewhovtstabutth( AI
Newspaper Details
Cameron Herald
Cameron, Texas, US
Thu, Oct 07, 1948
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 12 Dec 2018
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Cameron Herald
