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Submitted: 11/28/07 • Approved: 10/5/12 • Last Updated: 10/8/12 • R1736-G0-S3
SERGEANT US Army
Co B 8 KY Inf
Civil War Union
Death date unknown
*Obituary
Rogers Democrat
October 21, 1897
from Huntsville Republican -- John Begley was shot and killed by Jim Smith, a deaf-mute, near Ryker on Tuesday last week. Ryker is in Newton County and near the Madison County line. The difficulty that cost Begley his life was precipitated by a quarrel over a lot of cats. Each man sought to put the other in the possession of the felines, both disclaiming their ownership and insisting they belong to the other fellow. Begley would carry the cats over to Smith's and Smith would return them to Begley, and in this way the cats were kept in a state of constant transportation for several days without the opportunity for that rest and nourishment so essential for feline comfort and prosperity. Smith tired of a job that threatened never to end, got his gun and shot Begley from behind a tree while the latter was returning for about the fourtieth time with the cats. Begley has gone to a country where cats do not figure as a disturbing element and Smith will spend the remainder of his days in the penitentiary, safely removed from the pestiferous annoyances of feline company.
Contributed on 11/28/07
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Record #: 1736