John MCGARRAH

1879 - June 2, 1930

*Obituary
The Madison County Record
Thursday, June 5, 1930

Four Are Held for Death of Rogers Man

Rogers, Jane 2 — Four men living near Monte Ne are in jail here awaiting result of Coroner A. D. Callison's inquest of the body of John McGarrah who died early Monday morning as a result of a fight two weeks ago.

The men, Clarence Campbell, Paul Smith, Joe Campbell and Shirley Needham, were named by McGarrah in a deathbed statement Sunday night, officers said. He declared the men named, all between 20 and 30 years of age, and himself were in a crap game in which he lost his money, clothes and shoes. A free-or-all fight ensued in which McGarrah received a severe beating, effects from which he is now believed to have died.

The young men today denied any knowledge of the charge by McGarrah. The deceased leaves his wife and several children and three brothers; Bid, George and Charles McGarrah.

He was known throughout Northwest Arkansas having lived in and around Rogers an his life.

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, June 5, 1930

McGARRAH, John - Eight men living in the Silver Springs community, five miles east of Rogers, on Saturday, May 18th, were engaged in a crap game, it is alleged, and one of them, John McGarrah, according to his deathbed statement, lost all his money and the suit of clothes he had on. The other seven, in attempting to strip John of his raiment, got into a general fight and John, a man past 50 years of age, was badly beaten with fists and stones. At first his injuries were not considered serious. But later on information coming to the sheriff and prosecuting attorney that McGarrah was liable to die, five of the men were apprehended and placed in jail on Saturday, May 31st. The five men now in jail are Clarence Campbell, Paul Smith, Shirley Needham, Earl and George McGarrah, cousins of the dead man, and warrants are out for the arrest of the other two, Leslie Hamby and one White. At the coroner's inquest, conducted in Rogers Monday by A.D. Callison, coroner, and at which Prosecuting Attorney John S. Combs and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joe Beasley of Bentonville, were the inquisitors of the witnesses, the jury returned a verdict binding all seven of the men mentioned above over to the action of the Benton County grand jury. John McGarrah, the victim in this brawl, died on Monday morning last, June 2nd. The city council room at Rogers, where the inquest was held, was packed to capacity by relatives and friends of the dead man and of those being questioned.

*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat &Sun
Thursday, June 5, 1930

John McGarrah, aged 53, a farmer living south of Monte Ne in the Frisco Springs community, died early Monday morning from injuries received Sunday, May 11th during a fight over a crap game. Coroner A.D. Callison of Rogers summoned a jury Monday night and held an inquest. Several persons in the Frisco Springs community testified. Following the inquest the jury returned a verdict that McGarrah came to his death from injuries received from the hands of unknown persons and recommended that George and Earl McGarrah, cousins of the deceased, Paul Smith, Clarence Campbell, Shirley Needham and Leslie Hembry, be held in jail to await the action of the next grand jury. Sheriff Fields has since arrested Clarence White as another accomplice in the crime. His preliminary hearing is expected to come up before Justice F.P. Galbreaith this afternoon. None of the parties in jail will give out but little information in regard to the crap game and fight that later resulted in McGarrah's death. A friendly little crap game that started Sunday morning out under a tree grew hotter and hotter as the game progressed. After losing what money he had, so a witness testified at the inquest, McGarrah then bet his clothing and shoes. These he also lost in unlucky throws with the dice. McGarrah's refusal to give up his clothes and shoes, all of which were new, is said to have started the fight. Denial was made that all had been drinking but this is not believed by the officers who know that some of the men have a weakness for moonshine. In the brawl McGarrah was badly beaten with stones and the fists of the assailants. Paralysis set in and he died from the attack Monday. Charges of assault with attempt to kill, originally filed against the men, was changed to murder in the first degree following McGarrah's death.

*Photographed Sept. 1, 2009 by J. Vander Ham

Contributed on 10/14/09 by wfields55
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Record #: 247650

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