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Joe McNally Killed

Purcell Register, Friday, August 3, 1894-- The Fort Smith Times gives the following concerning the killing of Joe McNally at Fort Smith:

“Joe McNally was shot and almost instantly killed at 1:25 Wednesday morning at the saloon of Doc Rogers at the alley between 5^th and 6^th streets, by J. S. Ledbetter, a deputy Sheriff of Logan County.  The sound of a pistol shot rang out at that time and a Times reporter, who was then in the telegraph office, rushed over to the place.

Almost in front of Isaac Cohn’s place four men were met, one of whom was in shirt sleeves.  Although they were questioned several times as to what was the trouble, they refused to make any reply.

Entering the side door of the saloon the first sight to meet the eye was Joe McNally lying on his back, his breath coming in gasps and the death rattle in his throat, betokening the fact that the moments of life were fast fleeting.

Standing at the end of the bar was Mr. D. H. Ballock and Dee Rogers, the proprietor.  For a few moments not a syllable of information could be gained.  “He is killed,” said Mr. Bullock, “It was a cold blooded murder.”  Both parties were very much excited and could say absolutely nothing.  The reporter leaned over the then dying man and even to the unpracticed eye it was plain to be seen that he was breathing his last.  His eyes were half closed and he was far beyond consciousness. In five minutes he was dead.

Joe McNally lived in Wichita till the opening of Oklahoma when he went to the territory and became a deputy marshal.  His wife resides now at Oklahoma City—Wichita Eagle.

McNally was for some time a resident of Purcell while Marshal of the Paris Court, removing from here something over four years ago.  He was killed by an officer of Fort Smith; the two being on a drunken spree at the time.