GUN BATTLE TAKES FOUR LIVES AT CANNEL COAL GAP

Mother and 2 children shot

Deputy Sheriff one of Number Killed at Road House

                A gun battle with fatal results took place at Sambo's Place, a beer parlor, on the Mayo Trail at Cannel Coal Gap, about three miles south of Paintsville. During the exchange of shots, four men, all natives of Johnson county, were killed.

                The shooting took place about 8 o'clock Saturday night.

The dead are:

                Sambo Nelson, age 50, proprietor of the beer parlor, Fred Adams, age about 65, deputy sheriff.

                Willie Fannin, age 25, and his brother, Hobart Fannin, age about 22.

                Mrs. Nelson, wife of the proprietor received a painful wound in the arm, while her little girl had the tip end of her little finger shot off by stray bullets. Her son was also shot thriugh the hand.

                In the absence of an examining trial particulars as to what precipitated the bloody battle are lacking. Eddie Sammons has been arrested in connection with the affray. An old grudge is said to have existed between the Fannin brothers and Sammons.

                Sammons a former Constable of Johnson County, had arrested Willie Fannin while serving as officer and bad feeling is said to have existed between the two men.

                The two men met at Sambo's Place Saturday night and trouble is said to have started between the two in the beer parlor. One of the Fannin brothers is said to have knocked Sammons unconscious with a beer bottle. Deputy Sheriff Adams and Nelson are said to have put the brothers outside and the shooting took place on the porch of the roadhouse. Nelson was killed instantly, it is said, and it is believed that Adams shot the two Fannin boys although it is reported that Hobart Fannin made a statement that Sammons shot him.

                About 45 shots were fired during the fight, it is said. Although mortally wounded Deputy Adams emptied a .45 calibre pistol and then placing the pistol back in the holster, drew a .38 special and fired a number of shots. He is said to have then walked back into the parlor where he died.

                Willie Fannin, Nelson and Adams were killed instantly, but Hobart Fannin was brought to the Paintsville Hospital where he died at 9 o'clock Sunday morning.

                The bodies of the slain men were brought to the Paintsville Furniture Company and prepared for burial. The shooting caused great excitement and traffic on Mayo Trail was blocked for some time.

                Eddie Sammons has been arrested and charged with killing Hobart Fannin. His Examining trial I set for Friday of this week.

                Willie and Hobart Fannin were sons of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Fannin of Thelma. Sambo, Nelson and Fred Adams resided at East Point. Adams was a son of the late Hiram Adams who formerly resided in Jennies Creek section of town. He has served as deputy Sheriff for several months.

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