Bloody Work at Forney

Two Negroes Quarrel and One Kills the Other with a Shotgun

Dallas Morning News
February 17, 1887

Forney, Tex., Feb. 16 – About 3 o’clock p.m. today a negro by the name of Jim Fisher shot and instantly killed another negro by the name of Jess McCladdy. The facts are as follows: The negroes were employed by Dr. Shands to clear land in his pature about one and a half miles from here. They became involved in a quarrel relative to their work, but seemingly settled the matter peaceably and separated. On meeting again shortly afterward, McCladdy made a few jesting remarks to Fisher, whereupon the latter raised his shotgun and did his deadly work, the shot taking effect in McCladdy’s neck and killing him instantly.