104. TABOR – Wiley W. Jr. – November 3, 1920 – December 28, 1959

        “Footstone: Wiley W. TABOR, Ala., Pvt. Hq. Co. 328 Infantry, World War II”

        TABOR – Bertie Mae [CLOUD] – October 27, 1922 – Blank

 

HUNTSVILLE TIMES

Tuesday, December 29, 1959

 

County Man Shotgunned At Sugarfork

Blast At Close Range Kills Wiley Tabor Jr.; Will T. Lanier Jailed

 

A shotgun blast at close range killed William Wiley TABOR Jr., 39, of the Buggs Chapel Community, early last night at the home of Will T. LANIER, who was charged with murder today at Huntsville.

 

Lanier, 64, was intoxicated minutes after the shooting when arrested at his home at Sugarfork, between the Clouds Cove and Elon Communities, Circuit Solicitor Macon L. WEAVER said.

 

A fist fight had erupted between the two men Sunday night during a drinking spree at the residence, according to information given Weaver.  However, witness said they thought the quarrel had ended after Tabor returned yesterday morning and spent most of the day at the house with Lanier.

 

Maggie TUCK, 34, of Rt. 1, Grant, Ala., told Weaver she was the only witness to the shooting.

 

She and Tabor were lounging on the floor of a bedroom of the house shortly after 6 p.m. when Lanier, sitting on a bed about 10 feet away, fired the long-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, the woman said.

 

Tabor, married and the father of three children died immediately, the solicitor said.  “It blew the top of his head off”, he said.  Miss Tuck stated that, after the thunderous blast, she rose from the floor, saw Lanier holding the smoking gun and asked if he were going to shoot her.  “Just go call the law”, she quoted him as saying.

 

Word of the shooting was radioed to Sheriff L. D. WALL who was in the vicinity.  He was the first officer to arrive at the scene.  Officers said Lanier has a “black eye,” reportedly received in the fight with the victim Sunday.

 

Both Lanier and Miss Tuck were in the Madison County jail today.  The woman was being held for investigation as a witness.

 

Tabor’s father, a widely known Buggs Chapel farmer and land-holder, died a violent death this year also.  The 73-year-old man, William Wiley TABOR Sr., was killed Jan. 13 in a car-truck collision, near his home.  He owned considerable property at Huntsville and elsewhere in the county.

 

Funeral services for Tabor will be Wednesday, at 2 p.m. at the Galilee Baptist Church, with the Rev. Roy STONE officiating.  Burial will be in Moon Cemetery at Owens Cross Roads.

 

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Bertie Cloud TABOR; two sons, Jerry Wayne TABOR and Joe TABOR; a daughter, Sandra Jean TABOR; his mother, Mrs. W. W. TABOR Sr., all of Rt.1, Owens Cross Roads; three sisters, Mrs. Charles HILL and Mrs. Harlen WORLEY, both of Huntsville, and Mrs. Walter BRANUM of Rt. 1, Owens Cross Roads.

 

Pallbearers will be Thurmond McCORMICK, Edward McCORMICK, Joe HILL, Gerald HILL, James CLOUD and Billy Ray SELF.

 

Honorary pallbearers will be W. L. SELF, Bill HAMER, Bill MAPLES, Paul TULLIS, Alton LEMLEY, Ralph ZIELER, Virgil SCHRIMSHER and Tom ARTIS.

 

Butler Brothers Funeral Home of New Hope will be in charge.