MORRIS BLAND
1897-1937
  
MORRIS BLAND SHOT IN HEART
  
Floyd Allen, 18, Held To Grand Jury On $1,000 Bond.
  
Morris Bland, 42 years old, former deputy sheriff of Johnson County
during the administration of W. M. Preston, was shot through the heart
at midnight Saturday night on Depot Road, allegedly by Floyd Allen,
18, of the local Civilian Conservation Corps.
  
He died immediately before medical aid could be summoned.
  
Bland, alleged to have been drinking, was said to have cursed Allen
and another CCC enrollee, Thomas Robinett, 21, and started across the
road toward them carrying an opened knife in his hand. Leck Baldwin,
night watchman for F. S. VanHoose & Company and other business firms
in Bridgford, was a witness to the shooting. Heber Ward, night chief
of the police, was one of the first to arrive on the scene following
the shooting.  Chief Ward said evidence given at a Coroner’s trial
showed that Bland was approaching Allen in a threatening manner with a
open knife when Allen is said to have fired the fatal shot.
  
Robinett was taken into custody later Saturday night by Chief Ward and
assistants. Allen it is said, went to his home in Magoffin County but
called for Sheriff Fred Adams of Johnson County to come after him.
  
He was brought back to Paintsville Sunday by Sheriff Adams.
  
Bland was married and has several children.
  
Funeral services for Bland were held Tuesday morning.  Rev. Arthur
Gullett and Rev. Raleigh Long conducted the services.
  
The body was prepared for burial by the undertaking department of the
Paintsville Furniture Company.
  
PAINTSVILLE HERALD
Thursday
Oct. 28, 1937
    
    
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