Boney's real first name was Andrew. Andrew was also John and Mary
Boney's son. In the Irish tradition the first born son is named after
the father's father. What makes this interesting is we can see mid-19th
century rental records in Tipperary listing Andrew Boney. In Tipperary
the Boney family lived near our own ancestors James and Annie Ryan in
Lackamore Townland, Tipperary.
One of the biggest Brule County news item involves our relative, James
J. Boney. In 1926 Deputy James Boney was gunned down while chasing a
small time hoodlum just east of Chamberlain. James Boney's obituary
describes the details surrounding his murder. Many years later his
murder was referenced in the "History of Brule County' as one of the
saddest days in the County's history.
Lulu Jones married James J. Boney, and we have her obituary. John
Quillin lived in Allamakee County at one time. He married John and Mary
Boney's daughter, Margaret. The Blackwell family links in with the James
and Lulu Boney families.
You might find some of these items interesting. There are old obituaries
and news items. We have included old pictures of Chamberlain, old Irish
tax records for the Boney family, and a map showing the Tipperary
Townland (Lackamore) where the Boney families lived. There is a picture
of the Chamberlain Sanitarium where James Boney was taken after he was
shot. Finally, you will see pictures of the South Dakota Peace Officers
Memorial where James Boney's name is inscribed.
Death of a Lawman
While attempting the arrest of an alleged hold-up man giving his name
as Jack Martin, James J. Boney, deputy sheriff of Brule county, was shot
fatally wounded at the east end of the railroad bridge at Chamberlain
Sunday afternoon about 2 o'clock. Mr. boney died at the sanitarium a
hour after the shooting.While stories of the murder vary in
some minor particulars, the essential facts as near as the Graphic can
learn are these: W. L. Miller, a 21-year-old youth, of Hopkins, Minn.,
who is said to have been visiting relatives in Mitchell and who was
enroute to that city from the west, stopped at Presho to get gasoline
for his auto. Martin was hanging about the filling station and asked
for a ride to Chamberlain. When the island was reached Martin is alleged
to have poked a big German Luger automatic into young Miller's ribs and
compelled him to drive about three quarters of a mile off the high-way
into the underbrush. He then forced him to get ouf the car and he face
down and while in that posi-tion tied him hand and foot and forced a
dirty rag in his mouth for a gag.Hen then rifled his pockets of $15,
tore his watch from the chain, threw the keys of the car away and after
rolling him down a little gulch slunk away.In about 15 minutes Miller
was able to wiggle his feet loose and sought the highway, where a
passing autoist west bound picked him up and drove back to Chamberlain.
The two immediately hunted up Deputy Boney and gave him a description of
the bandit and started back to the scene of the robbery. News of the
hold-up
quickly spread through Chamberlain and several youths, who it appears
had been over on the island about the time of the robbery, hurried after
Miller and his companion and informed them that they had seen the bandit
walking toward the railroad bridge.They immediately drove back to
Chamberlain, so informed the deputy sheriff and he started for the east
end of the railroad bridge to intercept Martin.In the meantime another
Chamberlain youth, "Chick" Haley, had started for Martin's room house.
On the way he saw Martin, who had reached this side of the river over
the bridge, but who upon seeing Haley quickly disappeared under
the bridget into a clump of brushes near the end of the bridge. A moment
later he said that he heard five shots in quick succession, then climbed
a little hillock and saw the deputy sheriff prone on the ground and
Martin no where to be seen. Aid came to the dying many quickly, but he
was past help, one of the bullets from the Luger automatic had torn a
great hole through his stomach and he was bleeding to death and realized
it. He told those with him on the way to sanitarium that his gun
wouldn't fire, to look out for the man, he was a bad one, he went off in
the brush, or words to that effect.The killing of the deputy sheriff
spread rapidly and soon a posse of fifty or sixty men were armed and
scouring the willows along the river
where the shooting took place, some of whom began firing into the
undergrowth. That quickly brought the slayer from his hiding, hands up.
His big Luger had jammed on him,
though it is not likely in the face of the impossibility of his escape
that he would have used it on the posse. He was taken to the county jail
and later smuggled to the lockup in the new city hall building for his
own safety as well as security from escape, the rumor having gone out in
the meantime that he had been taken to Mitchell. States Attorney Thorson
was busy all of the next day examing witnesses with a view of obtaining
a special session of circuit court to send the slayer of the depty
sheriff over the road.
It is said that while Martin admitted the killing he says that is was
self defense; that he thought the deputy was a stick-up man and so forth
and so on. Nobody believes that. He had been hanging around Chamberlain
all summer, it is said, and knew boney by sight well. He also stoutly
denies that he robbed young Miller, but admits riding to the island with
him. Neither the watch of the money was found on him when taken. he or
his lawyer will probably have some difficulty in making a jury believe
that young Miller dreamed he was bound, gagged and rolled into a ditch
by Martin's twin brother. There was talk of a hanging bee at Chamberlian,
one prominent citizen phoning the Graphic office shortly after the
tragedy to come down and bring anyone who would like to participate.
Many took the hint, but there was nothing doing beyond an excited and
saddened citizenship, while the killer crouched in his cell and
pleaded for a chance for his life. Martin claims that his home is
in Baltimore, Md., but declined any additional information. A search of
his room revealed that while he was habitually slouchy in dress he had
plenty of good clothes and his belongins indicated that he had been all
over the
United States and in Mexico and Canada. It is likely now that South
Dakota will be his permanent residence if he does not succeed in
escaping before landing in the Sioux Falls pen. The slain officer
was one of te best known men in Brule county. He had served four years
as sheriff some years ago and he was thoroughly fammiliar with the
duties of his office, by no means given to excitement under trying
circumstances, determined by cool, and it is far from likely that his
slayer thought his life in danger.
Rather, it is probable that he knew that he was wanted for some crime,
if not the robbery of Miller for some other of a similar nature and took
the means he did to escape.
Mr. Boney grew to manhood on a farm five miles west of Kimball. Upon his
father's death he and his brother, Andrew, managed the farm for some
years, later moving to Chamberlain. He married Miss Lulu Jones, daughter
of R. F. Jones, now living in Mapleton, Iowa. He leaves besides his
widow and his two young children, five sisters and
brother. Mrs. Boney is a sister of R. R. Jones of Kimball. Funeral
services took place at the Catholi church in Chamberlain this morning at
10 o'clock. Rev. T. J.
O'Gorman of Kimball officiating, and the body brought to Kimball for
burial in the Catholic cemetery. |
