The Daily Commonwealth, Covington, Kentucky
Tuesday, October 12, 1880

Williamstown, Kentucky, October 11 - James Isaacs was shot and instantly killed by Jim Neal about eleven o'clock last night at Knoxville, a small village about seven miles east of this place. Isaacs and Neal had been bitter enemies for some time past. Isaacs was accompanying Neal's sister home from church when met by Neal, who said, "G_d d__n you, I am going to kill you." Isaacs made no reply to this, except that he would see him later, and proceeded with Neal's sister to the house of a friend, and leaving her there returned to Neal and said to him, "You insulted me a while ago when I was with your sister. I'm ready for you now. You may kill me, but you can't scare me," and grasping a club struck Neal upon the head knocking him down. Neal drew his revolver and fired twice quickly, the second shot taking affect in the left temple, killing Isaacs instantly. Neal then turned to a brother of Isaacs and said: "I have murdered your brother, here, take the pistol and kill me too." This Isaacs refused to do so and removed his brother to a house nearby. Neal has not been arrested as yet. Both men were regarded as very brave, Isaacs being particularly reckless.

The Williamstown Courier, Williamstown, Kentucky
October 14, 1880

On Sunday evening about 8 o'clock as Thomas Neal, in company with James Isaacs and others, were on the road from church at Knoxville, Kentucky and near George H. Norton's an altercation ensued between Thomas Neal and James Isaac, in which the latter was shot and from the effects of which he died six hours afterward. It seems there has been bad feelings between Neal and Isaac for some time. Sunday evening while Isaac, who was in company with Neal's sisters, passed him in the road and had some words, whereupon Isaac accompanied the ladies to a neighbor's house about one-half mile distance from where they met. Isaac then left them and returned in the direction he had come. In the meantime he had pulled off his coat and armed himself with a heavy club and coming up to Neal and party struck Neal with the club. Neal retreated saying he did not want to have any difficulty with him. Isaac pursued and struck him again, when Neal drew a pistol, fired two shots, the last taking effect in the left temple, with the above results.

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Beulah Wiley Franks
Grant County Coordinator, KY/ALHN