The second entry in my Worst Cousins, Funtimes Removed category comes from the Trantham branch of the tree. In October of 1940, O. A. Kirby, my  3rd cousin, 3x removed, lost a legal battle and then his mind. That’s the defense his lawyers argued during his murder trial. Angered over the outcome of a lawsuit involving land, the defeated Kirby confronted the lawyer for the opposing side and shot him. Witnesses described the incident as a “fight” but methinks there was but one gun present that day.

Found guilty of manslaughter in the first degree, Kirby was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Now, I am not trying to make light of this situation but for some reason the jury asked the judge to be lenient when sentencing the defendant who shot a lawyer. Huh? In an act of contrition (I hope), Kirby accepted his sentence and did not appeal.

Tragedy was no stranger to this family. Kirby’s son and daughter-in-law were killed in a plane crash in 1963.

Genealogy is not all rainbows, butterflies and hopscotch. Sometimes it’s just plain sad.

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 3rd cousin, 3x removed 
Common ancestors: O. A. Kirby’s 2nd great grandfather was Martin Trantham of Tennessee, my 5th great grandfather