Death of General Otis "Ott" McDaniel in 1948, and the Killing of Henry Mayberry in 1931 by Col. H. A. "Buffalo Bill" Lewis
More on the latter later.
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| General Otis "Ott" McDaniel Maddux Cemetery Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee © 2025 S. Lincecum |
The blue-eyed and brown-haired Ott McDaniel was born 10 October 1899 in Harrison, James County, Tennessee. He was one of at least ten children born to Sarah E. Capps (d. 1922) and George Oliver McDaniel (1862-1941). On 24 May 1918, just south of the state line in Walker County, Georgia, Ott married Margie E. Lively (1901-1981). She was a daughter of Sarah Elizabeth Dill and Lewis Lively.
For work, Ott was often occupied as a farmer and/or truck driver. For play, he was heavily involved with America's favorite pastime. Ott was often noted in the local newspaper as managing at least a few amateur baseball teams in the Chattanooga area.
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| (Death certificate via Ancestry |
Historical note: The Campbell Clinic originated as Campbell General Hospital, founded by Dr. Earl Campbell, in Chattanooga in 1939 at 525 McCallie Avenue.
Ott was described as a "well-known resident of Harrison, Tenn.," in his obituary that ran in the Chattanooga Daily Times. Survivors listed: wife Maggie McDaniel, step-mother Lilla McDaniel, sisters Dora McDaniel and Eva Hogan, and brother R. L. McDaniel. Funeral services were held on Saturday, 11 December 1948, in the afternoon. Interment in the Maddux Cemetery.
Chattanooga Sunday Times (Tennessee)
21 June 1931, pg. 5
INDIAN FIGHTER, 90, SLAYS WITH KNIFE
'Buffalo Bill' Lewis in Jail on Murder Charge.
Henry Mayberry, of Rossville, Fatally Wounded in Fight at Home-Brew 'Joint.'
His thick white whiskers stained with the blood of the youth whose throat he cut in an argument over home brew, H. A. ('Buffalo Bill') Lewis, aged 90, of Rossville, Ga, last night was in city jail for the murder of Henry Mayberry, about 24, of 200 Peachtree street.
The killing in which the aged man participated occurred shortly before 10:30 o'clock in an alleged home brew joint at 1610 Fifty-first street, which officers said was operated by Thelma Cripps. A crowd had assembled to drink home brew, police declared, and Lewis had two bottles. The victim was said to have had more.
An argument arose over payment for the brew, officers said. The old man left in a huff. Mayberry followed him half a block down the street, where the trouble occurred.
Interviewed in jail last night, Lewis, after detailing the argument, told the following story:
'He called me a nasty name. I don't allow anybody to talk 'bout me like that, so I hit him in the head with my walking stick -- you know I'm kind of old and don't see or walk noon [sic] too good.'
'He knocked me down and jumped on top of me, shaking me and cussing. I said: "See here, young fellow, you don't know the danger you're in!"'
'"Damn the danger," he yelled.'
'With that I hauled out my little pocket knife and popped it to him.'
Lewis was not a whit perturbed about the killing.
'Has he died yet?' he asked Homicide Officer Joe Paradiso, and when told that he hadn't -- it being before the victim succumbed -- he came back. 'Well, keep me posted.'
After being stabbed, Mayberry, according to witnesses, arose and staggered toward Rossville boulevard, where he fell. Ambulances were called. Chapman's reaching the scene first. On the run to Erlanger hospital Attendant Ott McDaniel said he had to hold a gaping wound in the victim's throat, where the jugular vein was severed, to keep him from bleeding to death before the hospital could be reached.
Doctors at Erlanger worked on the young man until 11:40 p.m., when he succumbed.
Lewis, who lives on Beech street in Rossville, was arrested by Rossville Patrolman Carruthers for Chattanooga officers, as the killing occurred on the Tennessee side. Homicide Officer Paradiso and Patrolman Cline accompanied the Georgia officer.
Lewis did not object to going to jail, asking only for time to find a pillow and blanket, so he could make himself comfortable. He turned over to Paradiso the knife he used.
The 90-year-old prisoner was placed in a cell on the women's side of the jail, where he fell asleep. The top of his head was gashed, as he said, by a blow from Mayberry, and the blood which spurted from his victim had not yet been washed from his whiskers.
Mayberry was living with his sister on Peachtree street, his brother said at Erlanger last night.
Lewis is a colorful figure, being well known in Rossville and vicinity, He won his title, 'Buffalo Bill,' many years ago, when he was a scout in the government service, he said. Eight years ago, he said, he wrote a book, 'Fights and Adventures With the Indians,' which was published, but is now out of circulation.
According to his death certificate, Henry Clay Mayberry was a son of Nora Proctor and W. S. Mayberry. The official cause of death for the 20-year-old textile worker and Tennessee native was hemorrhage following stab wound of neck. The same document noted his death, which was ruled a homicide, was the result of fighting on a public street in Chattanooga.
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| (Death certificate via Ancestry |
About a week after the killing, Col. H. A. "Buffalo Bill" Lewis was released on the recommendation of Chattanooga police, who decided the incident was self-defense.
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| Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee) Friday, 26 June 1931 |
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