On a tragic day in Greene County, Virginia, June 3, 1931, Manuel Morris, a 45-year-old man, lost his life in a violent confrontation. The fatal incident stemmed from a long-simmering animosity with his brother-in-law, Bernard Shifflett. The simmering tensions between the two men reportedly had roots in disputes over illegal liquor trafficking, a prevalent issue of the era.
This underlying conflict had already led to a shotgun duel involving Morris's brother and Shifflett several months prior, setting the stage for the deadly encounter that would follow.
The final, fatal argument erupted when Morris interrupted a gathering where Shifflett's mother-in-law was ailing. Morris reportedly requested that someone start clapping so he could dance, an intrusion that quickly escalated the tense atmosphere. The verbal dispute spiraled into a pistol duel, with both Morris and Shifflett drawing their weapons and fatally shooting one another.
In the aftermath of the deadly exchange, both Manuel Morris and Bernard Shifflett succumbed to their gunshot wounds. Due to the fact that both individuals involved in the altercation were deceased, law enforcement did not pursue any arrests or name any additional suspects. The case was likely considered closed, a grim end to a family feud fueled by illicit activities.
