Jeneral M. Casteel was murdered in front of his wife and children on 10 February 1934 at his home, the old Drawdy place on Clarcona Road near Fairvilla. The newspaper articles appearing in the Orlando Morning Sentinel between February 11-16 describe the horrible and heart-wrenching details of his murder by Herman Smith. Casteel’s wife Betty was originally held by the sheriff as she and Smith were said to have been intimate. Another newspaper article from 1938 reporting on the death of Casteel’s son in a hit and run accident, mentioned that Smith was tried and put to death. It does not mention Betty, so she must have been found innocent.
Some of the names mentioned in the articles about the murder include Alice Casteel, Della May Casteel, Della Mae Casteel, Horace Casteel, Joe Casteel, J. M. Casteel, Francis Casteel, Louis Casteel, Alma Casteel, Ruby Casteel, Betty Casteel, Albert Alman, Tracy Robinson, Noon Robinson, Richard Todd, Fred Boykin, Henry Lazurus, Adj. A. Walsh of the Salvation Army, Sheriff Harry Hand, Herman Smith, Russell Hall, Henry Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wonsetler, Justice of the Peace W. A. Lee, J. N. Thomas, State Attorney Herman F. Mohr, Fairvilla, Clarcona, Winter Garden, and Apopka.
Sunday Sentinel and Reporter Star, Sunday 11 February 1934, page One top. Names mentioned in this article include J. M. Casteel, Herman Smith, Bettie Casteel, Sheriff Harry Hand, Clarcona, Fairvilla,
J. M. “General” Casteel Murder
Betty Casteel apparently remarried a person named Webb. Her obituary appeared in the Orlando Sentinel on 10 May 1960, page 10B.
Casteel Descendants
Many of J. M. Casteel’s descendants appear to have stayed in the area.
Tragedy struck the family again just four years later when J. M. Casteel’s son Willie was killed by a hit and run driver in December 1938. An article appeared on the front page of the Orlando Morning Sentinel on 19 December 1938. Willie Casteel was killed on his way home from a jook joint in Apopka. He was the son of Jeneral Casteel who was murdered in a knife and gun fight at Lockhart by Herman Smith three years prior.
Obituaries appearing in the Orlando Sentinel indicate that many of J. M. Casteel’s descendants may have remained in the Orlando area. Casteel family members mentioned in the obituaries include: Bill W. Casteel, Alice Casteel Reyes, Horace Casteel, Joe Casteel, Dollie Mae Blanco, Della Mae Sanders, Mary Robinson, Elois McNutt, Amerlee Casteel, Mary Casteel Robinson Bojkovsky, Alvis Reed, Mable Wallace, Lois Casteel, Amalee Estey, Richard William Casteel, Lois Jean Casteel.
SEE IMAGES and DOCUMENT below.
Back to top
J. M. "General" Casteel Murder
J. M. "General" Casteel Murder
J. M. "General" Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
J. M. General Casteel Murder
Willie Casteel / Castile Death 1938
Selected Obituaries and Funeral Notices - Orlando Sentinel 10 May 1960 pg 10B
Funeral Notices in the Orlando Sentinel 22 June 1984
Obituaries in the Orlando Sentinel 22 June 1984Obituaries appearing in the Orlando Sentinel indicate that many of J. M. Casteel's descendants may have remained in the Orlando area. Casteel family members mentioned in the obituaries include: Bill W. Casteel, Alice Casteel Reyes, Horace Casteel, Joe Casteel, Dollie Mae Blanco, Della Mae Sanders, Mary Robinson, Elois McNutt, Amerlee Casteel, Mary Casteel Robinson Bojkovsky, Alvis Reed, Mable Wallace, Lois Casteel, Amalee Estey, Richard William Casteel, Lois Jean Casteel.