From the San Antonio Express, Thursday, December 05, 1946, Page
1
Marshal
Slain, Suspect Hunted
Murder Charge Filed Against
Man Seen with Officer
HENRIETTA, Dec. 4, 1946
-- A formal charge of murder was filed here Wednesday against
L.T. Barnett 23, of Wichita Falls, following the discovery of
the body of City Marshal D.C. Early of Bellevue, apparently shot
with his own pistol. Earley was last seen at noon Tuesday
with Barnett, wanted for questioning in a forgery case.
Neither Barnett nor the car in which they were riding has been
seen since.
Earley's body was found Wednesday in a dry
creek six miles north of here by a pipeline walker who had stepped
to the side of the bridge to let a school bus pass. Noticing
the body, he stopped the bus and came here to notify officers.
Mrs.Van Davis of Bellevue, Earley's daughter,
had asked Clay County officers to search for her father when
he failed to return home.
Deputy Sheriff R.W. Bray said the body was
in a pool of blood in the creek bottom.. A watch and about $30
in cash were found on Earley's body, but his .38 calibre revolver
was missing.
Justice of the Peace O.D.Worsham conducted
an in quest and said Earley died of bullet wounds in the head
and neck, apparently inflicted early Tuesday night.
Earley formerly was a constable at Denton, and had been
city marshal at Bellevue for more than a year.
The search for the missing man is being
led by Sheriff Cook Gilbow.
Slayer Caught After Bellevue Marshal
Killed
WICHITA
FALLS, Dec. 5, 1946 -- L.T. Barnett, 24, of Bellevue, charged
with murder in connection with the slaying Tuesday of City Marshal
D.C. Early of Bellevue was captured last night at Hastings, Okla.,
Police Sgt. M. E. Johnson of Wichita Falls reported.
Johnson said that
Barnett was arrested as he sat in a car at a filling station
by Deputy Sheriff Jack Green of Cotton county, Okla., Texas Ranger
Jim Geer of Vernon, Tex., and John L. Croft, Texas state highway
patrolman of Wichita Falls.
Driver of the car
was an unidentified Oklahoma farm woman who had agreed to drive
Barnett to Hastings after he had appeared at her home and
stated that his automobile had broken down.
Officers earlier
had found Barnett's abandoned car near Temple, Okla.
submitted by Rex
Huha
D.C.
Early Death Certificate
Newspaper
List
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