Mt Vernon Paper

June 14, 1938


BROTHER KILLS BROTHER AT BONNIE FARM TODAY, JURY SAYS SELFDEFENSE


HOWARD WILSON 28, SHOOTS LESLIE, 31, a BROTHER WITH A TWELVE GAUGE 
SHOTGUN, SHORTLY BEFORE NOON,  
LESLIE HAD STARTED AFTER HIM WITH A PAIR OF SISSORS


Howard WILSON  28, shot and killed his brother Leslie 31, at 
their farm home, a quarter west of Bonnie, just before noon today.

A coroner's jury exonerated the younger brother in a brief inquest 
held at two o'clock this afternoon, finding that Leslie Wilson came 
to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by his brother in self 
defense.

Mrs. Dora MOORE, invalid mother of the Wilson's sobbed out the story 
of the tragedy to Coroner Howard HESTER and Deputy Sheriff, Marshall 
MOORE this afternoon.

He threatened to kill both Howard and his wife, she said.

Testifying at the inquest, Howard told Deputy MOORE that he was about 
12 feet from  Leslie, when he shot him with a 12 gauge shotgun in the 
stomach.  The shot enter high in the stomach and Wilson died almost 
immediately.  

Leslie told Howard to take him into Mt Vernon ad Howard was going to 
Dix, where he was employed  on a WPA project. He let him off at the 
square and when he came back about 10:30 am that morning, he picked 
his brother up, after getting some groceries.  Howard said his brother 
had been drinking. A half pint whisky bottle was found near the body.  
Leslie went into mother's room and I sat down by the radio, Howard said 
and in a few minutes Leslie came back with a shotgun and said get going, 
I grabbed the gun and my wife came in and we were aruging over the gun and 
beggin him to give it to us

Mother came into the room and begged him to give the gun up and my wife 
ran, grabbed the children and I went out the front door.  Leslie grabbed 
a pair of sisors and came out the door and he saw Alph and the children 
going down the raod and then he said, if you don't call her back, I will 
get her.

Howard said I can't cause she is afraid of you, when you are this way.

He started down the front steps and I backed up and when he kept coming, 
I shot him.  he staggered and said, you should have done that Howard.

The sisors were found in the front right had pocket of Wilson's overalls, 
Deputy MOORE said, who helped interrogate the three witness's, the mother, 
brother and sister-in-law of the dead man.

At the inquest, said that Leslie WILSON  had just completed a sentence 
on a larceny charge.

The body was tken to the Fry Funeral Home at 2:30 that afternoon.

Services will be held at 10:30 Saturday morning in Methodist Church at 
Bonnie conducted by Rev. Riley BURTON and burial in South Hickory Hill 
Cemetery the body will remain at the funeral home until the hour of the 
service.

The Coroner's inquest  and jury said Howard Wilson was not charged with 
any blame

Mrs. MOORE said that Leslie had threatened to kill her son and his wife  
as they scuffoled over a shotgun



NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM PAT WORSHAM
Submitted By: Janet Fryar Rohlfs

Atkins Chronicle June 1938

Proves Fatal To Two; Six Injured

Mrs. U. B. Childers, Mrs. W. A. Childers Are Victims

Two persons were fatally injured and six others hurt in an automobile 
collision near the J. M. Kee service station, two miles east of Atkins 
on Highway 64, about 8:00 o'clock Sunday night.

Mrs. Orel Childers, 34, wife of U. B. Childers, was killed almost instantly 
and Mrs. Alice Childers, 58, wife of W. A. Childers, died about 9:00 o'clock 
Wednesday morning at a Russellville hospital from injuries received in the wreck.
U. B. Childers, driver of the Childers car, received a broken arm and dislocation 
of both hips but is expected to recover.  His daughter, Miss Eulene Childers, 
is recovering from minor injuries and cuts and bruises.  Both are in a Russellville 
hospital.
Occupants of the car which collided with the Childers vehicle were: Don McConnell, 
Henry Brown, Charley Carpenter and Miss Rose Marie Hampel all of Little Rock.  
All were taken to a Russellville hospital for treatment, but were not seriously injured.
Carpenter was able to leave the hospital Monday and was placed under arrest by 
Bob Rackley, city marshal and deputy sheriff, on a charge of drunkenness.  The driver 
of the car has not been determined.

Mr. and Mrs. U. B. Childers and daughter, Eulene, and Mrs. W. A. Childers were 
returning home from a visit with Mrs. W. A. Childers' brother, J. A. Lafarlette, 
at Manila.  The accident occurred when the other car attempted to pass a large 
transport truck and apparently failed to observe the Childers car approaching.  
The cars crashed head-on and were demolished.

Funeral services for Mrs. U. B. Childers were held at the Atkins Baptist Church 
Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. John D. Baker in charge assisted by 
Rev. J. H. O'Neal.  Pallbearers were Raymond Webb, Earl Williams, Walter Burnett, 
Enos Cloninger, Joe Ehemann and W. A. Strickland.  Burial was in Atkins cemetery.
She is survived by her husband, one daughter, Eulene; her mother Mrs. Sarah Baker; 
and two brothers, Elbert and Emmett Baker.

Funeral and burial services for Mrs. W. A. Childers were to be held this (Thursday) 
afternoon at Old Hickory cemetery at 3 o'clock.  She is survived by her husband; 
one son, U. B. Childers; one daughter, Mrs. Joe Harris, of near Jerusalem; two 
brothers and one sister.  Lemley Brothers were in charge of both funerals.