Henry County GaArchives Obituaries.....Westbrook, Charlie January 1894 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 August 25, 2006, 7:40 am The Henry County Weekly, February 2, 1894 DEPLORABLE KILLING Charlie Westbrook Shot by Walker Carmichael In An Altercation McDonough has been startled the past week by one of the most unfortunate affairs that could befall a community, and one that could scarcely be more generally deplored. By the sad occurrence, his body pierced by two bullets, one young man is consigned to an untimely grave, while another, friends from boyhood is burdened with the killing. Charlie Westbrook dead, Walker Carmichael his slayer. It is difficult to realized, yet an awful fact. Just before night on Thursday evening of last week, these two young men were about their usual places of business over at the warehouse, Mr. Carmichael being engaged at the cotton seed house, Mr. Westbrook at the warehouse. Not the remotest thought of trouble between them had been suspected. From some unknown cause, however, they suddenly came together in an encounter. A short scuffle ensued, when they fell to the floor, Charlie on top, with his hand at Walker’s throat. A gentleman near by attempted to separate them, but before he could do so two pistol shots rang out. The weapon was in the hand of Walker, Charlie receiving the contents in his body. It was at once seen that the wounds were serious, and a physician hurriedly sent for. Dr. Scott responded, when the wounded man was taken home, where he lingered until Sunday morning, and at 6 o’clock breathed his last. Soon after the shooting Carmichael surrendered himself to Sheriff Glass, and Tuesday the case was called for preliminary trial, Justice Bunn of McDonough, Sullivan of Locust Grove, and Stewart of Sandy Ridge presiding. After a thorough examination of the witnesses to the homicide, no cause of trouble was brought out in the evidence, which was substantially in accordance with the facts related above, and after a short consultation of the presiding officers the case was dismissed upon the grounds of self defense. As stated above, the occurrence is deeply deplored by our entire community, and further comment is unnecessary. It is a source of comfort to the friends of Mr. Westbrook, that before his death he left assurance of his entire readiness to pass the great and mysterious ordeal. In fact, those who were present at the death-bed scene pronounce it one of the most remarkable ever witnessed, the patient calling the family to his side one at a time and calmly bidding them adieu in the most touching language, with assurance of perfect peace with the Master and love for all mankind. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist Church at half past three o’clock, Sunday afternoon, by Rev. T. J. Bledsoe, and the remains laid to rest in the McDonough Cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/henry/obits/w/westbroo5172gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb