Obituaries:  Chester Ray Jackson, Sabine Parish       J-250
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Feb 28, 1958
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Chester Ray Jackson

  A muffles shot, an opened car door, running feet on the
sidewalk, then another shot, these were the only witnesses to the
slaying of Chester Ray Jackson, 24, son of David C. Jackson,
formerly of Many, La.

  Chester Ray Jackson, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Jackson of
the Mt. Olive Community, was shot in the back in Houston, Tex.,
about 11:45 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19.

  Jackson's body was found on the front steps of the home of Roy
D. Cassity, at 2412 Helena, by Cassity and his daughter, Loyce
Elaine.

  Miss Cassity told police, "About 11:45 p.m., I heard a car stop
outside our door. A car door slammed. I heard feet running on the
sidewalk, then a loud pop."

  She said, "I heard someone open our screen door and rattle the
door knob. I could hear a man groaning."

  She awoke her father, who went to the front door, and saw the
young man sprawled across the doormat.

  Jackson lived at 815 Stuart, with a roommate, Earl McLeod, 31, a
stenographer clerk. This address is about nine blocks from the
Cassity residence.

  The expensive apartment, paneled in blond wood and softly
lighted, was cluttered with art objects such as statues,
landscapes, and portraits in oil.

  McLeod said most of the art work was done by Jackson, who was
employed as a $380 per month draftsman for an oil firm here.

  Jackson frequently entered hobby shows staged by the YMCA at
Port Arthur, and in 1951, was awarded a trophy for having the
most outstanding exhibit in the show. He was noted there for his
work in ceramics, and for his paintings. He had also exhibited
work in Beaumont and Lake Charles.

  "He was a wonderful artist and sculptor," McLeod said. "He lived
for his art."

  "He consistently refused to sell his work because he loved it so
much," McLeod stated. "He thought it would cheapen his talent."

  Police have discarded robbery as a possible motive. Jackson's
wallet was in his pocket with a $1 bill, and about 25 cents in
change. He was still wearing a beautiful 'fire ruby' ring, and an
expensive wrist watch.

  McLeod told police that Jackson had started to work on the
figure of a horse, and after completing the wire framework about
10 p.m., told McLeod he was going for a drive to "rest my
nerves."

  The slain artist's car, a 1957 Dodge Coronet, green and white,
two door hardtop sedan, was found Thursday in Pasadena, Tex.

  Detectives also found the firing pin of a German made .22
revolver in the car, which could have come from the gun that sent
the two bullets into the body of Mr. Jackson.

  So far, detectives have discovered no motive.

  On the wall in Jackson's apartment, police found a framed
quotation from the Roman poet, Marcus Aurellus:

  "Everything is only for a day,
  Both that which remembers,
  And that which is remembered."