Marshall County MsArchives News.....Holly Springs Man Kills Self Following Murder October 18, 1938
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Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 June 15, 2012, 9:26 pm

Delta Democrat-Times October 18, 1938
Ticket Agent Had Been Charged with Slaying Tupelo Boy

Holly Springs, Miss., Oct. 10.-County Attorney L. A. Smith, Jr., said that R. E. 
Oliphant, 65-year-old railroad ticket agent at Holly Springs, shot and killed 
himself here today immediately after Deputy Sheriff Henry Walker served a 
warrant upon Oliphant charging murder in connection with the shooting to death 
last Friday night of Loister Lester, an East Tupelo youth.

Smith said Oliphant, after being notified that he faced a murder charge by the 
deputy, told the officer to "wait a minute while I get my hat." He then walked 
into another room and shot himself in the head with a pistol, Smith said.

Lester was shot at the railroad station. A bullet entered his heart region and 
he was carried to a Memphis, Tenn., hospital where he died after accusing 
Oliphant of shooting him "without giving me a chance," according to statements 
made to officers by his relative, J. E. Montgomery of Tupelo.

Oliphant claimed self defense and was first charged with manslaughter, the 
prosecutor said.

Reports given to officers said the men argued over attentions to a girl.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/marshall/newspapers/hollyspr126gnw.txt

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