Beckham County, OK - Deaths: George Clement Burkhalter, 1928
26 Oct 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) 

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BURKHALTER, GEORGE CLEMENT
(27 Sep 1928, The Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
BURKHALTER SHOT BY HARY HENSON
Shooting Occured (sic) Over Debt Claimed To Be Owed Henson.
George C. Burkhalter, age 49, was shot by Harry Henson,  wholesale oil
dealer, Wednesday soon after  noon when the two met at the Midway Filling
station just north of the Rock Island railroad crossing on Fourth street. 
The shooting is alleged to have been the outgrowth of a quarrel over a
debt that Burkhalter is said to have owed Henson.
Burkhalter was shot in the right arm and is said to have attempted to get
to Henson when he fell on the gravel road in front of the filling station,
after falling Henson is alleged to have shot Burkhalter another time.  The
second shot was the one that afterwards proved fatal.
Burkhalter died Saturday morning in an Elk City hospital.  Henson is being
held in the county jail in default of bond on a charge of murder.
Burkhalter is survived by his wife and five children and a number of near
relatives.  Henson has five children.  Mrs. Henson died a few years ago.
Funeral services were held for Burkhalter at the Baptist church at Delhi
Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock with Rev. George A. Goss of Weatherford and
Rev. E. W. Walker of Delhi officiating.  Interment was made in the Delhi
cemetery.
(27 Sep 1928, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
George Clement Burkhalter was born at Subligna, Georgia on July 11th,
1879.  He died at Elk City, Sept. 22, 1928.  Mr. Burkhalter was converted
in Johnson county, Texas, in August 1901 and united with the Baptist
church immediately afterward.
He was united in marriage to Fannie Lee Baines, August 5th, 1900 at Rome,
Georgia.  Five children were born to this union: Annie Gladys, George
Green, Lucy Opal, Bertha Lee and Douglas Barnes, all of whom survive him. 
He leaves besides his wife and five children to mourn his passing, his
father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Burkhalter, two sisters, Mrs. J. T.
Hardin and Mrs. W. A. Moore, and two brothers, Henry and Paul (all of
Sayre) and a host of friends of other relatives and friends.
(27 Sep 1928, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
BURKHALTER DIES FROM WOUND.
G. C. Burkhalter, who has been road overseer, between Sayre and Delhi; for
sometime, was shot last Thursday at Sayre by Harry Hinson (sic).  It is
reported that the two men disagreed over an account.
Mr. Burkhalter was rushed to the Tisdale hospital in Elk City where he
sucumbed (sic) to the wound Saturday morning.
Sunday afternoon the funeral services were held at Delhi and interment
made in the Delhi cemetery.
(7 Feb 1929, Thursday, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
The jury had not reached a verdict in the case of Harry Henson, charged
with first degree murder in connection with the killing on September 19 of
C. D. (sic) Burkhalter near the Texaco service station in Sayre.
The case went to the Jury late Wednesday afternoon after being heard for
almost a day and a half.  The trial was not spectacular as the testimony
of defence and state witnesses did not clash.
Melrose Minton, who was figured in practically every murder case tried in
the county during the past ten years, unburdened himself of a barrage of
oratory in defense of Henson the defendant.  He made a straight forward
self-defense plea defending the life of his client against the vengeance
of the law.  He told the jury that it was natural for any form of life to
protect itself and urged acquittal upon this score.
Al Ivester, county attorney, summed up the evidence on behalf of the state
and acquitted himself creaditably (sic), spectators in the trial declare.
Harry Henson  in defense of his life testified on the witness stand that
he was in constant fear of C. D. (sic) Burkhalter, as it had been said
that Burkhalter had threatened to "beat his head".  Henson testified that
September 19, the day of the tragedy, he met Burkhalter at the Texaco
filling station on Fourth street in Sayre.  According to testimony,
Burkhalter advanced towards Henson.  Henson declared that at this time he
was in fear of his life as Burkhalter had "something in his hands."
Henson ...... twice.  One of the shots penetrated Burkhalter's arm,
according to Doctor H. K. Speed, and the other struck him in the back
ranging forward and slightly downward and lodging in the abdominal wall in
the stomach.  It was this last shot which ultimately resulted in the death
of Burkhalter.  It went through the kidney and tore away about two inches
of the intestine, Doctor Speed declared on the stand.  Henson testified
that he had previously tried to collect the sum of $8.28 from Burkhalter
which he owed Henson.  Witnesses for the state testified that Burkhalter
had told Henson continuously that he couldn't pay the debt for some time
and that he wished Henson would quit "hounding him."
Although Henson had some trouble with Burkhalter two months previous to
the shooting, and it was then that Burkhalter threatened Henson, Henson
did not buy a gun until a short time before September 19.