Newspaper, DAR, Poplar Bluff Missouri,  May 1943
Contributed by Betty Jackson and Charles McClure
Transcribed by, Mary Hudson  December 2006



FARMER DIES AFTER POOL HALL FIGHT
Clarence Garver Jailed Following Death of Man Beaten In Qulin Saturday.

George Burgess. 60 year old farmer residing on route one, Qulin, near Carola, died at  the
Poplar Bluff Hospital at 8:30 a.m. yesterday of a skull injury received in  a  fight  with
Clarence Garver, 26 year old Qulin district farmer, in Junior Dusch's pool room  at  Qulin
Saturday evening.

Sheriff M. L. Hogg arrested Garver and Prosecuting Attorney Ralph  Bloodworth  said  state
??? slaughter charges would be filed today.

Inquest

Corner A. W. Greer will hold an inquest into the killing at the  Greer-Croy  Chapel  at  3
p.m. today.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Bill Brent said he talked to witnesses about the fight and understood
Burges walked up to Garver and asked him  about  two  dollars  he  owed  him.  Brent  said
witnesses told him Garver knocked Burgess down 3 times. last time, the  older  man's  head
struck a case of soda water bottles. Death was due to a broken skull.

Constable Ben Brent then arrested Garver and took him before  Justice  of  the  Peace  bob
Ledbetter at Qulin where Garver pleaded guilty to charges of fighting and  was  fined  one
dollar and cost. Garver, who lives three and one-half miles northeast of  Qulin,  was  re-
arrested by Sheriff Hogg following the death of Burgess.

Survivors

Burgess is survived by a son, Donald of Saginaw, Michigan, a  brother,  Will  of  Saginaw,
Michigan a step son, Obie Pitts of Kennet and two step-daughters, Mrs. Virgie  Porter  and
Mrs. Annie Hackler, both of Flint, Michigan.

Burgess' body was taken to the Greer-Croy parlors here and services  are  expected  to  be
held at the Gregory cemetery near Kennet tomorrow afternoon. Burgess has resided in Butler
county several years.