From the San Antonio Express, Thursday, December 05, 1946, Page 1

    Marshal Slain, Suspect Hunted
           Murder Charge Filed Against Man Seen with Officer

    HENRIETTA, Dec. 4, 1946 -- A formal charge of murder was filed here Wednesday against L.T. Barnett 23, of Wichita Falls, following the discovery of the body of City Marshal D.C. Early of Bellevue, apparently shot with his own pistol.  Earley was last seen at noon Tuesday with Barnett, wanted for questioning in a forgery case.  Neither Barnett nor the car in which they were riding has been seen since.
    Earley's body was found Wednesday in a dry creek six miles north of here by a pipeline walker who had stepped to the side of the bridge to let a school bus pass.  Noticing the body, he stopped the bus and came here to notify officers.
    Mrs.Van Davis of Bellevue, Earley's daughter, had asked Clay County officers to search for her father when he failed to return home.
    Deputy Sheriff R.W. Bray said the body was in a pool of blood in the creek bottom.. A watch and about $30 in cash were found on Earley's body, but his .38 calibre revolver was missing.
    Justice of the Peace O.D.Worsham conducted an in quest and said Earley died of bullet wounds in the head and neck, apparently inflicted early Tuesday night.
  Earley formerly was a constable at Denton, and had been city marshal at Bellevue for more than a year.
     The search for the missing man is being led by Sheriff Cook Gilbow.

 

    Slayer Caught After Bellevue Marshal Killed

    WICHITA FALLS, Dec. 5, 1946 -- L.T. Barnett, 24, of Bellevue, charged with murder in connection with the slaying Tuesday of City Marshal D.C. Early of Bellevue was captured last night at Hastings, Okla., Police Sgt. M. E. Johnson of Wichita Falls reported.
        Johnson said that Barnett was arrested as he sat in a car at a filling station by Deputy Sheriff Jack Green of Cotton county, Okla., Texas Ranger Jim Geer of Vernon, Tex., and John L. Croft, Texas state highway patrolman of Wichita Falls.
        Driver of the car was an unidentified Oklahoma farm woman who had agreed to drive Barnett to  Hastings after he had appeared at her home and stated that his automobile had broken down.
         Officers earlier had found Barnett's abandoned car near Temple, Okla.

 

submitted by Rex Huha

D.C. Early Death Certificate