Stabbing Death of Paul Lincecum (1930)

Paul Lincecum was born 23 October 1907 in Washington County, Texas, son of Dinah Coleman (d. 1960) and Bowie Lisanders Lincecum. Paul died just eleven days before his 23rd birthday. According to his death certificate, Paul was "stabbed to death in an encounter with Burley Matson." And this finding was the conclusion of an inquest held 12 October 1930.

The informant on Paul's death certificate was his younger brother Charlie, who had to handle that blow at the age of just 20 years.

(Via Ancestry)

A local newspaper chronicled the broad strokes of what happened:

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Tuesday, 14 October 1930

FOUR NEGROES ARE CHARGED MURDER IN DEATH BY STABBING

Sheriff H. L. Reese and County Attorney Albert Stone went to Burton Tuesday morning to attend the examining trials of Virlie Matson, Jesse Matson, Eddie Matson, and Ernest Thomas, who were charged jointly with murder in connection with the stabbing death of Paul Lincecum, another negro. Bond in each case was fixed at $1,000, which the negroes are expected to furnish, but at present they are being held in the county jail by Sheriff Reese until they make bond.

The cases of these negroes will come up for investigation by the grand jury when district court meets for the spring term in March. It is said that the killing resulted from a...[unreadable]...dice game.

 

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Saturday, 25 October 1930

HABEAS CORPUS HEARING IS HELD IN MURDER CASE

A habeas corpus hearing was held before Judge J. B. Price of the district court Saturday morning in the cases of Eddie Matson, Virlie Matson, Jesse Matson and Ernest [T]homas, negroes of the [Burton?] community charged with murder in connection with the slaying of Paul Lincecum, another negro...

After some consideration the bond of Virlie Matson was fixed at $1,000, and that of the other three negroes at $500 each...

The case grew out of an affray in which Lincecum met his death from stab wounds, and the four negroes held in jail were charged with the stabbing.

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Saturday, 3 October 1931

VIRLIE MATSON GIVEN FIVE YEARS IN MURDER CASE

Virlie Matson, negro, charged with murder in connection with the death of Paul Lincecum, another negro, was given a sentence of five years in the penitentiary by a jury in district court Friday afternoon.

Jesse Matson, another negro, was recently sentenced to two years in the penitentiary on a similar charge.

Testimony showed that Virlie Matson stabbed Lincecum with a knife and that Jesse Matson struck him with a stick.

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Jessie (b. 1908) and Verlie (b. 1911) Matson were received at the Huntsville Unit (Walker County) of the Texas State Penitentiary on 6 October 1931. Four days later, they were sent to the Darrington Unit in Brazoria County. Jessie served about 17 months of his sentence, being discharged 2 March 1933.

Verlie served 2 years before receiving parole, granted by the first female governor of Texas, Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson. He was finally discharged 12 August 1935.

Further research shows Eddie, Jessie, and Verlie Matson were brothers. All were possibly sons of Jim Matson and Lureda (nee Thomas?) Newsome. For the 1920 Washington County, Texas Federal census, the Matson brothers and Paul Lincecum resided on neighboring farms.

Jessie served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and both he and Verlie married and had children. Jessie died 6 August 1972 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Verlie was about two months shy of his 90th birthday when he died on 30 July 2001.

Upon his death, Jessie was laid to rest in the same cemetery -- Zion Hill -- as Paul had been some 40-plus years earlier.

Jerry O. Wristen, Son of Billie Jean Lincecum, Slain on Duty (Virtual Graves)

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Born	17 March 1959	Pomeroy, Meigs, Ohio, USA
Died	1 October 1981	Abilene, Taylor, Texas, USA
Buried	Ross Cemetery	Baird, Callahan, Texas, USA

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*Cropped and enhanced image. Original image by
John and Diana Deason Wasson via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Jerry was the son of Billie Jean Lincecum (1929-2017) and Robert Carlton "Sonny" Wristen (1916-1993). At age 18, Jerry married, and he and his wife had two children. The youngest was born just a few months before Jerry's untimely, violent death.

Abilene Reporter-News (Texas)

1 October 1981

Security Guard Slain On Duty

By Paul H. Clolery

Staff Writer

An OSI patrol officer was shot and killed during an early morning shootout today when he interrupted a burglary at Bunkley Sound Systems, 3013 S. Danville, police said.

The victim was identified as Jerry Wristen, 22, of Baird. He was shot at least three times -- in the right temple, chin and throat.

"It's senseless to kill somebody over a damn radio," said Mark Bunkley, owner of the store.

...OSI announced it would post a reward in the death of Wristen, the father of two children, ages 3 and 3 months.

...Police discovered Wristen just after 3 a.m.

Police Lt. Jack Dieken said Wristen came upon his assailants and scuffled with them. He said there were scratch marks on Wristen's arm and his watch had been torn off.

Justice of the Peace Clarence Collins pronounced Wristen dead at 4 a.m. at Hendrick Medical Center, where he was rushed by AEMS ambulance after being found.

..."It had to be more than one man; he was a[s] big as a bull," Mrs. Cannon said. Wristen was a 6-foot, 3-inch, 240-pound former All-District football player at Baird High School, and also won the shot put in the district meet.

...Dieken said that Wristen was found slumped in the front seat of his patrol truck when police arrived. Unable to speak because of the throat wound, he could emit sounds over his radio, launching an emergency search for him by other OSI security officers, Dieken said.

...Mrs. Cannon said Wristen had the most arrests of any OSI patrol officers. He had been a patrol officer for 1 1/2 years.

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Other newspaper articles stated Jerry knew the risks associated with his job, but being in law enforcement and serving his community was something he wanted to do. Jerry's immediate cause of death was noted as Gunshot wounds to the head...was shot in the head by robbers.

Two young airmen from nearby Dyess Air Force Base were arrested and charged with burglary and Jerry's murder. One confessed to being the shooter and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The other denied being involved with the shooting, went to trial, and was subsequently convicted of the burglary charge only. This latter one was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Jerry O'Brien Wristen was my 7th cousin. May he forever rest in peace. ✝️

W is for Wallace James Lincecum. He Killed His Uncle? (A to Z)

Wallace James Lincecum, born 19 July 1908 in Denton, Texas, was a son of Val Dies Lincecum (who I was supposed to write about yesterday, but life happened) and Mary Elizabeth Murray (d. 1949).  He was also a half-brother to Edgar "Bud" Lincecum.

By the time Wallace was in his early twenties, he worked in the Texas oil industry.  His job titles include oil drilling rig laborer, oil field rotary rig helper, and oil driller.  He seemed to make a life-long career of it.

Before 1935, Wallace married Sybil G. Flowers.  The couple had at least one son.

Something a bit more notable surrounded Wallace about the age of 23 – he witnessed the death of his uncle, Lucullus Garland Lincecum.

Dallas Morning News (Texas)
27 June 1931

Ambush Slayer Makes Getaway After Man Dies

Killer Rises From Ditch and Opens Fire on Truck Rider.

Special to The News.
HOUSTON, Texas, June 26 -- Officers Friday night were searching for the slayer of L. G. Lincecum, 55, of West Columbia, who was shot from ambush as he rode in a truck toward Houston near West Columbia, about forty miles south of Houston.

Wallace Lincecum, who is a nephew of the slain man, and who was driving the truck, said the slayer rose from a ditch by the side of the road and fired two shots.  Only one bullet struck Lincecum and it pierced his heart.

So close did the slayer stand that the elder Lincecum's clothes were powder burned.  A rain in the West Columbia section obliterated any trail the slayer might have left and Sheriff John McKinney of Brazoria County called for bloodhounds.

Wallace Lincecum could not identify the slayer nor give a motive for the killing.

Here is an image of L. G.'s death certificate.  Up the right side, it was noted:  Murdered June 26 - 1931 - by parties unknown.  And you can see Lucullus's brother (and Wallace's father) was the informant.

But did Wallace do something more than witness the murder? The following news item from almost nine months after the killing seems to suggest he did.

Dallas Morning News (Texas)
6 March 1932

Lincecum is Given Five Years, Suspended

ANGLETON, Texas.  March 5 (AP) -- Wallace Lincecum, 22, was convicted Saturday of the murder of his uncle, L. G. Lincecum, and assessed a five-year suspended sentence.

The jury reported at 10:20 a.m.

The elder Lincecum was shot to death on a highway near here last June.  The prosecution sought to show the nephew slew him to benefit by a $500 legacy provided in the elder's will.

The defense pleaded the uncle, a Houston contractor, had committed suicide, offering depositions as well as witnesses.

Why the suspended sentence?

Wallace died 9 October 1967 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.  A few days later, his remains were laid to rest at Brookside Memorial Park in Houston.

Are you wondering what's up with all the "letter" posts? I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (links to official page). This challenge lasts through the month of April, with Sundays off.  Each day follows a different letter prompt, in order, from A to Z.  Click here to see all my letter posts on one page (in reverse order).  Though this is my second year in the challenge, it's my first with two blogs.  My theme here is "kinfolk direct." Versus any name from the one name study, these genealogy and history posts all involve someone to which I am related.  You may follow along with me by RSS feed and other social media platforms listed at the top of the sidebar.  I and other bloggers in the challenge on Twitter will also be using #atozchallenge.

I'm also participating with Southern Graves.  This blog as a whole is one of my themes – telling the tales of tombstones, primarily from those found in the Southern United States and usually the State of Georgia.

Are you participating in the challenge, too? Please leave a link to your blog in the comments, I'd love to pay you a visit.  Good luck to all involved!