Corbett, James

A charge of first degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting Tuesday of James Corbett, a 39 year old Commerce Oklahoma resident and a mine operator in the field south of Picher Oklahoma, was filed Wednesday against Everett Thomas, age 56, of Baxter Springs Kansas in Columbus Kansas...At an inquest the slain man's widow, Helen Corbett, told a coroner's jury that her stepfather shot and killed her husband as the aftermath of a quarrel between herself and her mother and step-father over a ring that was said to have belonged to Mrs. Corbett's father. Corbet was shot and killed about 1:45 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the front yard of the Thomas home at 2263 East avenue in Baxter Springs. Four witnesses were summoned to the inquest, Mrs. Corbett told of prior quarrels between herself and her mother and stepfather. She stated that Tuesday morning she telephoned her mother to invite her and Thomas to the Corbett home for dinner Tuesday evening. Her mother, Mrs. Corbett said, accepted the invitation on condition that Mrs. Thomas come over to Baxter Springs in their car after them. On Mrs. Corbett's arrival, she testified, she saw her stepfather wearing a ring that had belonged to her father. She said she attempted to take the ring away from him and in an ensuing scuffle her dress was torn and her front teeth broken. She stated that she then drove to her husband's mine, The C. L. and W. Mine two miles south of Picher and her husband returned with her to Baxter Springs. Mrs. Thomas met Corbett on the front porch of the Thomas home, and immediately afterwards Mr. Thomas was said to have appeared on the porch carrying a 12 gauge shotgun. Mrs. Corbett had remained in the motor car, she heard Mr. Thomas tell Corbett "Get out!" It was stated that Corbett turned and was walking aback to his car when Thomas fired. Mrs. Corbett testified that she estimated at the time that her husband was about 15 feet from the porch. He staggered to the front fender of the car, she said, saying, "He shot me." He then collapsed and died...the attending physician testified the shotgun charge had pierced the left lung and heart. Besides his widow, survivors are his father, William Corbett of Dadsworth Louisiana, two sisters living in California and an uncle John Corbett of Picher. Funeral services at the Douthat Oklahoma Baptist church. Burial will be in the Baxter Springs cemetery. Pallbearer selected are Roger Wood and Jesse Lovelace of Douthat Oklahoma, Joe Demo of Commerce Oklahoma, Bolivar Green of Columbus Kansas, Leo Searcy and Elmer Phelps of Picher... Note: There is a follow up article of the trial.