Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-04-20
COLORED MAN
SHOT and KILLED
TRAGEDY IN A CAB LAST NIGHT
ON THIRD STREET.
WAS RESISTING ARREST
Coroner's Jury Today Exonerated
Marshal Baber By Returning Yer
dict Of Justifable Homicide.

Robert A. Westbrook, colored, was
shot and killed last night by City
Marshal Baber while resisting arrest.
A coroner'S jury this morning exon
Grated Mr.. Baber and brought in a
verdict of Justifable homicide. "
Westbrook, according to letters
found un his person, came originally
from Dallas, Texas, and for some
weeks past has been running a boot
blacks stand to the rear of William
soIs Bros, dry goods store, opposite
the post Office He was returning last
night from independence, Kansas,
and was drunk.
Shortly after the Santa Fe train
arrived at 9:35 o'clock, the police
station received telephone message
calling for three policemen to arrest
a cGlored man who was drunk and
raising a disturbance near the Mid
land Valley depot. Officer Michael,
taking cab which stood at the sta
tion, drove to the opera house, where
Chief Baber was, and called him out.
The two picked up Officer Reynolds
in the lobby Of the theatre and drove
out to the Midland Valley. There
they found Westbrook surrounded by
a crowd cursing and creating a dis
turDance. With some difficulty they
forced him into the cab and Reynolds
mounted to seat beside the driver.
Officer Michaels and the Chief enter
ing and seating themselves side by
side with their backs to the horses.
Westbrook sat alone, facing them.
What happned in the cab was tes-
titled to by officer Michaels at the in
quest, and his statements were sub
stantiated as far as possible by other
witnesses.
Mr. Michaels said in brief that
the deceased was violent and abusive.
that he threatened all the officers, and
that while in the cab he SAID that he
would die before going to iail and
"you fellows will all 90 to -- with
me- He caught Michaels by the coat
collar with his left hand, and that Of
ticer while holding his left arm with
both his hands, saw him insert his
right hand into his breast pocket, and,
the next instant. by the light cf n
street lamp, saw razor, partly open,
and saw him make a cut at Baber; at
the same time Baber fired three shots.
Mlchaels picked the razor up from the
floor of the cab and produced it al
the inquest. They were then about
opposite the Cincinnati hotel
Hackmen Martin and eagle testified
to the language ard threats used by
the dead man, and so did Officer Rey.
nolds. Harry Young, a colored man
who works at the Midland Valley de-
pot. testified to WestbUok S condition
when he was put off the train. lie
said that he was very drunk and thrt
"A brakeman knocked him down on
the platform. lie got him on his
feet and tried to get him to 20 some
where and lie down. While arguing
with him and while West brook was
cIrsing and swearing the officer, drove
tap.
4 statement made by Conducto; j.
d. Keith last night was read. 1t was
to the effect that Westbrook got on
his train at Independence, Kansas.
and VAS a sou':1 = Annoyance from
th.r TO Dewey, ~hea L. 8. Marsoal
I'rovn took NJ /. diiiLe as tal a.
Darilesville. u, insul'pd the pa ,9en-
GERS md had tronble iih the crew
fmef Baber. acting under he ad.
ne - his attorney J.. NJ Pc, rtilS-
II =, make o sta emint.
Some letters and about two dollars
were on Westbrook person. His
body now lies at the Mowbray d Win
terrlnger morgue.