The Forrest City times., 1906-10-05
OSCAR WOOLRIDGE KILLED
Ii. N. Wheeler Fires on Friend
 With Deadly Result.
Left Memphis on Friendly T.r. and Wheeler Killed WooIridoa Apparently Because he was Restrained From At
 tacking Flagman.

Melilpiiis on the most cordial termS with his victim, II. N. Wheeler shot and killed Oscar F. Woolrdge at Iate Cormorant, Mississippi. just beforo midnight last Saturday Both men are well known in Memphis. Wheeler,s parents reside in Memphis, but are out of the city on their summer vaca- tion. Woolridge was a brotbar of Campbell Woolridge, ticket agent of the Cotton Belt railroad in Memphis
 Both slayer and slain had beep in Memphis together on business throughout Saturday. Wheeler had gathered the money for the semi. monthly payroll at his saw mills and lumber plants, and the men left far their homes near Lake Cormorant late In the afternoon. Taking a buggy at the depot they started home when it is stated that an Ini- nois Central train stood blocking the crossing
 Wheeler had been drinking. and was Tn a violent mood He threatened the He or the flagman, it is reported. and .Woolridge had urged him to desjst from getting into trouble. Wheeler was impatient, and 1t is said fired on the fagman. Wooridge then inter- tered to prevent boodshed and his friend turned upon him with three shots from an automatic pistol each of which took effect in Woolridge's breast. Woolridge walked about six hundred yards to store where he re- ceived surgical attention, but died six hours after the tragedy
 Alter the shooting, it is said Wheeler became intiamed with his de- sire to sh ot- and turned on many he passed, but only in d threatening manner, for all escaped. Wheeler went to his home where later he was was arrested by Sheriff Withers, and placed in jail at Hernando. At the jail it was observed that Wheeler had received slight pistol wound in the arm, but it is believed that he must have shot himself as no weapon was found on Woolridge and | 1t is not believed that he had one
 NO EYE-wITNEssEs. No eye witnesses to the tragedy | have been found, and Wheeler has maintained silence as to the details of | the shooting. He had nothing further to say than request that his Memphis | relatives be notified that he had | killed a man and was in trouble. These messages were not received in | Memphis until late hour yesterday morning. The first news of the tragedy was conveyed to Campbell Woolridge, brother of the deceased. A special l train was made up and the brother l hastened to Lake Cormorant, arriving 1t is believed, before Oscar Wool | ridge had expired
 Both parties to the tragedy were prominent in North Mississippi busi- ness and plantation circles Wheeler had extensive sawmill and lumber in- terests. Woolridge was an overseer on the plantation of Dr. J. c. Corners. The men had been friends for several years and never had any trouble pre- vious to the shooting of Saturday. Wheeler has wife and three young children, Woolridge is unmarried.
 In Memphis Saturday both Wheeler and Woolridge had been drinking to- gether It is said that when they left Wheeler was we'll under the influence of liquor, and that he sobered to de- gree while on the train. Arriving at Lake Cormorant he looked after the business of having his men paid and he and Woolridge had secured buggy and started home together when they reached the crossing that was blocked by the standing train. The delay in- furiated Wheeler, and he is said to have demanded of the fiagman that the crossing be opened immediately. One report states that he fired shot at a fleeing negro who had been idling at the crossing.
 WOODBRIDGE WAS PEACEMAKER.
 His companion, seeing that his friend Wheeler was becoming desperate, and knowing that he had been drinking, evidently had assumed to take the situation in hand when Wheeler be- came angered at him. The three shots fired indicate that the men were at close range when the shooting occurred.
 The body of Woolridge was inferred at the family cemetery, ten miles east of Lake Cormorant Sunday after noon. Relatives had reached the scene by special train.
 Citizens of the Lake Cormorant community are said to have been aroused to a high pitch of feeling over the shooting of Woolridge >nd