Emmett Shelton Sr, continues his tales as a lawyer in Austin related to murders. The first story is that of Emmett's friend Earl Short. He got crosswise with another bootlegger and killed him but Earl was acquitted. Another Austin bootlegger, Sonny Ross, took up with his competitor's unfaithful wife and shot the husband. After new evidence the jury gave Sonny 5 years.
Blondie and Curly Wright were well-known Austin street-fighters in Austin and they beat a man to death. Emmett helped prosecute the case and they were sent to prison. Twenty years later, Curly was arrested again for murder in Bastrop. Curly called Emmett to defend him. Emmett's son Polk got him off.
Marital infidelity is often involved in murder cases. Another Austin case involved a man who killed a neighbor he suspected of fooling around with his wife. An Austin jury sentenced him to 50 years. Another similar case was Tom Carpenter. He shot his wife and Emmett defended Tom but he also got 50 years.
Maddie Collins lived across Bee Cave Road from the County Line Restaurant. The family was all together and Maddie's husband got to arguing with their daughter. He shot the daughter in front of her husband and the husband shot the father. Emmett represented the husband and he was cleared by the jury. A lady named Wells was from a wealthy Austin family. She and two men were popular local musicians. She was charged with the butcher knife murder of one of the men who was found dead in her house. She was not indicted.
#Austintexas
#Austinhistory
#texashillcountry
#texascrime
For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.
Emmett Shelton Sr, continues his tales as a lawyer in Austin related to murders. The first story is that of Emmett's friend Earl Short. He got crosswise with another bootlegger and killed him but Earl was acquitted. Another Austin bootlegger, Sonny Ross, took up with his competitor's unfaithful wife and shot the husband. After new evidence the jury gave Sonny 5 years.
Blondie and Curly Wright were well-known Austin street-fighters in Austin and they beat a man to death. Emmett helped prosecute the case and they were sent to prison. Twenty years later, Curly was arrested again for murder in Bastrop. Curly called Emmett to defend him. Emmett's son Polk got him off.
Marital infidelity is often involved in murder cases. Another Austin case involved a man who killed a neighbor he suspected of fooling around with his wife. An Austin jury sentenced him to 50 years. Another similar case was Tom Carpenter. He shot his wife and Emmett defended Tom but he also got 50 years.
Maddie Collins lived across Bee Cave Road from the County Line Restaurant. The family was all together and Maddie's husband got to arguing with their daughter. He shot the daughter in front of her husband and the husband shot the father. Emmett represented the husband and he was cleared by the jury. A lady named Wells was from a wealthy Austin family. She and two men were popular local musicians. She was charged with the butcher knife murder of one of the men who was found dead in her house. She was not indicted.
#Austintexas
#Austinhistory
#texashillcountry
#texascrime
For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.