Reese Helbert
Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield West Virginia) April 23, 1904
Serious Shooting and Cutting Affray at Richlands
Six men participate and only one escaped injury-several very badly wounded
There was a serious shooting and cutting affray at Richlands , on the Clinch Valley Division,
Thursday, when James Pruitt,
Anthony Christian, Keese Helbert , Sam Pack, Crockett Pack, and Tenney Pack got into a
racket on the outskirts of the town.
Pruitt ,who is a married man ,40 years of age, was shot four times by Crockett Pack-once in
the left ___, once in the right
groin and once in each leg.
Anthony Christian , aged 22, was shot three times, all of the bullets taken effect in the back. His
injurys are very serious. Sam Pack , aged 28, had one of his hands nearly cut off.
Crockett Pack, age 25, is cut very badly in three or four places about the face and neck.He is
the man whom a Norfolk and
Western conducter thrashed on the train while he was returning to Richlands from Main's show,
which exibited in Tazewell last
fall.
Helbert is the only man who participated in Thursday's affray who excaped injury.
Young Tenny Pack has left for parts unknown. Pruitt and Christian are lying in cots in the school
house at Richlands, and
Crockett Pack is at his home.
Justice Cecil will bear the evidence in the case today , and the prospects are that he will send all
the parties to jail who are
able to go and have the balance of the gang put under heavy guard.
The cause of the whole trouble was too much moon shine liquor.
* note: I think this "Keese" Helbert is actually Reese Helbert b. abt. 1885 to George and Lucy
Helbert.
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BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH (Bluefield ,WVA) May 11, 1904
Richlands Reports a Fatal Shooting
Man Who Used Gun Made Good His Excape
Richlands Va. , May 10 .-- Sparks circus was here yesterday and showed to an enormous
crowd. Everything passed off quitley until after the night performance, when Reese Helbert , who
lives five miles from here slipped up behind Al W. Brown , a peaceable and highly respected
country boywho was attending the show, and shot him twice. Dr.'s William and Albert performed
the opperation on the young man this morning. There is small hope of his recovery. Helbert bears
a bad reputation ,and has been in numerous bad scrapes before. There will be a large reward
offered for his apprehension as Brown's people are well-to-do.
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THE WASHINGTON POST(Washington D.C.)Wednesday: August 24, 1904
Fugitives Found in Lumber Camp
special to the Washington Post
Tazewell ,Va., August 23-Anthony Christian and Rees Helbert , who were indicted at the April
term of the Circuit Court of Tazewell County for being implicated in a shooting and cutting affrey
at Richlands , this county, some months ago, in which a number of persons were seriously shot
and cut, were arrested yesterday at the lumber camp of the H. Fugate Company in Buchanan
County , and brought here last night by the deputy sheriff of that county and lodged in jail. Soon
after they were indicted they left the county , and since then the officers have been unable to
locate them. The Circuit Court conviened today , and it is likely they will be tried at this term.
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BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH(Bluefield WVA)August 25 , 1904
Tazewell Va. ,-August 24Anthony Christian, a white man , was tried in court yesterday for
cutting a man near Raven several months ago. The verdict of the jury was not guilty.
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