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Murder of Bill Mason

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W.H. Mason
Bornca. 1897
DiedJuly 29, 1949 (Age 51)
Alice, Texas
Cause of deathGun shot
Other namesBill Mason
Occupation(s)Radio journalist and former newspaper journalist
EmployerKBKI Radio
ChildrenBurt Mason

Murder of Bill Mason is about the shooting death of W.H. Mason (ca. 1897-29 July 1949) a radio journalist for KBKI in Alice, Texas by the town's deputy sheriff Sam Smithwick in 1949.[1][2]

Murder

Bill Mason, a radio journalist for KBKI in Alice, Texas, said on air before he was killed that he had been threatened. He responded on that program by being more vocal in his criticism of the dance hall and prostitution than previously.[3] Mason was getting out of his car on a Alice, Texas street when he was shot. The bullet hit Mason near his heart.[4]

Reactions

The murder of Mason upset the community, and an attorney argued that Smithwick should not seek bail for his safety.[5] The newspapers reported that Smithwick might be moved as tensions were raised the day after the murder by a shooting at a dance hall.[6]

Victim

Bill Mason started his journalism career as a newspaper reporter. He reported in Minnesota and then went on to be a journalist for the New York Times and the San Francisco Examiner. He also worked at two Texas newspapers, the San Antonio Light and the Alice Echo, before taking a post at KBKI Radio.[3]

In the closing arguments phase of his murder trial, the prosecutor attorney, James K. Evetts, said, "He had the nerve to tell the truth for a lot of little people."[7][4] Mason's tombstone reads the quote given by the prosecutor.[2]

Perpetrator

Mason was shot a killed by Sam Smithwick, a Texas deputy sheriff.[8][4][9][10] Smithwick was found guilty of murder with malice and sentenced to life in prison.[11][12] He later committed suicide in his prison cell.[13]

Impact

A story broke out after Smithwick's death that Texas politician Lyndon B. Johnson and south Texas political boss Archie Parr had the former deputy sheriff murdered. Smithwick was approached days before his murder by two Mexican Americans. The contents of a box from the 1948 senatorial election. LBJ went as far as confronting Shivers whom had broken the story. LBJ completely denied all wrong doing and realized this statement denouncing the suspicion. "I think it was psychopathic case -- an old, ignorant man about to die trying to get himself out of the pin, and getting no answer, he committed suicide."[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "KBKI staffer shot" (PDF). Broadcasting (magazine). August 1, 1949. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  2. ^ a b Peele, Thomas (2012-08-01). "Death stalks some reporters working their beats in U.S." Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  3. ^ a b "KBKI crusade" (PDF). Broadcasting (magazine). August 8, 1949. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  4. ^ a b c "Slayer of radio reporter hangs self in prison cell". Prescott Evening Courier. April 16, 1952. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  5. ^ "Feeling runs high over Mason shooting". The Times. July 30, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  6. ^ "Dime a dance place is shot up after slaying". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 1949-07-31. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  7. ^ "New trial is sought for Smithwick by attorneys". Victoria Advocate. January 26, 1950. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  8. ^ http://www.leagle.com/decision/1950471234SW2d237_1443
  9. ^ Associated Press (July 30, 1949). News Broadcaster Slain; Deputy Sheriff Held. p. 1. {{cite book}}: |newspaper= ignored (help)
  10. ^ "Accessible through database". Pampa Daily News. August 1, 1949. p. 10. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  11. ^ Salinas, Alicia. "Alice, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  12. ^ "Breckenridge American (Breckenridge, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 22, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 25, 1950, Sequence: 1 | The Portal to Texas History". Texashistory.unt.edu. 1950-01-25. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  13. ^ "On disputed Texas election". Schenectady Gazette. 1952-05-27. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  14. ^ Woods, Randall Bennett (2007). LBJ: Architect of American Ambition. Harvard University Press. pp. 249–250.
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