Murder Charge Filed Following Death Monday of Jep Newton

Unknown Newspaper
July 1959

Murder charges were filed by County Attorney Wayne Pearson’s office in Kaufman Monday against Richard Chambers, 33, who resides on a route out of Ennis, Ellis County. He was released Tuesday under a $5,000 appearance bond.

The complaint followed a shooting at Crandall Sunday and the death at the Kaufman Hospital Monday afternoon of Jep Newton, 61-year-old Crandall area landowner and farmer.

Mr. Newton received a gunshot wound in an alleged scuffle with Chambers for the possession of a 30-30 rifle.

According to the office of Sheriff H.L. (Caggie) Evans, the shooting was the unfortunate aftermath of an argument which is purported to have involved the victim, Chambers, and Raymond Bowman of Crandall. It took place in front of the home of Constable Clyde Eastep at Crandall. Eastep was a witness to the scuffle, according to accounts.

Chambers formerly was employed by Mr. Newton. Bowman was still in his employ.

Funeral services were held Thursday morning at 10 o’clock in the First Christian Church in Forney, with the Rev. Tommy Price and the Rev. Ed Seanor, both from Mesquite, officiating. Interment at Hillcrest Cemetery in Forney with his nephews serving as pallbearers. They were:

Marvin Feagin, L.T. Feagin, J.C. Nance, Gene Hardman, Jay Newton and W.G. Newton.

Jep C. Newton was born April 8, 1898 at Forney, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Newton. He lived in and near Forney until 18 years ago when he moved to Seagoville area, the location of his extensive farm holdings.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Bobbie Newton of Seagoville; three daughters, Mrs. Florence Haskell of San Diego, California; Mrs. Margie Bridgeman of Sacramento, California, Mrs. Doris Callais of Albuquerque, New Mexico; six grandchildren; one brother, Will Newton of Forney; three sisters, Mrs. Pete Nance of Forney, Mrs. C.C. Cash of Dallas, and Mrs. Ben Layne of Mesquite.

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Countian Charged in Murder Case

Waxahachie Daily Light
Wednesday, 1 July 1959, Page 1

Richard Chambers, 33-year-old white man employed on Earl Muirhead’s farm near Ennis, is free on $5000 bond after being charged with the murder of Jep Newton, 61, Crandall area landowner and farmer, according to the information from the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department.

Muirhead is reported to have made bond for Chambers around Noon Tuesday.

According to Kaufman County officers, Chambers was formerly employed in Newton’s garage and shop in Crandall and left there last fall to work for Muirhead.

The officers reported that Chambers and Raymond Bowman had been drinking and had had trouble on Newton’s farm, Sunday, and that the two came with Newton to the home of a constable in Crandall, around 7 p.m. Sunday. The constable was attempting to arrest Chambers and Bowman and had put handcuffs on Bowman when Chambers got out of the car and became engaged in a scuffle with Newton for possession of a 30-30 rifle.

The constable reported that the two men fell to the ground and that the rifle was discharged. The officer said he heard Newton say that he had been shot.

A bullet is reported to have struck Newton below the heart. He died in a Kaufman hospital Monday afternoon.

Newton was a former resident of Forney. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, one brother, three sisters, and six grandchildren.

Note: Jeptha Carol Newton is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery next to his first wife, Pansy Bell Warden Newton.