Kentucky Edition

The Cinncinnati Enquirer

Vol. XCIV No 276 Daily Thursday Morning January 10, 1935 24 Pages Three Cents

SIX ARE VICTIMS

OF MAD GUNMAN

WHO KILLS SELF

FUGITIVE

And Three of Her Kin

Near Crab Orchard.

Policeman’s Parents Slain

Two Others Wounded,

One Seriously.

Broadhead, Ky. January 9 (AP)

Six persons were shot to death in the Eastern Kentucky foothills of this vicinity today and two others were wounded by a crased gunman, who then wrote his “last wish and will” and took his own life.

Mrs. Lona Helton Jackson, ciritically wounded, was quoted by a Deputy Sheriff as having said the killer, George Collett, 43 years old, told her there were three others he wanted to kill, but he didn’t have time.

Collett, former keeper of the “Blue Heaven” Roadhouse near here, shot to death his wife, Stella; her parents; Mr. And Mrs. W. M. Helton; a neighbor couple, Mr. And Mrs. Julian Bordes, and a brother-in-law, Carlos Helton, was wounded but survived.

JURY NAMES SLAYER

A coroner’s jury late today named Collett as the killer and attributed the wholesale slaughter to his des

CAN NOT READ THIS LINE

Justice. State Police were hunting him on bank robbery and theft charges.

Detachments of state troops were ordered out from Frankfort and Harrodsburg to hunt the slayer, but were recalled after Sheriff D. G. Clark and other officers found his unclothed body at a tourist cabin near here.

FUGITIVE

Charles C. Carter, County Judge, found his “last wish and will” as the man named it.

The notes, apparently scrawled in the early light of dawn, after willing his two pistols to a friend, set aside $100 to hav an account written of the tragedy and flowers to be put on the writer’s grave, and accused police of having driven his wife crazy.

Hunted by Police.

Collett had been hunted for several months by state police on a theft charge and as suspect in the robbery of a bank at Crab Orchard.

Carlos Helton gave this version of the tragedy.

Helton and his brother Howard Helton, received a letter yesterday from Collett requesting them to meet him at 10 o’clock that night at Collett’s home. “Blue Heaven” a roadhouse between here and Crab Orchard.

They did so, but Collett was not there and they started back towards Brodhead in their car. On the way they met Collett walking. It was midnight.

As they stopped Collett said “Boys I’ve got something for you, Come up here with me”. They followed him into the woods 100 yards from the road. He offered them cigarettes and lit them.

Fires Pistol Suddenly

After lighting the third cigarette he blazed away at them with a pistol, mortally wounding Howard and slightly wounding Carlos, who fled.

Collett then went to the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. And Mrs. W. M. Helton, in the Copper Creek settlement near Crab Orchard, several miles away. He shot to death Helton, who was in the kitchen. Then he shot his wife, Stella and his mother-in-law in bed, killing them.

Mrs. Collet’s sister, Lona Helton Jackson, was shot and wounded seriously.

Carlos, who returned home after the slaying said Lona told him that Collett upon leaving the house remarked, “I have two more to get and then I am going to kill myself.”

Carlos, who returned home after the slaying said Lona told him that Collett upon leaving the house remarked, “I have two more to get and then I am going to kill myself.”

From the shambles of the Helton home he went to the home of Mr. And Mrs. Julian Bordes several miles away and shot to death Mrs. Bordes as she slept in her bed and killed Bordes in the yard of his home. The slaying of Mr. And Mrs. Bordes was attributed by their son, Brugis Bordes, state patrolman, to revenge over the part he was playing in the hunt on the theft charge.

Mrs. Jackson revoved to a hospital at London was first reported dead, and tonight it was said she was not expected to live. Her daughter, Violet was the only person in the Helton home who was not killed or wounded.

LEAVES PISTOL TO FRIEND.

Going to a tourist camp near here, he engaged a room and undressed to go to bed. His body later was found with a pistol shot through the head. He left a hastily penciled note bequeathing the two pistols he had used to a friend and blaming the tragedy on efforts of the state police to run him down.

In willing the pistols he wrote: “I want him to keep them as long as he lives,” and added, “I want him to use the $100 I gave him to have a story written of this tragedy and to plant flowers on my grave.”

“All this was caused by people who had no hearts, the highway patrol, the Helton family…. Collett scribbled incoherently.

“I only wish I could meet with the so-called cop that shot and did ???? that it caused my poor wife the one I love, to lose her mind…..

Blames Police For Act.

“So farewell friends and farewell enemies, let this be a warning to the world.” He concluded.

One part of the will addressed to J.S. Sandusky, Circuit Judge, requested that he investigate what has happened to my wife and I before this crime and you will see how that we have been treated by the so-called State Police and others.” It adde, “My life has been at stake, as the police told my wife they would kill me and then to prove they would they more than killed Stella (Collet’s wife), as you will find out”.

There was another note which read: “I can’t leave my mate. That’s why I have done this. I only hope that Stella and I can be together and where the law will be fair to one and all the same to the officers of this county will you try and find the one that robbed my home after Stella was driven crazy. Do this for your and God’s sake.”

A letter, apparently from his wife, was found in a pocket of his clothing. It read: “George, the officers from Lexington was here last night at 1:20 o’clock. They sure did search for you and said that they was going to get you if they had to watch the house night and day. For God’s sake stay away and if you need anything send someone. Don’t come yourself. ______ came down this morning and will go to ______tomorrow and take good care of everything.” It was signed “Bobo” his wife’s nickname.

WANTED WIFE TO SIGN DEED.

Captain Noel Jones of the state police who investigated the slayings said Collett upon going to the Helton home early today apparently quarareled with his in-laws.

Jones said Collett apparently wanted his wife to sign a deed to certain property they owned jointly so he could sell it and leave this part of the country. Jones expressed belief Collett became enraged when his in-laws objected.

The only surviving witness of the massacre at the Helton home, save little Violet, was Mrs. Jackson. She was critically wounded and taken to a hospital in London, where she was not expected to live. A Deputy Sheriff quoted her as having said before she lapsed into unconsciousness that there were three other persons Collett wanted to kill but he didn’t hae time.

Carlos Helton was in the yard at the time of the shootings and encountered Collett when he came from the house. Helton fled, but was wounded in the arm.

Howard Helton who was alive when officers reached the home, died later at a hospital in Danville.

Collett, a former soldier, had operated a roadhouse known as “Blue Heaven” between Brodhead and Crab Orchard. At the time of the slaying he carried two pistols but apparently fired only one of the weapons.

Funeral services for the Heltons will be conducted Friday morning with burial in a graveyard near Mount Vernon. Two of the sons, Matthew and Ephraim were away from home at the time of the shooting.

Rites for Mr. And Mrs. Bordes probably will be conducted Thursday. In addition to the son, Patrolman Bordes, they are survived by two other sons, Jennings Bordes, Columbus, Ind. And Victor Bordes, postmaster of Crab Orchard, and a daughter Evon Bordes a student at Transylvania College, Lexington, Ky.

Collett is survived by a brother , Ollie Ollett, night policeman at Brodhead. Funeral services for Collett will be conducted Thursday at Harmon Lick.