Hello,
My name is JC Blanc, and I stumbled upon your site by accident (I live in England). I wonder whether anyone had any knowledge of an incident that involved Port Westberry in Jesup on 16th August 1950 (I know, it was a long time ago). He was forced to shoot a man named Charles Smith, who had barricaded himself with his 3-year old nephew. I am the son-in-law of his then wife (she died 15 years ago), and am doing research on the history of the family.
Sorry for intruding like this, but any information would be of great help to me.
Many thanks.
Yes many decades of family lore on all sides : Charles Wesley Smith ( my Father, veteran of WWII with 7 years is service from North Africa to invasion of Sicily then Italy:Salerno then two years of Ordnance operations Supporting battles at Anzio and Monte Cassinoin while around Naples. He then in the quagmire of end of war operations meets my 17/18 year old Mother , Maria Sardanelli. On scenic tranquil peninsula Possillipo. They marry , a “war bride” in 1945 . She and younger 16 year old sister Rosalba also marries a GI . They cross under the War Brides Act in June 46 . She and Charles ( extended family of Mom and Dad and 3 brothers and 2 sisters ) settle in rural city / lumber town Jesup pop 3,000) . He worked at Firestone store whet all the police and most locals knew veteran Charlie and his Italian bride (Maria) and baby boy ( Kenneth) Born 1947 . They also were “Even” more recognizable and prominent in small town Jesup when in 1948/49 a Younger ( age 19/20 ) Italian ex war bride and recently widowed (November 1948) Rosalba arrived into Jesup with Her baby boy, Robert HOUCK born July 47.
Rosalba , with a Widow’s stipend , set up her own residence near sister Mary in the tranquil Jesup neighbored. She now 20 was dating that night and trial records and dispositions would likely reveal Westberry knew Smith and Westberry’s on scene patrol buddy Sheridan knew Smith. Evidently the 1am /2am confrontation in the neighborhood escalated when Patrolmen Westberry and Sheridan appeared.
They all knew Rosalba which begs the question of why was a weapon even drawn ?
This event was shocking to all concerned especially in this small town .
The families ( Smith , Sardanelli, Westberry and Sheridan ) were incredulous . The Smiths rightfully brought a charge of Murder in August 1950 , the verdict at trial in April 1951 was manslaughter.
The two Sardanelli girls ages 23 and 21 as of the night of the Murder in August 1950 are both widows with 3 year old boys in tow.
The Extended Smith family is devastated , 7 years at War and 5 years later killed on his porch in his hometown.
The Westberry prominent citizens all are devastated
Being “ forced” to lethally shoot someone in the “ back “ is not good police work , especially if your partner is there and it is a neighborhood scene. Perhaps this account has emerged over the years since that night.
Only those present could give testimony to the on scene events . The trial transcripts would be an interesting read. The Coroner’s report clearly states and shows my father was “Shot in the back “ and died on the scene. Shot by Police Revolver belonging to and wielded by Westberry .
Perhaps the transcripts explain why two policemen could not get control of the situation.