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.
Post Script October 28th, 2022.
In the previous comment I omitted a few relevant facts.
My mother was likely of no use that night . She was some blocks away in the sleepy town. My Aunt Rosalba was by all accounts out enjoying life with friends . She is recently 21 and out from under the Army’s Survivor Assistance program which was administered by Army staff at Fort Monroe VA shortly after her Husbands death in a car accident in November 1948. She was given the death benefit and awarded a widows stipend as well as child support. All together a substantial sum in the day. She bought a fancy new Pontiac Catalina and was quickly into the “Jesup” social scene, as meagre as it might be . The clubs between Savannah Tybee Ludowici etc did exist. She at first lived with her sister Maria and her husband Charles Wesley Smith in their small home on Pine street . This crowded situation ( two needy young war brides and two three year olds ) likely got on Charlie’s nerves . Rosalba recognized it best to get her own place nearby.
Charles’s wife Maria was not too happy about her situation and often jumped at opportunities to help her sister with baby sitting leaving Charlie out of their circle.
Charles like many veterans suffered from the boredom and lack of responsibility and social stature in the small 3,800 person town .
He foolishly took nephew Robert from the sister in laws nearby house returning to his house.
When the overexcited sister in law (Rosalba Houck ) returned to the neighborhood from her night out screaming etc he likely was somewhat amused when the police arrived.
They saw the situation and they somehow failed to de escalate . In todays rule of law the two on scene police could be accused of Wrongful Death.
No one needed to die that night .
It remains an embarrassment to me that my mother and her sister did not attend any eulogies or funeral for a man they had known since 1944 .
They collectively lured their future husbands into marriages that seemed doomed to fail.