Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Friday, February 10, 1956

Clary Charged With Murder Of Henry T. Maples

VIDALIA, Feb. 10 (Special) -- Concordia parish sheriff Noah Cross said last night that George Clary, about 40, was being held in the parish jail charged with murder for slaying Henry Thomas Maples, 25, of Clayton.

Sheriff Cross said Maples was killed in a fracas on highway 65 a few hundred yards from the Tensas parish law. Cross said details that led to the shooting were not clear.

Dr. J. H. Pankey, Concordia parish coroner, said Maples died almost instantly. Dr. Pankey said six buckshots tore their way into Maples' stomach area.

Unofficial accounts said Clary and Maples had a dispute over some car keys prior to the shooting. It was also reported that Maple's wife, Lucille, was at the scene and had attempted to persuade her husband not to violate Clary's command not to come any closer.

The fracas occurred on the highway near Lake St. John. Sheriff Cross said he understood both men were employed in the oil fields in the Lake St. John area.

Clary's case will be turned over to the Concordia parish Grand Jury in April, Cross said. Clary is the father of four children.

After the shooting Maples' body was taken to the Comer Funeral Home in Ferriday. Maples had no children.

Survivors are: his wife, Lucille, of Clayton; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Butler Maples, of Lake St. John; six sisters, Mrs. Edna Westbrook, of Dallas, Tex., Mrs. Mary Westbrook of Waterproof, Mrs. Gladys Hale, of Clayton, Mrs. Alice Knapp and Mrs. Marie Haney, both of Ferriday, and Mrs. Ethel Massey, of Honolulu, T. H.; two brothers, William P. Maples and Donald R. Maples, both of St. Joseph.

Funeral services will be held at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday with Rev. Shirley Briggs, of Ferriday, officiating. Interment will follow in Wesley Chapel Cemetery under direction of Comer Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be: Robert Maples, Alden Maples, Virgil Maples, Guy Tarver, Charles Wall and Earl Webb.