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Tom G. Padgett is Killed (1943)

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The World War I veteran was shot in his left side with a pistol.

Thomas Glover "Tom" Padgett was born on 10 July 1888 in Twiggs County, Georgia, to William B. and Annie Davis Padgett. He was inducted into the United States Army at Jeffersonville, Georgia, on 26 June 1918. Tom served overseas from 24 August 1918 to 2 April 1919. It was noted on his World War I service card that Tom was "slightly" wounded about 1 November 1918, and was honorably discharged on demobilization, 24 April 1919.

Years later, by 1935, Tom had a room in a boarding house on West Franklin Street in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina. Gastonia was once one of the nation's largest textile-manufacturing hubs. Though no occupation was listed for Tom in the 1940 census, he was surrounded by neighbors working in cotton mills.

In February 1943, Tom was shot and killed in his room at the boarding house. While his death certificate officially records the date as February 16th, contemporary newspaper reports suggest the shooting occurred late the previous night.  This news soon reached his brother, John, in Cochran, Georgia --

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
Wednesday, 17 February 1943

Brother of Sheriff Padgett Is Killed
COCHRAN, Feb. 16 -- Thomas Glover Padgett, brother of Sheriff J. D. Padgett of Bleckley county, was killed at his home in Gastonia, N.C., Monday night, according to information received here Tuesday.

Sheriff Padgett left immediately for North Carolina to investigate and to bring the body back to Georgia where it is expected the deceased will be buried at Cary where his father and mother, the late W. B. and Annie Davis Padgett are buried.

Information here is that Mr. Padgett was killed in his bedroom and it is believed that robbery was the motive. He was 54 years of age and was born in Twiggs county.

Witnesses reported two men fleeing the scene, and suspects were questioned, but I don't know if anyone was ever charged with the homicide. It's also worth noting, though robbery was believed to be the motive, $296.71 was found "on person when killed." The coroner turned it over to Tom's estate handler.

Tom was actually buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Cochran, Georgia.

(Death certificate for Tom G. Padgett via Ancestry®.)


Ancestry US
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