Atlanta Constitution - GEORGIA CONVICT SLAIN AS ESCAPE IS FOILED - 17 Make Break for Freedom Near Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Ga June 28 - A desperate break for liberty by seventeen white convicts near here Monday night failed when Weldon Brooks, 21 year old prisoner was shot and instantly killed by W. H. Gilbert, a guard at the Clayton County public works camp.

The convicts were being brought back to the camp on a truck from a point on the east side of the county near the Henry County Line, where they had been working on a road project.

Three guards were in charge of the truckload of convicts, Gilbert, J. B. Hartsfield and S. A. Hudgens.

As the truck crossed a small creek, about four miles from Jonesboro, one of the convicts shouted that his hat had blown off and asked that he be allowed to get it. As the truck came to a halt, several of the convicts attacked the guards.

One of the prisoners, Charlie Grant, snatched Hudgin's revolver from the holster and snapped it several times in Hartsfield's face, but the weapon was not loaded.

Brooks grappled with Gilbert and they rolled into a ditch. In the scuffle, the guard managed to draw his revolver and shot Brooks through the heart, killing him instantly. The other convicts surrendered.

Two trustees, Hal Hardegree and Leroy Smith were credited by the guards with helping to prevent a general escape during the scuffle.

Brooks, whose home was in Bolton, was serving a five year sentence for automobile theft in Fulton County. It was his third attempt to escape since March, the most recent having been a break he made three weeks ago with two other convicts near Covington, in which a guard was over-powered and tied up. All three of the convicts were recaptured within a few hours.

Brooks served a short time at the Tattnall Prison and then at Bellwood Camp in Fulton County, being transferred to Clayton County about three months ago.

A coroner's jury empannelled here Monday night, returned all charges exonerating Gilbert.



**James Welton Brooks obituary as published The Atlanta Journal Constitution - note that the AJC refers to Welton as 'Weldon', as it does in the above article. Welton's parents name also has an error - I'm puzzled as to how this happened - unless due to anxiety or someone else signed for her - but on Welton's death certificate, Welton's mother signed her name as Mrs. James B. Brooks. The correct name should read Mrs. James V. Brooks.**


Funeral Notice: Mr. Weldon Brooks - Funeral services for Mr. Weldon Brooks, who died suddenly Monday evening at Jonesboro, Ga will be held this Wednesday afternoon June 29, 1938 at 3 pm from Lowrytown Baptist church. He is survived by his father and mother, Mr and Mrs. J. B. Brooks, seven brothers, Brodas, Roy, Tewell, Adron, Elton Ray, Hubert and Bobby Brooks. Six sisters, Mrs. Margie Bowles, Mrs. Myrtle Sudduth, Mrs Ercree Smith, Mrs. Mozelle Brown, Misses Jewell and Joanne Brooks. Pallbearers will meet at the residence. Internment is at Hollywood Cemetery.
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To find location of grave, go to www.stephensroots.com, then click on Other, then Hollywood, then go to marked map to find grave.

Buried Tiered Level 1F.