GEORGE BURKETT GOES FREE
CLARK COUNTY HERALD
11-March-1908
The trial of George Burkett for an assault upon John Gilbert with
intent to murder, which had been continued at two terms of circuit
court, was taken up Monday afternoon. Herald readers are
more or less familiar with the story. Burkett and
Gilbert lived on adjoining farms in Auburn Township and were
employed on the oil pipe line. Bad blood had existed
between the men for years and they had frequently
quarreled. One day in November, 1906, Burkett started to
drive across Gilbert’s land with a load of pipe, but Gilbert forbade
him and made him drive four miles further to get to his
destination. Next morning Gilbert started to his work
walking through the farm of Burkett, along the pipe
line. He met Burkett who was at his hog lot armed with a
shotgun, expecting to get a shot at a squirrel. He
ordered Gilbert to get off his land and Gilbert putting down his
dinner bucket, thrust his hand in his pocket and started toward
Burkett who fired, the charge taking effect in Gilbert’s abdomen and
arm. The trial was concluded at noon yesterday, the jury
reaching a verdict of not guilty on the first ballot. A
peculiar feature of the case was that one of the jurors, Lon Linton,
is a cousin of Gilbert and his name appeared on the back of
the indictment as a prosecuting witness but he was passed by the
defense. The defendant’s attorneys were H.C. Bell and J.
W. Graham.