Individual Details

"Eli Perkins Killed In Auto Collision; Youth Charged With Murder --- Early morning automobile collision that snuffed out the life of EH L. Perkins, 44, Abilene creamery salesman and Taylor county landowner, had its aftermath in the filing of charges of murder and driving while intoxicated against Tom Jones, 20-year-old youth, Saturday. Jones was in the Taylor county jail last night in default oi bond set at $6,000. The crash occurred on Grape street, between Seventh and Eighth, about 4:30 a. m. Mr. Perkins, en route from his home, 1902 Swenson Avenue, to his work on the other side of town, was thrown to the pavement and killed instantly by the impact of his automobile and a sedan driven by Jones. The collision, occurring on the west side of the street, was practically head-on. Jones was driving north, said officers who were conducting an Investigation. Both cars were badly damaged. Both Joner and a companion, Joe Carl Myers, received minor injuries. Jones has a lacerated forehead; Joe Myers is bruised and has the ball of his left eye cut by glass, the latter a serious wound if the sliver remained in the ball. It will be several days before that can be determined, physicians said. Mr. Perkins died from a crushed chest, death occurring instantaneously, said a physician at the West Texas Baptist sanitarium, where he was rushed by ambulance. Arthur Presslar, taxicab driver, driving on Grape shortly after the collision, made the run to Laughter Undertaking company with the emergency call. Jones rode the ambulance to the sanitarium, and Myers was taken there by automobile. Shortly afterward he was arrested by city officers, who said they found him sitting on the curb at Nineteenth and Hickory street, the block occupied by the hospital. Jones' wounds were bandaged later by a physician in his cell at the city jail. The charges against Jones were lodged by County Attorney Gray Browne, who joined officers in an investigation. The complaints read "Jones did then and there voluntarily and with malice aforethought kill Eli Perkins in striking him with an automobile," and "driving while intoxicated." Myers, held for questioning, was released after making a sworn statement to Gray Browne. Myers said he was with Jones after 11 o'clock, that the two bought a half-gallon of liquor, and that they spent most of the night driving around and drinking. Bond totaled $6.000. On arraignment before Judge Carl P. Hulscy, Jones' bond was set at $6.000--$5,000 on the murder count."

(Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, Texas, January 8, 1933.)

Birth	September 25, 1888	Pleasant Grove, Eastland County, Texas
Marriage	November 17, 1919	Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas - Hester Verona Cornelius
Death	January 7, 1933	Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
Burial	January 9, 1933	Cedar Hill Cemetery, part of Abilene Municipal Cemetery, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas

Spouse	Hester Verona Cornelius (1893 - 1985)
Child	Verla Joyce "V. J." Perkins (1924 - 2000)
Child	Lynn Cornelius Perkins (1929 - 1997)

Father	Calvin Lee Perkins (1853 - 1920)
Mother	Medline Meriah Williamson (1857 - 1941)
Sibling	Marvin Henry Perkins (1882 - 1961)
Sibling	Nevada Ollie "Vade" Perkins (1886 - 1950)
Sibling	Celia Jerusha Perkins (1891 - 1971)
Sibling	Florence Beulah Perkins (1894 - 1988)
Sibling	Alvin Lee Perkins (1899 - 1925)