Clarence Schwartz - 3

Benjamin Franklin was noted for saying, "Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see." In genealogy research, I have chosen to listen to the older ones and then attempt to confirm their story through documentation. We, as a family, need to realize that the death of Clarence Schwartz occurred 10 years before Catherine Schwartz Welborn was born. To me, that means, that Catherine is telling the story as she was told most likely her mother, Katie Harrington Schwartz.

As you can see, if you compare my version to Linda's version there is a similar thread, however, our versions are not the same. The key is to find the morsels of truth.

From my interview with Catherine, I logically should take away the fact that Clarence Schwartz was shot by another boy.  History reflects that anti-German sentiment began to occur around the beginning of World War I, maybe as early as 1914.  Now, it is possible that Catherine, herself, may have experienced the prejudices against Germans prior to World War II.  Most likely, in the year of 1905, Clarence did not experience anti-German prejudice. Clarence Schwartz was the second generation to live in the United States and most likely did not speak German.

I suspect the details of the case reflect why the Schwartz family believed that Arthur Hinsley murdered Clarence. Even though, the Appellate Court determined lack of evidence and freed Arthur Hinsley, there are clues mentioned that possibly with current forensic techniques could shed a different light.

I will share more later . . .

Clarence Schwartz - 2

I am humbled by how quickly family history can fade away with the passing of grandparents. With their deaths, also scatters their stories—then, we, of the present, are left to piece the puzzle together again.

For my younger family members who have asked, "Who is Clarence Schwartz?" Clarence Schwartz was the sixth child of John Schwartz and Nannie Hollen Black born in Caddo, Blue County, Indian Territory on the 4th of September 1894. Clarence was your Grandmother Catherine Schwartz Welborn's uncle. He did not reach adulthood; his life was cut short at the hand of Arthur (Hinsley) Hensley.

A mention of his tragic death is written in The Blue County Democrat, November 10, 1905. In error, the newspaper names Clarence Schwartz incorrectly as Clay Schwartz.

Arthur and McKinley Hensley, aged 13 and 11 respectively, had a preliminary hearing before Judge Parker yesterday. They are charged with the murder of Clay Schwartz, aged 11, while out hunting near Caddo Monday. The young defendants claim the gun went off accidentally and killed their young companion. However, they said nothing of the matter ‘til the body was discovered on Tuesday.

Catherine's version of the story as I recall:

There was brewing prejudice against the Germans because of the war. The family always believed that young Clarence Schwartz was invited to go hunting with the older boys so they could murder him because he was of German descent. It was due to this prejudicial climate that Arthur Hinsley was set free and basically got away with murder.

Catherine's version of the story as Linda Welborn Cox recalls:

The only thing I remember is that Mother never stopped believing that the boys were much older, and that they took Clarence out and murdered him. She believed that the Woodmens of the World got the boys off. She never for one minute believed that it was an accident.

Come with me, as I try to sort out what really happened...

Clarence Schwartz - 1

Clarence Schwartz

Catherine Lenora Schwartz Welborn was the best oral family historian that I have ever encountered. During interviews with her, I remember scrambling to take notes fast enough to keep up with her as she spoke of her current and past families with exquisite detail and love abounding. One particular story she shared always haunted me—a shadow luring of investigation when the time was right. 

It is not like I wake up in the morning and say to myself today is the day I am going to look into this. But, more like, today I am going to stumble into this research and see what can be found with the tools and resources I have available. Maybe the inspiration just leaped from the treasured photograph and whispered...today please learn about me, my tragic death.

Today, I discovered how to search Google Advanced, narrowing to surname specific at one of my favorite blogs, Caddo-My Home Town. The author, Mary Maurer documents the historical events of Caddo, Bryan County, Oklahoma, the birthplace of my mother-in-law, Catherine Lenora Schwartz Welborn. Fortunately, Mary and I have shared emails. Ms. Maurer has a uncanny ability to write of Caddo, Oklahoma families like they are her own relatives.  I surmise the story of the murder of 11-year old, Clarence Schwartz must have influenced her documentation. Mary transcribed the news story as it appeared in The Blue County Democrat on November 10, 1905 and also provided an edited version of Arthur Hinsley vs. United States. The case law is an eleven page read. I have poured over the details of the appeals case several times and waiver between the innocence or guilt of Arthur Hinsley, haunted by Catherine's version of the story passed down from the Schwartz family members. More later . . .