In this episode of Twisted Roots I’ll share a suspicious case of accidental death that has been brought to my attention. There are several red flags that may suggest foul play in the death of a black soldier in a quartermasters platoon in 1944. We’ll also take a quick look at two others murders related to him and his family and a brief history. This episode is a call to find additional documentation and hopefully find the truth, and possibly bring justice, to this young man.
[Link to the episode on Buzzsprout]
| Name | Born-Died | Description / Note |
| Victims | ||
| Conn, Lucy | 1886-1930 | wife of Pearl Franklin Webster, mother of Theodore Haley, shot by her brother |
| Haley, Theodore W. | 1912-1944 | Pvt in the 1016th Quartermasters Platoon, stabbed on base, circumstances unclear |
| Keith, Waddell Wadsworth Jr | 1920-1953 | private at La Junta Army Airforce Base, stabbed to death on the street |
| Suspects | ||
| Conn, Roby George | 1888-1988 | brother of Lucy Conn, shot her when attempted to shoot her son Lloyd |
| Keith, Waddell Wadsworth Jr | 1920-1953 | private at La Junta Army Airforce Base, convicted of attempted rape |
| Stewart, Charles Lee | b1919 | held in the murder of Waddell Keith Jr. |
| Family | ||
| Conn, Cora | 1881-1946 | sister of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Conn, Docia | 1879-1946 | sister of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Conn, Eunice | 1893-2000 | sister of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Conn, George | b1822 | grandfather of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Conn, George | 1852-1942 | Father of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Conn, John Isaac | 1883-1960 | brother of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Easter, Anna | 1856-1933 | Mother of Lucy and Roby Conn |
| Haley, James William | 1922-2002 | brother of Theodore Haley |
| Haley, William Jennings | b1875 | father of Theodore Haley, 2nd husband of Lucy Conn |
| Keith, Waddell Wadsworth Sr | 1895-1973 | father of Waddell Keith Jr. |
| Overton, Alice Mae | b1883 | 2nd wife of Pearl Franklin Webster |
| Snowdine, Leota Vivian | 1896-1964 | mother of Waddell Keith Jr. |
| Valeria | b1913 | wife of Theodore Haley |
| Webster, Lloyd Russell | 1907-1995 | son of Pearl Webster and Lucy Conn |
| Webster, Pearl Franklin | 1889-1918 | 1st husband of Lucy Conn |
| Webster, Pearl | b1910 | daughter of Pearl Webster and Lucy Conn |
| Witnesses & Other People | ||
| Strong, Nat. C. | 1874-1935 | owner of Negro League Baseball & the New York World Building. |
| Law Enforcement & Lawyers | ||
| Bartley, 2nd Lt John G. | ? | In charge of the investigation of Theodore Haley’s death |
| Johnson, 2nd Lt. Ellsworth H. | ? | appointed by Summary Court to inventory the effects of Theodore Haley |
| Ryan, Pvt Thomas H. | ? | selected to accompany the body of Theodore Haley to Wisconsin |
Burial Records:
- Camp Butler National Cemetery – Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, US
- Wood National Cemetery – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Census Records:
- 1870 US Federal Census: Spencer, Ralls, Missouri – Conn family
- 1880 US Federal Census: Salem, Lewis, Missouri – Conn family
- 1900 US Federal Census: Kahoka, Clark, Missouri – Conn family
- 1900 US Federal Census: Jackson, Lee, Iowa – William and Emma Haley
- 1910 US Federal Census: Stites, St Clair, Illinois – Webster family
- 1920 US Federal Census: Keokuk, Lee, Iowa – Webster family
- 1930 US Federal Census: Keokuk, Lee, Iowa – Conn/Haley families
Church Records:
- 1944: Burial record for Theodore W. Haley – Ascension Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Soldiers Home Cemetery) – Burials
Federal Records:
- US Social Security Applications and Claims Index: “Lloyd Russell Webster” (1907-1995)
Military Records:
- Funeral Records: Theodore W. Haley
- Funeral Records: Pearl F. Webster
- Morning Reports: LJAAF, La Junta, Colorado – 1016th QM Platoon T, AB
- Morning Reports: LJAAF, La Junta, Colorado – 346th Aviation Squadron
- National Cemetery Interment Control Form: Keith, Waddell W. Jr.
- US Headstone Applications for Military Veterans: “Theodore W. Haley”.
Order for an “Upright Granite Headstone” for Pvt Theodore W. Haley, 346th Aviation Squadron.
Enlisted 2-16-43
Born 2-27-1912
Serial #36 806 044
Died La Junta Air Fld. Colorado
Emblem: Christian
Division: Q M Corp, AC, Wisconsin
To be shipped to Veterans Administration Manager, Veterans Administration Facility, West Allis, Wisconsin.
Requested Feb 29, 1944 in Wood, Wisconsin; Verified Mar 6, 1944; Ordered Oct 2, 1944. - WWI Draft Card: “Pearl Franklyn Webster” – 1 Jun 1917 – New York City, NY
- WWII Draft Card: Keith, Waddell W. – 1940
- WWII Hospital Administration Cards:
- Serial #34841756 – Herbert Wilson – Feb 1944
- Serial #36806044 – Theodore Haley – Jan 1944
- Serial #36806044 – Theodore Haley – Feb 1944
Newspaper Articles:
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle:
- 1918, Dec 20: “Colored Ball Player Dies in France”
- Chicago Bee:
- 1944, Feb 27: “Soldier’s Death Shocks City”
- Chicago Defender
- 1944, Jan 15: notes on Milwaukee, Theodore visits cousins.
- Clark County Courier
- 1906, Apr 20 : “Disastrous Runaway”
- 1930, Dec 26: “Robey Conn Kills Sister”
- 1931, Jan 2: “Obituary – Mrs. Lucy Haley”
- 1933, Jan 20: “Obituary – Mrs. Anna Conn”
- 1942, May 22: “Obituary – Mr. George Conn”
- Daily Gate City:
- 1919, Aug 18: “War Insurance Case is Probed”
- Daily Sentinel:
- 1943, Nov 29: Notice of court martial and conviction of Waddell Keith
- Kansas City Times:
- 1953, Aug 20: “Man Dies of Stab Wound”
- Kansas City Star:
- 1953, Aug 29: “Step in Murder Cases”
- La Junta Daily Democrat:
- 1944, Feb 14: “Soldier Who Had Meningitis Dies”
- St. Louis Argus:
- 1915, Sep 17: “St Louis Giants Trim Rube Foster’s Chicago Team”
Ship Manifests:
- 1918: USS Maui, from Hoboken, New Jersey – Pearl F. Webster #3672135
- 1921: USAT Wheaton, from Antwerp, Belgium – body of Pearl F. Webster #3672135
Vital Records:
- Marriages-
- Deaths-
- 1953: Waddell W. Keith – Kansas City, Missouri
