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By JIMMY BROWN Law enforcement officers called off a massive manhunt in the Gladewater area — early Wednesday following — the surrender of the prime suspect w the murder about 2:30 a.m Tuesday of Gladewater Fire Chief Harold Potts at a fire of undetermined origin at Betty's Place, a night club on U.S. 271, at the south edge of the city A warrant charging capital murder was issued Tuesday by Gregg County authorities for Fadt Sam West, 57, of Gladewater, owner of the tavern According to Gregg County Sheriff's office, West gave himself up to his attorney, Lowell Holt of Gilmer who placed him in the custody of Gregg officers at 12:30 am Wednesday West was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Charles Cashell at 12:45 a.m. and charged with capital murder and attempted capital murder Bond was denied and West remains in Gregg County jail Chief Potts, 50, was killed when hit by two +28 caliber bullets. He was dead on arrival at Municipal Hospital. Justice of the Peace Boss Delay held an inquest and ordered an autopsy Two firemen, volunteer Michael Cannon ,31, and regular James Smith 21, were also wounded in the shooting Cannon was hit in the right hip and was hospitalized. His wound was not believed to be serious. Smith was nicked in the upper right arm. He was treated and released The tragic incident touched off the massive manhunt throughout the area. About two dozen officers — including Gladewater police, Gregg County sheriff's deputies, Texas Rangers, highway patrolmen participated) A Texas Depart ment of Corrections tracker hound pack from the Coffield unit under the direction of JDC lA. W. Ro Magee and Officer Mike Vickery failed in two extensive sweeps of the area to locate the suspect ATDS helicopter from Dallas swept the area repeatedly and remained in the city most of Tuesday to assist The search for the killer began in the chill predawn darkness, by Gladewater police and Gregg County deputies under the direction of Sheriff Tom Welch Gladewater Police Chief Cris Morrow who headed the intial investigation said Chief Potts was hit in the neck and ab domen He was dragged from the building and died en route to the hospital The shootings was apparently precipitated by a relatively minor fire at the tavern which was discovered and reported by Gladewater Police Sgt. Bill Wells on routine patrol in the area. He called the fire department and two trucks responded. Chief Potts arrived in his station wagon shortly after According to a witness, Rey Herman Reagh of the Union Grove community and a member of the Gladewater REACT citizens’ band radio club who arrived on the scene to assist firemen about the same time as Chief Potts, the fire which damaged the front en trance of the tavern had been tapped out and firemen were busy cleaning up when the shooting occurred Rev Reagh and another witness said they heard five shots. One slug was dug out of the burned door frame It was during the fire cleanup that the shooting took place Chief Potts stepped into the fire damaged building apparently to talk to a man who had begun cursing the police and fire departments when the gunfire erupted. Chief Potts was shot at point. blank range. He was dragged from the building and taken to Municipal Hospital as soon as an ambulance arrived All available Gladewater police and Gregg County of ficers were on the scene within minutes. It was first believed the killer was hidden in the partially burned building Several tear gas shells were fired into the darkened tavern before officers entered The gunman apparently made his escape through a rear entrance and was believed to have entered the densely wooded area immediately behind the building. Heavily armed officers used sear chlights; car headlights sear ched the area as thoroughly as darkness permitted Shortly before dawn the eight baying tracker hounds from the Coffield prison unit, located near Palestine, arrived and the search of the wooded area began. The trail led back to another tavern just south of the shooting scene. The hounds made another sweep of the area with about the same results later in the morning. Their sweep was co-ordinated with the helicopter It is not known how the killer managed to elude the tightening dragnet. An all-points bulletin was issued early Tuesday The shooting was without apparent cause or motive. Rey Reagh said Chief Potts was attempting to talk to the suspect while winding up fire operations Funeral services for Chief Potts, a native of Homer, La were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church with Rev. B. F. Risinger, Rev Herman Reagh and Rev Harvey Smith, chaplain of the volunteer firemen, officiating Burial was in Gladewater Memorial Park. The casket bearing the Fire Chief's body was carried on the depart ment’s Big Mac fire truck Burial was under direction of Malcolm Stone Funeral Home He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Joanne Potts; two daughters, Mrs. Beverly Imray of Port Arthur and Mrs. Jo Nell Hardwick of Gladewater; two brothers, Waymond Potts of Kilgore and Richard Potts of New Orleans: four sisters, Mrs Thelma Watson, Lewisville, Texas; Mrs. Elaine Warren, Hurst; Mrs. Kathryn Hargis, Jacksonville, Fla; and Mrs Theda Williams, Dallas. Also surviving are two grand children Pallbearers were Charles Anderson, James Hogue, John Marshall, Ben Bennett, Charlie Ford and Joe Causey. Honorary pallbearers were all regular and volunteer firemen All city offices were closed all day and some businesses were also closed during the funeral .The fire station was manned by firemen from neighboring cities Chief Potts, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II came to Gladewater from the Kilgore fire department in 1958. A professional firefighter most of his adult life, he trained firemen and developed the city’s department into one of the best in East Texas He became something of an expert on the city’s building code while serving in the ad- Please turn to Page 2) POTTS ATWORK— fire Chief Harold Potts, killed in a shooting incident early Tuesday while supervising the tapping out of a fire at Betty's Place on the south edge of the city, is shown checking Civil Defense supplies. He was also building inspector for the city and local coordinator for Civil Defense. (Mirror Photo)
Newspaper Details
Gladewater Mirror
Gladewater, Texas, US
Thu, Feb 07, 1974
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Cathy S.
USA 02 Jan 2026
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