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July 15, 2018

Jealousy Killed the Good-Time Girl

History lost her real name; she went by "Georgie Brown."

She was a "woman of the under world" who caught the eye of a naive young barber named Alexander Oaks when she blew into San Louis Obispo, CA.

Oaks would become completely infatuated with her to the point of losing common sense. He would follow her anywhere--even to the grave.


Oaks' father once related in retrospect: "My son was one of the brightest and best boys in the world until he met that woman."

"Alexander was a barber by trade, and had a good business in San Louis Obispo," the father continued. "This woman came along from Wyoming and he became infatuated with her. They came down to my home at Pizmo Beach and I ordered her away, but the boy still clung to her. He disposed of some property, left San Louis Obispo and that was the last I heard from him... That was about a year ago."

Georgie then went to San Francisco and Los Angeles and Alexander followed. Eventually they ended up in Prescott. However, although Oaks' love for her grew, Georgie was becoming bored with him.


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While in Prescott, Georgie met a "dashing" young soldier named Pvt. Fred Kimbro of the 18th Infantry Machine Gun Unit, Fort Whipple. Georgie decided to dump Alexander for Fred.

This caused Oaks to become insanely jealous. When he saw Kimbro with Georgie returning to their room above the Star Saloon after supper, he followed after them enraged.

What happened next was an attempt at a double-murder / suicide.

"Oaks knocked on the door and was admitted by the woman. According to Kimbro's statement he whispered to her and she answered in a low tone when (Oaks) drew the pistol and started firing."

"The first bullet passed through the top of her right soldier crashing through her neck, cutting the jugular and lodging in her brain. The second entered her forehead." The shots were fired so rapidly "that both bullets found their mark before she fell." She quickly died.

Oaks then turned to Kimbro saying "I do not blame you" as he fired at him. "Kimbro raised his left arm to protect himself and a leaden missive speeding in the direction of the heart lodged in the elbow." Kimbro, however, would survive.

"Apparently believing that he had killed Kimbro and the woman, Oaks then turned the weapon upon himself and fired the remaining bullet into his head. It entered the right temple and coursed between the forehead and brain lodging under the skin on the left side. It shattered the frontal bone and attending surgeons entertain(ed) no hope for his recovery."

Oaks talked freely of the shooting after being taken to the hospital. "She threatened to quit me for the soldier and I shot her," he said after regaining consciousness. "I grew very jealous after she said she would leave me, but I don't know why I shot her..."

Oaks was sure that Georgie Brown was not her real name, "but he knew no other name for her." He added that he also knew nothing about anyone related to her.

"He admitted that she had a daughter 9 years-old residing with a friend, but refused to give the address."

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Upon receiving the news, Oaks' father took the first train to Prescott. He was a man of high standing in California. "For several terms he was sheriff of San Louis Obispo county and was once US Marshall for the southern district of California."

"Despite what he has done, I am his father, and I am here to do what I can to help him. I saw him this morning in the jail, and," he said proudly, "he is still game."

Even though he was not expected to, Oaks survived his self-inflicted head-shot wound although it was causing him great pain. It was thought that Kimbro's arm would be permanently maimed and he would be discharged from the army. Instead he recovered and stayed in the service.

On May 3rd, 1911 Oaks was indicted for murder in the first degree.

But "when his case was called for trial, he entered a plea of guilty of murder in the second degree, which was recommended by the district attorney to the court and which was accepted. Kimbro, the main prosecuting witness, (was) in Texas on duty with his regiment and could not possibly be secured to testify. One of the extenuating circumstances favoring Oaks (was) his present physical condition, suffering as he (was) from wounds inflicted by himself."

Through the help of his father, Oaks avoided the noose and was sentenced to 25 years in the penitentiary.

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SOURCES:
Weekly Journal-Miner, 2/22/1911 Pg. 8 Col. 1
Weekly Journal-Miner, 3/1/1911, Pg. 2 Col. 4
IBID, Col. 5
Weekly Journal-Miner, 5/10/1911 Pg. 3 Col. 1
Weekly Journal-Miner, 5/17/1911 Pg. 3 Col. 6 
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