Kern County Obituaries

Robert J. Hellman

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 29 Jan 1942

SENTRY CLEARED OF MURDER CHARGE
Murder charges against Private James J. Thompson, Muroc Field sentry, who on 
Christmas Eve accidentally shot and killed a fe1low trooper riding in an army truck 
which failed to stop on the command of "Halt",  were dismissed by District Attorney 
Tom Scott in the court of Justice of the Peace W. A. Mattox: of Mojave. 
Private Thompson ear1ier had been cleared of the fatal shooting at a court martial, 
Mr. Scott said but military authorities also wanted the case brought up before the 
civil court for disposition now rather than in future years when it might be 
prosecuted.	
Robert J. Hellman, victim of the soldier's bullet, was riding in the rear of a truck 
whose operator failed to stop, not hearing the sentry's command due to the noise of a 
wind storm. Acting on orders to shoot if the command was disregarded, Thompson 
fired at the right side of the truck, intending only to frighten the driver and bring the 
vehicle to a stop.	
He testified that he did not know anyone was riding on the right side of the truck 
inside. The bullet penetrated Hellman's heart, he died instantly.