Roll of Honor
Incident
At approximately 2:00 a.m., Night Watchman Charles W. Newsom was called to the kitchen of the Owl Cafe. Upon arrival in the kitchen, Newsom was stabbed in the neck and shot four times. Newsom died at the scene of the shooting.
Newsom was killed because he had arrested Roger Kesterson a few days earlier on some minor charge and this was the reason he was killed. Carl Norvell was charged and sentenced to 25 years in prison for stabbing Newsom in the neck and almost severing Newsom's head. He was pardoned December 14, 1933. Kern Norvell, a brother of Carl Norvell, shot Newsom four times. Kern Norvell committed suicide before he could be arrested. Roger Kesterson was tried in Mt. Vernon, in Franklin County on a change of venue and was found not guilty.
Charles W. Newsom was survived by his wife Ida and nine children. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas.
Survivors
Newsom was survived by his wife Ida and nine children.
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Watchman Newsom served with the Pittsburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Newsom.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Charles Washington Newsom is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Washington Newsom's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Washington Newsom Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1933
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Washington Newsom is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Washington Newsom was killed by edged weapon; knife.