Robert Burnside - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 3/24/2012

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Robert Burnside - Madison Parish, Louisiana 

From Tallulah Madison Journal, April 18, 1958

Murder, Suicide Victims Rites Held Sunday

Double funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church for Mr. and Mrs. 
Robert Burnside with Rev. Carl Barnes of the Mounds, La., Baptist Church officiating.Burial followed 
in the Silver Cross Cemetery under the direction of Crothers Funeral Home.

The couple met their death around 2:30 last Friday afternoon; When Robert Burnside shot his wife twice 
from a shotgun blast, and then turned the gun and shot himself through the head. He was 26 and his 
wife 22 they have two small children.

Dr. E. Otis Edgerton, Madison Parish Coroner returned a verdict of murder and suicide. The shotgun 
slayings occurred about 2:30 p. m., at the home of Mrs. Burnside's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Brekeen, 
on the Carpenter Plantation east of Tallulah. According to officials, Mrs. Burnside and her two 
children had recently come from Houston to her parent's home to stay while she as preparing to 
seek a divorce. She told Sheriff Hester, she and her husband had been having trouble. It was reported 
that Burnside who had been in Tallulah for a few days, went to the home of his wife's parents. After 
his arrival, it was reported that he and his wife got into an argument. The girl's mother tried to intervene, 
but Burnside, in her attempt struck her over the head with the shotgun.

The girl's mother went for help and while she was gone, Burnside shot his wife, who staggered out into 
the yard, where Burnside shot her the second time. Burnside then shot himself in the head. The two children 
were the only other persons present at the time of the shooting.

The Burnsides are survived by two children, Peggy Ann and Bobby Ray. Mrs. Burnside is survived by her parents, 
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Brekeen, Tallulah ; three sisters, Mrs. Doris Johnson, Bunkie, La., Mary and 
Martha Brekeen, both of Tallulah.

Mr. Burnside is survived by his mother, Mrs. Allen T. Burnside, of Carthage, Miss.; four brothers, Charles, 
George, Lester and James Burnside, all of Carthage, and seven sisters, Mrs. John Ogden, of Tallulah, Mrs. 
Gertrude Beard, of St. Charles, Illinois, Mrs. Dorothy Miles, Houston, Texas., Virginia, Bessie, Tress 
and Rosie Burnside, all of Carthage.