Barry Co., MO, Newspapers

1915 Extracts from Barry County, MO, Newspapers
An interlibrary loan of microfilm from the State Historical Society of MO was the source of the below given data. Extracts from Barry County, MO, Newspapers

Extracted by: Donna Cooper, Coordinator

March 11, 1915, Thursday, Cassville Republican, Barry Co., MO

At circuit court next week the following parties will be in attendance as members of the petit jury:

Ash, Tom Galyen, Jr.;

Butterfield, Tom McKee;

Capps Creek, John Dombroski;

Corsicana, E. B. Linebarger;

Crane Creek, Bill Curry;

Flat Creek, W. M. Zinn;

Jenkins, Dan Friends;

Kings Prairie, Sherman Medlin;

Liberty, Walter Sallee;

McDonald, John McPhail;

Mineral, Otis Baker;

Monett, Pete Scott and Fran Mermoud;

Mountain, Tom Boyd;

Ozark, E.G. Greenway;

Pleasant Ridge, Wm. Miller;

Purdy, Amos Gurley;

Roaring River, Charley Curry;

Shell Knob, A. A. Thurman;

Sugar Creek, N. P. Anderson,

Washburn, J. P. Hoog;

Wheaton, L. M. Pannell;

White River, Allen Hale.

Died Monday:

Charles N. Lewis of Exeter died Monday afternoon about 4 o'clock of stomach and bowel trouble, age 78 years.

The deceased had lived in the vicitny of Exeter many years, and was one of the county's most highly respected citizens. He had long been a faithful and consistent member of the Baptist Church. He is survived by a widow, three sons, and one daughter.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. M. Smith, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Baptist Church and the body was laid to rest in the Maple Wood Cemetery.

***

Wayne News: Mrs. America McClure, wife of Uncle Tom McClure, died Tuesday night at her home, 2 1/2 miles east of Wayne. Her body was laid to rest at Washburn Prairie Cemetery Sunday afternoon. To the bereaved we extend our sympathy.

***

Washburn News: Mrs. McClure died at her home Friday, March 5th. She was the wife of Thomas McClure and an old and highly respected citizen of Barry County. Her funeral was preached by Rev. E. W. Love of Cassville. Burial was made at Washburn Prairie Cemetery, Sunday afternoon. The community extends sympathy to the bereaved family.

Died at Ripe Old Age:

Mrs. America L. McClure, wife of T. J. McClure who resides about five miles southwest of town on the Cassville and Washburn road and one of the county's oldest and most highly esteemed citizens, died Friday evening, March 5, 1915. Death was due to a severe attack of lagrippe and advanced age. The deceased was 81 years, 3 months and 16 days old.

Mrs. McClure, was born in Tennessee. At an early age her parents moved to Pea Ridge, Ark. during her residence on Pea Ridge she became a member of the Twelve Corner Baptist Church, one of the pioneer churches of Northwest Arkansas. Later in life she became a resident of Washburn Prairie and attended school where the Washburn Prairie Church is now located. Besides her husband she leaves four sons and two daughters, John of Purdy, Emmett of Arkansas, Ewing and Bud at home, and Mrs. Pitts of Monett and Mrs. Arnold, southwest of town.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 1:00 at the home in charge of Rev. E. W. Love and the body was laid to rest at the Washburn Prairie Cemetery.

Murder and Suicide:
Bad Feeling Between Husband and Wife Leads to a Frightful Tragedy.
Double Crime Committed Tuesday Night.
Arthur Hawk Kills His Wife, Alla Hawk, and Puts a Bullet Through His Brain.

Arthur Hawk, engineer on the C. & W. Railroad and a son of J. W. Hawk of near town, shot and killed his wife, Alta Hawk; and immediately thereafter committed suicide, Tuesday night about 9:30 o'clock on a back street between their residence of J. J. Edens and J. H. Baird, in the south part of town.

The double crime was committed shortly after the closing of the moving picture show at which entertainment both attended separately. She left the show alone and he followed overtaking her, it is thought, about where the incident occurred. Particulars concerning the immediate causes which led to the tragedy cannot be had as but the two were present and neither can tell the tale. However, it is known that trouble between them dates back several months. Some days ago a difficulty arose and she left his home and began to make her home in the J. C. Barcus property to which place she was going when the sad affair occurred.

Before the horrible tragedy became known to but few, an inquest under the auspices of Justice of the Peace H. P. Sons, had been held. The following persons composed the jury that Arthur Hawk and his wife, Alta Hawk, had come to their deaths from three pistol shots fired by himself: Charles Ray, David Dingler, H. S. Montgomery, Carey Henry, W. M. Irwin and F. A. Meador.

Witnesses, A.. L. Brown, T. S. Frost, John Ray and Dr. D. L. Mitchell, gave testimony upon which the above verdict was reached by the jury. Mr. Brown testified that while he and Mrs. Brown were passing his father's home on Gravel Street in going home from the picture show he heard three pistol shots, the first two in immediate succession and third one about a minute and a half later. John Ray stated that while he and his wife were at that time near Bon Manley's residence he heard three shots and they were discharged at the intervals given by Mr. Brown. These parities in reaching the T. S. Frost home learned from Mr. Frost that he heard at the time of the shooting some say, "Oh, My God". Mr. Frost and Mr. Brown decided to go in the direction where the shots were fired and make and investigation. In leaving Mr. Frost's home they went east to the street to the street on which the Presbyterian Church is located and then went north to where the back street between the residence of J. J. Edens and J. H. Baird, leads west to gravel street, and in going about twenty steps on the street they found their lifeless bodies laying beside the road. Mr. Turner, who lives near the scene, testified that he heard from his home three shots at about the same intervals as stated by the other witnesses but heard no talking. Dr. D. L. Mitchell after examining the bodies testified that the death of Alta Hawk was due to a pistol shot, the bullet having entered at the base of the brain on the right side of her head and ranged to the back part of the left eye. It was later learned that she received a bullet wound in her body. He also found that the death of Arthur Hawk was caused by a pistol shot, the bullet taking effect in his mouth and that both deaths came by his volition.

The revolver was a 38 caliber and was found grasped in his right hand. Upon examination there was found one snapped shell. Its position in the magazine of the gun showed. It was the first one snapped but failed to fire, and three freshly emptied shells. This evidence is in favor of the three shots as heard by the witnesses. Her body was found lying face upward. His body was nearby with his head resting on her breast.

Arthur Hawk was 29 years of age and lived in the vicinity of Cassville all his life. He was an industrious young man and was well liked. Besides a father he leaves a brother, a half-brother, and two sisters, Lennie, E. P. and Mrs. Zula James and Nora Hawk, all residing and about Cassville.

Alta Hawk was a daughter of the late William and Lucy Burks and was 28 years of age. She was born and reared in Cassville where she enjoyed a large acquaintance. She is survived by a brother, two sisters and a half-sister. They are Oley Burks, Mrs. Fred Bennington and Ora Burks of this city and Mrs. Charles Butler of Tulsa, Okla.

They were united in marriage in 1903. To this union three children were born, one of whom, a son five years old, survive.

Double funeral services were conducted by revs. E.W. Love and T. H. Hickman at the Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock and their bodies were laid to rest side by side in the Oak Hill Cemetery.

The tragedy is indeed a sad one and the relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the public.

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