The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-31
BABY FOUND
SITTING BESIDE
DEAD PARENTS
Horrible Double Tragedy 0c-
ours at Oklahoma City.
PAINTER KILLED HIS WIFE
Then Fatally Turned the Gun
Upon Himself.
PAINTER KILLED HIS WIFE

Oklahoma City. 0. r, Jan. 3o-Lasi
night about o'clock James Carroll, .
painter of this city, shot and killed his
wife and then committed suicide. The
horrible tragedy took place AT the homc
OF the couple, their five-year-old son and
tvvo-year-old baby being present at the
tine Of the shooting.
The OkIahoman has this account OF the
double tragedy:
The sight that met the eye when Offi=
Ger Miller, a near neighbor. and re-
porter reached the scene a short time
after the deed had been enacted, beggarS
description. Lying in the front room OF
the home of the CAROLS. with a bullet
hole IN her left breast. penetrating the
heart, and in a veritable river OF blood.
was the lifeless form OF the wife and
mother while across her feet. with his
back turned upon the victim Of his wrath,
lay the husband and DESTROYER, life ex-
tinct. So true was the aim Of the mad
deaed man that the end had evidently
came to both instantly and peaca afUIy.
Nowhere around was any evidence to
De found indicating a struggle or q re-
sort to violence. The revolver with
which the tragedy I'D evidently been en-
acted was picked UP fully three feet 10
the rear Of Carroll but it is supposed
that it had been removed from where he
dropped if by the baby after the killing
and before the neighbors arrived.
The first intimation the neighbors had
Of the affair was given by the little son
of the dead man and woman. who. shortly
\. lands, about five blocks distant. in
stead Of informing the near neighbors.
and informed the family. The police were
quickly notified by telephone. Before
their arrival however. Mr.. lands sum
moned a couple OF the neighbors and
went to the Carroll home. They found
The situation practically as described be-
fore. with the exception that the baby
was sitting on the floor near its mother.
crying. and its clothes Thoroughly satur-
ated with her blood. The distance the
revolver which was used law from Carroll
when picked up Is supposed 10 have been
caused by the baby handling it before the
neighbors arrived. IT was a 3S-calibre.
containing four empty and two loaded
shells.
After the arrival of the police. Dr.
Street, the county coroner, was notified
and the ambulance summoned.
when DR.. Street arrived a coroners
jury was empaneled, consisting Of the
following neighbors. who had been at
tracted to the scene: John Martin. Fred
Wilkeling. William Thompson. J. ".
Thompson, z. J. Rockefeller and T. +.
Donnel.
Tho jury examined the dead man and
woman ana ascertained the location Of
the fatal wounds. From the pockets Of
Carroll was taken a watch. a half empty
pint bottle containing whisky and some
change. The mouse was searched fer a
statement but none was found.
THE motive for the murder and suicide
IS, Of course. mere conjecture. Nobody
will ever he able to tell just what prompt
ed Carroll to XIII the woman. who ne had
always, both when under the influence OF
liquor and sober. commended for her wo-
manly qualities. The most plausible
theory advanced is that Carroll. realizing
his inability to abstain from the liouor
habit, and, as he had oft times EXPRESSED
it, preferred TO be dead than a slave 10
the habit, determined to end his existence
and, with it, his wife's
The neighbors state that Carroll and
his wife had never been known 10 have
trouble; that he was devoted to her. and
she IN turn TO him. They lived happily
IN their little home.
BY occupation, Carroll was a painter.
ne has the reputation of being a good.
honest, hard working man. his besettinc
sin being drink. He was ir partnership
with J. n Thompson. and their shop is
IN the rear OF the Arcade.
Carroll has a brother in Woodward
county. Oklahoma, which. so far as
known. is his only surviving relative
mrs, carroll has two sisters living In
Louisville, Ky. An have been notified.