The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1908-06-18
Charles Ray
from frat pape.l
from first page.)

that he could not act until she swore
out warrant unless Charley was actu-
ally doing crime, and referred her to
Prosecuting Attorney Bright. The lat.
ter promised to attend to the matter,
but probably sizing thu difficulty up as
one Of the Rays numerous petty quar-
rels, was in no hurry, and before he left
carthage with Sheriff Parker the inev-
table tragedy had occurred.
SAYS HE AIMED GUN At HER.
According to the story told by both,
Mrs. Ray and the boy returned to
the house, seizing an opportunity to get
tothe house while charley was talking to
passing neighbor in the road. charley
evidently OWNED, however, the purpose
of their trip and became more furious
than ever. At about 2:30 o'clock he
came rushing across the yard with his
gun, coming from a direction in which
he was protected by the smokehouse
until within thirty feet of the house.
This smokehouse stands just southwest
of the house, and as Ray charged
around its southwest corner he met his
doom. Mrs. Ray and the boy had taken
refuge in the second story, and the for
mer took her post Mt the window with
shot gun loaded with No! 4. shot. At
the instant Ray came into view she
fred, and her husband in the very act
of sighting at her along the barrels of
his own gun, fell to earth corpse.
The heavy No. shot did its work, fully
twenty shot striking him in the head,
neck and chest, and death was instan-
taneous.
Mrs. Ray Immediately sent Earl to
inform their neighbors of what had
happened, and small crowd had soon
gathered on the premises. Neither Mrs,
Ray nor her son would discuss the af-
fair with any of them and Earl in sum.
moning them to the scene limited his
information to the mere fact that Chas.
Ray was dead. They have both main.
tanned this attitude ever since the shoot.
ing, with two exceptions first, when
Mrs. Ray made to the sheriff, on his
arrival, full and complete statement Of
the matter, admitting that she did the
shooting: and second, just after the in
quest, Monday night, when she re.
marked that she was in a greater peace
of mind since she shot her husband
than for the past seven months, during
which time she hardly slept for fear of
being killed or having the house burn.
ed over her head by Ray.
When Sheriff Parker and Attorney
Bright arrived on the scene quite a
crowd had gathered, including many
people from Jasper, but the body had
not been touched except to be covered
with sheet by John Ward. After
gathering all the evidence they could
find at hand the two men had Rays
body conveyed to jasper, where unit
Wednesday, the day of burial, it lay al
Teeter's undertaking establishment
Mrs. Ray was not arrested, but boil
she and Earl voluntarily attended tn,
inquest held in the opera house tina
night by corner Baird. Seven witness
es, in the order named, were examined
George Winters, r. p. Lane, Earl Ray
claud Boyer, John Lee, Geo. Vincent
and Sheriff Parker. Mrs. Ray was no
put on the stand.
SEVEN WITNESSES EXAMINED.
George Winters testimony was 10 ei
feet as follows: The first knowledge h
had that day Of any trouble at the Ra
place was shortly after noon, when Mrs
Ray and her son, Earl, came to hi
house, which is only 200 yards fror
the Ray home, and stated that Charlie
was giving them trouble; had laid sieg
to the house with shot gun and ha
threatened to kill them, and that the
had slipped out on the north side Of th
house while he watched the opposit
side. Earl stayed at the Winters plac
while Mrs. Ray went to j. P. Johnstoni
half mile away, to phone to -Carthag
to ask the officers to come and g
Charley. She returned after it'll
complaining she could get no sstisiat
ton out Of the officers, and returns
with her son to the Ray home, follow
ing wagon down the road and gainin
access to the house while Charley va
conversing with man out 10 the roat
She had shot gun with her when st
went to the Johnston place and took
with her when she left fer home agail