The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-30
A DEPLORAB[E
TRAGEDY At RAV|A
AGED HUSBAND SHOOTS WIFE
AND KILLS SELF AT RAVlA-
HAD BEEN SEPARATED.

leTuay.
n. b. Fields aged "a years, in a
moment of temporary mental aber.
ration, caused from loss of sleep
and brooding over family troubles
shot and killed his wife, who was
SO years old. and then ended his
own life.
The Fields are members of one
of the oldest and most respected
families in southern Oklahoma. For
years Mr. Fields was engaged in
business, but of late years has
been doing nothing, having turned
his business over to two of his sons.
Over a year ago he and his wife,
failing to agree, separated, aTter
over quarter of a century of hap
py married life. Mrs. Fields re-
manned at the old home place and
families of his several children, to
all of whom he was most devoted
" attached. There are five children.
four sons and a married daughter.
One son is engaged in the bank
ing business at Ravia and two OF
them are merchandising in the
same city. The youngest son who
has been away from home for some
time recently returned and was
stricken with typhoid fever short
ly after his return. He was re-
moved to the home of his mother
and his father accompanied him
to help to nurse and care for him.
For days he has been lowering up
on the brink of death. His father
has been at his bedside almost
constantly and, it is said, had slept
practically none for over a week.
During the time that the estrang-
ed parents hung over the bedside
of their dying son, ministering to
his wants and watching the ebbing
of the tide which was fast carrying
him from them forever, it is not
known whether the husband and
father made any advances toward
effecting a reconciliation with the
wife or mott is not known, nor
never will be. Perhaps, while watch
ing the spark of the life of which
he was the author fade, perhaps
while hanging over the form or
the son whom he so devotedly loved,
the father and husband sought to
take again to his heart and arms
the wife and mother and, meeting
with rebuff and refusal, broken in
mind, soul and body impulsively
decided on the rash act which has
brought their troubles before the
great court of last resort. If such
was really the case the God who
rules Ill HlySltl lOuo way o'Vi INV
destinies of man, alone knows.
Right on the stroke of twelve,
at noon yesterday, Mrs. Fields left
the sick room and stepped for a
moment into the kitchen. In an
ante-mortem statement she says that
her husband also left the bedside
of the sick son and followed her
into the kitchen. She says that
neither spoke. When she reached
the center of the room, she said
her husband opened fire upon her.
The first bullet struck her in the
back and as she turned he fired a
second shot which took effect in
the right side of the abdomen, pen
etrating and lacerating the bowels.
When she fell her husband turned
the weapon upon himself and blew
out his brains He only fired one
shot at himself-death resulting in
simultaneously.
Neighbors and members of the fam
ily rushed in and carried the dying
woman to bed in the room where
lay the dying son. DIR. Hardy of
Ardmore was summoned over the
long distance telephone. He re-
sponded at once, barely having
time to catch the Frisco eastbound
train from this place. When he
arrived he saw that the case was
hopeless and devoted his entire time
to relieve the sufferings of the dy-
ng woman who lived but few
hours after his arrival.
Mr.. Fields was a prominent Odd
Fellow and that organization took
charge of his remains and laid |
hem to rest in the little cemetery /
It Ravia late yesterday afternoon.
Nrs. Field will be buried at three
hirt ythis afternoon.