May be unmarked.
William M Melton was married to Maud Harris, which didnt prevent him from taking up with a divorcee, Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco. After 3 years, Mary Cox discovered that her lover was married. On Jan 6, 1914, she shot William Melton 4 times, then killed her 12 [16] year old daughter, Florence Cox, and then herself.
Maud Harris Melton said he had been a model husband, except he was away a lot on what she thought was business travel.
His family had his body shipped home for burial at Oakwood.
Claude Melton wrote a letter to the Spartanburg paper denying the story, and claiming that there was no love affair, his brother lived an exemplary life apart from smoking and using a little slang, and the stories were all lies.
----------------------------------
DIVORCEE KILLS LOVER AND CHILD
After Double Murder California Woman Ends Life
MELTON MAN OF FAMILY
Was Paying Attention to Divorced Woman When She Found He Was Married
Los Angeles, Cal. January 7 - Efforts to establish a motive for the double murder and suicide, which caused the deaths of W M Melton, a local attorney; Miss Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco, and the latter's daughter, Florence, 12 years old, in a rooming house here late last night, proved futile today.
Lodgers in the house where to tragedy occurred said that when last seen together, Melton and Mrs Cox appeared to be on the best of terms and there was nothing to indicate a quarrel. The police, however, believe Mrs Cox did the shooting.
Melton received four wounds, any one of which would have been fatal, while Mrs Cox was shot but once. Around the wound in her head were powder marks, indicating that the revolver had been very close. There was found a photograph of herself and the child, on which Mrs Cox had written "Florence Cox and Mary Graves, 2734 Mission Street, San Francisco - report the news at home."
Melton was a member of the lodge of Elks here. He had been attentive to Mrs Cox, who was a divorcee of about three years, according to friends.
The wife of W H Melton, the attorney and realty agent, killed last night in the tragedy which brought death also to Mrs Mary Graves Cox and her daughter, Florence, was located here today. A history of the man's life led officers to conclude that the double murder and suicide were the outcome of Melton's inability to meet his engagement to marry Mrs Cox.
Mrs Melton visited the morgue today and identified the body of her husband. Police officers said they were told by her that Melton had lived at home and was regarded by her and her neighbors, as a model husband. His frequent absence from home, she said, she believed was due to business.
The police theory to account for the tragedy is that Mrs Cox learned only yesterday of the existence of a Mrs Melton, and that in a paroxysm of anger she shot Melton and her daughter and then killed herself.
The State, Jan 8, 1914
----------------------
Jan 18, 1914
Burial in Spartanburg
The Remains of William M Melton Brought From California
The remains of William M Melton, the young Spartanburg man who recently was shot to death at Los Angeles by Mrs Graves Cox, a San Francisco woman, who immediately afterwards killed her daughter and the committed suicide, arrived in this city this afternoon and were taken to the home of Mrs M E Littlejohn, where the funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, by the Rev R E Stackhouse, D D, assisted by Rev C C Herbert. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr Melton is survived by two brothers, Claude M Melton of Cross Anchor and Walter M Melton of Varnville; five sisters, Mrs W B Patton of Cross Anchor; Mrs J J Jones of Woodruff, Mrs W J McKain of Sumter, Mrs W M Reid of North, and Mrs G T Brown of this city.
Suggested edit: (They must have found that the daughter was 16 instead of 12)
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 8--Convinced that Mrs. Mary Graves Cox killed William Melton, primarily because he was married and could not redeem his promise to wed her and that she also took the life of her daughter Florence, aged 16, because the girl shared Melton's affections, the police continued today the investigation of the Tuesday night triple tragedy in an effort to verify this theory. Three items of information recently obtained by Mrs. Cox, precipitated the tragedy, the police believe. The discovery that Melton had a wife and could not marry her; realization that he was shifting his affections to her daughter and the discovery that Melton, once well to do, suffered losses which had reduced him to the necessity of negotiating small loans.
--The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Jan. 8, 1914
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136)
William M Melton was married to Maud Harris, which didnt prevent him from taking up with a divorcee, Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco. After 3 years, Mary Cox discovered that her lover was married. On Jan 6, 1914, she shot William Melton 4 times, then killed her 12 [16] year old daughter, Florence Cox, and then herself.
Maud Harris Melton said he had been a model husband, except he was away a lot on what she thought was business travel.
His family had his body shipped home for burial at Oakwood.
Claude Melton wrote a letter to the Spartanburg paper denying the story, and claiming that there was no love affair, his brother lived an exemplary life apart from smoking and using a little slang, and the stories were all lies.
----------------------------------
DIVORCEE KILLS LOVER AND CHILD
After Double Murder California Woman Ends Life
MELTON MAN OF FAMILY
Was Paying Attention to Divorced Woman When She Found He Was Married
Los Angeles, Cal. January 7 - Efforts to establish a motive for the double murder and suicide, which caused the deaths of W M Melton, a local attorney; Miss Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco, and the latter's daughter, Florence, 12 years old, in a rooming house here late last night, proved futile today.
Lodgers in the house where to tragedy occurred said that when last seen together, Melton and Mrs Cox appeared to be on the best of terms and there was nothing to indicate a quarrel. The police, however, believe Mrs Cox did the shooting.
Melton received four wounds, any one of which would have been fatal, while Mrs Cox was shot but once. Around the wound in her head were powder marks, indicating that the revolver had been very close. There was found a photograph of herself and the child, on which Mrs Cox had written "Florence Cox and Mary Graves, 2734 Mission Street, San Francisco - report the news at home."
Melton was a member of the lodge of Elks here. He had been attentive to Mrs Cox, who was a divorcee of about three years, according to friends.
The wife of W H Melton, the attorney and realty agent, killed last night in the tragedy which brought death also to Mrs Mary Graves Cox and her daughter, Florence, was located here today. A history of the man's life led officers to conclude that the double murder and suicide were the outcome of Melton's inability to meet his engagement to marry Mrs Cox.
Mrs Melton visited the morgue today and identified the body of her husband. Police officers said they were told by her that Melton had lived at home and was regarded by her and her neighbors, as a model husband. His frequent absence from home, she said, she believed was due to business.
The police theory to account for the tragedy is that Mrs Cox learned only yesterday of the existence of a Mrs Melton, and that in a paroxysm of anger she shot Melton and her daughter and then killed herself.
The State, Jan 8, 1914
----------------------
Jan 18, 1914
Burial in Spartanburg
The Remains of William M Melton Brought From California
The remains of William M Melton, the young Spartanburg man who recently was shot to death at Los Angeles by Mrs Graves Cox, a San Francisco woman, who immediately afterwards killed her daughter and the committed suicide, arrived in this city this afternoon and were taken to the home of Mrs M E Littlejohn, where the funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, by the Rev R E Stackhouse, D D, assisted by Rev C C Herbert. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr Melton is survived by two brothers, Claude M Melton of Cross Anchor and Walter M Melton of Varnville; five sisters, Mrs W B Patton of Cross Anchor; Mrs J J Jones of Woodruff, Mrs W J McKain of Sumter, Mrs W M Reid of North, and Mrs G T Brown of this city.
Suggested edit: (They must have found that the daughter was 16 instead of 12)
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 8--Convinced that Mrs. Mary Graves Cox killed William Melton, primarily because he was married and could not redeem his promise to wed her and that she also took the life of her daughter Florence, aged 16, because the girl shared Melton's affections, the police continued today the investigation of the Tuesday night triple tragedy in an effort to verify this theory. Three items of information recently obtained by Mrs. Cox, precipitated the tragedy, the police believe. The discovery that Melton had a wife and could not marry her; realization that he was shifting his affections to her daughter and the discovery that Melton, once well to do, suffered losses which had reduced him to the necessity of negotiating small loans.
--The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Jan. 8, 1914
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136)
May be unmarked.
William M Melton was married to Maud Harris, which didnt prevent him from taking up with a divorcee, Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco. After 3 years, Mary Cox discovered that her lover was married. On Jan 6, 1914, she shot William Melton 4 times, then killed her 12 [16] year old daughter, Florence Cox, and then herself.
Maud Harris Melton said he had been a model husband, except he was away a lot on what she thought was business travel.
His family had his body shipped home for burial at Oakwood.
Claude Melton wrote a letter to the Spartanburg paper denying the story, and claiming that there was no love affair, his brother lived an exemplary life apart from smoking and using a little slang, and the stories were all lies.
----------------------------------
DIVORCEE KILLS LOVER AND CHILD
After Double Murder California Woman Ends Life
MELTON MAN OF FAMILY
Was Paying Attention to Divorced Woman When She Found He Was Married
Los Angeles, Cal. January 7 - Efforts to establish a motive for the double murder and suicide, which caused the deaths of W M Melton, a local attorney; Miss Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco, and the latter's daughter, Florence, 12 years old, in a rooming house here late last night, proved futile today.
Lodgers in the house where to tragedy occurred said that when last seen together, Melton and Mrs Cox appeared to be on the best of terms and there was nothing to indicate a quarrel. The police, however, believe Mrs Cox did the shooting.
Melton received four wounds, any one of which would have been fatal, while Mrs Cox was shot but once. Around the wound in her head were powder marks, indicating that the revolver had been very close. There was found a photograph of herself and the child, on which Mrs Cox had written "Florence Cox and Mary Graves, 2734 Mission Street, San Francisco - report the news at home."
Melton was a member of the lodge of Elks here. He had been attentive to Mrs Cox, who was a divorcee of about three years, according to friends.
The wife of W H Melton, the attorney and realty agent, killed last night in the tragedy which brought death also to Mrs Mary Graves Cox and her daughter, Florence, was located here today. A history of the man's life led officers to conclude that the double murder and suicide were the outcome of Melton's inability to meet his engagement to marry Mrs Cox.
Mrs Melton visited the morgue today and identified the body of her husband. Police officers said they were told by her that Melton had lived at home and was regarded by her and her neighbors, as a model husband. His frequent absence from home, she said, she believed was due to business.
The police theory to account for the tragedy is that Mrs Cox learned only yesterday of the existence of a Mrs Melton, and that in a paroxysm of anger she shot Melton and her daughter and then killed herself.
The State, Jan 8, 1914
----------------------
Jan 18, 1914
Burial in Spartanburg
The Remains of William M Melton Brought From California
The remains of William M Melton, the young Spartanburg man who recently was shot to death at Los Angeles by Mrs Graves Cox, a San Francisco woman, who immediately afterwards killed her daughter and the committed suicide, arrived in this city this afternoon and were taken to the home of Mrs M E Littlejohn, where the funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, by the Rev R E Stackhouse, D D, assisted by Rev C C Herbert. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr Melton is survived by two brothers, Claude M Melton of Cross Anchor and Walter M Melton of Varnville; five sisters, Mrs W B Patton of Cross Anchor; Mrs J J Jones of Woodruff, Mrs W J McKain of Sumter, Mrs W M Reid of North, and Mrs G T Brown of this city.
Suggested edit: (They must have found that the daughter was 16 instead of 12)
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 8--Convinced that Mrs. Mary Graves Cox killed William Melton, primarily because he was married and could not redeem his promise to wed her and that she also took the life of her daughter Florence, aged 16, because the girl shared Melton's affections, the police continued today the investigation of the Tuesday night triple tragedy in an effort to verify this theory. Three items of information recently obtained by Mrs. Cox, precipitated the tragedy, the police believe. The discovery that Melton had a wife and could not marry her; realization that he was shifting his affections to her daughter and the discovery that Melton, once well to do, suffered losses which had reduced him to the necessity of negotiating small loans.
--The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Jan. 8, 1914
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136)
William M Melton was married to Maud Harris, which didnt prevent him from taking up with a divorcee, Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco. After 3 years, Mary Cox discovered that her lover was married. On Jan 6, 1914, she shot William Melton 4 times, then killed her 12 [16] year old daughter, Florence Cox, and then herself.
Maud Harris Melton said he had been a model husband, except he was away a lot on what she thought was business travel.
His family had his body shipped home for burial at Oakwood.
Claude Melton wrote a letter to the Spartanburg paper denying the story, and claiming that there was no love affair, his brother lived an exemplary life apart from smoking and using a little slang, and the stories were all lies.
----------------------------------
DIVORCEE KILLS LOVER AND CHILD
After Double Murder California Woman Ends Life
MELTON MAN OF FAMILY
Was Paying Attention to Divorced Woman When She Found He Was Married
Los Angeles, Cal. January 7 - Efforts to establish a motive for the double murder and suicide, which caused the deaths of W M Melton, a local attorney; Miss Mary Graves Cox, of San Francisco, and the latter's daughter, Florence, 12 years old, in a rooming house here late last night, proved futile today.
Lodgers in the house where to tragedy occurred said that when last seen together, Melton and Mrs Cox appeared to be on the best of terms and there was nothing to indicate a quarrel. The police, however, believe Mrs Cox did the shooting.
Melton received four wounds, any one of which would have been fatal, while Mrs Cox was shot but once. Around the wound in her head were powder marks, indicating that the revolver had been very close. There was found a photograph of herself and the child, on which Mrs Cox had written "Florence Cox and Mary Graves, 2734 Mission Street, San Francisco - report the news at home."
Melton was a member of the lodge of Elks here. He had been attentive to Mrs Cox, who was a divorcee of about three years, according to friends.
The wife of W H Melton, the attorney and realty agent, killed last night in the tragedy which brought death also to Mrs Mary Graves Cox and her daughter, Florence, was located here today. A history of the man's life led officers to conclude that the double murder and suicide were the outcome of Melton's inability to meet his engagement to marry Mrs Cox.
Mrs Melton visited the morgue today and identified the body of her husband. Police officers said they were told by her that Melton had lived at home and was regarded by her and her neighbors, as a model husband. His frequent absence from home, she said, she believed was due to business.
The police theory to account for the tragedy is that Mrs Cox learned only yesterday of the existence of a Mrs Melton, and that in a paroxysm of anger she shot Melton and her daughter and then killed herself.
The State, Jan 8, 1914
----------------------
Jan 18, 1914
Burial in Spartanburg
The Remains of William M Melton Brought From California
The remains of William M Melton, the young Spartanburg man who recently was shot to death at Los Angeles by Mrs Graves Cox, a San Francisco woman, who immediately afterwards killed her daughter and the committed suicide, arrived in this city this afternoon and were taken to the home of Mrs M E Littlejohn, where the funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, by the Rev R E Stackhouse, D D, assisted by Rev C C Herbert. The burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr Melton is survived by two brothers, Claude M Melton of Cross Anchor and Walter M Melton of Varnville; five sisters, Mrs W B Patton of Cross Anchor; Mrs J J Jones of Woodruff, Mrs W J McKain of Sumter, Mrs W M Reid of North, and Mrs G T Brown of this city.
Suggested edit: (They must have found that the daughter was 16 instead of 12)
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 8--Convinced that Mrs. Mary Graves Cox killed William Melton, primarily because he was married and could not redeem his promise to wed her and that she also took the life of her daughter Florence, aged 16, because the girl shared Melton's affections, the police continued today the investigation of the Tuesday night triple tragedy in an effort to verify this theory. Three items of information recently obtained by Mrs. Cox, precipitated the tragedy, the police believe. The discovery that Melton had a wife and could not marry her; realization that he was shifting his affections to her daughter and the discovery that Melton, once well to do, suffered losses which had reduced him to the necessity of negotiating small loans.
--The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, CO) Jan. 8, 1914
Contributor: Tammy (Time Traveler) (47004136)
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