SULPHUR DEMOCRAT....THURSDAY 4/8/1954
A murder and suicide Monday evening cost the life of Mrs. Lou Ethel West, 52, operator of a rooming house at 134 West 13th, and a boarder. Jacob L. Salyer, 61, was a painter by trade.
Mrs. West was the first victim of the tragedy which upset the 12th street neighborhood in the middle hours of Monday evening. Mrs. West ran from Salyer's house after two pistol shots had been fired in the house, one of which is believed to have wounded her in the arm. A neighbor, Shorty Rice, had been alerted a minute previously by Johnny Martin, who had run from the house a short time before as trouble brewed.
Deputy Sheriff Ron P Mann, who investigated the tragedy a short time later, said that Martin had asked Rice to call officers.
"Rice had gotten into his automobile in the driveway when Mrs. West came running from the house toward Rice's car," Deputy Mann and "Salyer came up close behind as Mrs. West shouted to Rice to give her a ride, "this man is going to kill me," Mann stated.
Salyer opened fire on Mrs. West at close range and she was struck by four bullets from a .22 caliber pistol.
Being in the line of fire, Rice immediately abandoned his automobile and sought help across the street, Deputy Mann was informed.
When Rice returned with help, the group found the body of Mrs. West and that of Salyer near the automobile.
Mann said that as yet he had found no one who actually witnessed Salyer's suicide but that it was apparent he had turned the gun upon himself after he had fired one or two shots into Mrs. West body as she lay on the ground. Salyer died instantly from one bullet wound in the temple. The gun lay near Salyer's body.
From information obtained by county officers from relatives and neighbors, it was indicated that Salyer had been moody for some time and had been drinking rather heavily. Deputy Mann was informed that Salyer had gone to Oklahoma City Friday and had delivered his insurance papers and other documents to a daughter who lives in that city. While there he also took a 9-shot .22 caliber pistol belonging to his son-in-law. Mann was informed. The gun was taken without the knowledge of its owner, Mann said. Officers found two bullet holes in the ceiling of the rooming house, indicating that a scuffle may have preceded the shooting. Mann believes that one of these shots may have wounded Mrs. West in the arm. Mr. Rice was in his home next door when he heard the first two shots and shortly thereafter, Martin rushed in and asked him to go for an officer. Rice was in the process of complying when the final scene of the tragedy took place near his automobile.
A murder and suicide Monday evening cost the life of Mrs. Lou Ethel West, 52, operator of a rooming house at 134 West 13th, and a boarder. Jacob L. Salyer, 61, was a painter by trade.
Mrs. West was the first victim of the tragedy which upset the 12th street neighborhood in the middle hours of Monday evening. Mrs. West ran from Salyer's house after two pistol shots had been fired in the house, one of which is believed to have wounded her in the arm. A neighbor, Shorty Rice, had been alerted a minute previously by Johnny Martin, who had run from the house a short time before as trouble brewed.
Deputy Sheriff Ron P Mann, who investigated the tragedy a short time later, said that Martin had asked Rice to call officers.
"Rice had gotten into his automobile in the driveway when Mrs. West came running from the house toward Rice's car," Deputy Mann and "Salyer came up close behind as Mrs. West shouted to Rice to give her a ride, "this man is going to kill me," Mann stated.
Salyer opened fire on Mrs. West at close range and she was struck by four bullets from a .22 caliber pistol.
Being in the line of fire, Rice immediately abandoned his automobile and sought help across the street, Deputy Mann was informed.
When Rice returned with help, the group found the body of Mrs. West and that of Salyer near the automobile.
Mann said that as yet he had found no one who actually witnessed Salyer's suicide but that it was apparent he had turned the gun upon himself after he had fired one or two shots into Mrs. West body as she lay on the ground. Salyer died instantly from one bullet wound in the temple. The gun lay near Salyer's body.
From information obtained by county officers from relatives and neighbors, it was indicated that Salyer had been moody for some time and had been drinking rather heavily. Deputy Mann was informed that Salyer had gone to Oklahoma City Friday and had delivered his insurance papers and other documents to a daughter who lives in that city. While there he also took a 9-shot .22 caliber pistol belonging to his son-in-law. Mann was informed. The gun was taken without the knowledge of its owner, Mann said. Officers found two bullet holes in the ceiling of the rooming house, indicating that a scuffle may have preceded the shooting. Mann believes that one of these shots may have wounded Mrs. West in the arm. Mr. Rice was in his home next door when he heard the first two shots and shortly thereafter, Martin rushed in and asked him to go for an officer. Rice was in the process of complying when the final scene of the tragedy took place near his automobile.
SULPHUR DEMOCRAT....THURSDAY 4/8/1954
A murder and suicide Monday evening cost the life of Mrs. Lou Ethel West, 52, operator of a rooming house at 134 West 13th, and a boarder. Jacob L. Salyer, 61, was a painter by trade.
Mrs. West was the first victim of the tragedy which upset the 12th street neighborhood in the middle hours of Monday evening. Mrs. West ran from Salyer's house after two pistol shots had been fired in the house, one of which is believed to have wounded her in the arm. A neighbor, Shorty Rice, had been alerted a minute previously by Johnny Martin, who had run from the house a short time before as trouble brewed.
Deputy Sheriff Ron P Mann, who investigated the tragedy a short time later, said that Martin had asked Rice to call officers.
"Rice had gotten into his automobile in the driveway when Mrs. West came running from the house toward Rice's car," Deputy Mann and "Salyer came up close behind as Mrs. West shouted to Rice to give her a ride, "this man is going to kill me," Mann stated.
Salyer opened fire on Mrs. West at close range and she was struck by four bullets from a .22 caliber pistol.
Being in the line of fire, Rice immediately abandoned his automobile and sought help across the street, Deputy Mann was informed.
When Rice returned with help, the group found the body of Mrs. West and that of Salyer near the automobile.
Mann said that as yet he had found no one who actually witnessed Salyer's suicide but that it was apparent he had turned the gun upon himself after he had fired one or two shots into Mrs. West body as she lay on the ground. Salyer died instantly from one bullet wound in the temple. The gun lay near Salyer's body.
From information obtained by county officers from relatives and neighbors, it was indicated that Salyer had been moody for some time and had been drinking rather heavily. Deputy Mann was informed that Salyer had gone to Oklahoma City Friday and had delivered his insurance papers and other documents to a daughter who lives in that city. While there he also took a 9-shot .22 caliber pistol belonging to his son-in-law. Mann was informed. The gun was taken without the knowledge of its owner, Mann said. Officers found two bullet holes in the ceiling of the rooming house, indicating that a scuffle may have preceded the shooting. Mann believes that one of these shots may have wounded Mrs. West in the arm. Mr. Rice was in his home next door when he heard the first two shots and shortly thereafter, Martin rushed in and asked him to go for an officer. Rice was in the process of complying when the final scene of the tragedy took place near his automobile.
A murder and suicide Monday evening cost the life of Mrs. Lou Ethel West, 52, operator of a rooming house at 134 West 13th, and a boarder. Jacob L. Salyer, 61, was a painter by trade.
Mrs. West was the first victim of the tragedy which upset the 12th street neighborhood in the middle hours of Monday evening. Mrs. West ran from Salyer's house after two pistol shots had been fired in the house, one of which is believed to have wounded her in the arm. A neighbor, Shorty Rice, had been alerted a minute previously by Johnny Martin, who had run from the house a short time before as trouble brewed.
Deputy Sheriff Ron P Mann, who investigated the tragedy a short time later, said that Martin had asked Rice to call officers.
"Rice had gotten into his automobile in the driveway when Mrs. West came running from the house toward Rice's car," Deputy Mann and "Salyer came up close behind as Mrs. West shouted to Rice to give her a ride, "this man is going to kill me," Mann stated.
Salyer opened fire on Mrs. West at close range and she was struck by four bullets from a .22 caliber pistol.
Being in the line of fire, Rice immediately abandoned his automobile and sought help across the street, Deputy Mann was informed.
When Rice returned with help, the group found the body of Mrs. West and that of Salyer near the automobile.
Mann said that as yet he had found no one who actually witnessed Salyer's suicide but that it was apparent he had turned the gun upon himself after he had fired one or two shots into Mrs. West body as she lay on the ground. Salyer died instantly from one bullet wound in the temple. The gun lay near Salyer's body.
From information obtained by county officers from relatives and neighbors, it was indicated that Salyer had been moody for some time and had been drinking rather heavily. Deputy Mann was informed that Salyer had gone to Oklahoma City Friday and had delivered his insurance papers and other documents to a daughter who lives in that city. While there he also took a 9-shot .22 caliber pistol belonging to his son-in-law. Mann was informed. The gun was taken without the knowledge of its owner, Mann said. Officers found two bullet holes in the ceiling of the rooming house, indicating that a scuffle may have preceded the shooting. Mann believes that one of these shots may have wounded Mrs. West in the arm. Mr. Rice was in his home next door when he heard the first two shots and shortly thereafter, Martin rushed in and asked him to go for an officer. Rice was in the process of complying when the final scene of the tragedy took place near his automobile.
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