Obituary of Floyd & Frances Pickett, Lawrence Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Regina Creekmore Weaver Date: 5 Aug 2001 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Here are some more of the obits from a scrapbook of a lady (a distant cousin) that lived in the Jesup, Lawrence County area of Arkansas already. Remember that the problem with these is that there are very few actual dates given for the dates of death, and there are no newspaper names written beside them. What I do know I've listed, and what was penciled in on the obit, I've included. If you find someone that is attached to you, please let me know, and I will try and see if I can find any other information for you, such as date of death if you don't have it, and possibly a newspaper name, also. Floyd Pickett Kills His Wife, Ends Own Life Bodies of Young Couple Discovered In Their Home Here Tuesday Afternoon by Relative - Jury Believes Act Homicide and Suicide; Had Been Married About 7 Years No Justification of Tragedy Found Floyd Pickett, aged 28, circuit clerk and recorder of Lawrence county, shot and killed his wife, Mrs. Frances Sutton Pickett, 25, and then ended his own life here about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. The time of the tragedy was established by a jury empaneled by Coroner Howard Marshall, who heard several neighbors testify that shots were heard about that hour. The bodies were discovered by Carson Moore, a blind relative. It is believed that Mrs. Pickett died instantly, the full charge of a 20 gage shotgun entering the spine at the base of the neck. She was found in a sitting posture and had fallen forward across a desk where she ha been engaged in writing a letter to an uncle. Mr. Pickett evidently left the living room to enter the hall between bedrooms and fired a shot into his stomach, the wound being to the left side toward the heart. He apparently recovered to some extent, as he staggered or crawled back into the living room. He was without shoes and footprints of his own blood were indelible marks of progress made back toward the living room. Mr. Pickett had been feeling badly and had been lying down as one of the beds indicated this to be true. The unfinished letter written by Mrs. Pickett did not reveal any difficulty at the home and insofar as anyone has been able to learn, Mr. Pickett had not contemplated suicide or homicide. The circuit clerk had not been to his office for two days. The sum of $364 was found in his purse. Discovery of the bodies was made by Mr. Moore. He operates the concession at the courthouse and had been brought home by Eldon Cross, FSA supervisor, who left him at the front of the house. Moore stated that he entered the living room and hear the radio playing. He believed Mrs. Pickett might be in the bathroom and sat down until he was convinced no one was at home. Stumbling across Pickett's body, he felt for his heart, and immediately telephoned Tom B. Lotgan, county clerk and close friend of the Picketts, who hastened to the home and notified officers and neighbors. The verdict of suicide and homicide was reached by the jury after an investigation at the scene of the tragedy. The gun used was an automatic and the presence of a third exploded shell shed no light on the occurrence other than to develop the conjecture that Pickett had fired one shot aimlessly as he left the room where he had shot his wife and turned to go into the hall. Mr. Pickett had attended school in the western district and Sloan-Hendrix Academy at Imboden. He became a deputy circuit clerk in charge of the clerk's office at the Powhatan courthouse for a period of nearly four years. He was elected circuit clerk in 1938 and had been renominated Tuesday of last week, without opposition. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett were married about 7 years ago and moved to Walnut Ridge shortly before he assumed office in January 1939. They enjoyed the acquaintance of a wide circle and participated in church and social activities. They were known to be congenial. Mrs. Pickett was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Sutton of Black Rock. In addition to her parents, she is survived by a sister, Mrs. J.B. Watts, of Black Rock and a brother, Wesley Sutton, of Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Pickett is survived by his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Winchester, of Lynn; a brother, Roy Pickett of Lynn, and two sisters, Mrs. Earl Stewart of Powhatan and Mrs. Joe Baker of Leachville. Funeral This Afternoon Funeral services are being conducted this afternoon at the Baptist church in Black Rock with Rev. C.C. Sledd of Hoxie and Rev. J.B. Green of Walnut Ridge in charge. Interment is to be in the Black Rock cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home of Walnut Ridge is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers are: C.W. Webb, M.C. McLeod, Cleo Moody, Tom Logan, Linual Cameron, Joe Buchanan, Frank Andrews, Paul Morgan, W.E. Archer, Jerry Bassett, all county officials and Percy Townsend.