Elbert Wesley Blackmer Submitted by April Hennes 15 Sep 2007 This file is part of the California Tombstone Project http://www.usgwtombstones.org/california/californ.html USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Appeal Democrat, Friday, July 26, 1946 Pg 1 Suicide Leaves Three meridian Dead Ailing Man Turns Shotgun On Brother, Sister-in-Law, Friend In Double Slaying Meridian, July 26. -Three Meridian residents are dead and one is in the Colusa hospital with critical wounds today, the result of a double murder and a suicide at the home of Mr and Mrs Al W. Blackmer in the early hours Thursday morning. Murdered are Mrs A. W. Blackmer, 65, and Louis A. Moon, 77, her cousin, both victims of Marvin Blackmer, 69, who after slaying them with blasts from a 12-guage shotgun, turned the gun on himself, ending his life. In critical condition from shotgun wounds is Al W. Blackmer , brother of the murderer. As recounted by G. W. Carpenter, Sutter County sheriff, who was summoned to the scene last night after the tragedy had been disclosed., Marvin Blackmer arose about 2:45 a.m. Thursday in the cabin at the rear of his brother's home where he and Moon lived. He first turned the shotgun on Moon, killing him instantly and then entered the Blackmer home. Entering the bedroom where Mr and Mrs Blackmer were sleeping, he discharged a blast into the form of Mrs Blackmer, a shot which Carpenter said wounded A. W. Blackmer. The slayer then aimed the gun at his brother's face, and pulled the trigger and left the room, retiring to his own quarters. Although the discharge left A. W. Blackmer with critical injuries, he is said to have regained consciousness long enough to stagger to the kitchen and then, unable to summon aid, returned to the bedroom where he lay down beside his wife. It was there he was found. Lack of Activity Creates Suspicion Carpenter said after returning to his cabin, Marvin Blackmer apparently attempted to put the shotgun beneath his chin in a suicide attempt. Finding the barrel too long, Carpenter said, the slayer cut off the end of the barrel with a hacksaw, tied a string from the trigger to his toe, replaced the gun under his chin and committed suicide. Bodies of the four were discovered at 7:48 last night by Clifton Davis who lives across the street from the Blackmer home. He told police he became suspicious when he noticed a lack of activity throughout the day and went to the Blackmer -Moon cabin to investigate. It was there he came upon Moon's body and after a search found the other victims. The sheriff and Coroner Burwell Ullrey were summoned. Consider Having Man Committed. A possible forewarning of the tragedy was seen by Carpenter through testimony of witnesses who said Mrs Blackmer the day before had gone to Colusa to visit a daughter, Mrs Lois Palletta. It was while there that Mrs Blackmer is quoted as telling her daughter that "Marvin is getting more out of hand all the time and something must be done about him." A nephew, Harold Paxton of Yuba City said today that Mrs Palletta and another daughter, Mrs Ruth Allen, also of Colusa, discussed their mother's visit later that day and considered the possibility of having the man committed to a home. Marvin, Carpenter said, was a semi- invalid and was unable to talk coherently. He is said to have suffered an illness about 10 years ago, bringing on the speech impediment and loss of use of one of his arms and had been under the care of his brother and sister-in-law since that time. Two Persons Recall Hearing Blasts Witnesses, Carpenter said, declared that Marvin was unruly and had been getting worse in the past years. Investigation showed today that perhaps only two persons heard the fatal shotgun discharges. One was Mrs Viola Doty who lived around the corner from the Blackmer's. She told Carpenter she had been feeling ill and that about 2:50 she arose to take medicine. She heard a percussion. However, since she said she had previously heard dogs howling in the neighborhood she believed someone was merely shooting at the dogs. The other person who claims to have heard the shots is Mrs Davis, However, she discounted them as "backfire from passing machines" Carpenter said, and went back to sleep. Former Teacher In Slough School The Blackmer were well-known in the Meridian community. A. W. Blackmer is a native of Sutter county, born two miles south of town. She was a native of Colusa county. Blackmer was a rancher, operating his place south of town until 10 years ago when he sold out and retired, coming to town to live. Both were known to be devout and she was active in Meridian church and community circles. Last year she taught at the Slough grammar school and apparently intended to return this year. She also had served as librarian of the branch Sutter county library. Set Funeral For Colusa Besides their two daughters, the Blackmer's leave another daughter, Mrs Mary Carnegie of Meridian who is now visiting in Pennsylvania, and several grandchildren. Mrs Blackmer also has two sisters, Mrs Eva Paxton of Sutter and Mrs Clara Pickle of Ladoga. Coroner Ullrey said today the body of Mrs Blackmer will be taken by McNary funeral home in Colusa for last rites. The bodies of Marvin Blackmer and Moon will remain in the Ullrey home pending funeral plans. Appeal Democrat, Tuesday, July 30, 1946 Pg 1 Blackmer Improves Al Blackmer, one of the victims in the Meridian shooting last Thursday in which three persons were killed is reported "doing fine" today by hospital authorities in Colusa. He was shot in the face by his brother, Marvin Blackmer who, after killing Mrs Al Blackmer and Louis A. Moon, committed suicide. Appeal Democrat, July 12, 1956, Pg 23, Col. 4 Elbert Wesley Blackmer, 89, former Meridian area farmer died this morning in Colusa Memorial Hospital. Born near Meridian, at the time of his death he had retired from farming. He had lived for the past six years with his daughter, Mrs. Lois Paletta, in Colusa. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Colusa Assembly of God Church of which he was a member. Burial will be in Meridian Cemetery. Arrangements are by McNary Memorial Chapel. Survivors in addition to Mrs. Paletta are two other daughters, Mrs. Mary Carnegie of Meridian and Mrs. Ruth Allen of Colusa; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.