Obituary of CARNELIA CUPPLES ATKINSON, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

Copied and Submitted by: Doug McBroom, 902 Kilgore Court, Allen, TX 75013

From The Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal; Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.  
Clippings at the LaSalle Parish Library located in Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.

Many Thanks to The Times - Signal and to the LaSalle Parish Library for 
allowing the following to be added to the Archives.





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Date:  August 20, 1931

Headline:  Tragedy Victims Are Laid To rest Monday At Noon
Sub-Headline:  Bodies Lie in Chickasaw Graveyard Ten Miles From Jena

The bodies of J. H. Atkinson and his wife, victims of a double tragedy at 
Shreveport Saturday, were buried in the Chickasaw Cemetery, 10 miles 
northeast of Jena, near Olla, at 12:30 o'clock Monday afternoon.  The couple 
was buried in the same plot, with space between for a surviving son.  Rev. 
Henry Hopkins, Methodist minister of Olla, conducted the services.
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The bodies of J. H. Atkinson, 42, and his wife, 24, victims of a homicide and 
suicide Saturday, were sent Sunday night to Olla, La., where they were to be 
buried in adjoining graves Monday.  Mrs. Atkinson died late Saturday from 
wounds in the neck and chest inflicted by her husband who afterwards 
committed suicide.

Miss Alice Coons, 3509 Greenwood Road, Shreveport, who was wounded by one of 
the shots fired at Mrs. Atkinson, was not seriously hurt.  She received a 
flesh wound when she went to aid Mrs. Atkinson, who she thought had been 
injured by an automobile.  Mrs. Atkinson, in her attempt to escape from her 
husband who advanced with a pistol after having fired several shots in the 
house, seized Miss Coons about the waist and they fell to the ground.  
Atkinson opened fire, one of the bullets striking Miss Coons in the back.  
Miss Coons arose and fled and Atkinson fired several shots at his wife.

Atkinson, after shooting his wife, went to his home at 4051 Velva Street, 
locked himself in the bathroom and fired a bullet into his forehead.  Death, 
it is believed, was instantaneous.  Police later forced the locked door and 
found the body.

Ralph Atkinson, 5 years old, was made an orphan by his father's mad rampage.  
The boy witnessed the tragedy and while his father fired the volley of shots 
at his fleeing wife and Mrs. Hanlin, Ralph followed behind him pleading, 
"Papa, don't shoot Mama."  After the shooting on Greenwood Road, Atkinson 
took the boy, drove to his home, and then committed suicide. 

The Atkinsons had been married for six years.  Before her marriage, Mrs. 
Atkinson was Miss Cornelia Cupples, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Cupples of 
Shreveport, former residents of LaSalle Parish.  Another sister, Mrs. John 
Gulley, resides in Shreveport.

Atkinson was born in Columbiana, Alabama, where his father resides.  He was a 
World War veteran and member of the American Legion.