Beckham County, OK - Deaths: John Walker Burnsed, 1924
26 Oct 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) 

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BURNSED, JOHN WALKER
(10 Apr 1924, Sayre Journal, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
J. W. Burnsed, a farmer living six miles northwest of Elk City, in a fit
of insanity shot his wife Monday morning at about six o'clock and then
turned the weapon upon himself and committed suicide.  The cause seems to
have been financial troubles from which the man had become despondent and
crazed.  Something over a year ago he sold his property in Elk City and
went to Texas, where he had engaged in the restaurant business.  His
adventure proved a failure and he had become despondent over the matter
and about a year ago attempted suicide by taking poison.  It is believed
the man had lost all reason.  Recently his son pervailed (sic) on him
returning to Elk and helped him to get started.  It appears that he had
premeditatingly planned the tragedy by sending his three children to the
barn.  He had recently purchased the pistol from a local dealer.  On
entering the kitchen where his wife was preparing the morning meal he
asked her what he should do with the gun.  She told him to do what he
pleased, not paying much attention to him.  He then deliberately placed
the gun at her neck and fired.  The bullet passed through Mrs. Burnsed's
neck and did not cut the jugular vein.  Thinking he had killed his wife he
then placed the barrel of the gun in his own mouth and fired, the bullet
passed through the roof of his mouth and lodged at the base of the brain. 
He died almost instantly.  Mrs. Burnsed never lost consciousness, and
cooly walked out in the yard and sat down on a bench until the arrival of
Mrs. Newman, a neighbor, and Dr. Tisdale, of Elk City, upon the scene. 
Mrs. Burnsed was given immediate attention and it is reported she will
recover.  Funeral service was had for the deceased husband and father
Tuesday afternoon.  The tragedy is one of those lamentable affairs that
happen, caused through distress and a demented mind - a thing to be
deplored and unexplained.  Our sympathy goes out to the victims of such
circumstances and the mantle of charity should extend to cover their home
and their condition.  We believe from the bottom of our heart that the
people of the vicinity of the occurrence of this sad thing are equal to
the emergency of caring for all concerned and blot out the memory of the
tragedy from the minds of those little ones.