Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Elizabeth Cowart and Five Children, 1920
Monday, 17 Dec 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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COWART, ELIZABETH
COWART, ALFRED
COWART, ELSIE
COWART, SHIRLEY
COWART, MABEL
COWART, ORA
(31 Mar 1920, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Our citizens were shocked when the news was brought to town this morning,
that Mrs. E. J. Cowart and five children, who have been living in a tent
two miles south-east of here had been found with their throats cut.  When
the doctor arrived, the mother still showed signs of life and was rushed
to the hospital but the doctors say there is little hopes of recovery.
From all indications, Mrs. Cowart, who had never fully recovered from the
flu, had committed the deed soon after husband and father had left for his
work at the Oil Mill as he had not reached town, when he learned of the
tragedy.
When the news reached here many from here rushed to the scene.  It is
reported that a little neighbor girl, who was driving the cows to the
pasture, heard the screams in the tent and was the first to discover the
tragedy.  From all indications, the mother after cutting her own throat
had started out at the door and had fallen.  The three younger children of
four months, two and five yeas of age were on the bed and were apparently
asleep when the deed was committed.  The oldest child a boy ten years old,
was lying on the floor by the bed and near him was a little girl of seven,
the only one of the children who had dressed.  A bloody butcher knife,
razor and an ax were grim evidence of how the little ones had met their
horrible death.
In speaking of the tragedy, Mr. Cowart said that his wife had been
despondent for the past few days, but there was nothing unusual in her
manner this morning, though she refused to eat any breakfast, after she
had prepared it.  At one time, he said, she had threatened the lives of
her children and herself, but he had talked to her and she had seemed to
feel differently about it.  He thinks that worry over the death of a
little son and the recent death of a sister, also having to leave their
home at Dill on account of crop failure, then ill health following the flu
had probably caused her mental derangement.
The family moved here from Dill two months ago and have been living in a
tent near the home of her father, J. F. Brown.
Just as we go to press, we learn of Mrs. Cowart's death and that in a
written statement before she died she acknowledged that she had killed her
children and she did it "because she was crazy."  She also said that her
husband has always been good and kind to her.
Bodies of the mother and children were brought to Grubitz & Son
Undertaking Parlor, where they were prepared for burial.
(1 Apr 1920, Sayre Newspaper, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Elk City was the scene of considerable excitement yesterday morning, which
as a matter of fact spread over the entire county during the day.  Five
little children, aged from four months to ten years, killed by their
mother, who later attempted suicide, was the cause.
E. S. Cowart and family have been living in a tent on the river bank two
miles southeast of Elk City.  Cowart was employed at the oil mill in Elk
City, and arose at an early hour yesterday morning, going to his work at
the mill.  About eight o'clock a little girl, a daughter of one of the
farmers, driving a cow to pasture, heard groans coming from the tent, and
discovered the mother and five children with their throats cut.
The little girl ran home and gave the alarm, and an investigation was
started at once by the neighbors.  The five children were dead and the
mother lay unconscious with her throat cut.  Physicians were called, and
the woman removed to the hospital at Elk City, where at noon she had
recovered consciousness sufficient to admit that she was the author of
this horrible crime.  Physicians say that is probable that the woman will
recover.
That the woman is insane goes almost without saying, for few there be
among us who could conceive of a mother in her right mind killing her own
five little children.
Sheriff Francis, County Attorney Minton and Judge McComas, were notified,
and went to Elk City about ten o'clock yesterday forenoon.  Careful
investigation disclosed that the crime had been committed with a razor,
butcher knife and pocket knife, while the skull of one of the children had
also been crushed.

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