Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Melton Family, 1924
29 August 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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MELTON, DEWEY H. (1920-1924)
MELTON, DORTHA R. (1913-1924)
MELTON, EMMA E. (1913-1924)
MELTON, FANNIE L. (1894-1924)
MELTON, ROBERT W. (1918-1924)
(22 Oct 1924, Sayre Journal, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Mangum Farmer Returns To Find Family Lying Dead In Home.
MANGUM, - Mrs. J. A. Melton and her four children were found lying in
their home with their throats cut late Saturday night when their father
returned from town.  All were dead when he arrived.  His home is five
miles southeast of this place.
Officers Investigate
An investigation developed the theory that the mother killed the children
with a razor, found in her hand, and then cut her own throat.  All were on
the floor together when Melton found them.  The children were Romaine, 11
years old; Robert, 6 years old; Dewey, 4 years old; and Estell, 18 months
old.
Mrs. Melton is said to have shown signs of mental derangement some time
ago, and officers investigating the case declared that she killed her
children and then herself.
Melton left his home about 2 o'clock for Mangum and was away all afternoon.
Funeral services for the woman and her children will be held at 3 o'clock
Monday afternoon at Martha (Jackson County).
She Feared Murder.
According to Melton and neighbors, Mrs. Melton expressed fear several
times that the family would be murdered and spoke of an airplane light at
night which hovered over the house.  Melton feared her mind was affected
and took his guns to town Saturday.
Finger print experts from the state reformatory at Granite could find no
finger prints except those of the family.

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