Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Perry Parks, 1911
Tuesday, 16 Sep 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

 ************************************************
 Copyright. All rights reserved.
 http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
 ************************************************

PARKS, PERRY
(6 Dec 1911, Wednesday, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Elk City was thrown into a flurry of excitement by the report that Perry
Parks, a young man about twenty years old, was found dead sitting in a
buggy at the W. L. Wade's place three miles south of town with an ugly gun
shot wound in his head.
Perry had worked for Mr. Wade at different times assisting him in running
his alfalfa thresher, for a year or two, and was as one of the family. 
Friday night he stayed with them as he often did and on Saturday came to
town with Mr. Wade but when they reached the Wichita Falls railroad Perry
got out saying he was going to the oil mill to collect some money a fellow
owed him who worked there.  This was the last he saw of him.
Mr. Wade and son Travis returned home arriving there shortly after
sundown.  After doing their work and eating supper, went to a neighbors
and stayed away until about 10 o'clock.  The next morning - Sunday - after
breakfast was over, about sun up Mr. Wade went out in the yard and noticed
for the first time that Perry was in a buggy which was only a short
distance from the house.  He called to him several times thinking he might
be asleep but when he did not move, he went closer and found that he had
been killed with a shotgun which was laying at his feet.  The shot entered
at his right temple, the gun being at such close range his head was badly
mangled and death apparently instantaneous.
Mr. Wade notified the family in town and the officers at once.  A coroners
jury made an examination of the body and conditions.  Monday the jury was
in session all day but adjourned until Saturday before making any verdict.
While dressing the body a note was found in his pants pocket which read
thus:  "I love my mother, father, sisters and brothers, but can't live no
longer.  So good-bye to all.    Perry G. Parks"
The handwriting was thought at first to be his by those who knew him best
but later, they were not so certain for various reasons.
There are three theories advanced as to how the awful deed was done.  With
the note found in his pocket and the position of the gun, at first
thought, a case of suicide was indicated.  Another theory is that someone
was with him and they were sitting in the buggy watching for birds and the
gun was accidentally discharged, the other party becoming alarmed at the
awful sight and fearing that the blame would lay on him, sought to cover
up the accident and make it appear as a suicide by writing the note, which
was crumpled and only about half way down to the bottom of his pocket. 
The other theory is that it is a case of murder pure and simple, some
smooth villian knew that he had a little money on his person and probably
made friends with him to get the gun in his possession and to cover up the
deed either compelled him to write the note or wrote it himself and
arranging the gun in such a position to indicate that he had taken his own
life.
His family and nearest friends know of no reason for him to be tired of
life as he was always in the best of spirits.  He was of a jolly boyish
nature and had no enemies that anyone knew of, had never been in love with
any girl, in fact didn't appear to have any troubles or allow anything to
mar his happiness, and had no bad habits.
(7 Dec 1911, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Perry Parks, a young man well and favorably known at Elk City, was found
dead in a buggy early Sunday morning at the home of W. L. Wade, who lives
three miles south of Elk City.  The body was found sitting upright in the
buggy with a gun shot wound in the head.  A letter found by the side of
the dead man and signed by the deceased indicates that it was a case of
suicide, but other circumstances connected with the young man's death lead
some to believe that he had been murdered.  The coroner's jury had failed
to arrived at a verdict Monday afternoon.
(8 Dec 1911, Friday, The Carter Express, Carter, Beckham Co, OK):
Perry Parks, about 22 years of age, was found in an old buggy, at the Wade
place, 4 miles south of Elk City, Sunday morning, with the top of his head
blown off from the load of a shot-gun.  The shotgun was found, with bloody
hand prints on it near him.  A note was found in his pocket as follows: 
"I love my father and mother.  I love my brother and sisters, but I cannot
live."  It was first thought to be a case of suicide, but the sentiment
changed and it is believed to be a case of murder and that he was robbed
and the note placed in his pocket by another.
He had been to Elk City the day before collecting some money and it is
believed that he had considerable money on him at the time he was shot,
although when found there was no money about his person.
The shot passed through his right eye and out the top of his head.  It is
not believed that he could have made blood prints on the gun barrel after
the discharge of the gun, as was found to appear.

---------------------------------------------------
Return to Beckham County Archives:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html