Soles Murder/Suicide - Grady County, Oklahoma

Submitted by:  Sandi Carter   SandKatC@aol.com 
====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message 
         remains on all copied material. These electronic 
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.
         The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
         Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the 
         written consent of the file contributor.
======================================================================
The Verden News
April 23, 1920


CALVIN SOLES SHOOTS WIFE AND THEN KILLS SELF

Word was received here late Tuesday afternoon that Calvin Soles had just 
killed his wife at the Freeman school house six miles southeast of town 
and shortly after this first report came the second that he had killed 
himself. A large number from here hastened to the place and on arrival 
found the report true. Calvin Soles, a young adventurer, came here just 
before our country entered the late war and while working for the Bell 
telephone Co., he became acquainted with Miss Naoma Bruce, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Bruce of this place and after a short courtship they 
were married; when the war commenced he was called to the colors and 
soon thereafter was ordered over seas where he served until the close of 
the war. His wife, in the meantime, taught school and with the money 
they each saved they built a beautiful home in the west part of town 
where from all outward appearance they lived happily for some time, when 
from some cause unknown to the writer, they separated and she sued for a 
divorce and after many attempts to secure a reconcilliation, he became 
despondent to add to his already burdened and troubled mind, a federal 
action was lodged against him which we can not give but which in some 
way connected him with another woman. Tuesday afternoon he donned his 
best suit of clothes and left town in a car and drove to the school 
house where his wife was teaching, arriving there probably about the 
time school closed and engaged his wife in conversation, which continued 
up to the time when he shot and killed both her and himself.

This is by far the most saddest affair that has ever visited our 
peaceful community. That he loved his wife and that he deemed life 
without her could not be endured and his brain becoming deranged, he 
chose death with her as the means of ending all his troubles so far as 
we are able to learn, he left no note to explain his action, only two 
persons witnessed this sad affair.

Miss Arbell Bruce, who taught one of the rooms of the school and a 
colored man who was passing. They had been in conversation for over an 
hour just prior to the sad act [that] took place. The body of Mrs. Soles 
was brought to her mother's home here while that of Soles was taken to 
Chickasha. Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Soles have been completed and 
will take place this Friday afternoon [at the] Christian church at two 
o'clock.

==========

The Verden News
April 30, 1920


THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS FOUND IN CAR

Written by Calvin Soles



Dear Friends of Verden:

I do not know what you will think of me, but I can not stand this any 
longer, I am not guilty of anything they have me charged with, and wish 
and pray for the good Lord to forgive me, as I can not stand to give up 
the one I love so dearly, and this may learn Bruce [a] lesson not to do 
such work again, he ought to lead a straight life after doing what he 
has done, for he will have to answer for all of it some day. Let this be 
a lesson to all young girls, never marry a man thinking he will get 
killed, for he may come back just like I did and then the mistake is too 

late.

So beware is all I can say for my poor heart has been broken and [I] do 
not care to live.

Good bye and may we meet in the world beyond, and I pray the good Lord 
will forgive me for this deed


Submitted by Sandi Carter