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Obituary

Death of Thomas R. Hastings & Wife

Submitted by Ruth Hasten Walsh

Waxahachie Enterprise, Friday, Nov. 13, 1914

 

AFTER SLAYING WIFE MAN COMMITS SUICIDE

The bodies of Thomas Hastings and his wife, Mabel, were found huddled together in a corner of the kitchen of their house on Monroe Street early Monday morning - each with a bullet hole through their heads. A pool of blood on the floor indicated that the two had been dead for several hours when discovered.

Just when the double tragedy occurred is not known. Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Cunningham ,who reside in the same  house, did not hear any pistol shots during the night although  Mrs Cunningham said that about eight o'clock or shortly before she heard a disturbance in the room used by the Hastings couple and thought it was some object falling .  She later thought it could have been one of the bodies falling.

Mrs. Cunningham discovered them early Monday morning when she heard the couple's baby crying. When she went to check on the cause of the violent weeping, she found the bodies lying in a heap in one corner. The baby was crawling across the prostrate form of the father trying to reach the mother.

From all indications, the shooting took place while the couple were sitting at the supper table Sunday night. It is believed the woman was shot  first, the bullet passing through her right temple and lodging just beneath her left ear, causing her to fall to the floor.  Hastings then put a bullet through his head and fell across his wife

Hastings was about 27 years old. He and his wife were raised in Waxahachie, she being  the daughter of Lon Compton. He had been driving an express wagon here and has a brother, Frank, who works for the Waxahachie Livery and Transfer Company.

Hastings' parents now reside in Dallas and announcements for his funeral will be made when they arrive here. Services for Mrs. Hastings will be held tomorrow morning. [note: Services for her husband were held at 10 o'clock a. m. the same day.]

Mr. amd Mrs. Hastings were buried in the same grave at the city cemetery, Rev. A. C. Parker, pastor of the Main Street Christian Church, conducting the services which were attended by many friends of the families.

 

TEXAS DEATH CERTIFICATE No 22184

County Ellis - City Waxahachie
Full Name: T. R. Hastings
Sex Male; Color White; Marital Status: Married
Age 25 years, 9 mons 6 days
Occupation: Deliveryman
Birthplace, Waxahachie, Tex. Ellis Co.
Name of father: N. J. Hastings
Birthplace of father: Giles Co. Tenn.
Maiden Name of Mother: Mrs. S. E. Whitmire
Birthplace of Mother: Cherokee Co. Ala.
Informant: Mrs.  Hastings, Dallas, Texas
Date of Death: Nov. 8, 1914
Cause of Death: Suicide, shot self
/s/ D. D. Parnell, M. D.
Place of burial: Waxahachie
Place of Burial Nov 10, 1914;
Undertaker: T PS Co ; [hard to read - name may be incorrect] Waxahachie.


 

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