A DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Mrs. T.A. Claiborn Killed Husband With Shotgun Then Took Her Own Life With Pistol Early Friday Morning Near Wheeler’s Mill.
The people of Crocker and Pulaski county were shocked early Friday morning when news came that Mrs. T.A. Claiborn had shot and killed her husband, a highly respected and prosperous farmer, and then killed herself at their beautiful country home near Wheeler’s Mill, nine miles east of Crocker. The tragedy occurred between five and six o’clock Friday morning and it is believed that Mrs. Claiborn’s mind had become unbalanced as a result of prolonged ill health and the mystery will perhaps never be solved.
The Crocker News – Dec 9, 1920
Mrs. Claiborn had arisen Friday morning and was busy about the kitchen. She had awakened her husband, but he had supposedly gone back to sleep. After starting a fire Mrs. Claiborn returned to the bed room seized a shot gun which was near at hand and fired at close range, blowing the back and top of her husband’s head off killing him instantly. Her eldest daughter, about 12 years old, was at her side in an instant and seeing what her mother had done, cried “Oh Mama, what did you kill Papa for?” and then ran up stairs to waken the hired man, who ran down in his night clothes barefooted. When he reached the room where Mr. Claiborn lay Mrs. Claiborn was on her knees by the bed with gun against her head trying to pull to trigger. He knocked the gun away and then began a terrific struggle for its possession. Fearing that his own life was in danger the boy escaped from the house, ran down the hill and waded the Gasconade river to the J.A. Shattuck home for help. He and Mr. Shattuck returned to the scene at once but could hear no sound in the house. Finding the doors all locked but one they finally gained entrance and found Mrs. Claiborn lying on floor with a bullet would in her forehead. She had taken her own life with a pistol. She lived a few minutes after they arrived, but never regained consciousness.
The coroner and physicians were hurriedly summoned and many people went to the scene of the double tragedy during the day. At the inquest the children and the hired man told the same stories leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mrs. Claiborn had committed the deed which left her children orphaned and brought deep grief to many close relatives and friends.
Mr. And Mrs. Claiborn were trading in Crocker Thursday and seemed to be in their usual good spirits, she, in particular, it is recalled seemed unusually cheerful as she “visited” with acquaintances while doing her shopping. That evening after returning home, so the story goes, she asked her husband to show her how to shoot a gun and they went into the yard and fired several shots. In the morning she called her daughter to get up and help her get breakfast, and while dressing conversed with her husband as he lay in bed. It is said that after shooting the father she kissed the children goodbye and told them they could live with their grandpa. When the children begged her not to kill herself she finally said she would not if they would go to the home of a neighbor for help. They started to do as she bade them, but she fired the shot that brought death to herself before they left the house. According to friends who had known them for years they had never had any domestic troubles and were deeply devoted to each other and to their children.
Mr. And Mrs. Claiborn were both born and reared in Pulaski county and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them, and their passing in this terrible manner came as a great shock to the entire county. Mr. Claiborn was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Claiborn, both of whom live on a farm near by. Mrs. Claiborn was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. J. E. Hamilton, who also reside in that neighborhood. Both families have lived in Pulaski county for many years and are well-to-do- and highly respected and deep is the grief that has suddenly overshadowed them in their declining years. The deepest sympathy of every person goes out to the parents, the orphaned children and the brothers and sisters of the dead.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at Mitchell Chapel, east of Crocker. Impressive services were conducted by Rev. Licklider, of near Crocker and Rev. Patton of Waynesville, after which the bodies were laid to rest in the same grave at the Chapel cemetery in the presence of a vast gathering of sorrowing relatives and friends.
Mr. Claiborn was 35 years of age at the time of his death and Mrs. Claiborn was 33. Besides their six children, ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years, they leave their parents, several brothers and sisters and many other relatives to mourn their tragic and untimely death.
Editor's Note: Arthur Claiborn was born August 16, 1885 and Tabitha was born May 22, 1890. They are buried side by side, and share a tombstone, in Mitchell Chapel Cemetery.
View T. Arthur Claiborn Death Certificate
View Sarah Tabitha Claiborn Death Certificate
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