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TAKE TWO*Charles Steele Shoots Mrs, Robert Steele; Then Kills SelfNONE SAW SHOOTING« ►The tragedy of suicide and murder stunrfed the little community of: Bel voir about sixteen miles southwest of here early (this morning when Charles Steele, aged 63, shotand killed his sister-in-law, Mrs.Rilla Steele, 48, and then took his own life. _Mrs. Steele was the wife, of Robert Steele, Douglas county commissioner from 1921 until 1925 who was instrumental in obtaining the road joining Lecompton with highway 40-N and which bears Steele’s name. Charles Steele is his brother,9Homes Are Near TogetherThe homes of . the two brothers ate situated just across the road from each other about a mile west of Belvoir. According to Fred Lobb, who with his wife made hisj home with Charles Steele, there I had been some argument between Mrs. Steele and her brother-in-law over the water supply which is furnished both houses from a reservoir on the Robert Steele farm.Charles Steele was Mrs. Lobb’s brother.The reservoir had been filled Sunday but a spigot at a calf wat-ering tank on the Robert Steele' j farm inadvertently had been left | running last night and the reservoir was dry this morning.Apparently believing that Mr Steele had shut off his water supply Charles Steele went to the rear -of his brother's house.about 8:30 o’clock this morning. Mrs. Steele was engaged in working in a small garden there. She had just stepped outside the garden fence when Steele' opened fire with a .32 caliber automatic. According to Coroner H. T. Jones she was shot twice in the head and died instantly.Two Heard the ShotsRobert Steele was in the ijarn nearby when the shooting occurred and Cecil Humphreys, who lives near Belvoir and hadtbeen helping on the Steele farm, was at work pumping water into the empty reservoir which apparently caused the argument between Charles Steele and his brother’s wife.'Both of these men stated that they heard two shots but did not see the, shooting and did not see Charles Steele depart. Shortly af-. ter they had discovered the body of Mrs. Steele they heard a third shot across the road and investi-. gation disclosed Charles Steele’s suicide.►Goes Home to Own Death►Mr. and Mrs. Lobb reported that« '; Charles Steele entered the kitchen : door shortly after they heard two• shots and remarked, We won’t have to haul water any more.”'; Walking quickly to the front room■ of the house he pressed the pistol 1 to his head and fired before he - could be restrained.Both Robert Steele and Humphreys reported that they heard no argument before the shooting and that Mrs. Steele did not scream. One empty shell from the automatic pistol was. found near Mrs, Steele's body and a similar empty shell near the body of Charles Steele. The pistol used in the tragedy contained three additional cartridges.Bodies Brought to LawrenceAccording to Humphreys, . he i had pumped the water reservoir full last Sunday. The accidental i draining of the reservoir came last ! night when the water was left running.The bodies of the two victims of i the tragedy were brought to Lawrence this morning. Coroner Jones and Deputy Sheriff Walter Neider investigated the shooting and there will probably be no inquest.[ Robert Steele is an old resident j of this section, is prominent in fanning circles here recently was 1 chosen president of the- Douglas county Fram Bureau. Mrs. Steele had also been prominent in county farm work., Arrangements for the funerals will be made later. Mrs, Steele is survived by. her husband, threo children, Roberta, 14, Jacquelean,, II and Bettie, 7; three sisters, i Mrs. Ruth Kingdon and Mrs. Wal-I ker Cannon, Los Angeles, and Mrs. J.' E. Patton, Grdat Falls, Mont.; and four brothers, John Star, Alma, Neb.; Perry and Oscar Star, of 1 Wyoming, and Stanford Star, .Ne-• braska. The two oldest children 1 were in school in Lawrence when 1 the tragedy occurred,1 - Charles Steele is survived by two : brothers, Robert Steele, .Belvoir, and J. Irvin Steele, Spearman, Tex. and two sisters, Mrs. Edith Lobb, Belvoir, and Miss Margaret Steele,■ Topeka.LIVES
Newspaper Details
Lawrence Journal World
Lawrence, Kansas, US
Wed, Mar 18, 1931
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Sherri C.
USA 13 Jul 2019
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