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Established 1948   Roetta Herriage 14 November 1910 - 21 February 1951 Cliff Herriage 20 February 1910 - 7 May 1952
  The Denison Press February 1951 Denison Woman Slain; Husband in Hospital Denison - Mrs. Rowetta [sic] Herriage, 40, and her husband, Cliff Herriage, 41-year-old Denison grocer, wounded in a shooting at the Herriage home here late Wednesday afternoon. Justice of the Peace C.B. Carroll returned a verdict of homicide and attempted suicide after investigation of the tragedy. Herriage was in a local hospital Thursday suffering from four 22-caliber rifle wounds. Hospital attendants said his condition from the wounds was not considered serious. He underwent brain surgery recently in Dallas where physicians pronounced his condition due to a malignant brain tumor, according to report of family friends. The shooting apparently occurred somtime before 6 p.m. while Mr. and Mrs. Herriage were at home and their two sons were at the store, according to investigating officers. First indication of the tragedy came when the younger son, Billy, 15, drove to the house and was fired on by his father, who was waiting in the driveway. The frightened youth reported the incident to the police. Officers found Herriage walking along Hwy. 75 about 3 blocks from the family home, still carrying the rifle. He darted into a tourist cabin when officers approached, but later came out and turned over his gun. No charges against Herriage had been filed Thursday noon. After 3 years military service in Japan, Freddy Joe Herriage, 23, returned home a few days ago to help his mother care for his father and to carry on the family business. Funeral services for Mrs. Herriage have tenatively been set for 2 p.m. Friday at the Bratcher-Moore Chapel. Survivors include Mr. Herriage; and the 2 sons; her mother, Mrs. Mary Vincent, of Denison; 5 sisters, Mrs. W.H. Vest and Mrs. Atlas Vest of Denison; Mrs. Rothel Bell of Sherman; Mrs. Cora Dickerson of Anthony; Mrs. Less Duncan of O'Brien; 2 brothers, Bill Vincent of Bells and Orbus Vincent of Lubbock. The Denison Press Friday, February 23, 1951 pg. 1 HUSBAND FIRES SEVERAL SHOTS INTO WIFE'S BODY AND TURNS GUN ON SELF The body of Mrs. Rosetta Herriage, 41, lies in the morgue and her husband is in a local hospital in a dangerous condition from self-inflicted wounds, following a shooting in the home of the Herriage's at 24 Parnell in the early evening hours Wednesday. The Herriages operated a grocery store for several years at 300 E. Hull and the business was as usual patrons state, at the store Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Herriage was the daughter of Mrs. J.W. Vinson and the late Mr. Vinson. She received her education here and had been married to Mr. Herriage about 25 years. The tragic slaying by Herriage of his wife, according to the officers, came about by the husband using a .22 caliber magazine rifle, pumping several shots into her body, while the wife vainly fought to prevent the slaying, using a broom, the first thing she could lay her hands on. The shots passed easily through the straw of the broom, entering her body and causing instant death, according to an examination by the Justice of the Peace C.B. Carroll, who was called to the scene soon after the slaying was reported. A young son, Billie Thomas, went to a neighbor's phone and reported the affair. Officers found Herriage at a cold drink stand about 2 blocks from the Herriage home, where he was placed under arrest and was later taken to Madonna hospital. When questioned by officers, Herriage in a dazed manner, said he did not know why he did it. He said they had no family quarrel and that he loved his family. Herriage, 41, is said to have recently undergone an operation at a Dallas hospital, which involved a brain tumor. He also has a son, Freddie Joe, recently of the U.S. Army, who was flown home from Japan to be at the bedside of his father during his recent illness, and received an honorable discharge last week. The body of Mrs. Herriage is at a local undertaker's awaiting funeral arrangements. The husband's condition is declared to be serious. The Dallas Morning News February 24, 1951 CANCER-CRAZED HUSBAND SLAYS WIFE, WOUNDS SELF Special to The News DENISON, Texas, February 23 - Crazed by a brain cancer, 41-year-old Cliff Herriage shot his wife to death here and then wounded himself. In a hospital, Herriage asked for his wife and two sons, apparently unaware of what had happened. Herriage underwent brain surgery about three months ago. Physicians at that time diagnosed the condition as malignant and offered no hope for his recovery. Mrs. Herriage, 40, had obtained the discharge of her eldest son, Freddie Joe, from the Air Force so he could help her care for his father and the grocery the elder Herriage had operated until his illness. The younger Herriage had returned home only a week ago after three years with the Air Force, most of the time in Japan. Justice of the Peace C.B. Carroll said there was evidence that Mrs. Herriage had struggled to escape when her husband threatened her with the gun in the kitchen of their home. She was shot five times. He said his verdict would be homicide and attempted suicide. He indicated no charges would be filed immediately. Herriage was shot three times in the left side of his chest. A fourth bullet broke his jaw. Funeral services for Mrs. Herriage were held Friday. She is survived by her husband, two sons, Freddie Joe and Billy Herriage; her mother, Mrs. Mary Vincent of Denison; five sisters, Mrs. W.H. Vest and Mrs. Atlas Vest of Denison; Mrs. Rothel Bell of Sherman; Mrs. Cora Dickerson of Anthony; and Mrs. Les Duncan of O'Brien; and two brothers, Orbus Vincent and Bill Vincent of Bells. May 1952 Funeral services for Cliff Herriage, 42, Denison grocer, who died in a Wichita Falls hospital on May 7, were held at Bratcher-Moore chapel Friday. Rev. W.O. Bucy, pastor of Trinity Methodist church, officiated and burial was in Cedarlawn Memorial Park. Herriage was born in Arkansas, February 20, 1910, son of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Herriage. He was married in 1926 to Miss Roetta Vincent. Survivors are 2 sons, Freddie Joe and Billy of Denison; and 4 sisters.   Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
