The Paris Morning News
Paris, Texas
Saturday, June 10, 1916
pg 1

Sherman Business Man Has Eyes Burned Out; Wife Pours Lye on Him

Sherman, Texas June 9 -  Dr. H. L. Brown, physician in attendance on Gathright, stated this afternoon that Gathright is in a critical condition and is rapidly growing weaker, with little chance of recovery.
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Sherman, Texas, June 9 - L. P. Gathright, a business man of this city, is in a Sherman Hospital in a serious condition, both of his eyes having been put out with hot concentrated lye this morning at 3:30 o'clock.
He was also seriously burned on other parts of his body, while asleep at his home, 813 West Pecan street.
His wife, Mrs. L. P. Gathright, made the following statement to Sheriff Lee Simmons and Deputy Sheriff Arthur Omay, who were among the first on the scene:
"I poured hot concentrated lye on my husband. I did not want to kill him but I wanted to put his eyes out and spoil his handsome face, and fix him so he would not be attractive to other women."
Dr. H. L. Brown, who attended Gathright, says that he will in all probability lose the sight of both eyes.

Pleads for Wife
Gathright asked the Sheriff not to molest his wife, saying:
"I have not done right, and while I do not believe I am as bad as she thinks I am, if I die I hope that she will not be bothered. I hope she will not even be arrested."
L. P. Gathright is a restaurant owner here, and seemed to be prosperous. He has had a varied business career.
Recently, he returned from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he served a short term in the penitentiary for passing counterfeit money.
His wife said this morning: "I was mistreated before Mr. Gathright was sent to Fort Leavenworth, and when he returned he told me that he would reform and take care of me and make me happy, and for a while it seemed he would do it, but other women have come into his life, and I stood it as long as I could."
Mr. and Mrs. Gathright have two grown sons and several smaller children.
Gathright is about 45 years of age, and was a very handsome man. His face, head and chest were badly burned by the lye.

The Waxahachie Daily Light
Waxahachie, Texas
Monday, November 6, 1916
pg 1

WOMAN SCALDED HUSBAND TO DEATH WITH LYE; ACQUITTED

Sherman, Texas, Nov. 6 - Mrs. Minnie Gathright, charged with scalding her husband, L. P. Gathright, to death with concentrated lye on June 9, was acquitted in the district court here today.


The Whitewright Sun
Whitewright, Texas
Friday, November 10, 1916
pg 6

Mrs. Gathright Acquitted

Sherman, Texas, Nov. 6 - Mrs. Minnie Gathright, who was charged with having scalded her husband, L. P. Gathright, with concentrated lye while he slept at their home here early in the morning of June 9, 1916, from the effects of which he died, was tried in the Fifteenth District Court today and was given her liberty on an instructed verdict of acquittal.
The instruction was given by Judge W. M. Peck on recommendation of County Attorney Ben F. Gafford, who stated that the evidence would not convict the defendant.
Mrs. Gathright, who has been out on a $5,000 bond since the killing, never employed an attorney in the case and was not represented by one this morning.

FELONY
Susan Hawkins
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