 
The Whitewright Sun
Friday, May 16, 1919 pg. 1 SAD TRAGEDY ON CHOCTAW Sherman, May 9 - Roy Boothman, middle-aged and prosperous farmer of Grayson County and his 5-year-old daughter are dead at the family home on Choctaw creek, 12 miles northeast of Sherman, today as a result of a double tragedy enacted there Thursday, shortly after the noon hour. The father died as a result of carbolic acid poisoning, and the child died from gunshot wound through the abdomen, inflicted by a pistol in the hands of her father. The shooting of the child is believed to have been an accident. Boothman was a well known and highly regarded man. He was prosperous and, according to neighbors, only reason assigned for his act is ill health from which he has been suffering for some time. According to information received here, Boothman was seated with his family at the dinner table about 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon when he requested his wife to get some article of food. When she returned to the table, Boothman had just finished drinking something which he told his wife was carbolic acid. After making him lie down on a bed, she started to a neighbors for assistance. As she left the house she heard a gunshot, and returning was met by her 5-year-old daughter, who staggered to her, saying her father had shot her. The child was wounded in the abdomen and died before medical assistance could reach her. Going to the room where her husband was, Mrs. Boothman found him on the bed with a revolver in his hand, from which a shell had been exploded. He expired within a few minutes also without medical assistance. It is believed that Boothman secured the revolver to end his own life, and in his dying condition discharged the weapon in the direction of his daughter before being able to point it toward himself. Besides his wife, Boothman is survived by three little sons and his father, T.E. Boothman, a pioneer and highly respected citizen of Grayson county, who has lived in the north part of the county most of his life. Sherman Daily Democrat Saturday, May 24, 1919 pg. 4 STARR To the Democrat: Starr, May 12 - This community was greatly shocked and deeply grieved Thursday afternoon when the new that Roy Boothman, a prosperous young farmer of this neighborhood and his little 6-year-old [sic] daughter were dead. Mr. Boothman had suffered from a severe attack of influenza some months ago and since his recovery his mind seemed to be somewhat affected. Although a change had been noticed in him and commented upon, yet it was not thought to be of a serious nature. He was president of the War Council and had been working in the interest of the Victory Loan, of which he had taken a bond, and Thurday morning, signified his intention of finishing canvassing his part of the territory and said he might perhaps go on to Denison, and asked the man who was working for him if there was anything he wished to send for. In a short time, however, he complained of feeling like he had a chill and stayed at home. At the noon hour when dinner was announced he said he would like to have some radishes, which his wife brought from the garden, and during her absence he took a fatal dose of carbolic acid. When she returned to the room and smelled the acid and noticed how white her husband's lips were, Mrs. Boothman said: "Why Roy, what have you done? Are you trying to kill yourself?" He replied: "No, darling, I just took some fever drops." When she told him he had taken carbolic acid, he picked up the bottle and looked at it and asked if she guessed it would hurt him and told his wife it was burning him terribly. She helped him to an adjoining room where she left him on the bed while she ran to a nearby neighbor for help. Little Elaine, who was playing in the yard with her little brothers, ran forward to know where her mama was going and then went in the house. As Mrs. Boothman was returning with others they heard the report of a pistol and hastening on met little Elaine on the porch where she fell, saying, "Oh! Mama, I'm dying, Papa shot me." They took her up and did all that could be done, but she expired in 30 minutes. Dr. Poe of Sherman was called but father and child were beyond recall. Mr. Boothman is survived by his wife and 3 children, J.T., Noel, and Roy Glenden. Also his mother, Mrs. T.F. Boothman, 5 sisters and 2 brothers. His father died in 1902. Roy was loved by everyone and the family have the sympathy of all in their sorrow, and with the bereaved ones we can say of Roy and little Elaine: When morning dawns with gladsome light, And night's dark hours flee, With every pulsing of our hearts We think of thee. When evening shadows gloom the earth, And day sinks soft to sleep, Then at its close, as at its birth, We think of thee.  Rose Hill Cemetery Elaine Nall Bay ©2018 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
