Person:Mary Nash (24)

Notes from William Schmidt, RootsWeb, WorldConnect:

xcerpted from The Paris Morning News, Sunday, November 14, 1920: Mrs.. Mary Lo ftin Slain By Husband Three Children Are Orphaned While Slayer Is A Hunted Fug itive

A tragedy occurred about 9 o'clock last night four miles northeast of town on the Pine Mill Road in which Mrs.. Mary Loftin, the wife of Will Loftin , a farmer 46 years old, was killed and officers have been notified at different points to look out for her husband, who it is claimed, fired the fatal shots.

Early after supper Loftin and wife and three children, who are the step children of Loftin, went to the home of Mr. Long, a neighbor, to sit until be dtime. When they were ready to leave Loftin left a little ahead of his wife, who followed with the children. The old couple went to bed directly after r eaching home.

Cause of Tragedy Uncle Billy Coble, an old man living with the family, who occupied a room adjoining them, said that he heard Mrs.. Loftin, w ho was subject to attacks of asthma, exclaim the she would have to raise a wi ndow; that she was about to smother. It is supposed that he became angry at her wanting to raise the window when the weather was chilly. He was heard to tell her that she shouldn't raise it. Mr. Coble said he heard a sound as if she had got out of bed, and immediately the firing of a pistol was heard, five shots in all being fired. Mr. Coble stated that when the second shot was fired he heard Mrs.. Loftin beg that she not be shot again, telling her slayer that he had already killed her. Loftin is said to have replied that he would kill the whole outfit so that there would be no one left to tell the tale .

Children Fled From The Home The old man fled in his nightclothes and the ch ildren escaped to the home of a neighbor. It is claimed that as they left, Loftin shouted to them that he would kill the first one who stuck his head in the house. A little while after the shooting, the lights in the house were extinguished and the neighbors were all afraid to go over to see what had ha ppened. John Norwell, a near neighbor, came to town and notified the officers, the telephone line being out of order, and Sheriff Clarkson and Deputy O.V . McDonald and Constable Bell went out to make an investigation. About a half mile before reaching the place, Sheriff Clarkson's automobile ran in a ditch and he had to abandon it.

Woman Found Dead When the sheriff reached the hou se he found the dead woman lying against the wall with her nightgown still burning and her body burned in places. The paper on the wall was scorched. On e bullet had struck her in the mouth, another in the stomach, another in the side and another in the shoulder. Loftin had disappeared and nobody had seen in what direction he had gone, but it is believed that he went north. His overcoat and pistol he took with him.

Loftin In Jovial Mood Mr. Long, at who se home the family had called after supper, said that Loftin was in jovial mood and nothing unpleasant had occurred between Loftin and his wife. Mrs.. Loftin was a sister of W.A. and Bob Nash, and had lived east of town all her lif e. Her brothers came to town and had an undertaker to go out to take charge of the body. Sheriff Clarkson returned to his office at 1:30 o'clock this mo rning and put in some time using the telephone to notify officers at differen t points to be on the lookout for Loftin.

Excerpted from The Paris Morning News, Tuesday, November 16, 1920: Loftin A Suicide When Surrounded Suicide R efused To Surrender And Preferred Death At His Own Hands The dead body of Will Loftin, who killed his wife northeast of town last Saturday night, was broug ht in Sunday evening by a searching party, he having been overtaken and havin g blown his brains out after seeing that his escape was hopeless. He was ove rtaken at 11:15 o'clock Sunday morning, two miles below Pine Bluff ferry near Ward's sawmill.

1. ↑ William Schmidt, RootsWeb, WorldConnect.