FATAL DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

CHAS. SALISBURY KILLS WIFE AND SUICIDES

On Wednesday, at 1:15 p.m., occurred the culmination of domestic trouble between Charles Saulsbury and his wife when the husband shot his wife to death and turning the weapon, a thirty-two Smith & Wesson revolver, on himself committed suicide. The Salsburys had not been living amicably together, it is reported, for some years and the wife left her husband a few weeks ago and went to make her home with her daughter and husband, Charles Barger, nearby. Saulsbury, who has been working in Paul Rasmussen’s barn for sometime went to his daughter’s home at the time named and committed the bloody deed, shooting his wife twice through the body and then shot himself through the right temple, the bullet passing through his head and coming out of the left ear. The murderer and suicide was 49 years old and had lived in Blair some 10 years, working as a laborer. The couple had a family of eight children, the older ones being married, the youngest an 11-year-old daughter. The bodies were taken to the Pierce undertaking rooms awaiting burial arrangements.

#2-Published in the Blair Democrat April 20, 1916

Burial Of The Victims Of a Madman’s Deed

A number of people called at the Charles Barger home on State Street Friday to view the remains of Charles Salisbury and his murdered wife. The little house, over which hangs the gloom of an awful tragedy, was filled with friends and neighbors of the dead couple. Amid the softened heart breaking sobs of the afflicted family, Rev. Lewis, of the Methodist Church, read a few passages from Scripture and delivered a brief address to the mourners. Misses Ethel and Gertrude Mead sang “Rock of Ages.” The double funeral was attended by a number of automobiles containing friends and relatives of the unfortunate couple. The casket containing the remains of Mrs. Salisbury was covered with beautiful floral tributes while a single wreath rested upon the casket of the husband who has left behind him memories that will never be effaced from the minds of the unfortunate children.

Note: The surname of the family is spelled in different ways. The Find a Grave Memorial #110642452 has the spelling Salsbury

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.