Extracted from The Alexandria Weekly Town Talk (Alexandria, LA)
Saturday, October 5, 1935

Deaths of Claude Seals, 26, and Gladys Johnson, 20, on Passenger Train Declared Suicides.

OAKDALE, La., Oct. 1. -- (Special) -- The bodies of Claude Seals, 26, and Gladys Johnson, 20, residents of this city, who are said to have committed suicide last night near DeQuincy, La., were scheduled to arrive here today. Residents of this city and members of the two families were unable to assign any cause for the tragedy.

They are said to have taken poison while riding on a train near DeQuincy last night. The girl was returning from a visit with relatives in San Antonio, Texas, while the man had been working in East Texas and was en route home.

A passenger sitting across the aisle was quoted here as saying that the couple seemed in gay spirits when Seals drank poison from a cup and screamed. The girl then reached for the cup, drinking after him. Seals died almost immediately while the girl was said to have lived long enough to give their identities.

The bodies were taken off the train at DeQuincy and a local funeral home had sent for them today to return them here for funeral services. Funeral arrangements had not been completed today.

Families of both are old-time residents. Seals was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Seals and the girl was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Johnson.

The coronor of Calcasieu parish was reported to be conducting an investigation of the deaths.

Besides the mother and father, Seals is survived by an estranged wife; two children, E. J. [sic C. J.] and Marjory Seals of Oakdale; three brothers, Elmer and Elzy Seals of Oakdale, and Ivy Seals of Trout, La.; three sisters, Mrs. Virgil P. Perkns and Miss Dorothy Seals of Oakdale, and Mrs. Harold Richmond of Leesville, La.

The girl is survived by her mother and father, and five sisters, Myrtis, Bernadine, Burl and Chelsa Johnson, and Mrs. Rush Williams, Jr., all of Oakdale.