Extracted from The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Farmer In Franklin County Kills Wife, Ends Own Life
Meadville, June 1 -- Euce S. Seale, 65, a farmer living in the Mount Olive community about ten miles from Meadville, shot and killed his wife, Lillie Bowlin Seale, 45, and then killed himself with the same gun at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
A coroner's jury headed by F. H. Round, foreman, returned a verdict of “murder-suicide” in the tragedy, officers said. The Seales had five children.
The double killing occurred after the couple had arisen at 5 a.m. at their farm home on Route 3, Meadville, in Franklin county.
The jury, did not give a motive.
Sheriff William R. Scott said Seale had been in bad health and there had been domestic trouble.
Mrs. Seale was killed by a charge of No. 4 shot, Scott said she was in the kitchen at the time the shot was fired from the outside. A few seconds later, using the same gun, the sheriff said, Seale went to the bedroom and shot himself.
The couple's five children were awakened by the blasts. The children went to the home of relatives.
Seale is the father of five other children by a previous marriage. His first wife died several years ago.
Investigating officers reported finding a single barrel twelve-gage shotgun on the premises. The shots were fired at close range.
Services for Mrs. Seale will be held Thursday. She will be buried at the Mt. Zion cemetery. Final rites for Mr. Seale will be held Friday, and interment will be in the Seale family cemetery.
Thursday, June 2, 1949