Chester Dougherty Edwards (1871 - 1926)

Born 2 May 1871 in Eugene, Lane, Oregon, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 Jul 1926 at age 55 in Eugene, Lane, Oregon, United States

Biography

• Eugene Herald --- about 1926 .... TWO ARE KILLED ANOTHER WOUNDED BY CRAZED MAN

Roy E. Hogan Murders Wife, wounds brother-in-law, and takes own life in family quarrel. Action believed to be Premeditated, His Note Asking Sister to Care for Children Is Found in Pocket; Explanation for Request Not Given.

Brooding over family troubles, Roy E. Hogan, 53, sought and murders his estranged wife, Clara Hogan, 48; dangerously wounding her brother, Chester D. Edwards, and then walked into Edwards woodshed and shot himself, shortly after 6:30 o'clock last night. Drs. E.L. Zemmerman and B.F. Sciefe operated on Mr. Edwards for more than two hours after the shooting. They expressed the belief that he could not live. Mrs. Edwards is in a serious condition from prostration and shock. Since June 18 Mrs. Hogan and her three little dughters had lived with Mr. and Mrs Edwards at 1936 Seventeenth avenue, just east of Villard Street. A complaint for divorce was filed against Mr. Hogan about the middle of June and summons was served on him the day the family moved from the home at 1337 Orchard Street,

DOUBLE FUNERAL TODAY ..... Victims of Madman to be Buried Here. _________ Brother and Sister Slain Thursday Night by Estranged Husband Who Kills Self _____ Funeral services for Mrs. Clara Dougherty Hogan, slain wife of Roy E. Hogan, her brother Chester D. Edwards, both of whom were killed by the woman's husband Thursday night at the Edwards' home, will be held in the Veatch Chapel at 2:30 O'clock this afternoon. Last rites for the slayer, who comitted suicide after the shooting of his wife and brother-in-law, were held in Jefferson, north of Albany, yesterday afternoon under direction of the Bransetter firm. Dr. E.V. Stivers, pastor of the first Christian church, will preach the sermon at the double Internment of the bodies will be in the I.O.O.F. cemetery, where Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Edwards, the parents of the local people, are buried. Roy E. Hogan shot and killed his wife in a fit of rage following a suit for divorce filed against him by Mrs Hogan on June 18. Mr. Edwards was fatally wounded in an attempt to grapple with the estranged husband. Mrs, Chester D. Edwards wife of the murdered man and three little daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Hogan. survive.

Wife Called into Yard ... The shooting occurred in the back-yard of the Edwards home. According to the story told to the Sheriff's office, Hogan appeared in the yard and demanded to see his wife. Mrs. Edwards (? WSB) came out of the house, the children and Mr. Edwards remaining inside. There were words. No one but members of the family heard them. Hogan was trembling in rage. As Mrs. Edwards (? WSB) turned her back on him, he shot her twice. One bullet entered the back and passed close to the heart. The other severed the spine at the base of the head and passed out her right cheek. Death was believed instantaneous. MR. EDWARDS IS WOUNDED .... Mr. Edwards leaped toward the demented man, but was stopped short by a bullet that entered his side, and left a gaping hole in his back. He turned and walked into the house, seized a Winchester rifle and loaded it, and returned to the yard. While Edwards was in the house, Hogan ran into the woodshed and sent a bullet crashing through his brain. The shot entered at the back of his right ear and came out over the right temple. Mrs. Edwards hearing the shots ran from the house. Neighbors telephoned for help. Mr. Edwards was removed to the Christian hospital at once, where his physicians worked desperatley to stop hemorrhages and to operate on the wound. Mrs. Edwards was also taken to the hospital. Coroner W.W. Branstetter took charge of the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Hogan. ..... Believed Premedited ______ That the shooting was premeditated, was the belief expressed by the coroner last night following the investigation by himself and Sheriff Taylor. In Hogan's pocket was found a letter dated i Julu 1926 and addressed to his sister, Mrs. G.P. Jasper of Grants Pass: following is an excerpt: "Dear Lillian, I want you to take Loraine and Maxine and take god care of them, but I don't think you can get along with Madelle" There was no explanation of why Hogan wanted Mrs. Jasper to take care of the two children. Loraine is 9 and Maxine is 5 years old. Madelle is 14. More than 3 fatal shots were fired. Neighbors told the coroner they heard at least six. There were six empty shells discovered on the ground, and the gun, a, 32 automatic, had been reloaded. One shot had been fired after that.

One neighbor, said the coroner, reported that he saw Hogan approach the Edwards' home with the gun in his hand. Hogan stepped up to the back door, it was said, and called for his wife to come out. The murder took place within a few minutes after the man arrived. It was also stated that Hogan had threatened to kill his wife on several previous occasions. The letter to Mrs. Jasper stated that he had been unable to work and it was understood that he had been ill for the last two or three years and had worked but little in that time. In the divorce complaint filed by Mrs. Hogan it was alleged among other things that he had choked her. Relatives of the man are expected to arrive here this morning from Grants Pass to arrange for the funeral. There will be no inquest. Mrs. Hogan and Mr. Edwards were daughter and son of the late Henry D. Edwards, former commissioner of Lane County. Both were born on a ranch near Springfield, their grand parents having been pioneers of this section of Oregon.. [Thomas Dildine Edwards and wife; Rarbara Ellen Rinehart. WSB] Chester is a former newspaperman in Eugene, and many years ago was associated with the Oregon State Journal when that publication , a weekly , was edited and and printed in the old building on Ninth avenue East, recently razed. Mr. Edwards until a few months ago was proprietor of a cigar stand and confectionary store on _______ avenue near Matlock's grocerystore. He disposed of his _______last fall.

Note: Matlock is a surname on Elizabeth Ellis Rinehart's family tree, her mother was a "MatlocK". Lewis and Elizabeth Ellis Rinehart were the grandparents of Henry Dildine Edwards ... no. 1.4.3.1.2.1.3.1. in my EDWARDS Book.... page 30. (WSB)

Sources

Find A Grave: Memorial #11819701