Morbid Fact Du Jour for October 5, 2014

Today’s Unusual Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

This unusual postmortem photograph documents a sad tale.  Because of the sensational story it is hard for us to acknowledge that this image was made as a typical memorial photograph, an image mean to hang in the home to memorialize loved ones.  Death by foul play did not preclude taking a postmortem memorial photograph.  Copies of this image were sent to relatives around the country.  On the back of the photograph, the story unfolds:

This is a Photograph of Carrie L. Parsons, wife and three children murdered by Joseph Hamilton about two miles east of Success, MO on Friday, October the 12, 1906.  Parsons had sold his crop to young Hamilton.  On the day of the murder Parsons loaded his Family and house-hold effects in his wagon and started for Miller Co, MO when about two miles east of Success at what is known as the old Vance Place he was murdered this was about 2 o’clock in the day.  The wagon was then driven into thicket of brush and left until about midnight that night when young Hamilton returned hitched up Drove to Piney River and threw all of the Bodies into the water two of the children was found by Fishing Party with in one hour after were thrown in.  Hamilton was arrested two days later trying to make his escape.  He made a full confession of his crime.  He was tried at the November term of Court and Sentenced to be Hanged Dec the 21st.  His Father came here and made quite an effort to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment – but to no avail he was Hanged at 11 o’clock December 21st 1906 at Houston MO. Young Hamilton was 21 years old and a son of J. Bill Hamilton that is said to Preach at the New Church.

This is a true likeness I was Present when it was Taken

[signed] G.W.S.

Culled from: Deadly Intent: Crime & Punishment: Photographs from the Burns Archive