For my readers that are fans of the this kind of thing. (
See original post) Here are more of the Memento Mori: death photographs from the Victorian Era. Fairly large collection
on this one. Fascinating.
There is undoubtedly quite a story behind this picture.
Carney Parsons and his wife, Minnie (Strange) Parsons and their three children were murdered in 1906 by Jody Hamilton. They were originally from near Bagnell, Missouri. Jody Hamilton worked as a share cropper with the Parsons and lived with them. The Parsons had a sale of their household goods and were killed for the proceeds of this sale - $150.00.
ReplyDeleteMr. Parsons was shot in the leg with a shot gun then beat to death. Mrs. Parsons was killed with a pole axe. The children's throats were cut with their toy knives.
After the family was murdered they were thrown in the Piney River. Someone fishing found their bodies. Hamilton went to church wearing the suit he had taken from Mr. Parsons, also his ring. Announcement was made at Church of the discovery of the slaying. Hamilton left, riding a mule taken from the Parsons family. They followed him, caught him and hung him.
You can google Parson Family Murders
I HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION, ONLY THAT THEY WERE SHOT. THEY HAVE STRAGE MARKS ON THEIR FORHEAD, ALL THE BOYS AND THE FATHER IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE HEAD, THEY ARE NOT ROUND THOUGH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THOSE WOUNDS ARE TOO LITTLE FOR BEING AXE MADE... ALSO, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE KILLER KNIFED THEM IN THE HEAD.. SAME AREA...
DeleteThe entire story is at the following link: http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/120130.html
DeleteThe only one that was shot was Carney because the gun fell apart after that one shot. Hamilton used the barrel from the broken gun to finish off Caney by striking him in the head, to knock down Minnie, to knock out the two older boys who he finished off by cutting their throats with their father's own knife, and to lastly kill the one-year-old. In between the murders of the two older boys and the infant, he finished off Minnie by throwing an old blanket from the Parsons' wagon over her head, and beating her to death with a double-bit ax.