Edgar Mabe, 35, Kills Sick Wife, 24, Then Commits Suicide, at Her Father's Home, July 18, 1922

Sick Woman Slain by Husband, 2 Die. . . Edgar Mabe Called to See His Wife Who Was Ill In Her Bed

Lumberton, July 18—Edgar Mabe of West Hickory shot and killed his wife and then committed suicide by firing a bullet through his own head here Sunday night at midnight. The murder and suicide occurred at the home of Mrs. Mabe’s father, W.H. Shooter, here. Mabe reached Lumberton at 10:04 p.m. over the Seaboard and went direct to the Shooter home, where his wife was ill in bed. He talked freely with the family and his rash act came as a sudden surprise to those with whom he had previously been conversing. He was 35 years old and his wife was 24. Both had been in ill health and it is supposed brooding over this caused him to commit the double tragedy. Mabe used a 38-caliber pistol. He shot his wife in the right temple and the bullet passed out at the left, while he fired a bullet from the same pistol into his own head. The shots were fired in quick succession. He died at 7 a.m. yesterday and Mrs. Mabe at 11 a.m., neither of them speaking or regaining consciousness.

Mrs. Mabe had recently left a local hospital. Mabe is survived by three children by a previous marriage. He had been married to the woman he murdered only about six months. A note addressed to the stepmother of the murdered woman and found in the pants pocket of Mabe after the shooting stated that he was going to kill his wife and then kill himself, because he loved his wife. He had threatened to commit the same at before Mrs. Mabe left Morganton some six weeks ago, it is said. The remains of Mrs. Mabe will probably be interred here Tuesday afternoon, though the funeral arrangements have not been announced.

From the front page of the High Point Enterprise, July 18, 1922