Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Dykes were called to St. John late last Friday night by the sad news of the death of Pendleton Gray, a brother of Mrs. Dykes and that another brother, Howard, had suffered some injuries in an auto accident. The two brothers had attended a Shrine picnic in Hutchinson on Friday and, while on their way home, their car, a Hudson coach, crashed into the approach to the bridge across the Arkansas river a few miles west of Hutchinson.It seems that there is a curve in the road near the bridge, and as the two men, with Pendleton driving, approached the bridge Howard called his brother's attention to the nearness of the structure, whereupon Pendleton replied that he could see the bridge all right, but he evidently failed to keep the car in the middle of the road. The car struck the approach or the railing of the bridge. Howard Gray was thrown through the windsheild and received some very bad scratches and bruises.
Shortly afterwards a traveling salesman came along and took Howard in his car to a Hutchinson hospital. "Pen" stated that he was uninjured, and would remain in the car until an auto service car arrived. A service car soon afterwards proceeded to the place of the accident, but when it arrived, Pendleton's dead body was found in the car, somewhat under the steering wheel, death having evidently resulted from a shot in the right side of the head from an automatic revolver.
The Coroner was promptly notified and, after making an investigation, gave out the opinion that the wound was self inflicted. A .25 calibre revolver and a box of shells were found in the car. Remorse caused by what he evidently thought to be fatal injuries to his brother, is thought to have prompted "Pen" to take his own life.
Burial was made in the St. John cemetery on Monday. Howard Gray Sr., father of the two brothers, was a pioneer settler in St. John and one of the best known citizens of Stafford-co. The sons had become well established in business there. Pendleton was a prominent hardware and motor car dealer and was very successful in his business activities. He was about 42 years of age.
Mr. Gray is survived by his wife and five year old daughter, also by his mother and one brother, Howard Gray Jr., of St. John, a brother, Harry T. Gray, and a sister Mrs. Geo. Ormer of Jacksonville, Fla., and a sister, Mrs. E. B. Dykes, of this city. The father died only a few months ago.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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