George Wesley Sullivan Dies from Monoxide Fumes Late Yesterday
George Wesley Sullivan, aged 63 years, farmer living about seven miles southwest of Augusta, was found dead in his automobile in the garage on his place about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Dr. G. C. Whitley of Douglass, county coroner, was called, and pronounced death was caused by monoxide poisoning. The body was taken to Wichita.
Mr. Sullivan was last seen about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon when he told Mrs. Sullivan he was going to look after some stock. When he failed to return about two hours later, Mrs. Sullivan started to search for him. She believed he might be found in a small building reading as was his custom on many occasions. She heard the engine in the automobile running and went to the garage to investigate.
Mrs. Sullivan found the body of Mr. Sullivan on the floor in the rear compartment. A hose had been attached to the exhaust pipe and run through a hole that had been cut in the floor of the car, and carbon monoxide fumes were pouring from it. The car was tightly closed. It was estimated Mr. Sullivan had been dead a little more than an hour.
Mr. Sullivan had not been in poor health and no reason could be assigned for him taking his life. He had resided in the community for a number of years and was well known. Deputy Sheriff Alex Greenup made an investigation of the death. (El Dorado Times, June 2, 1943)
MURDER, SUICIDE TAKE LIVES OF OIL HILL MAN AND WIFE
Bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bramble are Found in Bed at Lease House
A Suicide Note
Coroner's Jury Finds Mrs. Bramble Shot Husband, Then Turned Gun on Self
A murder and a suicide claimed the lives of two well known Oil Hill residents. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bramble whose bodies were found at 7:40 o'clock this morning in bed in a Cities Service Oil company lease house. Mr. Bramble was 61, Mrs. Bramble, 60.
A coroner's jury, empaneled by Dr. G. G. Whitley, Douglass, Butler county coroner, found that Mrs. Bramble had shot her husband and then turned the weapon upon herself. A .22 caliber target pistol with two empty shells was found lying between the coupe.
Dr. Whitley estimated that both died at approximately midnight. Mr. Bramble, widely known as "dad" was shot immediately above the left temple and the wife had a bullet hole through the heart.
Note Asks Forgiveness
A suicide note was found on a living room table which read: God forgive me, Children forgive me, Bury us in grandpa Goodsell's lot. Please bury me in grave 14 and dad in grave 13. Good bye. God bless my children.
A letter from James A. Ross, secretary of the Fairmont, Neb. Cemetery association was lying beneath the note. Dated last October 11, this letter was in reply to one written by Mrs. Bramble four days earlier, requesting information about the grave of Mrs. Bramble's mother who is buried there. A diagram of the cemetery plot was drawn on the opposite side of the letter.
Found by Gus Allen
The bodies were discovered by Gus Allen, Oil Hill who had driven by to take Mr. Bramble to work. When he failed to come out of the house, Mr. Allen attempted to go inside but found the doors locked. Suspecting that something was amiss, he broke down the door and entered.
All blinds in the home were drawn and Mr. Allen first believed the couple, still attired in bed clothing had been asphyxiated. He went to the Cities Service company offices from where physicians and Deputy Sheriff Grover Clingan were notified.
The pistol used in the double death was new and held long rifle shells. The bullet which killed Mrs. Bramble penetrated her body and was lodged in the bedding. Powder burns indicated that the shots were fired from close range.
In Poor Health
Mrs. Bramble was reported to have been in poor health for some time and many boxes containing medicine were found on a table in the living room. Nerve, heart and sleeping pills were included in the assortment, according to Dr. Whitley.
Mr. and Mrs. Brambles had gone to visit a son, Rev. Albert Bramble, at Parsons last Saturday, returning to Oil Hill Sunday night.
Mr. Bramble had lived in the Oil Hill and El Dorado communities since 1919 and was well known as a baseball pitcher. A right-hander, he hurled for the Oil Hill team and later managed the club. He also pitched for other baseball teams during his playing career.
A Roustabout
Mr. Bramble, who was born Oct. 6, 1887 had worked for the Cities Service company as a driller and a tool dresser. For the past six months he had served as roustabout.
The couple is also survived by two sons, Fritz Bramble, who lives in Colorado, and Dr. Earl Bramble, of Balboa Island, Calif.
Serving on the coroner's jury this morning were Roy W. Janney, Oil Hill; foreman; V. A. Crawford, Oil Hill; and Glen Dietz, Jack Neff, Edward Huttenhoff and Jack Wecker, all of El Dorado.
The bodies are at the Byrd Funeral Home. (El Dorado Times, January 5, 1949)
Hold Services for Shooting Victims
Funeral services were held at the Oil Hill Community church yesterday afternoon for Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bramble, victims of the Oil Hill shooting tragedy last Wednesday. A profusion of floral offerings testified to the respect in which the couple was held. Rev. LeRoy F. Arend, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiated and burial was in Sunset Lawns Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Gus Allen, Clarence Burt, P. F. Hartnett, George Leffler, Lafe Parish, C. E. Reep, C. D. Bradbury, W. T. Caldwell, Steve Crawford, J. W. Flowers, Tom Overton and H. E. Shaner.
:The Old Rugged Cross" and "Nearer My God to Thee" were sung by W. A. Poole, W. E. Cloyes, W. C. Lange and Max Bickford. The accompaniment was played by Mrs. W. a. Poole.
The Byrd Funeral Home was in charge. (El Dorado Times, January 11, 1949)
Unknown Skeleton Found by Boys Near Augusta Airport Friday
Butler County Sheriff's detectives said late Friday night they had more questions than answers as they probed the discovery of human bones west of Augusta.
Det. Craig Murphy of the sheriff's office said "investigation is continuing" was probably the most accurate operative phrase in the wake of the discovery of what he said were "positive human skeletal remains" 1-1/4 miles south of Highway 54 on 163rd street.
He said the remains were found out in the open in a pasture. The location of the discovery is also just south of the County's sheriff's substation/tag office at the Augusta Airport.
Murphy said the remains had been secured and removed from the area, adding no one was being allowed beyond a gate into the pasture. He said the remains were concentrated in one location, adding a more thorough search of the area was scheduled to begin at about 8 a.m. today.
As of late Friday night Murphy said no determination had been made as to whether the skeletal remains were those of a male or female victim. He said the only statement that could be made as to how long they had been there was "long enough to be skeletal."
Murphy said the remains were actually discovered about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday by a male youth who was riding a three-wheeler in the area. Unsure of what he had seen, Murphy said, that youth contacted another boy and two went back out in three wheelers and confirmed for themselves the remains were human.
Murphy said the boys were initially unsure about what to do about their discovery. He said they contacted an Andover police officer Friday evening and at that time were advised to contact the sheriff's office, which received the report about 7 p.m.
Sheriff's detectives had interviewed the two boys, Murphy said. (El Dorado Times, Saturday, March 14, 1992)
KBI LAB OBTAINS PRINTS
Authorities Hope Fingerprints will Help Identify Body Found Near Augusta Airport Last Week
Butler County sheriff's investigators have a little more to go on as they continue to investigate the discovery of human remains a week and a half ago west of Augusta.
Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said this morning the Kansas Bureau of Investigation lab has obtained fingerprints from the body of the victim, whose remains were located March 13 in a pasture area 1-1/4 miles south of Highway 54 and west of 163rd street.
He said once the sheriff's office receives copies of the fingerprints it will distribute them to other law enforcement agencies for their examination as well.
"The main thrust of our investigation is still getting him (the victim) identified," Williams said. "That's really about all we can do right now. We get information every now an dthen and we check it all out, but we still really don't have much to go on."
He added the sheriff's department is still waiting for lab results concerning two bullet slugs which were discovered inside the skull of the victim. (El Dorado Times, March 24, 1992)
SKELETAL REMAINS STILL UNIDENTIFIED
Authorities Send Remains to Oklahoma City Expert
Butler County Sheriff’s detectives plan to try another avenue in their attempts to identify a man whose skeletal remains were found last month southwest of Augusta.
Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said this morning the skull of the man will be taken to Oklahoma City, where clay will be used to reconstruct the entirety of the skull to provide a better description of the man.
Pictures of the reconstructed skull will then be distributed to other law enforcement agencies and perhaps go nationwide he said.
“I’ve seen some of her work,” Williams said of the woman who will be reconstructing the skull, “and it’s pretty good.”
The skeletal remains of the victim (believed to be of possible Indian origin and between the ages of 25 and 35) were found March 13 in a pasture 1-1/4 miles south of Highway 54 on 163rd street.
So far, Williams said, detectives have heard nothing back from other law enforcement agencies who were sent copies of the victim’s fingerprints. He added trying to identify the victim through fingerprints would be even more difficult if he had never served in the military or been arrested.
Also, he said, the victim apparently had not had enough dental work done to be of much help to investigators. (El Dorado Times, April 16, 1992)
Butler County Sheriff’s detectives have released photographs of an artist’s conception of an adult male whose skeletal remains were found March 13 southwest of Augusta and about 6 miles east of the Wichita city limits.
The remains were found in a pasture west of 163rd street and about 1-1/4 miles south of the Augusta Airport.
According to a flyer being put out by the Sheriff’s office, the remains are believed to have been in that location “a minimum” of three to six weeks prior to March 13.
Found still intact on the remains were a pair of “Rustler” brand blue jeans and a pair of black wingtip-type lace shoes. It is also believed the person may have been wearing a mesh-type “muscle” T-shirt with bright green trim.
The skeletal remains are believed to be those of a male of mixed race between the ages of 20 and 29. he is known to have only one denture filling. He is also believed to have suffered a broken arm which was never attended to medically, causing a slight handicap of that arm.
Sheriff’s investigators are asking anyone who might recognize this person to call the sheriff’s office at 321-1650 or 263-1894 anytime day or night. (El Dorado Times, April 29, 1992)
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING UP LEADS TO IDENTIFY REMAINS
Phone Calls from Pictures of Artist’s Conception May Lead to Identifying Body Found in Mid-March.
Progress is possibly being made in attempts to identify a man whose skeletal remains were found southwest of Augusta in March.
“We’ve had eight or 10 calls and one looks like it’s promising,” Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams said this morning.
On Wednesday sheriff’s detectives released photographs of an artist’s conception of an adult male whose skeletal remains were found March 13 in a pasture west of 163rd street and 1-1/4 miles south of the Augusta Airport.
The remains are believed to be those of a male of mixed race between the ages of 20 and 29. He is known to have only one denture filling. He is also believed to have suffered a broken arm which was never attended to medically, causing a slight handicap of that arm.
Sheriff’s investigators are asking anyone who might recognize the person to call the sheriff’s office at 321-1650 or 263-1894 anytime day or night. (El Dorado Times, Front Page, May 1, 1992)
IDENTITY OF SKELETON REMAINS STILL UNKNOWN TO INVESTIGATORS
The identtity of a man whose skeletal remains were found southwest of Augusta in March continues to elude Butler County sheriff's investigators.
"It really has us stumped," said Capt. John Everett, acting County Undersheriff. He said "We're still sending out photographs and talking to anyone who might have knowledge" of the victim, adding while "every now and then" a promising lead will develop "they're being dismissed pretty readily."
The case is being treated as a homicide, as two bullet holes were found in the skull of the victim.
The remains of the man were found March 13 in a pasture 1-1/4 miles south of Highway 54 and west of 163rd Street. The victim is believed to be a male of mixed race between the ages of 20 and 29. He is known to have only one denture filling. He is also believed to have suffered a broken arm which was never attended to medically, causing a slight handicap of that arm.
Sheriff's investigators have asked anyone who might recognize the victim (detectives have released photographs of an artist's conception of him) to call the sheriff's office at 321-1650 or 263-1894 anytime day or night. (El Dorado Times, Wednesay, May 27, 1992)
DEPUTY RETURNS FIRE, GUNMAN EXPECTED TO RECOVER
Investigation is continuing into a shooting incident south of Augusta last night involving a Butler County sheriff's deputy.
Butler County Sheriff John Everett said this morning the deputy, who he declined to identify because of the ongoing investigation, is currently on administrative leave with pay and is being offered counseling services.
Everett said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation into the incident, which took place at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday about 3 miles south of Augusta off of Thunder Road.
Everett said he expects the KBI to expedite its investigation and should have its probe completed in perhaps two days. Butler County Sheriff's deputies are assisting in that investigation he said.
Once the KBI report is in, he said, it will be turned over to the County Attorney's office to determine if the officer acted properly.
A man who fled on foot after the deputy had stopped to investigate the apparently disabled vehicle he and another man were in was shot after fleeing down a gravel road.
The suspect, who Everett also declined to identify because of the ongoing investigation, was first taken to the Augusta Medical Complex and later transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Although he did not have a condition report immediately, Everett said he did not believe the suspect's wound was life threatening.
Everett said Thursday night's incident began when the deputy (who was working alone) radioed in that he would be checking an apparently disabled vehicle 3 miles south of Augusta on Thunder Road at the Fairview Cemetery lot.
A shot time later, he said, we received a transmission from that officer that he was being fired upon, just after that, he said, came a transmission that the suspect had been struck and was down.
The officer then asked for medical and law enforcement assistance at the scene, Everett said, continuing the sheriff's department then immediately called the KBI to do the investigation, something he is is normal procedure when a deputy is involved in a shooting incident.
KBI agents responded almost immediately, he said, and took over the investigation at the scene.
From reports and witness statements, Everett said, a scenario which should be pretty close to what actually happened has been created.
We do not have all the facts in yet, and there is still a lot to learn, he said, continuing that apparently the officer recognized at least one of the occupants in the vehicle when he approached it.
The area out there is really secluded, Everett, the officer was working by himself and there were two people on the scene who he was dealing with.
Everett said it is the understanding of sheriff's investigators that the officer became uncomfortable with the situation there and began to ask the occupants to move into positions which would allow him to better protect himself.
Everett said the officer said that at some point shortly thereafter one of the occupants of the vehicle ran west from the scene.
When the man refused to stop after the officer told him to do so, Everett said, a foot chase began. Apparently, he said, the second person in the vehicle did not participate in the chase and was not involved in the shooting.
According to reports, Everett said, the foot chase had gone perhaps 100 yards from the vehicle when the man being chased stumbled and fell onto the ground.
The officer approached the man, he said, and at that time he got up with a weapon in his hand; he then apparently fired at least two rounds at the officer.
The officer was not hit, Everett said and the man began running on foot again with the weapon in his hand.
At some point, not too far distant from the initial shooting, Everett said the man apparently turned around and fired possibly another couple of shots at the officer.
At that time, he said the officer returned the fire and the man was struck.
Everett said it is believed the man was taken into surgery last night or early this morning then went into recovery.
He added the man is under the custody of the sheriff's department at Wesley.
Everett said the second man in the vehicle was taken into custody and questioned by the KBI and sheriff's investigators.
That man was released early this morning, Everett said, although remains under investigation.
Everett said the officer involved in the shooting is a 1-1/2 year veteran of the department and is considered an "exemplary" officer, with no record of disciplinary problems.
Everett said no charges have been officially filed or asked for against the man who was shot.
However, he added, the sheriff's department is conferring with the County Attorney's office with regard to that man.
Everett said no reason for Thursday night's shooting incident has been determined.
We do not know what happened out there, he said. As far as we have determined so far our officer acted responsibly and in the manner it took to protect himself.
Everett said no one in the sheriff's department can recall the last time a deputy was shot or shot someone else, or was involved in a shooting at all.
This is not an everyday occurrence for us by any means, he said, adding while we certainly regret the wounding in Thursday incident we believe everyone acted responsibly.
Everett said the two men who were in the vehicle were young adult white males, but declined to identify them further.
He estimated it was about 20-30 seconds from the time the man who was shot initially fled his vehicle until he was wounded. (El Dorado Times, Friday, July 17, 1998)
MICHAEL STEVEN LUTTER FORMALLY CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER
Charges have been filed in connection with a Thursday night shooting incident south of Augusta involving a Butler County sheriff's deputy.
That comes as the deputy received a preliminary exhoneration from the Butler County Attorney's office.
Michael Steven Lutter was formally charged late Friday morning with attempted first degree murder. However, he remained hospitalized at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Butler County Sheriff John Everett said it is believed Lutter (who is either 37 or 38) is a Wichita Sedgwick County resident who formerly lived in Butler County.
According to complaint information filed by Butler County Attorney Mike Ward, Lutter allegedly "intentionally and with premeditation" repeatedly fired a 9 mm Ruger pistol at Sheriff's deputy Jeremy Train.
That act, Ward alleged, was taken toward the killing of the deputy and with the intent to do that.
Train was not injured.
Lutter was shot after he ran from a vehicle which the deputy had stopped to investigate as being possibly disabled.
Lutter was in the vehicle with another man.
After Lutter fled from the vehicle Train chased him on foot west down a gravel road. About 100 yards into the chase Lutter stumbled and fell to the ground.
As Train approached him Lutter got up with a weapon in his hand and fired at the deputy.
The chase proceeded a short distance further, and when Lutter turned around and fired at Train again the deputy returned the fire and struck Lutter.
Everett said it is believed Lutter and the other man in the suspect vehicle were just acquaintances.
That man did not participate in the chase or the shooting and was released after questioning.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is heading up the investigation into the shooting incident. Its findings will be delivered to the County Attorney's office for review.
Early Friday afternoon Butler County Attorney Mike Ward said it ws his preliminary opinion that Train "acted reasonably, accordingly, and justifiably" Thursday night.
Ward also went out Thursday night to view the shooting scene.
Everett said a search warrant for the suspect vehicle was expected to be signed and served Friday afternoon.
He said it was what officers observed in plain view inside the vehicle which prompted them to seek the search warrant. (El Dorado Times, Saturday, July 18, 1998)
BURNS MAN IS VICTIM OF APPARENT DROWNING AT LAKE
The body of a 29 year old Burns man was recovered at El Dorado Lake this morning by the Butler County Sheriff's Department after an extensive search.
The body of David Love, who had been reported missing to the sheriff's department Tuesday afternoon after he had failed to return to his campsite that morning, was found in approximately eight feet of water 80 feet from the shore at 5:50 this morning by a rescue squad. The campsite was located approximately ½ mile north of Old Chelsea School along the west side of Old Highway 177.
The apparent cause of death was accidental drowning, according to Butler County Sheriff Dave Williams.
The search, with members of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, the Corps of Engineers and the State Park Authority lending equipment and assistance to the Sheriff's Department, got underway Tuesday afternoon, Williams said.
Several boats dragged the lake and a graph machine locator was used until the searched was called off Tuesday evening at about 8 p.m. because of darkness.
There was quite a large area to cover and no location to concentrate on out there, Williams said.
The search continued at 7 this morning before the body was recovered by a member of the sheriff's department and two members of the corps of engineers.
Love and a fishing partner, Mark Lamb of El Dorado, had first gone to the lake Monday afternoon according to Williams. Monday night after the two returned to the camp site, Love had gone out fishing alone while Lamb stayed behind.
Williams said Lamb reported that he became concerned when Love had not returned to the campsite by 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Williams continued when Lamb failed to find his partner or their 10 foot aluminum flat bottomed boat, he walked the banks of the lake searching for Love. After a short while he found an oar floating in the water 10 to 12 feet off shore. Shortly thereafter he found the victim's cap and another oar floating about 70 feet from the campsite.
Williams said another man in a boat reported to Lamb that he thought he had heard a boat capsize about 1:30 or 2 a.m. Tuesday and that had yelled for the person to grab a limb on a tree and hold on.
The man thought he heard the person in the capsized boat getting out of the water and talking to someone. When Lamb advised the man that his partner had yet to return from fishing, the two men drove around the lake area searching.
At about 3:45 p.m. Lamb reported to the Sheriff's office that Love was still missing and the search was organized. (El Dorado Times, Wednesday, April 25, 1984)
David Allen Love Jr., 29, of Burns, died Tuesday as a result of a drowning accident. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Temple Baptist Church. Graveside services will be held at Sunset Lawns Cemetery following the services at the church.
Mr. Love was born Dec. 27, 1954 in El Dorado, the son of David and Elsie Smock Love. He had lived in the Butler County area all his life. On April 26, 1980, he married Darla Davis Ladd in El Dorado. He was employed by White Hat Feeds in Burns as an electrican. He was a member of the Temple Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Darla of the home, his daughters, Dawn Nicole and Kari Lynn Love; Blackwell, Okla., his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Love Sr., El Dorado, his brothers, Don Love of Springfield, Mo. and Dennis Love of El Dorado, and his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Love of El Dorado.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirby Morris Funeral Home. (El Dorado Times, April 26, 1984)
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