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- POTTER, Dan and Altha Lee
"The Tomahawk," Wednesday, March 13, 1957
MURDER, SUICIDE IS BELIEVED CAUSE OF TWO SHOUNS DEATHS
An inquest to be conducted by Coroner William D. Hill in the deaths of a Johnson County man and his wife has been reset for Monday, March 18, after having originally been set for last Saturday.
Cause of the delay was given by Sheriff Dayton Payne as an effort to "ease the burden" on the two young daughters who were in bed in the house at the time of the shooting.
Dead, are Dan Potter, 61, and his wife, Altha Lee Potter, 35, of Rte 2, Shouns.
The sheriff stated that Potter died en route to a hospital at about 6:00 a.m. on Friday, March 15, after sustaining a .32 caliber pistol head wound at his home, still grasping the pistol which Payne said was the death weapon.
Mrs. Potter was dead, also of a head wound, when officers arrived.
Both shots were apparently from the same gun, officers said.
A cousin of the dead man, Ray Potter, who called officers at the time of the shooting, is being held for "investigation".
Sheriff Payne states that the double death "appears to have been a murder-suicide, although some details need more clarification".
It is thought that complete testimony by the two daughters and the cousin will make possible a clear picture of events leading up to the shooting
Potter, a veteran of World War I, was a life-long resident of Johnson County and a member of the Baptist church. He is survived by two sons, Bruce Potter of Kennett Square, Pa., and Wilton Potter of Salisbury, N. C.; a daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Bernice Reece of Trade; four brothers, Grant of Galipolis, Ohio, Dave of Zionville, N. C., Clyde and Charles of Trade; four sisters, Mrs. Mollie Reece of Zionville, Mrs. Lizzie Dowell of Shouns, Mrs. Alice Tester of Neva, and Mrs. Hollie Rushton of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Potter was a native of North Carolina but had lived in Johnson County for the past 23 years. She was a member of the Baptist church.
Survivors, in addition to her two daughters, are four sisters, Mrs. Bertha Brewer of Mountain City, Mrs. Mae Tester of Shouns, Mrs. Faye Vanover of Toughkenamon, Pa., and Mrs. Marie Potter of Trade.
Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Dan Potter were held Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church with Rev. W. N. Riddle officiating.
Burial was in the Potter Cemetery at Trade.
Hill Funeral Home in charge.
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1895 - 1957 (61 years)
