Surnames: Spears, McCray

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 01/29/1948

Spears, Ella (1887? - 19 JAN 1948)

Mrs. Ella Spears, 60, sister of Earl McCray, Owen (Clark Co., Wis.), was stabbed to death by her husband, Clifford C. Spears, of La Center, Wash., at their home Jan. 19th, 1947.

According to Spears version of the affair, police said he came into his house from milking about 6:30 p.m. Sunday and asked his wife for dinner. She said he could get it himself. Angered, Spears said, he went into the pantry, got a hunting knife and stabbed her.

Neighbors said he was seen about the house at 6 p.m. Two hours later his farm house burned. Officials at the fire were told by neighbors that Spears had telephoned them from Hillsboro. He was found there with his truck and the body of his wife in the bank end of it.

An autopsy performed on Mrs. Spears showed that she had died of hemorrhage from severance of arteries in the jugular vein. There were 17 wounds inflicted.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22nd, from Limber’s Funeral Chapel at Hillsboro. The Rev. C. Scientist officiated. Burial was made in the Park Hill Cemetery.

Mr. McCray said yesterday that he had not seen his sister since about 30 years ago.