1936

The most dramatic year in the diaries.

The Murder

On February 3, a wire arrives in El Paso from JJL’s mother: “Margaret had fatal accident shipping body home.” Margaret was JJL’s sister. She had married Rico Dewey and was living near Live Oak, Florida.

Over the following days, the story unravels through telegrams:

Margaret death caused by self inflicted gunshot wound in her home. (February 5, telegram from C. M. Baxter)

JJL drives from El Paso to Blytheville, Arkansas — through Dallas, Texarkana, Little Rock, roads covered in ice — for the funeral. Margaret is buried on February 5.

Had Rico go over his story of Margaret’s accident in detail. According to Rico Margaret was shot about 11:00 p.m. Feb 1. Rico’s mother was in bed, Rico was lying in front of the fireplace, and Margaret was in her gown and standing in the kitchen door when the shot was fired. No one saw her get the gun. (February 7)

JJL does not believe it. He writes the Sheriff at Live Oak, corresponds with an attorney, and files an insurance claim with Metropolitan Life, stating plainly: “I do not believe that the gunshot wound which caused my sister’s death was self inflicted.”

On June 10, 1937, the case is resolved: Rico Dewey convicted and sentenced to twenty years at hard labor.

The Rest of the Year

Jack Wallace gets his arm caught in an electric wringer at school — no bones broken but badly bruised. JJL buys a new 1936 Master Chevrolet Town Sedan for $863.00. He places a job advertisement in the Dallas Morning News: “Civil Engineer and Attorney at Law. Age 35.” He receives his Scottish Rite Masonry degrees, 4th through 32nd, over four consecutive days in November.