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Submitted: 4/3/14 • Approved: 4/7/14 • Last Updated: 4/10/14 • R993585-G993584-S3
John
June 12, 1899 - August 13, 1974
*Obituary (News Story)
Northwest Arkansas Times
Wednesday, August 14, 1974
Springdale Man Killed, Wife Beaten In Tuesday Robbery
Murder Charge Filed Against Karl Collins
After scrawling "Carl killed us" in a pool of blood across the room from her dead husband, Mrs. Gertrude Welch of Springdale has survived a severe beating to tell police about the Tuesday afternoon murder.
John W. Welch, 74, of Springdale, was found dead and Mrs. Welch, 77, semi-conscious from a beating Tuesday afternoon at their farm on Blue Springs Read east of Springdale.
Mrs. Welch is now reported in satisfactory condition at Springdale Memorial Hospital.
Karl Albert Collins, 20, of Route 6, Fayetteville (the Harmon community) was charged early today in Washington Circuit Court with capital felony murder for the death of Welch. He is being sought by law enforcement officers.
Collins, three months out of the Arkansas penitentiary, had been working for the Welches on a barn at the Blue Springs property, and was identified by Mrs. Welch as the murderer.
Mrs. Welch told Prosecuting Attorney Mahlon Gibson Tuesday evening that she was working in the kitchen of the farmhouse, when Collins entered and asked for a drink of water about 9:30 a.m. She said that when she looked up, Collins was approaching her with a club.
HUSBAND SHOT
Gibson said Mrs. Welch told him her husband, who was working on a barn about 150 yards from the house, responded to her screams. When Welch entered, Collins said something to the effect that "you'll be sorry you came in," according to Mrs. Welch.
Welch was killed with a shotgun blast to the lower right abdomen, according to Washington County deputy sheriffs. A double-barrel shotgun borrowed by Welch from a neighbor is missing.
The telephone receiver was pulled from the wall, causing all phones on the party line to go dead. Southwestern Bell Telephone Company repairman Harvey Clark was called to find the trouble on the line, and found the Welches about 2:30 p.m.
State police criminal investigator Quimby Johnson said Welch was in the kitchen, Mrs. Welch had made her way to the bathroom.
Mrs. Welch told assistant Springdale fire chief Floyd Bohannon that she thought she heard her husband groan for about two hours after the shooting.
Mrs. Welch's purse had been emptied and Welch's money taken. Mrs. Welch said she had no idea how much money the two had. Their 1967 international pick up was also taken.
Mr. and Mrs. Welch lived in Springdale and had inherited the farm property. Collins was hired 30 days ago to help repair the property.
Fayetteville police said a records check shows that Collins had served six years in the state training school for killing his grandmother when he was 12 years old.
Collins had just been released from the penitentiary where he had served time on a charge of armed robbery in Clarksville.
The youth was living with his sister and brother-in-law near Harmon.
Police are investigating the theft of a blue 1965 Volkswagen at Marble in Madison County. A man fitting Collins' description was seen in the car, which was recovered, early today in North Little Rock. A shotgun was found in the car, according to police.
The couple's pickup truck has not been found.
Collins is 5 foot nine inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has blonde hair and blue eyes.
FUNERAL SET
Welch was born June 12, 1899 in Purcell, Okla., the son of Levi and Mattie Wiley Welch. He was a retired auto mechanic and a veteran of World War I.
He is survived by Mrs. Welch, one brother, Kermit of Los Angeles, Calif., three sisters, Mrs. Lorena Parsley of Springdale, Mrs. Dora Lanier of Muskogee, Okla., and Mrs. Norma Fitch of Los Angeles, Calif.
Funeral services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Sisco Chapel with burial in Joyce cemetery. Memorials may be made to the World War I welfare fund.
*Obituary (Service Notice)
Springdale News
Thursday, August 15, 1974
Funeral services for John W. Welch, 75, 902 E. Emma Ave., were held this morning at 10 o'clock in Sisco Chapel with the Rev. Cecil Garrison officiating. Burial was in Joyce Cemetery under the direction of Sisco Chapel.
Pallbearers were Thomas Henry Sr., Thomas Henry Jr., Gervis Walker, Kenneth Lee, Vance Harp and Jerry Payton.
Gertrude
January 8, 1897 - June 18, 1984
Contributed on 4/3/14 by wfields55
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Record #: 993585