Bessie Violet Ingram-Mitchell: Murder

Bessie Violet Ingram was born 8 Jan 1892 in New Berg, OR to Edward Ingram and Annie Therbur. She married Sylvester Penoyer Mitchell in 1910 in Multnomah, OR. They had a son together named Edward Mitchell born 1915 in Washington. I found no further records for their son except a 1920 census he was 4 years old and in and institution, I am going to assume it's an orphanage. (Posted at end).

Bessie Violet Ingram

Sylvester Penoyer Mitchell was born 10 Mar 1889 in Portland, OR to Joseph Franklin Mitchell (1845-1927) and Anna Emaline Forgey (1851-1928).

On 4 Jun 1916 Bessie and Sylvester went to a picture show and took their 9 month old son with them, the baby kept coughing and Sylvester wanted Bessie to take the baby and leave. An argument ensued and continued on the way home. 

Here are the newspaper clipping of the event that followed.

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The Mitchell House

Bessie & Sylvester

Sylvester Mitchell died 4 Jun 1916 in Vancouver, WA

1920 Census listing their son Edward

Bessie was held at the Clark County Jail here is here mugshot and record.

I found her prison record as well but's only a text.


Record Series: Institution Records
Collection: Corrections Department, Washington State Penitentiary, Commitment Registers and Mug Shots, 1887-1945
County: Statewide

Name: Bessie Mitchell
Inmate Number: 8137
Crime: Manslaughter
Where Convicted: Clarke
Year Of Receipt: 1916
Nativity: Oregon
Age: 24
Reference Number: AR129-5-4-008257

Notes:


I do not know the year Bessie was released from prison but she married her second husband Carl O Johnston on 30 Sep 1925 in Olympia, WA. They had 2 daughters.

Frances C. Johnston 1928-
Joyce Mable Johnston 1930-1994

I never found out what happened to poor little Edward.

Bessie has a Memorial on FAG #87991746 and so does Sylvester FAG #104395908. I asked to have them attached and I left flowers for both. I also made a tree for Bessie on Ancestry with all attached. 

They are all at peace.