Charles Matthew Roller

GUN SHOT WOUNDS FATAL TO CHARLES M. ROLLER

Lincoln, Ark., Jan. 2-(Special)-Charles M. Roller, of Lincoln real estate dealer, died last night in a Prairie Grove hospital from gun shot wounds which police said were received late yesterday when he was called to the door of his home. County police today were holding Bert F. Thurman, 43, Lincoln real estate man and auctioneer, for questioning. Police indicated that charges will be filled today or tomorrow.

Sheriff C.P. Gulley, who investigated the slaying, said that Roller’s wife, Mrs. Verna Roller, told police her husband was shot about 6 o’clock last night as he stood in the door of their home in Lincoln. He had gone to the door to investigate after hearing dogs bark for several minutes.

Neighbors, who run to the home shortly after hearing the shot, reported no sign of a prowler. Sheriff Gulley said that Roller was shot in the abdomen with a shot-gun, apparently at point-blank range. The wounded man was taken to a Prairie Grove hospital in a Luginbuel Ambulance. He died 15 minutes after entering the hospital.

Thurman was arrested at a tourist court near his home shortly after the shooting. He was taken into custody by Cecil Remington, deputy sheriff and Lincoln city marshal. Turned over to Sherif Gulley and Chief Deputy Bill Haws, he was brought to Fayetteville and place in the county jail.

Officers said a shotgun was found in the Thurman home by Remington, who told the sheriff the weapon had been fired recently.

Records in the circuit clerk’s office here show that Thurman’s wife filed divorce proceedings against him December 28. At her request the court issued an order enjoining either the plaintiff or defendant from withdrawing money from their joint bank account.

Roller is survived by his wife: five daughters, Mrs. Laura Miller of California, Mrs. Beatrice Kirchner of Illinois, Mrs. Mary Smith of Tulsa, Okla.,Mrs. Verna Wedel of California and Miss. Lucille Roller of the home; three sons, Bennett Roller of California, J.R. Roller of the home and one other son; four sisters, Mrs. Jim Day, Mrs. D.A. Rodgers, Mrs. D.M. Cushing and Mrs. Delpha Alberty, all of Lincoln, and two brothers, Amos Roller of Westville, Oklahoma.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home are incomplete.

Northwest Arkansas Times (Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas) - 2 January 1946.