The White Tops magazine. September-October 1975, Volume 48, # 5, p.42
Emma Duke, 66, died Sept. 7, in Knapp Methodist Hospital, Weslaco, Texas, during surgery after being shot four hours earlier at the Donna, Texas quarters of her daughter's Fisher Bros. Circus. Was shot three times in upper part of body, allegedly by a 32-year old male former cook on Fisher Bros. Circus.
The suspect, Dennis K. Wright, had left the show earlier this season, and had arrived at the Donna quarters a few days prior to the murder. He had asked to be rehired, and had been told that he would be given a plane ticket for departure to the show on September 8. Robbery was believed to be the motive for the slayings. (Janice Ruth Ratcliff was also murdered; see elsewhere in this column,)
Emma was born on November 29, 1908 at Boyne City, Mich., the daughter of Frank and Mary Katherine Scott. Her father was a well driller. She married and first trouped with owner of Briggs Trained Animal Circus. She worked dogs and horses with Brunridge Carnival and fairs. Following death of her husband, she married Raymond Duke on December 14, 1944. With him, she worked as a clown, billposter, office employee and on the front door of many circuses, including Famous Barnes Trained Wild Animal Show, Russell Bros., Bailey Bros., Clyde Beatty, Steven Bros., Adams & Sells, Sells Bros., Birnam Bros., Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., Ring Bros., Clark & Walters and Fisher Bros. Survivors: husband, Raymond, agent for Fisher Bros. Circus; daughter Bessie Katherine Duke Timberlake; sons Leonard Briggs of Florida and Lee Briggs of Indiana; brothers Lester Scott of Michigan and Cicero Scott of Ohio; 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Texas and in Knox, Ind., with burial at Ora, Ind.
Emma Duke, 66, died Sept. 7, in Knapp Methodist Hospital, Weslaco, Texas, during surgery after being shot four hours earlier at the Donna, Texas quarters of her daughter's Fisher Bros. Circus. Was shot three times in upper part of body, allegedly by a 32-year old male former cook on Fisher Bros. Circus.
The suspect, Dennis K. Wright, had left the show earlier this season, and had arrived at the Donna quarters a few days prior to the murder. He had asked to be rehired, and had been told that he would be given a plane ticket for departure to the show on September 8. Robbery was believed to be the motive for the slayings. (Janice Ruth Ratcliff was also murdered; see elsewhere in this column,)
Emma was born on November 29, 1908 at Boyne City, Mich., the daughter of Frank and Mary Katherine Scott. Her father was a well driller. She married and first trouped with owner of Briggs Trained Animal Circus. She worked dogs and horses with Brunridge Carnival and fairs. Following death of her husband, she married Raymond Duke on December 14, 1944. With him, she worked as a clown, billposter, office employee and on the front door of many circuses, including Famous Barnes Trained Wild Animal Show, Russell Bros., Bailey Bros., Clyde Beatty, Steven Bros., Adams & Sells, Sells Bros., Birnam Bros., Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., Ring Bros., Clark & Walters and Fisher Bros. Survivors: husband, Raymond, agent for Fisher Bros. Circus; daughter Bessie Katherine Duke Timberlake; sons Leonard Briggs of Florida and Lee Briggs of Indiana; brothers Lester Scott of Michigan and Cicero Scott of Ohio; 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Texas and in Knox, Ind., with burial at Ora, Ind.
The White Tops magazine. September-October 1975, Volume 48, # 5, p.42
Emma Duke, 66, died Sept. 7, in Knapp Methodist Hospital, Weslaco, Texas, during surgery after being shot four hours earlier at the Donna, Texas quarters of her daughter's Fisher Bros. Circus. Was shot three times in upper part of body, allegedly by a 32-year old male former cook on Fisher Bros. Circus.
The suspect, Dennis K. Wright, had left the show earlier this season, and had arrived at the Donna quarters a few days prior to the murder. He had asked to be rehired, and had been told that he would be given a plane ticket for departure to the show on September 8. Robbery was believed to be the motive for the slayings. (Janice Ruth Ratcliff was also murdered; see elsewhere in this column,)
Emma was born on November 29, 1908 at Boyne City, Mich., the daughter of Frank and Mary Katherine Scott. Her father was a well driller. She married and first trouped with owner of Briggs Trained Animal Circus. She worked dogs and horses with Brunridge Carnival and fairs. Following death of her husband, she married Raymond Duke on December 14, 1944. With him, she worked as a clown, billposter, office employee and on the front door of many circuses, including Famous Barnes Trained Wild Animal Show, Russell Bros., Bailey Bros., Clyde Beatty, Steven Bros., Adams & Sells, Sells Bros., Birnam Bros., Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., Ring Bros., Clark & Walters and Fisher Bros. Survivors: husband, Raymond, agent for Fisher Bros. Circus; daughter Bessie Katherine Duke Timberlake; sons Leonard Briggs of Florida and Lee Briggs of Indiana; brothers Lester Scott of Michigan and Cicero Scott of Ohio; 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Texas and in Knox, Ind., with burial at Ora, Ind.
Emma Duke, 66, died Sept. 7, in Knapp Methodist Hospital, Weslaco, Texas, during surgery after being shot four hours earlier at the Donna, Texas quarters of her daughter's Fisher Bros. Circus. Was shot three times in upper part of body, allegedly by a 32-year old male former cook on Fisher Bros. Circus.
The suspect, Dennis K. Wright, had left the show earlier this season, and had arrived at the Donna quarters a few days prior to the murder. He had asked to be rehired, and had been told that he would be given a plane ticket for departure to the show on September 8. Robbery was believed to be the motive for the slayings. (Janice Ruth Ratcliff was also murdered; see elsewhere in this column,)
Emma was born on November 29, 1908 at Boyne City, Mich., the daughter of Frank and Mary Katherine Scott. Her father was a well driller. She married and first trouped with owner of Briggs Trained Animal Circus. She worked dogs and horses with Brunridge Carnival and fairs. Following death of her husband, she married Raymond Duke on December 14, 1944. With him, she worked as a clown, billposter, office employee and on the front door of many circuses, including Famous Barnes Trained Wild Animal Show, Russell Bros., Bailey Bros., Clyde Beatty, Steven Bros., Adams & Sells, Sells Bros., Birnam Bros., Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., Ring Bros., Clark & Walters and Fisher Bros. Survivors: husband, Raymond, agent for Fisher Bros. Circus; daughter Bessie Katherine Duke Timberlake; sons Leonard Briggs of Florida and Lee Briggs of Indiana; brothers Lester Scott of Michigan and Cicero Scott of Ohio; 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Texas and in Knox, Ind., with burial at Ora, Ind.
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