California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record
about HAROLD T WOOTEN
Name: WOOTEN, HAROLD T
Social Security #: 0
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1910
Birthplace: MARYLAND
Death Date: 5 Mar 1959
Death Place: KERN
Mother's Maiden Name: GRAY
Father's Surname: WOOTEN
1930 United States Federal Census Record
about Harold T Wooten
Name: Harold T Wooten
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: abt 1909
Birthplace: Maryland
Relation to head-of-house: Roomer
Race: White
Home in 1930: Albany, Albany, New York
Occupation listed as mail order clerk.
Death: WOOTEN, Harold & MONIZ, Joe Silva
Author: Don Stowell Date: 17 Jul 2005 12:43 PM GMT
Classification: Death
Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message
Wooten Killed; Joe Moniz Ends Life By Poison
The entire town of Mojave was shocked by the news last Thursday, March 5, of the deaths of Harold Wooten and Joe Silva Moniz, whose bodies were discovered by three friends in a home occupied by the two men at 1801 Richard Avenue in Mojave Gardens.
The two men, former partners in the Pioneer Club at Mojave, died from a murder-suicide according to evidence found by Sheriff's Deputies and Coroner Stan Newman.
The bodies were discovered at 12:30 p.m. when Glen Taylor, Elmer Noble and I. M. Sullens went to the house, and unable to rouse the occupants, forced open a bedroom window. Looking inside they saw the nude body of Wooten on the floor between the bed and a clothes closet.
They immediately called the Mojave Sheriff's substation and Sgt. Dick Ledwidge and Deputy Dick Nelson came to start the investigation. They found Wootens body shot three times, in the bedroom and the body of Moniz wearing only shorts, lying face down in the living room.
Coroner Stan Newman and Sheriff's Homicide Investigator Lt. Al Cordero said Moniz possibly died from a self administered dose of poison. A careful search of the premises however, failed to reveal any poison.
A long rambling note written by Moniz after taking poison, read in part "May God forgive us both" and "Harold we will meet in Heaven".
Miss Bertha Wells, friend of Moniz, told the investigators she had left the house about 3:00 a.m., after helping Joe pack some of his personal effects preparatory to moving. She said Wooten went to bed after a hot quarrel with Moniz about finances and other business matters.
Investigators theorize that Moniz went into the bedroom sometime after 3:00 a.m., fired a shot into Wooten, who was sleeping. Wooten stumbled from the bed and Moniz fired two more shots as the wounded man lunged at him. Wooten fell forward in a kneeling position, his face to the floor.
Moniz then went into the front room, took the poison, placed the .38 revolver on the coffee table and sat down to write the suicide note.
The bodies were taken to Turner Funeral Home and then transferred to Kern General Hospital for autopsy which was conducted the following day.
Coroner Newman said the autopsy failed to reveal the type of poison taken by Moniz although it was thought to be a slow acting type. A Los Angeles laboratory is currently making further tests but a telephone call to Newman revealed their report is not expected for about a week.
Wooten was a leading businessman, being active in civic and service organizations. He was a director in the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, a trustee in the Elks Lodge and a member of the Lion's Club.
A further investigation is scheduled at the sheriff's office today, March 12.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 12 Mar 1959
Burial Services
Graveside services for Joe Moniz were held Tuesday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Randsburg District Cemetery.
Joe was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Massachusetts and had been a resident of the Mojave area for 11 years. He died from a self administered dose of Secobarbital, a type of sleeping pill, according to a Los Angeles Laboratory.
Kern County authorities ordered: the test after the bodies of Moniz and his former business partner, Harold Wooten, were found March 5 in a home on Richard Avenue which was shared by the two men.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 19 Mar 1959
about HAROLD T WOOTEN
Name: WOOTEN, HAROLD T
Social Security #: 0
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1910
Birthplace: MARYLAND
Death Date: 5 Mar 1959
Death Place: KERN
Mother's Maiden Name: GRAY
Father's Surname: WOOTEN
1930 United States Federal Census Record
about Harold T Wooten
Name: Harold T Wooten
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: abt 1909
Birthplace: Maryland
Relation to head-of-house: Roomer
Race: White
Home in 1930: Albany, Albany, New York
Occupation listed as mail order clerk.
Death: WOOTEN, Harold & MONIZ, Joe Silva
Author: Don Stowell Date: 17 Jul 2005 12:43 PM GMT
Classification: Death
Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message
Wooten Killed; Joe Moniz Ends Life By Poison
The entire town of Mojave was shocked by the news last Thursday, March 5, of the deaths of Harold Wooten and Joe Silva Moniz, whose bodies were discovered by three friends in a home occupied by the two men at 1801 Richard Avenue in Mojave Gardens.
The two men, former partners in the Pioneer Club at Mojave, died from a murder-suicide according to evidence found by Sheriff's Deputies and Coroner Stan Newman.
The bodies were discovered at 12:30 p.m. when Glen Taylor, Elmer Noble and I. M. Sullens went to the house, and unable to rouse the occupants, forced open a bedroom window. Looking inside they saw the nude body of Wooten on the floor between the bed and a clothes closet.
They immediately called the Mojave Sheriff's substation and Sgt. Dick Ledwidge and Deputy Dick Nelson came to start the investigation. They found Wootens body shot three times, in the bedroom and the body of Moniz wearing only shorts, lying face down in the living room.
Coroner Stan Newman and Sheriff's Homicide Investigator Lt. Al Cordero said Moniz possibly died from a self administered dose of poison. A careful search of the premises however, failed to reveal any poison.
A long rambling note written by Moniz after taking poison, read in part "May God forgive us both" and "Harold we will meet in Heaven".
Miss Bertha Wells, friend of Moniz, told the investigators she had left the house about 3:00 a.m., after helping Joe pack some of his personal effects preparatory to moving. She said Wooten went to bed after a hot quarrel with Moniz about finances and other business matters.
Investigators theorize that Moniz went into the bedroom sometime after 3:00 a.m., fired a shot into Wooten, who was sleeping. Wooten stumbled from the bed and Moniz fired two more shots as the wounded man lunged at him. Wooten fell forward in a kneeling position, his face to the floor.
Moniz then went into the front room, took the poison, placed the .38 revolver on the coffee table and sat down to write the suicide note.
The bodies were taken to Turner Funeral Home and then transferred to Kern General Hospital for autopsy which was conducted the following day.
Coroner Newman said the autopsy failed to reveal the type of poison taken by Moniz although it was thought to be a slow acting type. A Los Angeles laboratory is currently making further tests but a telephone call to Newman revealed their report is not expected for about a week.
Wooten was a leading businessman, being active in civic and service organizations. He was a director in the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, a trustee in the Elks Lodge and a member of the Lion's Club.
A further investigation is scheduled at the sheriff's office today, March 12.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 12 Mar 1959
Burial Services
Graveside services for Joe Moniz were held Tuesday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Randsburg District Cemetery.
Joe was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Massachusetts and had been a resident of the Mojave area for 11 years. He died from a self administered dose of Secobarbital, a type of sleeping pill, according to a Los Angeles Laboratory.
Kern County authorities ordered: the test after the bodies of Moniz and his former business partner, Harold Wooten, were found March 5 in a home on Richard Avenue which was shared by the two men.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 19 Mar 1959
California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record
about HAROLD T WOOTEN
Name: WOOTEN, HAROLD T
Social Security #: 0
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1910
Birthplace: MARYLAND
Death Date: 5 Mar 1959
Death Place: KERN
Mother's Maiden Name: GRAY
Father's Surname: WOOTEN
1930 United States Federal Census Record
about Harold T Wooten
Name: Harold T Wooten
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: abt 1909
Birthplace: Maryland
Relation to head-of-house: Roomer
Race: White
Home in 1930: Albany, Albany, New York
Occupation listed as mail order clerk.
Death: WOOTEN, Harold & MONIZ, Joe Silva
Author: Don Stowell Date: 17 Jul 2005 12:43 PM GMT
Classification: Death
Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message
Wooten Killed; Joe Moniz Ends Life By Poison
The entire town of Mojave was shocked by the news last Thursday, March 5, of the deaths of Harold Wooten and Joe Silva Moniz, whose bodies were discovered by three friends in a home occupied by the two men at 1801 Richard Avenue in Mojave Gardens.
The two men, former partners in the Pioneer Club at Mojave, died from a murder-suicide according to evidence found by Sheriff's Deputies and Coroner Stan Newman.
The bodies were discovered at 12:30 p.m. when Glen Taylor, Elmer Noble and I. M. Sullens went to the house, and unable to rouse the occupants, forced open a bedroom window. Looking inside they saw the nude body of Wooten on the floor between the bed and a clothes closet.
They immediately called the Mojave Sheriff's substation and Sgt. Dick Ledwidge and Deputy Dick Nelson came to start the investigation. They found Wootens body shot three times, in the bedroom and the body of Moniz wearing only shorts, lying face down in the living room.
Coroner Stan Newman and Sheriff's Homicide Investigator Lt. Al Cordero said Moniz possibly died from a self administered dose of poison. A careful search of the premises however, failed to reveal any poison.
A long rambling note written by Moniz after taking poison, read in part "May God forgive us both" and "Harold we will meet in Heaven".
Miss Bertha Wells, friend of Moniz, told the investigators she had left the house about 3:00 a.m., after helping Joe pack some of his personal effects preparatory to moving. She said Wooten went to bed after a hot quarrel with Moniz about finances and other business matters.
Investigators theorize that Moniz went into the bedroom sometime after 3:00 a.m., fired a shot into Wooten, who was sleeping. Wooten stumbled from the bed and Moniz fired two more shots as the wounded man lunged at him. Wooten fell forward in a kneeling position, his face to the floor.
Moniz then went into the front room, took the poison, placed the .38 revolver on the coffee table and sat down to write the suicide note.
The bodies were taken to Turner Funeral Home and then transferred to Kern General Hospital for autopsy which was conducted the following day.
Coroner Newman said the autopsy failed to reveal the type of poison taken by Moniz although it was thought to be a slow acting type. A Los Angeles laboratory is currently making further tests but a telephone call to Newman revealed their report is not expected for about a week.
Wooten was a leading businessman, being active in civic and service organizations. He was a director in the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, a trustee in the Elks Lodge and a member of the Lion's Club.
A further investigation is scheduled at the sheriff's office today, March 12.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 12 Mar 1959
Burial Services
Graveside services for Joe Moniz were held Tuesday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Randsburg District Cemetery.
Joe was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Massachusetts and had been a resident of the Mojave area for 11 years. He died from a self administered dose of Secobarbital, a type of sleeping pill, according to a Los Angeles Laboratory.
Kern County authorities ordered: the test after the bodies of Moniz and his former business partner, Harold Wooten, were found March 5 in a home on Richard Avenue which was shared by the two men.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 19 Mar 1959
about HAROLD T WOOTEN
Name: WOOTEN, HAROLD T
Social Security #: 0
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1910
Birthplace: MARYLAND
Death Date: 5 Mar 1959
Death Place: KERN
Mother's Maiden Name: GRAY
Father's Surname: WOOTEN
1930 United States Federal Census Record
about Harold T Wooten
Name: Harold T Wooten
Age: 21
Estimated birth year: abt 1909
Birthplace: Maryland
Relation to head-of-house: Roomer
Race: White
Home in 1930: Albany, Albany, New York
Occupation listed as mail order clerk.
Death: WOOTEN, Harold & MONIZ, Joe Silva
Author: Don Stowell Date: 17 Jul 2005 12:43 PM GMT
Classification: Death
Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message
Wooten Killed; Joe Moniz Ends Life By Poison
The entire town of Mojave was shocked by the news last Thursday, March 5, of the deaths of Harold Wooten and Joe Silva Moniz, whose bodies were discovered by three friends in a home occupied by the two men at 1801 Richard Avenue in Mojave Gardens.
The two men, former partners in the Pioneer Club at Mojave, died from a murder-suicide according to evidence found by Sheriff's Deputies and Coroner Stan Newman.
The bodies were discovered at 12:30 p.m. when Glen Taylor, Elmer Noble and I. M. Sullens went to the house, and unable to rouse the occupants, forced open a bedroom window. Looking inside they saw the nude body of Wooten on the floor between the bed and a clothes closet.
They immediately called the Mojave Sheriff's substation and Sgt. Dick Ledwidge and Deputy Dick Nelson came to start the investigation. They found Wootens body shot three times, in the bedroom and the body of Moniz wearing only shorts, lying face down in the living room.
Coroner Stan Newman and Sheriff's Homicide Investigator Lt. Al Cordero said Moniz possibly died from a self administered dose of poison. A careful search of the premises however, failed to reveal any poison.
A long rambling note written by Moniz after taking poison, read in part "May God forgive us both" and "Harold we will meet in Heaven".
Miss Bertha Wells, friend of Moniz, told the investigators she had left the house about 3:00 a.m., after helping Joe pack some of his personal effects preparatory to moving. She said Wooten went to bed after a hot quarrel with Moniz about finances and other business matters.
Investigators theorize that Moniz went into the bedroom sometime after 3:00 a.m., fired a shot into Wooten, who was sleeping. Wooten stumbled from the bed and Moniz fired two more shots as the wounded man lunged at him. Wooten fell forward in a kneeling position, his face to the floor.
Moniz then went into the front room, took the poison, placed the .38 revolver on the coffee table and sat down to write the suicide note.
The bodies were taken to Turner Funeral Home and then transferred to Kern General Hospital for autopsy which was conducted the following day.
Coroner Newman said the autopsy failed to reveal the type of poison taken by Moniz although it was thought to be a slow acting type. A Los Angeles laboratory is currently making further tests but a telephone call to Newman revealed their report is not expected for about a week.
Wooten was a leading businessman, being active in civic and service organizations. He was a director in the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, a trustee in the Elks Lodge and a member of the Lion's Club.
A further investigation is scheduled at the sheriff's office today, March 12.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 12 Mar 1959
Burial Services
Graveside services for Joe Moniz were held Tuesday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Randsburg District Cemetery.
Joe was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Massachusetts and had been a resident of the Mojave area for 11 years. He died from a self administered dose of Secobarbital, a type of sleeping pill, according to a Los Angeles Laboratory.
Kern County authorities ordered: the test after the bodies of Moniz and his former business partner, Harold Wooten, were found March 5 in a home on Richard Avenue which was shared by the two men.
Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society
Courtesy of Mojave Desert News
California City, Kern, CA
Published: 19 Mar 1959
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