Johnson Thomas 1859 - 1909

JOHNSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:20

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Nov. 16, 1909, LP, C3

HORRIBLE HOLOCAUST.
Tommy Johnson and his Mother Burned to Death.
Shortly before eleven o’clock Saturday night David Evans discovered fire in the house occupied by Tommy Johnson and his mother, located just north of the B. R. Evans home. He gave the alarm and going to the home discovered both persons to be in the house and carried the body of Mrs. Johnson out of the building, the fire at that time having not broken out but was confined to the main living room and the bedroom occupied by the son. Mrs. Johnson was found near a window and the body of the son was found between the bedroom and kitchen doors and would indicate that both were endeavoring to make their escape but were suffocated by the smoke and flames.
The body of Mrs. Johnson was but slightly burned about the face, but Tom was burned so badly that the flesh was almost all gone from his knees to his feet, his hands nearly burned off, his scalp nearly all gone and his face also badly burned.
The bodies were taken charge of by Coronor Plummer and conveyed to the Field undertaking rooms where an inquest was held Monday morning. F. B. Lomas, D. Amundson and Otto Johnson were impanelled as a coronor’s jury, and after the examination of the witnesses returned a verdict that the deceased came to their death by being burned or suffocated by fire in their home, origin of the fire being unknown.
While but little doubt was entertained of the cause of death, the inquest was held to set at rest a number of vague rumors of foul play.
An examination of the bodies failed absolutely to show the least indication of a cut, blow or other evidence that death was not the result of fire.
The evidence of witnesses, although somewhat contradictory, was to the effect that both the dead persons were intoxicated in the afternoon and evening and laid helpless in their home as late as 7 o’clock the evening of their death, and the fire was presumably the result of the use of a lamp or matches while in a state of intoxication. If the stories of some of the neighbors are true the debauch of Saturday night was a repetition of what had been going on in the house ever since they had occupied it.
The funeral services, conducted by Rev. Bell, were held yesterday afternoon at the Fields undertaking establishment, with interment in New Oregon cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson was the widow of Thomas Johnson Sr., and was past 90 years of age. The son was in the neighborhood of 40 years of age.

Transcriber’s Note: New Oregon Cemetery shows this was Mary who was born in 1816 and her son was born in 1859.

New Oregon Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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