Johnson, Merle Orville 1919-1919

JOHNSON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/21/2015 at 17:33:14

Hawarden Independent of July 31, 1919

Little Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Johnson Accidentally Hanged
Merle Orville, the little 4 months old son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Johnson of this city, met death in the most tragic manner shortly after noon last Friday. Shortly before Mr. Johnson went back to work after dinner Mrs. Johnson laid the babe between two pillows near the head of the bed and went about her work.

She glanced into the bedroom in a few minutes and noticed the babe had turned over onto his stomach but was making no movement and she presumed he was asleep. It was not until some time later that she went to look at him again and was horrified to find that life was extinct. The babe had evidently turned over and had thrust his head between the uprights of the brass bed and had then twisted his body around in such a manner that the horizontal bar which is at just about the height of the top of the mattress, came against his throat and the weight of his body pulling against this bar was sufficient to cause complete strangulation.

No outcry of any nature was heard and the shock of finding her babe thus lifeless was most severe to Mrs. Johnson. They have the sympathy of the entire community in their sad loss. Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Christiansen by Rev. A. M. McIntosh, pastor of the Presbyterian church, and the little form was laid to rest in Grace Hill cemetery.