From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 7:38 PM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject:
Bowling.Green.Woman,.Accused.Of.Slaying,.Testifies.At.Trial.1934.Warren.
NEWS


Bowling Green Woman, Accused Of Slaying, Testifies At Trial September 13, 1934 Warren County KyArchives News

The Edmonson County News September 13, 1934
      Bowling Green, Ky., Sept. 12-Mrs. Emma Johnson, 65 years old, taking 
the witness stand tonight to defend herself against a charge of murdering 
her 89 year old mother, Mrs. Sarah Catherine Whalin, told a Circuit Court 
jury that her mother died from a heart attack and was partially cremated by 
a smudge kindled to kill mites in their chicken house.

      The State contends that Mrs. Johnson killed her mother and attempted 
to dispose of the body by burning.  The dismembered and partially cremated 
body was found in the attic of their home four days after the older woman 
disappeared.

      An insanity defense was indicated by a part of Mrs. Johnson's 
testimony tonight.

      "My father was sent to an asylum when I was 3 years old", she said.  I 
might be sent to an asylum.  I have spells in my head and at times feel like 
I am going crazy."

      Mrs. Johnson's story of her mother's death was that her mother had 
frequent heart attacks and that on the morning of her death she went to the 
poultry house where the smudge fire was burning.  About forty-five minutes 
later Mrs. Johnson said, she went out to find her mother's body there.  She 
explained that she had placed the body in the attic because she wanted it 
near her.  She did not know she said, why she told neighbors that the mother 
had "gone away with a strange man".

            Coroner Joe W. Lowe and Dr. J. W. Gibbs testified as to the 
condition of the body, declaring death evidently was caused by a blow on the 
head.  Calvin Rector, a neighbor, said he saw Mrs. Johnson strike her mother 
with a board the morning she was last seen.  Mrs. Virgil Page and Mrs. 
Myrtle Goad, neighbors testified they heard screams in the Johnson house the 
day Mrs. Whalin disappeared.



Submitted by: Charles Finn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000539



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