From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 12:35 AM
To: Ky-Footsteps
Subject: Murder.On.Christy.Creek.1947.Rowan.NEWS


Murder On Christy Creek June 1947
Rowan County KyArchives News

Newspaper
Orville Brown, 24, Charged With Two Murders on Christy

Storekeeper, 16-Year-Old Youth Meet Instant Death At Hands of Man Wearing 
Crudely Made Mask

A warrant charging Orville Brown, 24, with the murder of Eddie Johnson and 
Robert Roe was issued here this afternoon (Thursday) at 4 o'clock. The warrant 
was issued by Judge Luther Bradley and sworn to by Sheriff Sam Green.

Officers have been attempting to locate Brown since the slaying, and said that 
he, his wife and two children left their home near Johnson's store after the 
shooting. Sheriff Green said ill feeling existed between Brown and Johnson, 
and that officers had uncovered substantial evidence against Brown.

Brown has been working at Shirley, Indiana, and officers said he returned to 
Rowan County the day before the shooting.

An unidentified man, wearing a crude mask fashioned from a paper sack, killed 
Eddie Johnson, 52 year old storekeeper on Christy Creek, and Robert Roe, 16, 
Wednesday morning.

Four witnesses said the assailant bolted for the door after he fired the two 
fatal shots. The witnesses were Farmer Pennington, 18, Russell Lowe, 22, 
Arnold Johnson, 27, a cousin of the storekeeper, and Carl May, 23.

The killer entered the store, brandishing a double-barrelled shotgun, with the 
command: "Don't nobody move."

Young Roe, who was standing within two feet of the muzzle of the gun, 
said: "What are you doing, trying to kid somebody?" he was shot down by a 
blast from the gun.

The killer turned to Johnson and said: "Come here." Johnson tried to duck 
behind the counter where he had a pistol under the cash register but was cut 
down by a blast that entered his right shoulder and pierced his heart.

State patrolmen and county police officers said that Roe was likely a victim 
of the killer's nervousness.

Bloodhounds called here from Lexington failed to track the killer.

Local officers held to the belief that the shootings were caused by 
moonshining activities in the neighborhood and that the slayer entered the 
store with the intention of killing Johnson. Several recent indictments have 
been returned in Rowan Circuit Court from this neighborhood.

Johnson was born in Rowan County, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. France Johnson. 
He married Ruby Johnson and they had six children who survive, all being at 
home. They are Marvin, Raymond, Nola, Edna, Emmitt, Dora Lee, and Edith Mae. 
He also leaves the following brothers and sisters: C.W. Johnson, who lives on 
Christy Creek; Doc Johnson, Irondale, Ohio; Sonny Johnson, Irondale, Ohio; 
Margaret Puckett, Haldeman; Martha Whisman, R.F. D. 2, Morehead; Manda Kegley, 
Elliottville; Virgie Roberts, Muncie, Ind.; Hassie Hamilton, Morehead, and 
Peachy Hardin, Morehead.

Funeral services will be held at the home Friday with burial in the Kegley 
cemetery.

Funeral rites for Roe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Roe, of Elliott County, will be 
held Friday at Newfoundland at 2 o'clock.

The shooting was the first murder in Rowan County for more than a year.

The bodies were brought to the Lane Funeral Home in Morehead.


Submitted by: Cora Sparks
corasparks@yahoo.com



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