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From: "Charles" <>
Subject: The Edmonson County News 1934
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 21:37:00 -0500


Another article from The Edmonson County News 1934. Again, this is from
Warren County and not Edmonson County.


The Edmonson News

September 13, 1934



Mother's Death Natural, Claim



Bowling Green Woman, Accused Of Slaying, Testifies at Trial



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.


Charles



I don't know what tomorrow holds,
but I know who holds tomorrow!


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