The remains of Clarence Johnson, aged fourteen, were brought to this city on a steamer from Greenup, Thursday, and buried at Greenlawn Cemetery1. Yesterday, his father, George W Johnson, was in the city and made arrangements for a post mortem examination to take place this morning at 7 o’clock, the physicians being Drs. Raschig, Pixley, and Crawford.
Mr. Johnson states that he has suspicions that there was foul play connected with the death of his son, and he is going to have a thorough investigation. He is employed on the Valley Extension, near Hanging Rock, but his son, who was taken away from him some time ago, has been living with his step-mother’s folks near Catlettsburg.
He further says several causes were assigned for the demise of his son, who died at 2 A.M., Monday morning, and they are so conflicting, that he will have an examination made. His lips were stained with something black, which he was told resulted from eating walnuts. He was told once his son ran a rusty nail in his foot and died from lockjaw; at another time that death resulted from eating too much green fruit, which brought on cholera morbus.2
- Evidence in the form of a headstone changes the final resting place from Greenlawn Cemetery to Feurt Cemetery in Clay Township.
- Suspicious death of Clarence Johnson. (1880, October 30). Portsmouth Times, p. 3.
