The herald., 1894-01-30
BOTH FATHER AND SON KILLED
J. B. johnson and Son Shoot
Each Other.
Compton the Scene of a Terrible
Sunday Tragedy.
whisky the Incentive to the Double
Murder, which Was Witnessed
by n Son and Brother.
The Details.

Inc usually quiet little Town oI
Compton was all excitement yesterday
when the facts of double murder be-
came known. The tragedy was singu-
lar one, the father killing the son and
the son killing the father. Both died
within five minutes after the shots were
fred.
The terrible affair occurred Sunday
evening about 8 O'Clock. The meager
facts which were then obtainable
were published in yesterdays HERALD.
The victims OF the double murd er
we've John B. johnson and his son
George, aged 10 years. Whisky was
the incentive to the terrible crime.
Johnson and his family, consisting OF
the vile and several children, have been
residing on the Treathway ranch, one
mile this side OF Compton, for several
years. They came from England IL
years ago.
Sunday afternoon Johnson visited
Compton and drank heavily. He had
the reputation OF being very abusive
! when under the influence of liquor, and
had gotten into many family quarrels
on this account.
The boy George, it ia said. was ad-
dicted to drink at times. He went
hunting Sunday afternoon and returned
only short time before the tragedy.
Mrs. johnson and the younger chill
dren attended church, and on returning
about $3.50 O'Clock found Johnson at
home. He was drunk, or nearly so,
and seemed incensed at the absence of
the family.
He demanded explanations as to the
cause Of their absence in very abusive
manner. His actions became almost
unbearable, and finally, to prevent
trouble, Mrs. johnson and the children
left the house. Before they went out
one of the children saw johnson go into
his room and load an old revolver,
which he placed in his pocket.
He started out and had not gone far
when he met George returning from the
hunt. He demanded an explanation as
to his absence and called the son vile
names. George told him that be had
been out hunting, when his drunken
father replied: 20, - you, you can go
back where you came from I"
In going home from the hunt George
met his mother near the house, who
informed him that johnson was drunk
and very abusive. She advised him to
be very careful, knowing his disposition
toward the father when the latter was
drinking.
When johnson spoke go abusively to
his son, the boy replied very harshly,
and proceeded to unload his cart and
unhsrnese his horse. Johnson then
started out toward the road where his
wife and children were, fusillade OF
words being kept up between the two.
George evidently thought bis father
was going out to make trouble with the
wife and children and started to follow
| him.
1t was very dark and foggy, and fig
ure could hardly be distinguished 80 feet
away. George was far enough behind
his father to scarcely see him.
Johnson evidently heard his son fol-
lowing hms Just as George reached
the gate his father turned and fired, the
shot taking effect just above the heart.
| George bad his gun, taken from the cart,
and Immediately after receiving the
wound leveled it toward his father and
fred both barrels, which took effect in
the abdomen.
johnson dropped dead in his tracks,
while George walked around the barn to
a water trough and attempted to get a
drink. He soon fell dead. When found
he still grasped the cup in his hand.
Mrs. johnson saw the fash of both
gun and revolver from distance, while
her little son Abner, who is 10 or IL
years old, saw the whole tragedy. He
WAS quite near when it occurred and re-
membered all that was said between
father and son.
he it was who went to Compton to
give the alarm. He reached the place
about II o'clock.
John R., the eldest son of the family,
has been attending school in this city.
He ia said to be studying for the minis
try. He reached his former home about
10 O'Clock yesterday morning. and was
heartbroken over the sad affair. The
little son Abner was almost crazed with
grief at the death of his brother, for,
said he, George was such good brother
to me-"
There was not much grief on account
of Johnson's death, for none of the fam.
ily liked him on account of his manners
when drunk. Some years ago he nearly
billed his wife by hitting her on the
head with club. He was always
threatening the family.
A gentleman who lives near the John.
sons said he heard both shots. "They
sounded go different" said the man,
that at fret thought they were hav'
ing some trouble with tramps. Not
hearing any more shots, went to bed
l was called about midnight, and in
formed that Mr.. Johnson and his son
George had been shot and killed. When
| got over to the house Abner told me
the story"
Continuing. be said: II am not much
surprised at the way things have turned
out. johnson has been drinking pretty
hard of late. and has become very
abusive to his wife and George. MOI
long ago George told me that if hii
father ever attempted to beat him agsir
he would shoot him. OF late the ole
man was more qusrrelsome than ever
What surprises me is that George evel
got chance to get hold of his shotgun
as the old man always carried gun il
his pocket"
As early as possible yesterday morn
ing Coroner Oates. Sheriff Cline, Deputy