The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-05-23
Investigations Are Being Made Into
Death of Miss Beta Johnson,
Which Occurred Oct. 23, 81.
BODY FOUND IN LAKE MICHIGAN.
At the Time suicide was Supposed, But the
Mother of the Girl Thinks She Was
Murdered. Little Evidence Exists.

An effort is being made to have the
investiga ton of the death of Miss
Beta Johnson, who is supposed to
have su;cided by throwing herself IN
the lake at fhis city on October 23d,
1897, continued, as it is alleged by the
mother of the girl and several inf1uen-
tia1 friends of the girl that the death
was not a case of suicide but more
serious case. The matter had long ago
been forgotten by the officials OF the
city and county, but it is now revived
and an effort is being made to find two
boys who were alleged to have been
with the girl short time before she is
alleged is have thrown herself into the
lake. The mother of the girl, Mrs.
Johanna Johnson, still lives alone IN
a little house in Snakevi1le and she is
said to be at the bottom of the investi-
cation, which is now being made.
According 10 stories told by people in
terested in the case Mrs. Johnson has
always held that the girl was muir
dered, and during the last few months
the opinion has become conviction
and for this reason she is seeking the
investigation.
Two boys, who resided near the
home of the Johnson's on the outskirts
of the city, are alleged to have been
connected with the death of the girl,
but the evidence is SO slight against
the boys that it would be an injustice
to mention their names in connection
with the crime. It is hardly probable
that the investigation will take place,
as the men who were connected with
the finding of the body and the future
examinations of the remains that there
is absolutely no ground for the claim
of Mrs. Johnson and the other friends
of the girl.
Mr.. Hansen, the undertaken who had
charge of the remains stated that when
they were examined by physicians pre-
vious to being emba1med not single
mark of violence was found on the
body save a few bruises on the fore
head, which were caused by the body
washing up against the rocks on the
beach. On the other hand the mother
claims that the boys who are accused
C1 INC U1u1dCL l1cO pun SIANN GAN 8 49, AAA~
that she was forced to leap into the
lake to get away from them.
The circumstances of the death of
the girl have never been called into
question before and the at the time of
the finding Of the body a coroner S
jury brought in a verdict of suicide.
1t is barely possible that the case was
not one of suicide, as the girl is known
to have been affected with fainting
spells and it is possible that she
walked to the lake to get some water
and fell over on her face in faint.
Beta Johnson was about twenty
years of age at the time of her death
and was living with her mother. She
was alleged to have been in love with
a man who committed suicide in a
small town in Indiana and at the time
the suicide of her lover was alleged to
have been the main cause of her TAX
ing her own life. Mrs. Johnson seems
to be insistent that further investi-
cation of the case be made and should
it be made Developments will be
watched with great deal of interest.