The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-13
Mrs. Adkins Declares Russell
Johnson Was Not Killed
on Road.
INSURANCE CLAIM GOES IN
Body Identified Was Buried in
March, Though Boy Visited
Aunt in May. She Says.

The alleged disappearance of Russell
\. Johnson. twenty years old. and al
one time an empioye at the Richmond
Cedar Works. has resulted in his appar-
ent Identification by opening grave in
Hanover county, a subsequent claim
being filed with the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company here for the pay
inent of $1,000 policy.
Whether johnson is dead or alive is
2 question with the Metropolitan Lire
Insurance Company to-day. That he
is dead is testified to by his widowed
mother. Mrs. n. l.. Johnson, of No. 1873
East Main Street. and Constable Burch
of Henrico though, according to Mrs
Thomas Adkins, a sister of Mrs. John
son, she talked with him on May 10th,
nearly two months after he was sup
posed TO have been killed. Mrs. John
son. however, believes that her son
was killed on the Richmond. Fredcr-
icksbureh and Potomac Railroad track
on March 14th last. He is said TO have
disappeared from home on March 18th
The next day two white men were
killed on the Richmond, fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad. between Tay-
louisville and boswell, One of these
bodies was later recognized as that Of
man named Duke. and was forwarded
to relatives in Texas. The other was
unidentified, and was buried on the
south side Of fife track not far from
the scene of the accident In the
meanwfle the body of a second uni
Identified man was rescued from the
James River, near Haxall's station.
This occurred IN April and on Fri
day, April cath, this second body was
inferred in the Potters Field in Hen
rico county.
On May lst Mrs. N. a, Gordon, of
1909 North Twenty Street ap-
piled to Henrico County Coroner w.
A. Deas for permission to disinter the
body. stating that she was haunted
by the fear that it was that of her
missing son, Alphonso Gordon. The
examination was made but without
Identification,
Mrs. Johnson. Early Trials.
Later, Mrs. johnson called on Coro-
ner Taylor stating that she feared the
body buried in Hcnrico county was
that OF her lost son,
She was referred to Sheriff Kemp,
of Henrico county. The sheriff grant
ed permission TO open the grave.
Mrs Johnson next sought Constable
Charles o. Burch, OF ienrico county
the man who first rescued the un-
known body from the James River
He also disinterred 1t for Mrs Cor
don, though it was not Identified.
For one reason or another the sec.
ond investigation was postponed from
time to time but Mrs Johnson pre-
tcstaa that she intended to have me
grave Cpened, as she was persuaded i
Contained the bones of her son. Sh,
caula recognize the corpse, she SAID
by SONG indentation to be foaal a.
the Irouta bone Of the skull. Her b?,
had -ecelved a terrific blow on iii
head Hnen ctild, and she believe
he %paid carry the scar to the grave
rnrch Identifies Body.
Suddenly, on June Sth, informatio
reached lie city through Constaol
Eurct that he, with Mrs. Johnson an
friend Of the latter named r. L
STANLEY had visited the grave of 4.
unidentified dead on the Richmond
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroa
between Taylorsvillc and boswell, an
had d!sinterred the body. which was In
mediately recognized as Russell Ioht
son. The son missing since March lSt;
Identification was the more readn
affected II was claimed, by means ,
cap, which was found lying in III
wooden box Enclosing the casket prone
The body was further Identified hy
rear which was found in the centr
nj the forehead.
According to Constable Rurch, III
bony WAS gwen over 10 Undertake
Hennett, who prepared !, for buris
and shipped ii TO Nelson county.
Yesterday Constable Burch. accom-
panied by Mrs. Johnson, visited II
cftces OF the metropolitan Life Insu
snce Company and stated that he cou
Il recognize this dead man as the son
ss Mrs Johnson by the facial resemblan
between the two.
An altogether novel feature IN u