Evening star., 1934-12-30
Mrs. Nora NJ. Slabaugh Dies
While Husband and Son
Aid Infant.
FAULTY WATER HEATER
BLAMED FOR TRAGEDY
Daughter and Daughter-in-Law
of Dead Woman Narrowly
Escape Death.

Sdl PO4oOlA4lAS PAONS~
fatal yesterday to one member Of a
Takoma ID. c. family and almost
killed. two others before aid arrived.
Mrs Nora M. Slabaugh, 48, of 1902
Fourth street, died while her hus-
band and son by previous marriage
were in search of assistance for her
14-month-old grandson, the first
member of the family to be stricken.
Her daughter, Virginia Perry, II,
and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Helen
Johnston, %, were overcome and
were near death when the husband
and son returned from Sibley Hospi-
tai where they had taken the infant.
F. L. Slabaugh, the dead womans
husband, and his stepson, James
Johnston, sr., 20, were slightly af-
fected by the fumes, but recovered
fully after treatment by physician.
Mystery Surrounds Death.
Considerable mystery was thrown
about Mrs. Slabaughs death when her
husband reported to police that she
had died shortly after eating break
fast. 1t was first feared the whole
family was suffering from food poison
ing, but an autopsy by Coroner A.
'Magruder Macdonald showed carbon
monoxide poisoning was the cause of
death.
A check-up Of heating apparatus
In Slabaugh's combination home and
barber shop revealed that a faulty
water heater was emitting the fumes.
Grief-stricken, Slabaugh told last
night how the Christmas week tragedy
occurred. He said he had arisen about
7:10 and, as was his custom, went
Immediately into the barber shop to
straighten up preparatory to opening
Tor business.
Wife Lighted Water Heater.
Mrs. Slabaugh got up at the same
time, lighted the water heater and
prepared to cook breakfast. Slabaugh
himself never eats the morning meal
and he was not in the living quarters
during the repast.
The first thing he noticed, he said,
was when the baby, James Johnston,
Jr., began vomiting. When he went
to see what was wrong, he found
the child's mother acting peculiarly,
but said he thought she merely was
distraught over the infants condi-
ton.
Alarmed when the baby steadily be-
he ord tho ave-
father decided to take the child to
a doctor. They left in the family au-
tomobile and rushed to the home of
DR. L. J. Clements, 512 B street north
east.
From there I called back to the
house to see how the others were
getting along" Slabaugh said, but
there was no answer. I thought at
the time that perhaps they didn't
realize who was calling and didn't
care to be disturbed.
Baby Taken to Hospital.
''The doctor told us we had better
take the baby to Sibley Hospital for
observation; that he did not think
his condition was serious, but that
1t probably would better If he was
looked over thoroughly.
When I got to the hospital I
called the house again, but still there
was no answer. Then told my STEP
son we had better hurry home, per-
haps the rest of the family was ILL.,"
Arriving home, the two men found
Mrs. Slabaugh breathing her last and
the two younger women unconscious
and apparently suffering great pain.
DR.. Charles T. Carroll, 6801 Sixth
street, was summoned and he ad-
nlinistered first aid to Miss Perry and
Mrs. Johnston, who was sent to Ener-
gency Hospital, where she remained
over night.
Mrs. Slabaugh, who was left a
widow by her first two marriages, will
be buried at Lee Chapel, Va, tomor-
row after services at 1870 o'clock at
the funeral home of William j. Nally,
522 H street southeast.
Survivors, in addition to her hus-
band, son, daughter, daughter -in-law
and grandson, include another son,
William Johnston, "a, of Washington;
a brother, Stanley Beach, of Washing
ton, and six sisters, Mrs. Katie Har-
per, Detroit; Mrs. Estelle Uebele, Mrs.
Isabel Russell, Mrs. Ida Haggard, Mrs.
Jane Abel and Mrs. Anna Green, all
OF Washington.