Obituaries: John T. Perkins, 1934, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 19, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise

Services For Victim Of Fire Held Wednesday

Relative of Winnfield People Found Dead in Monroe Hotel

Funeral services for John T. Perkins, about 45, of Shreveport, who was
asphyxiated in a Monroe hotel room early Tuesday when his bed clothing caught
fire, was held from the family residence in Shreveport at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday,
with the Rev. Jasper K. Smith, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
officiating.  Interment was in the Greenwood Cemetery with the Masonic order
in charge.

Body Found Near Door

Perkins' body was found near the door of his hotel room at about 2 a.m.,
approximately one hour after he had talked by long distance telephone with his
wife in Shreveport.  After the conversation he left word with a hotel clerk to
call him at 5:30 a.m.

The tragedy was discovered by J. T. Kirby, hotel engineer, and a bellboy, who
went to Perkins' room to investigate when a woman guest on the seventh floor
called the clerk and reported that she smelled the odor of burning cotton.

From the position of Perkins body it was apparent that he had attempted to
escape from the room.

When the hotel employees entered the room the mattress was still blazing.  The
fire department was called but the fire was extinguished before firemen
arrived.

Rushed To Hospital

Perkins was rushed to a Monroe sanitarium in an ambulance, but was dead when
carried into the building.  The official verdict by Dr. W. L. Bendel, acting
coroner, was death through asphyxiation.

Perkins was district salesman for the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana and
had been a resident of Shreveport for many years.  He was a 32nd degree Mason
and a Shriner.  He is survived by his widow; two daughters, E. G. McCalla and
Ruth Louise Perkins, and a son, John T. Perkins, Jr.

Mr. Perkins was was a nephew of Mrs. H. J. Perkins of Winnfield and when a
child made his home with her.  Among the relatives from Winnfield attending
the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Averett, Mr. and Mrs. Walter W.
Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Allen, Mrs. H. J. Perkins.  Rev. B. C. Land,
pastor First Baptist Church, attended also.