Southampton-Buckingham County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Newspapers.....Murder-Suicide, 1916 

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"The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Vol. 66, No. 2, Mon., Jan. 3, 1916. 
   p. 1, col. 4 

CUTS HIS WIFE'S THROAT AND BRAINS HER WITH AX 
          ____________ 

Former Postmaster at Ivor Then Blows Own Head Off With Shotgun. 
          ____________ 

CAUSE OF TRAGEDY UNKNOWN 
          ____________ 

Murder and Suicide Attributed to Insanity - Note Is Left for 
  Undertaker Giving Instructions as to Disposal of Bodies. 
          ____________ 

   [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] 

  NORFOLK, VA., January 2. - W.E. Johnson, for sixteen years postmaster of 
Ivor, and a Confederate veteran, cut his wife's throat, brained her with an 
ax, and then blew his own head off with a shotgun at their home this morning 
at 7 o'clock. 

  The tragedy occurred at the Johnson home in Ivor, while Mrs. Johnson was in 
the kitchen preparing breakfast.  Her husband entered shortly before 7 
o'clock, and, seizing his wife, slashed her several times about the neck with 
a razor.  He then struck her over the head with an ax, and, retiring to the 
front yard, placed the barrel of his shotgun in his mouth and pulled the 
trigger. 

  The murder and suicide had only one witness - the colored cook of Mrs. R.M. 
Herrin, a neighbor.  The woman arrived on the scene in time to see the ax 
weilded and the gun fired.  She knew nothing of the incidents that led up to 
the killing, and neighbors are unable to account for the act, except on the 
theory of temporary insanity.  Last summer Mr. Johnson suffered a stroke of 
paralysis, but apparently had recovered.  The loss of a small investment in 
Hopewell is also recalled by friends of the dead man, but neither of these 
misfortunes is believed to have been sufficient to lead to the commission of 
murder and suicide. 

POSTMASTER AT IVOR FOR SIXTEEN YEARS 

  Mr. Johnson was postmaster of Ivor for about sixteen years, retiring with 
the advent of the Democratic administration.  Since that time he and his wife, 
by second marriage, lived comfortably in their home together.  While not 
wealthy, the Johnsons were considered in good circumstances.  Mr. Johnson was 
about seventy yers of age, and his wife, who was a Miss Gregory, of Dillwyn, 
was fifteen years younger.  Surviving are several children of Mr. Johnson by 
his first wife, and Daniel Bowden, of Norfolk, a half-brother. 

  The suicide left two notes, one addressed to E.N. Johnson, an undertaker, 
giving instructions as to the disposal of the bodies, and the other to F.B. 
Pulley, a justice of the peace, who has not yet opened the document. 
          ____________ 

  E.D. Gregory, of Dillwyn, only brother of Mrs. W.E. Johnson, who was 
murdered yesterday at Ivor by her husband, arrived in Richmond last night by 
automobile, on his way to Ivor.  He attributed the murder and suicide to 
insanity on the part of Mr. Johnson.  He said that for some time his sister 
had feared that her husband was losing his mind.  Several weeks ago she had 
written to Mr. Gregory telling of her husband's peculiar actions, and asking 
him to visit her, that he might advise her what to do.  Mr. Gregory had 
intended to go to Ivor within a few days.  Mr. Gregory is a prominent real 
estate operator, and for ten years was postmaster at Dillwyn. 

****************************************************************************** 

"Alexandria (VA) Gazette," [Vol. CXXXII, No. 2,] Mon., Jan. 3, 1916. 
   p. 3, col. 3-4 [masthead, p. 1, actually still gives "December"] 

VIRGINIA NEWS 
     _____ 

[...] 

  W.E. Johnson, for 16 years postmaster at Ivor, Isle of Wight [sic] county, 
cut his wife's throat, crushed her head with an ax and then blew off his own 
head with a shotgun.  The tragedy occurred at Johnson's home in Ivor while 
Mrs. Johnson was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.  Johnson was paralyzed 
last summer, but apparently had recovered.  He also sustained a small 
financial loss by the failure of an he made at Hopewell. 
     _____ 

****************************************************************************** 

donated article 
   posted with Find a Grave Mem. #185495041 

     MURDER AND SUICIDE 

  W. E. Johnson, for sixteen years postmaster of Ivor, Va., and a Confederate 
veteran, cut his wife's throat, brained her with an ax, and then blew his own 
head off with a shotgun at their home Sunday.  The awful tragedy occurred when 
Mrs. Johnson was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.  Her husband entered 
shortly before 7 o'clock, and, seizing his wife, slashed her several times 
about the neck with a razor.  He then struck her over the head with an ax, 
and, retiring to the front yard, placed the barrel of his shotgun in his mouth 
and pulled the trigger. 


Laura E. (GREGORY; Mrs. William E.) JOHNSON, former postal clerk, 
b. 16 Apr 1860, Buckingham Co., murdered 2 Jan 1916, at home, Ivor, 
interred in the JOHNSON family cemetery*, near Ivor, 4 Jan 1916 

William E. JOHNSON, former Postmaster of Ivor, Confederate veteran, 
b. 13 Jul 1846, Southampton Co., suicide 2 Jan 1916, at home, Ivor, 
interred in the JOHNSON family cemetery*, near Ivor, 4 Jan 1916 

*location not known (Sep 2017) to the Southampton County Historical Society 
   {SCHS} Cemetery Project. 

Laura's birthdate &c. from D.Cert. #2454 (B&I #1). 
   William's birthdate &c. from D.Cert. #2455 (B&I #2). 
   Both show that E.N. Johnson, of Ivor, was indeed the undertaker. 

No follow-up stories were found in the next few issues of either newspaper. 

A "W.E. Johnson" served in the Southampton Cavalry - Co. A/13th Va. Cav., CSA. 
   (Daniel T. Balfour. "Franklin and Southampton County in the Civil War," 
    1ed., Appomattox: Howard, 2002.  p. 97)  

However, the entry in the regimental history is problematic.  It states that 
   W.E. Johnson only appears as a private, paroled 9 Apr 1865 at Appomattox. 
   It then states b. 26 Jan 1871 {obvious error} & d. 21 Feb 1927 in Franklin. 
   (Daniel T. Balfour. "13th Virginia Cavalry," 1ed., 
    Lynchburg: Howard, 1986.  p. 84)  

The author seems to confuse him with William Johnson (1846-1927), who is 
   buried in Poplar Spring Cemetery, Franklin - Section 2, Plot 8.  He applied 
   for a Confederate pension 9 Sep 1925, as a resident of Franklin.  He served 
   as a private in Co. I, 3rd NC Jr. Reserves.  No contemporaneous D.Cert. 
   found. 

The U.S. Appointments of Postmasters 1832-1971 gives Laura's brother Emmett D. 
   as Postmaster of Enonville, Buckingham Co.  The Register of Civil, Military 
   and Naval Service 1863-1959 (1903; Vol. 2, p. 376) gives Postmaster of 
   Dillwyn, 1 Jul 1903.  His obit ("Lynchburg News," May 9, 1933), posted with 
   Find a Grave Mems. #14188282, states he was also Mayor of Dillwyn.  He is 
   buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Bedford. 

Their parents, John L. & Sarah L. (DUNNAVANT) GREGORY, are buried in a GREGORY 
   family cemetery, Anderson Rd. (Rt. 640), Enonville. 
   (Find a Grave Mems. #134544209 & #134545192) 
   John served as a private in Co. K, 4th VA Cavalry, and Sarah applied for a 
   CS Widow's pension 10 May 1900. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/news/19160103td.txt