Thompson, Martha Ellen Scarbrough

Passed:

Age: 24

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1911-09-22

Information: Mrs. Martha Ellen Thompson, aged 24 years, was brutally murdered Monday, while picking beans in a corn field near her home, which is in Poca district, not far from Sissonville, Kanawha county.  The body was found at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and the woman had evidently been dead several hours.  Two ugly wounds were found in the back of the head, indicating that death had been the result of blows inflicted with a blunt instrument.  After a coroner's inquest was held, warrants were issued for Levi, Nina, and Perry Johnson. Perry Johnson was sent to the Kanawha County jail to answer a charge of murder.  The others were released by Squire Vandine.  The tragedy is supposed to have been the outcome of domestic troubles.  Mrs. Thompson had been married, but lived apart from the husband. It is said that she was living, at the time of her death, with Levi Johnson, although not legally separated from Thompson, who lives in Washington district, this county.  Last January the murdered woman and Levi Johnson, father of the accused, were convicted of adultery and served 30 days in the county jail.   (Betty Kessel McIntyre)