Athens Weekly Review
Sept. 27, 1934
Aged Couple Burned To Death When Home
Destroyed
Believed to have been burned alive following the explosion
of a coal oil lamp. Mr. and Mrs. W. T. German, well known
residents of Henderson county, died early Tuesday evening in a
fire that swept through the German farm home, two and a fhalf
miles Northeast of Stockard . The aged couple perished in the
fire and smoke that enveloped the structure. The bodies were
burned beyond recognition.
News of the tragedy sent hundreds of persons from Athens
and other communities to the scene during the hours of Tuesday
night. Citizens who rushed to he fire wer forced to stand by,
unable to cope with the raging inferno that destroyed the farm
home.
HOME TOTALLY DESTROYED
The GERMAN home, occupied by the couple for many years,
was totally destroyed as the flames quickly swept through its six
rooms. Only the two chimneys of the comfortable dwelling
remained standing this morning. A smoldering pile of debris
marked the spot where the aged couple had met tragic
deaths.
One theory offered to explain the tragedy was that a coal
oil lamp had exploded, quickly igniting the room in which the
couple occupied, making escape impossible.
The body of Mr. GERMAN was found near a fire place where
he had usually slept on a cot. Mrs. GERMAN'S body was found
nearer the center of the room, and closer to the coal oil lamp
which some believe might have exploded to cause the fire and the
tragedy. The bodies were lying within three feet of each
other.
Mr. GERMAN'S Colt pistol of large calibre was found near
his body. It was thought, however, that the pistol, which
was usually kept in a nearby trunk, had been left where it was
found after the flames had consumed the trunk and its inflamable
contents. There was no way of telling whether or not the
pistol had been in or out of the trunk at the time the fire
started. The pistol, its handle burned away, was brought to
the Carroll & Lehr funeral home by Mr. LEHR.
FULTON STATEMENT
In a statement made to Justice of the Peace B. C. HALL at
the inquest held at the home site, HUGHIE FULTON said that he
heard noises about 8:30 o'clock while at his home, which is
located some 150 yards from the GERMAN residence. "I
was eating supper at the time," FULTON said. "My
wife first discovered the fire and told me. I came to the
South gate entering the GERMAN yard. When I got there the
front room was the only room burning. The roof was fixing
to fall in, in that room. I called to Mr. GERMAN but got no
reply. I then went to the BERT DAVIS home and told
him."
DAVIS STATEMENT
DAVIS made the following statement at the inquest:
"I was at my home asleep about 8:40 o'clock on the night of
September 25th when HUGHIE FULTON woke me up and told me Mr.
GERMAN'S house was burning. I went to the GERMAN home at
once. When I got there the house was all afire. I
could not see anybody in the house. The East end was
falling in."
BODIES BROUGHT HERE
JOHN LEHR of Carroll & Lehr funeral home, drove to the
fire at 12:00 o'clock (midnight), returned to Athens, and then
went back to the fire at 2 o'clock to get the bodies. The
bodies, however, could not be properly removed from the debris
until daylight. The heads, arms and legs on each body had
been completely burned away, leaving only the torso. The
bodies were brought to the Carroll and Lehr funeral home.
THEORIES ABOUT
FIRE DIFFER
The theory advanced by some that the aged couple was
murdered before the house was set in flames, has been discounted
by Justice of the Peace HALL and undertaker LEHR. Each
believes that the fatal fire originated from the explosion of an
oil lamp. "I think," said Justice HALL,
"that a murder and fire would have been staged at a later
hour than that of Tuesday evening's tragedy."
SHERIFF NOT SATISFIED
Sheriff SWEETEN said at noon that he was not satisfied
with closing the matter without having and inquiry and announced
an exhaustive investigation of the fatal fire. Sheriff
SWEETEN visited the scene of the tragedy last night and again
this afternoon in pushing his investigation.
LONGTIME RESIDENTS
Mrs. GERMAN, 74, was a native citizen of Henderson
county. Mr. GERMAN, 72, was born in Mississippi, coming to
Texas in 1884. He married Mrs. GERMAN, the former Miss JANE
SLAUGHTER, in 1886, and the couple had since made their home in
this county. They had lived on the farm on which they died
for the past thirty-three years.
Mr. GERMAN was one of Henderson county's most substantial
farmers.
SIX CHILDREN SURVIVE
The deceased are survived by six children, one child
having died a number of years ago. The living
children: Mrs. EARL PACE, Athens; R. T. GERMAN,
Odessa, Texas; G. S. GERMAN, Beaumont; Mrs. N.
PRUITT, Austin; Mrs. ROY WINLAND, Mexia; and Mrs. J.
E. HIGGINS, Minneapolis, Minnesota. R. T. GERMAN arrived at
9 o'clock this morning. Mrs. PRUITT also arrived early
today. Mrs. HIGGINS is not expected to arrive until
Thursday night.
The children were notified of the death of their parents
Tuesday night by GEORGE PACE, who sent telegrams to them.
In addition to their children the deceased couple is
survived by nine grand children.
FUNERAL
ARRANGEMENTS TENTATIVE
It was tentatively announced this afternoon that funeral
services would not be held before Friday. The services will
probably be held at the First Baptist Church with Rev. M. L.
FULLER, pastor, in charge, the Review was informed by relatives
of the deceased couple. Definite announcement as to funeral
arrangements will probably be made Thursday morning.
*******************************************************
Three men were accused of the murder of WILLIAM and
JANE. 1. ELMER PRUITT -- It took them two years to
find him. He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death
in the electric chair. 2. HUEY FULTON -- I am
assuming this was the same HUGHIE FULTON in the article above who
was their neighbor. He was tried, found guilty and
sentenced to death. 3. ARTIE COOK -- He was tried, found
guilty and given a 99 year sentence. Articles relating to
the hunt for these men, their trials, appeals, etc. can be found
in the book, INDEXED WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, ATHENS, TEXAS, 40 YEARS
WITH ANTHOLOGY, compiled by Robert W. Strain. You will have
to get the numbers from the book and go to the Trinity Valley
Community College in Athens to get copies of these articles.
Transcribed by Debra Tucker
Old Newspaper Articles of Henderson County
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