Aged Couple Burned to Death Sept. 27, 1934 Henderson Co., TX

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.

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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

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