John H. Austin
Posted October 08, 2004


This fellow is buried in Hutchin's Cemetery (aka Broughton, aka Hutchinson) in Barbourville, and is right
across the street from Yeagar shoe store, up the hill to the left.

As you come up the road going into the cemetery, go right, and at the
curve, to your left is his grave, right beneath a good sized tree.

What I found on Microfilm at the Knox County Library, Thursday, October 14, 2004:

Knox County Kentucky, Friday May 22, 1936
Barbourville Mountain Advocate

KNOX MAN KILLS STEP DAUGHTER AND SELF

Objections to step-daughter's Marriage Given As Cause of Murder and Suicide.

John A. Austin, 59 of Bailey's Switch, Monday morning fired two bullets
into the head of his step-daughter. Mrs. Geneva Stewart, 20, and then
turned the tun on himself firing one shot into his head. Both were found dead
a few minutes after the shooting by an 11 year old boy, a neighbor,
whom Austin had sent to get some kindling.

For some time Austin had been under the care of a doctor and on Monday morning
he sent his wife for the physician apparantly to get her out of the way.
He had previously made threats to kill himself, his step-daughter and
her husband. Austin had disapproved of his step-daughter's marriage and this was
given as the cause of the murder and suicide.

Coroner C.V. Mitchell went to the austin home shortly after the shooting
and conducted an inquest. The jury returned a verdict of murder and suicide.

The 11 year old boy, a son of Henry Stewart, had gone to the Austin home
to take a note to Mrs. Geneva Stewart from her husband, Charlie Stewart.
He was sent after the kindling by Austin and while he was gone he heard
the shots. On going back to the home he found both the man and woman lying on the floor.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Hutchinson graveyard at Bailey's Switch.

I'll post the actual scanned copy I got from the library as soon as I get it scanned.

And on Geneva via Vital Statistics, Online:
GENEVA STEWART
Date 360518
Age 020
Place KNOX
Residence BARLEYS SMTCH
Volume 029
Cert 14221
Deathvol 36

I went back to Hutchins today to try to find her stone, and did, and I think, though I'm not
certain, that the stone next to hers is her mom's. The stones are identical in design.





The following are the other Stewarts I found in Hutchins, I'm not sure if any of them are
related or not. If you recognize any, and know, will you please drop me an email! Thanks!






If you have any information about him, or his death, or especially, information about his wife's
sister(s), or Geneva's sister(s) please drop me an email at:
imdhari@alltel.net

Thanks!

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