Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison Daily News
Saturday November 1, 1879

Funeral of Police Officer Joseph E. Johnson
The funeral of the murdered officer, Joseph E. Johnson, took place Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock, from the residence of deceased on Crawford street, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was largely attended. The procession left the residence in the following order:
First, Denison Artillery company, followed by the Gate City Guards, the hearse, carriages containing the relatives of the deceased, carriages with the mayor, members of the city council, city and county officials, citizens in carriages and a large number on horseback and on foot.
An impressive funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Kone. Three rounds were fired over the grave of the departed officer by the Gate City Guards, where th earth was heaped over his last remains.
Officer Joseph E. Johnson was a native Texas. He was born in Harrison county on the 18th day of Sept., 1853. He came to this city about sixteen months ago and by his gentlemanly deportment and temperate habits soon gained the esteem and confidence of the community. On June 11th last when the present city administration came into office, Johnson was elected Police Officer, a position which he has since held and the duties of which he has discharged to the perfect satisfaction of his superiors and in a manner which elicited the respect and admiration of all. By his untimely end the city has lost an able and efficient officer, society a useful member and the writer of this, who, by reason of his position was thrown in daily contact with him, and who, during these few months that they were thus connected, had learned to love and esteem him for his many noble qualities, has lost a true and highly valued friend, whose memory will remain dear to him through life.
A few weeks ago, September 18th, deceased was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Bailey, an estimable young lady of Corsicana. With what anxiety he awaited the day which was to unite him to the being he so fervently loved; how he saved to provide a comfortable home for her; and now when he had at last reached the goal of his ambition, when he was united to her who was so dear to him, in possession of an honored position, enjoying the esteem of his superiors, his associates and of the community in which he lived, surrounded by all which makes life desirable, and in the early bloom of his manhood, to be cut down by the hand of a miserable Negro thief, is indeed sad.
To the sorrowing young wife, to the distressed sister, who in a few brief months has lost a darling husband and a dear brother, both by Negro desperadoes, under similar circumstances, to his young brother and to the other relatives, the NEWS extends its most heartfelt sympathies.

Denison Daily News
Saturday November 1, 1879

The Coroner's Inquest
The following is the testimony given by Constable Spence before the coroners' jury Friday. Mr. Spence, accompanied Policeman Johnson to the house to arrest the Negro Porter and was present when he was killed.
At about 9 o'clock p.m., Oct. 30th, 1879, deceased and myself went to the house of Mr. John Hayes to arrest a party accused of stealing a coat of W. M. Bennett. We went into the house; I lit the lamp; I found a party in bed and asked his name; he told me his name; he told me his name was Chas. Henry; I then asked deceased and a Negro who went with us to identify the party, to come round and see if this was the party; the Negro identified him (Henry) as the party who had stolen the coat; I then told Henry to get up and put on his clothes, and whilst dressing deceased asked Henry what his name was; he then stated that his name was Charles Johnson; deceased then wrote it down on a piece of paper, which is here produced; Johnson then got out of bed and was looking around for his shoes, and while looking the light went out; Chas. Johnson then walked toward the door, as I thought, to push the door too; I p ushed him back and told him to dress and get ready to go down to town; he then stepped back; I then told deceased to strike a light, and before he did a shot was fired; I then drew my pistol and fired, in direction of the flash; two shots were fired by Chas. Johnson and two by myself; at this time the back door fell down and the front door opened, and two persons ran out of back door, and one at front door. At this time, I heard a woman groaning; did not know if she had been hurt; I ran out front door; heard something in the weeds; moving in a southern direction; gave chase in that direction; did not see anything and returned to the house met the Negro at the corner of the house, and said that a man was dead; I asked him what man; he said that policeman. I went into the yard and found Joseph E. Johnson lying dead. Heard no other shooting than the four shorts, fired in the house, two by myself and two by Chas. Johnson. I then went in pursuit of Chas. Johnson, after sending some one to care for the deceased.
The jury brought in a verdict in accordance with the above facts, which were confirmed in all essential particulars by the evidence of John Hayes and Julia Wilson - both colored - who ere in the house when the tragedy was enacted.
It is now pretty certain that Porter remained in town until towards daylight. A Negro reports having spoken with him not long after the murder was committed, in the alley in the rear of Libbe's saloon, on Main street, and he says Porter told him he had killed a policeman, but he supposed he was joking. Porter secreted himself on one of the freight trains which went north during the night. He was discovered at Caddo and recognized by Mr. George Cornelius, the brakeman on No. S. Cornelius fired two shots at him as he was entering a store, and Porter shot twice at Cornelius in return. Pursuit was immediately given, but the Negro escaped to the brush. Several parties immediately started out in pursuit of him, and it was reported here about noon that he had been surrounded in a thicket. City Marshal Hardwicke, Deputy U. S. Marshal Stephenson, Constable Spence, U. S. Deputy Marshal Tom Wright, W. H. Winn and several others left for Caddo on the noon train to join in the search for the murderer.