John H. Irons

John H. Irons

Thon Book No. 3

John Irons, 71, and Ruth Robinson, 28, both of Lusk, were discovered suffocated from smoke in the Irons basement home in east Lusk shortly before midnight Saturday night by Gilbert Immel.

The woman's body was badly burned on the bed which had apparently caught fire from her smoking. Irons had been in bed in a separate room.

Immel and Mrs. Robinson had been living here as man and wife, he told officers. Held in the county jail at first, he was released Sunday when officers became convinced of the circumstances concerning the deaths. Immel said he went to the Irons home Friday night, and finding no one returned again Saturday night when he broke in the door window and discovered the tragedy. He immediately reported the incident to Highway Patrolman Gene Curtis.

Officers learned that Irons and Mrs. Robinson had attended a drinking party Thursday night. About 11:30 the two left the party. Both were seen in downtown Lusk Friday and near the Iron residence Friday evening. Officers assume that the couple perished sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning.

NO FOUL PLAY INDICATED
There was no indication of violence. An autopsy was performed here and Dr. S. S. Zuckerman, Wyoming State Pathologist at Cheyenne, confirmed the belief that death was caused from carbon monoxide.

The mattress on which the woman had been lying was completely burned to ashes, but officers explain that the lack of oxygen in the tightly closed house prevented the fire from spreading. She was known to have had the habit of smoking in bed and at least one other time caught bedding afire. It is reasoned that she died of suffocation before the body was burned. There was no sign of a struggle.

Officers investigating the case included Sheriff Ben Brown, County Attorney James E. Barrett, and Patrolmen M. S. Jordan and Gene Curtis. An inquest will be conducted by coroner George Earl Peet.

ROBINSON BURIED TUESDAY
Mrs. Robinson was buried in the Lusk cemetery Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. Jacob Nein conducting a short graveside service. Her mother, finally located in Los Angeles after an extensive telephone search, had had no idea where her daughter was and gave instructions to bury her here. It was learned that she also has a son, John Henry Presley, whose age is unknown.

IRONS SERVICES WED.
Funeral services for Irons were conducted from the Peet Chapel at 2:00 Wednesday afternoon with Rev. Jacob Nein officiating. Mrs. H. J. Templeton served as organist. Mrs. Emerson Bonner and Mrs. Frank Bozart sang "In The Garden" and "Beautiful Isle." Casket bearers were Jalmer Thon, John Gaythe, Henry Spinning, R. O. Bump, J. L. Rice and Arthur Grimes.

John H. Irons was born in Ironsburg, Tenn., Sept. 23, 1882, the son of John and Nancy Cartright Irons. He spent his early years in Tennessee and came to Northeastern Nebraska as a young man. On July 31, 1911 he was united in marriage to Miss Grace Odell, at Dakota City, Nebr.. To this union were born five children.

IRONS OBITUARY
Irons with his family came to Wyoming and located on a homestead 18 miles south of Lusk in 1914 and resided in this locality since that time. In 1934 he remarried and two children were born. He is survived by three sons: William of Mexico, Edward of South Sioux City, Nebr. and Burdette of Lusk; and Mrs. Viola Cole of South Sioux City, Nebr.; also 13 grandchildren, one brother and two sisters. One daughter preceded him in death.

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