>From the Chattanooga Free Press,Oct.20 1933. JOHNSON GUILTY OF MURDER, GETS LONG PEN TERM. La Follette Filling Station Operator Convicted of Burning Entire Family- Gets 21 Years. Jacksboro,Tenn,Oct.20,1933. "Finis" was written to one of the most sensational murder cases in the history of the state,when a Campbell County circuit court jury gave Floyd Johnson 21 years here Tuesday morning for the murder of his wife and three children. He was found guilty of first degree murder.The case against the 27 year-old La Follette filling station operator originated on the night of August 31 when the Johnson home, on the outskirts of the city,was totally destroyed by fire,Mrs. Johnson and her three small children perishing in the flames.The state charged that Johnson murdered members of his family and then set flames to his home to destroy evidence of his guilt The prosecution claimed that Johnson had reasons for wanting to get his wife out of the way.At the time of the tragedy it was claimed that she was an invalid,having been confined to her bed for weeks prior to her untimely death. While there was much sensational evidence produced at the hearing,the outcome of the case seemed to hinge on the testimony of Eules Anderson, who took the stand and swore that he visited the Johnson home the night of the tragedy and that Johnson approached him with an offer to burn his (Johnson's) house.Anderson said he and Johnson were drinking heavily,but that he refused to accept the offer.The defene tried to impeach Anderson's testimony,resulting in the latter being arrested,but later being released on perjury charges. ANOTHER STAR WITNESS. Another important witness, whose testimony probably saved Johnson from the chair,was Rev.J.H.Torrey,who told how he heard an explosion which was followed by screams,which he took to be those of a woman or a child. This indicated that Mrs.Johnson was alive when the house burst into flames.In pushing it's charges,the state proved that Johnson had to crawl over the bed, alleged to have been occupied by his wife and children, to reach the window through which he escaped.Johnson didn't deny this,but claimed that he remembered nothing about the affair, excepting a vague memory of hearing his wife say,"Oh Lord,Floyd," and a sound which he took to be that of one of the children falling off the bed. When the flames had been subdued, the body of Mrs.Johnson,face down,was found over in an opposite corner of the room,with the charred remains of the three children huddled close by. The ???? claimed that they were first murdered and then piled iin the corner of the room. Johnson took the verdict very calmy,but his attorneys announced their intentions of asking for a new trial,the grounds of their claims being stated later. Karen.