Another Murder in the Family
Another murder has come to light involving one of my cousins
This time the murder was in Michigan USA and my cousin was the culprit
John Howard Shorney
(my 3rd cousin twice removed)
John Howard Shorney was born in Aston Birmingham England on 4 Oct 1903 and emigrated with his family to the USA in 1905.
In 1910 he lived in Chicago Illinois and then moved with his family to Bay City in Michigan where his father became a Pastor at the Wall Street Baptist Church. In June 1926 he married a nurse, Alberta Eleanor Cheney in Jackson, Michigan.
On 4 July 1929 his wife Alberta was found severely injured at their home with their 15 month old son asleep in his cot upstairs. Alberta was taken to the Foote Memorial Hospital Jackson where she died of her injuries.
Beaten with a Furnace Shaker
At first John Howard Shorney stated he had found his wife after coming home but he later changed his story and admitted to police that he had carried out the offence after his wife had admitted that their child was not his. He is said to have beaten her head with a furnace shaker (a poker). Alberta's death certificate states that she died of multiple fractures of the skull and lacerations of the brain.
The trial of John Howard Shorney opened on 9th October 1929 and following many days of evidence and defence the jury gave their verdict on 26th Oct 1929.
The verdict was guilty of 2nd degree murder. The judge deliberated announcing the sentence on 30th October of 35 - 50 years. John Howard Shorney was sent to the Michigan State Prison in Jackson
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR CHILD ?
The argument that led to the death of Alberta was about their son who Alberta admitted was not John Howard Shorney's. Their son had been born on 11 May 1928 in Jackson Michigan and was given the name Richard Shorney. At the time of the murder he was in his cot upstairs. Following the events he was taken to the home of his grandparents Elmer & Grace Cheney (Alberta's parents) at 113 Stanley Ave Jackson. By 1935 he had been adopted by Earl Henderson Brown & Adrienne Louise Cheney (the sister of Alberta) Richard then had the name Richard Earl Brown. In 1935 the family were living in Colbert County Alabama and by 1940 had moved to Hempstead Nassau County New York State. Richard was a doctor and was married to Louise for 68 Years before his death on 2 Feb 2021 in Mesa Maricopa County Arizona.
PAROLE
John H Shorney was given parole on 2 Oct 1946 after spending 16 years in prison. On 9th Oct he is listed as living at Mercer Island Seattle Kings County Washington State. In March 1948 he was back in Battle Creek Michigan where he married Bessie Mae Eckert and by 1950 he was the proprietor and manager of a Paint Store in Battle Creek. he retired in 1970. He died at Leila Hospital Battle Creek on 21 April 1973.
.jpg)