"Johnny Thompson" was the possible name of a man who was stabbed at the Capitol Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 26, 1953. He also used the names Johnny Beaukins and John F. Hansen. A man was later convicted of manslaughter in his case.
Case[]
The victim was found unconscious on the second floor of the Capitol Hotel. He was rushed to the Salt Lake County General Hospital but died enroute. An autopsy determined his cause of death was from a stab wound near the center of the chest that pierced his heart.
The victim's two travel companions, Earlie Cecil Barber and Ellis Olie Hazelwood were booked into the county jail for questioning. The two stated that they just arrived from Portland, Oregon. They checked into the hotel, drank, then went to bed. According to Barber, when the trio woke, Hazelwood discovered his money was missing and accused the victim of stealing it. When the victim grabbed Hazelwood in a "serious" gesture, Hazelwood stabbed him in the chest. Hazelwood was eventually convicted of voluntary manslaughter. It is unknown if the victim actually stole money from him.
Although his companions knew the victim as "Johnny Beaukins", he checked into the hotel as "Johnny Thompson." Additionally, a paper found in his possession gave the name "John F. Hansen" of Portland, Oregon. According to authorities of Portland, a man matching the victim's description spent time at the Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, Washington. The Salt Lake City Police Department obtained John Hansen's next of kin's information. When his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Hansen of Aberden, Idaho, viewed the body at the Desert Mortuary in Salt Lake City, they stated the victim was not their son.
On May 5, 1953, the victim's body was sent to the University of Utah for disposal. It is unknown if The U is still in possession of the body.