Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-21
LOCAL NEWS.
Henry johnson the Avenyer.


u
"uadame Aholiab'' the Feetune Teller.
The EXTRA STAR OF Yesterday, giving the
particulars OF the shocking tragedy on 9th
street, caused sensation in the community
approaching that on the occasion of the SINH
Iar Key -Sickles affs If, as one parties were well
known In Washington, Georgetown, and AIex-
andrIa. and have extensive and respectable
family connections l=l .
We reiterate seme Of the partic ulars given
by ns yesterday, in order to make continu-
narrative, and toSntroduce the testimony
at the eoroner's inquest -tr. +
Yesterday afternoon, about half-past two
O'Clock. the reports CT pistol shots were heard
by ne9hbors as coming from the house 223 9th
street north, between Massachusetts avenue
and X street. A few moments elapsed when
yospg woman came running out of the
hoase, and cried out that a man had been shot.
Another moment and a man was seen coming
oat OF the house and walking quickly down
The street
No attempt YVES made by any one to stop
him, and he. who proved TO be the person
firing the shot,'Aept on, and makingto the Gem
tral Gnardhouse, delivered himself up to the
Oflcer iB charge, Thomas Smeea, saying that
he had shot man whom he had tound in bed
with his wife. In the meantime the ne
spreads like wildfre in the vicinity of the
house in 9th street, and large crowd soon
collected. Drs. Behrend and Bowen had been
sent tor by some of the women in the house,
and these gentlemen shortly made their ap-
pearance, and passing into the house, up the
stars, into the room in the second story. north
side, discovered the body Of q man lying on
the floor, literally bathed in blood. He was
still breathing, but unconscious. In the fore
head, above the right eye, was discovered
bullet wound. and in the jaw was found an
other, bullet having passed from the left side
of the jaw over into the right, and through
both. The bullet in the forehead was probed
for, but only small fragment of it could be
found,lthe larger portion of 1t being evidently
embedded in the skull. Lieut.. Eckioff, of the
seventh precinct, who hah been sent for. ar
q ty puta ftar
the occurrence, and in few minutes after his
appearance the man bresthed his last. Bythis
TIME an immense crowd had assembled, and il
vas soon known that the man shot was one
Thos. S. Smoot, butcAer, and the murderer
as Henry johnson. and the canse Of the shoot
ing beng the Illicit connection OF Smoot with
Johnson's wife.
The avenger in this case was Henry John
son, butcher in Georgetown. ana the de-
ceased was named Henry s. Smoot, SON of
Hszeklah SmoOt, butcher, OF Alexandria, Va
Smoot served in the aT1h Virginia (Confed-
erate) infantry during portion of the war.
and on his return TO the District, being out of
employ ment, Mr.. Johnson hired him at $40
per week to assist hin. il the butchering busi-
ness III Georgetown Subsequently Johnson
assisted him 10 go into business on his own
account. While SsnG0t was with Johnson he
seems TO have formed s9n improper intimacy
with Johnsons Wife but the Intercourse was
managed so cautiously as not to attract her
husbands attention. The relations, however,
between Johnson and his WIFE, stated else
where, have been IN npleasant, and lately his
suspicions have been directed towards Smoot.
He discovered their place of meeting TO be at
the house OF Aholiab Sawyer, who lives at 223
Sth street, between Massachusetts avenue and
X street, in this city. The house is known to
many as the residence OF /" Madam Aholiab,"
the clalryoyant fortuae-teller, who was no
other than Mrs Sawye~, taking her husbands
first name. Readers of the Star will doubtless
rember seeing in the advertising columns the
following card.
MADAM AROLIAB az impressed medium
and clairyoyant, IS now prepared TO give life
reading TO all who wish 10 give her call re-
specting lost or stolen property, recovery of
the same, love, marriage, &c. Can also pre-
scribe successfully fer most ailments human
1iesh is heir 10. No. 32s 9TH street west, one
door from k.''
The house occupied by the Sawyers' is a
small, two-story frame, yellow front, owned
by John West, the colored piasterer, who Downs
several houses ia thai vicinity. 1t appears
that in October or November last Mrs John
son took SmOottO this house and introduced
bin as her husband, and engaged a room
there, saying thatstwas convenient for her TO
be In the vicinity of tie City Hall, as she had
Court business to attend TO. She agreed to
pay $40 month fer the room, she finding
meals for herself and paramour, IL not beng
convenient tor the Sawyer to furnish meals.
This room, in which the tragedy took place,
As a miserable little cell feet by 81, barely
large enough TO accom- Enodate a three q uarter
size bed, a bureau with toilet glass, and 8
wash-stand. 1t was, in fact, little recess
over narrow stairway, and had not space
Tor single chair even. In these miserable
quarters this degraded couple had cohabited.
at irregular intervals, tor months. and it is
here with delicacies freua her husbands own
table. She also supplied him with money
from her own pocket, being in possession Of
considerable means through the death of her
brother in Georgetown. The husband, as
above stated, made the. discovery OF their rem
dezvous, and stationing himself opposite the
house yesterday, watched until his wife en-
tered, when he followed her up stairs TO the
room occupied by the guilty pair. He states
that he found Smeot iylag on the bed dveeted
OF his clothes, save his pantaloons and SHIRT,
ana MRS. johnson was seated on the edge of
the bed, dallying with her paranour. John
son son salo 10 ths surprised par, How are
upon raised himself from the bed and sprang
towards the bureau as II TO get pistol, wnep
johnson fired twice and snapped the pistol
an Allen d Wheeler six chamber revolver
once. one ball taking effect jnst, over the right
corner of the right eye, and the other between
corner of the mouth. Smeot fell on the floor
and the guilty wife rushed out OF the room
and house, being apparently fearful of her
own life. johnson. however, states that he
had determined not TO harm her in auy event.
He walked out Of the house and made his way
TO the Central g uardhouse, giving himself up
10 oftcer Smeed, IN charge, saying that he had
shot man he found in bed wath his wife. He
was locked up in the cell. where he walked
the room, wrInging his hands, crying, and
speaking OF the disgrace brought upon his
family oy the conduct of his wife, and the
nngratefui return made by SEnoot fer all his
Kindness 10 him. johnson is ABOUT forty-four
years OF age is mild, pleasant looking man.
with blue eyes and sandy whiskers and hair
Mrs. johnson is rather q coarse LOOKING wo-
man, with red face, large nose, red hair and
plump In figure. They have three children
daughter, married. and two boys, aged
and II. Hft .-.. Z.
Henry johnson was born and raised In this
city, and was working at his trade OF carpen.
ter at the time OF his marriage with ais faith.
less wife, W hose maiden name was Crun baugh
Her reputation W as stainless up to the time
He had by his thrift and industry at the time
OF his marriage accumulated some little prop
erty, and himself and wife lived in q house in
South washington. near the Arsenal, for q
year or two very happily. They then me ved
into house which he had built on NJ street,
near q b, not tar north OF the Circle, In the
First Ward. Being very economical he con-
tinued TO accumulate property, and soon
owned several comfortable buildings adjoin-
ing his residence. He had lived there emily q
few years when the neighbors began TO sym
pathize with johnson as an injured husband,
and the rumoTs IS 10 his vife's faithlessness
reaching his ears he lost his former cheerful.
ness. although be stlll maintained his reputa-
ton as q good citizen. His wite's brother, Jno.
Crumbaugh, was at that time making money
rapidly al his business as q butcher in 9eorge-
town, and at his solicitation Johsson moved
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