The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-24
ANOTHER TERRIBLE DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.
Shocking Murder of an Infant by its Father,
Who Afterwards Attempts Suicide-A Hus-
band Vino Is Not an EnOch Arden.

From the Sacramento Call Record, Nov. 49,
One OF the most appalling occurrences that 1t mas
took place in the environs OF this city last evening
A child about SIX Or seven months Old was brutay
murdered by Its father, who next tried to take his
own lIie 10 give our readers an Ineligible Idea OF
the matter we must go back to the commencement
OF the domestic difficulties which eliminated In the
terrible scene enacted last evening.
few years ago an elderly man, named Mitchell,
and his vile resided at Austin, Nevada. For some
reason unknown to anybody III this community they
separated and Mitchell lett for distant parts. Some
time afterwards tue wife learned that person bear
ing his name and answering TO his description had
been found dead In one OF the settlements In that
region. she accordingly married man named
Johnston-the subject OF this article. They lived
together until one child was born TO Them about
which time the former husband appeared upon The
scene; the old love returned to the wife, and with
her three chidren-two by Mitchell and one BY
Jobnston-she left the latter and went to live with
the former, with whom she subsequently removed to
this city. Johnston, 1t appears has been living
part OF the time at Austin, and more recently at
Nevada City, from which place he came to this city
a couple OF days SINCE
Last evening Johnston went to the house OF
Mitchell, which IS on Twenty-flrst street, near l.,
and asked 10 see his cnlld, remarklng that he was
going away TO Scotland and wished KISS the child
goodoy The mother handed the INFANT to him,
when, horrible 10 relate instead Of caressng It, he
held II by one arm, while he drew sharp DIRK knife
and actually ripped open ITS stomach the entire
bowelled, but lived some minutes afterwards diving
In the arms OF It's mother.
After this afroclous act the demon rushed at Nit
chell, who warded on blow aimed with the knife
aud grabbed Ratchet, when johnston rusned out
through the back door. AS he left he plunged the
dagger twice into his left side, one wound beng
above ana the other below tue heart. There
were couple or men about the place.
who gave instant chase, and at the corner
OF Sixteenth street overlook the fugitive
who seems to have made no further attempt at
suicide after leaving the house. With difficulty
ne captured and taken down street. Chief
Martz ana oncer Iryon meeting the party between
Fourth ana Fifth streets and taxing charge or the
prisoner, who by this time was very weak from loss
a W llr mil
Where his wounds were dressed.
While the doctor was probing the wounds Johnston
appeared TO be IN great pam, and frequently prayed
that he might die, saying that his wiie had brought
disgrace and ruin upon him. After q while he was
assisted into hack ana taken to the hospital. He
stated 10 those about him that at tho time he killed
the child and stabbed himself he also took heavy
dose Of murlatc acid, as though to make his work
doubly sure. HIS wounds were very severe though
he seemed TO suffer little or inconvenience from
the acid he had taken. The act appears 10 have
been premeditated as he had written the following
letter some tune during the day, which he handed 10
Chief Martz when arrested
take my child with me in orser Ina, shame AND disgrace s
may not lal on her The sarah Johnston--now Sarah
Nevada she everything and ief, ms
Ia dept Please bury my chld With me- They all Nor.
'' - '''D y 10y 'H'' A B. S G. g JohS s5fF1
Johnston is said 30 be man OF sober habits and
1 has several acquaintances among business men M
TINS CITY, We cannot account for the awful crime he
/ has committed except through temporary lnsanty,
caused by the sad circumstances related above. II
|
cOuiu ne so lost 70 humanity and parental affection
as U take the life Of his own CHILD IN cold blood.
| Mitchell ~ said to be engaged ia the shoemaking
business on asnal scale IN tins city, and IL consd-
! eiaDly beyond middle age The airar Is one calcu-
latea 70 send thrill OF horror through the commu
| MY When US details shall become known. At last
accounts johnston was alive, but In considerable
| pam.
HOW rwo INDIAN MuRDKRERs ATTEMPTED SUI
| CiDE.-lhe singular attempt Of tue Indian convicts
Horse Driver aud Little Wolf, TO commit suicide al
| Omaha on the nth inst, has already been an
| nounced bY telegraph. The Omaha Republican
i gives the following description OF this attempt:-
AFTER dinner, Horse Driver and Little Wolf secured
STICK apiece and proceeded o put an end 10 them.
| selves as Iollows:-Lttle Vol fell into posses
SION OF the shortest stick, o round rod OF
| hard wood about six inches la LENGTH sharp.
/ ened somewhat at end. This he drove
/ by the exertlon OF much force by pressing
against the wall, about an incn and q quarter into
his chest, between the r0s IL took good Jerk on
! the part OF Jaor Reese TO pun the implement OF
destruction from the place where IL was Embedded
Horse Driver, whose atlck waa about a foot and a
hall In length thrust 1t down his throat until not
sign OF 1t WIS 10 be seen. The two however AFTER
| they had thus ''stckedu themselves could moi
refrain from natural groanings, and 80 their games
were discovered. Several doctors were sent for one
OF whom pulled the stick from the stomach OF Horse
Driver. IL is evident that both men have gwen
themselves bad wounds, but 1t s not thought either
| will produce death.n