The New York herald., 1876-02-11
DEATH Or REVERDY JOHNSON.
Sudden Taking OFF of the Distin-
guished Statesman.
lie is FOUND DEAD At GOVERNOR CAPROLpS

bALriAokk, hd, Feb. 10, 1876
The Hon. Reverdy johnson, the distinguished states.
man and jurist, was found dead this evening at a
quarter past eight the grounds surrounding the Ex
ecutive Mansion at Annapolis
Mr.. Johnson was the guest OF Governor Carroll and
dned this afternoon with other gentlemen at the Ex
ecutive Mansion. He was found dead in the yard by
servant
The SUMS special from Annapolis announcing the
death OF Mr. Johnson says
Nr. Johnson here last night to argue the case
of Baker VS. Frick, argued In the Court Of Appeals
day. BY invitation Of Governor Carroll he became his
guest at the Executive mansion To-day the Governor
invited Chief Justice Barto of this State and seyera,
other gentlemen to meet Mr.. johnson at dinner
at the mansion They dned about five p
NJ At dinner Mr. Johnson appeared in excel
lent spirits aud his usual health and
entertained the company by his conversation and by
relating anecdotes At dinner he one glass of Ma
dera and refused TO take any more After dinner he
suddenly asked the Governor take him In the par
lor He took the Governors arm and walking in there
sat down on a sofa The Governor proposed to have
coffee brought
Mr. Johnson replied, No; If you want to smoke,
rejoin your guests and smoke.
in few minutes and returned to the table, put feel
ing uneasy at leaving Mr. Johnson alone proposed TO
the company to go into the parlor and join him
Mr. c. G. Kerr, Mr. Johnsons law who had
come into the dining room after Mr. Johnson had LETT
the table said, No, he always taxes nap after dinner
and suppose he has gone to sleep" The comnanv
then went smoking and taking and while doing 40
a servant of the Governor appeared at the door
and, beckoning him out, told him Mr.
Johnson was lying in the yard on the stones
Governor Carroll went Immediately to the place and
found Nh Johnson lying the cobblestone carriage
way that passed the porch OF the
mansion, close up to tho wall and near
"A door leading into the basement He had evi-
IDENTITY gone down the front steps and ground to tho
side Of the house and had fallen whore he was found
This was about eight NJ and the impression is that
he had been there at least half hour He then
dead, and was bleeding profusely from wound on the
right side of his head and face
His body at removed into basement room
aud physicians summoned. Dr. William g. Tuck was
first to arrive, and, after examining the body
pronounced life extinct Drs. Ridiout and
Claude arrived aiterward There are large
wounds the right side of the
forehead two fractures of the skull from the upper
portion OF the forehead to the eyebrow dslocaon of
finger OF left hand, and cuts on hands and legs and
bruises.
The physicians examining the body to determine
the cause of death
SKETCH OF THE DISTINGUISHED JURIsT
Mr. johnson was born at Annapolis, Md. on the 21st
Of Nay, 1896 His parents, highly respectable and
comparatively wealthy persons gave him excellent
education at St Johns College. He graduated there.
from when about years of age, and immedi-
atey commenced the study of law in Prince Georges
county in the Office OF his father, the well known
Chie Justice Johnson OF Maryland. Two years subse-
quenty S15 he admitted to the Bar and began the
practice Of his profession under the most favorable
auspices. In 1917 he moved to Baltimore and in that
city rapidly prominence Of the ablcs legal
minds OF his State The reputation he obtained was
such that In 1910 he appon ted State Attorney
and in 1920 was further promoted by appointment
Chief Commissioner Of Insolvent Debtors. This
Office he held for little year. when he resigned
take his seat in the State Senate Maryland to
which he had been elected for years. Al the end
OF his no reelected by large majority but
retaining his for year resigned in conse
quence of his political duties interfering materially
with his extensive professional engagoments FOR
nearly twenty years aterward Mr. Johnson kept aloof
from politics, devoting his time to the law and win
ming reputation for legal ability such few men in
this country had then obtained. Indeed It was then
said by many OF the prominent mem bers of tho
Bar that as lawyer Mr. Reverdy Johnson was the
equal Of any member Of his profession and that but
few we're masters Of law aud equity TO the that
he
After remaining in private life for twenty years
he appeared again Senator from the State OF Mary
land having been elected to that high position by the
Legislature Of his State in Is45. Having been offered
the position Of Attorney General Of the United
General Taylors Cabinet Mr.. Johnson resigned the
Senatorshp in ls49. Upon the retirement Of Mr. Fill
more from the Presidential office he once more re.
sumed the labos OF his profession his practice being
confined almost entroly to the Supreme Court of
the United States During this period he also
preparing volumes OF reports of decisions in the
Court of Appeals Of Maryland which have been regarded
valuable works Of reference by the legal profession
In 1861 Mr.. Johnson was delegate the celebrated
Peace Congress- and made earnest and aDlo though
unavailing efforts TO stay the of war which was
threatening the country During the following year
he was, for the last time, elected Senator TO Con-
gress for the term beginning In 1868 and ending In
1862 In 1862 the difficulty which between Gen
eral Butler and the Consul OF the Netherlands at
New Orleans calling for judicial investigation, Mr.
Johnson was appointed by the government to
visit the Crescent City and ascertain the merits
OF the In his report he pointed out with
remarkable cearness and accuracy that the hero
of Big Bethel had exceeded his powers and had
ordered certain seiZures-the cause OF the dispute
in defiance OF all law whether civil military. For
this report he was charged with having been influenced
by improper motives In rendering hts decision His
reply this aspersion Of such convincing charac
ter that it cdectuay senced camor and raised Mr.
johnson higher yet In the estimation Of the public.
Throughout the war he favored the Union cause. and
gave his hearty support TO the suppression OF the
bellion. At the same time he opposed, with great
earnestness every measure introduced INTO the senate
which tended to violate the constitution or
to lower that instrument in the estimation
of the people. When the had ceased
and the Southern States had submitted In good iaith
he earnestly urged their readmsson representation
without delay and without imposing conditions which
would tend to degrade the Southern people IN their
own estimation which would cause them to regard
with bitterness their failure to achieve Independence
At the time he favored such guarantees as would
hereafter prevent the recurrence or revlvihcaton Of
the causes which had operated % keep antagonsm.
For many months no abored assiduously and devoted
his abilities to the work Of restoration on con
sttutional basis The terrible condition OF the South
soon after the fall elections Of 1866 induced
Mr. Johnson vote for the rst Rcc0nsiructOn bill and
also TO vote favor OF its passage the Presidents
veto This he did, as be SAID at the time not because
he believed the constitutional and just
any way generous the SOUTH but because he desired
TO see speedy restoration Of the Southern States TO
their place IN the Union. But when the second Re-
construction bill introduced Mr.. johnson with.
drew his support from the and gave t strong
opposition. Some Of his ablcst speeches were made