The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-04
ANOTHER BROOKLYN TRAGEDY.
Mr.. JOHNSON, THE WELL KNOWN BOAT BUILDER,
sHoT-wHAT HE SAYS AND WHAT THE sA-

NM. JohNsONs THE WE'LL hNOWN BOAT boALD1hs
sHoT-wHAT HE SAYS AND WHAT THE sA-
PIENT POLICE BELIEVE.
tragedy occurred the Ninth precinct OF Brooklyn
at an early hour yesterday morning, which will result
IL is believed in the death OF the victim. The case is
involved in considerable mystery. Mr.. James Johnson
OF No. 7So Lafayette avenue a member of the well
known boat building firm OF Smith Johnson, No. 4O4
Water street. New York, left his house according to
his usual custom, at hafpast Eve yesterday morning,
order catch the De Kalb avenue car tho Fulton
ferry. He walked down toward the corner OF
Throop avenue, smoking a pipe and having
his coat unbuttoned. On the is man
ufactory of paper patterns, and between that
building and his house is a vacant lot The lot is en-
closed by high board fence He distant about
seventy-nve feet from his house when two men sud
denly sprang from behind tree. One OF the men was
tall and the other short Both wore black
clothes. The tall man. who came up on Mr.. johnson
from behind, the let hand SIDE put arm round
Mr.. Johnsons waist ana placed the other hand over
his mouth that he unable TO cry out for help
The short man caught hold OF his hands so that he
could not exricate himself The tall man then drew
revolver and, rapidly placing it against his breast ex
claimed, Damn you, want that $500 you
fred The ball entered Mr Johnsons left breast
under the ribs and passed through the lungs
They then forced Mr.. johnson down on
his knees and turned his breeches pockets inside out
The fellow going to fire another shot when the
short man exclaimed, 1--WE have got the wrong man
This is not the man want' The rufian then
threw down the revolver, which is a Smith Wes-
shooter, with chamber empty, and,
jumping the fence the lot disappeared. Mr.
j. b, Whitaker the artist who lives on Lafayette
nue. within few feet OF where the tragedy occurred
heard the shot fired, and, running out found Mr. John
lying bleeding on the sidewalk. He assisted HIM
TO his home and summoned Drs Hutchings and Bald
win The wound was examined, but the doctors
unable 10 find the ball The patient cannot recover, il
is said. To Mr. Whitaker and his wife and others he
told the substance OF the narrative as above given
The other side of the story-that which the police
give cTedence to-is that Mr.. Johnson shot himself
They that he has at times exhibited pecuari-
ties of manner. Waterman who was In the vicinity
of the lot which the hghwaymen and assassins
supposed have crossed when fleeing says that he did
any about the neghborhood, though he
heard the shot fired lie had dog with him. which he
says would have barked had he heard any running.
Captain Mclaughlin, OF the Ninth precinct and his Of
hcers actively engaged upon the case, and IL
reported that they found a memorandum
book and a pipe in the lot which may tend
to throw light upon the subject Coroner
simms visited the house for the purpose OF
but found that gentleman too low to talk. Mrs John
stated that he had not been absent than five
minutes from tho house when he brought in
wounded. The day previous he accompanied his wife
and their two children to St. Johns Catholic church
He shed tears upon his return from church, but did
not evnce any depression OF feeling. He for
eral years foreman for Ingerso the boatbuider and
built the little craft Red, White and Blue which
crossed the Atlantic to England few years ago, IN
charge of one Boughton. Mr.. Johnson who is forty
five years OF age, is nofensve man. not the habit
OF drinking strong liquor. man named Mills was
rested during the afternoon and held for
nation by the police in connection with the tragedy.