Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-17

sB. ~, 1876.
Mysterious and sudden DEATH OF Hon
| Reverdy Jehnson.
| baltimore Telegram, Feb. lO1
keverdy johnson, the distinguished
Statesman and jurist, was found dead this
evening at 1:l5 in tho ground surround.
ing the executive mansion at Annapolis.
Mr. johnson was the guest of Governor
| Carroll, and dined this afternoon with
other gentlemen at the executive man.
sion. lie was found dead in the yard by
servant.
Mr.. johnson came to Annapolis last
night to argue the case of Baker vs..
Freeck. He argued in the court of ap-
peals to-day. By invitation Of Governor
Carroll he became his guest at the cx.
ecutive mansion to-day. The Governor
invited Chief Justice Bartol Of this State
and several other gentlemen to meet Mr..
johnson at dinner at the mansion. They
dined about 5 P. NJ. At dinner Mr.. John.
son appeared in excellent spirits and his
usual health, and entertained the com.
pany by his conversation and relating
4 anecdotes. At dinner he took one glass
Of MADEIRA and refused to take any more.
After dinner he suddenly asked the Gov.
ernor to take him into the parlor. He
took the Governors arm, and walking in
there sat down on the sofa. At the re-
quest Of Mr.. johnson the Governor re-
| joined his guests at the table.
Shortly after servant appeared at the
door, and beckoning the Governor out,
told him Mr.. johnson was
lying in the yard on the
stones. Gov. Carroll went i'm.
mediately to the place, and found Mr..
Johnson lying on the cobblc stone car.
rliage way that passed under the porch of
the mansion. close up to the wall and the
rear door leading into the basement. He
had evidently gone down the front steps
and around to the front side of the house
and fallen where he was found. This
was about 8:l5 P. H., and the impression
is that he had been there at least half an
hour. He was then dead, and was bleed
ing profusely from wounds on the right
side Of his head and face. His body was
| at oace moved into the basement room
| and physicians summoned. DR.. William
G. Tuck was first to arrive, and after ex-
amining the body, pronounced life ex-
tinct. Drs. Riedeaut and Claoude arrived
afterwards.
There are large wounds on the right
side Of the forehead, two fractures of the
skull from the upper portion of the head
to the eyebrow, q dislocation of finger
Of the left hand, and cuts and bruises on
the legs and hands. The physicians arc
examining the body to determine the
cause of death. Mr.. johnson would
have been 80 years old next May.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. ll.-The main facts
connected with the death Of Reverdy
johnson in the grounds attached to the
executive mansion, as made last
night, are not changed
by developments this morning
His death was so sudden and unexpected
after his appearance in the State library
and about the State House yesterday
while the Legislature was in
session, in apparently full health that the
community has not yet recovered from
the shock.
Dr. II. Lewis Steiner, State Senator
from Frederick county, a distinguished
physician and chief inspector of
the Army of the Potomac,
during the war. who examined the body
shortly after it was found. gives the fol-
lowing as his theory Of the cause of the
death of Mr.. johnson:
He either stumbled over piece of coal
or, being seized with vertigo or incipient
symptoms of apoplexy and striving to
save himself, moved towards the west,
staggering along by the northerly side Of
the executive mansion, at each step his
body gaining additional momentum, so
that having reached the door leading
into the basement, he swayed around to
the south and fell, his head striking
against the sharp corner Of
the granite base of the
house which gave the first wound on the
head: Reaching the pavement Of rough
cobhle stones . second wound was re-
ceived in front Of the first. At this
instant probably the bones of the nose
were fractured. One joint Of the second
finger Of the right hand was dislo.
Gated. Whether subsequent strug.
gles may account for abrasions
on the knees and fingers el the left hand
can not be positively asserted. The
wounds in the scalp were
accompanied with fractures Of
external bones on. the Uranium
and base Of skull; also with a probable
rupture Of some arteries at the base.
Death must have resulted instantly.
Gwynne, attorney general of state and
son-in-law of Mr.. johnson, is of the opin-
on he was seized with vertigo and fell,
as he had similar attack lasting three
hours while attending trial in South
Carolina several years ago.