The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-02-24
The Manner Of Reverdy Johnson's
Death.
BALTIMORE. Nd. FEB

BALTIMORE, Nd, Feb. 10.
Mr.. JOHNSON arrived at Annapolis last
night to argue the case of Baker %. Prick.
By invitation of Gov. Carroll, he became
his guest at the Executive Mansion to-day.
The Governor invited Chief-J ustice Bar
ton, of this State, and several other gen.
tlemen. TO meet Mr.. johnson at dinner
at the mansion. They dined at about five
p. IN. At dinner, Mr.. johnson appeared
in excellent spirits and his usual health,
and entertained the company by his con-
versation and relating anecdotes. AT
dinner he took one glass of Madeira, and
refused to take any more. After dinner
he suddenly asked the Governor to take
him into the parlor. He took the
Governors arm, and walking In there sat
down on sofa. At the request of Mr..
johnson the Governor rejoined the guests
at the table. Shortly after servant ap-
peared at the door, and reckoning the
Governor out, told him Mr.. johnson was
lying in the yard on the stones. Gov.
Carroll went Immediately to the place and
found Mr.. johnson lying on the cobble-
stone carriage-way that passes under the
porch of the mansion, close up to the wall,
and near door leading into the basement.
He had evidently gone down the front
steps and around to the side of the house,
and fallen where he was found.
This was about S:15 p. m, and the i'm
preston is that he had been there at least
half an hour. He was then dead, and
had been bleeding profusely from the
wounds ON the tight side of his head and
face.
There are large wounds on the right
ciH S,f fvrr ~ t1~o
skull from the upper portion of the fore
head to the eyebrow, a dislocation Of a
finger Of the left hand, and cuts on the
hands and the legs. The physicians are
examining the body to determine the cause
of death.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. II.
DR.. Lewis H. Stein, State Senator from
Frederick County, distinguished ply
sician, and Chief Inspector of the Sanitary
Commission In the Army of the Potomac
during the war, who examined the body
shortly after 1t was found, gives the fol-
lowing as his theory of the cause of death
Mr.. johnson either stumbled over piece
Of coal, or, being seized with apoplexy,
and striving to save himself, moved to.
ward the west, staggering along by the
northerly side of the Executive Mansion,
at each step his body gaining additional
momentum, 50 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 cebblestones, second
wound was received in front of the first.
At this instant, probably, the bones Of the
nose were fractured, and one joint of the
second finger of his right hand was dis.
located. Whether his subsequent strug.
giles may account for the abrasions on
his knees and the fingers of his lef,
hand cannot be positively asserted. The
wounds in the scalp were accompanied
with fractures Of the external bones of the
Uranium and the base of the skull also,
with the probable rupture Of some Of the
arteries at the base. Death must have re.
suited instantly. H ass
Mr.. Gwynne, the Attorney General oi
the State, and q son-in-law of Mr.. John.
son, is of the opinion that he was seized
with vertigo and fell, as he had similar
attack, lasting three hours, while attend
ing trial in South Carolina, several year,
NUn