Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-24
ReFerdy JOhnsOn's Death.

BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. 10.
MIR. JOHNSON arrived at Annapolis last
night to argue the case of Baker as. Frick
BY invitation of Gov. Carroll, he became
his guest at the Executive Mansion to- day
The Governor invited Chief Justice 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 N. 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 din
ner 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 a 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 9:15 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 right side of his head and
face
There are large wounds on the right
side of the forehead, two fractures of the
skull from the upper portion of the fore
head to the eyebrow, dislocation of
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.
DIR. Lewis II. Stein, State Senator from
Frederick County, a distinguished ply
stefan, and Chief Inspector of the Sanitary
Commission in 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 death :;
Mr.. Johnson either stumbled over a 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, 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 til e
pavement of rough cObblestones, a second
wound was received in front of the first
At this instant, probably, the bones OF
the nose were fractured, and one Joint
was dislocated. Whether his subsequent
struggles may account for the abrasions
on his knees and the fingers of his left
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.
Mr. Gwynne, the Attorney General of
the State, and 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, severa
years ago.