Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-02-17
SUDDEN DEATH OF EsN. BEVERLEY
JOHNSON.

ANNAPOLIS, ND, February 10.-Hon.
Reverdy Johnson was found dead in
the yard Of the Governors Mansion at
about s, Is o'clock this evening. He
had come to Annapolis last night to
argue the case OF Medcalt vs. Brooklyn
Life Insurance Company, to be called
first Tomorrow in the Court of Ap
peals By invitation Of the Governor,
Hon. John Lee Carroll, he became his
guest at the Executive Mansion on ar
irving in. Annapolis To-day the Cow
ernor invited Chief Justice Bartol and
several other gentlemen to meet Mr..
johnson at dinner at The mansion.
They dincd at about $50 p. NJ. At
dinner Mr.. Johnson appeared to be in
excellent spirits and in his usual edith,
and entertained the company by his
conversation and relating ansecdotes.
He took one glass Of Mads.ira wine,
and refused any more. After dining
he suddenly asked the Governor to
c nduct him into the parlor He took
the Governors arm, and waking into
the parlor sat down on sofa The
Governor proposed to have c'tfee there
but Mr.. johnson replied, ''No, if you
want to smoke, rejoin your guests and
smoke" The Governor replied to him.
every well, we will join You in few
minutes, and returned TO the dining
room and feeling uneasy about leaving
Mr.. johnson alone, proposed to the
company to go into the parlor and join
him. Mr.. Charles G. Kerr, his son-in
law, who had come into the dining
room freshly arrived from Baltimore
by the evening train after Mr. Johnson
had left the table, said ono, he always
takes nap after dinner, and l suppose
he has gone to sleep" The company
then went on smoking and talking, and
while they were doing SO one Of the
Governors servants appeared at the
door and called him out, telling him
Mr.. Johnson was lying in the yard on
the stones.
Governor Carroll Immediately went
to the place and found M johnson on
the east side of the mansion lying on
the cobblestone carriageway that pass
ed under the porch around the mansion
close up to the wall of the house, 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 SIS P. NJ, and the inns
preston is that he had been there at
least half an hour. He was then dead
and bleeding profusely from wounds
on the right side of his head and face.
The Governor had him at once taken
into one of the basement ROOMS and
sent for physicians. DR.. w. G. Tuck
came first, and after examining Mr.
johnson pronounced him dead Dr.
Ridout and DR.. Claude arrived after.
wards, and subsequently, DR.. Stiner, of
Frederick, and Dr. S. R. Waters, of
Carroll county, members of the Legis-
lature.
Large wounds were discovered on
the right side of Mr.. Johnson's fore
head There were two fractures of the
skull from the top OF the forehead to
the eyebrow, and a dislocation of a
finger of the left hand, besides cuts on
the hands and legs and bruises, all
suggesting that he may have fallen
from above into the area under the
porte cochere.
The surgeons furnish the following
statement of the injuries sustained !:
"The chief and fatal injury is fracture
of the frontal bone of the skull, extend
ing from near the outer angle Of the
right orbit upwards and backwards to
or beyond the coronal suture. Disco
ton would probably reveal a more ex-
tensive fracture The apparent injury
is sufficient to account for his death.
He received also other minor injuries
fracture of the bones of the nose,
dislocation of finger Of the right
hand, slight cuts on some fingers OF
both hands, and abrasions OF both
knees.
1t is evident that Mr.. johnson had
left the house for some purpose, and in
endeavoring to find his way, with his
dim sight, along the carriage road had
been thrown by stepping on some loose
coal lying there, and in falling struck
his head against projecting corner Of
granite base stone, which there extends
from the ground two feet up, and pros
jects about half an inch from the line
OF brick wall above it.