South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-02-18
Death off
ANNApoLIs. Mill{ -irfl g. .0.--l

Reverdy Johnson was found dead i
the yard of the Governors Mansion al
about S.l5 o'clock this evening. lIej
had come to Annapolis last night to ar
que the case OF alcicaIfvs. brooklyn
Life insurance Company, to he called
first tomorrow in the Court OF Appeals.
BY invitation Of The Governor, Hon.
John Lee Carroll, he became his guest
at the Executive Mansion on arriving
at Annapolis. To-day the Governor in-
vited Chief Justice Bartol and several
other gentlemen TO meet Dir. johnson
at dinner at the mansion. They dined
ut about $50 II. IN. At. dinner Mr.
Johnson appeared to be in excellent
spirits and in his usual health. anil en-
.ertainci the company by his conversa-
ton and relating anecdotes. lie took
one glass OF Mareira wine, and refused
any more. After dining he sud lenlv
asked the Governor TO Conduct him into
the pa-lor. lie took the Governor $
arm. AMI walking into the parlor sat
down on sofa. The Governor pro.
posed to have coffee there. bu. Mr..
johnson replied. NO. if yon want to
smoke, rejoin Your guests and smoke
The Governor replied 10 him. VERY
we'll, we will join you in q few minutes.''
and returned to the dining room; bat
feeling uneasy about leaving Dir. John.
son alone. proposed to the company to
90 into the parlor and joins him. Mr..
Charles G.. Kerr. his son-in.law, who had
come into the dining-room, freshly ar.
rived from Baltimore 10y the evening
train after Mr.. Johnson had left the Ia.
bic, said, NO, he always takes nan
alter dinner. and suppose he has gone
20 sleep" Tie company then went on
smoking and talking. and while they
were doing so one of the Governor scr.
wants appeared at the door and called
him ort, telling him Mr.. johnson was
! lying In the yard on the stones.
Governor Carroll Immediately went
to the place and found Mr.. johnson or
the east side of the mansion lying on
the cohblestone carriageway that pass.
cd under the porch around the mansion
close mp TO the wall Of the house. AMI
near q door leading into the basement
lie had evidently gone down the front
steps and around To The side of the honso
and fallen where he was found. This
was about 10 p. ~, and the impres-
sion is that he had been there NJ least
| half an hour. lie was then dead and
/ bleeding profusely from wounds on the
right side OF his head ami face. The
| Governor had him at once taken into
one of the basement rooms and sent for
! physicians. Dr.. ". G.. Tuck came FIRST.
and after examining Mr.. johnson pro.
nounced him deal Dr.. Rldon. and
DR.. Claude arrive afterwards, AMI sub.
seIuently Dr.. Steiner, or Frederick, and
! DR.. ). K. Waters, Of Carroll county.
members Of the Legislature.
Large wounds were discovered on The
right side OF Mr.. Johnsons forehead.
There were two fractures Of the skull
from the top of the forehead to the eve.
brow, and dislocation Ola finger OF the
left hand. besides cuts on the hands and
lees, and bruises, all suggesting that lie
may have fallen from above into the area
under the porte cocherc.
The surgeons furnish the following
statement OF the injuries sustaine,i:-
The chiefand fatal injury is fracture
OF tile frontal bone Of the skull. extend.
ing from near the outer angle of the
right orbit upwards aud backwards to
or beyond the coronal suture. Disco.
ton would probably reveal more cx.
ten5ive fracture. The apparent injury
10 sufficient TO account for his DEATH
lie received also other minor injuries
fracture Of the homes of the nose. dislo-
cation Of q 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 soma purpose, and in
endeavoring to find his way. with his
dim sight, along the carriage-rond had
been thrown by stepping on some loose
coal lying there, and falling struck
his head against n projecting corner Of
granite base stone, which there extends
from the ground two feet UP. AMI pro.
jsCts about half IN inch from the line OF
brick wall above it.
Large crowds have been calling Mt the
mansion all night since the occurrence.
the visitors including members OF the
Legislature AMI judges OF tie Court Of
Appeals. Expressions Of regret and
sorrow OF the sudden and painful demise
Of Mr.. Johnson are universal
At the dinner of Gov. Carroll there
were present with Mr.. johnson, Senator
LIZ ~ '-"ibtNtii liA. tltNNtlc anu 0OlOnNi
samuel llamhlcton. Of Talbot county.
Ex-Governor Groome. Edwin Hilgias
and the chief justice.
Mr.. Charles G.. Kerr came down as
stated in the afternoon train. arriving
here at j. VI.
Mr.. JOhuson's life ia sail 90 hc insur.
cd Cor one hundred thousand dollars.
IL was only this morninZ that an agent
of Northern magazine Ind an utter.
view with lis son.in law IN Baltimore in
regard 20 sketch OF Mr. Johnson's life
Tor publication.
Mr.. Johnson -as in the Court OF Ap.
peals and State library to-day for some
time with Mr. Edwin Higgins. who was
associated with him in the caso tic was
TO try tomorrow. Mr. Higgins read to
lum authorities in tic brier 10 the case.
After leaving the state House Mr. John.
son went ~ tie house OF an old colored
servant. opposite Ma. Hotel. as was his
g.. q