Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-29
a FOUrHFUL HUSBANDS RAGE.
Shooting Mis- wife Because She Had
Lru Him.

About year ago Miss Florence who Is 81
| years OF age, was married IN her fathers ele-
| sant hcuse, No. ~ Monroe Place. 10 Charles r
/ JohnsOa. who Is few mouths her junior, and
/ l. beardieSs youth of medium height The
| affair passed OF brilliantly. and al concerned
/ seemed happy. The knot was tied by Rev.
7 after wedding tour, took up their residence
( IN % west I'd street. They were surrounded
I with all the comforts thai money could pro-
| cure, and their start in married life seemed 10
( be perfectly happy one. Charles. however
had bad temper, which gave his wife much
uneasiness, aud when he became harsh in his
Treatment OF her she wrote 10 her father and
complained that her husband was not the per
feet man he seemed when counting her. Her
father advised her TO live In peace With John
liant manner. But matters grew worse, and a
week ago Mrs johnson came 10 her fathers
house with her child i'm her arms and said She
could stand her husbands treatment no longer
and that she thought a separation would be of
great benefit TO them both.
Yesterday. while the abused wife was At
dinner, her husband was announced. aud she,
leaving the table with her mother, entered the
parlor. where sat johnson looking deathly
pale. He asked his motherin-law To leave the
room, and she declined To do 80. saying that
she thought IL was best to remain. Mrs John
son said: No. mother. you go out. May be
Thar lie wants TO talk over this matter with
me. Mrs. Benedict left the room, and John
son. beng alone with his wife, said 10 her: -
nave come Ia get my baby, and To Kill YOU
He pulled out pistol, and his wife ran out
through the main entrance Ia The parlor. with
her child IN her arms. resting her left >houl-
der, and darted down the basement stairs.
Johnson tried To head her of, by going iuto the
hai through the door opening from the library
hut she had gained the stairs before he had 20!
10y Mrs. Benedict. who tried to hinder him. A.
SHE Was hallway down the stairs johnson fired
at her. aiming for her head. The bah entered
her right shoulder, passing through the fe>hy
part OF her right breast. and coming out at the
lower pant OF the breast hone.
johnson cooked the pistol again and puT-
sued her down stairs. but the dining room door
was shut in his face. He attempted then IL
get into the room through the Kitchen and
through the front basement window. hut al
both points he was prevented The Young
man MAS finally arrested, and when brought
10 The w ashlngton-Sireet station house would
say nothing about the matter. Mrs John>on'S
wound l. not serious. but will cause her some
little pain. The father of young johnson said
he Thought his boy Was crazy. MIR. Benedict.
The father of the young lady, said - The fact
l.. the boy has had no control Ca III sciplne and
he cannot control his passions. He i not
crazy. There i no doubt he meant To kali
Florence, and if She had been a foot or two
nearer 10 him as he fired he would have killed
her"
Charles f. johnson. the savage Young man.
= the son Of the proprietor of one of the South
Ferry, Broadway and sd street line of stages.
JOHNSON PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Johnson was taken before Judge Wish at
lU:O O'Clock this morning for examination.
tie entered the court In company with his IA
Their, Mr.. Johnson, Capt. Smith. Nm. Richard
son, President of the Atlantic Avenue railroad
company Charles r.. Richardson. lawyer. and
several friends. MIR. Benedict, the father of
Florence, came i'm shortly after. but did not
look at his son-ln-law. He was accompanied
10y Counsellor VIM. l.. Headley. who had been
employed 10 represent the complainant. II
was evident that there was an attempt To
smother the matter over and get the young
man out of the trouble into which mis- reck less
act had placed him. He really appeared u be
the most indifferent person present, and
looked aS though he had enjoyed good
nights sleep. His father talked earnestly
with him for some time i'm regard to his foolish
act, and then had conversation with Mr.
Benedict. The latter had "A pale and careworn
appearance, and made but few replies To Mr.
Johnson. He said that Florence had passed
very bad night, having number of faiuting
nts. This morning she appeared To be a little
better. Vet she was not arir to leave her bed.
Captain Smith, of the first precinct, made the
complaint IN the case Counsel said that the
| prisoner would plead not guilty to the charge
| preferred 10y the captain, and asked post
pOnement OF the examination. as il was his in
| tention To have Gen. Tracy appear for him
| Johnson said il was not his intention to take
| the life of his wife, but he must have done il
| IN a INT of frenzy. and when he had no control
| of his actions. The doctors were afraid this
| morning that Inflammation would set in i'm the
| wound.-tN. \. Mol.