The daily gazette., 1877-06-29
A Husband's Fatal Jealousy.
PARTICULARS OF TIE ATTEMPr PrBD MUIR
DER AND SUICIDE NEAR RIDLEY
PARK.

PARTICULARS OF The ATTEMPTED MUIR
DER AND SUICIDE NEAR RIDLEY
PARK.
Following are the particulars OF the
tragedy near Ridley Park Station
Delaware county, on Tuesday
Early in the day Wan. Ii. johnson, q
well-to-do farmer. had lett mis- home
and gone TO Chester, breathing ven
geance to every one whom he met,
upon his cousin John Worrall. Both
were young men. farmers, not more
than thirty five years Of age. and had
been near neighbors for many years.
Each had wife and young children.
Johnson indulged an insane jealou ~
regarding Mrs. johnson, and WOrrall
aud had often threatened TO kill them
His violence became so fearful two
months ago that he was incaroerated
/ a the insane asylum ut Media, from
which he was released when apparently y
cured, about four weeks ago.
At six o'clock Monday evening he
walked up the road from Chester and
entered Worrall's house. The latter
was seated at supper with his wife and
child. johnson went to IA closet whe
Worrall's shotgun stood, and, taking
it in his hands, told Wurrall lie would
give him ten minutes To prepare tor
death. Worrall said. "YUu wouldn't
kill me In cold bl Jod, would you, Dill?'
Mrs. Wurrall had escaped from the
loom with her child, and her husband
attempted To follow hei. When near
the door The gun was fired by John
son and the charge Look effect i'll
Vorrall's right thigh. He ieil 10 the
floor, 'and johnson lett the house,
taking the gun, with one barrel still
loaded. He went toward his own
house, quarter of "a mile distaut.
MIS-. Johnson saw hIm coming armed
with the weapon. When he went
away in the morning he had loaded his
own shotgun and lett itiu the kitchen
His wife mad hidden it.aud now seeing
him approach with another, she secre-
ted herself in the cellar. Johnson
came in and searched for her, but did
not fiud her. After looking through
the house he returned to The dining
room, ana placing the butt of the
weapon upon the floor discharged it'
contents III his brain. Mis-. johnson
unon coming into the room found hiI1
dead.
Worrall's wound was attended TO-
although he was suffering terribly, il
said TO be likely to recover.
About "A year ago MI. Johnson, in a
quarrel with neigLbur, was struck OF
The head with chair since which he
has been insane. During part of the
intervening time he was in restraint il
the county insane asylum. Wner
Johnson was laborlng under these fits
of mental arrangement he imagined
that everybody was his enemy. while
laboIing under these spells he accused
nunber of his friends of having de-
stroyed his .domesti ; peace. AmoDl
The persons whom he accused was hi,
cousin John Worral. When Johnson
was sober he frequently declared tha
mis- impressions were the result oi
! mental diseases, and We're purely
imaginary In their character. tn,
deceased mad been to Chester during
he day and had INDUCED in liquor
Mr.. Johnson was thirty five years ol
age, aud leaves a wife and two emil,
dren. Coroner Minshall held an in-
quest, and the jury found verdic
that the death of johnson had beef
caused by gunshot wound, inflicted
| by himself wnile laburing under fl
| OF insanity.