The New York herald., 1877-12-28
Brooklyn and New York Shocked at the
Tragedy on Brooklyn Heights.
THE HUSBAND IN COURT.
A. Suggestive History of q
Spoiled Child.

less boy, who year since took 10 himself wo, al
tempted TO kii her because she refused TO 1.-Two with
him. owing 1t IS SAID, 10 abuse shortly after their
honeymoon, so the young wiles story goes johnson
began l-treat her; did his unkindness cease
when little child born to them. Gradually
he became offensive, until ut last, yielding 10
Arm conviction that her action was tor tho best, shs
lett and went TO reside with her father in whose
house lie attempted 10 kill her on Wednesday alter
noon. From all that can learned OF tho dsposs.
tons ami characters OF The two young people they
scen to have been ill-ma,ed. She was blonde, and
education anu refined home influence had tcndcd
TO make permanent amtabhty Of disposition
frequently found in women Of physical type.
She long suffering, silent womans
who by every known to her sex sought TO win
Lor chosen husband from hts way OF harshness; nnd
falling ever she Withdrew from him IN quiet lady.
hao tuli of hope that temporary separation
nigh, result his good. Tho departure IRON her
husbands protection was not the result OF any ono
scene or particular act, ba. OF many, covering
long period OF time. Sho had pondercd tho
step wci and determined not to depart
fram r her course unless somo
gwen OF future good conduct on the part OF hcr hus
band When he called on Wednesday Mt her iathcrs
tho first thing she did was to send up stairs of
the baby IN order that its father might SEQ IT, These
little acts ul tend to show thlt she was n well DIS
posed, even tempered woman. ana wished to give
ssCLurcy" Is caIleu IN cNcry
To change his conduct She sent her mother out
OF tho room when hcr husband requcsted II, for shc
thought no might not want 10 humble himself By any
couirc speeches before third person All this dc-
cacy seems TO have been thrown away on him, for no
sooner wcro they alone than ho drew pistol and
chased hor TO The stairs, wncrc he shot her.
JonysoS's cnARAcrEE & #
The few things that have been related oi tho hus-
band show that greater antIthcss 10 his wfe's
IA o,A y..o
very appearance confirms the impression created by
the stor,cs told or him. Like his w.fo no IL q blue.
cycd blonde slight In figure, with no striking pc.
culurity OF carriage mark hin snve his cxtrems
boy,sh appearance. Ho Is said to have had every
thing that wealth could gvo HIM save one. and
TINT was trouble. Having been pc.tcd and induised
by his father, who is a OF wealtn and being used
10 aog CARTS tar dem and all the other parapher-
nalia OF OF the world ne seems 10 have sorcy
grown man. Even father says there was
nothing that could be wished ior IN hts wiie or his
home aoss se ossr Sas ~en he sad i nave my own
troubiesi may, however, on Investigations solve tue
riddle His aud his wic's relatives say that none
such existed save in his youthful imagination.
Ii hc intended TO XIII hia WHO Nc has made iulQre
for last evening Dr. ramnge said ne had no doubt a.
! to thc recovery oil his patient. He SAID. however,,
| thai the peculiar locale OF tho wound, coaped with
tho iact mat she IS nursing oaoy' no opened
cral impression Is that Johnson intended 70 kl his
vile, else why would he have followed ner when sha
ran actcaming IRON tho roomy This fact alone pu'a
ms story ,nat hc wanted 40 frightcn her tie' out
OF JOINT, for when sho ie him she was certainly much
frightened but still hc uIlowcu anu many snot ncs
I Tiin scgsE on THE STAIRWAY.
/ What took place, what words wcfe passed between
johnson mad his vile whii0 tncy were In the pario
has TRANSFERRED Tor he VIII not talk and she Is now
unable IT, doctors having ordered tha. she shall
be Kept perfectly quiet Ho must have been IN the
house some time before the shooting took place, iof
hlr. Benedict, his wiic's father, went up ana hadh
| lew words with him, then vito and nor mother
1 appeared and some conversation cnsued as
| TO tho at.er's presence. TITO mothcr-n-lnw
finally Withdrew ana had timo TO got down
nto the dining room before the scream was
| heard. No heard what passed between them In
The purior o. Witnessed Immediately PRIOR
10 tho shooting The folks IN tho dining room heard
tue scream, and by tho timc young Mss Benedict tho
most agile party had reached tho door at tho
kitchen stairs, The pistol had been nred ana
her sister, sun ciaspns ,ns oaoo G'ose 20 mes
arms. While all excitement below Aand the
police wore arrcstng the woud.oe assassin quito
little scene was beng enacted on tho floor above
parlcr wicrc a brother OF the wounded lady, aud Dui
nla was reading. Ho gathered from the stray scraps
conversation tho ball, subsequent 10 the nrina
u the pistol that his brothcrinaw mad llrcd the pis-
tol and had shot Florence notwithstanding me as
surasces Efforts OF hij attendant young Benedict
zcd chair with the Intention Of gong down stairs
10 punish Johnson HIS strength failed him. however,
he Tell TO the ioor overcome w his vsoient ehort
To tho circumstances OF young Bcncd;crs BAD health
those Who know both men say that Johnson nas much
/ JOHNSON AgRAIGSED.
The announcement all tho morning papcxs that
johnson would be brought before Justce walsh Tor
examination brooght 10 tho court room Il swarm of
anxic U.s. curious people, who expected 10 SEQ bnrD
! murderer ana were much disappointed. vcry
slight. blond Doy--he does not lock Older than seven.
onably rather loudly dressed, was brought
| into court by Captain smith, ana ariagned Oh thd
| following dhargc:--
srArr or N1w YoGK. Kiscs cousIy. ss-Joei smitb,oi
Iha. on ,h9 ach Day p.esmsr a. ths ssa Guy q
iclonoasy. win and " means q eeTs.a pistol. loaded
@ ss sa @ IL M haps Sas s ss ssss s
With intent 20 hi he she saia Florence Johnson a. ae'
3he.eiore this deponent psays that be may be appre.
"s"o'' '"' ''''' w." yoEL SMITH.
Sworn o this a7th day q nessmssr; 1877.
Police us,ice OF city Of brooliyn
"IIavc you anything to say ~ answer to this
! charge - asked tho Justice.
'swo decline answers said Mr. Richardson, coun-
sci Tor the prlsoucr.
You are nborty TO answer any questions or TO de.
/ elmo to do so, aud any admissions winch you may
make will be taken gown, and can bc used against
| viii set down tho examination for January g. at
balipast ,on A. M, nntl which time wl commit the
prisoner 10 JaIL addressing Captain Smithj-Cap.
| lam 10 you want to leave him hcrcY
Captain Smith-Ccrtaniy; want TO get rid Oh him.
carrsgo IN charge Of Onccr Bnras. Ho was accompa-
mod ny his father ana Mr.. Richardson, who made
able possible. Air. Benedict aud tho other friends
| oil both parties went their different ways
/ IN JAIL.
! A HERALD reporter called ON Young johnson In
the Raymond strcot Ja aud found him quite a. com.
Portable and unconcernsd as he APPEARED IA court and
at lbe station house. He said he had nothing say
| to reporters, very good numored aud SMILING
about ana altogether seemed hkc anything In tho
woriu but blcodthirsty man.
YoUSG MAN.
His father thinks he IS crazy, but his fathcr-in.law
| thinks nothing nils him but his bid temper
/ Detective Riggs says 'this thing a comes OF n
bad temper. no IL spoiled CHILEAN Only Of
very wealthy gentleman, man iold me. VINO had
been a scnooinatc OF the prisoner. that whiIc N
Esnool lie wanted 70 generally ana did have has own
| way ia everything, lie h rich and 0vcrbearing."
| inspector Waddy rcmarkcd:-"Whcn | spoke ia
him just after his arrest no appeared to be peni-
tsat enough tor what he mad done. asked him " he
had RED ucstcd his we 10 come homo and live with
him again, and ho replied that he had flo fur.
thor stated 40 aid not actually know lady
was seriously hurt until she arrived at the station
house and hur wound was examined In TACT he did
| WOUNDED atal."
POLICE GALLAxrRy.
Much comment was caused regarding tho action OF