The New York herald., 1877-12-27
TRAGEDY ON "7HE HEIGHTS
A Wealthy Young Husband Tries to
Murder His Wife.
SHOT IN THE BACK.
Brooklyn Amazed at Joseph z.
Johnson's Act.

An elegant brown stone mansion, No. 43 Monroe
place, Brooklyn Heights, the Of an at.
tempted murder yesterday Tne would-be assassin 10
Joseph L. johnson, ana the victim is hts wife, Mrs.
Florence Johnson. The former Is the OF Mr.
johnson. OF the firm OF johnson, Shepherd u Nichols.
proprietors oil tho Twenty third and Fifth ave-
nue. (Ncw York; stage line. The wounded lady, who
has been married about ono year, is the
daughter VI very wealthy retired leather
merchant Mr. r. $. Benedict. prominent
member of Plymouth Church. hr. Benedlct is tho
iather.in-aw OF Colonel Henry b. Beecher. The CIR
cumstanccs attending the first brought TO
the attention OF tho authorities forty minutes past
the afternoon, when young girl called at tha
FIRST precinct station house, Washington street, and
informed Sergeant Cain, who was on duty at the desk,
that man had attempted ta XIII his wife at NO. 43
Monroe place, which is about three blocks from tho
station house. The Sergeant Immediately despatched
officers Boyan and Vaughn to the placo indicated,
and Ave minutes later Boylan returned with his
prisoner.
PRISONER.
The latter individual, who dressed In the latest
fashion, carried his cvercoat upon his arm when he
entered the station house. and though followed by
crowd Of people, under circumstances OF such trag
ca character he did not appear TO be much excited.
Sergeant Cam states that he made use Of some ex.
preston which he did not exactly remember, but
VIII ch Implied that the prisoner s'sorry for wha,
had happened but he had had great
deal OF trouble" The prisoner then. In an
swer to tho usual questions put TO him by
the sergeant stated that ho was twenty yeara
Of age He certainly is boyish looking lie is clerk
by occupation and resides at No. 233 West Twenty
second street. New York. In the prisoners possess
sion found gold watch and $22 "a In money. lilo
taken back to the tier Of cells op tho ground
nlant ana olcer was detailed 10 keep guard over
him. Captain smith TOOK charge OF tho weapon with
which the decd mad been committed. II Is large re-
volver OF tho smith Il Wessoh patiera-A i've shuoter
He declined To make any statement whatever TO the
press touching the sud affair.
THE wouNDED LADY,
Shortly after his Incarceration the cell carriage
stopped In front OF the station house, from which Mr.
r. s. Benedict and officer Vaughn alightcd, aud sup
ported between them Mrs. Florence johnson. tha
Notwithstanding her aiiic,ion. bore up bravey. She
was taken into the Captains room, where Dr. George
r. smith summoned TO attend her. Upon loosen
ing her clothes the ieuden bullet which had entered
at tho right shoulder and had passed downward and
out beneath the breast bone, was i0und In her corset.
When Mrs. Johnson, who is young and pretty
woman was informed by the surgeon ihat her wound
was not DANGEROUS ner drooplEg spirits revived ana
where shc has been stopping since sho ielt ner hus-
band last week.
Mr. Benedict mado formal charge of attempted
murder asainst his in-aw. The father of the
cused catered the station house while Mr.. Bcnndict
was present. he having beeu tclcgraphed Tor TO
over 10 BROOKLYN. The meeting between the two
eusr n ncen Mr. was nea p
mitted to have aprivate interview with his unfor
tunato son.
STATEMENT OF MR. r. s. BENEDICT
reporter oi the HERALD called at the residence 81
Mr.. II. s. Benedict, No As Monroe street, near Pierre
pont about hour and halt after the occurrence.
and there had a conversation with that gentleman,
who, though evidently much aggrieved by reason oi
sne ssa wers a. dinner when Mr. john
called AZ the house and was shown INTO the paon
When ! was tod who was there iminedi.
TO meet him. He had beon separated IRON
his wife, my daughter Florence and their baby, about
ono week. She lett him because she could not put up
with his violence. He was q terribly violent young
man. went up to HIM holding out my hand. ntenu-
ing TO shake hands with him. and noticed that he
was very much OK cited lie was not under the infu.
ence oil liquor however, nor was he in tho habit Of
versatlon told him tnat it not rights that IL
wrong Tor him 10 live apart from his young
T and should ' 1--we sna together n that ssa
They had everything that money could procure "a
make them happy, IN keeping with their position IN
furnished and appointed resiasncs at 20. 1888 West
Twenty second street, New York Whom l spoke ia
that II was none Of my II was nnbody'a
business except that vi himself ami hts wie-and
house. AS he was determined to soc his
vile, and not suspectng any wrong,
went and told her TO come down stairs and
the paror with the infant, ana when she entered the
doorway he demanded his child which she refused ia
surrender. when arose from his chair AID, draw
Ing pistol, said,
g 4 YoU.'
Mrs. Johnson ran out ol the paror door and along
the hail tho stairs descendng TO the BASEMENT und
while going down the stairs tho husband who i0l-
lowed her tracks, fired one shot. rho ball entered
the right shoulder and passing downward came OUT
beneath the breast bone. Her sisters, hearing
tho report ol tho pistol and the outcry,
ran out and took her into tho basement
where we loosed The door upon the inside. IL
very morrow escape as he had evidently deter
mined to kill us all, II he couid. While in the base
mcnt saw Miss Maggie Hondlow passing by shc Is
the daughter OF ghbJrl and called out 10 her TO
60 and get policeman 10 come 10 tho house quickly
US possple rho officers came after, ana took
johnson, who held tho pistol whie into custody.
He did not want TO give up the pistol at all, saying,
THAT is my pistol; tnat is my property
OVER INDULGENCE.
"Ho has had" SAID Sir. Benedict. ian over ndulg.
ent iatner. He has had dog Carts and drags aud
money piles all his LIE, though he Is but twenty
ycars of age told his father, who up stairs now,
who deeply feels this teribs occurrence that ne
had ruined his by giving him loo much money. He
has spoiled him. Young johnson was msrrca 10 my
daughter ny Rcv. Henry Ward Bsecncr about year
ago.
Mr. Benedict sa,d In 10 inquiry, he was
distant relative OF Judge Benedict Of the Untod Stalos
Court, though tho family oil the latter from Yer-
mont whereas his ancestors wero from Connocti.
cut
Tho prisoner will be arraigned before Justice Walsh
to-day.