New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-27
JOHNSON FAMILY TROUBLES.
MRS. ELI JOHNSON SUING FOR DIVORCE
A SEQUEL TO THE JoBNsoN-HGLEY sUir-MR'
JouSsoNs RELATIONS WITH MRS. COVERT.


A srouE1. TO THE JoBNsoN-HIGLEY sUIT-MR.
JouSsoN's RELATIONS WITH MRS. COVERT
prh,,c interest was again aroused yesterday in
Aha affairs of Mr.. and Mrs. Eli Johnson, the we'll
Enown Temperance advocates in Brooklyn Mr.
Johnson recently began suit to recover
800 600 as damages 1Or the alienation OF MS
%%,fe,s affections, against Henry A. Higley. mem
her of Plymouth Church and produce broker IN
this city. suit for an absolute divorce has Juso
been begun by Mrs. johnson against her husp1nl,.
mrs johnson formerly president OF the flrst
Brooklyn Womans Christian Temperance
Union. and was prominent ut, IN nm. 'e vepTs
The divorce suit is brought in her behalf III the
BROOKLYN City Court The summons ana com
plant served upon the defendant are dated July 20
Mrs JOHNSON makes affidavit that she and her nus
band were married in March, 1852 that between
August l. 1881, and October l. 1851, al 'he Loi -;
Point House at Lake Conesus, NJ J., anu III
the grove near the hotel the defendant comm ost
adultery with Elvena AnnIs; that the oeienuatho
was crimnaIly intimate with other women III tne
same mont his and at the same place that the PLAIN:
tiff has not forgiven or condoDeu tpe Uonoe, H.
demands that the bonds 81 marriage De."oon noi
and her husband be dissolved. x, n
The correspondent Eivcna Annls, is now MIS- Il.
B. Covert. of Honeoye Falls, N. Y. The following
letters which have recentiv passeu peuwoII h ro
Mr. Johnson i'll regard to the case VIII pe P,o
duced at the trial Of the cause. On June II, Mrs.
Covert wrote as follows TO Mr. johnson:
HoYEoYE FALLS, MONROE Co., N.Y.
Mr. JOHNSON In all probability you have to TtoGa
name but perhaps no, cur banges axe place In
the lives of us ali in none than mine. Since saw
XE %as y qS Ta married About week was
presented to gam my signature sent " no ny %
course of criminal nature at the lake; also mat nad
received several letters from you Ot course, mouu
ssn NV name to no sucn document and gave back to
The hearers Alter the parties got % think
ing they might sign that for me ana senu ~ on 70
500 ii would it, out had no use for their money
Now any ifV ppea orgey 20 sna you to
it rou coming before the public, ana wiz dea 9ut we
full Of the law 10 any one mat woulu uao w
sncn thing # they could be found. II anything comes
up especially interest me, please iet me Know wiz
direct this from article III our Onton telnbg your
"nefeaO0u" i'''' Mrs ELvENA B. COVERT.
In his reply he said
BROOKLYN, June 10. 1888.
Hrs Elrena B. Oovert.
DEAR MADAME; can never ten you now gao a au
kent your PROMISE made TO by returning 10 your
mother and becoming dutful daughter. L shai hot
soon forget now pleaded with you TO do that Glau
accord because YOU tell you married and trust
happily 50. May God bless you ana your nome Hisd,
fhlrd because II tells with what scoundfehsm am
conIenung. In all my conversation and wrng WIN tne
COnesus Lax temperance people nave ever Thai
toe Motel proprietor at Conesus Lake hasL iaIeu "
poison me sufficiently On .nt va h n.t Manned m,
boat scheme This too having failed, ne attenPteu 10
spd the same carriage TO the ram tDy Keep
mo Won three or four days your tme), In which
case would have said that we went away III carago
together. In nls too, he was fooled by my ordering
carnage for myself hen there was only just time Tor
me reach train and not ne for you To pack your
that may take need TO have the above acts written
IN yOnI own language and aand Iiting ana "Gn
nor letter of correspondence until voluntary ieteI
OF you're uaseu June - nat Won we're induced to
resurn 10 your mother With suca statements from you
and inv own testimony. my attorneys will be able to
meet ana settle any assertions they may produce.
Again thanking you your kind aud valuable letter,
0oi'''' AD' ''-' '0'' E. JOHNSON Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs Covert subsequently wrote the following
somewhat remarkable letter IN reply:
HoNEorE FALLS, N. Y. July G. 1888.
Mr. JouNsoN-DEAk SIR: No doubt you wonder greatly
at my strange silence but on returning from Visit Eass
TO nv sisters found your letters awaiting me- MY nus
band would have forwarded them 10 me- but he expected
me every day aud he thought II would not 10
worth while. [ have solved IL all out how my name
came TO be connected with yours at all Perhaps you
recolect my telling you of friend had IN Llvonla,
SSanst me to pay me Tor getting married and leaving
hun. In SAID as mueh to lawyer from ms place.
Brooklyn, called on me IN behalf Ei MIS- Johnson
prahh ne lbongb, ov tais means to add little more
filthy ucre TO his slim store But tod these gehtle-
snort with you and in your conversation
you ever we'd yourself true gentleman, and Oy your
example aud advice felt 10 aspire TO nooler aims ~
life aud when heard OF your troubles was very much
surprised Tor supposed you settled IN lie nap
Say; but was still surprised To find my name was
up this affair, for was perfectly innocent Oh
y5a faiIE was me Object pfopTietor Lake
hep you in any way without duplicating myself put
you surely wodd not Expect me TO take my timt wtlng
am married happily, still my husband has not an over
abundance of this worlds goods, and little help In tuls
direction would not come aniss Hoping the rlght Will
prevail 1 close, yours very respectfully,
F Mrs. ELyESA r. COVERT.
Mrs Covert was employed as waitress IN the
Long Point Hotel at the time Dir. Johnson stayed
there in 1881. Her name was then MIS-
Anpis but ner husband, farmer OF
the vicinity, had secured divorce from
her. Mr. Johnson made her acquaintance and
seemed fond OF her company going out upon the
lake in "a boat with ner and walking III the woods
near the hotel. His ASSOCIATION with her was re-
garded as a scandal by the temperance people, with
whom lie vas ut work III a temperance canip-meet-
ing, and they, 1t Is SAID, turned u
cold shoulder upon hun, and finally
told hun that his services were
no longer needed. Mrs. Annis was married last
year 10 man named Covert, lab0rer III mill
She was the daughter OF a respectable family, ana
was refined and well educated woman.
Tie Mr. Klngsbury referred to III her letter Is
H. ID. Kingsoury, of No. 81 JoralemOn-
ST. Bfooxlyn. lie refused last eve
ming to say any thing about the matter before me
trIal OF tue suit, in which he expects TO be called
upon To testify.
Mr. johnson said that the accusation against him
was utterly false Ii the result OF conspiracy
against hIm, he said, aud the attempt to brlDe MIS-
Covert showed this. He had gwen her some good
advice when she III trOoble, aud - result ne
was mlsrepresen,ed.