The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-04
MRS. JoHNsoN's SUICIDE.
Her Husband Makes Statement Before
Coroner Maxwell.

Captain Z. T. Johnson, husband of Mrs.
Marietta G. johnson whose melancholy suicide
was recorded few mornings ago. made the
following statement before Coroner Maxwell
yesterday:
"E. T. johnson being sworn says: The
deceased Marietta Griffith johnson was my wife,
For the past ten months have been supervis
ing examiner of the pension bureau, first of
East Tennessee, now of East Tennessee and
North Carolina. MY wife and son came to Knox
vile in April last and remained till the middle
OF September While there became convinced
without a doubt of her insanity, especially at
certain periods She and my son came home the
middle OF September last, and since her return
Mrs ID. V. Burns, Mrs. A. Fl. DOoey, Mrs Hen
Erickson and our family servant for seventeen
years, all noticed the abSen -mindedness and the
utter dependency of her. Ae early as last Oc-
toher her letters began to show her melancholy
and said that she had made up her mind to die
rather than endure it,
The day before started to Indianapolis, last
week, received a letter from her so alarming
that thought action could no longer be DELAYED.
Without even asking for leave of absence from
my post took the first train to Richmond,
Ind, having determined to take Rev. DIR. Wake
field fully into my councils I selected him be-
cause for years he had been the pastor and the
most Intimate personal friend of my wife and
her family. determined to lay all The facts,
without reserve, before him, and to be guided
by his cOunsels. To this determination have
strictly adhered, ana everything l have done
mas beer with his knowledge and by his advice.
On last Thursday evening DR.. Wakefield aud
arrive in Indianapolis and went to my house at
z P. NJ We had previously determined
that property matters should be first
settled, and theE that her removal
either to a sanatarium or to the homo OF some
of her friends should be considered
After full consultation, with her free consent,
the title to the homestead was conveyed to DR..
Wakefield in trust for my son, our only living
chili After this was completed, DR.. Wakefield
left; 1 remained. My wife and 1 had long in
terview concerning her condition. l proposed
TO her that she go TO some quiet retreat for
treatment for her mental condition. This prop
osition was received by her with great agitation
and was Immediately dropped by me. assured
her most positively that she should not go
should go to the family of Daniel Bordley, her
cousin, of St. Louis, Mo-, who has several I'M
fond OF my wife, and who would have been the
best possible companions for her Next 1 pro-
posed that she go TO her cousin, Mrs. Jennie
Holmes, with whom she was partially raised,
who now resides in excellent circumstances at
AtchisOn, Kan Lastly, proposed that she go
to the home of Thomas Hunt, who lives
near Richmond, Ind That family are, perhaps,
our most intimate friends DR.. Wakefield
thought this the most suitable place of all for
her. 1t is due to him, also, to say, that be did
not approve the suggestion of sending her TO
an asylum, and steadily declared his con-
viction that there Was no danger of her doing
violence to herself, saying that nobody ever
commits suicide who threatens it,
left all these propositions with her except
the first which 1 had Withdrawn. 1 asked
her to consider them calmly until the next
morning, telling her that DR.. Wakefield and
would return the next morning about O'clock
by previous arrangement between DR.. w. ana
myself I then returned to the hotel, where I
waited for him till perhaps after 10 P. NJ, having
understood that he would be there thar evening
for further interview, based upon my CONVEX
sation with my wife. II was by DR.. Waketield's
express request and arrangement that L re-
turned to the hotel. 1t was explained to and
acquiesced in by my wife, DIR. Wakefield failed
10 come, and after waiting for MIN come time
went TO bed. DR.. W. called the next morning at
O'clock, just as finished my breakfast. We
took carriage at the door and drove
to the courr-Aouse and left the trnst
deed for record We then drove
to Mrs. MOrrisOn's, on the Circle, where DR..
Wakefield received The Intelligence of my wife's
death. We had intended TO drive from Mrs.
Morrson's raight to my house, pursuant to
appointment, but DIR. Wakefield ordered the
driver to take us back to the hotel We went to
our room. and there he broke to me the news OF
my wife's death. After recovering from the
shock we returned to the carriage and drove TO
the house, and my wife was dead.
DEC. 3. E. T. JOHNSON.