The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-15

! speaking Of mis- "honored wife," there was no
| insinuation by johnson then that his wife had
ever in her life been anything but honorable,
and he did not act as husband would If his
! wife had ever been unfaithful to him. When
met him at the same place, Johnson exhibited to
me a letter from Dr. Wakefield, which advised
! him to take the residence property
of which he had been made trustee by the deed
| executed the night before Mrs Johnson's death
| by purchasing mortgage which was held on it,"
| When the suit was filed on last Wednesday Dr.
Griffith also desired his attorneys to begin pro
| ceedings for having johnson placed under surety
Of peace bonds. claiming TO have fears that some
attempt would be made to do him bodily harm
and had made the following written statement
of conversation which, he claims, occurred be-
tween himself and johnson shortly after the
death of his daughter.
johnson said TO me, "Haye you seen any Of
| Mariett's letters2"
| said mo-"
He said, "Have you read any of mine to herl"
said, az have seen them lying on the desk,
but consider it breach of honor to pick up
and read other peoples letters. even in my own
family"
Then he said: "You quit running about town
and talking to everybody Keep your mouth
shut, and your lips sealed, or by Cd It may be
the means of your DEATH"
I said: 81 don't run about town, but Will talk
to whom please"
He said, "WelI, I've told you"
said to him, "T am not afraid to die. am
net hard to kill, but am hard to scare"
The suit for surety OF peace was not fled,
advised, to use their own language, "that the
Dotoriety of the other case would be a better
protection to him than peace-bond."'
CAPTAIN JOHNSON INTERVIEWED.
Mr. johnson arrived in the city yesterday,
having come in obedience to letter from Mr..
]. d. Condt, stating that grave rumors were
| afioat concerning the death of Mrs. johnson
| and his immediate presence here was deemed
| advisable He left Knoxville Thursday evening,
and leave of absence from Commissioner
Dudley followed by telegraph, reaching him
here yesterday. after his arrival His friends
war is,,,r fad Of ho n
| city, and were informed that he was ready to
| answer any questions relating to the affair. He
was interviewed at the DenisOn House early In
| the afternoon by reporter of the Evening
News, and when asked what he had to say In
reply to the charge by DR.. Griffith that his wire
| had been murdered, answered: "Charges can
be made by anyone, but am in no danger;
feel more fear Of the sheriff entering this
| room than do from you, and have this to say,
| when my statement is ready no blemish will be
| found upon my character, aud L Will ssand
higher in the estimation of every man, woman
| and child in this city than 1 ever did before.
DR.. Griffith has declared war He is half crazed
over the death of his daughter, my wife, and in
judlcious friends are urging him on. Don't put
me down as in q revengeful mood. am not l
| tried to save the reputation of Mrs. Johnson L
was willing to let the grave cover out of sight
the blight which had befallen her. but my own
| reputation and that of my noble son will make
it necessary for me to go to the bottom OF this
matter; but oh! it is so painful. Dr.. Wakeheld
knows II, and lie advised DR.. Griffith not to push
it to the extreme, for iG was better for himself
and the dead woman that her errors should die
with her. But don't set this down as an inter-
view. Wait until have talked with my friends
wait till tomorrow, and will verify the good
opinion of those who have given me their sym
pathy and cooperation. Before this thing is
| over will appear as white as light"
DECLINES TO TALK.
Last night when Journal reporter called on
Mr. johnson, he was received with the remark,
81 am saying nothing for publication. have
consulted with my friends this afternoon, and
after laying ali the facts in the before them,
| they have advised me to remain reticent."
"Did you not say in an interview this after
| ternoon, however, that you would absolve DR..
| Wakefield from further silence and that you
would ask him to make public all that he knew
in relation to the unhappy affairP'' was asked.
ono" answered Mr.. Johnson ST did not say
that. DIR. WaKefield's mouth is locked in silence
until give him permission to talk, and after l
see him he will be at liberty to tell all that he
knows and he knows every thing telegraphed
this afternoon for him to come at once, but he
| replies that he cannot be here before Monday"
When asked if he had anything whatever to
say in reply TO the accusations that had been
made by DR.. Griffith, he replied, "ODIy that they
are all false"
"The affair has assumed very grave phase,
and a full and candid answer to the questions
| which are made the basis of the suspicious ru-
| mors, would seem advisable" was suggested.
81 have nothing to say, except that am right.
1 am right in all that has been done. My friends
have advised me to say nothing at present, but
all will out at the proper time II necessary.
L want to put a question to you now, and want
a candid answer. DON'T you think that,
proofs which would vindcate me from all blame
l at the expense of the honor of my dead wife
the mother OF my sOn-that it would be more
honorable for me to safer blame than to dis
close secrets which belong to the grave? Now.
answer me fairly"
'The matter is one which the public-aud it is
| the public that Is being dealt with-can be salts
fled about only by an emphatic contradiction of
the imputations of dishonor FOR by evidences
| that what seems to be regarded as questionable
conduct, was justified"
THE TIDE WILL CHANGE.
"That now, is your opinion as anewspaper re-
porter. Why, the public would feel like tarring
and feathering me if I should say anything to
the disoredit of my wife. even If I
should have the most unquesti0n-
able proofs to substantiate all that
I should say. All, no; will say nothing. The
| public will understand all in a few days. There
will be a change in the tide. II will be seen that
am right. The paper which says nothing about
all this gable of DR.. Griifiths will be
| the one which will find in the end that it did
right The two Republican papers of Indianapo-
lis ought to say that as citizen OF this city for
| the last eighteen years my life has been ire
proachable, and all these insnuations and ex-
pressions Of suspicion are most unjust and uu-
| warranted"
Mr.. johnson was informed that the Journal
could not assume the position of either prosecu-
ting or defending, but that any statement would
gladly be given publication.
| "Preudice has been worked up against me in my
absence, and think it would be but Just to say
nothing for day or two at least, when Will
| be prepared to talk and all will appear clear"
Before leaving, the reporter inquired "Who
is this man Henry, whom DIR. Griffith says that
you accused Mrs. johnson or having committed
adultery With"
"I have nothing to say about him. An an
swer to that question would lead to others
which I carnot now talk about. You have seen
the hotel register haven't yuui"
''To what do you referfp
"To the hotel register of last October"
Upon examining the hotel register of Oct. Of,
the name of "E, Henry, Tenn" written in an
irregular hand, was found