The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-28
a Full Confession of Her Relations with
Major Henry and the Influences That
Brought Them About
A Pathetic Account of Months of
Misery and Suffering.
The Full Details of the Correspondence and
the Important Facts Brought Out by
It-What More Is Expected.

portant chapter to the developments ensuing
from the sensational suicide of Mrs. Mar1ette G.
Johnson, on the night of November 90, and the
consequent litigation over the property in which
she was interested. Although much has been
written and said of the circumstances and
causes of the tragedy, and very serious accuse
tions made yet Captain johnson has never be-
fore allowed his side of the to be made pub
lie. and would not now If he had not been COM
PEELED to do so by an order of the court Men
ton has been made of Judge Taylors ruling that
Mrs. Johnson's letters must be introduced in ev-
idence, and this was done yesterday. tits but
justice to Captain johnson to say that he en-
ployed every means in his power to prevent this
publicity. Within the last few days he has
made propositions to DR.. Griffith to compro-
mise the suit, agreeing to give him everything
he could possibly attain by ITS successful con-
summation. His object in doing this was to pre-
vent the stain of dishonor from remaining
his wifes memory, through his fundamentally,
at least. Strangely enough these propositions
were declined, and the only course left was to
abide by the decision Of the court, and give pub
licity to the letters. 1t seems that there must
be some Interior motive in pushing the case, and
what it is will probably be developed before
final Judgment is reached.
THE EXAMINATION YESTERDAY.
The examination of Mr.. johnson was con-
tinued at Hill & Lambs office yesterday after
noon. He gave detailed account of the ex-
perienees of himself and wife in Tennessee last
summer; how she first met Major Henry; how
| their intimacy grew upon them. and finally led
to scandaleus rumors which he felt called upon
to investigate. The result was their entire con-
| firmation. When the first came to his ears,
h, -enoTH7 than in dot ~ - NJ risa -7lln ,vae
then in indianapolis, at hef urgent request
Their truthfulness was denied, more by ian
plication than by any direct answers at first.
The correspondence between husband and
wife was exceedingly vouminous, and
in few weeks amounted to fifty letters These
were not shown to DIR. Wakefield, and conse-
quently were not introduced in testimony, be-
cause of their irrelevancy. After that there were
sixteen letters written, which gave an explicit
| account of Mrs. Johnsons relations with Major
Henry, and her confessions to her husband.
| These were read yesterday, and there cannot be
| the possibility of doubt of their authenticity,
| a conviction that will be speedily reached by
any person who reads them carefully. Indeed
! the attorneys for the plaintiff, in the present
suit, it is believed, will not claim that they
forgeries Their genuneness is established al
most beyond question by internal evidences,
| and the handwriting of all is evidently that of
one person, and corresponds exactly with that
of other letters written by Mrs. johnson.
MRS. JoHNsoN's LETTERS.
| The first of these letters-and the one that
Captain Johnson accepted as an indication that
his wife was about to tell him the truth-was as
follows:
| INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. 10, 1888.
81 wrote you to-day, but cannot rest without
writing again. Oh papa, don't die, don't give
| up Let me see you once more. am so miser-
able. [ would gladly welcome death myself,
| but dare not court it, for must do and suffer
| if by that means it will benefit those corrected
with me. AT times think it would make it
worse for those left. If there was only some
| thing could do to relieve you, but am power
| less, except TO suffer. ,s m aa
Sfel me is there really such thing as mes
merism2 Can one person control the VIII of
another entirelyf Yours MARIETTA. ~ v
The last sentence, which was written in PEN
ell in this letter, was what aroused Mr.. john
| sons su spicions, and as he EXPIRE ssed it, was
an indication that his wife had been subjected
| to ilegitimate influences, and had erred. He
therefore wrote the following answer:
KNOXVILLE, Nov. &c. 1888.
eyes, my poor lost wife, there is such thing
! as mesmerism. 1t is the evil eye 1t is the very
purposes. Now, Marietta, several Of your let
tiers, like the last one, have been full Of half con-
fession. What can be the use OF further attempts
at cOncealment2 You have never yet denied the
fact of adultery. Why not make a clean breast
and confess every thing. Let Inc assure you that
rything will be known. am prosecuting
uDsparing investigation into your conduct You
know me well enough to know that l will never
rest until every fact and every thread is known.
Every enemy of yours and Henry's is helping
me. The strangest part of your infatuatiOn was
that you forgot my nature, and maglned that
/ could be Outwitted and deceived. The ra-
tOnal thought would have convinced you that
that could not be done, will know all. have
a begging message from Henry offering to dis
close alp if will spare his miserable life He
will, no doubt, make a full confession. But he
shall die il live 1t will be far better for you to
rely upon my magnanimity than to trust your
self to my revenge 1t is only simple justice
that should know from you the exact truth. /
have urged Griffith to retain his respect for
You. / have told him nothing. If you should
confess everything charged against you shall
never tell him. What ask is that you tell me, SO
that there can be no mistakes as to what
ought to do and no false ground for me to occu-
| ply. If you are no longer worthy to be my wife,
| do you not c0noede that have right to know
iti The sacred memories of the past, the
sauctity of my own life the sanctty of the little
grave at Crown Hill, require that you should in
form me- for why wouldyou have me polluted2
have not harmed you, and will, not. I do pity
you; ] will not cast you out. You shall have
every support 1 can give yon. For God knows
that would bring you back TO the path of virtue.
For Griff this sake, for your own sake, you shall
never be exposed. The investigation is costing
me, and will cost me severely. But it is all to
find the truth. If the truth comes from your
own lips, that ends it all. so far from endeavor-
ing to drag the facts to light, would then do
everything to suppress and conceal them do
not desire that you should accuse yourself of
anything of which you are innocent. But /
want you to tell me the truth, as told you
have possession already OF great many facts,
the force of which seem inevitable. tell you
again will know ALL, ALL l go to Greenville
tonight: will return on Sunday. Henry is still
fugitive, but communicates, by some means,
with some one at G. l will get the secret to-
morrow. | shall be In uncomfortable suspense
until receive your reply. E. I. JOHNSON"
In the meantime the following was received
by MIR. Johnson:
''Nov. 10, 1888.
"Dear E Griffith has gone to Richmond TO-
day with Mollie. he expected to be back this
evening, and by this time tomorrow he win be
on his way to you. don't know if 1 can live
when he is gone never, perhaps, to return; at
least not to me. My only hope is that he may be
a restoration to you Oh, papa, spare me! Re-
member he is my child. Yours.
"MARIETTB."