The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-05
JOHNS0N'S DAMAGE SUIT.
The Plaintiff Confident and Deter
mined on a Vigorous Course.
The Suit Precipitated by the Refusal of Mrs.
johnson to Grant Her Husband a Kiss
in the Presence of a Friend.
Brooklyn Eagle.


which extended over an hour, and which, if
given in full, would cover two columns of
the Eagle Mr.. johnson is light, but why
built man, about five feet eight inches in
height, with small head, partially bald, and
heavy brown mustache His features are
small, and in repose bear quiet expression.
In animated conversation his eyes snap and
color mounts to his face He was dressed in
full suit of black this morning. and had
fresh and vigorous appearance. 1t can be
stated in brief that he is heartily in earnest
in pressing his suit, and that he is confident
that his charges against Mr.. Higley are
not based on any misrepresentation OF
the facts on his part. Mr. Johnson's whole
heart and soul seemed to be still wrapped up
in the temperance cause, and the first part
of the interview referred solely to his labors
in that field. 1.-The proudest act of my life"
lie said was bringing about the conversion
OF the Archbishop of York, in England,
from the moderate use of intoxicating bev
erages. The Archbishop is a great man, has
1000 ministers under him, and has an in
come of $50 900 d year. His influence is i'm
mense l visited his palace by invitation
showed him my box in which I keep the
drugs used in making liquors. and for which
the liquor men have offered me $4,000
From that moment the Archbishop has been
total abstainer, and has used his influence
to make his clergy and others follow his ex-
ample. l am more proud of that act than
any other single act of my life" Mr.. John
son then went on to tell of his labors in
Australia; and of the princely treatment he
received there and in England and Ireland
and, IN fact, wherever he went as a temper
ance agitator Let us come down." said
the reporter, ITO your return from Aus
tralia and this present trouble" "Oh"
said he II would much prefer to
talk to you about temperance" But just
at present" urged the reporter, "the public
are more interested in this scandal subject"
well, then" said Mr.. Johnson, when | re-
turned from Australia in March intended to
take six months OF complete rest My health
was somewhat broken down, and intended
to speak but once a week or so. Then | sud-
denly fell into this terrible thing, which l
can assure you has completely upset me, I
will, however, try ana keep as quiet as posi-
BILE. have no fixed programme for the
future" He then went on to detail with
much minuteness how his suspicious were
first aroused, how he tried to bury them, but
could not, how he hired two private detec-
tives, how one of them betrayed him, how
he went on a mythical trip to Saratoga, how
he suddenly returned and discovered the let
ter in his wife's bed, which she had written
and, as he says, was about to send to Mr..
Higley. This statement has been published.
Ed. Journal
of the last interview between Mr. Johnson
and his wife. This was last Saturday after
noon Why" said he, "in spite of ALL I
wanted to save her and stop this terrible ex-
posture. 1t was as much as life was worth
when | remembered the long long years l
had nursed her from sickness to health. But
when she refused to kiss me, my love of more
than thirty years seemed to vanish, and my
life will be devoted to prove her perf11y and
punish the man who has been the cause of
this misfortune. did not think there was
man in the world who could lead my wife
astray, but that there is 1 am fully con-
WINGED" Mr. Johnson laid great emphasis
on the fact that he had tried to settle the
matter with his wife and her own relatives
without bringing any strangers to their con-
fidence and how her final and last PROPOSE
ton was that Mr. Higley should be con-
sidered.
THE WOMEN IN THE CASE.
At room No 106, on the seventh floor of
the Garfield building, the reporter found
Mrs, Pettengill a lady stenographer, bright,
busy and energetic, like all the members of
her craft She was binding with patent
punch large pile of neatly -engrossed man.
uscript At her left was fellow craftswo-
man, resting from her photographic labors
for few moments and languidly leaning
upon the table watching the work upon
which Mrs Pettengill was engaged.
Mrs. Pettengill?" said the reporter, inter-
rog92t.velyy.
tioning the visitor to a seat
81 called to ask you for the address of Mrs.
Laid, sister of Mrs. Johnson"
The ladies exchanged glances and Mrs
Pettengill prepared to become self-protect-
lively reticent
"Why do you wish Mrs Ladd's address?o
II have business with her. l am re-
Dorter of the Eaplep
''O-h-h-h! l fear 1 can't give it to you
then. | don't wish at all to be mixed up
with the matter o, DEAR no." said Mrs
Pettengill; the blood manting to her face
and Increasing its naturally healthy glow.
mo, we don't want anything to do with
it." said the other lady, whose attitude of
languor was now rapidly exchanging for one
of suspicion and self-defense.
"But," suggested the reporter "the state
ments that have been made in all the news
papers of this unhappy matter affecting Mrs
Johnson's character certainly entitle her to
be heard in her own behalf. If you are
friendly to either her sister, Mrs Ladd, or
herself, should think you would desire Mrs
Johnson's side of the case to appear"
Il don't think" said Mrs. Pettengill
"that Mrs Ladd wishes to be mixed up in IT,
She is one of the most elegant ladies, one Of
the most charming ladies in Brooklyn. |
would not do anything that would hurt her
feelings for the world
And Mrs. Johnson? She has been presi-
dent OF your society, has she not2' inquired
the reporter,
ooh, yes, she was president of it. But l
wish you to under tand that she is president
OF it no longer"
"Was she deposed from Officer
mo, but" significantly ''she wasn't re-
elected that is ALL She was president of our
First Women's Christian Temperance Union
be sure you get the title of our society cor
rect, for nearly everybody gets it wrong She
was president of it nine years; but when the
time came around to elect officers we didn't
re.elect her."
But now that she is in trouble, you ought
to be glad to see her given fair opportunity
TO vindicate herself"