Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-11-25
a Souandsrer OF Vast Wealth md
q Suicide,
fhouab a Great Politicisa aad .
Friend OF Arthur.
Showing That Hs Had Made Pe"si'
less His Nearest Frleads.


!. rr,c.. n =, NosSESsf M.-fHs SSH
O. uss OF the suicide OF A. r. johnson, which
folio wing quickly after the shooting OF his
nephew, johnson l. Lynch. by EdWin
Rowell at Batavia, threw . feeling gloom
over this whole city, where they were both
among the best known and ablest members
of the bar, has at last been made known.
It was thought at tho time that rsmorse ct
the death OF his nephew, to whom he was
warmly attached, had lead johnson TO take
his own life, but investigation shows
that the cause was different.
At The death Of James Mcdonnell. who
married Johnson's sister, the will Of the
former placed Johnson In full control Of
his vast fortune, which amounted 10 nearly
a million Of dollars. BY rash ventures ip
the stock market, and as one OF the victims
in Co,nelr famous "biind pool" Johnson
san K nearly three hundred thousand dol
lars OF the money entrusted to him.
Further ventures in the stock market to
Retrieve His Great Losses
only plunged him deeper into trouble, and
al last, when discovery and disgrace
seemed certain, he took his own life.
\ dispatch from Rochester says: Last
evening Hon. Charles NJ. Dennison, ex.
Deputy Attorney General Charles Everett,
Mr.. y. II. herman and Dr. Gray, OF the in
saue asylum, arrived here from Utica,
W, ere this 10 enoon. they appeared before
Surrogate Stuart and proved the last wll!
and testament OF the late James Melon.
nell, trothrrin.lnw Of A. B. Johnston, OF
tina, who recently committed suicide.
The estate. valued at t150Oo had been.
sr re the death OF the tsstaior. under the
management of Mr.. Arthur u. Johnson,
who was a half brother OF Mrs. Mcdonald,
who ?, sides In this citv. and
B'o.sesssd Her fDtire onddeuce.
She not only pl.ccd him in complete con-
troll OF the estate. but gave him power Of
att, rney 10 manage IL. sell or rstsin ar rK.
change its securities as he might determine.
Examination of his affairs since his death
reveals the fact that he died defanlter 10
the estate 10 the extent OF &iD0.OOO HE
books were found TO be In perfect shape,
with debts and credits. but some $22 90 Of
L. y Government bonds entered on one
har d and in his keeping, are no where TO
be found. The same Is true of tho New
York Central snd Delaware. l.sckawannA &
Western Railroad stock. amounting 10
about t75, 900 or $50, Dp moro. thorough
search OF Mr.. Johnsons safe and d the
Deposit Co 3 vaults. where he had bson Ia
the habit Of keeping his securities, fails 10
bring 10 light any trace OF
These MissinE sccuritics.
although all his other bonds stocks and
mortgages were readily found. These latter
include about $2U,vD Of American Dis
| ,rict Telegraph stock, quoted nj ~ or ~.
This was the stock on which sIGovernor
Cornell got up the celebrated Blind Pool"
| johnson being one Of the Governors vic
1 TINS. There sre also several shares In the
| Multichsrge Gun Company, some Hudson
| river tunnel stock and other Wild cat ~.
curities. A. B johnson was . heavy
! speculator In Wall street and that was the
| maelstrom which swallowed up his money.
| On the day of his suicide . stock telegram
| lay on his table, tolling him OF disaster la
some OF bis stock spsculstiona III, own
| will was probatsd = few days ago aud
He Disposed Of ofCessidcrabie Prepesty.
| but those who know best believe he has left
his family p4nnilsss, since his sstats will
| not even pay . percentage o! the sum d'bs
| NIs. Mcdonald. lie was also trustss of
| three or four other estates Of relatives In.
| Guiding Judge Ward Hunt, his fatbsr'in.
| law, but II is believed these ere intact. h.v-
| ing been closely watched and guarded by
the parties interes,ed. A u. Johnson was
a. times heavy drinksr, snd had been un.
/ der the influence Of liquor Tor soms weeks
before he destroyed hts Iii.. He was n'i
| sufficiently sober on the day OF the funeral
l of his reEhew, johnson J. Lynch, the vic.
l tin, Of Ihe Batavia trsg.dy, To attend IT, u
| vas stated al the time the cause VI the sui
eide WAS grief st the beph's'. death, bat
rlc: ri evtn,s 'tu4 % show lsH2rt t2y his
conj' c, IL squsndsriug
Nearly IIsIfoi ISIS sisters Psspssty'i :
drove linn TO the act Of sell. destruction,
| Fortunately Mrs HcD1nsli's real estate.
worth about 5000. l. not sGscted by the
| los q htv money sud securities