Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-05-06
THE INSANITY DODGE.
Mrs. Johnson Trying to Make The
Public Believe Her nssaand
10 4 Maniac.
Murder Ia the First Degree, the
Verdict Of tho Jury 10 ths
Douglass Trial.
4 Gotham Lady Sues Her eroth'r-
in.Law for $4,000 On Z
Charge Of Libel.

NEW YoRK. May 5.-Mrs. Mary c. John
son, wife Of Eli johnson, puts forward -
plea on behalf OF her husband that his
mind il affected. She 10 particular 10
state. however, that his mental condiuoa
10 not such as TO eIonerats him from ~
sponsibility for his action in trying %
blast her character. She fully BELIEVES
that the suit TO recover 100000 from Ar.
H. A. Higley Is a blsckmailins scheme.
There Is not, she says, even the faintsst
ground for suspicion OF improper intimacy
between herself and Mr.. Hisley. One Of
Mr.. Johnson's brothers, Mrs. johnson says,
had been
CesaaeA in . Laaatte Asylaa
on and of for fourteen year,, and thers
was . vein OF insanity in the johnson
family. MIR. johnson, during his recent
temperance trip to Australia and England,
had q stroke Of paralysis, aud this she
thinks TO some extent might have affected
bis mind. About Mr.. johnson . pecuniary
resources Mrs johnson says she does not
know nothing beyond the fact that he had
not supported her for years. IL can DO
| sbundantly proved, she claims, from men
who had business transactions with her
husband that he Is not Trustworthy. For
herself she wished TO say emphatically
that she would not believe him even under
| oath.
M. Higley said yesterday: There Is
not q word OF truth in tho charges made
msde By johnson against me from begin.
ming 10 end. The Johnsons and | have
always been
Close and Iutimate Friends,
and never dreamed that anything could
bring my relations with them in question.
| | spI SC surprised that ! can hardly realize
vi at has taken place. johnson must Be
| clazed by his insane jealous Imagining
his suspicions and charges are wickedly
and maliciously false"
Mr. johnson 10 devoting his whole time
| to the prosecution of the case against
| Higley. He says that facts will csms OF
the trial which cannot be explained away
| by the cry OF blscknail or cracked head.
The following affidavit in the case was fur.
| nished for publication yesterday from the
Office OF counsel for the plaintiff:
| hereby certify that as soon - Ar. Eli
| Remsen left the Rsmsen House In Jsnus-
ry. 1882, Mr.. II. A. Higley began calling On
Mrs. Mary q. johnson. At hrst Mrs.
johnson came down TO the
Parlor 10 Receive ~. RiGiey
and took him with her up TO her room. but
| after he hsd been calling awhile he vent
Immediately 10 Mrs. Johnson's room With.
out sending up his name. Mr.. Higley usu.
| ally came In about 8 O'Clock. They would
r,main in her room until the dinner bell
rang, when che would leave Mr.. HiKlsy
IN her room and 60 down and eat her din.
| ner. Then she would return to her room
| and spend the together until about U
| o'clock. Several times when went W tbs
| door Of Mrs. Johnsons room after things
| found IL bolted or locked, with both Mr..
| Higley and Mrs. Johnson and went 10 her
room generally every night In tho week:
| Sometimes they would go out together and
| return at 10 and II o'clock. Mr.. Higloy
continued calling for several months, aud
then for time.
Thought He Had Ceased CoHisg
until one night when ] was IN position
where he could not see me, he opened the
door with a night key Of Mrs Johnsou's
and slipped up the stairs 10 Mrs. John.
sons room. After that watched him mor1
| closely and frequently saw him come up
| TO the dsor and peepiBg over the glass: u
| be saw any one he would knock on the
| glass, but II no one was In sight be would
open the door with night Key
and slip up to Mrs; Johnson: room.
| third night before Mr.. Ell Johnson return
ed home. always remaining IN the room
With Mrs johnson from two 70 four hour.
and generally leaving about ocloci. I.
| This sfstement isa true one. J make "
for Mr.. johnson, without receiving any
pay for doing 30.
] CHgsTER ConHoSa.
The person who MAKES the above an
Isvit IL ,mplOyed In the kems~n hoss'
hut The pfoprirtress Of thst sstsblishmsst
bat ciy.i, ,,rict injupctiGns 20 her en'
| plc wee, not TO speak about The case,