The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-13
THE COURTS MUST DECIDE.
Mrs. Johnson's Suicide Recalled by
a Sensational suit.
The Deceased Lady's Father the Complain
ant-Mrs. Kerr's Demand for a Di
VOrce-An Architect Sued.
A LEGAL SENSATION.

yesterday, for the January term, by DR.. Edward
Griffith, through his attorneys, Gordon d Bailey.
The complaint is vOluminously copiOus and
verbally reverbatOry. The defendants to the suit
are Dr. Grlffiths son-1n-law, Edward T. johnson,
Rev. John b. Wakefield, OF Richmond, this State,
ana Griffith l.. Johnson, son of Edward T. John
son, and grandson of the plaintiff. and is to set
aside conveyance of the homestead property,
executed the night previous to plaintiffs daugh-
ter's (Mrs. Marietta Griffith Johnsoa's) suicide,
Nov. %, 1888. This conveyance, it will be re-
menbered, placed this property IN the hands of
DIR. Wakefield. to be held III trust for Griffith L.
Johnson DR.. Griffith. in his complaint, al
ieges that the properly, lot 47'9 feet of the
north side of lot 8 in Pralt's subdivision in the
city OF Indianapolis, No. 474 North Pennsylvania
street, was purchased jointly by Griffith aud
johnson for $4,000, aud held jointly as tenants,
and 1t was agreed that the title to the same
should be taken by the plaintiff and his daugh-
ter, Mrs. johnson. The plaintiff says he paid
S3,ooO, his share of the purchase money, and
that he, together with his daughter and her hus-
band, Edward L. Johnson executed a mortgage
in the sum of $4,000 to pay his JohDson's)
share. He further says that Rev. John 3. Wake
field, d. D., has been for many years the init
mate and trusted friend of the family. and that
they and the plaintiff had always loved and
trusted him down to the time of the 'thappenings
of the frauds, injuries and wrongs" connected
with the conveyance Of the property. He AYERS
That johnson came all the way from Knoxville,
Trnn., where he holds position in the revenue
held repeated conferences with Dr. Wakefield
aud falsely and fraudulently and by many false
deeeltful. fraudulent and wicked devices led
anO persuaded Dr. Wakefield to be-
lieve there sufficient reasons for the
conveyance of the property. That he was thus
induced to lend his countenarce to Johnson's de-
he am IN nd lie from
Richmond, whittier Johnson had come from
Knoxville, with the deed prepared. That they
did not proceed to the plaintiffs house, where he
and his daughter were fNo. 474 North Pennsyl-
Vah1a street, until after dark, and that neither
he (plainttf) nor his daughter knew that they
were here until they came into the house, enter
ing not by the front but by the rear door, and
greatly surprising both him and his daughter by
their sudden and unexpected appearance The
complaint then relates with great clrcunstanti-
atty what occurred at the interview between
MT ana Mrs. Johnson, Dr. Wakefield and the
aged plaintiff (Dr Griffith is man
eighty-tour years old, and though of
infirm body, apparently of sound mind).
He says johnson urged as a reason for
executing the deed that lie tJohnson) could not
live longer than spring, and that his wife would
be sure to marry, as she was young. After 'urg-
ing, insisting and demanding" the execution of
the conveyance, plaintiff says johnson took his
wife into the parler aud there held IA brief earn
est, and al times angry talk with her, and that
when they came ont she said make the deed,
1t will be all right" The plaintiff alleges that
he was deceived into signing the deed after his
DR. Wakefield. The paintff further alleges that
the money which johnson claims to have in
bank AT Knoxville, Tenn, to pay off the mort
gage belongs to him (Dr. Griffith. being the pro-
ceeds of the sale of some land in Lyons county,
Kas, and which he in full confidence in the in
tegrlty of his son-in-law had entrusted to his
Keeping The plaintiff alleges that he has been
Informed that DR.. Wakefield has written letter
to Edward T. johnson advising him not to pay
on the mortgage, but to make assignment
thereof to himself. The death of Mrs. johnson
is referred to in the complaint in these words:
''She was shot and killed upon her bed in her
room"
TIE Journal is panied to record one ghoul-like
paragraph in the complaint. one that certainly
might nave been omitted, allowing the unhappy
woman so hurriedly taken into eternity to ha q
escaped backenlng calumny, and suffered her
TO at least retain her good name. This para
graph AYERS that johnson, while in conference
with DR.. Wakefield, falsely represented to him
that his wife. Marietta e. johnson, had been
dueed while in Tennessee by a man uamed Hen
~, thereby alternating and forever separating
them. The filing of this suit will doubtless be
the means of placing before the public at the
trial of the case an almost endless chain OF SEN
satlonal testimony which is now floating about
in the way of rumOrs.
Kerr VS.. Kerr-An Alleged Conspiracy
Amanda H. Kerr, by Jesse Hawkins, her next
friend, has filed suit in the Superior Court
against William NJ. Kerr and John L. Kerr.
Plaintiff is minor, under twenty -one years old,
and was married to William NJ Kerr in Indi-
annapolis, May 2. 1888. where she has ever since
lived and always properly conducted herself
She alleges that on the 9th of November, 1888
Qess than six months after marriage), her hus-
hand, William M. Kerr. deserted her without
cause, locked her out of the house, sold the
household goods, not leaving sufficient provis-
ions for her support, Since this time, she a.
leges, she has requested him to live with her,
but he has persistently refused, and she
is without money or property and is de-
pendent upon her friends for support
The complaint alleges that on the 8th
of October he induced her TO sign deeds convey
ing various pieces OF real estate to his brother
John f Kerr, on the pretense that he wished to
leave here, and, taking her with him, go to Kan
sds and enter into business there, and that these
cOnveyances were fraudulent, the result of "A
conspiracy to render William M. Kerr insolvent
and In that way prevent plaintiff from suing Rim
for her support as by law provided. Kerr also
was owner of livery stable on West Washing
ton street, title to which aso conveyed 10
his brother. The vame of the properly is placed
at $4,000, and plaintiff asks the court to grant
her Judgment and allowances in the nature of
alimOny for S. 900. and that deeds to the real
estate conveyed be declared fraudulent and
void, and that said real is liable to sale to
satisfy her Judgment. All the property is in
this county. ii. Tineher and Duucans, Smith IL
Wilson attorneys for plaintiff.