The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-25
TRAGIC END OF A STROLL
BARCLAY JOHNSON SHOOTS HIS MOTHER
SISTER, AND HIMSELF.

W ME ~ :tlklhts IN tiit W oOilS AT tsreGn
wich.
Barclay Johnson, recent Yale vale
dictorian on Tuesday afternoon last
shot his mother, sister, and himself,
causing instant death to his sister and
himself, and intliCtmg wound upon
his mother from which her death is
momentarily expected. The shooting
occurred on a beautiful knoll overlook
ing Greenwich harbor, and situated
close by the old Americus club house.
Mr.. Johnson was taking his mother
and sister for what they believed to he
a pleasant walk through the woods, but
what he intended beyond doubt was to
| be walk to their death. 1t had been
arranged in the morning that they
should take an afternoon walk, and the
sister had invited several Of her mates,
the daughters of wealthy New York
business men, to accompany them.
One had promised to do SO, but was
prevented. Nothing in Mr. Johnson's
manner when they left the house would
have indicated that he intended to kill
himself and his mother and sister, but
he had on his person large silver
plated, new revolver, five loaded cham,
bers, carrying a 81 calibre bullet. 1t
was self-cocker. The party strolled
down toward the harbor, and were met
by several persons, to whom they APP
| peared to be IN excellent spirits. They
arrived in the woods about 5 O'Clock,
and sat upon a rock which is a favorlte
resort for pleasure parties. \ fine view
of the Sound and of Long Island be-
yond is obtained there, and an inlet
washes the foot of the rock. Across
| this inlet a man was working ona lawn,
and perhaps fifty yards away, back in
the woods, were two lahorers at work.
Two quick reports of a pistol and the
Shreks of women attracted the atten
ton of these men, who looked up in
time to see Johnson fire third shot at
the screaming girl, who fell over i'm,
mediately on her face. Johnson bent
over her body and then, mounting the
summit Of the rock, placed the pistol
at his own head, fired, and fell. Not
more than fifteen or twenty seconds
could have elapsed from the time of
the first to the last shot.
The witnesses were almost instantly
on the spot. They found the girl on
her face, which was bruised by her fall,
dead, Johnson also on his face dead,
and three or four feet away the mother,
wounded in a most horrible manner,
but still breathing. As soon as posi-
bic Ms. Johnson was carried to her
cottage on Greenwich avenue, where
she was attended by DIR. l.. 7. Jones.
He found that the bullet had entered
the back of the head and was embed
ded in the brain. Brandy was admin
istered hypodermcally, there was no
reason for hope for her recovery.
The sister, who sat on the right,
jumped up and started to run, but
Johnson, who was a skilled shot, SEEM
ed to be taking deliberate aim at the
girl and SO accurately that she probably
never heard the report of the pistol.
The bullet passed through the head,
coming out at the temple.
Johnson was left handed, and reach
ed around to the corner OF his right
eye. He braced one foot against the
rock as he fired at himself, and must
have been killed instantly. Before the
Coroner arrived Sheriff Dayton had
caused the brother and sister to be
placed side by side and their bodies
were covered with sheets,
The girls little brown bonnet had
fallen from her head, and stray tresses
of her brown hair rested lightly on the
strings. The two bullet holes were as
clean cut as though a knife had made
them. The girls pretty face was but
Eighty distigured, only one thin line
like red blood vein ran from the
wound on the temple partly down the
cheek, Johnson's hand showed the stain
caused by the sudden squirt as the bull
let opened the artery under the eye,
and the pistol itself. which lay by his
side was stained, but he was not other,
wise dishgured. He was an athletic
man, with a shapely head.
His father reached Greenwich later
in the evening, and was wholly over
come by the news. Young Johnson
had been complaining Of feeling unwell
during the winter, but he was never
before thought to be insane. He was
a famous shot and athlete. His sister
was is years of age, and great favor
lite with the people of Greenwich.
While i'll college young Johnson was
not particularly hard student. He
was very popular with his classmates,
and went much in New Haven Sc
CictY.