Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-06-11
A NOTED TRAGEDY.
Trial Of Capt. johnson for Killing
Major Henry.

-TT
Major Henry.
Yesterday, before the Circuit Court at
Greeneyills, Judge Hacker presiding,
Capt. E. I. johnson Of indianapolis was
put on trial for killing Maj. Henry last
September. Hon. Dan. Voorhees, is the
leading counsel for the defense. The
prosecution is under the direction Of At,
torney General Fain, assisted by Col. j.
H. Robinson. .y-I
The story Of the killing of Major Henry
by Capt. Johnson, In Its simplest details,
is one of the most remarkable Of the
many startling experiences int real life.
In 1889 Capt. johnson was a successful
practising lawyer in indianapolis, where
he had married and lived in peace and
happiness. His health failing he was
offered an appointment by Commissioner
Of Pensions Dudley, which he accepted,
taking charge Of the mountain district
Of East Tennessee as special examining
agent. Z His wife and child accompanied
him to Greeneville, and remained with
him about q year. A year ago last
Thanksgiving Capt. johnson went to
his home in Indianapolis, snd the follow.
ing morning the city was startled to hear
that bis, wife had committed suicide.
She was found lying upon her bed.
dressed in pure white, her husbands
picture placed where she could look
upon 1t In the last moments OF her life, q
| pistol by her side. The bullet had pierc-
cd her heart, and she evidently had not
moved q muscle after pulling the trigger
Her husband, evidently overcome with
grief, attributed her suicide to insanity.
and read to the coroner extracts from
her letters which seemingly bore him ou'
in his conclusion. The suicide created
the profoundest excitement In Indians
polls. Mrs. johnson was a woman Of
culture and refinement, moving in the
highest social circles. The excitement
was gradually dying out when some
personal enemies and busybodles began
circulating stories pointing to Capt.
Johnson as the murderer Of his wife.
These scandalous stories were quietly
denied by Capt. johnson, but the excite
ment grew in interensity and finally, to
save his life and silence his enemies, he
was compelled to disclose the condition
of his domestic affairs prior to the sui>
cide-a secret he intended to keep wlth>
n his own breast. The matter coming
into the couits there was developed a
state of acts which even the most criti-
cal student of the case had not suspected
and which, while they vindicated the
honor OF the husband in the fullest sense,
were the greatest Of the many surprises
in the strange case, They showed that
the wife had during the time II her stay
in Tennessee In the temporary absence
Of her husband on official duties, fallen q
victim to a seducer W ho gained eontroI
over her through his power Us q mesmer
list, and that not until her return to In
dianapolis and freedom from his influ
encc did she become conscious Of, thu
enormity of her crime and make copies
zion of the fact. II was this that Nod .,
the final fatal act of suicide. The hus
band when made acquainted with thu
facts had come home, and taking tn,
family pastor with him had talked Thu
matter over with her IN the quiet Of tn,
home; and telling her that her faul
should never be made known, that sh'
should be amply provided for, and tina
while he forgavc he could not yet forget
and could not ut that tine take her agail
to his arms, and having said this mucl
in tenderness and sorrow, left her for tn
night with a promise to return in tn
morning and complete arrangements
When he came back next morning &C
cording to agreement he found her dead
His first thought was to prevent a know
edge Of her shame, and the result wa
7 the statement Of insanity. Had it nc
been for the prosecutions of his enemies
who made the false and groundles
charge Of murder against him, the mat
ter would have rested there. He la
calmly determined to finish Ills life undo
= this cloud Of suspicion rather than max
known her shame. But the law, whie
: Is sometimes most cruel in Its justic,
stepped in and compelled the disclosure
the most startling and painful Of the nj
mcrous acts IN this tragedy.
But this was not the last act, The d
i spriler Of his home and Of human Writ
was still at large. Henry was his nam
10 Maj. Henry, q New Yorker. who.
. years ago, had gone into the mountain
Of Tennessee US an employc OF q furna,
= company which established some unsu
Z cessful iron works there. He bad be,
Ell there eyer since, secreted from his VIII
o who still remained In New York. b
y quiet prominent in county and neig
rs borhood Affairs. When the facts BEGAN
known public sentiment turned again
him and hs was reviled and sxecrated
y all who knew him or the facts Ia the cai