Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-06
A REMARKABLE TRAGEDY.
E. T. Johnson to Be Tried for the
Killing Of Major Henry,
THE DESTROYER OF HIS HAPPY HOME.
The Most Remarkable Case in the An
nails Of Crime--VOIuntariy Living
Under False Suspicion.
STORY OF THE STRANGE TRAGEDY,
SDseial 10 ne Register.

man" said prominent Indiana politician
to your correspondent, as q tall slender man
with full dark beard passed down the ave-
nue., there goes q man who is on his way
tc be tried for killing the destroyer OF hls
-tamily happiness. he has had the most re-
srkable experience in the past two years
ut was ever heard of in real life. 1t sur
passes the most vivid Imagination Of the
sblest novelist He and his counsel, Sena-
tor Voorhees,, leave in q day or two for the
scene Of the beginning and ending Of the
most remarkable tragedy that l have ever
known of in real life"
He was tall slender man apparently -
or so years Ofsge, with long black beard
slightly mixed with gray, an intelligent and
quiet appearance, so that he could be about
the last man selected as on the way TO
stand trlal Tor killing another. He was
evidently in bad health, IS shown oy
glance Of his face as well as by his walk,
which lacked the elasticity of the man IN
vigorous commotion of mind and body.
His name" continued the gentleman,
ais johnson, d. T. Johnson of Indianapolis.
He was one Of the bright and most success
full lawyers Of that city, with beautiful
home elegantly furnished and family con-
sistipg OF a wife and son and daughter
aged Is. IL was as happy home as man
ever hsd, or as the devil in human TORN
ever invaded Some time ago his health
becsme IL paired and giving up his prac.
tice he accepted a posiUion offered by Col.
Dudley. as E peeial examining agent tor the
pension officer, taking charge Of the Noun
tain district OF East Tennessee, and achiev-
ing success there that was entirely unpre-
cedented. His wife and child accompanied
him there. Afer be had been there year
or more bis wife returned home. \ year
ago last Thanksgiving day he went home,
ard the following morning the city OF In
disnapOhs was startled TO hear that
Bis Wife Had Committed Suicide.
She was found living upon her bed, dress
I'd in pure white, her husbands picture
placed where she could look upon It the last
moments Of her life, q pistol By her side
The bullet had pierced her heart and she
he'd evidently never moved after Pulhng
Ia, trigger. Her husband evidently
overcome with grief stated that
her suicide was due, as he believed, to 10!
sanity, and read to the Coroner and to tho
who asked for the cause, extracts from h'r
letters, which seemed to prove 1t and TO
show that she had threatened suicide at 9TH
er times. The incident created profound
impression in indianapolis, She was lsdg
of great Culture ana refinement, Of one Of
The very best families, q beautiful woman
and most highly regarded. Yet her n 8
band was q man above reproach, and hls
statement vas being quietly accepted and
the excitement was dying out, when sudden
lyi was revived and brought to fever heal
by An insiuusiion that her death was not
suicide, but that she had been murdered bJ
her husband. This was suoSf quently traced
to some of his personal enemies, but It's or
igin did not az that time lessen the excite
ment which it created. The sympathy
which was felt for him before gave place 70
the greatest excitement, and the sentiment
was such against him that his life was IN
danger In the midst Of all
He Kept silent.
He denied the charge most earnestly, but
would not open his mouth to explain the
mystery surrounding the matter. A note
which she had left on the night OF the SUI
eide contained some illusions which
awakened inquiries and suspicious OF trouble
between herself and husband. He claimed
to have been absent from home on the
night of the su eide, strange fact when II
was considered that he had Just come from
a long absence in Tennessee. The aged
father of the dead woman demanded a
thorough investigation. 1t was suggested
that the correspondence between the nus,
band and wife while she was at nome ana
he in Tennessee might throw some hgnt ON
the subiect. but the husband refused to sub
NIT these 10 the inspection OF anybody
This added 20 the suspicious sgalns' hiT,
vet he refused to open his mouth or tnro"
snv EVht IN the subject, no matter nov
GREAT the suspicion was against him
Finally the matter was thrown into the
,on~,s and he was compelled by legal pro
csss to olive I'D the letters. Then was de
,sIone5 q state of facts which even the most
cr;,iral student of the case had not sus
rscted and which, while they ylndIcstec
r. honor OF the husband in the fullest sense
S-o,o tbe greatest OF the many surprises II
tha strange case. They showed that the
life had during the time Of her stay II
Tsnnessee. in the temporary absence OF hel
brsband on official duties, fallen
Victim to a Seducer
Who gained control over her through hH hHe
1ousr as a mesmerist, and that not unu
T. return 10 Indianapolis and freedom tron
L;s ;pauepce did she become conscious o.
ths enormity of her crime and make con
Ssss;on of the TACT Ii was this that n ma
"a - the final fatal act Of suicide. ln
INLAND when made acquainted with IN
Sac,s had come home, and taking the tamil.
-a.,or With him bad talked the matter owe
Pr her in the quiet of the home; aud tell
;ng her that her fault should never De IN o9'! Su
LIoun that she should be amply ProTide'
g. and that while he Eorgaye be could no
ye4 forget and could not at tnst une 'SH a.:
ker again to his arms, and having SSiu 'ii
mach in tenderness and sorro" lett ner 70
he night with q promise to return ID 10. "a
rorpi1g and complete arrangement
Whsn he came back next morning accord
80 ~ agreement, he found her dead, as
bass ,oI YOU. Hls first thought was Z
--.svant A knowledge of her shame, and tn
ifssplt was the statement of insanity. had
80 been for the prosecutions OF hls enemle
- made the false and groundless chArg'
- Unu,der against him, the matter WouN
- ,ssted there. Even when this cnarg
- hsen made and the public OF his nstlv
sbsys he had met and loved and ma
t,;.d ker, was rising up against MIN IN Lur.
s,msndibg his kfe for that mystery Ehie
- could not understand, he steadily r
S,s.d 70 open his mouth to remove thus dALI ar
80 Of charges against himself BY letting ID
/. huth be knovn- He had
Calmly Determined
- sn;sh bis life under this cloud OF Su
g. -a,hsr than make known her shane
y H., the law, which is sometimes most erG'
I = - Justice stepped in and compelled 70
J; 'So:rTss he most startling and paini'
numerous acts in this tragedy, b