Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-17

The trial of Capt. +. p. johnson for the muir
der of Major Edwin Henry, which occurred at
Haysville, Green county, Tenn. about IL o clock
on the morning OF the Odd of September last,
has been In progress for some days at Green
Vile, Tenn. telegram from that place to the
y. Y. San says: Capt. johnson came here from
indianapolis early in 1888 He had been for
many years successful lawyer in that city, and
had accumulated a fortune. He was also noted
for some ingenious literary works, prominent
among which was "A Defense of Judas lscariot,
which attracted much attention. In addition
10 this he was in great favor as a political ora
Tor. Although not more than 40 years OF age,
his health gave way under hard work, ana he
accepted the office of special agent OF the Pen-
sion bureau, with headquarters here In Green
Vile, in the hope that the change Of climate and
surroundings would be beneficial to him. He
brought with him his wife, q woman somewhat
younger than he, and strikingiy handsome.
She came of an excellent Indianapolis family,
was beautiful The captain himself was man
OF distinguished appearance having remark
ably scholarly and thoughtful face, while in his
manners he was quiet and courteous. Both he
ana MS wife became at once very popular mere;
They boarded at the best hotel, where also lived
Ma5or Edwin Henry a Who Rnd been mere iGr
New York. Major Henry was much older than
either Capt. Johnson or Capt. Johnson's wife,
being considerably over 80.
THE wIFES CONFESSION AND SUICIDE.
Capt. Johnsons duties called him away from
Greenville frequently, and Major Henry and
Mrs. Johnson were thrown much together.
They became criminally intimate. In the
graphic and touching letters which Mrs. john
son wrote to her husband begging to be re-
stored to his favor after he had found out her
crime, she averred that Henry had gained his
influence over her through mesmerism. 1t was
not until the autumn, and after Mrs. Johnson
had returned to her home in indianapolis, that
her husbands suspicious were aroused. he
communicated with her and wrung from her a
full confession in the series OF pitifu letters just
referred to, and which were afterward given to
the newspapers for publication. In November,
1883, Capt. Johnson went to indianapolis. He
arrived there on the evening of Thanksgiving
day, and went at once to his home, where ne
came In unannounced to his agoniZed wife.
That there was a terrible scene between the two
Is well known, though its details have never
been revealed, except that Mrs. Johnson again
renewed her heartrending appeals to be
stored to favor, and that Capt. johnson refused
her any hint of consolation. He told her that
he intended 10 place her in some institution for
treatment. He would not remain under the
same roof with her, but went to q hotel. He
never saw her alive again after he lett her sob
bling and moaning in after despair in her room
that night. The next morning she was found
lying ON her bed, all dressed in her white bridal
robes and stone dead, with a pistol shot fired
by her own hand through her heart. By her
pistol with which she had killed herself
Not breath of the scandal had far
reached Indianapolis, and, as Capt. Johnson
for aught anybody knew, he had at first no
a1 IN convincing people that his wife
had Killed herSelf while iaboring under tenn
porary insanity. After time, however, queer
stories began to be whispered about. 1t was
limited that the Johnson household was not
SO happy, as had been supposed; that under
the captains quiet, courteous exterior he CON
ceaied "A cruel and malicious disposition. Then
a letter came to light which showed that there
the man and wife at the time of the latter's
death 1t began to be said that Capt. Johnson
ment. It was as even broadly hinted that The he
might have murdered her himself. The dead
woman's father believed these stories and be-
came extremely bitter toward Captain John
son. For a long time the captain bore all this,
standing utilization and the contempt of mon
nnmurmuringly, that his dead wife's honor
When, however, his father-in-law began a
suit against him which involved his relations
out of the unhappy man, and he told all the
story of his wrongs. Not content with running
the woman, 1T came out that Henry had pur-
sued her to indianapolis, and had repeatedly
tried TO obtain an interview with her there.
capt. Johnson's son, who knew of his mothers
disgrace, on one occasion saw Henry skulking
about the house. and ran to get his gun. When
he returned with it Henry had got away, thus
saving his life, for young Johnson would surely
from Mrs. johnson, fully confessing her guilt.
came out and, though their pathos touched
every heart, everybody's sympathy went back
TO the afflicted husband.
THE HUSBANDS VENGEANCE
Capt. johnson soon after this was transferred,
at his own request, from Tennessee to Louis
lana, and, with the fifteen-year-olds son. Griffith
the one who attempted to kill Henry in India
napolis, went to New Orleans to live People
thought then that the tragedy was over, for,
to kill Henry, it was not believed he would ever
carry out his threat Time, however, instead
OF healing the wound, only made it more ag-
gravated, until Johnson could endure the agony
no longer. In September of last year ten
months after the suicide of his wife, Capt john
son came back here. Henry heard Of his ar
N thQ MOI .foi,1
Keep out of danger. Johnson hunted for him
ilndustriousIy. On the 22d of September he
Vile, little town several miles away. He
hired Il cOlored man that night to drive him
Twelve miles into the country in the direction
OF Haysville. He carried with him a double
Darreiied shotgun wrapped in a blanket and
which the colored man said he supposed was
fishing tackle. In the dead of the night of the
22d johnson came to a barn near HaysyiIle
and slept there until morning. Soon after
getting up he learned that Henry could prob
ably be found Ia a certain store in HaysyiIle
and he immediately set out for It, He walked
rapidly through the little village street until he
fae 10 n nd d Here he and walked
his hand. This, he said afterward was to enn-
BILE Henry to come out and meet him. He had
an opportunity to shoot him in the back but
would not do it. Finding that Henry did NOT
come out of the stone he went in. Henry start
Ell toward him, drawing revolver, when John-
son fired one barrel OF his gum. The buckshot
struck Henry in the side. With a groan of
u, lot
go the other barrel. This time he bit Henri
squarely on the side of his head which was half
torn on. He dropped stone dead. His revolver
was found hall way out of his pocket So close
together had the two men stood that HenrV,s
clothes were scorched by the fire from the nI'n
Johnson was much excited, but In full posses
sion OF his senses. Raising his still snokino
gun to his lips, he kissed it passionately twice
and handed ii to bystander WAN
THANK God, he said, my precious wifa 70
avenged at last WAC 10
He then requested to be taken to n CON
stable stable house near by, where he formally gave
Nv hat ought to be done" he asked az no did
so, with man who ruined a good woman ny II
the law did not punish him / had a good wife.
where is she now?'' e "Aio'
johnson when brought here as a prisoner
i Ms INV g,nen n an ovation the people almost carry
wen known, and the sympathy for him was
profound Henry had been ostracized amon%
decent people from the time his Infamous CON,
boa, became ~. Known Already two letters have
sued the woman. They We're written at the
lime ne was hounding her in IndjananoJiS
ihey were dated from an Indianapolis hotel and
nSiss ~ sifs Johnson To make an appointment
50 far In the trial the circumstances of tho
ehootihS nave been brought out and numbers
OF witnesses have testified TO Johnson's neace
s noie ana gentlemany nature and to his high
nounced That they would prove Johnson 70
DC desperate character, but failed To do So
anu TINS testimony at the opening of the Do
,ese On fPiuay nad strong effect for the wit
were such men as John G. New. ex-Senator
MeDonald, j. Nj. Butler, Stanton J. PeeIe and
otner men or equally high Standing Canaan
Johnson chief counsel is Senator Voorhees, of
What drove Johnson to frenzy and nrac;ni.
@ateu the shooting was the fact that Henry had