, 1889-07-11
COME IN
orES!
we are up stairs all dead !

The neighbors entered and assembled
the stairs in search Of Mrs. johnson.
They found her dead body in the bed in
o room adjoining the one in which the
others were lying.
IL was found that a bullet had entered
the right side OF the forehead OF the lit.
tie girl and passed out the LETT eye
When asked who hurt her she said her
brother stuck stick into her eye. She
also stated that her father gave them all
lemonade, and that her mother screamed.
The little one was tendcrly cared for and
Dr,. Magee and Williams did all in their
power te relieve her suffering.
Scattered about the house were found
the following notes, written in a acrsmped
hand and aboundingin poor spelling;
CEDAR CREEK, July 6.--This deed
may seem strange TO some that | do il,
for (it) is nothing moro than this world
Is two wicked to live in. | don't want
leave my family in it. They will bee
with Jesu suS before you see this. hope
that God will forgive me. | give my
all to him, | want everybody to prey
for me. | want 10 go to heaven. This
world is too full of sin | want p. A.
Mcconnell to settle up my business.
What is left, for him 10 divide between
himself, Ellen Boon & VIM. Mcconnell.
Good by.
ROLAND JOHNSON.
Everybody forgive me, and If Y. A.
Mcdonnell can't no more settle my bust
ness | want Evan Peddicord or Wm.
Mcclure 10 do IL.
Thruad Willie and Onnie in such fits
that they wanted 10 bee shot. | have
a dose for myself but will shoot. | can't
stand To see them have fits any longer.
This is all dun through love for my fam
lily, | know they will 90 to heaven and
not bee of in sin as here. | can't live
any longer and can't leave my family in
so wicked II world. May millions come
to Gesus through this.
Later-6 :4O-This is not through envy
for love. | can't leave my family in 81
wicked world. They will all 20 u
Gesu, now. hope TO go with them. I
hope that Good Will forgive me. have
beCu great sinner give my life, my
all for L.. | hope we will all be in glory
son. Trouble and sorrow are no more.
| want 20 go. i. +,
From the above notes il appears that
Johnson had gone insane on religion
and deliberately decided to kill his fam
lily. That on Saturday evening he gave
them ,trychnine, but when it threw the
children into spasms shot them. His
wifi. appears 10 have died from the cf-
tects of the poison, though there arc
some indications of strangulatiou. The
maniac must have done his worl; coollN,
for in the midst OF II he could notice the
time of the night and sit down and write
q letter. Again, when his diaboical
worl; was completed and, as he sup
posed, his wife and children had per-
ishcd at his hands, he again wrote that
he was about to end his own life
Johnson has lived in this section for
ten or twelve years and iS one of the
wcalthiest farmers in the Palouse COIN
try. Hi. neighborS have always rega rded
him a~ being eccentric. Ii seems that OF
late hc has been greatly excited about
religion. ON Saturday he was in town
and bought Il new moving machine Of j.
Olson. At that time he seemed per-
iectly rational.
The prosecuting attorney and sheriff,
after viewing the remains and consider
ing the circumstances, decided that it
was not necessary to hold an inquest.
There Is but little hope of the girl 3 re-
covcry, and even if she does she will be
blind.
Mrs. Johnson is the sister of Perry
Mcconnell, and is spoken of in the high
est terms by all who knew her.
The boy Willie was bright lad of II
years OF age, q great favorite among his
playmatcs. Tho little girl, Annie, is
only years old.
The tragedy Is one of the most horri-
bic on record, and has greatly shocked
the entire community.