The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-01-03
WRECKED BY GRIEF.
Judge Robert A. Johnston Com.
mits Suicide.
Sorrow Over tho Death OF His wife, foI
whom he Had an Almost Limit
less Love, the Cause.


hoDert A. Johnston, eK-Judgc OF the Hamil.
Ton County Court OF Common Pleas, shortly
al,er arising from his bed, at his home, ut Lin
ueh ana Main ave-, Ayondnle, o., on the morn.
ing OF Deoembered, att o'clock, fired o bullet
inio MS brain and died instantly.
Judge johnston was man OF strong ply
sique' and possessed a keen. clear, judicial
minn' long experience Mt the bar andran en-
s.npin reputation as lurist were hts. lie was
nlly-ihree years OF nge, and looked forty. His
bone was happy one. His family was loved
anu ioNnblc' He was not wealthy, but his In
come was comfortable.
All MS surroundings were congcnlal. His
hohe was rchiy furnished. IL was located In
Pretty suburb, with beautiful surroundings
anu hndly, friendly neighhors, friends Tor years
~ .anly connections acre oil excellent, His
chhnrcn were bright, and two OF them were
married wen ana happily and eacellcntly stu
htcu IN lue. Judge johnston, despite his sur
roundings, prcmeditatealy killed himself,
s,ar.hng Ills friends md acauaintances and
snoaklng ms iamiiy
why did ho do ny Nas the query which the
stafuen public asked, after The first shock
whleh 'he information OF Judge Johnstons
u.a'n created, had been In n measure dissipat-
~, Ihere was only one answer. and that was
,hat 'hc death oil Judge Johnston's wife, which
ocourred october z. under pccu iarly distrcss-
@ ~ circumstances, had 20 prcyed upon his MIND
.na' y resulted In acute melanoholia severe
a'tacA OF Nhich eliminated IN suicide.
leW minutes before seven o'clock that
morning Mary foH, anold aud faithful servant
OF the family heard the Jud re lcsvc his cham
pcr on inc second hoor and go to the bath
noonl, As was MS custom He returned very
shorty ana took glass OF water from pitcher
hunuihg 10 tbc hallway. Then he retired TO
ms own apartment moment liter Miss Fox
heard ihc inunied shot OF arcvolyer She went
10 the JUDGES door and EnnrEed
Was no answer.
she repeated the knock, but stu no response.
WIN many mitFivinga the door wns pushed
open. There. partly eoncealedb the curtains
over DIS bed lying on the ioor was the body OF
anaRe johnston The woman rushed forward.
nc was sun alive nni In the agonics OF death.
WIN great haste the other members OF tho
houschoid was awakened, and Sherlock John
ton' son, ran aetoss the street and sum
m"nel Judge Buchwalter, while Miss Fox
""ht Tor Dr. Mitchell, who NJ
uehucd AZ once. hut the sufferer was be;
yonu the reach OF physician's skill Hp
hs upon mn h2or' MS race npturncd und rc.
soner ly'ne IN ma rlgd hn nd From hole IN
INC fiRni temple oozed lifes liquid vine, bui
thete was nothing about the calm features
when Indicated suffering The dead man was
w MS hight elpiheh he had gone 10 the bath
room, ana on his return kneit down by the bed.
placed the weapon at his right temple and sent
nc paii crashing through his brain. The hul'
'et passed entirely through his head,
judge Johnston has been distrnught for two
months past, His melancholia was observed
by his friends aud family. The attack OF de.
mentia, during which Judge Johnston shot
himself was preoipiated by the melancholy
lnciuchts surrounding risit 10 The grave OF hih
witc nj Spring Grove Cemetery Christmas day.
The Judge had been very gloomy in m nd early
CHRISTMAS day. and the gloom was increased by
me happiness which surrounded him on all
sides, and which he could see IN the faces OF hi,
nelghborN hear In the merry carlton OF Christ
mas bells, and IN ali the innumernble things
mat on christmas DAY of all the days In the
year, give external evidence OF JOY and merrt-
ment Mental contrasts OF his sad Christmas
with the holidays OF years past, when his be-
loved and beautiful wife was with him, were
MADE hrd TAT contrast but increased the Keen
ness OF MS melancholy
Chrtstmas morning Judge Johnston was un.
usually depressed. hts children tried TO cheer
him ", II was In VAN. All about him were
ipt frconccuohs OF MS Mic. Every thing IN
ne plctty home recalled her to hun Her pot |
'rnti standing on an easel In the drawing'room.
sAs Nfcaihed with wnxcn'leaved smiiax. His
pretty danghter, MS brightcyed young boy,
more Than every ono else, moro than every |
hing else, sharpened his memory, and made
more poignant MS grief he tricd 10 brighten
np. put iaileu signnlly' ana when inc carriage
came 70 the door before noon TO take him, his
laughter MISS lopcrta, ana ms son Robert A.,
r.. TO me Chiton nome OF John Z. sherlock the
son OF ms sister, mrs. Tnomas sherlock he
was very despondcnt
CHRISTMAS dinner ~ Mr. Shcriocks hand-
some home In Clifton, with Its brightness and
yaiety. did not disslpate the dependency OF
me Judge AFTER unnor nc went OUT on the
porch and into the pright rnrc CHRISTMAS sun
shine. There nc SAT Tor soino hme ana whrn
no camo INTO inc mouse again' traces OF tears
we're on MS iacc' ana therc were Tears IN ms
Ioioe. Aner dinner tne earriage came ana
Judge Johnston, his sister, Miss Johnston
md MISS Roberta ana her brother koocrs were
lrlScn 70 sprung Grove cemetery, where,
a the family iot my INC pody OF the
pelovcd VIC ana mo'hcr. Inc scene IN INC
was ahccting' ana alter the VISIT the
Judge sat silent ana SAD IN the carriage win
lis sister and MS children. CHRISTMAS supper
4saa hnH