The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-07-12
GONE
orEs.
wE ARE ur srArRs ALL Dad

The neighbors entered and assembled
the stairs in search OF Mrs. Johnson,
They found her dead body in the bed
in a room adjoining the one in which
the others wele lying.
1t was found that a bullet had en-.
tered the right side OF the forehead oil
the little girl and passed out the left
eye When asked who hurt her she
said her brother stuc q stick into her
eye. She also stated that her father
gave them all lemonaae. and tthlaet hsl
.enderly cared for and Drs. Magee aud
Williams did all in their power to re-
lieve her sniEerings.
Scattered about the house were
found the following notes written in
q cramped hand and Astounding In
poor spelling.
CEDAR CREEK, July 6.-This deed may
seem strange 10 some hat I do ii, for il IL
nothing more thsn this world is too wicked
70 live In. don't want to live any longer
n IL. l can't bar to leave my family in it.
They will be with jesus before you see
this. | hope that Good will forgive me.
give my ali 10 hsm. ! want every body 10
.rey for me. l want TO 20 to heaven This
world is too fnll of sin. want r. A. Ne
Council TO settle up my business What Is
left, for him TO divide equal between him
self. Ellen Boon 4 VIM Mcconnell. Good
by. ROLAND JOHNSON.
Everybody forgive me, and IL r. A. Me-
Connefl can't no more settle my business |
want Evan Peddisard or VIM. Mcclure 70
do II.
Il o'clock give ssrichnene. 1t Throsd
Willie and Onnie Ia such fits that They
wanted 10 bee shot. have . dose for my
self bat will shoot ! cant stand to rec
them have dts any longer. This is al dun
through love for my FIRMLY. know they
viii go to heaven n not bee of IN sin as
here. | can't live any longer and cant
my family In so wicked q world
May millions come to Gests through this
Later. 6;40.-This Is not through envy
for love. ! can't leave my family In 10
wicked . world. They will all go to Gesus
now. hope TO 60 with them. 1hore that
God VIII forgive me. have been 4 great
sinner. ! give my life. my all for il. I
hore we viii all be In glory son. Trouble
and sorrow are no more want to go.
j. r.
From the above notes il appears
that Johnson has gone insane on re-
ligion and deliberately decided to kill
his family. That ON Saturday eyen.
ing he gave them strychnine. but
when 1t threw the children INTO
spasms. shot them. His wife appears
to have died from the effects OF the
poison. though there are some indica-
tions OF strangulation. The maniac
must have done his work cooilv for in
the midst of it he could notice the
time OF the night and sit down and
write . letter. Again, when his dia-
bolical work was completed and, as he
supposed. his wife and children had
persisted 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 d and i one O.
the weaithiest farmers in Palouse
country. His neighbors have always
regarded him as being eceentric. II
seems that of late he has heen greatly
excited about religion. On SATURDAY.
he was in town and bought a new
moving machine Of J. Olson. Atthat
time he seemed perfectly rational
The prosecuting attorney and sher-
III. after viewing the remains and con-
sidefing the circumstances, decided
that II was not necessary to hold an
inquest.
There Is but little hope of the girls
recovery, and y il she does she
will be blind.
Mrs. Johnson Is the sister OF Perry
Mcconnell, and Is spoken Of in the
highest terms by all who knew her.
The boy Willie Was q bright lad OF
IL years OF age. q great favurite
among his play mates The little girl
Onnie. Ii only : years odd.
The tragedy IN one OF the most hnr.
ribie on record and has greatly shocked
the entire community.