The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-16
HE FLED FROM HOME.
COlumbia's Postmaster Leaves
Marital Misery.
HE SAYS SEARCH WOULD BE VAIN
DR.. johnson Departs as His Wife Re-
turns Home-His Preparations
and Explanatory Letter.

The town of Columbia. few miles south
of this city. was thrown into state of ex-
element yesterday when it became known
that DR.. ]. Henry Johnson, the druggist,
school clerk, justice of the peace and post
master there. had suddenly gone away. de-
serting young wife to whom he was mar
ried only last September. He left his bus
mess in good condition. has no debts. and
the cause of his sudden disappearance was
unexplained until the following letter
written by him 10 f. l.. Hepler. his assist
ant, was made public:
E. L. Hepler. ESD Dear Sir and Brother: Il is
impossible for me TO stand to live any longer
with May. My life is perfect torment have
not been happy one whole week since We mar
ried. have done all in my power to keep her
in a good humor, but without success, SO have
concluded that / would rather so away and
leave her everything have except about So
have in hand. which will take Winnie and out
OF the country. / want you to take charge OF
the p3s;offioe, and dispose of the property
you think best for her advantage. | owe
about $50 on the stock; the bills you will find
on the hook. Pay these aud my donation TO the
ball. IL Will not be much, but it is all have.
Il will be useless for you to try to find me, as
would never live with her again. will simply
disappear from sight, and whenever she wants
divorce all she win have 10 do is to apply and
IL viii be granted. regret this move terribly
and have been delaying 1t some
time, hoping May would do better.
bit had as soon be dead and
in hell as live in hell. have no excuses to Of
fer. have done my part. have recommended
you for postmaster, If you want it. You will
hnd the postal accounts correct the government
beirg indebted 10 me for a few dollars Leaving
everything in your hands and trusting you will
not judge me harshly. remain, as ever, yours
In +. c. aud b. J. HENRY JOHNSON.
DIR. Johnson arrived in Seattle a year ago
from Indianapolis He was about so years
old. tall, slim, and was not bad looking
man by any means. He had with him a
2-year-old daughter, and he said that his
wife had died but short time before. He
remained in the city short time before
going to Columbia, where he opened drug
store and began the practice of medicine.
At Columbia he kept his own counsel and
won the respect of all. In short time he
was elected school clerk then Justice of the
peace and was appointed postmaster. In
September he married Miss May Hepier,
nice-looking young brunette who lived in
the town with her parents.
Last fall f. l.. Hepler. a distant relative
of Miss Heper. met with an accident by
which his right arm was torn off, and DR..
Johnson was called in and cared for him
until he recovered. The closest friend
ship sprang up between the patient and
his physician and has continued to the
present time. Last Monday morning
Hepler called on the doctor at his drug
store. and, after a few casual remarks, the
physician suddenly asked:
Would you like to be assistant post
master?"
The question took Hepler by surprise,
but he answered that he thought he might
like it. Thereupon a blank form of oath
was produced and the doctor. as justice of
the peace, swore his assistant in. The
doctor took great pains TO explain to his
assistant the details of the business. At
II O'clock Hepler went home to dinner,
and as he left the store DR.. Johnson said:
''1'm going away today"
But Hepler did not pay much heed to
the remark, thinking possibly that he was
going to town.
At about IL O'Clock in the morning of
the same day the doctor requested his wife
to go down to Rainier, few miles beyond
Columbia, and get some Strawberries.
She went there on an electric car and,
when she returned at O'Clock, found the
drug store locked up. She did not
Hollce ner husband on the opposite
side of the track boarding the
very car which she had just left. In
moment more the car was in motion and
the doctor and his Swear old daughter
were hurrying toward the city. When the
end of the line was reached the doctor
gave the motorman letter addressed to
4. l.. Helper, requesting him to deliver it
Immediately upon the return of the car to
Columbia. The letter, which is the same
as is published above. was delivered to
Hepler about o'clock.
Another letter similar in some respects
to the one sent to Hepler. was addressed
to b. Il. Shaw, one of the postmaster's
bondsmen. In it he recommended as his
successor Mr.. Hepler, and the envelope
also contained his denomination, addressed
to Postmaster-General Wanamaker E.
Nolan. a Cherry street tailor, was another
OF Johnson'S bondsmen.
The drug store at Columbia is nearly
free from debt and all told the decor
leaves money and property aggregating
about 81 600.
Mrs. Johnson is Frustrated over her hus-
bands disappearance and she has the SYM
pathy of the majority of the people of
Columbia.