The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-09
A BULLET In HIS BRAIN.
A STRANGERS DESPERATE SUI
eide IN LAwTON's FIELDS.

OOnQlLlOD Dy a OF
Identified on His Way to the Hos
pital by His Landlady-His Death
Nearly Day After he Fired the
Fatal shot-The Pistol Found by
His Side-Despondency Supposed to
be the Cause of the Deed.
A strange case Of suicide developed in Ss-
vannah yesterday. About Q o'clock yester-
day morning Thomas Cahin, who is doing
business with his brother on Liberty street,
went into the pasture east Of McDonough's
mill, in what is known as LawtOn's old
field, on a tour Of inspection.
About the middle OF the field and lying in
the open air, several children, who were
with him, came upon the Outstretched body
of a man. He was bareheaded, AMI there
was bullet hole through his head
The mans face was terribly swollen, but
he was still alive. His lothing VAS wet
through, and his hat. which was lying be-
side him, was half filed 18th water, show
ing that be had lain there during the rain
of the night before.
WELL DRESSED MAN.
The man was we'll dressed in q neat, blue
suit with blue flannel shirt, an overcoat
with gloves in the pocket and rub5ers on
his feet, He wore a watch and chain and
had a gold ring on his finger. he was
writing in delerium and It was gathered
from him that his name was johnson.
Officer Neve, who was in the neighbour
hood, was notified and reported the case to
the barracks. The police ambulance was
sent down and the man was removed 10
the Savannah hospital There seemed to be
an unusual delay in the movements Of the
police, and although Johnson was discov-
cred at 10 O'Clock it was II 80 O'Clock before
he was placed in the hospital.
THE SUICIDE IDENTIFIED.
On the way TO the hospital he was recog-
nized by Mrs. Rice, who keeps q boarding
house on Jones street. between East Broad
and Price. He had taken one meal there
and Mrs Rice, bearing Of the affair, met the
ambulance on the street and identified
johnson. She did not know his fret name.
At the hospital DR. Colding saw at once
that johnson was in dying condition.
The bullet hole was In the right side OF
bis head Just above the right temple, and
the ball had evidently gone into the brain.
johnson died about fiYe hours after be was
received into the hospital Coroner Dixon
was notified and will make an investiRa-
ton this morning.
HIS PISTOL BY HIS SIDE.
The pistol with which it is supposed
johnson shot himself was found beside him.
Ii was small S2-caliber six-shooter of a
very cheap pattern. Only one chamber
was empty. The pistol hardly looks TO be a
sufficient weapon TO kill man
Mrs. Rice, who keeps the boarding house
at which johnson made brief stop, was
seen by MORNING News reporter and gave
considerable information concerning the
suicide. Johnson she said, first approached
her husband on Thursday at McDonough's
mill, where he works, and spoke
about getting work there. He said
be was a sawyer and lumber worker
and seemed to be familiar with the business
IN Mr. nh
board and was referred to Mrs Rice. He
called at Mrs. Rice's the next
afternoon and made arrangements TO
board there for a few days. He had
been stopping at a boarding house
on South Broad street, he said, but did not
like the place because there were too many
negroes there. He had a rather dull, surly
look on bis face and seemed to be in de-
spondent humor. However, he became very
communicative He said his home was in
Maine. but that be had just come from
Wisconsin TO Savannah. He had only been
In Wisconsin short while, he said.
THE SUICIDES STORY.
He Is said to have worked in Jacksonville
three years ago. He said his mother ran
away and left him when he was * years
old and that he had been
kicking for himself as he expressed it.
ever since He had two sisters and a
brother in Maine, he said, but they would
have nothing TO do with him. johnson
claimed to be 26 years old lie was 6 feet
tall and weighed about 100 pounds. He did
not appear to be a man OF any educ alton.
Saturday morning johnson came back to
Mrs. Rice's and brought mis- trunk in q street.
wagon. He opened II and wanted to show
Mrs. Rice some curiOsties he had, one of
which was a finger preserved In alcohol
which, he said, he had lost from his hand in
an accident. One OF his fingers
was missing He had dictionary and a
F7elllng book in his trunk, some clothing
and a lot of tools. with lot Of small tin
types of himself, taken at some town In
Wisconsin.
LEFT MRS. RICE's.
After dinner Johnson seemed 90 change
bis mind about his boarding place. He
paid Mrs. Rice for the dinner and said he
had found some friends from Maine With
whom he would stay until he secured work.
he carried his trunk off in a wagon, but
IT was not known where he carried it, 1t
was suspC 3ted, however, that he carried 1t
20 pawnshop, but th.S was not known
He appeared to have some money, but not
very much.
On the day previous johnson had gotten
Mr.. Rice 60 make the round of the cut rate
ticket offices with him in the endeavor to
secure ticket TO Boston, but was not sue
cessful In his quest. He then said he was
going up the river on the steamer Katie to
secure work in a saw mill. No more was
heard of him at the toarding house until
the report of his suicide yesterday morning
THE FATAL DERD
he Is supposed to have wandered around
for awhile and about 9 o'clock at night to
have gone down into the old field back #
McDonough's mill and shot himself He
lay out In the open sir all night in the rain
and bitter cold. He must have been there
at least ten hours before be was discovered.
AT the hospital DR.. Colding found about
SID in money in Johnsons pocket together
with good silver watch and lot of papers
and letters, besides two plain gold rings.
A small account book containing q sort of
diary was also found. In it johnson had
made entries about as follows:
Left Wausau, Wis, Jan. 2, at 6:4S p.
m. arrived Chicago GAS a. m, JAN 3; left
Chicago $3.50 a. m; arrived Louisville $50
p. ~. Jan. 3; left same S:45 q. m, Jan. A:
arrived Jellico $3.50: arrived Atlanta JAN 5. u
There were two letters addressed to ~.
K. johnson, 920 Third avenue, South Wau-
sau, Wis" They we're from Snaplegh,
Me-, and were evidently from his sister and
her little child. The letter from his sister
co tanned information about her home aud
family and was signed Jane"
The other letter was evidently from her
little daughter. There were several post