The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-21

Frank E. johnson, Of Tacoma,
Shoots Himself at Spokane.
HIS w,Fe HAD DESERTED HIM.
MARI 1su Safes Five Dollar Cssta2ssss
-Dspssy Collector P1soasr's n.
pIaass1sn-Revas1 fsS 0tsooH

SPOKANE, May M-Frank Z Johnson
shot himself in the municipal U room
today and almost smraedisteiy expired.
He came there in search Of his wife, Who
had left him, and last night vas driving
up aud down the street in front Of . hoses
and scting in . suspicious way. An onicer
arrested him and he was released on ban.
This morning his wife appeared and swoFe
out q warrant. charging him with threat
sning TO kill her. He Was again arrested
and taken to Judge Miiler's court. As the
officer paused TO open the door, Johns
turned, and, placing . revolver to bis LETT
side. fred. He left the following letter:
TAcoxA. May ~.
70 WHOM n Nm Concern: Thss woman 10 my
lawfully wedsed wife, married ~ Olympia.
Wasb.. July 4. 1884. Hsr name before marriage
was Mary Afics Hamilton. she promised to
quit the stage and ell intercourse OF society
of people in inst business acd attend
90 living Q domestic life. Lie failed
20 do 20, and through her Inhalation for the
stage and that class OF people has sun away
from home 1t three different times % sing In .
variety ihea,er. she needed nothing, ~ l have
made money enough TO satisfy every want
sud wish and have provided every
thing necessary ehesrfuiiy and willingly.
She ran sway 10 San Francisco On February 10,
lsy5, and then cams TO SPOKANE TO sing In q beer
hall. She promised 70 come back In four weeks.
but could not break away from the society abe
was in. cAme TO spokane 10 Try and dissuace
her from staying aay longer. What may follow
yet / can hardly be held responsible foc.
TAcoxA, May @-fSpecial wv. L. Nc
Donald tonight received q telegram from
Mrs. Frank Y. Johnson. requesting him to
take charge Of his electric and repair store
~4tf eA~ .uf<tAAts fathne ~hn kvaa
In Michigan, could be heard
best men In his line Of business on the
Coast. In repairing intricate machinery.
electric devices. bank safes, etc. he was
very clever. sometimes making $50 a day.
He married Susie Hamilton. q variety
actress, three years ago. She was In the
National thcater at one time. Last winter
she left him. going to Spokane.
and three weeks 8 Johnson left
the keys to his store with
A. J. Murray and went to
Spokane. presumably to get his wife. He
returned last Saturday. leaving again on
Thursday afternoon. Las. night he sent
. telegram 70 Barkeeper Donnelly at Miles
Gibbons saloon. requesting "another
bottle by express" Donnslly could not
understand 1t. But it is supposed that
johnson desired . bottle OF whisky. He
rarely ever drank anything here.
A companion Of Alice Hamilton. M
val on the variety stage here with her,
says Johnson treated her shamsfully.
He tied her In his room over his shop
and forbade her to go on the street. and
then he would tantalixe her by bringing
women into the shop with him. Some
say he was not married TO Miss Hamilton.
She used 70 cry for hours because Of his
treatment. He has been acting strangely
for six months. He threatened to kill
Alice here. and usually carried . gun or
two and . knife.
II II said that johnson. afew years prior
70 coming 70 Tacoma. had killed . fellow
workman In . machine shop in the East.
during . quarrel. crushing his skull with
. blow Of . hammer. lie acted in self
defense then. He WAS quiet and never
meddled with ANYBODY.