The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-02-08
HE GOT HIS REVENGE
c. NJ. Henson Kills J. B. Vert at
Chattanooga.
A Sequel I" Il Social Scandal. Vert
th"rged With Intimacy With
Mrs. Henson.

CHATTANOOGA, Feb. Sat ? so this
afternoon was enacted d tragedy that
appulled and Mortified this community
hey ond measure. j. B. Vert was shot
through the right lung while descend
ing in the elevator cage of the Rich
ardson building by G N. Henson.
President of the Citizens Bank and
Trust Company. Death claimed it's
victim within ten minutes.
Vert entered the elevator on the
second floor with Lavens ThOmas,chief
clerk in the Clerk and Masters office.
Henson spoke to Mr.. Thomas, then
drew revolver from his oveycoat and
fred twice at Vert The FIRST ball
passed through the fIeshy part of Mr..
Thomas arm, but the second shot sped
true Medical attention was given the
wounded man at once. Henson coolly
climbed the stairway to his attorneys
rooms and asked to have the sheriff
summoned. He stated that Vert made
suspicious move toward his hip
pocket and he shot him, but Vert was
found, on search. to be unarmed.
The terrible affair is the sequel to a
dark story of social scandal IN high
circles. In July, 1885, G. N. Henson
filed suit for divorce from his wife,
Rosa Henson, charging criminal init
macy with Vert, who was then lead.
ing insurance man and steward and
trustee in the Methodist Church. The
suit was withdrawn from the courts,
lest the shadow of mothers shame
might blight the happy lives of FAM
lily OF interesting little children. New
ertheless the church cited Vert to
trial, found him guilty of fiagrant and
notorious adultery and expelled him.
Vert leaves a wife and six children, all
nearly grown. He is 50years old and
has two brothers, a doctor and an at
torney, who stand very high socially
and professionally.
At the time the divorce papers were
filed he denied the charges in the
press, replying with scathing strict
ures on Henson. Very bitter feelings
were aroused, and public opinion was
divided on the question of Wert's
guilt. The arraignment OF 30 promi-
nent steward and church Officer, who
had hitherto commanded the respect
of all, and stood as mighty pillar in
Zion, furnished the gossips with sa-
lacious morsel.
Mr.. Henson was almost unbalanced
mentally by the awful strain and re-
signed the presidency of the bank, but
was prevailed on to continue at its
head with leave OF absence. He
travelled extensively in the West with
the view of locating elsewhere. The
strained relations between himself and
wife have preyed upon his mind since
his return.
Vert sold out his business and has
been socially ostracized since his ex-
plusion. He served on the staff of Gen.
N. B. Forest during the war OF the
rebellion and was brave and fearless.
Many believe that the banker went
in search of Vert with murder in his
heart, but the meeting in the elevt tor
was doubtless merely an unfortunate
coincidence.
One theory advanced to explain
Henson's sudden resolution to kill af
ter so long a time had passed was that
the reading of the horrible seduction
story in the morning papers, at Steven
son. Ala, had worked on his morbic
mind. The pistol that did the work
was bright and new.
A young lady in the corridor fell ir
a dead swoon, at the crack of the re
voIver. There was but one eye witness
TO the shooting, the young attorney
who was wounded in the arm. Aftel
the coroner's inquest the prisoner
who had been confined in the build
ing, was conducted between stron9
double line of police to a carriage anC
driven rapidly to the county Jail.
Fully 10000 people visited the scene
OF the tragedy during the afternoon
and surged wildly about the building
which is one of the main business
blocks in the city. 1t is stated on thu
authority of Henson's friends tina
Vert had made remarks that could b,
construed into threats. 1t IS just Il
say that the homicide came to mos
people like thunder clap out OF {
olnar akv