Evening star., 1896-12-01

woman who was only twenty -nine years old
and good looking. left no note explaining
the reason for her act. and Mrs Rodgers
who lives in the house. was greatly shocked
when she learned of what had happened
during the night. William RodgerS who is
scene shifter at the theater, with Johnson,
the dead woman's husband, occupies part
of the house, with his mother and younger
brother. Last night, as already stated
johnson went over TO the monument al city
presumably on business connected with the
theater, while young Rodgers remained
here and slept at home. Mrs. johnson was
not at home during the early hours of the
evening, but returned about IL o'clock
She was woman of good habits, and
therefore Mrs. Rodgers could not accoun.
for her actions last night. This morning
Rodgers left home 10 go TO the theater. as
usual, and about IL O'Clock some inquiry
was made for Mrs. Johnson, who had not
teen heard moving about in her room.
Il smell gas under the door, said Mrs.
Rodgers youngest son, Robert. who had
stretched himself upon the floor and made
an effort TO see if anything was the mat
ter I'm the room.
Then run for the DOCTOR" his mother
called to him. and few minutes later DIR.
Z. V. Boarman was at the mouse.
Door Broken In.
The door was securely fastened, and an
AK used by the boy knocked the lock on
the floor inside the room. The volume of
gas from the room was very strong in
deed, and broken gas fixture near the
bureau showed whence the gas had
escaped Mrs. Johnson had twisted off
part OF the jet and thrown the broken
piece on the floor. DIR. Boarman saw upon
entering the room that the woman was
dead. He turned off the flow of gas and
opened the windows. There was nothing
else that he could do, for the woman had
been dead for several hours at least. In a
has Sl,.lf de be he'd als
dead.
When Coroner Hammett called at the
house about noon, Mrs. Johnsons body was
still in bed benea III the covering, where IL
had been found. Mrs. johnson had removed
her clothing and put on her gown before
retiring, and this leads to the belief that
she had not thought of taking her life, or
at least had not definitely decided 10 do SO
until she about to retire Her face
was only slightly discolored, and her feat
ures were as natural as they had ueen in
life.
The deed was committed in the front
room on the second floor. This room was
comfortably furnished. There was a small
stove i'm the room, hut there was no fire In
1T last night. On the floor near the stove
was a saucer filled with turkey bones and
a small bowl filled with water. They had
evidently been put there for the pet log.
No Letters Found.
The coroner searched the room for a
note or letter from the dead woman, but
she had not been quite so accommodating
had the Chicago suicide, who noted
the effects of the poison he took Mrs.
Rodgers took possession Of the dead
woman's effects by direction of the cor
oner until the arrival Of the husband.
DIR. Hammett questioned Mrs. Rodgers In
an effort to find a motive for the suicide,
but she could not tell of any reason The
couple had lived happily together, so TAR
as she knew, for she had never heard q
-nrd hot
johnson, she also said, was not drinking
woman, SO that her act was not the result
of liquor.
But persons other than near neighbors
who knew them say that the wife was
extremely jealous OF her husband. and that
she frequently went about the theater
looking for him. The husband is men,
ber of the Baltimore Theatrical Mechanics
Union, and had a number of theatrical
pictures in HIS room. The dead woman
was a native of Baltimore, but had lived
here a number Of years. 1t WAS a plain
case of suicide. SO the coroner said, and
he gave a certificate Of death accordingly,