The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-07
LIFE FULL OF ILL FATE
UNUSUALLY PATHETIC STORY OF
MRS. MARY JONES JOHNSON.
Did Not Reach Her Sons Bedside Yes
terday--II Treatment Dethroned
Her Reason One Time.

Mrs. Mary Jones Johnson of Cleveland
did not arrive yesterday, and her childrden
at $40 Cornell avenue. where her son, Will
liam Jones, lies critically i'll with con-
sumption. declared they had heard nothing
from her. To a reporter in Cleveland Mrs.
Johnson told the story of her unfortunate
life. into which has been crowded more
of sadness and disappointment and misery
than seems possible to fall to the lot of
one woman. She said:
My maiden name was Mary Riley. My
parents lived in London and were the pos
SCISSORS of a fairly good estate. When I
was but an infant my parents died within
the space of a few months, leaving my
brother, Edward several years my senior,
and myself upon the hands of relatives.
l was turned over to my aunt who I re-
member treated very nicely, but one
day. I think it was in June, 1866, when l
was nine years of age, my brother Ed
ward, who was quite a man, called at my
aunt's house and took me to New York.
We got off the boat and walked up on a
street crowded with people. l remember
looking at the buildings, comparing them
with those of London. when suddenly /
realized that my brother was not by my
side Upon looking around he was nowhere
to be seen. On that spot stood for hours.
and not knowing where. to go | finally
started to walk. Through one street and
into another / trudged until / became so
weak from hunger that | could hardly
Der plainly passing big house where
number of little girls were playing on the
lawn. [ entered the ward and asked one
of the girls for g piece of bread. She
screamed and with her playmates ran
toward the house crying, Towser, Towser.
A Newfoundland dog appeared, but he only
wagged his tail and wanted to play. Think
ing that | had at last found a friend [
burst into tears. At this juncture a man
styliShly dressed drove UP the driveway
in a coupe. He stopped and asked
many questions, and when | told him |
was hungry he took me into the house and
gave me something to eat.
LOST IN NEW YORK.
Later we got into the coupe and he took
me to the station house. Two weeks later
| was sent along with a number of other
little girls to Indianapolis, where we were
placed in an orphans home. Not long
afterwards a nice woman who said her
name was Ward adopted me, and in COM
pany with her / went to her pretty home
in Clayton. Here 1 remained nearly six
years. the only happy years of my life
One evening Mrs Ward said: Il
wish you would go over to Mrs McBride's
and nurse her sick daughter. You are kind
and gentle, but soon as they secure
regular nurse you can come nome.
1.-THE McBrides kept tavern. and were
ways called mother. Late one night man
came to the tavern and wanted TO remain
over night. Both Mrs. McBrlde ana az, m my Use.
boy, persisted. and we consented 10 let MIN
stay He registered as Lewis Jones, OF
Paris Ind and Notwithstanding his youth.
nineteen years he was a horse trader by
occupation. From that evil hour my life
has been cursed. Jones fell in love with
me, and a week later received a letter
from him. dated at Paris. A regular CORE
spondence was kept up between US, and
upon the advice of Mrs. Ward | was mar
ried to him six weeks later. being fifteen
years of age, and my husband. as said be-
fore. nineteen years of age. He took me to
Dor bI1t the after mar
rage as before. We had four children.
Alice. William" here the woman once
Eva and Minnie. After the birth of Min
ME we moved to little town in Kansas,
Jones became enamored of another woman.
whom he took to Indianapolis and repre-
Deserted in Kansas with four children and
no money. I knew not which way to turn.
Finally the county commissioners, realizing
that they had five paupers on their hands.
shipped us to Indianapolis.
Here I met Mr.. Jones, but he did not
care to anf fb Children bv habeas CORPUS
proceedings Frantic over this injustice,
did the most outlandish things, that only
sister of my husband, took Willie and
Alice, while Jones himself took Eva and
Minnie Through the efforts of the Fergu-
sons the only friends I had, / managed to
take in enough sewing to keep the wolf
from the door. Indianapolis and the inhu-
manity of relatives made existence nau-
seating The fact that my children were in
the same city buoyed up my strength and
hopes I often went about dusk to Mrs.
Reeves's home on Prospect street, to catch
a glimpse of my children.
POISONED HER CHILD.
ST was often seen lettering about the
place, and both Willie and Alice were
taught to despise and revile me- Many and
many a time I've stretched out my arms
toward the little ones playing inside the
fence and implored them to only say
mamma but no, they screamed and ran
and when inside tire house would make aw-
full grimaces at me. At other times they
would sing out in unison, Crazy
Marry can't kill us! Crazy Mary
can't kill u.s. This drove me wild. and
many times I suddenly came to my senses
far away from my humble home Despera-
ton drove me alternately to the homes of
nv little ones and one winter night, when
Willie was coming home with oysters, /
captured him and by sheer force compelled
the lad to go with me. In a weeks time the
little fellow actually called me mamma
and would put his arms around my neck
and hug me oh. dearly. How could
such 8 heaven last to one accursed? No.
it didn't last. An officer with papers came
and took my boy away. / carried so
frightfully that the officer interested him
self in my behalf. and stirred up much
trouble that to ease my mind and prevent
notoriety they gave me Minnie, then a
child of five years. Willie. however /
never saw again. / guess the taking away
of the boy broke the golden thread of rea-
son. for. Mister. poisoned my little Minnie