The morning news., 1897-08-26
A WIFE KILLS HER HUSBAND.
DEATH FOLLOWS EIGHTEEN DAYS
AFTER SHE STRUCK THE BLOW.

AFTER SHE STRUCK THE BLOW.
Rosa johnson Arrested For the MUIR
der of Richard. Her Husband-she
Confessed the Killing, But Plead
Self Defense-COrOner's Jury
brought a Verdict Showing Self
Defense-The Woman Released.
Rosa johnson was arrested yesterday
afternoon by the detectives and lodged in
the barracks under the charge of muir
der, but later she was released on the
order of the coroner, after an inquest had
been held, the jury pronounclng the kill
ing TO have been in self-defense.
Rosa is a colored woman who killed her
husband. The man was not killed out
right but died at about O'Clock yester-
day morning, some eighteen days after
the wound that resulted in his death had
been inflicted by his wife, The woman
freely confessed that she and her husband
had gotten into fight and that she had
struck him over the head with an iron
pot.
Chief MeDermott received information
yesterday morning that Richard Johnson,
the womans husband had died under sus-
picious circumstances, and that she pur-
posed having the body buried with as
slight display as possible during the af-
ternoon. Considering the report one that
it might well be worth while to
have investigated, the chief sent
Detectives Scully. Barrett and Shea to
the woman's house in Jones street lane.
between Lincoln and Abercorn streets. An
investigation showed that violence had
been done the man. as the head showed
wounds that indicated that some blunt
weapon had been used in their infiiction.
The woman was arrested and brought to
the barracks, and the coroner was noti-
fed of the death.
Rosa, when brought before the chief at
the station house, confessed to the killing,
but told a story that would show her to
have been acting only in self defense. She
said that her husband had been drunk
very often Of late and that, while in this
condition, he had made it a practice to
abuse and beat her. At no time was
she safe from him while he was drunk,
and his assaults were often very violent.
INDSt met llel AlSDaAQ up NONl Oil Nl4e
night of Aug. Z. She tried then to get
him to let her have money to pay the
rent on their house, but he cursed her
and refused She said she then left
him and returned home, where she
was presently followed by her
husband. Johnson came in and began 10
throw out a choice collection of oaths
She demonstrated and tried to get him to
stop cursing at her, but he then knocked
her down. He threw her across the stove,
which had fire in il, and then against the
wall clutching at her throat, as he did
so. Feeling his hands at her throat, the
woman reached for a small iron pot near
her head. Taking a firm hold on this she
brought it down with all the force her
position would allow upon the mans head,
cutting it open on the left side and caus-
ing him to desist from his assault. The
woman says she then bound up her hus-
bands head.
Richard seemed TO experience no great
inconvenience from his hurt, and was soon
out on the street again. One or two of
his friends asked him how he happened to
get hurt, and he answered that ne had
fallen from a street car. Three or four
days ago however, the wound began to
grow troublesome. The head commenced
to swell and evidence of a disorder was
seen. The woman did not call in a physi-
clan to see him. but on Monday she went
to see DIR. Lloyd, who gave her a
prescription for a salve. after hearing her
account of the wound to be treated. She
went to the doctor the following day, but
he told her that he did not want to pre-
scribe for a patient he could not see and
went with her to her home. On exam
lining the man he saw at once that blood
poisoning was the trouble and advised the
woman to have her husband taken to the
hospital. This she positively refused
to do.
After her husbands death the woman
tried to keep it a secret. but the informa-
ton given the chief of police prevented
her carrying out her plan of burying
him.
Coroner Goette held the inquest at the
house. Two witnesses who saw the fight.
testified that the woman had struck ia her
own defense One of the witnesses was
the daughter of the woman and
the other was a colored woman
who lived nearby. Their evidence corre-
sponded fully with the story told by Rosa.
johnson was a man of almost 45 years
of age, while his wife is possibly a little
older She Is rather small and slight,
while he was a strong man.