The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-14
"THE BLACKBIRDv rs DEAD.
George johnson, "the WhistlinR Coon,'
Suspected of Knowing About Her Death.

George johnson, "the whistlinR Coon"
Suspected of Knowing About Her Death.
George W. johnson. known as the Whist
ling Coon" 10 Locked up In the Tombs on a
Coroners commitment on the averment that
he knows more about the death OF his com m on =
law wife than he cares to tell. The woman
died shortly after q O'Clock on Thursday night
In Bellevue Hospital. She was found unoon-
scous earlier in the day In their apartm ents in
the basement OF 2G2 West Forty-hrst street
There was a stab wound in her face such as
might be produced by a hatpin. Coronsr's
Physician O'Hanlon will make an, autopsy
to-day.
The Coroner said that the case would be thor
oughy sitted for the reason that a staten en- t
had been made to the effect that johnson had
killed his FIRST wife
For some time past. Johnson has been In the
employ OF the Edison monograph Company.
to sing negro dialect songs into the phono-
graph. The first song that brought him to the
attention OF the public was The Whstip G
Coon He had been in tho habit OF going
about the city NhIstling continuously. On fer
ryboats. street cars and in other public
places his yhistling attracted attention. A
introduced johnson and his whistling habit
in the song, The, WhistlinE Coon"
he went toiiye at 3e2 West, Forty-first street.
taking with him a woman known as Roskins
stewart the one with whose death his impris-
with good voice and had Oft appeared In
the concert halls OF the Tenderloin district,
singing the songs which J2hn:01 heped to
where many people never sleep at night. Miss
time, she began to drink a good deal aud
finally descended from the concert halls to the
sss and %S 81. hs IN s9 t back
drinking from midnight till dawn. One night
about two weeks ago she staggersd into !
seventh avenue resort known MS The Black
and Tan" and begged the bartender TO give her
Hang me up Tor high one OF gin" she said
She wanted as big glass of gin as the barten-
der would serve to her,
many, days" remarked negro who was play.
| ing a banjo in the place Then The Black
bird, offered to try a song II the bartender
| would treat just another. but the bartender
told her her singing days were over. H,
| pushed her out to tho sidewalk. and she stag
| gered home to the little room in the basement
| or sober. she considered herself Welcome BY
! Johnson. The neighbors thereabout often sale
that johnson punched her in the eye when shs
Polc ee Nc SIanus, on whose complain
| johnson is held, testified in the Fifty-fourtl
| street court yeste day that while he was stand
| first street on Thursday. Johnson came UP t
| him and said that there was woman IL
trouble down at 262. Johnson led the way t,
q, room in the basement where he pointed t,
| the Stewart woman, who was lying unconsciou
| on sofa. her eyes blackensd and blood oozini
from wound at the, side Of her mouth
injured" the officer said He told me tina
she had come home at 2:3o o'clock that morn
so HPd in the The Cash
injured while engaged in q quarrel with som
OF the women she travelled with. 1 placed hin
under, arrest. The woman died afsw hour