The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-18
WAS A TACOMA RESIDENT.
REV. JAMES LIE BARON JOHNsON's
SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE.
No Credit Given to Implication I'm
Press Reports of His Flight with
Hospital Nurse-Was Popular and
Esteemed In His Former Home.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligeneer.
TACOMA, Dec 17.-Rev James lie
Baron johnson. the Episcopalian minis
Ter who, according TO press dispatches
mysteriousIy disappeared from sani-
tarium at Watkins, N. ", week ago.
was resident OF Tacoma for number
OF years. without question he enjoyed
while here the unique distinction of be-
ing the best known and best liked young
man In the city. The news of his dis
appearance coupled AS it is with the
reports of the disappearance Of Miss
Mary Hoffman, a trained nurse, Is
great shock to the numbers of people
with whom he was intimately associated
IN business and In social ways. The i'm
pllcaticn carried by tho press reports
attaching Significance TO the simultaneous
disappearance of both Rev. Mr.. Johnson
and Miss Hoffman is angrly discredited
By those who knew him best. They de-
clare there is not the slightest room for
q suspicion of any kind.
Rev. Mr.. Johnson came to Tacoma
from New York IN Marcn of 1889. He
had friends In the city who were well
connected In business and mercantile
ways, and the young man Immediately
obtained lucrative position I'm the Ia
coma Building and Loan Associations
bank which was afterward merged into
the Metropolitan bank. He worked his
way up and became assistant cashier,
and from that position was promoted TO
be cashier. Almost from the time ne
put in an appearance In Tacoma he was
IN great demand socially. Young john
son seemed TO have an Inspiration OF
friendship which instincrvely drew PEG,
those who, with the ordinary person,
would only have been speaking acquaint-
ances He was 2 member Of the TIA ia,
among the best people OF the city.
Among the fads he followed was PEE
cuiiar interest. which he took IN fire de-
slant visitor III the Tacoma engine HOUSES
that he was elected an honorary member
OF the Tacoma fire department. Mr..
Episcopal church of Tacoma. but his predi-
lection for some forms Of pleasure eyentuy
ally brought down. upon his head the
bitt, rector of the Trinity Episcopal
church. who on one occasion soupdy lee
iured him for his attendance at select
dancing parties. where he was one OF
the most popular figures
Moved to New York.
Mr. johnson left Tacoma in 1895. going
TO New York 20 study for the ministry
under the Rev. DIR. Huntington, rector
OF the Grace Episcopal church of that
city. Two years prior TO his departure
for New iork he had given up his bust
ness here and become lay reader az St
Andrews Episcopal church In the West
End, Tacoma. Mr. Johnson was one
Of the heavy financial contributors IN
freeing this church from debt. and among
HIS strongest Tacoma friends are the
parishioners of St Andrews. About two
years ago Mr.. Johnson completed his
divinity studies and was ordained by
Bishop Potter, of New York, and his
father, Archdeacon Johnson. of Staten
Island.
No word has been received here from
Rev. Mr.. Johnson since the news of his
disappearance.
Il. VI. Caesar. president OF the Metro
politan bank, of which Rev. Mr., John
son was at one time cashier, and who
has known the young divine since child
hood. believes he has made trip to
Europe or to some watering place for
the sake OF his health. II has been
known for some time that he was suffer-
Ing from overwork and too close applica-
ton to his studies. Mr.. Caesar says that
he has recently written twice to him.
but TO neither letter received any reply.
The last letter was answered by Rev. Mr..
Johnsons sister. and In II she told MIR.
Caesar of his nervous disorder and re-
quested MIR. Caesar and other friends not
20 write to him either on social or BUSH
ness matters until he recovered his
strength. Several people however, have
received letters from Mr. johnson since
he went to the sanitarium at Watkins.
These letters. whle they reveal that he
II suffering from nervousness and ON,
work. could mo- be attributed 20 "A man
who had lost HIS mental balance. MIR
Caesar and many of his Tacoma friends
believe he Will pe heard from in a day
or so