Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20
TAKES HIS own LIFE
Capt. VIM. B. Johnson Com
mits Suicide.
TIT HTATTH TIT NAHS z
ILL HEALTH THE CAUSE
LEAVES NOTE FOR HIS SON RE-
GARDING PRIVATE PAPERS.
Deceased Was Union Veteran and
Member of Masonic Fraternity
Native Of Maryland.

Capt William B. Johnson, clerk in the
quartermaster's Office. War Department,
committed suicide at his home, GIG l street
northwest, at an early hour this morning.
He cut his throat and severed the veins in
his left wrist with razor. Life was ex-
tinct when his body was found shortly be
fore O'Clock this morning. III health and
fear that he would suffer stroke of pa
ralysis prompted the deed.
Capt. Johnson had not enjoyed good
health for more than two years and he had
failed so much during recent months that
he was hardly able to perform his clerical
duties at the department where he had
worked for a number of years. He had
worried SO much over his physical condi-
ton, it is said, that he had been unable to
get much sleep, and he was frequently
heard walking the floor at al hours of the
night. He boarded with Mrs. Wilson, a
relative of his by marriage and his dead
body was discovered by her in the parlor
this morning. Bicycle Sergeant J. E. VIII
son of the police force, a son of the lady
named, is the last person who saw Capt.
johnson alive. He returned home about
O'Clock this morning and found him pacing
the floor.
lis that you, Ed?" the captain inquired
of him.
1T is was the sergeants response.
ITS something terrible to be Old the
the information that his head was giving
him considerable trouble and spoke of the
feeble condition Of his arms, which, he
feared, would soon be paralyzed.
will you call me at o'clock?" the SER
geant asked Capt. Johnson as he was
about to leave his room.
Il may oversleep myself" the captain
said. You would better ask your mother"
Suspected Nothing.
After partaking of light lunch sergt.
Wilson returned to Capt. Johnson's room
and remained with him several minutes.
He did not suspect anything wrong for the
elderly man had talked in the same strain
on many previous occasions. Sergt. Wilson
then requested his mother TO arouse him at
O'Clock.
Mrs. Wilson arose shortly before 6 o'clock
and went down stairs to prepare breakfast
for her son, who had to go on duty at an
early hour. She entered the parlor and
opened the blinds. Then she turned and
started toward the door, when the appaIl-
ing sight of Capt. Johnsons dead body on
the floor startled her. She discovered
quantity of blood in a Washbowl and saw at
a glance that her relative had committed
suicide
Without stopping to make further in
vestigation she rushed upstairs to her sons
room and fell PROSTATE across his bed
AS she was able to tell of the
ghastly sight she had witnessed, her son
went to the parlor, where a haSty eXamina-
tlOn SuOWeu lndl lie was eAlluCt D6dlH
had occurred sometime before the body
was found, and 1t is believed that the victim
of the self-inf1icted wounds used the razor
shortly after Sergeant Wilson left his room
The condition of things about thhe parlor
and Capt. Johnson's bed room, directly back
of the parlor indicated that the wound in
his wrist was made before he left his
room. He used a towel to prevent the spill
ing of blood on the carpet, and carried
the bowl with him for the purpose.
His arm rested across the bowl and when
he had placed himself In this position, it
is believed he cut his throat.
Before committing the deed Capt John
son addressed note to his son, Policeman
Johnson of the fifth precinct, which indi-
Gated that it had been written at 3 O'Clock.
In the note the writer explained where
his son would find his private papers, but
gave information about the deed he
was SO soon to commit.
The deceased was nearly seventy years
old. He was native of Maryland, having
been born near Frederick. where his BROTH
ers and sisters still reside. During the war
he served as a member of an Ohio regi-
ment. He a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic and was also con-
nected with local Masonic lodges.
Relatives of the dead man in Maryland
have been notified of the suicide. and until
they are heard from the funeral arrange
ments will not be made. In the death of
Capt. Johnson it is said, many poor people
lose a valuable friend. He was an extreme
oring to do good. Many veterans applying
for pensions sought his advice and he
always willing to serve them without
charging a cent for his services Policeman
johnson was his only child. His wife died
a number of years ago and her body Is at
rest in Genwood Cemetery.
Capt. Johnsons body may be inferred at
Arlington.