The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-10-15
WOMAN EMBEzzLER
LED A dual LIFE
New Sensations in the Story
Of Mrs. Marie Layton
Johnston.
SHE MAKES a CORNERSTONE
Protects the Man With Whom She Has,
Been Living, Who, She Says, Has
another Wife From Whom
Ike Has Separated.

New York, Oct. 14.-Mrs. Layton
Johnston, in the Tof1bs under the deu-ss
Bile charge Of embezzlement and forgery
Card company, gave out the following
signed statement yesterday from her
cell after she had received a visit from.
her husband, DR.. Albert M. Johnston:
"In reply to your many requests for
further knowledge regarding h report
that DR.. Johnston has a wife (Mrs.
Helen Pulls Johnston by name) anda-
little daughter, 1t is true. I am not.
Dr.. Johnston's lawful wife, although
none OF my associates except my
mother know Of it. While l never met
his wife, still, I understood from people
who knew her that she was a woman
of grand character and a good, true
mother, but that she and her husband
did not live happily together n by
mutual agreement separated within a..
hort time after their marriage.
$50 far as DR.. Johnston DESERVING hisH
wife for me, 1t is not trae, as they
had been living apart for a couple Of
years before I met the doctor. n
many instances 1 have asked DR..
Johnston why he did not contribute
toward their support, and he always.
replied: Helen is too proud to accept
anything from me-
Mrs. Johnston's Story.
Mrs. Helen Johnston is a clever mu-
sician, and l believe this talent per-
mits her to earn sufficient money for
the support of herself and daughter. The
numerous papers have spoken very
harshly of DR.. Johnston, but it is.
wrong, absolutely sc-we did not live.
as extravagantly as reported. n n
tertained but a few. The Doctors.
mother has been placed In some very
unpleasant situations at times In this.
marriage complication but in all in
stances has tried to defend both her
daughter-in-law n myself. She has.
tried to be a mother at heart to both
of us. I regret that this public stigma
shout be placed upon d woman of her
years.
IT understand tina Mrs. Helen john
ston has begun divorce proceedings
against her husband. naming me as the
correspondent. At such a time as this
I am not in a position to say whether
Or not DR.. Johnston and myself will be,
married If q divorce be granted, but 1
would like the public to know that DR..
Johnston has don all that is within
his power.f for me.
MARIE LAYTON JOHNSTON"
Her Devotion to Him.
In order to clear the man she loves
from suspicion of bigamy and set him
right in the yes of the public Mrs.
Johnston has placed herself in the most
compromising position. Making her
act all the more remarkable, too, is the
fact that it follows the l~ong-delayed
visits of DR.. Johnston. Until the fact
was made public that he had a first
wife he did not visit her. He absented
himself from the hearings and conduct
ID himself SO coldly toward her that
har Y,ptIay could not find orG /. !, ~, -
enough to express her opinion Of tbe,s
man she believed to be her son-in-laA
because Of his neglect of her daughter.
On Wednesday,, however, after the
story of Helen Pulls Johnston became
known, DR.. Johnston called at the
Tombs, and there was a most affecting
meeting between himself and Marie
Layton Johnston. She flung herself in
his arms sobbing bitterly. 1t was the
irst time she has shown emotion of any
sort, but his coming completely IN
nerved her. He came again yesterday
N the worst OF the storm, bringing her
clothing from her home. Again she
with tender words. Then she went to-
her cell and wrote the letter, declaring
herself not his wife, and protecting him
as much as was in her power.
Were Not Married.
The belief of Mrs. Layton, the mother
Of the prisoner, that her daughter was
married on Lincoln's birthday, Febru-
ary 10, 1900, by DR.. John Peters, rector
Of st. Michael's church, seems to have
been a mistaken one. DR.. Peters re-
fused to permit any one to see the
church records OF marriages and said
he had no recollection of weddings so
long past. But there is no record OF
such marriage at the bureau Of vital
statistics. Facts corroborate Mrs. John
ston's letter. Her lawyers will move
To-day before Judge Foster for an IN
spection Of all the testimony taken be-
fore the grand jury on which the In
dtctrnents were found They have no.
Immediate prospect Of securing the
u, 500 bail necessary to secure her re-
lease.
cnME Rl#AcUR EAHsc