The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-16
C0ACHMAN SHOOTS
HIMSELF AND FIRE
FOLLOWS
Charles Johnson Puts a Bull
let in His Body and the
Discharge of the Gun Sets
Fire to Bed Clothing =
Fireman Is Injured.

Charles Johnson. coachman en-
plo<ed by Michael Doran, shot HIM
self shortly after noon yesterday in his
room at Doran's stable, 435 Summit
avenue. His body was partly con-
sumed in a fire that followed the dis
charge Of the revolver The origin of
the fire Is sunknoB9l.s
For several weeks Johnson had been
drinking, and early yesterday morning
returned to his room intoxicated. He
was seen by Policeman Wright at
a. -rrr.;; and -s't-that time was under the
influence Of liquor. When the bell was
rung to awaken Johnson at o'clock
yesterday morning lie ttlid not respond.
Agailgsat 1Qsand 1l..o.clOck one Of the
domestics pressed the button in the
kitchen, which rang the electric bell
in the cOachman'S apartment.
AT -: 80 o'clock the servant inform
ed John Doran, one of Mr.. D0ran's
sons, that she was unable to arouse
Johnson. Young Doran volunteered to
go to the barn to ascertain why the
man did not respond to the frequent
calls
AS he entered the stable Mr.. Doran
smelled smoke, and when he got to
the loft floor, where the COachman's
room is located, he saw smoke issuing
from the cracks below and above the
door. Doran flung the door open and
IIIeu " enter the room, Out was driven
back by the dense clouds of smoke. He
then rushed from the barn to procure
aid.
Outside he met Peter Peterson, a.
collector employed by J. NJ. Shea. Dor
an hastily told Peterson of the fire
and Of his fears regarding Johnson's
saf6tS.srsa-A-sladder was hoiSted to the
window in the eeoachmans room and
Peterson entered.
He found Johnson lying on the bed,
surrounded by burning bed clothes.
Without delay he grabbed the burned
form of the man and attempted to car
ry it to the window: He did not sue
coed, but was foFced to drop the body
and rush to- the window for air. Pet
erson wanted to return to the rG3m
and rescue the body from total de-
struction, but Doran; fearing that he
would be suffocated, would not allow
him.
johnson Was Dead.
When the fire department arrived the
flames were quickly extinguished Dr..
Abbott, who was passing the Doran
home, was called, but was of no as
sistance, as Johnson had been dead for
some time.
Just as the physician was leaving
the room he found a revolver lying on
the floor. Two of the chambers were
empty, the cartridges having been re-
Gently discharged.
A post mOrtem examination at Dam
piers undertaking rooms last night re-
vealed that Johnson had shot himself
on the left side, little below the heart
The bullet pierced the dfaphra GIN
passed through the stomach and lodged
near the backbone. The autopsy was
conducted by Drs. Miller, Finnell and
Plonke. According to the physicians,
death resulted almost instantaneously.
It is supposed that Johnson was in
bed when he committed the deed and
that the bed clothing took fire from the
flash, which followed the discharge of
the revolver.
One of the strangest things about the
affair is that no one heard the report
of the gun. Only one bullet wound was
found, while two chambers of the re-
vOlver Were empty
Johnson, who was forty-f1ve years of
age, had lived in st. Paul for more
than twenty years. For the past three
years he was employed by Mr.. Doran as
coachman. He had been in ill health
for several months, a sufferer from
Brights disease. For several weeks he
had been drinking heavily, and was re-
peatedly warned by Mr.. Doran that I'M
less he braced up he would be dis
| charged. 1t is presumed that his sick
ness worried him so that he decided to
end 1t by taking his life. Johpson's
wife died two years ago.
While at work eXtinguishing the
| flames at Doran's barn. Fireman A. G..
Davis, of Hook and Ladder No. 3, was
| severely injured by falling glass. DR..
Abbott dressed the wounds and the
man was taken to Engine House No. 5.
Selby avenue. Later he was removed
to his home, 1872 West Sixth street.
Davis was climbing the ladder lead
| ing to the window opening into John
sons room when the glass was broken
! by one of the other firemen. The glass
struck Davis on the right leg, Iacerat-
! ing the flesh.t