The evening world., 1903-10-16
Mrs. Irene Johnson, Sister Of
Wife No. l, Does Not Now Be-
Ileve that He Is a Wholesale
wife Poisoner.
WON'T HAVE BODY ExHUMED.
husband Shares Her Opinion and
Asserts that Iowa Prisoner 10 a
Good Christian Man for Whom He
Feels Sorry.

Mrs. Irene johnson. OF Brookhayen,
says she does not now Believe b
nezer ~Blydenburgh~ to be guilty OF moi.
soning her sister, Emily Hawkins Bly-
l~denburgh.
Ever since the trial OF ~Blydenbureh
In Eidora. Iowa. on the charge of poi.
sonins his third wife. Jennie Rosenbor-
ough, Mrs. Johnson has been In com.
munication with the Eidora authorities
and with B~lydenburg himself and the
niisglvings which had arisen concern
ing the death of Laura Godboid. who
was wife No. 2. led the relatives of wife
No. 1 to look with suspicion on the
death Of Emily Hawkins Blydenburgh
twelve years ago.
Now Mrs. johnson has come to the
decision that Blydenburgh Is not a
guilty man. The disgrace OF having her
two nephews and nieces placed under
the ban has been too great q consldera-
ton.
Won't Have body Exhumod.
~ greatly deplore the fact of so much
iiotoriety." says Mrs. johnson. "and do
not intend to have Emtiy's body sx.
humed."
Although greatly aroused over the
suspicious circumstances surrounding the
death OF Blydenburgfi's three wives,
Mrs. Johnson says that upon mature
consideration she does not think her
frst suspicious were correct.
Jesse johnson. q school teacher, at
BeIlport, L. l., and husband Of Mrs.
Irene Johnson, does nc hold &C high an
opinion OF Blydenbursh but shares his
wife's opinion.
MY sister-in-iaw was married twenty
years before her death, IND many
women die suddenly besides Mr.. Bly,
denburgh's wives" said Mrs. Johnson.
~ do not want to zee him prosecuted.
and I fee1 very sorry tor him. He Is
a good Christian mar, and my edster-in-
law lived happily with him. Yes. II is
true MI. Biydenburgth's mothers mother
took car Of both my sister.fn1aw and
his second wife at the time Of their
death. None Of my family were with
my sister in-law wien she died, but
tfrat was nothing. Mrs. Blydenburgh
has Emiiy's youngest child living with
her now at Ozone Park.
The Rev. Mr.. Bosart. OF the Bell
pot Presbyterian Church. married
them. 6he had ssven children. four of
whom are ifvfr.g
schoolmates of Different Opinion.
~ do n o believe she was poisoned.
but II she was money was at the bottom
Of It."
In spite Of Mrs. Johnson's change Of
mind in regard to B~lydenburgh the
schoplmates OF .Dmily Hawkins take the
revelations made in connection With his
arrest charged with poisontng his wife
In Rldoro as bearing direct upon the
death OF Emily Hawkins. Around Brook
haven the neighbors OF the Hawlinses
and Johnsons say they believe that Mrs..
Blydenbursh No. ! was poisoned.
The story Is told hal one Sunday
when Emily Biydenbufeh's baby was
nearly one month old her husband told
her. as he did his .Hldora wife, to go to
church. as he would prepare the dinner.
Mrs. Biydeflbirgh No. ! returned home
and ate a hearty meal. Shortly after
dinner she went upstairs M complained
feeltns A. After violent nts OF vem-
Mrs. johnson is a quiet woman who
shrinlSs from notorie.y. Her aged
mother was not acquainted with the
snspicions concerning Ebonszer Blyden-
buEgh until an Eve1lny World reporter
called al the Brookhivcn home, and
then the old lady was greatly exercised
at the thought OF "Ebby'' being q man
Of evil i~ndinations.