Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-06
In the Event of the Johnston Poi.
soning Case Coming to
a Trial.
HUSBAND CUT HIS THROAT
Thirty Years Ago He Attempted to
End Life by Hacking Throat
With Nail.

JOHNSTON, 70 the grand Jury, ano recom-
mend that the same be done.
81. r. BLACkMAN,
~. c. WHEATON,
20. L. BRUNER,
~. A. CARPENTER,
Nv. II. STAIDLEY,
"R. p. WAIT"
The verdict was returned by the jury
after celebrating Is minutes. Mrs.
Johnston. with her daughter. Mable,
had gone to her home firm in the belief
that she would be exonerated from.
blame. and was getting in readiness for
the evening meal when she was called
up by Sheriff w. G. Heider and inform
ed of the findings of the jury, on the
strength of which she was arrested and
ordered to accompany the officer to the
train and to Rock Island to remain a
prisoner at the county Jail until such
time as relief in the shape of the fixing
of bond was afforded by the court.
, Mother Smiles Girl weeps.
Mrs. Johnston did not manifest the
slightest emotion. She smiled when
she said goodbye to her two sisters
who were in the crowd of several hun
depot TO see the train move away with
the woman against whom so many of
the villagers feel SO bitterly. There
was no one to sympathize with her, ex-
cepting the wife of the Methodist min
lister. who has been at her side through
all the proceedings before the coron-
er's jury. She has seen il her duty as
the wife of the minister of the church
of which Mrs. Johnston has been a
faithful commitment to give her cour-
age in her hour of trouble. when those
that were her best friends have turned
against her. The minister's wife doubt
less realizes the delicacy of her posi-
ton, but there is none that but should
admire her. She has not taken into
,, consideration the guilt or innocence of
Mrs. Johnston. She knows her only as
a good woman. She knows she is in
trouble, and she has extended her the
hand of a sister. Mabel looked longing
ly from the window of the car as the
train pulled away and great tears
welled up in her eyes.
| Glad to Get Away.
The mother, with the composure, the
defiance with which she has viewed the
whole course of the authorities. talked
on. discussing various phases of the
case. and seemed 10 enjoy the prospect
of getting away, for time at least, from
the morbid stare of the suspicious.
whose curiosity had caused them to
drive as far as 20 miles to be on hand
| to hear whatever new might be ad-
duced in the testimony of the witnesses
1 G INN cd for lou
were dismissed from Gauley's hall,
where the inquest was conducted to
permit the jury TO deliberate, they lined
up on the sidewalk and in the stores
and waited to learn all there was to
be had. When the word went out that
Mrs. Johnston had been held there was
| rush for the depot, and there the crowd
waited and watched until the accused
woman had entered the train, and
bearing her toward the city, had disap-
peared from view.
Can't Bear Separation.
Mable wept. She could not bear to
be separated from her mother. Mable
loves her mother devotedly She is 16,
and bright for one of her years. She
was adopted by the Johnstons and has
been with them nine years. The
thouht of her mother going behind the
bars was too much for the girl. She
laid her head in her hands at the back
OF the seat and cried Her mother did
not like the idea of her weeping, and
told her to stop il. She told Mable that
she could see her every day; that she
could go to some nice boarding house
and live there. When she understood
that She could be with her mother
every day Mabel became consoled
somewhat Then they rode on in ST.
lence, and Mabers tears were soon
dried, only to be renewed again when
the big gate at the entrance of the
county prison closed between her and
her mother
Suicide May he Defense.
If Mrs. Johnson is placed on trial on
charge of numbering her husband
doubtless her defense will be that he
suicided. Thirty years ago, it came out
yesterday, California Joe Johnston. as
her husband was known. in a fit of re-
morse. tried to sever his jugular vein
with nail. He did succeed in lacerat-
ing the flesh. and bled considerably. and
the doctor who was called to care TO,
him, said it would not have taken much
more for him to have made a success
full job of it. William Doonan. was list
ening to the reading of his testimany
given week ago for the purpose of at
taching his signature when Hon. Will
liam Jackson. Mrs. Johnston's attor-
ney. was given permission 10 ask Mr..
Doonan a question.
Mr.. Jackson put the suicide story at
Mr.. DOonan. The later had not men,
toned this in his Testimony hut he