The San Francisco call., 1907-06-12

BERKELEY, June 11.-Hints of
tragedy In England involving City At
torney H. H. Johnson and his wife
were contained in dispatches from Lon
don last night. wherein it was told how
a Mr.. Johnson of California had been
killed in an automobile accident This
meager account was followed by a
cablegram from Mrs. H. H Johnson.
confirming the story of her husbands
fate. The cablegran1. addressed TO her
father in law. Joseph NJ. Johnson, was
as follows:
Automobile accident. Harry killed
instantly. Self very slightly hurt. Am
returning home with body cremated as
soon as possible.
"HILMA JOHNSON"
The dead attorney left Berkeley with
his wife for a tour OF Europe May IS.
arriving in London June 4. He had
planned to celebrate the second ami
yersary of his wedding in Paris on
July 21 and then to visit other parts
of the continent. returning to his home
in this city in September. He had
worked with signal success in his pro-
fession for three years, achieving an
enviable position and acquiring a cli-
entele that promised to make hirf~rich
in few years, his earnings during the
past year having amounted to about
Slo,uVU. he DelleVeO ne nd0 earned
vacation and his itinerary included a
succession of pleasant affairs planned
to occur at various points abroad.
Death cut short the tour six days after
he reached London.
With the Berkeley attorney and his
wife on the automobile ride which
ended so disastrously for all in the
party were Mr.. and Mrs. Blake of
Philadelphia Johnson had attended
to legal matters on the coast for the
Blakes and they were to journey to-
gether in Europe for several weeks
Accounts of the automobile trip in
which johnson met death say that the
accident occurred at Edgehill, near
Banbury, in Oxfordshire. The party
left Oxford yesterday morning in
hired motor car for Stratford- on Avon
In a descent of hill at EdgehiIl.
where many accidents have occurred.
the car containing the Johnsons and
Blakes overturned. Johnson's skull
was fractured, and, according to his
wife's cableGram. he died instantly
Blake was injured so that his death
was momentarily expected. The women
of the party escaped with slight in
juries. did the chauffeur.
The family of Johnson, including
his father. who is an cut OF town agent
for the John Deere implement company
of San Francisco, and Miss Ivy John
son, sister, remained up throughout
the night after the first intimation of
danger to the absent ones had been
received yesterday afternoon, awaiting
with Mrs. Johnson's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. r. Jones of 1888 Virginia street.
definite news of the tragedy. They
sent cablegram to the American con-
sulate in London. but received no an
swer until Mrs. Harry Johnson's mes
sage came this morning. The city au-
thorities ordered the flag over the city
hall to be suspended at half mast
Johnson was looked upon as one
of the college community.s most use
full citizens. with a promise of a brill
liant career before him. He was %
years old. Despite his comparative
youth. he had established himself as a
force in politics, society, the church and
in his profession. He was a partner OF
superior court Judge William H. Waste
until the latter went on the bench in
1905. Most of his life was spent in
Berkeley. He came to California with
his parents 20 years ago from Mis-
souri,, graduated from the grammar
and high schools of this place. then
finished his studies at Yale, where he
graduated in 1904. He had studied law
in Judge Wastes Office and when he
returned from Yale he became Wastes
partner.
In the spring of 1905 he was elected
city attorney, succeeding Brewton A.
Hayne. He was reelected two months
ago. His office had so increased in
Importance that the authorities doubled
his salary and gave him deputies of
whom Redmond C. Stats is chief The
latter Is expected to succeed Johnson
as head of the offce, by appointment OF
the trustees.
Johnson was knight Templar, a
member of Durant lodge No PSI. F..
and A. NJ He belonged to the Friends
church. which in Berkeley is one of
the most important and influential
church denominations.
In July of 1905 Harry Johnson was
married to Miss Hiima Jones. whom
he had known for years in high school
and at the university. She was col
lege graduate. The johnson home has
been recently at 2s14 Telegraph ave-
nue..