Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-28
Joseph Sudsburger Attacked
by Man He Befriended.
CRIMINAL KILLS HIMSELF
Pursued by Angry Crowd, He Put
Bullet in His Brain.
SEQUEL TO A RECENT ASSAULT
Mrs. Sudsburger Attacked Three
Weeks Ago by Walter Johnson,
Who Was on Bail.

Joseph Sudsburger. sixty-fve wears OF
age. superintendent OF the stables at the
bureau Of engraving and printing was
shot down In his own dooryard last night
by Walter j. Johnson. a colored hostler
who had been held for the grand jury To
answer charge of having assaulted Mrs.
Sudshurber three weeks ago Mr.. Studs
burger was hurried from his home. 3S5i1
18th street southwest 10 the Emergency
Hospital. Two bullets. the surgeons found
had entered the abdomen and punctured
the intestines the third piece Of lead
having inflicted wound in his left wrist.
1t was announced at the hospital this
afternoon that the wounded man was IN
precarious condition, although there was
no immediate danger.
Johnson was pursued to the Monument
lot where he shot himself in the head.
dying at the Emergency Hospital few
minutes later
The Tragedy.
Mr. and Mrs. Sudsburger and their
daughter were seated on the lawn in front
Of their home enjoying themselves short
ly after S O'Clock last night, when Mrs.
Sudsburger went into the house to get
something. Children of neighbors came
to the yard in front of the Sudsburger
home and were engaged in play. Mrs. Ida
Y. Owens an octogenarian. leaned over
the fence and hummed the song they
were singing. While Mr.. Sudshurger was
gazing on this pleasant scene Johnson,
who had been in hiding. saw his chance
to strike a deadly blow before his victim
had time TO defend himself. Johnson. II
is declared. said nothing to his victim
before firing the shots. nor did he say
anything after he turned and started TO
escape.
Although badly wounded. Mr.. Suds-
burger arose from his chair and started
in pursuit of his assailant. He faltered
and grabbed at tree. then fell
The pistol shots meanwhile had attract
ed many persons. including two park po-
licemen. who ran after the fleeing Grim
inal and were about to overtake MIN.
when he leveled his weapon at his own
head and pulled the trigger He fell on
the grass. his weapon dropping at his
side Johnson was unconscious when MS
pursuers reached him and he did not re-
gain consciousness before death claimed
him.
Attack on Mrs. Sudsburger.
Three weeks ago Johnson. who lived
with his wife at 1879 18th street north
west, went to the Sudsburger home and
told Mrs Sudsburger that her husband
had sent him to get s.. Mrs. Sudsburger
told johnson to wait in the basement
While Sn6 went I'D lIlt upper hcol " g
the money. But he followed her and made
a desperate attack on her. choking her
until she was almost unconscious. Al TINS
juncture her only daughter returned from
school and rang the front bell. Inc chllo
got impatient at the delay in responding
to her ringing and pushed the button so
vigorously that Johnson was alarmed
and hastily descended to the lower moor
and departed. Mrs. Sudsburger told her
husband of the assault and showed the
,,-ly. of ha N h.
and a warrant for his arrest was pro-
cured johnson was taken before Judge
kimball. Bond was fixed al 5000
IF he gets out on bond declared MI
SudSburger. just after leaving the folCe
Court, he'll kill me-
Sudsburger's Fears.
He asserted that the amount Of bond
fixed by the court was not large enough.
realizing that the friends of the prisoner
would get together money enough 10 Sc
cure a bondsman. Day after day the
elderly man called at police neadquar-
ters and got Maj. Sylvester. Inspector
Boardman, Detective Baur and others in
terested III the case. Representatives OF
the district attorney were appealed 10
for the purpose of inducing them TO nave
the bond increased. but they Thought the
amount fixed was sufficient Three oas'
ago johnson was released from Jail on
bond. DR. Michael O. Dumas of 1870 Il
street qualifying as bondsman. Mt
Sudsburger soon complained that Johnson
had been seen lettering about the ouds-
burger home. He was so worried over
the prospect of being murdered that ne
could not sleep. He repeated MS can"
upon the police, his last visit there being
paid Yesterday morning. He reiterated
the expression of his fears, and went
away from the building apprehensive that
ii would not be long before the colored
man would take his life, and Johnson
subsequent act showed that there was
abundant foundation for Mr.. Sudsbur-
gers fears.
Mr. SudSburger. veteran or the clVll
war was lieutenant in the army at the
time he received his discharge. tie had
been stationed at Fort Washington. ana
it was while doing duty there NUMBER
of years ago. il is stated. that ne met
the woman who afterward became MS
wife. Johnson had served under hin
number of years in the stables at the
bureau of engraving and printing. ana
had been regarded as one of the best anu
most trusted employees. On many octd-
sions Mr.. Sudsburger had befrlended
Johnson paying him for work ne had
done about the l4th street house ana
getting him other work. which enabled
him to earn d few dollars in addition to