Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-09-01
WIFE MURDER
IS CHARGED
NOME MINER CHARGED WITH
ATROCIOUS CRIME-CREMATEO
BODY-DECEIVED GIRLS REL.
ATIVES FOR THREE YEARS.

the murder of his young wife, whose
body he buried in the basement of
his cabin at Nome, disinterring it in
the spring, when he cut it in three
parts, Grated and later cremated it,
Lee II. Johnston, a well-to-do min
ing man Of Nome, was arrested in
Seattle yesterday on warrant.
Johnston admits having dismember-
ed the body and later having buried
it, but steadily persists that his wife
committed suicide and in a note re-
ques ed a secret burial and gave him
all her property.
The facts directly leading up to
and surrounding the alleged crime
date back over space of three
years, when Johnston, a well-to- do
miner, married Belle Gilchrist a
young society woman of Butte,
Mont In the spring of 1906 he took
her to Nome.
October of the same year she
mysteriously disappeared from
Nome. Johnston said she had left
for Seattle. Relatives in Butte and
a Mrs. NJ. p. Hadges, a sister. living
at Port Blakeley, received letters
regularly from Nome. purporting to
be dictated by Mrs. Johnston to a
cousin.
Johnston came out from Nome on
three different occasions and each
time told relatives in Butte that his
wife was we'll and happy in Nome,
and that, having her power of at
torney. he had come to Butte to dis
pose of the property and get tn
money. The suspicious of the rela-
tives were aroused year ago and
last June Joseph Warren, special
agent for the department Of Justice
for the district of Nome, was de-
tailed on the case, together with
George B. Grigsby, district attorney
Of Nome. Warren came to Seattle
and had all mail from Johnston to
his wife's relatives intercepted.
Later Warren learned that John
ston was in Seattle living at 1902
Fourth avenue with a woman named
Cora Tasch. who today admitted that
she had married Johnston in Omaha
in 1902. The Tasch woman, 1t is
admitted, q few months ago. had
gone before a notary and swore that
she was Belle Gilchrist. the wife OF
Johnston, and signed q revocation OF
a power Of attorney issued by John
stons wife to him shortly after their
marriage. in order that new power
OF attorney might be given him In
vesting him with absolute power OF
all her property.
e. @. Smith, q broker Of Butte,
who had been investing money Tor
Mrs. Johnston while the latter was
in Nome. was apprised Of the latest
move Of Johnston by Warren and
told to hold of. After q warrant
had been issued for Johnston's ar
rest and requisition papers had been
served on the governor Of Washing
ton, detectives who had been work
1 ing on the case with Warren went to
the Johnston house on Fourth ave-
hue and when Johnston came out
arrested him. He admitted a great
deal at the station, but would not
abandon the statement that his wife
committed suicide. He will be taken
back to Nome in a few days. In
statement Johnston said:
at was just about dusk on cold
evening in October. 1905. I was 60
ing down to am old we'll near oul
cabin for some water. My wife was
standing in the doorway and smiled
at me, telling me to hurry back as
supper was about due. l told her
would, and arrived on my return
trip in about Ave minutes. Wha'
met my gaze when l returned was
my wife's PROSTATE form stretched
across the doorway, her bosom heav
ling and a great look of pain on he
face. BY her side was half glass
of cyanide of potassium. She died
: about five minutes after my arrival
Near her side was note. lost the
note, but l guess I could write II
: from memory II I had some paper
Johnston then wrote the follow
ing:
: Darling Lee-I realize that l an
no companion for you and never car
be. Nothing but death will relieve
my suffering. I want you to have
all my real and personal propert!
and no one else.
l 1.-The power of attorney will be al
that you need. Dispose OF my re
1 mains secretly and let no one know
T. that have sought self-destruction
Forgive me and God bless YOU"
CONFESSES BIGAMY.