Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-26
MISS TILLIE JOHNSON COMMITS
SUICIDE BY CUTTING THROAT
WITH RAZOR.
AGED AND INFlRM MOTHER
DIES FEW HOURS LATER
Young Lady Formerly Popular School
Teacher-Health Became Impaired
Some Years Ago, Was in Sanatorium
For Time and Made Previous At.
tempt to Take Her Life.
Special TO Times-Rcpub!ican

Special TO Times-Rcpub!ican.
Hampton, May 26-The home of j
NJ. Johnson, in this city, is the scene OF
a tragedy and double affiiction. Miss
Tillie Johnson, the daughter, aged 81
committed suicide yesterday morning
by cutting her throat almost from ear
70 ear with a razor, and during last
night her mother, who had been in
poor health for a number of years
passed away. Mr.. Johnson the doubly
oereaVed husband and father is in
feeble health and it will not be strange
! IL the shock should prove greater than
he can withstand.
AS usual, Mr.. johnson arose early
/ "Wednesday morning and Went out to
attend to the morning chores Re-
| turning TO the house a short time later
for his breakfast, it was learned that
Miss Tillie had not been seen by any
member of the household neither was
she IN her room and a search was in
stltuted for her. After short time
Mr.. Johnson, in his search, discovered
her lifeless body in the basement of the
house. in the coal bin. A terrible cash
across her throat and pool of her
own blood. together with a goary razor
in her hand. told only too plainly the
story of her self-destruction
The Mortified father at once tele-
phoned to Coroner John NJ. Wat, and
he had the body taken to the under
taking rooms of Carl Petersen and
prepared for burial The coroner
deemed it a clear case of suicide. and
thought it not necessary to hold an
inquest.
Miss Johnson had been in poor
health for several years and of late
this had so preyed upon her mind that
she had become Respondent, and it is
known that she had attempted to take
her life on a former occasion. Becom-
ing alarmed for her safety by this, her
relatives had kept a closer watch upon
her than usual, but despite this she
outwitted them and accomplished her
purpose. Nor have relatives and
friends failed to do all that was pos
sible for her in the way of medical
treatment. A few years ago she was
taken to a sanatorium for treatment.
but it is thought that but little benefit
was obtained.
The aged parents of the dead girl
were both feeble The mother had been
by illness, and her condition was such
that the attending physician advised
that she must not be told of the tragic
death of her daughter. fearing that her
own condition would be made worse.
Before her health became impaired
Miss Johnson had been one of Frank
lin county's best and most popular
school teachers. She had been a stu
dent of the Teachers College at Cedar
Falls.
The family moved to this city about
seven years ago from the vicinity Of
DoWs, where they had resided for many
years. and it was in that part of the
county where Miss Johnson had done
the greater part of her teaching.
Besides the father the surviving
members of the family are Mrs. George
r. Darling and Miss Laura Johnson,
of this city; Mrs. Roy Graham. of Los
Angeles; Frank, also of Los Angeles,
and Charlie. of North Dakota.