The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26
TRAGEDY VEIL DROPS
Circumstances Link Alabama
Suicides in Pact.
MAN AND WOMAN FRIENDS
Though Each Had Families They
Loved, II Is Said, PiatOnicalIy, and
Met at Theater to Plan Double
Death, Following Which Woman
Receives Pistol and Ends Life.

Birmingham, Ala, June 25.-No such
sensation has been known In this State
in many years as that caused by the
| suicide on Wednesday of Mrs. w. P. G..
Harding. wife Of the leading banker here.
and Guy r. Johnson. of Bryn Mawr, Pa.
until recently vice president and general
manager of tire Alabama Consolidated
Coal and Iron Company
Yesterday morning the body of John
son was shipped to Bryn Mawr, Pa. and
last night Nj Harding. who is president
OF the First National Bank OF Birming-
ham, and his eldest daughter. Elizabeth,
reached home from New York. They
were informed on their arrival at savan-
nah that Mrs. Harding had killed herself
and that within half an hour after her
death Johnson had committed suicide.
1t is now considered possible that there
was an agreement of death existing be-
tween the two. Their reasons are I'm.
known, although gossip is busy.
Suddenly Springs Up.
On Wednesday afternoon Johnson,
while lunching at the Southern Club.
leaped to his feet, exclaiming that he
had remembered an important engage
ment. He thereupon rushed home, and
calling his wife. took her to the baseball
park Leaving her at the entrance. he
said he would soon return, but instead
Of returning. he went to the city. met
Mrs. Harding. and with her went 10 the
Majestic Theater. There. seated in a box
well to the front, they seemed Obvious
of what was being presented on the
stage. talking to each other with heads
together. in half-audible whispers
When the couple left the theater Mrs.
Harding returned to her residence at
Glen Iris Park and Johnson went TO his
Office. There he told his chauffeur. Roy
Jones, TO take a package to Mrs. Hard
ing, and 70 give II 10 no one else. The
package was delivered. II is believed
that il contained a revolver.
Mr.. Johnson was very much excited.
said Jones. and his hand trembled when
he handed me the package. found Mrs.
Harding pale and anxious.
'On my way back to town my auto
went wrong, and while l was fixing IL
negro In the Harding car passed me at
high rate of speed. On reaching town /
took Mr.. Johnson home. Soon after hts
arrival there he called up the Harding
residence and asked concerning the mis-
tress of the house. giving his name as
Jones
MRS. Harding is Dead came the
answer
Shortly after this conversation Mr..
Johnson shot himself.
Makes Alleged Confession.
Il is declared that on his deathbed
Johnson told Of the suicidal agreement.
II is said that he told how his friend
ship for Mrs. Harding had grown TO such
an extent that he was unhappy when
away from her He also told OF how he
and she gTieyed when rumors. which he
swore 70 be outrageous and untrue, were
circulated He insisted that Mrs. Hard
ing was good woman, and that the re-
ports were so cruel that she preferred to
die than face them.
Mrs Harding left half a dozen notes.
but none of them has been made public.
As Miss Amanda Moore. the daughter of
q prominent Southern family. she was
once the toast OF Birmingham She mar
ried Mr. Harding in 1896, while only
eighteen years of age. Three little girls
were born 10 them
Johnson came to Birmingham several
years ago. and no sooner had he met
Mrs Harding than they became fast
friends They were seen together so
often, in fact, as 10 be greatly criticised.
The story TO the effect that prior to
her engagement 10 Mr.. Harding a love
affair had existed between Mrs. Harding
and Johnson is not true. Mr.. johnson is
survived by his widow and two young
sons.