The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-09
DIES
OF HIS WOUNDS
Police Sergeant Makes Brave
Fight for Life, but to
No Avail.
SLAYER DEWEY OVERCOME
WHEN TOLD OF FATAL END
Had Prayed That Victim Might
Recover: Officer Held in
High Esteem.

SUccumbing after a long, heroic and
determined struggle for life, j. Henry
Johnston, second sergeant of the Salt
Lake police department, who was shot
by Elmer j.. Dewey at the Albert
hotel on the morning of July !, died at
ST, Marks hospital at 800 o clock yes
terday afternoon from the effects OF
his injuries.
Sergeant Johnston, up to within an
hour of the time he passed away and
with seemingly indomitable VIII and
steadfast chcerfulness insisted that he
was going to get well. His wife, his
three children. his two brothers, ms
spiritual adviser, the Rev. Father Cor
coran. and his surgeon, DIR. II. B.
Sprague, were with him at the end.
As soon as the word of the brave
officer S death was received at the
poice station. a-great American rag
was placed at half mast and the men on
duty, in subdued tones and Wlth
dimmcd eyes, voiced their expressions
of profound sorrow and their deep
sympathy for the stricken family.
Slayer Much Affected.
At the state prison Dewey. The slay,
or of Sergeant Johnston, was notlilca
of his victims death by a guard sent
DIV Nartt0 L Adlb lIAlNh''i'AP
had received the news by telephone.
When the guard delivered the message,
HJohnston is dead Dewey turned
white. staggered, threw up his hands
and cried i'm loud voice: My God!
I've been praying for him to get
wclI,' and then lapsed into WolenI
weeping. He refused to say anything
more to the prison attendants.
Sergeant Johnston was ~ wears Hi
age and was a native of New YORK.
He came TO Utah in 1881 and Tor
number of years followed the business
OF mining working in the camps oi
and Morcur. On April >, 1892, he was
appointed patroman on the Salt Lake
poiire force. position hat he retained
until the time Of his death. Five years
ago he was promoted 10 be third ser
pcnut. and for the last two years has
been second sergeant of the depart
ment.
Sergeant Johnston is survived by his
widow. two daughters and one son, VINO
reside al the family bone, lll2 Finer
son avenue, an aged father, john John
sion. of this city. aud by four brothers,
George. a guard at the state prison;
Edward, IN electrician for the Utah
Light & Railway company. i'll at san
itarium in Battle Creek, Mich: Joseph
v. Il ranchmau Of northern Montana,
and one sister. Mrs. Hugh Mclean OF
52S South First East street.
The body was taken TO the under
taking establishment Of f.. G. D'Don-
nell & Co., but no arrangements for
the funeral were made last night.
An Ideal Officer.
j. Henry Johnston was regarded by
both his chiefs and Subordinates as an
ideal officer Chief of Police Barlow
said when he learned of the officer s
death: "He was in many respects the
best man on the force, absolutely fear
Jess, always cool with excellent judg'
ment and fine ability to handle men.
] have no words TO express my regret
and my sympathy for his family
Sergeant Johnston was n member Of
the order of Modern Woodmen and of
the knights of Columbus. carrying in
surauce policies in both orders. He
was known to every citizen Of salt
Lake and universally admired and be-
loved for his integrity. his unfalljng
chccrfulncss and his faithtulncss TO his
duty In all the years of his service
ON tho police force he had incurred
the cnmity Of no man with whom he
worked and even the criminals whom
he had to arrest and testify against
always Salu lHcN Sob HHVhic uc'''
Fought Brave Battle.
From the hour that Sergeant John
ston was removed from the room where
he was shot to the emergency hospital
at the city lail. where "A superficial cN-
animation Of his wounds was made be
fore he was taken to st. Marks. it'll
was realized that his case was des
perate one, with the chances largely
against him, The bullet which Dewey
fred into the stomach of his victim
was Of the soft-nosed variety and
penetrated the intestines in ten places,
causing peritonitis Immediately to set
IN
Some hope was held out, however, by
reason Of the remarkable physique and
almost perfect health of the officer.
aud as late as Friday noon he seemed
10 have rnined some strength and was
himself cheerful and optimistic that
he would recover Saturday morning
early he had bad sinking spell, when
for two hours it appeared that tho end
might come at any moment. but he
again rallied and at noon Saturday he
still insisted that he was going to con
auer in the struggle with death His
final sinking spell came shortly after
| o clock, but he retained conscious
ness and was sensible until within five
minutes before his last breath
Charge Dewey With Murder
Elmer l.. Dewey. who shot Johnston,
will now be charged with murder in
the first degree He fred the fatal
bullet into the officer IS stomach when
Sergeant Johnston entered Dewey's
room at the Albert hotel, having been
summoned by other guests to stop u
quarrel between Dewey and his wife,
Dewey WAS drunk and had been flour
Continued on Page Two.