New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-13
GAVE LIFE FOR JOHNSON
Pugi|iSt Says His White Wife
Wrecked Her Health for Him.
BOTH TRIED TO END LIVES
She Saved Him from Suicide
Many Times, He Says, Be-
fore Shooting Herself.

Chicago, Sept l2-Mrs. Eta Duryes
johnson, the white wife Of Jack" john
son, champion heavyweight pugllist, died
/ a suicide, after wreckng her health in
| caring for her husband. who was q victim
OF nervous prostration and had been af-
/ ilicted with suicidal mania for a year on
account of injuries and exertion during
his fight with Jefflies.
| That was the testimony Of Johnson at
, the inquest here to-day over the body OF
Mrs Johnson. who shot herself last night
| I'm her apartment over tho champions
I saloon. Johnson said that the nature ard
extent of his sufferings after the cham
pionship fight had been kept secret by
his wife and himself
, II am still suffering from the effect OF
/ that fight 20 some extent" he said.
Prizefshter in Tears.
johnson gave his testimony In tears.
He declared that his wifc's efforts to keep
him from committing suicide were what
broke down her health. He said:
believe that I incurred brain fever
or some similar arrangement from tho
exertions OF the Jeffries fight and the
heat that prevailed at the time. was
not myself for a year, but the secret was
closely kept between me and Mrs. John-
son. She saved me twice when l tried
20 che ke myself 20 death. She seized
ne and struggled with me and prevented
the act. She had an awful time taking
+ care Of me for over 2 year. ! am oniy
telling this now IN Justice TO my wife.
/ II never has been told before.
J Testifying as TO hls wifs's suicidal
mania Johnson said.
! During the last two years she often
/ told me she was tired OF living. She
i tried twice before to kin herself Once
7 IN London hotel and before that sh9
tried 20 take her life by leapinS from
: a train out West.
! I did everything ! could TO make her
happy and spent money on her lavishly'
but most Of the time she seemed de-
sDondent Her father died four months
ago and since then she seemed more
nervous and Respondent than before
! ! employed two maids 10 watch her
after she attempted 10 end her He the
first time and ono ~ them was con-
stantly with her. Yesterday morning she
seemed a. especially good spirits and l
/ had no idea that sho would XIII herself
The stories that there was Wucl
domestic trouble between my vile ana
4 my mother and sister are untrue. They
both were very fond o. her.
Prayed Before Shooting Herself.
Mrs. johnson decided 70 commit suicide
as soon az her husband left tho house
last night 20 GO downtown. She called
her two colorei maids into her bedroom
and told them she wanted them 10 join
her IN prayer. with an arm about each
OF them Mrs. johnson knelt az the bed
side. The maids followed her example.
I and the three prayed together for several
minutes.
As they arose Mrs. Johnson. pressing
her hands to her face, said: GOD pity a
poor woman who is lonely She sent
each OF tho maids into other rooms on
srrauds and before either had time to re-
turn "A shot was Ared, and when they
came back they found her lying on tho
floor fatally WOUNDED. She VAS taken TO
a hospital. where she died at $50 this
morning
on tho recent trip 20 Las Vegas, where
Johnson fought Jim" Flynn. Mrs. John
son is said TO have remarked that every
one Stunned nor because she had married
a negro. even those OF her husband race
and that she was unhappy.
Mrs johnson was thir.y-one years old
ana the daughter OF Mrs. David Terry
or brooklyn when she married johnson
/ she WAS tho divorced wife Of Clarence
! pgr.ea. a New YORK turiMar.
san Francisco, sept Twelve thou
sand pounds sterling In purses. approAi-
mateiy 10000. is awaiting In Australia
for Jack Johnson, the negro champion
heavyweight n hc viii - after u.
This word was brought to-day on the
arrival u W e.. J. Kelly. agent for Hugh
Mcintosh. the Australian fGht promoter
Kelly rs on lis way TO meet Johnson III
chicago and uutn ne learned Of the death
NJ Mr.. Johnson was confident Of 'alslns
/ Johnson back with him.
The gross sum IS split into three purses.
ro. a light between Johnson and sam
/ Langford. Mcintosh offers $4,000 For
! 0rnt with Sam McVey ne VIII sive $4,000
and q like sum for fight with Joe Jean
]