Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-12
JACK JOHNSON s
WIFE A SUICIDE
White. She Was Spurned by Her
Former Friends and ASsoci-
ates of Negro Husband.

CHICAGO. ILL, Sept 12.-Etta
,obnson, wife OF John Arthur john
.or negro champion heavyweight prize
sgbter Of the world, died today in the
provident hospital as a result of
.e,f-inlicted bullet wound.
A white woman, former wife of Clar-'
anre Duryea and conspicuous figure in
Lang Island society, she had been suffer-
ing from A nervous attack for some tins.
last night, after retiring to her room
in the apartment above her husbands
now cafe DeChampion, she dismissed
her two negro maids. Five minutes
later they heard shot. Rushing into
the room, they found the woman lying
across the bed, revolver by her side.
Police we're summoned and the woman
removed to the hospital.
few minutes later johnson reached
his home He was told of the affair,
and Jumping into one of his racing
automobiles. rushed to the hospital He
arrived Just as his wife was laid on the
operating table. where vain effort
VAS made to save her life. She died
shortly after 8 o'clock this morning.
EIorstta WhaIe Eloper, Her Cousin.
For several years she was the
wife of Clarence Duryea. She obtained
2 divorce in Chicago in 1910 and mar
RED Johnson. She was a cousin of
Floretta Whaley, the girl who five
years ago eloped with Rev. Jere Cook
from Hampstead, n. Y.
Friends of the woman say that the
real cause of her nervous breakdown
was the realization that she had cut
herself off forever from old friends and
asslciations She was treated as an
outcast by Johnson's negro friends, who
outside his own race.
The woman was to have left last
night for Las Vegas. y. NJ, in the hope
that a change of climate would benefit
her health She broke down shortly
before train time and was unable to de-
part Johnson was at the. station eX-
planning the situation to friends with
whom she was to make the trip when
the woman shot herself.
Rev. John s Morris, of st. Monica
Roman Catholic church. administered
extreme JUNCTION to the dying woman.
Johnson was at the bedside and wept
like child while the priest was read
ing the service.
An inquest into Mrs. Johnsons death
was set for o'clock this afternoon.
Stories that the pugilist and his wife
had uuarreled had reached the ear of
the coroner and these were to be in
vestigated
Knockout For Me-" Says Johnson.
The black champion was grief
en- today
This is a knockout for Jack John
son" he said It's the stiffest blow 1
ever got She did not know how much
! cared or she never would have done
it. We had not quarreled There was
10 reason"
The Cafe de Champion was closed to-
lay, but for hours after the tragedy
he place rang with music and curious
rowds stood before the bar.
crowds gathered in the streets to-
day in front of the place, and there
we're numerous and heated discussions
IF the marriage of whites and blacks
At times it appeared that there might
oe trouble
Johnson shut himself in the apart
nents and refused himself to all call
ars. Even his most intimate friends
we're told the champion did not want
see any one.
1t was reported that the champion
felt that he never again would enter
the prize ring.