Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-24
Tells WhY
Daughter
SuiCided.
Mother Of Jack JOhnSOn'S
Wife Tells Pathetic Story
Relates Also How John
son Forced Presence on Her
UNITED PRESS LEASED WIRE. !


New York, Oct. 24.-More light was
thrown on the alleged brutality and
deprayity Of Jack Johnson, the negro
rugilist, here today by Mrs. David
Terry mother of Mrs Eta Duryea
Johnson, the negro's white wife, who
committed suicide a few weeks ago.
Crushed in spirit and broken in health
and with n physician constantly in
attendance Mrs, Terry told Of the
hard life her daughter was forced to
endure with the giant negro.
"If my daughters suicide" sobbed
Mrs Terry, will serve as a warning
to other girls, and if thought 1t might
soye someone else from a similar fate
my own crushing burden of sorrow
might be easier would feel that her
death was not in vain.
Bitter Mt Negro.
ut would be wrong for me to tell
what ought to be done to Jack John
son. 1t is not for me to Judge God
must do that, but every night pray
to God to punish that negro as he de-
serves.
1.-TWO weeks ago had vision in a
dream, and believe 1t was Gods
promise Of punishment saw a boat
on beautiful stream. In It was Eta
talking to my dead husband Sudden
ly, from out Of the water rose the
giant and gllstening form of Jack
Johnson, the negro, He grabbed for
the boat with both hands, but missed.
My daughter rowed away and dlsap-
peared with a happy ripple Of laugh
ter. The water turned black and 1t
slcwly swallowed the black man.
Il believe that my daughters sui
eide came at a period-not of tempo
rary madness-but one of extreme lu-
cldness. She was never In her right
mind believe for one brief moment
the mental fog lifted from her brain
and the hideousness of her position
was clearly revealed. 1t was 80 re-
voting that she shot hersellf
mo one can ever know how cruel
that negro was to Eta. He beat her
so badly she was forced to go to
hospital, She was mortally afraid of
him and ran away once, hiding in u
hotel. | have seen my poor child with
her eyes black and her face bruised.
Before she went to Europe with him
she told me she would rather die than
go.
Forced Himself In Auto.
AT the time of Ettas funeral my
daughter Airline went to Chicago with
me. We stayed at a hotel. wanted
the body but Johnson refused to give
1t up to me, He wanted me to ride
about Chicago in his automobile, but
| refused On the front porch Of his
house, where the photographers wait
ca he pushed my daughter aside 80 he
could have his picture taken at my
side, making it appear that he was
leaning on my arm He forced his
company upon us. After Airline and !
entered the automobile to go to the
cemetery this negro climbed in. Ar
line pulled down the shades, but John
son put them up again so the crowd
could see us together and photograph
us. In the train he sat on the arm Of
hrlinc's chair and said so every ono
could hear: "Ill forgive you, Airline,
fol the way you treated me today
He did IL all for show. have kepl
silence because / wanted the world to
forget the tragedy | can never for
get it, but do not care for myself
now, am willing to bear further hu-
initiation if il will keep some other
girl from going the way my daughter
went"